Did anyone watch Weissman and Katyal on Lawrence O'Donnell's show last night?

[kentuck]

In my opinion, they are two of the most respected and authoritative sources on cable television. And Lawrence is no slouch.

But, they were very critical of the job Chris Wray and the FBI have done, especially since the January 6th insurrection. Chris Wray should have investigated the tips and information that was received by the FBI before insurrection. He did not.

Also, there were FBI agents that did not want to do a search warrant on Mar-a-Lago. They tended to believe Trump and his lawyers when they said there were no more classified documents on their premises.

These were very serious allegations and pinpoint some major problems with the premier law-enforcement agency in this nation. Some FBI agents were either very partisan or were supporters of the Trump cult. Neither can be accepted if it interferes with the rule of law.

Although neither Weissman or Katyal said so much, my thoughts were that there need to be some changes made at the FBI, if for nothing else, to restore trust in the rule of law.

In my opinion, Joe Biden should give serious thought to replacing Chris Wray as head of the FBI and give Merrick Garland the authority to dismiss him. As his boss, he may already have the authority?

Also, election-deniers and supporters of the Big Lie within the FBI should be asked to resign from their positions.

Just my opinion.

[NewHendoLib]

1. The rot certainly runs deep.

[Rebl2]

26. Most definitely

does and it starts with Wray along with some of the FBI agents. Long past time for him to go.

[DENVERPOPS]

38. You are on to something NewHend

I don't think anyone realizes how deep and how wide this whole Republican Corruption goes........
Except Hillary, when in the debates she said: "There is a massive right wing conspiracy"

Most of the people posting here on DU, are constantly going after Trump, and totally ignoring the far greater picture.
Reagan was just a front man, WBush was just a front man, and Trump was just a front man.

IT WAS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT PUT THEM ALL IN THERE FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And more importantly, allowed them free reign to do as they pleased while trashing the U.S. government and the Constitution.............

If the House and Senate had "Your father's Republicans" in there, Trump wouldn't have been elected, and most certainly if he was elected, they would have helped impeach him a month after he took office people...............The Republican Senators enabled him every single step of the way, with the backing of the entire "NEW Republicans" group............

I think, the J6 insurrection, showed anyone intelligent and sane, just how deep the hold is by this new Republican group, and to what extent they are controlling things from the shadows......

There is Major infiltration in the ranks by this group of New Republicans. We are talking serious shit here folks, and also frightening shit. The Republican Party in it's entirety, Republican Politicians at the Federal, State and Local Levels.
The Republicans in the House and Senate. The Secret Service. The Dept of Justice. The United States Supreme Court. The Federal Bureau of Investigations. The entire Trump Cabinet. Every single agency that Trump appointed. The Top Brass of the Military. The soldiers and sailors in the Military. The nation's police departments at every level. Foreign Governments. The Massive Republican Controlled and operated mass media. The list is un-fathomable and endless folks.......................

The New Republican Party is on the doorstep of installing a Fascist Corporate Tyranny, and the Dems need to somehow find a way to reverse all their accomplishments and thinking that started in earnest 40+ years ago with Reagan's group...................

[FoxNewsSucks]

43. They've been planting moles, embeds, tools, operatives, "friendlies"....

whatever you want to call them, for decades.

BushCheneyCo changed job classifications so that subsequent administrations couldn't easily fire them.

They purged "non-Bushies" from intelligence agencies, and got rid of all but the most loyal US attorneys.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

[DENVERPOPS]

46. Amen to that FNS

Starting a couple of months before Reagan got installed, I started screaming my head off, and have been shouting about all this shit every day since. Some of my Dem friends would tell me to not be so fanatical, and to get off of my soap box...........

Well folks, I'll tell you what..........here we are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My idea for a perfect title for a book about the last 40+ years starting with Reagan, would be: WHILE THE NATION SLEPT


A few years back, I asked a Russian friend of mine who was still in contact with people back home in Russia, what were the Russian People thinking of this whole Trump/Putin shitstorm.......... He said that the people back home are laughing their asses off about how easily Putin is playing Trump and the Republicans. They said that it is most amazing to them how Putin is basically destroying the U.S. economy and the U.S. Constitution with out having to use a single rocket or missile or start a war with the U.S................Putin's biggest set back was not succeeding in getting Trump Re-elected, and he hadn't planned on the U.S. and Nato helping Ukraine.....

[FalloutShelter]

2. Just finished watching this.

The fish stinks from the head. Chris Wray needs to go. Then there should none a top down investigation of what happened in the NY office re: Russia and then Jan 6.

[Polly Hennessey]

3. Saw it and thought ridding ourselves of partisan corruption

in FBI is overdue. I believe the head agent who bucked heads with DOJ resigned last December. His name starts with a D.

[ancianita]

17. ...

Stephen Dantuono. He obstructed.

