Emmy winning + Emmy nominated Veteran Investigative Correspondent. Covering national security + intel. Follow me for more news, less noise
#factsmatter
#Election2020results
From a DOJ spokesperson: “Some media outlets have incorrectly reported that the Department has concluded its investigation of election fraud and announced an affirmative finding of no fraud in the election. That is not what the Associated Press reported nor
#FLYNN
docs just unsealed, including handwritten notes 1/24/2017 day of Flynn FBI interview. Transcript: “What is our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?” Read transcript notes, copy original just filed.
@CBSNews
#Durham
BREAKING: The primary sub-source for the Steele dossier was deemed a possible “national security threat” + the subject of 2009 FBI counter-intel probe. According to new records, those facts were known to Crossfire Hurricane team in December 2016.
@LindseyGrahamSC
NEW: Doctors okayed POTUS drive-by supporters. Deputy Press Secretary tells
@markknoller
“Appropriate precautions were taken in the execution of this movement to protect POTUS + all those supporting it, including PPE...cleared by the medical team as safe to do.”
@CBSNews
Breaking: from their press office -
“Good afternoon, Senators Grassley and Johnson today requested Hunter Biden’s official travel records from the U.S. Secret Service as a part of their ongoing probe into potential conflicts of interest.
A full news release is forthcoming”
NOW: Under oath Senate Judiciary
@Comey
“I don't remember any information reaching me about the source for Steele." WHY IT MATTERS: Newly declassified records show FBI Russia team knew as early as Dec 2016 the primary source for the Steele dossier was the subject of 2009 FBI
SCOOP
@CBSNews
obtains
@RichardGrenell
notification to congress declassified “unmasking list” Flynn between late 2016 and January 2017 - Read 3 pages provided by NSA here
what the Attorney General stated. The Department will continue to receive and vigorously pursue all specific and credible allegations of fraud as expeditiously as possible.”
@ClareHymes22
@CBSNews
NEW: A source familiar with events tells
@CBSNews
that recently appointed NSA General Counsel Michael Ellis was placed on administrative leave today because his appointment is now the subject of a DoD IG investigation + there is a separate, newly leveled allegation that
Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee authorizes
@SenRonJohnson
to issue subpoenas FBI Crossfire Hurricane, State Dept contact author “Steele Dossier” and unmasking by former government officials. +30 names READ
@CBSNews
NEW: Multiple “highly credible” FBI whistleblowers have come forward to senior Senate Republican
@ChuckGrassley
alleging widespread effort to downplay or discredit negative information about the President 's son Hunter Biden, according to letters
@CBSNews
#Election2020
@DNI_Ratcliffe
on scaling back election security briefings “...within minutes of one of those briefings ending, a number of members of congress went to a number of different publications + leaked classified information again, for political purposes to create a...
SCOOP: A person familiar with the matter tells
@CBSNews
that Bruce Ohr is no longer working at DOJ. He resigned the day before he was going to be terminated by DOJ over his conduct cited in IG Horowitz report. Ohr was faulted for becoming a kind of backchannel linking dossier
SAG-AFTRA strongly condemns CBS News' decision to seize Catherine Herridge's reporter notes and research from her office, including confidential source information.
Read more 👇
#China
NOTE TIMING + LAWMAKERS WARNED: In this extended clip from exclusive
@CBSNews
interview 12/3
@DNI_Ratcliffe
said he briefed members of HOUSE + SENATE intelligence committees “earlier this summer,” about Chinese Communist Party’s blackmail strategy targeting lawmakers.
