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SPYGATE:ORIGINS
Thread Eight
SPYGATE:ORIGINS
Thread Eight
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This entry in the series begins in February 1987.
The source for this thread is a Washington Post article that I discovered on the CIA’s website.
This entry in the series begins in February 1987.
The source for this thread is a Washington Post article that I discovered on the CIA’s website.
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One of the two subjects of the thread is name familiar to readers of this series, Michael Ledeen.
In a previous thread, we looked at Ledeen’s involvement in the Iran Contra affair.
One of the two subjects of the thread is name familiar to readers of this series, Michael Ledeen.
In a previous thread, we looked at Ledeen’s involvement in the Iran Contra affair.
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According to a Senate Intel Committee report, Ledeen played “a key role in the initial contacts between the US and Israel vis-a-vis Iran.”
According to a Senate Intel Committee report, Ledeen played “a key role in the initial contacts between the US and Israel vis-a-vis Iran.”
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As the revelation of the scandal was unfolding, the editor of the Partisan Review (PR) asked Ledeen to submit an essay on the meaning of “the national interest.”
The essay was to serve as a basis for a symposium.
As the revelation of the scandal was unfolding, the editor of the Partisan Review (PR) asked Ledeen to submit an essay on the meaning of “the national interest.”
The essay was to serve as a basis for a symposium.
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Though the quarterly was fervantly anti-communist, most the Review’s contributors stilll considered themselves liberals.
Ledeen’s essay was simply beyond the pale to many of them.
Though the quarterly was fervantly anti-communist, most the Review’s contributors stilll considered themselves liberals.
Ledeen’s essay was simply beyond the pale to many of them.
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Ledeen advocated for an activist executive branch, conducting foreign policy with little restraint from congressional oversight.
He openly advocated for controversial covert means to achieve foreign policy objects, to include encouraging assassinations.
Ledeen advocated for an activist executive branch, conducting foreign policy with little restraint from congressional oversight.
He openly advocated for controversial covert means to achieve foreign policy objects, to include encouraging assassinations.
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One contributing editor to the PR, Leon Wiseltier, also literary editor of The New Republic, went so far as to quit.
He called Ledeen an “operator.”
One contributing editor to the PR, Leon Wiseltier, also literary editor of The New Republic, went so far as to quit.
He called Ledeen an “operator.”
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When reached for comment, Ledeen directed the Post reporter to his attorney, R James Woolsey.
When reached for comment, Ledeen directed the Post reporter to his attorney, R James Woolsey.
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The article goes on to discuss Ledeen’s involvement in not only the Iran Contra affair, but also his rumored clandestine activities with Italian military intelligence and the P2 Masonic Lodge (see previous entries in this series).
The article goes on to discuss Ledeen’s involvement in not only the Iran Contra affair, but also his rumored clandestine activities with Italian military intelligence and the P2 Masonic Lodge (see previous entries in this series).
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So who was this enterprising young journalist?
You may recognize the name:
So who was this enterprising young journalist?
You may recognize the name:
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That’s right. Sidney Blumenthal.
Aka Sid Vicious
Aka “Grassy Knoll” Blumenthal
That’s right. Sidney Blumenthal.
Aka Sid Vicious
Aka “Grassy Knoll” Blumenthal
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Ledeen promptly wrote an angry response to The Post, vehemently denying Blumenthal’s allegations.
washingtonpost.com/archive/opinio…
Ledeen promptly wrote an angry response to The Post, vehemently denying Blumenthal’s allegations.
washingtonpost.com/archive/opinio…
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This was the first salvo in what would become a decades-long rivalry between the two men.
This was the first salvo in what would become a decades-long rivalry between the two men.
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Blumenthal was not content with journalism. In the 90’s, he became a fierce partisan of the Clintons.
He served as senior advisor to Bill Clinton from August 1997 until Clinton left office in 2001.
Blumenthal was not content with journalism. In the 90’s, he became a fierce partisan of the Clintons.
He served as senior advisor to Bill Clinton from August 1997 until Clinton left office in 2001.
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In 1997, Blumenthal filed a $30 million dollar libel suit against Matt Drudge.
observer.com/1998/08/libel-…
In 1997, Blumenthal filed a $30 million dollar libel suit against Matt Drudge.
observer.com/1998/08/libel-…
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Drudge had reported that “top GOP sources” had accused Blumenthal of spousal abuse.
