Doesn't remember writing the text in question...
But has a 10 minute answer for why it didn't mean what it sounds like it meant.
"I swear to provide the bullshit, the whole bullshit, and nothing but the bullshit So help me Hillary..."
61 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Once Militantly Anti-Abortion, Evangelical Minister Now Lives 'With Regret'
Evangelical minister Rob Schenck was once a militant leader of the anti-abortion movement, blockading access to clinics to prevent doctors and patients from entering.
But after more than 20 years in the movement, Schenck experienced a change of heart. Though firm in his evangelicalism, he has disavowed his militant anti-abortion stance.
"I live with regret," he says of some of his former tactics. "I remember women — some of them quite young — being very distraught, very frightened, some very angry. Over time, I became very callous to that."
Schenck now sees abortion as a moral and ethical issue that should be resolved by "an individual and his or her conscience" — rather than by legislation.
"This is not a question for politicians," he says. "When your end goal is a political one, you will, without exception, exploit the pain and the suffering and the agony of those who face the issue in their daily reality, in their real life."
Schenck describes his change in outlook as one of several "conversions" he has experienced as an evangelical Christian.
"Change is a part of the spiritual life," he explains. "Anytime we stop changing, we stagnate spiritually, emotionally, intellectually; we stop growing."
Schenck's new memoir, Costly Grace, tells the story of the different phases of his religious and political life and explains why he changed — and how he now preaches a more inclusive message, embracing the people he once demonized.
"There was a very close identification with the civil rights struggle, and I came to see this as a kind of civil rights struggle for the most vulnerable of human beings, those in the womb. And so as time went on, I embraced that. It took me a little while to become totally convinced of the rightness of that cause and I would take that into more than 20 years, actually 25 years, of activism."
On reflecting on how his rhetoric while protesting abortion clinics and doctors may have contributed to the violence toward abortion providers, such as Dr. David Gunn, who was murdered in 1993; Dr. George Tiller, who was was wounded in 1993 and murdered in 2009; and Dr. Barnett Slepian, who was murdered in 1998
"This became more about us, about me, about our need to win, to win the argument, to win on legislation, to win in the courts. I will tell you that my acceptance of that responsibility had to come only after a long period of reflective prayer, of listening deeply to those who were gravely affected by those murders, in therapy with my own — I will be careful to say — Christian therapist, who helped me come to terms with what really happened and how I may have contributed to those acts of violence through my rhetoric, and eventually in a confrontation, a very loving one but nonetheless an encounter, a very strong, very powerful encounter, with the relative of one of the doctors shot and stabbed. ... And it was ... actually at a Passover Seder table when I was confronted very gently and very lovingly by a relative who happened to be a rabbi of that one abortion provider. In that moment, I realized my own culpability in those in those terrible, terrible events."On the evangelical support of Donald d Trump
"I think it's a grave error. I think it has compromised our spiritual and moral integrity. In fact, I entitled my chapter on Donald Trump, "Donald Trump and the moral collapse of American evangelicalism." I think it's a Faustian bargain with Donald Trump, and I think it may lead to the demise of American evangelicalism as we have known it. But my hopeful thought is that, that as the phoenix arises out of the ashes, so a new evangelicalism will emerge, mostly led by a new younger generation of evangelicals that are truer to the faith that is at the center of evangelicalism."
On what he hears from some politicians who voted for Trump but have doubts
"I would never name names ... but I have heard that many times over. You know, 'I can't embrace him,' sometimes even say very vulgar things about him, certainly paint him as a reckless, irresponsible and deeply offensive individual. I've heard even top level officials including members of Congress call him 'insane, crazy, a lunatic — but he's our lunatic, and he's going to help us achieve our objectives,' and they're willing to make that deal. To me, that equates to selling one's soul."
I watched about 50% of this embarrassment of the worst day ever in the House of Representatives. The Republicans didn't bring out one ounce of evidence that the investigation was tainted by partisan politics.
The happiest man on earth is Vladimir Putin.
Let's add to this ridiculous post.
Donald Trump said today that he is more popular than Abraham Lincoln.
Donald Trump said today that since he took office the GDP of the United States has doubled.
Donald Trump said today that the current prime minister of Great Britain should be removed from office.
And the day isn't over yet in the United States of Donald Trump.
I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn't agree, she wouldn't listen to me
Reporter: What did say?
Trump: She didn't listen. No I told her how to do it. That would be up for her to say. But I told her how to do it. She wanted to go a different route.
After all he is a master negotiator. The Mexicans are not paying for the wall. Obamacare has not been repealed with coverage for less and for everyone. Now he's going to Moscow and kneel down and suck Putin's cock.
