BREAKING: Senior Congressional Aide Says Chaffetz Tweeted Comey Letter Before Democrats Even Saw It

[bench scientist]

Source: Daily Kos

FBI Director James Comey’s recent letter to Congress about the Hillary Clinton email investigation is looking more and more like a political dirty trick. Earlier this evening, we learned that the FBI didn't have a warrant to read the emails discovered on Anthony Weiner’s computer, and therefore Comey doesn’t know if they are even significant to the Clinton investigation. Now, Shareblue reports that Comey may have provided early access to his innuendo-filled letter to Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz, enabling him to tweet about it and frame the media narrative before Democratic members of Congress even received copies of the letter.

Here is the statement by a senior Democratic congressional aide (emphasis in original):

Democratic Ranking Members on the relevant committees didn’t receive Comey’s letter until after the Republican Chairmen. In fact, the Democratic Ranking Members didn’t receive it until after the the Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Jason Chaffetz, tweeted it out and made it public.
If true, this implies that FBI Director Comey may have deliberately helped Republicans by giving them a heads-up about his bombshell letter while depriving Democrats in Congress of an equal opportunity to consider its contents and prepare their reaction to it in the media.

This may constitute evidence of intent to influence the presidential election, which would be a violation of the Hatch Act. If Comey had acted evenhandedly, he would have sent the letter to both Republican and Democratic members of Congress at the same time.

James Comey’s reckless and possibly illegal actions as FBI Director in t

Read more: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/10/29/1588520/-BREAKING-Senior-Congressional-Aide-Says-Chaffetz-Tweeted-Comey-Letter-Before-Democrats-Even-Saw-It

---

Looks Chaffetz timed this to sandbag the Democratic House members after it had gone public.
Hope he loses big in UT. ( unlikely though)

[MADem]

1. I've been carping about the HATCH ACT since this story broke.

That's "pernicious" interference by ANY measure.

"Jason in the House" needs to be "Jason in the BIG House." Little fucker.

[spooky3]

4. Former Bush Admin official files complaint against FBI w/its OSC

This is described in a NYTimes op ed that he wrote:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/10/30/opinion/on-clinton-emails-did-the-fbi-director-abuse-his-power.html?referer=http://m.dailykos.com/stories/2016/10/30/1588609/-Former-Bush-Ethics-Head-Files-Complaint-Against-Comey-Alleging-Potential-Violations-Of-Hatch-Act

[bench scientist]

9. exactly spooky, these guys need to be charged.

[spooky3]

12. Agree!!!

[wordpix]

60. to repukes planning impeachment of new Pres. HRC: BushCo claims of WMD in Iraq

and Cheney's outing of Valerie Plame are then on the table. They want to go the Banana Republican route, we should match them.

[bench scientist]

6. agreed!!

He needs to be investigated. An attorney under GWB has filed an ethics complaint about Comey re: the Hatch act.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/30/opinion/on-clinton-emails-did-the-fbi-director-abuse-his-power.html

[Maraya1969]

62. #ComeyandChaffetzInBed" New hashtag

[Raster]

2. Chaffetz CLEARLY has an agenda:

Jason Chaffetz, R-Hypocrite, Utah, has made it very clear that once Clinton is elected, he plans on doing nothing but investigating, obstructing and creating general havoc for the Clinton Administration. Those are his stated goals.

Once we look a bit deeper at Chaffetz we find: (1) Chaffetz has a very bad case of "big man on campus," in other words, Chaffetz sees bigger and better for himself, and not just a regular run-of-the-mill Republican Congressman; (2) Chaffetz has already let it be known that he will be challenging Paul Ryan for the House Speaker position; and (3) Chaffetz appears to have the backing of the Congressional Freedom Caucus, the "Teapublican High Command." This entire Clinton persecution is Chaffetz "making his bones," and proving to the Teapublican High Command that he is willing to do whatever it takes to earn their backing.

Incidentally, the Freedom Caucus is the real reason the Orange Boner resigned from his Speakership and they are the rabble leading the "Night of the Long Knives" challenge against Speaker Ryan.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Caucus

The Freedom Caucus, also known as the House Freedom Caucus, is a congressional caucus consisting of conservative Republican members of the United States House of Representatives. It was formed by a group of Congressmen as a "smaller, more cohesive, more agile and more active" group of conservatives.

Many members are also part of the Republican Study Committee, another conservative House group. The caucus is sympathetic to the Tea Party movement. According to its mission statement, "The House Freedom Caucus gives a voice to countless Americans who feel that Washington does not represent them. We support open, accountable and limited government, the Constitution and the rule of law, and policies that promote the liberty, safety and prosperity of all Americans."

