#charles mcgonigal

[makingdonalddrumpfagain]

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

January 26, 2023

Heather Cox Richardson

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) today asked six former presidents and their vice presidents to look to see if they have any presidential records, including documents marked classified, in their possession. It sent the letters to representatives for former presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan and former vice presidents Mike Pence, Joe Biden, Dick Cheney, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle. It did not make a similar request to former president Jimmy Carter because although he was the one who signed the Presidential Records Act into law, it did not go into effect until he left office.

This request illuminates the crucial importance in our society of disinformation: deliberate lies or misdirection to convince people of things that are not true.

At this point, documents bearing classification markings have turned up in the possession of Trump, Biden, and Pence. The NARA request suggests the possibility that other high-ranking officials also have documents that they are unaware they hold. Trump and his allies insist that the special counsel investigating him for potential criminal behavior means that he is being treated differently than the others, with the implication that he is being treated unfairly.

But the issue has never been about the documents themselves, although it is a problem that any of the former officials have documents marked classified. The issue was that NARA repeatedly asked Trump to produce documents it knew he had, and that he repeatedly refused even after being subpoenaed. Finally, the Department of Justice felt obliged to get a court order to search his property, and even now his lawyers refuse to sign off on paperwork saying he has turned in all the documents he stole. In contrast, Biden and Pence apparently did not know they had any documents with classified markings, alerted NARA as soon as they realized it, and have cooperated with authorities.

The cases are not the same.

For a long time now, the right wing has muddied the political waters by creating such confusion over things that should be clear—flooding the zone with sh*t, as Trump advisor Stephen Bannon put it—that people can’t figure out what is really going on.

An attempt to continue that strategy is what’s behind the House Republicans’ establishment of a select subcommittee on the “weaponization” of the federal government, positioned under the Committee on the Judiciary. The representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has put on that committee are grandstanders, and they have indicated they plan to argue that the Biden administration has politicized the government. Considering the representatives involved, we can expect lots of yelling and sound bites for right-wing media, designed to build the narrative they want their voters to believe.

But the truth is that it was the Trump administration that sought to weaponize the government against their perceived enemies. News broke today that Trump’s attorney general, William Barr, deliberately tried to use the Department of Justice to undermine the officials who had—according to the Justice Department’s own independent inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz—launched the Russia investigation properly and with good reason.  

The story, by Charlie Savage, Adam Goldman, and Katie Benner in the New York Times, also told us more. After the report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller detailing contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives came out, Barr consistently spun the information inaccurately to make the best possible case for Trump. He convinced many Americans to think that there was nothing between the Trump campaign and Russia, although in fact Mueller and the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report that came out afterward concluded the opposite.

Barr undermined not only the Mueller report but also the inspector general’s report, ignoring its findings and telling the press—inaccurately—that the FBI had opened the Russia investigation on the “thinnest of suspicions that, in my view, were insufficient,” or “without any basis.” (In fact, the FBI opened the inquiry when an Australian diplomat warned that a member of the Trump campaign had boasted that Russian operatives had “dirt” on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Australia and the United States, along with Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, are part of an intelligence alliance known informally as Five Eyes. It was this information that Horowitz found compelling enough to open an investigation.)

After the Mueller report’s release, Barr appointed a special counsel, John Durham, to investigate the investigators. Durham used the very tactics of which the Republicans’ accused the Democrats, using bad information to try to get information on a private citizen. But no matter how hard he tried, he did not, in fact, turn up information indicating the investigators had conducted themselves improperly.

What Durham did find, though, were accusations from Italian officials that Trump himself might have engaged in financial crimes. The accusations were too serious for him and Barr to ignore. Barr authorized Durham’s inquiry to become a criminal inquiry, but here’s the kicker: when news of that new phase became public, Barr sat back as media spun the new criminal inquiry as proof of misbehavior on the part of those who had conducted the Russia inquiry. Trump even told followers that the criminals were former president Barack Obama, former vice president Joe Biden, and leading FBI and intelligence officials. The actual target of the criminal investigation was Trump himself.

