Ok, this is an interesting turn of events.
Late last year, the former Acting Atty General and US Attorney from the Eastern District of VA, Dana Boente, rather abruptly announced his resignation...
Well, he didn't sit on the beach long...
1/
cnn.com/2018/01/23/pol…
Late last year, the former Acting Atty General and US Attorney from the Eastern District of VA, Dana Boente, rather abruptly announced his resignation...
Well, he didn't sit on the beach long...
1/
cnn.com/2018/01/23/pol…
When Boente abruptly stepped down, speculation swirled around whether he had been forced out by Trump or Sessions.
After all, he had been next in line after Sally Yates and was by no means a "Trump guy".
No one could seem to make sense of his sudden announcement.
2/
After all, he had been next in line after Sally Yates and was by no means a "Trump guy".
No one could seem to make sense of his sudden announcement.
2/
His role was a pretty darn important one... As the US Attorney from the Eastern District of Virginia (AKA the "EDVA"), he would be the guy to work with a special prosecutor like, say, Robert Mueller to bring cases before grand juries
3/
3/
Per published reports, Mueller's indictments are all likely to come out of the EVDA or Southern District of NY (i.e. NYC).
Since U.S. Attorneys are key to seeking indictments/bringing cases, you could certainly see his ouster as a Trump hit job.
4/
Since U.S. Attorneys are key to seeking indictments/bringing cases, you could certainly see his ouster as a Trump hit job.
4/
In parallel (as we know from today's reporting) Trump was putting extreme pressure on FBI Director Chris Wray to push aside or fire perceived Trump enemies.
One of them was FBI General Counsel James Baker.
5/
One of them was FBI General Counsel James Baker.
5/
A few weeks ago, it was announced that Baker had been reassigned to one of those bullsh** roles that's the rough equivalent of Special Ambassador to the Falkland Islands. It was a parking spot on the fringes.
6/
6/
At the time, I thought Wray might have been yielding to the meddling pressure Trump was applying.
As we learned today, the truth is pretty close to the exact opposite.
Wray entirely stonewalled Trump and his ham-handed overtures.
7/
As we learned today, the truth is pretty close to the exact opposite.
Wray entirely stonewalled Trump and his ham-handed overtures.
7/
Yes, he reassigned James Baker...
...but guess who he just appointed to replace him as General Counsel.
Dana Boente.
Bwahaha. Wray appointed someone fresh off a stint helping Robert Mueller seek indictments.
Again, I laugh.... bwahahaha.
8/
...but guess who he just appointed to replace him as General Counsel.
Dana Boente.
Bwahaha. Wray appointed someone fresh off a stint helping Robert Mueller seek indictments.
Again, I laugh.... bwahahaha.
8/
Trump tried to twist FBI Director Wray's arm... and Wray pulled it back and backhanded him across the mouth by appointing the U.S. Attorney arguably closest to the Mueller investigation.
Now that is... delicious. Sumptuous. Gourmet.
It's a champagne popsicle.
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Now that is... delicious. Sumptuous. Gourmet.
It's a champagne popsicle.
<end>
Correction in #4. EDVA not EVDA. Typo there. Eastern District of VA. EDVA.
You're gonna be hearing that acronym a lot.
You're gonna be hearing that acronym a lot.
p.s. these moves by Chris Wray just earned him endless street cred among the FBI rank and file.
He just demonstrated in spades that he ain't Trump's lapdog and will insulate the FBI from his interference.
Well done, Wray. Well done.
He just demonstrated in spades that he ain't Trump's lapdog and will insulate the FBI from his interference.
Well done, Wray. Well done.
