This new info on the friendship between Strzok and Judge Contreras, and how Strzok/Page tried to influence Judge Contreras, is huge. This is damning against Mueller. Let me explain.
Judge Contreras was recused (voluntarily or taken off - still unknown) on 12/7/2017.
Remember, Flynn entered his plea deal on 11/30/2017. Strzok had already been taken off the case, and the Page/Strzok texts were released just days later (~12/5/17)
What happened between that time? On 12/1/2017 there was a hearing where Judge Contreras accepted Flynn's plea deal.
At that hearing, Judge Contreras found that Flynn's plea was "knowing and voluntary."
At that 12/1/2017 hearing, Mueller's team didn't disclose to Judge Contreras that Peter Strzok was involved in the investigation - and that he had been removed for wrongdoing.
Judge Contreras: "Is there anything else we need to cover before taking the plea?"
Special Counsel Van Grack: "No, your honor."
Judge Sullivan was assigned 5 days after news broke about the Page-Strzok texts. Guessing that Judge Contreras isn't happy that the Special Counsel put him in this position.
This is good evidence that Sullivan probably wasn't randomly assigned to this case.
Why did the Special Counsel hurry to secure the plea deal with Judge Contreras, just ONE DAY after Flynn signed the plea?
Again, the release of the Page/Strzok texts were imminent. This was done to put the screws to Flynn.
As previously addressed, Mueller anticipated a collateral attack. How? Because the plea was drafted after Strzok's removal.
The Flynn plea included language that precluded Flynn from filing a 28 USC 2255 motion which would vacate the plea.
But now, there's a question of whether Judge Contreras's acceptance of the Flynn plea is binding. Assuming it is since he may not have known of Strzok's involvement.
That doesn't bind Sullivan, however.
Sullivan can deem Flynn's plea "not voluntary and knowing" and the plea can be vacated through a 2255 motion - the very motion Mueller tried to prevent.
The collateral attack waiver would be unenforceable - and the rest of the plea agreement would be vacated - if there is a due process violation.
You have two members of Mueller's team discussing how to get to judges on the FISA court.
And we didn't know about this until now.
It looks bad on Page and Strzok. But it looks really bad on Judge Contreras that Mueller's team thought he could be influenced.
I can't get over how suspicious the timing of the Judge Contreras hearing is.
11/30/2017: Flynn Case is filed.
12/1/2017: The case is entered into the Court's system.
The hearing for Flynn to enter his plea is scheduled for 10:30 AM on 12/1/2017. The same day the case was entered. Not even 24 hours after the case was filed.
Federal Courts rarely move this fast. It's just weird.
Finally... if Mueller knew about those texts and didn't tell Judge Contreras that Strzok was involved in the Flynn investigation then he's in a world of hurt.
And Mueller deserves everything that's coming his way.
What's next? Identifying who at the FBI or DOJ suggested that Strzok meet with Judge Contreras at a "social setting." OIG and Horowitz must already know.
CONTINUED: What party graduation party did Strzok and Judge Contreras attend?
And how close are their families?
Page and Strzok were texting about Judge Contreras on July 25, 2016.
Strzok said he spoke with Judge Contreras "a month or two ago at a graduation party
What school was it? The School Without Walls of Washington DC.
Turns out, Judge Contreras's son graduated from School Without Walls in 2016. (See pic: class of 2016)
And here is his mom (Judge Contreras's wife) discussing her son at School Without Walls.
Now, here we have Judge Contreras's Facebook.
Further proving we have the right student, Judge Contreras is Facebook friends with his son. (Seems like a nice family, it's nice.)
Based on these observations, it looks like Peter Strzok went to Judge Contreras's son's High School graduation party.
Peter Strzok is married to Melissa Hodgman.
Interestingly, Contreras's son may be friends with Peter Strzok's son/stepson.
This also leaves open the possibility that the graduation party Strzok mentions took place at the high school.
This is curious.
Right before Judge Sullivan was assigned to the Flynn case he was taken off a case where Judicial Watch had sued the DOJ relating to a FOIA request for the emails of Peter Kadzik (DOJ official who tipped Podesta off while he investigated HRC).
1/6/2017: Judge Sullivan assigned to the Judicial Watch vs. DOJ case
12/1/2017: Judge Contreras accepts Flynn plea
12/2/2017: WAPO reports Strzok taken off Mueller's team
12/4/2017: Sullivan taken off the JW vs. DOJ case
12/7/2017: Sullivan assigned to the Flynn case
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