He's a lifelong investigator in the FBI. The Republicans tried to make the case that the email issue was a deep state conspiracy. They provided zero evidence to support their allegations. The "perception" of intent was politically motivated. They provided zero evidence that the investigation was politically motivated to destroy Donald Trump and his chances to get elected President. Late night emails show that he perhaps had a couple drinks and texted his girlfriend.
One of the congressmen tried to use the fact that he was having an affair affected his investigation into the Russian intervention that did take place.
Even The Donald Trump's affairs are not important.
Full text: FBI agent Peter Strzok's statement before Congress
John Shinkle/POLITICO By POLITICO STAFF | 07/12/2018 10:05 AM EDT | Updated: 07/12/2018 11:08 AM EDT
Below is the full opening statement of Special Agent Peter Strzok for the July 12 hearing before the House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:
Chairmen Goodlatte and Gowdy, Ranking Members Nadler and Cummings. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before your committees again, this time in an open hearing. I testify today with significant regret, recognizing that my texts have created confusion and caused pain for people I love. Certain private messages of mine have provided ammunition for misguided attacks against the FBI, an institution I love deeply and have served proudly for more than 20 years.
I am eager to answer your questions, but let me first directly address those much-talked about texts.
Like many people, I had and expressed personal political opinions during an extraordinary Presidential election. Many contained expressions of concern for the security of our country -- opinions that were not always expressed in terms I am proud of.
But having worked in national security for two decades and proudly served in the U.S. Army, those opinions were expressed out of deep patriotism and an unyielding belief in our great American democracy. At times my criticism was blunt, but despite how it’s been characterized, it was not limited to one person or one party – I criticized various countries and politicians, including Secretary Clinton, Senator Sanders, then-candidate Trump and others.
But let me be clear, unequivocally and under oath: not once in my 26 years of defending my nation did my personal opinions impact any official action I took.
This is true for the Clinton email investigation, for the investigation into Russian interference, and for every other investigation I’ve worked on. It is not who I am, and it is not something I would ever do. Period.
I understand that my sworn testimony will not be enough for some people. After all, Americans are skeptical of anything they hear out of Washington. But the fact is, after months of investigations, there is simply no evidence of bias in my professional actions.
There is, however, one extraordinarily important piece of evidence supporting my integrity, the integrity of the FBI, and our lack of bias.
In the summer of 2016, I was one of a handful of people who knew the details of Russian election interference and its possible connections with members of the Trump campaign. This information had the potential to derail, and quite possibly, defeat Mr. Trump. But the thought of exposing that information never crossed my mind.
That’s what FBI agents do every single day, and it’s why I am so proud of the Bureau. And I am particularly proud of the work that I, and many others, did on the Clinton email investigation. Our charge was to investigate it competently, honestly, and independently, and that is exactly what happened. I’m also proud of our work on the Russian interference investigation. This is an investigation into a direct attack by a foreign adversary – and it is no less so simply because it was launched against our democratic process rather than against a military base. This is something that all Americans, of all political persuasions, should be alarmed by. In the summer of 2016, we had an urgent need to protect the integrity of an American Presidential election from a hostile foreign power determined to weaken and divide the United States of America. This investigation is not politically motivated, it is not a witch hunt, it is not a hoax.
I expect that during this hearing, I’ll be asked about that ongoing investigation. During my testimony before these Committees two weeks ago, I was asked a number of questions, including about the ongoing Russia investigation, that counsel for the FBI instructed me not to answer. Consistent with my obligations, I followed the instructions of agency counsel. However, these exchanges generated significant tension with the Majority Members and numerous time-consuming sidebars and discussions amongst counsel.
Earlier this week, my attorney asked the Committees and the FBI to confer and agree on ground rules about which topics the FBI would allow me to testify about, and which I could not. As recently as last night, the FBI and Congress were still negotiating about what questions I would be allowed to answer here today. My understanding is that the FBI’s Office of General Counsel has provided the Committee with a list of questions that I will be permitted to answer today; the list includes certain questions that I was asked but instructed not to answer during my previous interview by the Committees. I am happy to answer any questions for which I have authorization to answer and where the FBI has directed me not to answer, I will abide by the FBI’s instructions – but let me clear: this is not because I don’t want to answer your questions; if I were permitted to answer, I would. And the answers would doubtless be disappointing to the questioners and undermine the conspiracy narrative being told about the Russia investigation.
In addition, I will testify today as accurately as I can, and to the best of my recollection. Nevertheless, my testimony will necessarily be less accurate, less precise, and less complete than it would be had the Committees not insisted on this unreasonable and unprecedented schedule. Only 36 hours ago I received access to thousands of pages of documents that the Department of Justice turned over to the Committees last week. Unlike the Members questioning me today, I do not have the transcript from my eleven hours of testimony last week. The time available for preparation has been wholly inadequate, as has my access to documents necessary for my preparation.