[Silent3]

4. While in this case it was the prosecutors pushing hardest, we shouldn't pretend...

...that the whole of the DoJ is going to be magically free of these kinds of problems too.

[kentuck]

5. Yes, there will always be some partisanship within the ranks...

But, when that becomes supporting lies and denying election results, it is a whole 'nother matter.

[RussBLib]

6. "inclined to believe Trump" some agents said

BS, they didn't. They were as corrupt as Trump, and didn't want Trump prosecuted, so "stop the investigations?" Those agents are corrupt as hell. Fire them.

[triron]

10. Agreed. But I doubt anything will happen. I don't understand why.

[Tom Rinaldo]

39. Why? Because the MAGA Right is Hyper-Aggressive with claims that THEY are the true victims

They are constantly on the offense and hammering home a narrative that the Media, the Government, and Corporate America are all out to get them. Currently the FBI stands accused in Congress of being part of a deep state conspiracy to get Trump. The IRS is accused of unfairly going after Conservatives. The Disney Corporation is accused of promoting anti American values. As a result everyone must always bend over backwards to avoid giving them grounds for any further grievance. I think they succeeded in making the DOJ and FBI "gun shy" attempting to avoid stirring up a right wing hornet's nest.

[Wounded Bear]

7. K & R...nt

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Training and standards and continuing education deficits?

I have no idea, but thought to throw that out there.

[cilla4progress]

9. Not to mention the botched Kavanaugh investiagation!

Did the FBI help drumpf table all the tips???

[triron]

11. Thank you for reminding us!

[gab13by13]

18. It wasn't exactly botched

he never investigated the tips about his former law school acquaintance.

[rso]

12. Wray

Garland does not have the authority to fire Wray. FBI Directors are appointed for 10 year periods, and only the President can fire them.

[kentuck]

14. Thanks for that info.

Trump did not hesitate to fire James Comey.

[LymphocyteLover]

40. for corrupt reasons, of course. Biden has a better reason.

[gab13by13]

19. That is correct, however,

AG Janet Reno requested that President Clinton fire FBI Director Sessions and Clinton did.

[Prairie_Seagull]

13. I didn't see the show but, "what he said" K&R

[Baitball Blogger]

15. That's a big Florida thing. They don't question the pillars of society, here.

Which is why this state is so screwed up.

[Efilroft Sul]

16. Trumplandia is not populated by The Untouchables.

[bigtree]

20. this notion of replacing Wray right now is a bid to blow up the investigation

... what the fuck do people think would happen?

You talk about delays? How's that going to affect the timeline of this effort? They're right at the end game with dual grand juries, and here's this NYT attack on FBI, the agency that's helped arrest over 900 rioters and seditionists alike and people are eating up this old history of the probe like it's going to break some mental logjam in the imaginary internet investigation.

Worse is this attack on Ray like he's directly implicated in this.

As far as I can see, that handful of FBI agents were trumped by Smith. Either you think Smith is getting it done, and his appointment is fine, or maybe you think Garland could have gotten it done without him. But that hoohah by a couple agents was capped by his appointment.

Deal with the rogue agents. Demand accountability, but let's just admit this has nothing to do with furthering or hurrying along the ongoing, dual grand juries, and everything to do with antipathy for Trump appointed Ray. Probably justified on many levels, but there's no evidence he's been a drag on this investigation. None.

[kentuck]

24. I don't know if there is any evidence that Wray went after anyone higher than the ground troops?

Just enough to get by.

[bigtree]

33. that's really a shortsighted view of ANY prosecution

...what kind of shithole prosecutor brings in principals who are certain to be evasive and dishonest FIRST?

This silly twaddle about Garland only arresting 'foot soldiers' is belied by the Jan. 6 committee findings that link the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers to the Trump WH. You don't get to prosecution of Trump for the insurrection without first establishing their guilt and associations IN COURT, where they are RIGHT NOW, Oath Keepers already convicted of sedition and interference with the vote.

Likewise, you don't bring in dishonest Trump senior officials for questioning until you squeeze their underlings, which this probe has done to an historic degree.

We're now seeing the end game where these principals are brought before a grand jury to NOW answer for what their underlings and foot soldiers have testified to before the grand juries, demonstrating to jurors their lack of credibility, and showing how their testimony matches what jurors have already heard, or have learned in the months of seeing evidence and hearing from the witnesses Garland and Smith have brought before them.

Anyone can stand back and throw stones at these investigators, but they're doing the hard work right in front of us, no matter how easy the supposition that it's inconsequential to crack down first on underlings and foot soldiers rolls off of the tongue.

Indictments weren't handed down for the “Watergate Seven,” including John Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, until March 1, 1974, almost two years after the burglars were charged. The equivalent measure of those burglars, or 'foot soldiers,' would be the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers in court right now.