[Wellstone ruled]

16. Same individuals hang with the

the American Independence Party based in Utah. This is just the tip of the Iceberg. You haven't seen anything yet,rest assured there is more to come. Watch for noise out of Orin Hatch,he has Little Jason's back on this.

After the Federal Case against the Bundy Militia went South,you just knew something was up. These groups have the same agenda and the Militia's are just dupes and window dressing. And oh BTW,they do have a common connection and that is their respective Religions.

[Raster]

19. Yes. I am born and raised in the Church... though we parted company years ago...

...and I have suspected --for years now-- that the Church is no longer content with their brand of a theocracy in just their State...

ACTIONS THAT WOULD BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY:

1. Repeal Roe v. Wade;
2. Legally codify: "A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. Do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet."
3. Constitutional amendment PROHIBITING same-sex marriage and any form of marriage equality.

[Crash2Parties]

23. Dominionists have been saying for almost two decades that they'll do just this

...and they are right on schedule.

[Wellstone ruled]

30. Let's add Elimanation of Public Schools.

Privatize all Governmental Agencies,like Fire,Police,Roads and other Infrastructure. Privatize all Federal Lands,Eliminate the EPA,and zero use of Solar or Wind Power cause they own or have access to Billions in Coal Deposits. How about zero minimum wage,Activation of the Relief Society in ever town and village. For Pay Hospitals only. We could go on and on for quite some time.

Utah is a land onto itself,outsiders not welcome.

[Raster]

33. Yes. I grew up in Southeast Arizona...

...the other Utah.

[padfun]

86. So did I

Went to Buena High School.

[Raster]

87. Safford High...

...go Bulldogs!

[pangaia]

81. Let's be clear. There is more than one church.

[Raster]

82. Completely agree... although two in particular have made their anti-woman, anti-gay...

...agendas perfectly clear. NO ON H8! anyone? And while there are other churches passing the same fetid plate, these two are the most influential, wealthy and infrastructured, so their reach is literally far and wide.

[Maraya1969]

17. Time to share all about him on Twitter, Facebook and the rest of socail media

@RepChaffetz

Here are some good hashtags I found out last night to get seen.


I can't get these to come out right. It shows the hashtag, the audience numbers that the hashtag will get, how many times it will get retweeted and exposure per hour


Audience Retweet Exposure/hour

#trump 1,850 2,967 14,649,638

#imwithher 1,096 1,971 3,032,946

#rt 3,421 4,929 32,532,125



https://ritetag.com/best-hashtags-for/antitrump


(I'm just learning this hashtag thing but it makes sense if you want your message to get to the most people)

[duffyduff]

38. He does it, and HRC's approval ratings will be hovering at 100 percent

Don't these people ever learn? WRT Bill Clinton, the more those GOP idiots investigated him and even impeached him, the better his approval ratings.

People can smell bullshit a mile away.

[Blue_Roses]

73. ?

WTF?

[duffyduff]

74. It is true.

How old are you?

BC's approval numbers went up when the GOP investigated to the ying-yang. The same would happen with Hillary if they pull the same crap.

[Blue_Roses]

75. Old enough to know it's rude to ask someone's age but,

you're right. They did go up because I am old enough to remember. Maybe my age had something to do with how I initially read your post.

[ReformedGOPer]

79. Not only did they go up, but

the R's lost the house. They just never learn.

[groundloop]

3. Makes you wonder how much arm twisting was applied to Comey

Not that he should be off the hook if indeed there was some arm twisting applied by the House teapublicans, but everything that transpired should be on the table for all Americans to see.

[LisaL]

5. I want to see Comey's emails.

[bench scientist]

8. I want to see Comey investigated under the Hatch act.

[FarPoint]

42. Yes!!!

Me too!!!

[cynzke]

57. And Chaffetz!

[DK504]

7. How is any of this legal?

Comey doesn't get a search warrant for a non-threatening situation, a non-situation at that, and allowed it to be leaked. Comey is influencing an election along with Jag-off Chafing, where is Loretta Lynch?

[LisaL]

11. He didn't just allow it to be leaked. He is the one who "leaked" it if you want to call it that.

He doesn't have a warrant, he claims he doesn't know if emails are significant, yet he send a letter to congress 11 days before the election.

[world wide wally]

27. "Allowed it"?

He leaked it himself! Even after being told not to by his boss.
Plus it is against FBI rules to even comment on investigations.
Lock his sorry ass up!

[Wilms]

10. It's a ShareBlue allegation.

Who are they??

http://shareblue.com/company/

Not exactly Breaking News quality. Even Kos is saying, "if true".

I'd wait for substantiated info.

[yallerdawg]

15. Chaffetz tweet:

FBI Dir just informed me, "The FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation." Case reopened

9:57 AM - 28 Oct 2016

https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse/status/792047597040971776

[Raster]

32. That was a blatant, bald-faced lie...

...and intended to inflame the knuckledraggers as much as possible, as quickly as possible. Chaffetz, R-Hypocrite, Utah, KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING.