#SecondChances
14 years ago, our Peter beat the odds + got a new liver. Today, we celebrate his “transplant birthday” because it honors his 2nd chance. Being the liver donor was the easiest decision I have ever made 🙏
@chptransplant
family, friends who share the journey
@greta
READ: The UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) is the legal foundation for the military justice system and lists offenses. +100 Articles. Article 2 and Article 88 posted here
#MyHighlighter
MORE: Letter to AG Barr includes +60 pages voter records
@NVGOP
“We have identified 3,062 individuals who appear to have improperly cast mail ballot in the election. We verified this by cross referencing the names + addreses of voters with National Change of Address database”
#Whistleblower
#PortlandProtest
Breaking: According to this
@DHSgov
internal email, obtained
@CBSNews
, former Acting Under Secretary for Intelligence & Analysis Brian Murphy wrote colleagues on July 25th that the Portland violence was not “opportunistic” but “organized” citing
SCOOP: Declassified records from
@DNI_Ratcliffe
reveal FBI "counterintelligence + security briefing" to then-candidate Trump,
@GenFlynn
@GovChristie
August 17, 2016 -- 17 days after FBI Russia probe "Crossfire Hurricane.” According to docs, this was run through Agents Strzok +
NEW: Law enforcement source tells
@CBSNews
FBI + DOJ concur with
@dni_ratcliffe
laptop + emails, said to belong to Hunter Biden, were not part of Russian disinformation campaign + FBI has laptop. Separate reporting suggests could be part of foreign influence op
@ClareHymes22
Tonight DOJ Spokeswoman Kerri Kupec announced that AG Barr has tapped US Attorney John Bash to review the unmasking issue as a support to U.S Attorney John Durham’s investigation. Bash is tasked with looking at episodes that occurred both before and after the 2016 election...
NEW: Letter
@tedcruz
to AG Barr + Director Wray about former Director Comey + former Deputy McCabe’s testimony about their knowledge + approval of 2016 Clinton media leak, “One of them is lying under oath-a federal crime. 18 U.S.C 1621. The American people deserve to know who."
DEVELOPING: An intelligence official with direct knowledge tells CBS News there was an intel collection report and "NSA assesses Report does not match well established and verifiiable Taliban and Haqqani practices" + "lack sufficient reporting to corroborate any links."
#FISA
newly declassified records
@LindseyGrahamSC
show system was “blinking red” over Steele dossier in early 2017 but it was used twice more to renew surveillance warrant
@carterwpage
In his December report, IG Horowitz wrote the dossier’s source made statements “inconsistent...
DEVELOPING: A senior intel official tells
@CBSNews
the GRU/Taliban bounty allegations were not contained in the President's Daily Brief (PDB) which is the highly classified, daily summary of national security issues delivered to the President, key cabinet secretaries + advisers..
CBS News has obtained data from a laptop purported to have belonged to Hunter Biden. The data came directly from the source who said they provided it to the FBI under subpoena.
@CBS_Herridge
shares what was found during an independent forensic review.
Developing: Former CIA officer charged with espionage + accused of conspiring with a relative who also was a former CIA officer to communicate classified information up to the Top Secret level to intelligence officials of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Assistant AG for...
#HunterBiden
Senators
@ChuckGrassley
@SenRonJohnson
“Attorneys for Hunter + James Biden have refused to cooperate with the committees. It should be noted that, collectively, President Trump’s family + associates produced documents + agreed to appear at interviews...”
@CBSNews
Source familiar w/house briefing
@CBSNews
says briefers pressed for evidence to back up claims Russia “trying to help POTUS in 2020.” Asked if there was signals intelligence - such as phone intercepts or “SIGINT” - to back up claims, source said briefers had none to offer
#DNI
DNI Ratcliffe tells
@CBS_Herridge
that China is using blackmail, bribery and covert influence to target members of Congress and make sure “only laws that are favorable to China are passed"
#BREAKING
Source close to matter tells
@CBSNews
NSC staffer Kash Patel tapped to serve as senior adviser to Amb. Rick Grenell, acting Intel chief (DNI.) Source said mandate is to “
#cleanhouse
including “top to bottom” review DNI operations that expanded dramatically since 2005.
READ: Full Executive Order 13526 Section 1.7 cited
@RichardGrenell
letter to
@MarkWarner
“in no case shall info..continue to be maintained as classified, or fail to be declassified... to conceal violations of law...(or) prevent embarrassment to a person, org, or agency.”
