Thread by @JohnWHuber

DOJ just took the position in its response to Strzok's unfair dismissal lawsuit that @GenFlynn's previous *defense team* (Covington) *may have deliberately leaked the existence of the Strzok/Page text messages to the media* in Nov/Dec 17

A) Extraordinary
B) Likely false

THREAD

Quick recap:

—Strzok was fired by the FBI

—He sued DOJ for wrongful dismissal

—The DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the case

—Strzok responded claiming the DOJ leaked his texts to the media via the White House

—DOJ claims its more "plausible" Flynn's defense team leaked

Here's the key portion. This is an extraordinary theory to just speculate about. If true it would raise serious ethics concerns about Covington. I'm not sure if that specific disclosure on Nov 30 2017 from DOJ was under a protective order, but it may have been, @SidneyPowell1?

However, @GenFlynn fans, don't get too excited, because this DOJ theory is probably false. Why? Well, the Dec 2 2017 disclosure of the texts was coordinated with two outlets, the WaPo and NYT:

WaPo: washingtonpost.com/world/national…

NYT: nytimes.com/2017/12/02/us/…

NYT piece is by Michael S. Schmidt, Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman.

WaPo is Karoun Demirjian and Devlin Barrett

In other words: Mostly, Russia Collusion Hoax peddlers. Hardly the reporters you'd speak to in order to get an exculpatory story for Flynn out into the media 🤔

Also, both the NYT/WaPo pieces are from "multiple" sources "briefed on the matter", describe the Page/Strzok romantic relationship, the timeline of their roles within the FBI and Special Counsel office, are puff pieces AND include no actual content of the messages themselves

Also, super important: neither of the articles mention that Strzok interviewed Gen Flynn. The NYT doesn't even mention Flynn at all & the WaPo is in a different context

But Covington's lawyers knew that - that's why they were disclosed the nature of the texts in the first place

Finally, both NYT & WaPo stories came out on Dec 2, THE DAY AFTER @GenFlynn pled guilty - Dec 1. Except DOJ is saying his lawyers got the basic gist of the biased texts on Nov 30 17. So if to leak to help their client, why wait until after the plea?

nytimes.com/2017/12/01/us/…

So, a highly coordinated leak, to Team Collusion reporters, that minimizes the nature of the biased texts, doesn't quote any, doesn't criticize the DOJ/SC/FBI, fails to mention Strozk's role in interviewing Gen Flynn and happens the day after Flynn can't escape legal jeopardy? 🤔

CONCLUSION

It's more plausible that something closer to Strzok's theory is correct - that the *DOJ/FBI* carried out a leak campaign to protect the department's image

Either way, someone should ask Covington to comment on the DOJ's extraordinary "theory" about them

/ENDS