Thread by @emptywheel

For people trying to write about Gary Shapley w/o first reading all the ways his own testimony discredits him, first note how his behavior looks when you consider his hesitation to turn over emails in the wake of two leaks.

emptywheel.net/2023/07/04/gar…

Then consider that Shapley himself says he and X were keeping a double set of records, in part to ensure X could testify at trial. Consider all the signs that this investigation was tainted by -- among other things -- TRUMP'S improper influence.

emptywheel.net/2023/07/05/dou…

What Gary Shapley's testimony the last time showed is that DOJ/FBI/IRS hadn't done the most basic things to test the integrity of the laptop obtained from Mac Isaac 10 months after they received it, AFTER IRS had used it to obtain further warrants.

emptywheel.net/2023/07/18/wap…

Think about that: The IRS got a laptop purportedly handed over directly from the son of the then former VP, and they didn't do the most basic things (!!!!!) to validate the data ON IT for 10 months.

And ... then they discovered Rudy had a tie to it.

This is, as I noted, what frother right wingers accuse the FBI of doing with Carter Page, but in fact occurred.

Gary Shapley records the AUSA in this case saying it wasn't a priority to validate that Mac Isaac had not tampered with the laptop.

Check it out--it's in his notes.