@CBSNews
#FISA
“Are you shocked by what you have found to date or have been briefed by U.S. Attorney Durham?” AG Barr tells
@hughhewitt
“I’m very troubled by it...I think we’re getting deeply into the situation, and we’ll be able to sort out exactly what happened.”
I asked, “Where have you been?” I then realized they had visited 30 graves. This picture of Jamie was taken later that summer 2005. His dad would deploy 2009, and again 2014. For military families, today is personal. Thank them for putting the nation first.
#MemorialDay2020
#HunterBiden
#SpecialCounsel
Republican Chair Judiciary
@LindseyGrahamSC
tells reporters “Let me just say this, if you believe a special counsel was needed to look at the Trump world regarding Russia, how can you say there's no need for a special counsel regarding Hunter Biden?"+
#FLYNN
Breaking
@GenFlynn
legal team
@SidneyPowell1
has moved to disqualify Judge Sullivan from the case, asking him to recuse himself based on demonstrated “contempt and disdain” towards Flynn + “The appearance of bias here is terrifying and mandates disqualification”
@CBSNews
From close professional friend POTUS
@CBSNews
“No one has more standing to complain than President Trump and his family, after his campaign was targeted, and the surveillance process abused for nearly a year to gather intel before and after he was elected. All of it was done...
READ: Letter to surveillance court obtained by CBS News questions where there will be further disciplinary action and choice of former DOJ official to oversee reforms
@MarkMeadows
@Jim_Jordan
#FISA
#Durham
#RogerStone
Senior DOJ official tells
@CBSNews
Department was shocked to see sentencing recommendation Stone case. This is not what was briefed to Dept. The Dept. believes recommendation is extreme, excessive, grossly disproportionate to offenses...
#DEVELOPING
#Election2020
A source with direct knowledge of the FBI interview tells
@CBSNews
that former Hunter Biden business associate Tony Bobulinski was interviewed by the FBI, with counsel present, at the bureau's Washington Field Office, on October 23 for approximately 4-5 hours. About
#FLYNN
DOJ official confirms
@CBSNews
US attorney will join Flynn Attorney
@SidneyPowell1
calling for new records to be unsealed. AG Barr directed US attorney Jeffrey Jensen to scrutinize Flynn case. First batch docs small, including handwritten notes. But review delivering more
#DeclassifyEverything
New:
@SecPompeo
on HRC State Dept emails "We've got the emails..We're gonna get all this information out so the American people can see it.” told
@DanaPerino
“We're doing it as fast as we can. I certainly think there'll be more to see before the election."
READ: Key section judiciary hearing
@RepRatcliffe
that IG Report/DOJ/FISA court “..acknowledge that this was illegal surveillance with respect to at least several of these FISA applications because there was no probable cause or proper predication. Correct? “ Wray “Right”
#Durham
DEVELOPING: House Judiciary Republicans and House Oversight Republicans demand Chairman Adam Schiff release transcripts from Russia investigation
@CBSNews
Rudy Giuliani says Trump will not concede election
@CBSNews
“Obviously he's not going to concede when at least 600,000 ballots are in question," Giuliani said in Philadelphia on Saturday.
READ: Letter from 19 house Republicans to Director Wray asks main questions surrounding
@FBI
forensic analysis of alleged Hunter Biden hard drive + timing. Separately, Republican
@SenRonJohnson
told
@CBSNews
FBI would not offer details to his staff about status
@andybiggs4az
#FLYNN
Defense motion reveals recently uncovered agent Strzok notes, discovered by US Attorney Jensen as part of DOJ review. “Strzok’s notes believed to be of January 4, 2017, reveal that former President Obama, James Comey, Sally Yates, Joe Biden, and apparently Susan Rice
NEW: First obtained
@CBSNews
declassified “Annex A” Intellligence Community Assessment 2016 Russian election interference cites Steele dossier. Alleges “President-elect and his top campaign advisers knowingly worked with Russian officials to bolster his chances..and were offered
Developing: Acting DNI orders 17 agencies to immediately review whether their handling, sharing of information that identifies US persons are in compliance with strict privacy policies and procedures, according to memo exclusively reviewed
@CBSNews
SAG-AFTRA is pleased to confirm that earlier today a representative of our union monitored the return of several boxes containing Catherine Herridge's reporting materials from her CBS News office in Washington D.C. Herridge is currently reviewing the materials.