I understand we are living in a political era in which insults and insinuation often drown out honesty and integrity. But the honest truth is that Russian interference in our elections constitutes a grave attack on our democracy. Most disturbingly, it has been wildly successful - sowing discord in our nation and shaking faith in our institutions. I have the utmost respect for Congress’s oversight role, but I truly believe that today’s hearing is just another victory notch in Putin’s belt and another milestone in our enemies’ campaign to tear America apart.
As someone who loves this country and cherishes its ideals, it is profoundly painful to watch and even worse to play a part in.
I have been trying to figure out what the fuck is wrong with this President. Is it ignorance of history or the Country and his pathological lying. The leaders of our allies are very concerned.
I thought that his speech in Great Falls Montana was a step to far. But it's not getting any better.
Politico reported While Washington has long ago grown numb to Trump’s unrelenting mayhem, the president’s two days of undulations in Brussels, rolling between enraged criticism and boastful, happy proclamations, left many leaders feeling queasy.
It’s not just Trump’s casual disregard for longstanding protocol, like the way he showed up late to the summit on Thursday, before forcing the discussion back to the issue of spending, which had not been on the day’s agenda.
Story Continued Below
Trump also committed a cardinal sin of diplomacy by conflating issues that are typically kept in silos — like military spending and trade, or energy policy, in the case of the German gas pipeline project — to reduce the chance of rupturing negotiations.
Trump derided Germany at the breakfast Wednesday as “totally controlled by Russia” because of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, accusing Berlin of paying billions to Russia while essentially shirking its duties to NATO.
“You know, we’re protecting Germany, we’re protecting France. We’re protecting everybody. And yet we’re paying a lot of money to protect,” Trump said, adding, “I have to bring it up, because I think it’s very unfair to our country.”
Then, at an appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the summit that same afternoon, he said, “We have a very, very good relationship with the chancellor. We have a tremendous relationship with Germany.”
A senior NATO official said leaders had concluded that they simply could not rely on anything Trump said.
“You know the way he speaks, you cannot take him literally,” the official said.
As for the US Economy. Well your team has the pom poms out for a recession, too bad if 10's of millions of Americans get hurt. Hillary locked down all the social media handles and monikers she needs to run her "Get back @Trump2020" campaign.
As for the US Economy. Well your team has the pom poms out for a recession, too bad if 10's of millions of Americans get hurt. Hillary locked down all the social media handles and monikers she needs to run her "Get back @Trump2020" campaign.
Trump , a Democrat at the Time and Not a Racist. "MOSCOW — Gazprom, the Russian gas monopoly, halted nearly all its natural gas exports to Europe on Tuesday, sharply escalating its pricing dispute with neighboring Ukraine. The cutoff led to immediate shortages from France to Turkey and underscored Moscow’s increasingly confrontational posture toward the West.
Across Europe, countries reported precipitous drops in gas pressure in their pipelines at the peak of the winter heating season in a bitterly cold January.
In one sign of the extent of the shutoff, Ukraine’s president, Viktor A. Yushchenko, said Gazprom intended to halt all shipments passing through his country, which account for about 80 percent of Russian gas exports to Europe. Europe, in turn, depends on Russia for 40 percent of its imported fuel." NY TIMES.
Roger also know that the US Deficit is soaring. YoY. "the budget deficit narrowed to $74.86 billion in June, compared with $90.23 billion in June 2017, due to a 9% drop in government outlays."
Thanks Roger for providing me with my Friday morning laughter!!!
You managed to get in your daily Trump lied, Trump loves Putin, and your silly references to everyone who doesn't agree with you being a puppet of "FOX News". The only thing you are missing is to rehash the collusion angle, which is surprising because that would be almost relevant.
The truth is that I have no interest in what Peter Strzok has to say. I don't expect him to admit to anything other than to reaffirm his hatred of the President of the United States and his obvious belief that Trump should not have been elected.
I am also glad that Strzok is proud of his place in the investigation, considering the fact that almost nobody else in the country "is" proud of it, and he is the main reason why so many people doubt the integrity of it.
The Inspector General has already (in his report regarding Hillary) chastised Strzok for prioritizing the Trump investigation over everything else. The IG has already suggested that he believes that bias probably played a part in that decision making. There is a whole other report (specific to the FBI handling of the Trump investigation) that will be coming out.
I find it amusing to think about how you would react if you ever found out that some FBI investigation into Barack Obama was being lead by someone who thought Obama was from Keyna, and didn't believe a black man should be President. You would have likely wanted that FBI agent drawn and quartered. No way in a million years you would have defended him or her the way you defend Strzok.
As I have stated multiple times. There are thousands of people in the FBI. They should have found someone without obvious Political agendas to oversee the most high profile and politically charged FBI investigations of our lifetime. The fact that the same person/people (who had these transparent, obvious, extreme political views) were put in charge of "both" investigations was a travesty.
Nothing Peter Strzok can say will make me change my mind about that.