In the end, Durham never found anything to contradict Inspector General Horowitz’s report saying the Russia investigation was begun properly, and the only cases he brought failed. But the cozy relationship between him and Barr violated department policy for special counsels, according to legal analyst Lisa Rubin, as they allegedly discussed the case frequently, including occasionally over drinks. A special counsel is supposed to be independent.

The New York Times article details how the Trump administration worked overtime to use the apparatus of government to convince the American people that there was nothing to the Russia investigation, although repeated reports said otherwise.

This story seems especially relevant in light of the arrest this week of Charles McGonigal, who was the special agent in charge of counterintelligence in the FBI's New York Field Office from 2016 to 2018 and, before that, was the section chief of the Cyber-Counterintelligence Coordination Section at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. McGonigal supervised and participated in investigations of Russian oligarchs. McGonigal is charged with working for Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin. Deripaska was also a close associate of political operative Paul Manafort, who ran Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

In a powerful Twitter thread today, scholar of authoritarianism Timothy Snyder noted that authorities, as well as the American people, have not taken the threat of Russian influence in our politics seriously enough. He pointed out that in 2016, McCarthy himself i said he thought Putin was paying Trump, and now, just after the McGonigal story broke, McCarthy threw Adam Schiff—who was key in chasing down Trump’s machinations over Ukraine—off the House intelligence committee. “Schiff is [an] expert on Russian influence operations,” Snyder wrote. “It exhibits carelessness about national security to exclude him. It is downright suspicious to exclude him now.”

Meanwhile, newly elected House Republican Cory Mills of Florida, endorsed by Trump, handed out defused grenades today on the floor of the House. Mills is an election denier who boasted on his website that he sold tear gas used on Black Lives Matter protesters. Mills accompanied the grenades with a note suggesting he was sending them because McCarthy has put him on the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees.

But, as with most of the performances coming out of the right wing these days, that explanation seems intended to be misdirection. It’s impossible to ignore the threat wrapped up in handing a colleague a grenade.

—

Notes:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/26/politics/archives-letter-former-presidents-vice-presidents-classified-documents/index.html

Lisa Rubin @lawofrubyOne of the most troubling aspects of NYT's reporting on the Durham investigation is now close Bill Barr was to that investigation. That's *not* what the Special Counsel regulations envision. At all. 1/

7:49 PM ∙ Jan 26, 20237,492Likes1,862Retweets

Timothy Snyder @TimothyDSnyderIn April 2016, I broke the story of Trump and Putin, using Russian open sources. Afterwards, I heard vague intimations that something was awry in the FBI in New York, specifically counter-intelligence and cyber. We now have a suggestion as to why. 0/20

6:06 PM ∙ Jan 25, 202345,642Likes16,398Retweets

https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-fbi-official-charles-mcgonigal-arrested-ties-russian/story?id=96609658

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/26/cory-mills-grenades-house/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/us/politics/durham-trump-russia-barr.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/house-majority-leader-to-colleagues-in-2016-i-think-putin-pays-trump/2017/05/17/515f6f8a-3aff-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[uboat53]

A few days ago I read about a former FBI agent who's been charged with various crimes of corruption, particularly working with a notorious Russian oligarch. This FBI agent was also involved with the Clinton e-mail and Trump-Russia investigations during the 2016 campaign.

I should point out that, at this point, there's no direct indication that his role in those cases played any role in the outcome of the election, but I'll admit it doesn't make me feel comfortable about those events either.

If you're interested in more details about it, this piece does a pretty good overview:

[queenvlion]

[theambitiouswoman]

My Book Recommendations for Developing Self Discipline:

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear: This book offers a practical and science-based approach to building good habits and breaking bad ones. It teaches how to identify the root cause of your behavior, how to make small changes that lead to big results, and how to stay consistent over time.

"The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg: This book explores the science behind habit formation and how you can change your habits to improve your life. It offers practical strategies for developing good habits and breaking bad ones, based on research from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics.

"The Willpower Instinct" by Kelly McGonigal: This book draws on research from psychology, neuroscience, and mindfulness to offer practical strategies for improving self-discipline and willpower. It teaches how to overcome procrastination, resist temptation, and achieve your goals.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey: This classic book teaches seven habits that can help you become more effective in your personal and professional life. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility, goal-setting, and continuous improvement.