Read more 👇
SCOOP: Two sources close to the Senate probe tell
@CBSNews
that FBI agent Joe Pientka has been interviewed behind closed doors for "multiple hours" by investigators with Senate Judiciary + Senate Oversight/Governmental Affairs. In 2018, then-Chairman
@ChuckGrassley
first sought
NEW: DOJ Official tells
@CBSNews
that “In a call with U.S. Attorney’s last week the AG did encourage prosecutors to be more aggressive in bringing charges against violent protestors for crimes, including for plotting to overthrow the government. Several legal avenues were..
#Durham
@DNI_Ratcliffe
declassifies 2016 notes from former CIA Director Brennan: Heavily redacted to protect sources + methods for intel alleging "proposed" plan "approved by HRC to "vilify Donald Trump by stirring up scandal claiming interference by the Russian security services
#FLYNN
@SidneyPowell1
rebuttal “This is a criminal case in which a man's liberty + entire life has been consumed by 4 years of litigation that the executive has now determined, within its sole discretion, should never brought against him...Mandamus...it's very purpose is to...
#Durham
AG Barr promised developments as early as today in a Fox interview where he explained the probe’s two core objectives: “...the American people need to know what actually happened. We need to get through the story of what happened in 2016 and 17. That will be done...
#FLYNN
NOW:
@SidneyPowell1
files 29 page brief against petition to rehear dismissal before full panel Court of Appeals. Argues Judge Sullivan has “no standing to litigate,” his earlier filing has errors, ignores 80 pages DOJ exculpatory evidence “The district court has hijacked..
15 years ago, my husband took our oldest son to Arlington with his West Point buddies. He said they were visiting friends. Hours later, he returned that evening with Jamie slumped over in the backpack carrier....
#Election2020
READ: AG Barr memo authorizes US Attorneys to “pursue substantial allegations" of voter fraud, “given that voting in our current elections has now concluded, I authorize you to pursue substantial allegations of voting + vote tabulation irregularities prior to
CBS News has learned that +150 transactions involving either Hunter or James Biden’s global business affairs were flagged as concerning by U.S. banks for further review.
@ChuckGrassley
spoke exclusively
@CBS_Herridge
about newly public bank records.
#Flynn
NOW: The brother of former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn tells
@CBSNews
that the family is "absolutely thrilled that his four-year political persecution is over + we can move on with our lives. Mike is a free man + that's what matters most to our family...
#FLYNN
NEW: "FBI" handwritten notes filed with court documenting meeting one day (1/25/2017) after
@GenFlynn
FBI WH interview. Notes memorialize strategy session over "Logan Act" where author writes "no reasonable prosecutor" + "uphill battle” + comments attributed to "Baker" -
NOW: NSA Robert O’Brien tells reporters “career intel officer” made call not to verbally brief
@realDonaldTrump
on alleged Russian bounty plot “the person who decided early on whether the president should be briefed on this in the Oval, in the Oval intelligence briefing was...
#Pensacola
News Conf Q + A w/AG Barr “As to President Obama and VP Biden, whatever their level of involvement, based on the information I have today, I don't expect Mr. Durham's work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man. Our concern...is focused on others.
@CBSNews
NEW
#Durham
Special Counsel Durham writes "political or personal bias may have motivated or contributed" to actions of former FBI lawyer who altered CIA email to renew 2017 surveillance
@carterwpage
Durham seeks jail time for Kevin Clinesmith who altered to falsely state former
#Election2020
Trump appointee,
@DNI_Ratcliffe
on claims the Hunter Biden laptop is part of a Russian disinformation campaign, "we have shared no intelligence with Chairman Schiff, or any other member of congress, that Hunter Biden's laptop is part of some disinformation campaign.