Oh, and Roger... polling is showing that more and more and more Americans are seeing that obvious issue.
Yesterday, May was a failure\......today...she is a great leader!!! The man is mad!!!!! Howdy Gowdy leaving the congress is a benefit to the right...his performance yesterday was awful!!! How long did his benghazi BS last? 3 years and now he is impatient with mueller.....and you guys keep slurping it up!!
an at least know that he or his family won't be harassed at his home or when they are out eating
Again you just make shit up....with so many assholes in congress trying to trip him up, you know some asshole from the right will take a swing at him like trump used to bait crowds with....IDIOT
Sure coming from an asshole like you, I really don't think I'll take your idiotic advice especially after CNN did such a super job trolling you....LOLOLOL Too funny....save your sage advice for our asshole in chief....!!!
My mind is made up on the subject. I don't believe that law enforcement investigators or prosecutors with personal animosity or any sort of personal attachment to a law enforcement case should be working on them, much less supervising them.
That is a general rule for me. Not specific for this particular case. For me, the perception of conflict of interest should be avoided at all costs.
Nothing Strzok was going to say was going to change that. The fact that he doesn't see anything wrong with it, is just further proof that he shouldn't have ever been assigned to either the Clinton or Trump case.
Ultimately this has nothing to do with either Clinton or Trump. It's a matter of fundamental principal.
For you, I am sure this has nothing to do with the principals of whether or not law enforcement or prosecutors should avoid conflict of interests. I am sure it's a 100% about Trump for you.
Too bad for you, even as Strzok prioritized the Trump investigation over the Hillary one, and even if they treated Hillary with kid gloves, she still managed to lose the election.
The monointelelct menstral also compares oranges to assholes.... 4 candidates in 1860 splitting the vote....You want willfully stupid, look in the mirror.....asshole Nice try...
I don't believe you any more than you believe Strzok in this case or any other in this area because you always, and I mean ALWAYS defend the President. That is a general rule for me. Not specific for this particular case.
Anyone who has been observing this blog that you can no separate yourself from your ideological position. In the past, occasionally you were able to take off the blindfolds.
But since this election your objectivity has disappear. It appears to be your hatred for "liberals". Even worse is the belief that the free press is Fake News because it reports information contrary to the Trump agenda. He frames the image of his brilliance and you subscribe to the image instantly.
As to being "upset". Elections don't always go my way, it's a free country...at least we have been. Given the dicatorical direction taken by this President I sincerely believe that he poses a threat to the republic. And unfortunately you will fall in step with him no matter what.
4 candidates in 1860 splitting the vote....Nice Try
There were 4 candidates in 2016 splitting the vote also.
Hey asswipe....did any in 2016 win an electoral vote, let alone a whole percent??? My cats have more brains than you, dummy...Bigger OOOPS!!! LOL again at you...
alky, i've always admired and respected george will. right up until he started telling us that it would be a good idea to help the dems enact their agenda just because he doesn't like trump.
had hillary been elected we would be stuck with two new marxists on the USSC, a tax INCREASE, and an economy that would go from the toilet to the fucking sewer.
george is what WFB used to call a 'well fed republican'. he has his sweet georgetown residence, enough wealth that he'll never be uncomfortable, and all the trappings of someone who would never be seen with the working class.
will, kristol, and all the rest of the never trump set are throwing a bit of a tantrum. but they don't have to go out and toil each day like the rest of us. they enjoy the salons of DC, and the admiration of asshats like you that will never in a million years understand what led up to us getting trump as our president.
Ot looks like Scott believes that the Inspector general is a bunch of deep state conspiracy theorists since the inspector general’s investigation of Strzok’s involvement in the Hillary Clinton investigation found no evidence that his political views directly influenced any investigative actions he took in that case that were reviewed by the IG.
You didn't read the report. One of the few areas where Hirowitz believed that biased played a part was in regards to Strzok. He suggested that bias was the likely reason that Strzok put a higher priority on the Trump investigation at the expense of following up on the A. Weiner laptop email mess.
His decesiom, of course led to some pretty poor timing.
did any in 2016 win an electoral vote, let alone a whole percent???
Yes, Hillary Clinton won quite a few. But Donald Trump won much more.
You are a bigger douche than the asshole from Kansas.....IOW's you lost again jag off.....You posting emoji's is another sign of brain damage by trump....
12 more indictments from the fake mueller witch hunt....timing is good that with donnie meeting putin....he just can't slip him the tongue when kissing him...LOLOLOL
President Trump has often scoffed at the notion that Russia was behind the hacking of a Democratic National Committee server. On Friday afternoon, his ridicule was again called into question.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officials in connection with the hack of the Democratic National Committee’s computer server and subsequent leaking of emails of Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager, the latest charges in special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing probe into Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 election.
