DOJ INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE FISA ABUSES

[Image from wikipedia]

     It finally has been confirmed by various news reports today that the D.O.J. Inspector
General has opened an investigation into the FISA abuses by top members and agents of the D.O.J. and F.B.I.  You will, of course, recall that, according to the Nunes memo, a small group of top D.O.J. and F.B.I. officials, among other alleged abuses, used the "salacious and unverified" dirty Steele dossier to obtain FISA warrants to spy on the Trump campaign. If substantiated, this would be the first reported time in American history that one candidate (and top administration officials) have spied on the opposing party's candidate during an election year.

     As a former federal prosecutor, I cannot imagine a larger, more serious white collar crime! Here's hoping that justice will be served and that such abuses never occur again. Here's also hoping that the guilty are brought to justice!

     What is your opinion?

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REMAIN CONCERNING FISA ABUSES

[Photo from wikipedia]

Many questions remain concerning the alleged abuses of the FISA court process by top DOJ lawyers and FBI agents during the 2016 presidential campaign and thereafter.

For example, will Attorney General Jeff Sessions appoint a special prosecutor to investigate this abuse of power? In an interview yesterday with Fox journalist Shannon Bream, Sessions again indicated that the FISA abuses would be investigated and that he has also appointed an experienced DOJ attorney from outside Washington to look into it.

How does the FISA Court feel about reportedly being abused in this manner?

But I also wonder how much information was obtained by federal agents?  How far did this corruption extend, after they allegedly abused the FISA court to spy on the opposition candidate during an election year, while using opposition research paid for by the Clinton campaign and the DNC? In other words, has anyone investigated how many tape recordings were made and with whom, or how many emails were tracked, and on whose private conversations did agents eavesdrop?

Many questions remain and yet there are so few answers! Here's hoping that somebody, perhaps the Inspector General or maybe Mr. Session's unnamed attorney friend, will shake some trees and get some answers!

LAWYER UP AND SHUT UP!

[Image of the U.S. Constitution from wikipedia]

Let's assume, hypothetically, that you have been approached by a federal agent who wants to interrogate you about alleged crimes.  Do you know which Amendments to the Constitution guarantee your rights to "lawyer up and shut up?"

The Fifth Amendment guarantees you the right not to say anything which would incriminate
you.

The Sixth Amendment has been interpreted by the courts to guarantee you the right to counsel.

These are the important Constitutional Amendments and rights which allow each of us to "lawyer up and shut up!"