Thread by @TheLastRefuge2

1. OK, Here's the story that will break in the news cycle, probably starting tomorrow. Senate Staffer James Wolfe sent Ali Watkins an unredacted copy of the @carterwpage FISA Application in 2017. (and a more explosive aspect)

2. On March 16th 2017 the Senate Intelligence Committee requested a copy of the FISA application used against Carter Page [@carterwpage ]

3. How do we know this? Because a part of the indictment against James Wolfe tells us what took place. Page #5 of the Wolfe indictment (unsealed in June 2018) describes Reporter #2 Ali Watkins. scribd.com/document/38438…

4. Page #6 describes one of the leaks; one of the very specific leaks by Wolfe to Watkins. Read carefully. scribd.com/document/38438…

5. That document is clearly the FISA application used against Carter Page that was disclosed yesterday. Note the description (previous) and the date of the FISC release disclosed yesterday: FISC CLERK COPY STAMP page 83 scribd.com/document/38438…

6. Note the FISA application (original first application) is 83 pages, with a blank page. That's 82 pages total. scribd.com/document/38438…

7. Note page #6 of the Wolfe indictment: scribd.com/document/38131…

8. "82 text messages" corresponds with James Wolfe texting 82 images of the FISA application to Ali Watkins. Wolfe likely took pictures of each application page and sent them to Ms. Watkins. scribd.com/document/38438…

9. Important to note: depending on how the FISA copy was processed by the DOJ, and considering this was to the Senate Intel Committee, it is likely the SSCI copy was not heavily redacted (if at all).

10. SSCI Chairman Richard Burr and SSCI Vice-Chair Mark Warner are "Gang-of-Eight" intelligence oversight members. They have top level clearances, so they could be permitted to see the FISC release w/out redactions. Here's the Gang of Eight:

11. However, in March 2017, at the time this application was sent to the SSCI, there was also an ongoing Intelligence Community leak investigation taking place. Actually, more like a "leak hunt".

12. This "leak hunt", in connection to the capture of James Wolfe, becomes a more important consideration when you think about the recent FISA application public release.

13. From the Wolfe indictment we discover: On December 15th, 2017 James Wolfe was busted; the FBI had him dead-to-rights. However, the grand jury proceedings didn’t start until May 3rd, 2018; and the indictment was sealed until June 7th, 2018.

14. That means six months passed between busting Wolfe on Dec. 15th, 2017, and indicting Wolfe on June 7th, 2018.

15. It is difficult to gain a search and seizure warrant on a journalist. However, it is noted Reporter #2, Ms. Ali Watkins, was identified and an appropriate search warrant was authorized by the court. Ms. Watkins notified February 13, 2018. documentcloud.org/documents/4498…

16. So to recap: Wolfe FBI interview 12/15/17; one search warrant executed Jan-Feb 2018; grand jury seated May 2018; indictment/arrest of Wolfe June 2018. scribd.com/document/38131…

17. Here is where it gets interesting. Back to the FISC application released. Remember, you must think of this release in four segments:

scribd.com/document/38438…

Original application - Oct '16
Renewal - Jan '17
Renewal - April '17
Renewal - June '17

18. However, when the FISA application was released publicly, *they* (unknown) released the March 17th, 2017 copy (the one sent to the SSCI) of the original.

scribd.com/document/38438…

Why release (segment #1) from the March 17th copy?

19. The answer to that question goes back to the leak hunting taking place on/around March 17th, 2017, when the FISA application was first released to the SSCI.

20. *They* (again, unknown) likely put a subtle leak tracer in the FISC application when it was released. A slight variation in the copy sent to the SSCI that would help the leak hunters identify the leak, if the tracer information was found in media reporting.

21. So there is something slightly different about the March 17th, 2017, version of the Carter Page FISA application.... than the unmodified original version held at the FISC.

[Presiding FISC Judge Rosemary Collyer pictured]

22. That is why the publicly released version has segment #1 dated as March 17th, 2017. They needed to publicly release the same version as was used to track leakers of that FISA application.

23. Obviously, given the recent arrest of James Wolfe, and the ongoing hunt for more leakers, we can see the justice value in maintaining this process. Indeed there were/are people within the intelligence apparatus that are leaking information. Those leakers are being hunted.

24. A few more issues to button up. Why was the Senate Intel Committee requesting the FISA application in the first place? (Back in March 2017) What was happening around the time the SSCI was making the requests? and why was the IC so willing to comply with the request?

25. Enter, former SSCI Chairman Dan Coats - now 2017 Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in charge of the overall IC and stopping dangerous leaks. Who was confirmed two days before the March 2017 FISA application was released to the Senate Intel Committee.

26. In 2017 DNI Dan Coats is VERY closely connected to NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers. Both took/take their responsibilities *very* seriously. You could say, they partnered. Coats and Rogers worked together on *all* the FISA concerns.

27. Coats/Rogers collective endeavors led to, and included, the April 2017 release of a brutal 99-page FISC review of FISA abuses. Coats and Rogers made the FISC ruling a matter of public record

[Coincidentally authored by FISC judge Rosemary Collyer]

scribd.com/document/34954…

28. Their nemesis per se', are corrupt politicians like SSCI Vice-Chairman Mark Warner who, on the same date (March 17th, 2017), was having covert contact with Christopher Steele via lobbyist Adam Waldman and former SSCI staffer Daniel Jones. READ: scribd.com/document/37110…

29. Dan Coats and Admiral Rogers knew the SSCI was corrupt, dangerous and likely leaking just to damage President Trump and protect their deep state interests. That's why the March 17th, released FISA application was seeded to trace a leaker.

30. That March 17th, 2017, leak hunt eventually led to the capture of James Wolfe, who sent reporter Ali Watkins 82 picture text messages (on the day he took custody) distributing the @carterwpage FISA application to the media. /END