All 12 of the defendants worked for the GRU, the main military foreign-intelligence service of the Russian Federation.
61 comments:
Once Militantly Anti-Abortion, Evangelical Minister Now Lives 'With Regret'
Evangelical minister Rob Schenck was once a militant leader of the anti-abortion movement, blockading access to clinics to prevent doctors and patients from entering.
But after more than 20 years in the movement, Schenck experienced a change of heart. Though firm in his evangelicalism, he has disavowed his militant anti-abortion stance.
"I live with regret," he says of some of his former tactics. "I remember women — some of them quite young — being very distraught, very frightened, some very angry. Over time, I became very callous to that."
Schenck now sees abortion as a moral and ethical issue that should be resolved by "an individual and his or her conscience" — rather than by legislation.
"This is not a question for politicians," he says. "When your end goal is a political one, you will, without exception, exploit the pain and the suffering and the agony of those who face the issue in their daily reality, in their real life."
Schenck describes his change in outlook as one of several "conversions" he has experienced as an evangelical Christian.
"Change is a part of the spiritual life," he explains. "Anytime we stop changing, we stagnate spiritually, emotionally, intellectually; we stop growing."
Schenck's new memoir, Costly Grace, tells the story of the different phases of his religious and political life and explains why he changed — and how he now preaches a more inclusive message, embracing the people he once demonized.
"There was a very close identification with the civil rights struggle, and I came to see this as a kind of civil rights struggle for the most vulnerable of human beings, those in the womb. And so as time went on, I embraced that. It took me a little while to become totally convinced of the rightness of that cause and I would take that into more than 20 years, actually 25 years, of activism."
On reflecting on how his rhetoric while protesting abortion clinics and doctors may have contributed to the violence toward abortion providers, such as Dr. David Gunn, who was murdered in 1993; Dr. George Tiller, who was was wounded in 1993 and murdered in 2009; and Dr. Barnett Slepian, who was murdered in 1998
"This became more about us, about me, about our need to win, to win the argument, to win on legislation, to win in the courts. I will tell you that my acceptance of that responsibility had to come only after a long period of reflective prayer, of listening deeply to those who were gravely affected by those murders, in therapy with my own — I will be careful to say — Christian therapist, who helped me come to terms with what really happened and how I may have contributed to those acts of violence through my rhetoric, and eventually in a confrontation, a very loving one but nonetheless an encounter, a very strong, very powerful encounter, with the relative of one of the doctors shot and stabbed. ... And it was ... actually at a Passover Seder table when I was confronted very gently and very lovingly by a relative who happened to be a rabbi of that one abortion provider. In that moment, I realized my own culpability in those in those terrible, terrible events."On the evangelical support of Donald d Trump
"I think it's a grave error. I think it has compromised our spiritual and moral integrity. In fact, I entitled my chapter on Donald Trump, "Donald Trump and the moral collapse of American evangelicalism." I think it's a Faustian bargain with Donald Trump, and I think it may lead to the demise of American evangelicalism as we have known it. But my hopeful thought is that, that as the phoenix arises out of the ashes, so a new evangelicalism will emerge, mostly led by a new younger generation of evangelicals that are truer to the faith that is at the center of evangelicalism."
On what he hears from some politicians who voted for Trump but have doubts
"I would never name names ... but I have heard that many times over. You know, 'I can't embrace him,' sometimes even say very vulgar things about him, certainly paint him as a reckless, irresponsible and deeply offensive individual. I've heard even top level officials including members of Congress call him 'insane, crazy, a lunatic — but he's our lunatic, and he's going to help us achieve our objectives,' and they're willing to make that deal. To me, that equates to selling one's soul."
He had a very bad day. His Emails/texts were lying.
I watched about 50% of this embarrassment of the worst day ever in the House of Representatives. The Republicans didn't bring out one ounce of evidence that the investigation was tainted by partisan politics.
The happiest man on earth is Vladimir Putin.
Let's add to this ridiculous post.
Donald Trump said today that he is more popular than Abraham Lincoln.
Donald Trump said today that since he took office the GDP of the United States has doubled.
Donald Trump said today that the current prime minister of Great Britain should be removed from office.
And the day isn't over yet in the United States of Donald Trump.
Trump Derangement Syndrome
ROFLMFAO
President Trump on Brexit
I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn't agree, she wouldn't listen to me
Reporter: What did say?
Trump: She didn't listen. No I told her how to do it. That would be up for her to say. But I told her how to do it. She wanted to go a different route.
After all he is a master negotiator. The Mexicans are not paying for the wall. Obamacare has not been repealed with coverage for less and for everyone.
Now he's going to Moscow and kneel down and suck Putin's cock.
Trumpism
I swear to provide the bullshit, the whole bullshit, and nothing but the bullshit
So help me Hillary..."
Scott didn't even watch a minute of the hearing. But Faux News provided the headline.