"Discipline Equals Freedom" by Jocko Willink: This book offers a no-nonsense approach to self-discipline, drawing on the author's experience as a Navy SEAL. It teaches how to develop discipline in all areas of your life, from fitness and nutrition to work and relationships.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND:

6. "No Excuses: The Power of Self-Discipline" is a book by Brian Tracy that explores the importance of self-discipline in achieving success. Tracy argues that self-discipline is the key to achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life, and offers practical strategies for developing self-discipline.

In the book, Tracy emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for your own life, setting clear goals, and developing the habits and routines necessary to achieve those goals. He also discusses the role of motivation and willpower in achieving success, and offers strategies for overcoming procrastination and staying focused on your goals.

Overall, "No Excuses" is a motivational and practical guide to developing self-discipline and achieving your full potential.

[stupittmoran]

FBI agent Charles McGonigal who investigated Trump for colluding with Russia, is set to plead guilty for colluding with Russia

[posttexasstressdisorder]

[morosestferret]

Ex-FBI counterintelligence chief Charles McGonigal sentenced to 50 months in prison for working with Russian oligarch

[quoththemaven]

2023 Favoritest Book Reads

Vineland - Pynchon, Thomas

Prophet - Blaché, Sin & Helen Macdonald

And the Ass Saw the Angel - Cave, Nick

Lou Reed: The King of New York - Hermes, Will 

The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) - Pratchett, Terry

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative - Kleon, Austin 

Sonic Life: A Memoir - Moore, Thurston

The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth, #1) - Jemisin, N.K. 

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law - Roach, Mary

Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too - Sun, Jonny

The Night Masquerade (Binti, #3) - Okorafor, Nnedi 

Home (Binti, #2) - Okorafor, Nnedi 

Binti: Sacred Fire (Binti, #1.5) - Okorafor, Nnedi 

Binti (Binti, #1) - Okorafor, Nnedi 

Black Paradox - Ito, Junji

David Bowie's Low (33 1/3) - Wilcken, Hugo

Faith, Hope and Carnage - Cave, Nick

The Sirens of Titan - Vonnegut Jr., Kurt

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth - Aslan, Reza

Smashed - Ito, Junji

Time Shelter - Gospodinov, Georgi

Brian Eno's Another Green World (33 1/3) - Dayal, Geeta

Armageddon in Retrospect - Vonnegut Jr., Kurt

Neverwhere (London Below, #1) - Gaiman, Neil 

The Committed (The Sympathizer #2) - Nguyen, Viet Thanh 

Into the Great Wide Open - Canty, Kevin 

Mongrels - Jones, Stephen Graham 

DisneyWar - Stewart, James B.

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex - Roach, Mary

The Left Hand of Darkness - Le Guin, Ursula K.

My Bloody Valentine's Loveless (33 1/3) - McGonigal, Mike 

Suttree - McCarthy, Cormac

Life's Work: A Memoir - Milch, David

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - Schwab, V.E.

Against the Day - Pynchon, Thomas

Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood - Ryan, Maureen 

Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA (33 1/3) - Himes, Geoffrey

La Moustache - Carrère, Emmanuel

Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndroid (33 1/3) - Favreau, Alyssa 

Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea - Pinsker, Sarah 

The Man Without a Shadow - Oates, Joyce Carol

The City & the City - Miéville, China 

Mem - Morrow, Bethany C. 

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - Harari, Yuval Noah

Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs (33 1/3) - Eidelstein, Eric

Gutshot - Gray, Amelia 

The Price of Time (Watch What You Wish For #1) - Tigner, Tim 

The Revolution Was Televised: The Cops, Crooks, Slingers and Slayers Who Changed TV Drama Forever - Sepinwall, Alan 

Just Kids - Smith, Patti 

Sounds Like Titanic: A Memoir - Hindman, Jessica Chiccehitto 

Flicker - Roszak, Theodore

Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers - Miller, James Andrew 

Flashback - Simmons, Dan

Flaming Lips' Zaireeka (33 1/3) - Richardson, Mark 

The Sympathizer (The Sympathizer #1) - Nguyen, Viet Thanh 

Pavement's Wowee Zowee (33 1/3) - Charles, Bryan

Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1) - Gibson, William

Invisible Cities - Calvino, Italo

Don't Fear the Reaper (The Indian Lake Trilogy, #2) - Jones, Stephen Graham 

The Wes Anderson Collection - Seitz, Matt Zoller

Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said - Dick, Philip K.

Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly (33 1/3) - Maner, Sequoia

The Nineties - Klosterman, Chuck

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Zevin, Gabrielle 

Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age - Mitenbuler, Reid

A Heart That Works - Delaney, Rob 

Imago (Xenogenesis, #3) - Butler, Octavia E.

Cryptonomicon (Crypto, #1) - Stephenson, Neal 

Blacktop Wasteland - Cosby, S.A. 

Pearl Jam's Vs. (33 1/3) - Brownlee, Clint

Tracy Flick Can't Win - Perrotta, Tom

Devil House - Darnielle, John 

Adulthood Rites (Xenogenesis, #2) - Butler, Octavia E.

Heat 2 - Mann, Michael & Meg Gardiner

Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (33 1/3) - Ott, Chris

Dawn (Xenogenesis, #1) - Butler, Octavia E.

The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer - Stephenson, Neal 

The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Bastard, #3) - Lynch, Scott 

The Year of the Flood (MaddAddam, #2) - Atwood, Margaret 

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

On the eve of the 2016 election, the New York Times ran a sensational article stating that the FBI had told them that "none of the investigations so far have found any conclusive or direct link between Mr. Trump and the Russian government."

Now we learn that the NYT source for this story, FBI New York counterintelligence head Charles McGonigal, was on the take from Oleg Deripaska, a man assessed to be an influence agent of the Russian intelligence services. He has just entered a guilty plea on charges to that effect.

[Robert Scott Horton]

[uboat53]

All right, we need to revisit 2016 for a minute.

A former FBI Agent named Charles McGonigal has been charged with taking cash from a Russian oligarch named Oleg Deripaska. Deripaska is better known as the guy who employed Paul Manafort, the one-time campaign manager of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and McGonigal is the guy who oversaw the FBI's New York counterintelligence division from 2016 to 2018.

You may note that, in 2016, the FBI investigated and dismissed various accusations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and it also announced the re-opening of its investigation into Hillary Clinton's personal e-mail server only days before the presidential election. McGonigal had key roles in both of those.

As head of the NY COINTEL office, he was the one in charge of investigations into Trump's Russia links and was also involved in the investigation of Hillary Clinton. The relevant announcements on both investigations (re-opening the Clinton investigation and declaring that no connections had been found between Trump and Russia) both came within weeks of McGonigal assuming the post.

At this point the government is only accusing McGonigal of having become an agent of a (sanctioned) Russian oligarch (immediately) after leaving his position at the FBI, but these are rarely the kinds of relationships that develop overnight. I think it's reasonable to ask if McGonigal affected the policy of FBI with regards to key moments in the 2016 election.

If you're interested, a presidential historian has done a pretty good job detailing all of the publicly available information regarding McGonigal, his connections to Russia, and relevant assignments within the FBI in the 2010s.

[wherelibertydwells]

On Saturday afternoon, former FBI agent Charles McGonigal, who was head of counterintelligence in the New York Field Office and a part of the investigation into supposed ties between Trump and Russia, was arrested over his alleged ties to Russia.

[mojave-pete]

@realDonaldTrump

Remember in Helsinki when a 3rd rate reporter asked me, essentially, who I trusted more, President Putin of Russia, or our “Intelligence” lowlifes. My instinct at the time was that we had really bad people in the form of James Comey, McCabe (whose wife was being helped out by Crooked Hillary while Crooked was under investigation!), Brennan, Peter Strzok (whose wife is at the SEC) & his lover, Lisa Page. Now add McGonigal & other slime to the list. Who would you choose, Putin or these Misfits?

@Kash

Criminals will be Criminals together, especially Strzok at the FBI: we know he had another indicted crook working with him (McGonigal) on Russia Gate- read the receipts #FWK thanks @believemedia