#CapitolBuilding
TIMELINE: Critical window Wednesday is coming into focus 1230-1315. While POTUS addressed the rally + before he concluded, a group was already pushing onto the grounds of the Capitol building + first pipe bomb discovered (1245p) at RNC + second pipe bomb at DNC
NOW:
@SenRonJohnson
statement Bobulinski/FBI interview request READ: WASHINGTON — This morning lawyers for Tony Bobulinski informed the Senate Homeland Security + Governmental Affairs Committee + Senate Finance Committee that the FBI asked his client to sit for an interview today
#OperationLegend
AG Barr “We are rolling out Operation Legend initially in three cities – Kansas City, Chicago and Albuquerquez. We will be adding cities in the weeks ahead.” + Barr says “murder rate in Chicago is up 48% over last year. In New York City, where the mayor..
#FLYNN
from ongoing oral arguments before full panel DC Court of Appeals
@SidneyPowell1
says Flynn is a “defendant without a prosecutor” + Judge Sullivan has “no standing” in the case + taken on the “role of an active litigant” which has “disqualified” him
@CBSNews
#Durham
Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleads guilty 1 count false statements, but key exchange goes to intent. Judge Boasberg: Did you read + understand this document before you signed it. Clinesmith: I did your honor. Judge Boasberg: This document actually sets forth the...
Amy Coney Barrett speaks after President Trump announces her as his third Supreme Court nominee: "If the Senate does me the honor of confirming me, I pledge to discharge the responsibilities of this job to the very best of my ability"
#FLYNN
AG Barr exclusive
@CBSNews
before the transcripts were declassified. Barr “...it is very typical, very common for the national security team of the incoming president to communicate with foreign leaders. And that call, there was nothing wrong with it whatever.”
#SpecialCounselDurham
New POTUS MEMO authorizing use classified info in criminal Durham probe, “In addition, the AG is authorized to use classified information as he deems necessary in connection with his review, including in a GRAND JURY or other PROCEEDING”
@CBSNews
NEW: A senior administration official tells
@CBSNews
POTUS has soured on CIA Director Haspel for "failing to execute his national security priorities” + frustration over the pace of declassifying records related to Russia probe, among other issues. The SAO said need to protect
#Ginsburg
NOW: Letter to senate judiciary democrats from chairman
@LindseyGrahamSC
“..after the treatment of Justice Kavanaugh I now have a different view of the judicial-confirmation process. Compare the treatment of Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito + Brett Kavanaugh
Newly declassified records show FBI briefing to then-candidate Trump,
@GenFlynn
@GovChristie
on August 17, 2016. TIMING + CONTEXT: 17 days after FBI opened Crossfire Hurricane July 31, 2016 + 9 days after Strzok/Page “we'll stop him” text + 2 days after “insurance policy” text.
The official said the inteligence collection report reached "low levels" NSC but did not go further, not briefed POTUS, or VP because it was deemed "uncorroborated" and "dissent intelligence community."
@CBSNews
#Durham
@ChuckGrassley
+
@SenRonJohnson
to
@CIA
director Haspel "[W]e are becoming increasingly disappointed by the CIA’s continued inability to timely respond to our legitimate oversight requests (Russia records)” + “This cannot continue – the American public has a right to know
#Durham
investigation: AG Barr to Fox on building a case “...he is diligently pursuing it. My own view is that the evidence shows that we're not dealing with just mistakes..if people broke the law and we can establish that with the evidence, they will be prosecuted”
@ClareHymes22
NEW: GSA letter
@GSAEmily
to Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. releasing limited funds "in connection with a presidential transition" + lays out multiple threats (family, staff + even pets) to “coerce me into making this determination prematurely” + “To be clear, I did not receive any
From
@SenRonJohnson
@ChuckGrassley
+ link to all records released to Congress by
@DNI_Ratcliffe
“Newly declassified records illustrate how federal agents hijacked an August 2016 security briefing to surreptitiously gather information on Trump campaign officials.
