Trump Targeting, A Three Year Timeline Review
Sometimes things speak for themselves:
♦ September 2015 – Billionaire Paul Singer contracts with Glenn Simpson and Fusion GPS for opposition research on candidate Donald Trump during 2016 GOP presidential primary. Simpson prior work during time at Wall Street journal serves as reference.
♦ November 2015 – Simpson hires Nellie Ohr to assist on Trump project. Ohr was CIA open-source analyst. Revelations by NSA compliance officer in April 2016 point to November 2015 as origin of multiple unauthorized searches of NSA database.
♦ December 2015 – Mrs. Ohr contacts Christopher Steele, submitting data for cross-reference with sources and seeking collaboration on Trump project. Ohr using ham radio license as independent operator.
♦ January – March 2016 – GOP Presidential primary ongoing. Candidate Donald Trump wins majority of primary delegates from all early state contests. Momentum for Donald Trump becomes significant. Cruz, Kasich, Rubio final group along with Trump. Late March, Paul Singer contacts Glenn Simpson to cancel opposition research. NSA compliance officer notifies NSA Director Mike Rogers about unauthorized use of database by “contractors.” Rogers asks for full review.
♦ April 2016 – April 16, 2016, NSA compliance officer reports to Director Rogers of approximately 10,000 database searches, using “same identifiers” over “multiple dates.” Rogers responds by shutting down contractor access and blocking all FISA-702(17) “about” queries. April 17, 2016, Glenn Simpson wife, Mary Jacoby, visits White House. Glenn Simpson pitches preassembled oppo-research file on Trump to Clinton Team. Clinton lawyer Michael Sussmann takes over payments and signs contract with Fusion for continued work.
♦ May/June 2016 – Chris Steele constructing dossier on Donald Trump, submissions returned to Fusion GPS, Nellie Ohr and husband Bruce Ohr, #4 in DOJ-NSD. External contacts made to Trump orbit by foreign officials from Australia (Downer), U.K (Mifsud) and Cyprus. Trump campaign continues presidential primary victories. Trump enlists Paul Manafort as delegate manager for upcoming RNC convention.
♦ July 2016 – FBI opens official investigation of Trump for Russia collusion, predicated on contact from Australian Ambassador about non-existent claim Trump group receiving Clinton/DNC emails from Russian hackers. Attempted FISA application rejected.
♦ August 2016 – CIA Director John Brennan informs Harry Reid of Clinton oppo-research effort known colloquially as Trump-Russia. Former Acting CIA Director Mike Morrell, long time Clinton ally, publishes article in New York Times claiming Russians want Trump victory. Hillary proclaims vast Russian conspiracy theory.
♦ September 2016 – Director Brennan directly informs White House, President Obama, Susan Rice, Lisa Monaco of Clinton oppo-research effort known colloquially as Trump-Russia. Fusion GPS, Glenn Simpson and Michael Sussmann identified as sources for organizing oppo-research Steele Dossier.
♦ October 2016 – Steele Dossier assembly used by DOJ-NSD in FISA application against Trump campaign official Carter Page. Through April 2016, FBI used Carter Page as undercover employee in case against Russian Evgeny Buryakov; now October 2016, FBI claims Carter Page is official “agent of a foreign government” to gain FISA warrant. Steele Dossier serves as replacement for Woods File supporting Title-1 search warrant.
♦ November 2016 – Donald Trump wins 2016 presidential election defeating Hillary Clinton and stunning world. Clinton campaign blames Russians for her loss. Accuses Trump of colluding with Russia. Trump campaign and transition team now under Title-1 full counterintelligence surveillance by FBI via Page FISA warrant.
♦ December 2016 – Joint Analysis Report released by intelligence community, claiming Russians were involved in attempting to influence 2016 election. All Trump campaign and transition members under full physical and electronic surveillance. All communication intercepted. Officially FBI Director James Comey denies President-elect Trump under investigation.
♦ January 2017 – Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) released by Obama administration claiming confidence Russia had attempted to interfere in the 2016 election. Sanctions imposed by Obama; Russian diplomatic corps expelled. FISA surveillance warrant resubmitted with no new context and renewed by FISC without question.
