Trump's Purge of the FBI Is Complete

[babylonsister]

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/08/13/peter-strzok-fired-donald-trump-fbi-219355

Trump’s Purge of the FBI Is Complete
With the odd firing of Peter Strzok, the president has cleansed the bureau of the men who started the Russia investigation. This is not normal.
By BRADLEY P. MOSS
August 13, 2018

snip//

What was so unusual in the context of Strzok’s firing, however, was the direct intervention of Deputy Director David Bowdich into the process. Just like in any other FBI disciplinary proceeding, Strzok was initially afforded the right to appeal the proposed termination of his employment to Candace M. Will, the head of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility. I have appeared before Will several times on behalf of FBI clients and I can state from personal experience that she is well-credentialed and compassionate, but ultimately very strict. She is a firm believer in the notion that the FBI has to hold itself to the highest ethical and moral standards and that is often reflected in her determinations. In 11 years of practice, I cannot think of a single time I have ever managed to persuade Will to reverse a proposed termination of an FBI official’s employment.

Nonetheless, according to a statement from Strzok’s attorney, Will chose not to uphold the proposed termination of Strzok’s employment. Instead, she concluded that it was appropriate to instead demote Strzok and suspend him for 60 days. She apparently also concluded that Strzok would be afforded what is known as a “last chance agreement,” which is effectively a written understanding between the agency and the employee that even the slightest instance of misconduct going forward can and will likely result in immediate termination. That Will reached this conclusion is very surprising and, in my professional opinion, speaks to just how thin the case for firing Strzok likely was.

That Deputy Director Bowdich chose to overrule Will is what takes this matter so far outside the ordinary practice of the FBI disciplinary process. I have never seen senior FBI leadership unilaterally and directly intervene in such a manner, whether in my client’s favor or otherwise. If Strzok had not been satisfied with Will’s determination, appealing to Deputy Director Bowdich would not even have been a formal option. His final stage of administrative appeal would have been before the Disciplinary Review Board, which is comprised of three senior FBI officials but to my knowledge does not typically (if ever) include the deputy director.

To be clear: No legal restriction likely prevented Deputy Director Bowdich from directly intervening. After all, Strzok was effectively an “at-will” employee. What is concerning here is the continuous and repeated appearance of political considerations seeping into the traditionally apolitical disciplinary process at the FBI. President Trump made no bones about his distaste for Agent Strzok, just as he similarly publicly criticized Director Comey and Director McCabe prior to their terminations. All three men played or were still playing a role in the investigation into the president’s campaign before they were fired.

With the firing of Peter Strzok, the president’s purge of senior FBI leadership who helped launch that investigation is now complete. For those wondering whether Trump would allow the bureau to do its job without political interference from the White House, I think we have our answer.

[C_U_L8R]

1. Trump dreams of his own political police.

His Gestapo. Let's hope the FBI ranks don't cave to his threats and intimidation. Resist.

[babylonsister]

3. Seems they caved with Strzok.

Maybe this will light a fire under Mueller. One can hope.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

2. It wasn't that long ago

That he was considering a secret security force (ala Erik Prince's Blackwater) to conduct activities that could not be legally carried out by the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc.

[oberliner]

4. Rachel Maddow discussing this as well

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. Rachel is on this tonight

[janx]

6. One guy's opinion. I'm not impressed. n/t

[babylonsister]

9. Whether you're impressed or not,

that's what has been done.

[certainot]

7. strzok was fired because of public pressure like that that nunez heard from

a potential donor the other night in those tapes where the dipshit asked about the firing of rosenstein - all this shit is based on the repetition of 1500 coordinated radio stations that liberals continue to ignore despite the ability with artificial intelligence to transcribe it for $5/hr so they don't have to hurt their ears listening to it.

they couldn't have done it without the total ignore-ance of talk radio by liberals.

they can't do shit without public pressure (the talk radio dittohead base) and that's generated in large part by 1500 radio stations

and it continues

[dlk]

8. How Will This Major Loss of Senior Counterintelligence Talent Harm Our Nation on Down the Road?

Frightening to think about. This makes our president look more and more like an agent of our enemy. Thank you GOP.

[Achilleaze]

10. The KGOP republican purge of American patriots

could not have been better orchestrated by Pooty Poot himself.

[wishstar]

11. The purge is not over-Trump/Repubs in Congress/Fox are going after Bruce Ohr now

just because he was one of the first in FBI to see the Steele Dossier and he had contacts with Christopher Steele in 2016 and his wife worked for Fusion, so the rightwing conspiracy machine is wanting his head too. Repubs in Congress already announced he is going to be subjected to a hearing like the horrible bashing insult-fest they gave Strzok.