[kentuck]

44. I respect the opinions of Weissman and Katyal...

...but it is telling that Trump has criticized the Special Counsel, Jack Smith, more in three months than he criticized Chris Wray in four years. I think it might be better for the people's trust in the rule of law if some changes were made. (However, Weissman and Katyal did not ask for changes, despite their criticisms)

[State the Obvious]

29. Bigtree that is exactly on point; precise, focused and logical. nt

[Joinfortmill]

35. yup, it's complicated and a bit of a mess.

[Pathwalker]

53. Bingo! [phone]!

You make excellent sense. Too bad so many don't get this.

[Ray Bruns]

21. Christopher Wray should have been fired right after Biden took the oath of office.

[lark]

23. Totally agree.

[Rebl2]

28. So agree

[bigtree]

37. as the FBI's looking into his son?

...how's that going to work?

Funny, though, how firing Wray is at the top of the insurrectionists' agenda, as well. It's undeniable there's this contrary dynamic between Dem detractors of Wray and republican opposition to the FBI.

[Ray Bruns]

47. Repugs are going to scream no matter what Biden does.

[bigtree]

48. I think it might be more doable now than at the start of his presidency

...with cause that's been established in his term (although not advisable to blow up the FBI with ongoing dual probes into Trump complete with grand juries).

But not at the start of his presidency. The outcry wouldn't just come from republicans, if that had happened.

If they show that Ray had some role in personally resisting DOJ, then all bets are off.

But let's not pretend that firing Wray isn't also Cruz's and Jordan's wet dream.

[lark]

22. Garland should fire the trumper FBI's and SS agents.

They are an active threat to America.

[Rebl2]

27. Agreed

Is he the one that fires head of fbi or is it the president?

[DURHAM D]

25. Wray is a member of The Federalist Society.

That is all one needs to know.

[dlk]

51. I missed your post before I posted the same thing

Wray can’t be trusted.

[Grasswire2]

57. ++++++++++

Well, we could include the fact that Wray's former law firm has Russian ties.

Or that he was an inappropriate informant to AG in the investigation of Karl Rove, forcing Ashcroft to recuse from that case - a matter that might have signaled later to Trump that he could trust Wray to protect him as FBI Director who could inform him, too.

Or..... fill in the blanks.

[LymphocyteLover]

30. I don't think any Republicans can be trusted while Mango Mussolini is still a political force

[calimary]

45. Yep. I think this is a foundational fact.

The trump loyalists are probably unreachable and unredeemable. The Republicans who hesitate about the orange one would “come home” to him in a heartbeat if they thought he was close to reclaiming power.

[LymphocyteLover]

49. exactly ... he seems to have an unusual amount of control over them... it's wild

[calimary]

54. It sure is! I just do not see the appeal.

I don’t get it. And frankly, I don’t want to.

[LymphocyteLover]

60. well, as has long been speculated, he could have blackmail material on all of them

plus they know they will get death threats if they criticize him

[Lonestarblue]

31. This FBI is looking more and more like the Republican FBI under Hoover.

Hoover was a white supremacist and saw every black leader as a criminal. Had the same type of intelligence preceding January 6 been focused on a group like BLM, the FBI would have been all over it. Instead, they dismissed the real threat from white insurrectionists.

I suspect that some in the FBI wanted the coup to succeed so Trump could be appointed president. Their loyalty is obviously to him, not to the rule of law. That some senior agents wanted to tank the documents investigation in light of clear evidence that Trump had top-secret documents with information he was likely selling to our enemies is reason enough to fire them.

[Joinfortmill]

36. Yes, and he was there FOREVER!

[Joinfortmill]

32. Likely part of why Garland appointed Jack Smith as Special Prosecutor.

[MayReasonRule]

34. Obfuscate - - Segregate - - Obliterate / Intimidate - - Incarcerate - - Exterminate

That's the Nat-C Playbook... through and through...

It used to be that way, it still is, but it used to be that way too...
Same as it ever was.

The malevolent lead the delusional down the proverbial primrose path.

Obfuscation is the first step.

This, is that.

May reason rule.

[Quakerfriend]

41. When Weissman said that the

FBI agent who wanted them to hold back on going into Mar-a-Lago was the same one who falsely stated that the FBI saw no signs there would be violence on 1/6,
I thought my head would explode!

[triron]

52. WTF!

[spanone]

42. I saw it and I agree with your opinion.

[dlk]

50. Christopher Wray is a member of the Federalist Society

They have an agenda.

[WmChris]

55. GQP Plants

Rightwing deepstate!

[Snoopy 7]

56. don't forget

When Hillary was running against trump there was a story about how the FBI office was like a trump fraternity.

[Marcuse]

59. A trump frat that conspired with Russians against Hillary.

[link:https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-special-agent-charge-fbi-new-york-counterintelligence-division-charged-violating-us|

[The Wizard]

58. We are suffering from

minority rule with no accountability.