♦ February 2017 – National Security Advisor Michael Flynn under fire for talking to Russian ambassador in December during Christmas holiday. Flynn wrongly accused of discussing possible policy changes and not to worry about Obama sanctions. Full court press by FBI and DOJ to leak information to media about Trump under FBI counterintelligence investigation. James Comey leaks information to friend, Columbia University Professor Daniel Richman as intermediary to media. Washington Post publish article citing FBI intercept of Flynn-Kislyak phone call.
♦ March 2017 – • On 16th HPSCI Chairman Devin Nunes releases information to public about Obama presidential daily briefing containing information about Trump-Russia collusion investigation and surveillance of Trump campaign by FBI. First public indications that “wires were actually tapped.” • On 17th copy of FISA application delivered from FISA Court to Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice-Chairman Mark Warner. Shortly after 4pm, Warner instructs SSCI Security Director James Wolfe to leak the FISA application to media. Wolfe transmits 82 pictures to Politico journalist Ali Watkins via encrypted phone images [FISA application 83 pages with one blank page]. FISA application returned to courier FBI Agent Brian Dugan. • March 20th, James Comey testifies to HPSCI during open hearing admitting for first time publicly that President Trump, and his entire administration, is under official FBI counterintelligence investigation. Comey claims no information previously given to congressional oversight due to “sensitivity of the matter.” Attorney General Jeff Sessions forced to recuse.
♦ April 2017 – Absent AG, and without confirmed DAG, interim and acting DAG Dana Boente receives request for FISA renewal from FBI Director James Comey. On same day FISA application is renewed for second time, journalist Ali Watkins -having ownership of illegal and leaked unredacted FISA application- writes first details of FISA application, then transfers employment to New York Times for senior role in Trump-Russia reporting. FBI continues leaking details of investigation to media. Mid April Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein arrives to take all responsibilities related to AG Sessions recusal.
♦ May 2017 – Early May, Deputy AG Rosenstein has phone call with FBI Director James Comey, “What do you want me to do – wear a wire?” Mid-May, Rosenstein takes former FBI Director Robert Mueller to White House for oval office meeting with President Trump. Next morning Mueller returns to White House to pick up cell phone he accidentally left in Oval Office. Later in afternoon, President Trump fires FBI Director James Comey. Following day Rosenstein talks to Mueller (3X) and coordinates meeting. Robert Mueller appointed Special Counsel; Mueller chief deputy Andrew Weissmann assumes organization of investigation.
♦ June 2017 – Weissmann assembles Crossfire Hurricane team into Special Counsel. WFO FBI Agent Brian Dugan begins to suspect SSCI leak of FISA application based on media reporting. Agent Dugan requests and receives first warrant for cell phone records of SSCI Security Director Wolfe and NYT journalist Ali Watkins. June 29th Andrew Weissmann requests renewal of Carter Page FISA warrant to continue surveillance of administration. Application renewed.
♦ July 2017 – While conducting investigation of internal FBI conduct during Clinton email investigation, Office of Inspector General Michael Horowitz discovers inappropriate activity within FBI investigative team. Horowitz informs DAG Rosenstein and SC Robert Mueller about Lisa Page and Peter Strzok compromise. Weissmann removes Page and Strzok to avoid scrutiny by OIG of special counsel team. President Trump White House Counsel Don McGahn discovers all 2016/2017 transition team emails, phone records, electronic communications and devices have been given to Andrew Weissmann by General Services Administration as requested by the FISA authority carried by special counsel.
♦ August 2017 – DAG Rod Rosenstein officially expands Special Counsel investigative scope as requested by Andrew Weissmann to include five specific targets: Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos and Walid Phares [targeting angle = FARA violations, per DOJ-NSD authority] Mr. Phares organized interview between Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abel Fattah al-Sisi during 2016 campaign. FISA surveillance authority used to collect evidence of financial transactions, banking records, travel, communication and full Title-1 counterintelligence operations deployed against targets.
