Now that it's out I will provide my thoughts on #NunesMemo in this thread as I read it in real time.
Smart to lead off with Constitutional authority supporting this disclosure.
From the White House itself.
Opening paragraph levies some pretty serious allegations right from the jump.
As many suspected Carter Page is the main person of interest.
Claims the much hyped Trump Dossier was paid for by the DNC and the Hillary campaign. To a former FBI asset named Christopher Steele, who is alleged to have been paid $160k for the oppo.
Fusion GPS was in on the payments and work.
FISA warrant application to compile Dossier and surveillance Page failed to disclose that partisan motivation info. Which would effectively weaponize surveillance state for partisan purposes.
Claims FISA application falsely claimed Dossier info was not leaked to Yahoo News when Steel admitted in British court it was. Wow.
Steele was terminated as FBI source for leaking sensitive info to pro Hillary media like Mother Jones. Wow
Claims Steele should've been terminated for lying to FBI about his media exposures long before that.
Biggest revelation so far, imo, is despite being dismissed as FBI asset Steele maintained relationship with DOJ. Including current deputy AG Rosenstein. Why would DOJ hang with a known partisan after FBI had cut ties?
McCabe told Congress no FISA warrant would've been sought without the Steele memo, yet Steele's partisan bias was not disclosed on that FISA application. Wow.
Snap Conclusion: this casts a potentially legit narrative The Swamp did collude to take out Trump presidency. So definitely not a nothing burger, but its potential impact won't be known until seeing underlying evidence and then the Schiff rebuttal.
It basically says Comey's main motivation was protecting FBI from scrutiny more than partisan hackery. Rosenstein should be updating his resume. And whoever allowed Carter Page into Trump's orbit is a fool.
Next, I expect some on Left to begin making the case that Steele wasn't biased but had good reason to be out to stop Trump presidency at all costs.
Finally, it definitely highlights the tangled web within elements of the media to craft a narrative rather than seek the truth.
#NunesMemo
#NunesMemo