[yallerdawg]

40. 4 hours later!

First related Nancy Pelosi tweet:

My statement on the @FBI's letter to GOP Congressional Chairmen: http://bit.ly

2:02 PM - 28 Oct 2016

Yeah - I'm sure Democrats knew.

[George II]

63. Just informed HIM, not a whole bunch of people? Hmmmmm.

[yallerdawg]

65. 4 hours after Chaffetz tweet...

Nancy Pelosi tweeted:

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in response to FBI Director James Comey’s letter to eight Republican Committee Chairmen:

https://twitter.com/NancyPelosi

[Botany]

18. How many different laws were broken? Warning graphic picture.

Fucking republicans ..... they can't win an honest race so they have to swift boat.

[Raster]

29. Absolutely, and this dipshit has a major hardon to be "Big Man on Campus"...

...and it appears will do just about anything to get there.

[elehhhhna]

37. Wassup w his mascara and subtle eyeliner?

[sarae]

46. Chaffetz is a huge TURD and I hope his career is destroyed.

He has to be the single most unlikeable member of Congress, which is saying a lot.

[paleotn]

21. Comey losing his job may be the least of his worries....

he could be prosecuted. But, then again, like Scott Bloch, he's probably get just a slap on the wrist.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. Someone on MTP claimed Hillary needs to back off....

They said Comey is appointed to the job for ten years and she may have to work with him.

To that I say: KMA. He can be removed for using his job for political reasons.

[yallerdawg]

24. That was Andrea Mitchell.

Always a wealth of misinformation.

[bench scientist]

35. bwahahahahaha yd! - I snorted aloud at your well played snark.

A wealth of purposeful one sided misinformation.
I'm not fond of Mrs. Alan Greenspan...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

41. I picture her at a beltway cocktail party ridiculing what Michelle wears while gardening.

[sarae]

48. Ughhhhh

Of course it was! Lol. Andrea has a habit of popping up at the most obnoxious and irritating times. She has a really special talent for that.

[Crash2Parties]

31. A President can fire the FBI director at will.

"according to a 2014 report* by the Congressional Research Service, “there are no statutory conditions on the President’s authority to remove the FBI Director.” In other words, the President can indeed fire the FBI director. An FBI director can also be removed by congress, through the impeachment process."

* http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41850.pdf

William S. Sessions is a good past example of a President firing a FBI director for ethics transgressions, included criticisms that he had used an FBI plane to travel to visit his daughter on several occasions, and had a security system installed in his home at government expense. Sounds bad, but IMO rather minor compared to trying to influence an election.

[yardwork]

84. Another blatant lie from Andrea Mitchell.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

25. Chaffetz only re-endorsed trump a few days ago before the letter went public.

Last edited Sun Oct 30, 2016, 04:05 PM - Edit history (1)

I know that the dirty trick is out in the open, but this isn't being done by some activist like Rove or Atwater. They are in the govt.

I think this is a crisis. And Putin must be creaming his pants.

[Raster]

28. Oh yes, I remember Chaffetz in a supposed moment of candor...

...told of not being able to look his 15-year old daughter in the eye and tell her he supported tRump.

What changed?

[sarae]

49. Chaffetz is SO full of shit.

I think the lying asswipe had advance warning. Nothing is beneath him.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

59. He must have. But how to determine that ethical action?

Via the FBI? Comey and Chaffetz have truly corrupted the electoral process. AND in the era of Trump, who refused to show proof via tax returns that he hasn't been doing business with truly bad actors. Terrifying how blind hatred can destroy the democratic process.

Anger is the #2 of the 7 deadly sins. Pride is #1. And Trump is synonymous with Pride.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

55. This little scheme. That's what. Get the FBI to investigate Chaffetz?

Oh wait.

[LiberalLovinLug]

26. Normally I'd say charging him would backfire and be taken as "rigging"

And I'm sure Trump would exploit that angle to the fullest.

But when it is so obvious, so much evidence, it would be counterproductive to NOT fire and charge him immediately. Don't waffle. Make it about the law. Highlight how this was a pure partisan trick.

I think the Dems would gain more respect than they would lose by acting swiftly and objectively.

[cstanleytech]

34. Since he tweeted it would this make Chaffetz guilty of it as well since he is an elected official?

[Beartracks]

43. Whoa, too many facts. Won't matter to Trumplodytes. Or Trump.

Or the rightwing blowhards on talk radio.

Or their collective sychophants and surrogates.

Or much of the media, which is independents and undecideds wil hear about it.

==================

[erronis]

50. Yup - facts get in the way of a good story.

And get in the way of a fair election.

