The FBI brought its Russia probe directly to candidate Donald Trump in August 2016, disguising its intentions as a routine counterintelligence briefing on spy threats, newly declassified documents show.
The written outline for the Aug. 17, 2016, briefing by FBI agent Joe Pientka and his final report, were both titled “Crossfire Hurricane,” according to the papers declassified Thursday by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe. The Washington Times obtained the documents.
The FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane probe was opened July 31, and Trump associates were picked for targeting days before Mr. Trump arrived at the bureau’s New York field office. He was accompanied by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, whom the FBI had selected for targeting the previous day.
Mr. Trump and his associates all thought the sole purpose was to receive a classified “defensive briefing.”
But the FBI documents said otherwise. And from the report by Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz in December, Mr. Pientka wanted to deliver the briefing so he could size up Mr. Flynn.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/23/fbi-disguised-intentions-donald-trump-briefing-dec/
The written outline for the Aug. 17, 2016, briefing by FBI agent Joe Pientka and his final report, were both titled “Crossfire Hurricane,” according to the papers declassified Thursday by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe. The Washington Times obtained the documents.
The FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane probe was opened July 31, and Trump associates were picked for targeting days before Mr. Trump arrived at the bureau’s New York field office. He was accompanied by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, whom the FBI had selected for targeting the previous day.
Mr. Trump and his associates all thought the sole purpose was to receive a classified “defensive briefing.”
But the FBI documents said otherwise. And from the report by Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz in December, Mr. Pientka wanted to deliver the briefing so he could size up Mr. Flynn.
- The director of national intelligence declassified an August 2016 FBI memo which detailed the bureau’s use of an agent to provide a counterintelligence briefing to Donald Trump and Michael Flynn in order to collect evidence for the Russia probe.
- Joseph Pientka, an FBI supervisory special agent, conducted the briefing.
- The Justice Department’s inspector general criticized the FBI for sending an agent into the briefing, saying that it could erode trust that presidential candidates have in future dealings with the FBI.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/23/fbi-disguised-intentions-donald-trump-briefing-dec/
