Clamping Down on Leaks—Finally!

 

The first 10 months of the Trump administration were flooded with government leaks that seemed to come from everywhere and the media and the Left were eating it up. Reports ranging from infighting and disorganization to Trump’s private meetings and telephone conversations were being leaked. But I have sensed a turn for the better in the last few weeks.

First, AG Jeff Sessions announced a stepped-up effort on leak investigations. Just last month he confirmed that there were 27 ongoing investigations into leaks. He declined to give any more information.

I noticed that the leaks from the Senate Intelligence Committee’s meeting with Andrew McCabe were minimal. According to a report from James Rosen at Fox News:

Congressional investigators tell Fox News that Tuesday’s seven-hour interrogation of Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe contained numerous conflicts with the testimony of previous witnesses, prompting the Republican majority staff of the House Intelligence Committee to decide to issue fresh subpoenas next week on Justice Department and FBI personnel.

He also reported on McCabe’s comments on the Trump dossier and his claim he didn’t remember when he learned that the Clinton campaign had funded it, even though related forms had his signature.

Considering that McCabe was questioned for seven hours, it could make me wonder why the leaks were so limited and unsurprising. I suspect, however, now that people complicit with the Democrats are being questioned, the Democrats are not so anxious to tattle on them. After all, James Comey lost his job.

The press is also getting nervous about these investigations:

Marty Baron, the executive editor of the Washington Post, told CNN last month that he thought the August announcement was “an effort to try to intimidate the press from doing its job.”

He said it’s possible that some Post reporters are ensnared in leak investigations right now, but the Post wouldn’t know unless there was a subpoena, a search warrant or “an actual leak about the leak investigation.”

We all know that leaks will never be completely stopped. But now that the press might reconsider welcoming leaks from their collaborators, especially those that damage the Progressives instead of the Trump administration, and the Democrats are shaking in their boots with the truths that may be revealed, maybe people will show some integrity.

Since I’m not counting on that, let’s just make it all public. I’m ready!

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  1. Derek Simmons Member
    Derek Simmons
    @

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    right now, there are so many on both sides who despise Trump, I don’t trust their judgment

    And many DeepStaters who are “keepers of the Realm’s Secrets” keep what We the People should know secret under the guise of “national security” or “ongoing investigation” or “attorney client privilege” etc.

    • #31
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Derek Simmons (View Comment):
    And many DeepStaters who are “keepers of the Realm’s Secrets” keep what We the People should know secret under the guise of “national security” or “ongoing investigation” or “attorney client privilege” etc.

    Correct! So we need to continue to get rid of them. It’s just that government still has to function while we’re doing it. I expect to see a boatload of firings after the first of the year. In fact, I’m counting on it!

    • #32
  3. Derek Simmons Member
    Derek Simmons
    @

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    I’m counting on it!

    • #33
  4. Roberto the Weary Inactive
    Roberto the Weary
    @Roberto

    Hmm…

    Just hours after FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe delivered private testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, his boss, FBI Director Christopher Wray, announced that the bureau’s top lawyer would be leaving his post, an attempt to bring in “new blood” to an agency whose reputation has been hopelessly compromised by revelations that agents’ partisan bias may have influenced two high-profile investigations involving President Donald Trump and his former campaign rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…But reports published over the summer said Baker was “the top suspect” in an interagency leak investigation, as we reported back in July

    • #34
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Roberto the Weary (View Comment):
    Hmm…

    Just hours after FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe delivered private testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, his boss, FBI Director Christopher Wray, announced that the bureau’s top lawyer would be leaving his post, an attempt to bring in “new blood” to an agency whose reputation has been hopelessly compromised by revelations that agents’ partisan bias may have influenced two high-profile investigations involving President Donald Trump and his former campaign rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…But reports published over the summer said Baker was “the top suspect” in an interagency leak investigation, as we reported back in July

    Good catch, Roberto!! Thank you! I also liked this comment:

    WaPo says Baker’s removal is part of Wray’s effort to assemble his own team of senior advisers while he tries to defuse allegations of partisanship that have plagued the bureau in recent months.

    Good luck with that, Chris. You’re already tainted from your stonewalling, if nothing else.

    • #35
  6. Chris O. Coolidge
    Chris O.
    @ChrisO

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
     

    WaPo says Baker’s removal is part of Wray’s effort to assemble his own team of senior advisers while he tries to defuse allegations of partisanship that have plagued the bureau in recent months.

    Good luck with that, Chris. You’re already tainted from your stonewalling, if nothing else.

    I’m willing to cut him a little slack. He’s in a difficult spot. As new management, he needs to show he’ll stand up for the Bureau a bit. I don’t think Wray has any intention of sandbagging in a non-public setting.

    He needs to have a couple of big agents guarding the shredder and/or incinerator until he can cut through the bureaucracy and get his hands on what Congress wants.

    • #36
  7. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Trink (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn: the Democrats are shaking in their boots with the truths that may be revealed . .

    It creates such schadenfreude in my heart that I fear it’s battling with my Christmas spirit for primacy ;P

    Oh I know, Trink, but we can indulge that just a little bit, can’t we? ;-)

    _______________

    Susan, your smiley face has a nose.  You’re so technically adept.

    Kent

    • #37
  8. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    KentForrester (View Comment):
    Susan, your smiley face has a nose. You’re so technically adept.

    Ha! @midge taught me how to make one!

    • #38
  9. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):
    Susan, your smiley face has a nose. You’re so technically adept.

    Ha! @midge taught me how to make one!

    The nose is a noble and dignified anatomical feature, and emoticons need all the dignity they can get! ;-P

    • #39
  10. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake (View Comment):
    The nose is a noble and dignified anatomical feature, and emoticons need all the dignity they can get! ;-P

    Thank you for chiming in, dear Midge!

    • #40
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