Letters to former DCIA Brennan + ODNI Clapper into October 2020 statement, signed by 5O former senior intel officials, that Hunter Biden laptop reporting had “classic earmarks” of Russian information operation. This non-governmental assessment was cited by then candidate Biden…
#FLYNN
Court Docs “The United States of America hereby moves to dismiss with prejudice the criminal information filed against Michael T Flynn pursuant to federal rule of criminal procedure 48(a)...”
@CBSNews
@ClareHymes22
NEW: Letter to Secret Service from Republican Senators
@ChuckGrassley
+
@SenRonJohnson
seeks additional records by Oct 26 about Hunter Biden travel. The Senators note previously provided Secret Service travel records from 2014 “align” with some of the alleged Hunter Biden emails.
#Election2020
@senatemajldr
this afternoon, “ Our institutions are actually built for this. We have the system in place to consider concerns + President Trump is 100% within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities + weigh his legal options.”
@CBSNews
#JohnNolenCBS
#FISA
BREAKING: IG Horowitz on FBI FISA applications and supporting docs, so-called Woods File “As a result of our audit work to date...we do not have confidence that the FBI has executed its Woods Procedures in compliance with FBI policy.”
@CBSNews
READ NEW: Lightly redacted FBI interviews with ex-DOJ official Bruce Ohr released to Senate investigators
@LindseyGrahamSC
@SenRonJohnson
obtained
@CBSNews
“Glen Simpson at Fusion GPS hired OHR's wife, Nellie Ohr, to conduct research for his firm. OHR voluntarily provided his
NOW:
@LindseyGrahamSC
tells
@CBSNews
that he is working to declassify notes cited in
@DNI_Ratcliffe
letter to the fullest extent possible + he questions whether the Sept 2016 "investigative referral" to FBI about an alleged effort by the Clinton campaign to distract from
#FLYNN
BREAKING: More handwritten notes uncovered by US Attorney Jensen
@USAO_EDMO
now under protective order in Flynn case. Includes Agent Strzok, DAG Gauhar (National Security Division/FISA/Clinton emails) notes from 1/25/2107 meeting, internal DOJ doc + AAG Boente
@CBSNews
#FLYNN
In 24 page filing, Solicitor General says Judge Sullivan overstepped his authority, citing case law + request to reconsider dismissal by full panel should be denied. “In this case, the panel followed established precedent from this Court + the Supreme Court to stop an...
#FBI
expected to brief on Swalwell matter on Capitol Hill including House minority leader Kevin McCarthy
@GOPLeader
+ implications for house intelligence committee
financial compensation.” Mueller did not substantiate. Not credible enough for Intel Community to use in body of report, but FBI still used dossier 3 more times to renew
@carterwpage
surveillance warrant. Requested
@ChuckGrassley
@SenRonJohnson
Released DNI
@RepRatcliffe
#Durham
@ChuckGrassley
statement on newly released Special Counsel records via
@JudicialWatch
Freedom of Information Act request. “It appears that Special Counsel Mueller’s team may have deleted federal records that could be key to better understanding their decision-making
#BarrHearing
Testifying to House Judiciary, AG Barr said, “Federal courts are under attack. Since when it is okay to try to burn down a federal court? If someone went down the street to the Prettyman Court here, that beautiful courthouse we have right at the bottom of the hill, +
#FLYNN
READ:
@MarkWarner
May 20 letter requested underlying intel reports and “rationale for declassifying these unmasking requests”
@RichardGrenell
responds “I find it puzzling that your letter initially complains about the declassification of the identities of unmaskers,
As
#Durham
findings unfold, revisit Dec. 2018 Capital Hill newser + compare w/IG Horowitz findings Dec. 2019
#FISA
“17 inaccuracies + omissions” HERRIDGE: “Did you have total confidence in the dossier when you used it to secure a surveillance warrant + in the subsequent renewals?