I swear to provide the bullshit, the whole bullshit, and nothing but the bullshit
So help me Hillary..."
Stark Raving Mad
He's a lifelong investigator in the FBI. The Republicans tried to make the case that the email issue was a deep state conspiracy. They provided zero evidence to support their allegations. The "perception" of intent was politically motivated. They provided zero evidence that the investigation was politically motivated to destroy Donald Trump and his chances to get elected President. Late night emails show that he perhaps had a couple drinks and texted his girlfriend.
One of the congressmen tried to use the fact that he was having an affair affected his investigation into the Russian intervention that did take place.
Even The Donald Trump's affairs are not important.
Trump: The GDP since I've taken over has doubled and tripled.
The statement from a true American.
Full text: FBI agent Peter Strzok's statement before Congress
John Shinkle/POLITICO
By POLITICO STAFF | 07/12/2018 10:05 AM EDT | Updated: 07/12/2018 11:08 AM EDT
Below is the full opening statement of Special Agent Peter Strzok for the July 12 hearing before the House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:
Chairmen Goodlatte and Gowdy, Ranking Members Nadler and Cummings. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before your committees again, this time in an open hearing.
I testify today with significant regret, recognizing that my texts have created confusion and caused pain for people I love. Certain private messages of mine have provided ammunition for misguided attacks against the FBI, an institution I love deeply and have served proudly for more than 20 years.
I am eager to answer your questions, but let me first directly address those much-talked about texts.
Like many people, I had and expressed personal political opinions during an extraordinary Presidential election. Many contained expressions of concern for the security of our country -- opinions that were not always expressed in terms I am proud of.
But having worked in national security for two decades and proudly served in the U.S. Army, those opinions were expressed out of deep patriotism and an unyielding belief in our great American democracy. At times my criticism was blunt, but despite how it’s been characterized, it was not limited to one person or one party – I criticized various countries and politicians, including Secretary Clinton, Senator Sanders, then-candidate Trump and others.
But let me be clear, unequivocally and under oath: not once in my 26 years of defending my nation did my personal opinions impact any official action I took.
This is true for the Clinton email investigation, for the investigation into Russian interference, and for every other investigation I’ve worked on. It is not who I am, and it is not something I would ever do. Period.
I understand that my sworn testimony will not be enough for some people. After all, Americans are skeptical of anything they hear out of Washington. But the fact is, after months of investigations, there is simply no evidence of bias in my professional actions.
There is, however, one extraordinarily important piece of evidence supporting my integrity, the integrity of the FBI, and our lack of bias.
In the summer of 2016, I was one of a handful of people who knew the details of Russian election interference and its possible connections with members of the Trump campaign. This information had the potential to derail, and quite possibly, defeat Mr. Trump. But the thought of exposing that information never crossed my mind.
That’s what FBI agents do every single day, and it’s why I am so proud of the Bureau. And I am particularly proud of the work that I, and many others, did on the Clinton email investigation. Our charge was to investigate it competently, honestly, and independently, and that is exactly what happened.
I’m also proud of our work on the Russian interference investigation. This is an investigation into a direct attack by a foreign adversary – and it is no less so simply because it was launched against our democratic process rather than against a military base. This is something that all Americans, of all political persuasions, should be alarmed by. In the summer of 2016, we had an urgent need to protect the integrity of an American Presidential election from a hostile foreign power determined to weaken and divide the United States of America. This investigation is not politically motivated, it is not a witch hunt, it is not a hoax.
This is going to piss off the host.
No hoaxes oh my goodness.
I expect that during this hearing, I’ll be asked about that ongoing investigation. During my testimony before these Committees two weeks ago, I was asked a number of questions, including about the ongoing Russia investigation, that counsel for the FBI instructed me not to answer. Consistent with my obligations, I followed the instructions of agency counsel. However, these exchanges generated significant tension with the Majority Members and numerous time-consuming sidebars and discussions amongst counsel.
Earlier this week, my attorney asked the Committees and the FBI to confer and agree on ground rules about which topics the FBI would allow me to testify about, and which I could not. As recently as last night, the FBI and Congress were still negotiating about what questions I would be allowed to answer here today. My understanding is that the FBI’s Office of General Counsel has provided the Committee with a list of questions that I will be permitted to answer today; the list includes certain questions that I was asked but instructed not to answer during my previous interview by the Committees. I am happy to answer any questions for which I have authorization to answer and where the FBI has directed me not to answer, I will abide by the FBI’s instructions – but let me clear: this is not because I don’t want to answer your questions; if I were permitted to answer, I would. And the answers would doubtless be disappointing to the questioners and undermine the conspiracy narrative being told about the Russia investigation.
