Johnson Walks It Back: 'Real Possibility' That 'Secret Society' Text Was A Joke

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo

By Nicole Lafond | January 25, 2018 1:27 pm

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has spent the past two days peddling his theory that there’s a “secret society” within the FBI holding “secret meetings off-site,” perpetuating the Republicans’ campaign to discredit the agency amid its Russia probe. Now, he’s open to the “real possibility” that his proof of the “secret society” was just a joke.

During an interview with Fox News Tuesday evening, Johnson claimed he had an informant who told him about secret FBI meetings that were held off-site after the 2016 election. He later claimed he borrowed the “secret society” language from a text exchange between two FBI officials who are at the center of a conservative firestorm over whether there’s an anti-Trump bias within the FBI.

ABC News obtained a copy of the text message exchange and reported Wednesday evening that the text in question stands alone in a series of messages and lacks context. ABC and CNN have since concluded that the message was likely a joke. When CNN’s Manu Raju asked Thursday whether the text could have been sent in jest, Johnson said: “It’s a real possibility.”

Republicans have been up in arms over these text messages ever since they were released by the Justice Department late last year. The texts were exchanged between two FBI officials who are under suspicion of having an anti-Trump bias and worked for special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Peter Strzok, a top counterintelligence official, was removed from the probe this summer after the messages were found and former FBI aide Lisa Page had already left the investigation by the time they came out.

-snip-

Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/johnson-real-possibility-secret-society-joke

[FSogol]

1. There is a Real Possibility That Sen Ron Johnson is A Joke

[NewJeffCT]

9. I think it's pretty much a certainty

that he's a joke

[dawg day]

2. This is all pretty creepy--

These two people were exchanging texts because they were romantically involved. it's not some conspiracy that they were in constant contact and making jokes.

[irisblue]

3. Wisconsin you have a putz

::Ohio does have some as well, but they haven't said much about this yet.

[lkinwi]

6. Yes we do! Putz is actually one of the nicer names that I would give him.

[Sophia4]

4. People who apply to work for the FBI are probably rather devoted to law and

order and, on the average, more toward the conservative side. They see a lot of awful things. They deal with a lot of horrible perpetrators. They probably are, in general, not a lot of bleeding hearts. I seriously doubt that the FBI at any time in history has had a liberal bias.

That does not mean that there were necessarily a lot of Trump supporters among the FBI agents or in the Justice Department. But, probably not a lot of Hillary supporters either.

As for the lawyers in the Justice Department, a lot of them could probably make a lot more money in private practice. They are dedicated to law and order and give up a lot to be in the Justice Department, and their political views should be their own business.

And I have said "a lot" more about this than I probably should!

[erronis]

17. Maybe not "conservative" in the political sense, but maintaining the country's values

Law enforcement, and especially the FBI, are subject to very rigorous interviews, not just on hire but throughout their career. I have several friends who have worked fairly high up in federal justice/law enforcement and they are personally careful about attitudes and actions.

The same is not true of the congress, or apparently the executive branch. Increasingly it seems that the ticket to power is to show how partisan you can be - towards the rw yelpers.

The Executive Branch is off on its own roller-coaster of inanity. While it might be fun to be in one of the cars, you know the ride will end in a disaster. Just take some more drugs.

[Sophia4]

19. Right. The FBI and Justice Dept. types are not the wild-eyed types.

In that sense I mean "conservative." They have to put up with a lot of supervision and rules. It's highly unlikely that they would form a political "secret society" though they might joke about such things because it would seem so crazy to them that it would seem silly.

[watoos]

5. Something is seriously happening

The judiciary committee, Grassley, is releasing the Trump Jr. testimony, now this.

Something big is coming. I don't understand these 2 events, Wazzup?

[VMA131Marine]

7. Oh, JFC!

Of course it was a joke.

[sandensea]

8. It's ok, Ron. Just sacrifice your seat.

Having done so, I'm sure they'll forgive you.

[Jim__]

10. Hey, I was just throwing it against the wall.

You know, just to see if it would stick.

[jpak]

11. There is a real possibility the Johnson is a dumbass

yup

[NewJeffCT]

12. the secret society

was actually a group of pro Trump/anti Clinton insiders at the FBI New York office, which was nicknamed Trumplandia

[chuckstevens]

13. You were deliberately lying to cover from Trump!

Resign, because you're an embrassment to the State of Wisconsin!

[awesomerwb1]

14. What an imbecile

It's already out on Faux and conspiracy sister sites so he accomplished his objective.

[MrScorpio]

15. The biggest moron in the US Senate strikes again

[Sunlei]

16. This guy Johnson seems really freaked out about something?

[apnu]

18. Everybody! Come watch as man publicly unwads his panties and fails! (nt)

[Mr. Ected]

20. Just like Nunes, Ron Johnson likely sold his soul to Russia

These theatrics insinuate a much darker purpose than mere obfuscation or obstruction.

They're perps, and they're dissembling.