[yallerdawg]

44. Pelosi Statement on FBI Letter to GOP Congressional Chairmen

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in response to FBI Director James Comey’s letter to eight Republican Committee Chairmen:

“After an exhaustive review of Secretary Clinton’s use of a personal email server, the FBI concluded that charges would be unreasonable and unjustified. Nothing in Director Comey’s letter to the Republican Committee chairs suggests that assessment will or should change.

“Republicans have spent months attempting to bully the FBI into changing the conclusion of their review. Sadly but predictably, Republicans are doing their best to misrepresent this letter and warp the FBI’s work to serve their partisan conspiracy-mongering against Hillary Clinton.

“The Director of the FBI himself stated that, ‘the FBI cannot yet assess whether or not this material may be significant.’ Furthermore, there is not any indication that this review involves Secretary Clinton’s own use of emails. The public interest would be served by the FBI providing the facts, rather than allowing Republicans to stoke innuendo and falsehoods 11 days away from a presidential election.”

https://twitter.com/NancyPelosi/status/792109223345659904

[JI7]

47. Chaffetz is the guy who switched to Trump because he liked Trumps "grab them by the ......." comment

[Spitfire of ATJ]

51. The media universally condemned Hillary for saying Republicans got it first....

Turns out she was right.

Not that their smugness will diminish.

[bench scientist]

52. Hillary covers her bases. She's smart and fact driven, unlike our most of our media.

[cynzke]

53. TIME TO INVESTIGATE THIS ASSHAT......

For attempting to undermine this election. Something is rotten in Denmark?

[greytdemocrat]

54. I wonder if

Weiner is cooperating and gave the emails to the FBI, if so no warrant needed.

[red dog 1]

56. Speaking of the possibility of Comey violating the Hatch Act,

From New York Times Op Ed Contributor, Richard W. Painter, posted today, Oct. 30, 2016,

"The FBI's job is to investigate, not to influence the outcome of an election.
Such acts could also be prohibited under the Hatch Act, which bars the use of an official position to influence an election.
That is why the FBI would keep those aspects of an investigation confidential until after the election.
The usual penalty for (such) a violation is termination of federal employment.
And that is why on Saturday, I filed a complaint against the FBI with the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates Hatch Act violations. and with the Office of Government Ethics."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512560626#top

[McCamy Taylor]

58. Comey may get eaten by the shark he tried to jump.

[George II]

61. I don't think it was "coincidence" that all of the Democratic Ranking members, who were cc'ed....

....on the letter, all appeared on the SECOND page.

So here's my take on the chronology:

Perhaps only the first page of the letter was sent to the republican chairmen
Chaffetz sent it out to "select" people, possibly including the Trump campaign
Democrats got a copy of the letter first from republicans or even the press (who initially only posted the first page on their sites)
Only after Clinton made her statement about it being sent to republicans, the FULL letter was sent to the Democrats

That gave Trump the opportunity to falsely claim that Clinton was "politicizing" the letter by claiming it only went to republicans.

I also don't think it was coincidence that just hours before the letter went out, Chaffetz made a 180-turn on Trump and announced he was voting for him.

As baby bush used to say, "connect the dots"!

Oh, I really hope that this doesn't affect the election, that Clinton is elected President and Democrats take control of the Senate. THEN, I hope Democrats go "teabagger" on the republicans and investigate this incident to the hilt, prosecute Comey and get Chaffetz on the PUBLIC hot seat.

They truly are so slimy, they can't win elections based on their political postitions on the issues, so they have to lie, cheat, and steal to get into office.

[yallerdawg]

66. Have you seen "Pg. 2" - and "Pg. 3," by the way?

I'd have to see how this is standard form to Congress.

When this is unprecedented!

[George II]

67. I did finally see page 2, but I didn't realize there was a page 3! Even worse in that case.

[yallerdawg]

69. There were only 7 Democrats on the alleged page 2.

Guess they couldn't space it properly or change font size...or just add note:

Identical Letter Sent to Ranking Democratic Members of Each Committee

[George II]

70. See my post 66. Doesn't even meet the lowest standards of general correspondence.

[George II]

68. Just searched for and found it. The third page was the name of Cummings, the last of the CC'ed....

...and I noticed also that there's no notation "Page 1 of 3" or even "Page 1", implying that the letter was only ONE page.

Scummy to the core.

[yallerdawg]

71. Of course, this is the reason both Hillary and Nancy Pelosi...

among many others, both mention this letter was only transmitted to Republicans, as you say.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."

[George II]

72. Here is the letter:

https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3198222/Letter.pdf

[lapucelle]

76. Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!

[Cha]

77. Ye-ah.. looks like Comey gave a heads up to him before

anybody.

Ratfucking 101

[Odin2005]

80. PURGE THE FBI!

[Nitram]

85. Curiouser and curiouser.