In addition, I will testify today as accurately as I can, and to the best of my recollection. Nevertheless, my testimony will necessarily be less accurate, less precise, and less complete than it would be had the Committees not insisted on this unreasonable and unprecedented schedule. Only 36 hours ago I received access to thousands of pages of documents that the Department of Justice turned over to the Committees last week. Unlike the Members questioning me today, I do not have the transcript from my eleven hours of testimony last week. The time available for preparation has been wholly inadequate, as has my access to documents necessary for my preparation.
I understand we are living in a political era in which insults and insinuation often drown out honesty and integrity. But the honest truth is that Russian interference in our elections constitutes a grave attack on our democracy. Most disturbingly, it has been wildly successful - sowing discord in our nation and shaking faith in our institutions. I have the utmost respect for Congress’s oversight role, but I truly believe that today’s hearing is just another victory notch in Putin’s belt and another milestone in our enemies’ campaign to tear America apart.
As someone who loves this country and cherishes its ideals, it is profoundly painful to watch and even worse to play a part in.
I have been trying to figure out what the fuck is wrong with this President. Is it ignorance of history or the Country and his pathological lying. The leaders of our allies are very concerned.
I thought that his speech in Great Falls Montana was a step to far. But it's not getting any better.
Politico reported
While Washington has long ago grown numb to Trump’s unrelenting mayhem, the president’s two days of undulations in Brussels, rolling between enraged criticism and boastful, happy proclamations, left many leaders feeling queasy.
It’s not just Trump’s casual disregard for longstanding protocol, like the way he showed up late to the summit on Thursday, before forcing the discussion back to the issue of spending, which had not been on the day’s agenda.
Story Continued Below
Trump also committed a cardinal sin of diplomacy by conflating issues that are typically kept in silos — like military spending and trade, or energy policy, in the case of the German gas pipeline project — to reduce the chance of rupturing negotiations.
Trump derided Germany at the breakfast Wednesday as “totally controlled by Russia” because of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, accusing Berlin of paying billions to Russia while essentially shirking its duties to NATO.
“You know, we’re protecting Germany, we’re protecting France. We’re protecting everybody. And yet we’re paying a lot of money to protect,” Trump said, adding, “I have to bring it up, because I think it’s very unfair to our country.”
Then, at an appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the summit that same afternoon, he said, “We have a very, very good relationship with the chancellor. We have a tremendous relationship with Germany.”
A senior NATO official said leaders had concluded that they simply could not rely on anything Trump said.
“You know the way he speaks, you cannot take him literally,” the official said.
This is going to piss off the host.
i doubt it alky. you've become a laughingstock at this point.
"Pissoff"
I know it will not. You triggered beyond normal for you ole Rog. I was proud of you.
As for the US Economy. Well your team has the pom poms out for a recession, too bad if 10's of millions of Americans get hurt.
Hillary locked down all the social media handles and monikers she needs to run her "Get back @Trump2020" campaign.
As for the US Economy. Well your team has the pom poms out for a recession, too bad if 10's of millions of Americans get hurt.
Hillary locked down all the social media handles and monikers she needs to run her "Get back @Trump2020" campaign.
Trump , a Democrat at the Time and Not a Racist.
"MOSCOW — Gazprom, the Russian gas monopoly, halted nearly all its natural gas exports to Europe on Tuesday, sharply escalating its pricing dispute with neighboring Ukraine. The cutoff led to immediate shortages from France to Turkey and underscored Moscow’s increasingly confrontational posture toward the West.
Across Europe, countries reported precipitous drops in gas pressure in their pipelines at the peak of the winter heating season in a bitterly cold January.
In one sign of the extent of the shutoff, Ukraine’s president, Viktor A. Yushchenko, said Gazprom intended to halt all shipments passing through his country, which account for about 80 percent of Russian gas exports to Europe. Europe, in turn, depends on Russia for 40 percent of its imported fuel." NY TIMES.
Strzok came off as the arrogant condensing prick he is. And the Democrats once again lose veterans when they said Strzok deserves a "Purple Heart".
Talk about insulting are brave service men and women.
All in all a bad day for the Democrats. It's too bad most Americans had better things to do than watch their sideshow yesterday.
Roger,two things, Trump is so dumb he beat the pants suit off of Hillary in a landslide . And, he has you so angry by accomplishing Nothing.
Roger also know that the US Deficit is soaring. YoY.
"the budget deficit narrowed to $74.86 billion in June, compared with $90.23 billion in June 2017, due to a 9% drop in government outlays."
Strzok can at least know that he or his family won't be harassed at his home or when they are out eating. Because conservatives just don't do that.
Thanks Roger for providing me with my Friday morning laughter!!!
You managed to get in your daily Trump lied, Trump loves Putin, and your silly references to everyone who doesn't agree with you being a puppet of "FOX News". The only thing you are missing is to rehash the collusion angle, which is surprising because that would be almost relevant.
