Thread by @JFHaughey58

#SussmannTrial Day 6: #Clinton campaign attorney Michael Sussmann’s trial for allegedly lying to the FBI about concocted links between the Trump Organization and a Kremlin-linked bank prior to the 2016 election continues Monday in Washington, DC. A recap: theepochtimes.com/former-fbi-off…

Ten witnesses have testified: two FBI agents, a Neustar executive, DNC attorney Debbie Fine, FusionGPS’s Laura Seago, former Clinton general counsel Marc Elias, former FBI general counsel James Baker, former Clinton manager Robby Mook, two retired CIA agents. #SussmannTrial

Among disclosures in the #SussmannTrial is the Clinton campaign solicited media to publish the allegations. On Friday, Mook confirmed Hilary Clinton personally approved, spurring former President Donald Trump to ask, “Where do I get my reputation back?” theepochtimes.com/trump-after-te…

On tap to testify Monday are former FBI deputy general counsel Tricia Anderson and former FBI counterintelligence assistant director Bill Priestap. Both took notes of their conversations with Baker after he spoke with Sussmann on Sept. 19, 2016. #SussmannTrial

The #SussmannTrial is expected to last through Friday with the prosecution set to rest its case by Tuesday or Wednesday, clearing the way for Sussmann’s defense team to make their arguments. The jury could conceivably be deliberating a verdict through the Memorial Day weekend.

Former FBI Asst Counterintelligence Director Bill Priestap doesn't recall taking notes of his conversation with James Baker after Baker received data, documents from Sussmann, doesn’t recall context of the notes, or specifics amid Crossfire Hurricane probe. #SussmannTrial

Under cross-examination, Priestap said he “does not recall” why internal FBI chat messages said “people on the 7th floor (leadership) are fired up” about the allegations or why agents wrote he said they had “no choice” but to open an investigation. #SussmannTrial

Prestap testified that he was unsure if the FBI opened an investigation. The only reason why he knows they did is because there was an 'EC' file opened. Now on the stand is FBI ageny Ryan Gaynor. #SussmannTrial

FBI agent Ryan Gaynor said he first heard of the claims in a Sept. 23, 2016, briefing with the Chicago field office and volunteered to “track” it for the “front office” in DC. There was a “close hold” on the case, meaning sources’ identities were withheld. #SussmannTrial

Gaynor said FBI supervisory agent Jonathon Moffa asked him to ascertain if “close hold” was helping or hindering the probe. It didn’t matter, he said, because “there wasn’t a covert connection,” thus “... there was a compelling reason to pull the hold.” #SussmannTrial

Under cross-examination from Bosworth, Gaynor said he told the grand jury and repeated in prep sessions that “the DNC itself was the source” of the allegations. “Correct,” he said. “But that was wrong.” Court has adjourned with Gaynor back on the stand upon return. #SussmannTrial

Intriguing discussions between Cooper and attorneys regarding testimony by New York Times’ Eric Lichtblau, who has filed for a protective order to limit what he can be asked. Prosecutors want to introduce his communications with FusionGPS. #SussmannTrial

Cooper: “The question becomes what is the appropriate scope of cross? I guess the question is, to what end and to what issues in the case” is an appropriate line of questioning “without getting into privilege issues?” SussmannTrial

Defense attorney Sean Berkowitz said "the scope" focus on “Mr. Sussmann and Mr. Joffe” contacts with Lindblau “in setting up the meetings, and communications regarding the status of the story, keeping him updated on the proceedings” but nothing beyond that. #SussmannTrial

Meanwhile, Gaynor is back on the stand and, as with Baker last week, he is being repeatedly asked why he said different things at different times during this and related investigations. #SussmannTrial

Blur of names, dates, emails, phone conversations, all bouncing back-and-forth between September 2016 to May 2022 as Gaynor is questioned about what he said to who when. Heads are nodding, eyelids drooping. Like wading through syrup. #SussmannTrial