As part of the lawsuit, Blumenthal’s attorneys served subpoenas on Ledeen, his wife Barbara, and a member of The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board.
Drudge had reported that “top GOP sources” had accused Blumenthal of spousal abuse.
As part of the lawsuit, Blumenthal’s attorneys served subpoenas on Ledeen, his wife Barbara, and a member of The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board.
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When questioned by Blumenthal’s attorney, Ledeen made it clear there was no love lost between the two men.
When questioned by Blumenthal’s attorney, Ledeen made it clear there was no love lost between the two men.
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Drudge eventually apologized and the suit was dropped (Blumenthal actually paid Drudge’s legal fees).
Drudge eventually apologized and the suit was dropped (Blumenthal actually paid Drudge’s legal fees).
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Blumenthal testified multiple times in front of a grand jury in Ken Starr’s Independent Counsel investigation of President Clinton...
Blumenthal testified multiple times in front of a grand jury in Ken Starr’s Independent Counsel investigation of President Clinton...
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to include answering questions about “any role he may have played in spreading negative information about investigators in Independent Counsel Ken Starr’s office.”
academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/johnso…
to include answering questions about “any role he may have played in spreading negative information about investigators in Independent Counsel Ken Starr’s office.”
academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/johnso…
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In the 2000’s, Blumenthal return to reporting. He also wrote several books, including a series on Abraham Lincoln.
In the 2000’s, Blumenthal return to reporting. He also wrote several books, including a series on Abraham Lincoln.
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Although Blumenthal was not an official member of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign team, he remained a trusted confidente of the former First Lady.
Although Blumenthal was not an official member of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign team, he remained a trusted confidente of the former First Lady.
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According to John Heilemann and Mark Halperin in their book, “Game Change:Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime,” Blumenthal was dishing dirt on the Obamas behind the scenes.
According to John Heilemann and Mark Halperin in their book, “Game Change:Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime,” Blumenthal was dishing dirt on the Obamas behind the scenes.
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The authors claim Blumenthal was obsessed with the rumored “Whitey Tape.”
The authors claim Blumenthal was obsessed with the rumored “Whitey Tape.”
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As many of you know, Blumenthal was also suspected of starting the Birther movement.
As many of you know, Blumenthal was also suspected of starting the Birther movement.
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While there isn’t conclusive evidence Blumenthal originated the movement, at least one reporter has gone on record that SB encouraged him to investigate the allegation.
mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
While there isn’t conclusive evidence Blumenthal originated the movement, at least one reporter has gone on record that SB encouraged him to investigate the allegation.
mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
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When HRC served as Secretary of State, Blumenthal was considered so slimy that Rahm Emanuel banned him from the Obama White House.
However, HRC managed to keep Blumenthal close. He landed a position with the Clinton Foundation in 2009.
politico.com/story/2015/05/…
When HRC served as Secretary of State, Blumenthal was considered so slimy that Rahm Emanuel banned him from the Obama White House.
However, HRC managed to keep Blumenthal close. He landed a position with the Clinton Foundation in 2009.
politico.com/story/2015/05/…
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In 2013, the hacker “Guccifer” sorted out Blumenthal’s emails to HRC and released them online.
In 2013, the hacker “Guccifer” sorted out Blumenthal’s emails to HRC and released them online.
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In May 2015, the State Dept released over 900 pages of Clinton’s emails from when she was Secretary of State.
The emails revealed HRC received memos on Libya from Sidney Blumenthal (nearly a third of all the emails she received about Libya).
politico.com/story/2015/05/…
In May 2015, the State Dept released over 900 pages of Clinton’s emails from when she was Secretary of State.
The emails revealed HRC received memos on Libya from Sidney Blumenthal (nearly a third of all the emails she received about Libya).
politico.com/story/2015/05/…
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The emails revealed that SB was aided in his Libyan intelligence gathering by Clinton political operative Cody Shearer.
gawker.com/leaked-private…
The emails revealed that SB was aided in his Libyan intelligence gathering by Clinton political operative Cody Shearer.
gawker.com/leaked-private…
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According to The Guardian, Shearer has a “large network of sources around the world and the financial means to pursue leads.”
theguardian.com/us-news/2018/j…
According to The Guardian, Shearer has a “large network of sources around the world and the financial means to pursue leads.”
theguardian.com/us-news/2018/j…
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In September 2016, Sid Blumenthal passed Shearer’s memo to his “old friend” Jonathan Winer, then a US deputy assistant secretary of state for international law enforcement and former special envoy for Libya.