♦ September 2017 – FBI Agent Brian Dugan conducting surveillance of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and communication between SSCI Vice-Chair Mark Warner and Chris Steele representative Adam Waldman. Dugan intercepts Waldman side of conversation for investigative file. Weissmann and 18 lawyers, 50 FBI agents and 200 staff continue Trump targeting operations, continue full Title-1 authorized FISA surveillance, and outline cases against Manafort (financial crimes/FARA), Flynn (FARA), and Papadopoulos (lying to investigators).
♦ October 2017 – FISA search warrant used by Mueller/Weissmann special counsel expires. Weissmann requests expanded scope memo from Rosenstein to target Michael Flynn Jr for use against his father, Michael Flynn. Cases against Manafort and Papadopoulos ongoing. Media 24/7 with Trump-Russia collusion. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Brian Dugan first approaches SSCI Security Director James Wolfe about FISA leak and media contacts. Agent Dugan forced by USAO Jessie Liu to inform SSCI Chair Burr and SSCI Vice-Chair Warner about ongoing leak investigation.
♦ November 2017 – All prior surveillance and assembled evidence used via Title-1 search warrant authority, in combination with FARA and threats against Mike Flynn Jr, used to coerce a guilty plea by Michael Flynn (Nov 31). House Intelligence Committee now seeking to review FISA warrant, DOJ and FBI denying access. Political debate between Chairman Devin Nunes and ranking member Adam Schiff ongoing.
♦ December 2017 – AFTER securing Flynn guilty plea, immediately first reports of Lisa Page and Peter Strzok text messages released. Within days, Bruce Ohr identified, demoted twice, former Crossfire Hurricane investigation now being scrutinized. Nellie Ohr’s name surfaces. Chris Steele and Fusion GPS now being reviewed with increased suspicion. Testimony to Senate by Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson “accidentally” leaked by SSCI member Dianne Feinstein (keep stories straight, motive). Nunes memo -vs- Schiff memo battle for media narrative. Internal details of prior FBI targeting operation begin to surface with evidence showing sketchy behavior. FBI Agent Brian Dugan confronts SSCI Security Director James Wolfe with evidence against him, Wolfe admits to leaks. SSCI fire Wolfe.
♦ January 2018 – Apex for Special Counsel. Brian Dugan assembles file against Wolfe submits for grand jury indictment. Due to file touching on Trump-Russia issues, Wolfe criminal activity file submitted to Special Counsel Weissmann for review. Nunes memo released and discussed.
♦ February 2018 – Text messages between SSCI Vice-Chair Warner and Chris Steele layer Adam Waldman surface. Andrew Weissmann organizes a press conference for Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein to conduct, announcing indictments of 17 Russians and entities for 2016 election interference; this is timed as Trump departs for summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
♦ March 2018 – Public begins to absorb totality of FBI (mis)conduct in the Trump targeting operation. The information war is in full swing. Narrative battles are throughout media.
♦ April 2018 – Leaks of the FISA application against Carter Page now under scrutiny. A criminal referral from OIG toward FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe for lying to INSD investigators about his media leaks.
♦ June 2018 – The criminal indictment of SSCI Security Director James Wolfe unsealed and made public.
♦ July 2018 – The DOJ informs the FISC that despite issues surfacing about the predicate of the FISA warrant they authorized against Carter Page for being an agent of a foreign power, everything was ok. A week later, the DOJ then releases to the public the first FISA Title-1 search warrant ever seen, …
…the publicly released version of the FISA application is the exact copy of FISA that was contained in the FBI evidence file against James Wolfe. The same exact document hand carried from the FISC to the SSCI on March 17, 2017, was the copy released by the DOJ in July 2018; not the DOJ-NSD copy. How did that happen?
♦ December 2018 – Despite the DOJ refusing to indict James Wolfe for leaking the Top-Secret Compartmented Intelligence Carter Page FISA application, and after the guilty plea was entered for lying to investigators, and while the Judge was considering Wolfe’s sentencing, in December of 2018, after the midterm election and under penalty of perjury, the USAO in Washington DC swears to the Judge in the case that James Wolfe leaked the FISA application.
Cover up much?
This timeline is off the top of my head for the interests of the group who requested. I may come back and fill in more details and citations, but this should get you started. For everyone else, remember, everything at CTH is always free for use as needed.
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