Gaynor is off the stand -- more on his testimony coming. Prosecutor Brittain Shaw is preparing to examine former FBI agent Allison Sands, who was among Chicago field agents who determined Sussmann's allegations were unsubstantiated. #SussmannTrial

Gaynor became aware of the case on Sept. 23 and volunteered to work on it. He said on Sept. 26 he was informed the material came from an attorney who represented the DNC who was provided the allegations by a “confidential human source” or CHS. #SussmannTrial

Gaynor: “I understood that to mean that he was affiliated with the Democratic party but he had come (to Baker) representing himself. My takeaway from that at that time he was not there representing the DNC” but was acting independently. #SussmannTrial

At one point, Gaynor was potentially facing criminal charges for allegedly violating the “close hold” in saying he did told Chicago agents the source was a “DNC attorney.” That was a mistake he clarified when reviewing his notes that cited the “close hold.” #SussmannTrial

When asked under cross-examine by Bosworth how it felt to go from a witness to a potential subject in the investigation, he said: "Two thoughts. I thought I had woefully prepared for the meeting. The second thought was I was in significant peril." #SussmannTrial

Gaynor said had he known Sussmann got the data, white papers from an FBI “Confidential Human Source” (CHS) — Rodney Joffe — he would have asked more questions about the motives of all involved and not have volunteered to participate in the probe. #SussmannTrial

Gaynor: “The reason why (CHSs) are confidential is to protect their relationship with the government.” He would have asked: “Why didn’t the CHS provide the information directly to the FBI or the individual that would be handling or meeting with them?” #SussmannTrial

FBI agent Allison Sands, who led the technical analysis of the thumb drives in the agency's Chicago office, said she was never told anything about "a DNC attorney" and was told the probe was requested by the DOJ. #SussmannTrial

"And that was false," Bosworth said after Sands recalled being told it was a DOJ investigation. True, she said, but she did not know that until learning the allegations were forwarded by Baker "from an anonymous third party." #SussmanTrial

Had she known the origin of the claims was an FBI 'Confidential Human Source' (CHS), Sands -- like Gaynor -- said she "would absolutely want to speak to the handlers .. it would be very usual for the CHS to bypass the handlers. It speaks to credibility, motive." #SussmannTrial

Sands said she didn't know there was a 'close hold' on revealing the source of the data and still doesn't know who "ordered" the investigation other than it came from “someplace in headquarters land …” #SussmannTrial

The FBI Chicago team figured out that David Dagon of the Georgia Institute of Technology was the author of one of the white papers. The team never interviewed him, she said. #SussmannTrial

Sands said interviewing Dagon was "the next logical investigatory step I was planning to take." She could not recall specifics but said she was "either told not to or to focus on the logs" in the thumb drives. #SussmannTrial

Brittain Shaw begins to redirect after Cooper asks if everyone is up for another 15-20 minutes of testimony. But it only lasts minutes. Shaw asks Sands if she would have been interested to know the data was funded by the Clinton campaign. She said, well, yes. #SussmannTrial

Court has adjourned for the day with Cooper and attorneys discussing witness schedules and the emerging sense that proceedings are likely to leak into next week, after the Memorial Day weekend, before the jury gets the case. #SussmannTrial

In cross-examination, Bosworth presented emails between Sands and fellow agent Scott Hellman, a "cyber guy" who previously testified, regarding the genesis of the data and order to investigate. "Mr. Sussman didn’t conceal that from that from you. The FBI did.” #SussmannTrial:

FBI agent Curtis Heide, former FBI deputy counsel Tricia Anderson, DNC employee Tom McMahon, and the prosecution’s “summary witness” will testify Tuesday. It is uncertain who that “summary witness” is to close out the prosecution’s case, likely sometime Thursday. #SussmannTrial

By now, you know the drill. We've been booted out of the courthouse. For continuing coverage, Petr Svab -- the man who put together the best infographic anywhere on this case, is rocking in The Epoch Times. theepochtimes.com