In September 2016, Sid Blumenthal passed Shearer’s memo to his “old friend” Jonathan Winer, then a US deputy assistant secretary of state for international law enforcement and former special envoy for Libya.
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Winer, in turn, passed the Shearer memo to Christopher Steele.
In October 2016, Steele handed the memo over to the FBI. Shearer’s info supposedly corroborating what Steele had heard from his own sources.
theguardian.com/us-news/2018/j…
Winer, in turn, passed the Shearer memo to Christopher Steele.
In October 2016, Steele handed the memo over to the FBI. Shearer’s info supposedly corroborating what Steele had heard from his own sources.
theguardian.com/us-news/2018/j…
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However, in this February 2018 interview, Rep Jim Jordan alleges that Blumenthal and Shearer were actually Steele’s sources for his dossier
However, in this February 2018 interview, Rep Jim Jordan alleges that Blumenthal and Shearer were actually Steele’s sources for his dossier
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However Jordan’s claim is not even the most explosive allegation against Blumenthal:
However Jordan’s claim is not even the most explosive allegation against Blumenthal:
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document released as part of the case files for the FBI’s Clinton email investigation allege that SB was attempting to recover billions of dollars that former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi had stashed away overseas.
document released as part of the case files for the FBI’s Clinton email investigation allege that SB was attempting to recover billions of dollars that former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi had stashed away overseas.
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The documents were received by the FBI on June 6, 2016 -- almost two months prior to the launch of Crossfire Hurricane.
The documents were received by the FBI on June 6, 2016 -- almost two months prior to the launch of Crossfire Hurricane.
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Blumenthal and his associates were attempting to gain access to the Libyan Frozen Assets Fund, “which consisted of about $30 billion in frozen and recovered assests.”
SB was scheming to use his influence with Hillary Clinton to circumvent State Department intelligence
Blumenthal and his associates were attempting to gain access to the Libyan Frozen Assets Fund, “which consisted of about $30 billion in frozen and recovered assests.”
SB was scheming to use his influence with Hillary Clinton to circumvent State Department intelligence
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The only problem is -- there is no source material provided to substantiate the allegations.
The only problem is -- there is no source material provided to substantiate the allegations.
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And Blumenthal denies he was ever involved in any such an enterprise.
realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2019/…
And Blumenthal denies he was ever involved in any such an enterprise.
realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2019/…
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The investigation was conducted by a defense contractor, funded by Judicial Watch, who passed the findings on to the FBI.
The investigation was conducted by a defense contractor, funded by Judicial Watch, who passed the findings on to the FBI.
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However, the originator of the investigation into Blumenthal’s Libyan dealings was none other than Barbara Ledeen, the wife of Michael Ledeen.
(the project also included a hunt for HRC’s emails)
However, the originator of the investigation into Blumenthal’s Libyan dealings was none other than Barbara Ledeen, the wife of Michael Ledeen.
(the project also included a hunt for HRC’s emails)
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So Peter Strzok was fed intel, indirectly, from both Sid Blumenthal and the Ledeens in the summer of 2016.
So Peter Strzok was fed intel, indirectly, from both Sid Blumenthal and the Ledeens in the summer of 2016.
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During Ledeen’s deposition by SD’s attorney, Ledeen is asked about a column he wrote comparing Bill Clinton to a mafia don and Blumenthal to his consigliere (I can not find the original column online. It appears to have been scrubbed).
During Ledeen’s deposition by SD’s attorney, Ledeen is asked about a column he wrote comparing Bill Clinton to a mafia don and Blumenthal to his consigliere (I can not find the original column online. It appears to have been scrubbed).
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Ironically, “consigliere” is the word the Italian press uses to describe Ledeen’s relationship to Matteo Renzi.
Ironically, “consigliere” is the word the Italian press uses to describe Ledeen’s relationship to Matteo Renzi.
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It’s amazing, as loath as they would be to admit it, how much these two rivals are alike.
One word describes both of them best - Machiavellian
End
It’s amazing, as loath as they would be to admit it, how much these two rivals are alike.
One word describes both of them best - Machiavellian
End