The truth is that I have no interest in what Peter Strzok has to say. I don't expect him to admit to anything other than to reaffirm his hatred of the President of the United States and his obvious belief that Trump should not have been elected.
I am also glad that Strzok is proud of his place in the investigation, considering the fact that almost nobody else in the country "is" proud of it, and he is the main reason why so many people doubt the integrity of it.
The Inspector General has already (in his report regarding Hillary) chastised Strzok for prioritizing the Trump investigation over everything else. The IG has already suggested that he believes that bias probably played a part in that decision making. There is a whole other report (specific to the FBI handling of the Trump investigation) that will be coming out.
I find it amusing to think about how you would react if you ever found out that some FBI investigation into Barack Obama was being lead by someone who thought Obama was from Keyna, and didn't believe a black man should be President. You would have likely wanted that FBI agent drawn and quartered. No way in a million years you would have defended him or her the way you defend Strzok.
As I have stated multiple times. There are thousands of people in the FBI. They should have found someone without obvious Political agendas to oversee the most high profile and politically charged FBI investigations of our lifetime. The fact that the same person/people (who had these transparent, obvious, extreme political views) were put in charge of "both" investigations was a travesty.
Nothing Peter Strzok can say will make me change my mind about that.
Oh, and Roger... polling is showing that more and more and more Americans are seeing that obvious issue.
Nothing can change your mind.
You have let others tell you what to think.
Trump: The GDP since I've taken over has doubled and tripled.
He would not take a question from CNN today.
The Fake News is anti American propaganda and you are his puppet
He's more popular than Abraham Lincoln
Yesterday, May was a failure\......today...she is a great leader!!! The man is mad!!!!! Howdy Gowdy leaving the congress is a benefit to the right...his performance yesterday was awful!!! How long did his benghazi BS last? 3 years and now he is impatient with mueller.....and you guys keep slurping it up!!
Blogger Roger Amick said...
Nothing can change your mind.
You have let others tell you what to think.
ah yes. our daily dose of psychological projection from the rum bum that can't post anything but copy/pastes all fucking day.
Did you see the FAKE NEWS CNN coverage of the "giant baby trump balloon" in London today?
Guess they must be trying to be sarcastic or wrote their news yesterday in advance as it is the opposite of gigantic.
ROFLMFAO !!!
an at least know that he or his family won't be harassed at his home or when they are out eating
Again you just make shit up....with so many assholes in congress trying to trip him up, you know some asshole from the right will take a swing at him like trump used to bait crowds with....IDIOT
e FAKE NEWS CNN coverage of the "giant baby trump balloon" in London today?
IT WAS A GREAT LIKENESS, ESPECIALLY THE SMALL HANDS...LOLOLOLOL!! Yep cnn trolled you to look even dumber than trump!!
commie, when the blog idiot (guess that even this needs to be explained to you that this is you) tries to act smart he comes up looking even worse.
Take a hint and try not using "asshole" in a sentence for a while and do a lot more listening and less foaming from the mouth.
You'd look a tad bit less stupid.
ROFLMFAO !!!
Pres Trump botched slapped fake news CNN.
"Nothing can change your mind. " Roger
Sure, what criminal Charge(s) are going to be filed against President Trump?
Take a hint and try not using "asshole
Sure coming from an asshole like you, I really don't think I'll take your idiotic advice especially after CNN did such a super job trolling you....LOLOLOL Too funny....save your sage advice for our asshole in chief....!!!
Pres Trump botched slapped
BWAAAAAAAAA!!!! BOTCH SLAPPED!!! Good one asshole!!!!
He's more popular than Abraham Lincoln
Actually judging by the popular vote at the time (there was no polling), he is.
You're right Roger...
My mind is made up on the subject. I don't believe that law enforcement investigators or prosecutors with personal animosity or any sort of personal attachment to a law enforcement case should be working on them, much less supervising them.
That is a general rule for me. Not specific for this particular case. For me, the perception of conflict of interest should be avoided at all costs.
Nothing Strzok was going to say was going to change that. The fact that he doesn't see anything wrong with it, is just further proof that he shouldn't have ever been assigned to either the Clinton or Trump case.
Ultimately this has nothing to do with either Clinton or Trump. It's a matter of fundamental principal.
For you, I am sure this has nothing to do with the principals of whether or not law enforcement or prosecutors should avoid conflict of interests. I am sure it's a 100% about Trump for you.
Too bad for you, even as Strzok prioritized the Trump investigation over the Hillary one, and even if they treated Hillary with kid gloves, she still managed to lose the election.
That is what really upsets you.
judging by the popular vote at the time (there was no polling), he is.
Having less votes than hillary denotes he was more popular than Lincoln????? Another reason your side needs to be "botch" slapped.....LOL
Yes, Dennis can't resist being willfully stupid. In the election of 1860 Lincoln only got 40 percent of the popular vote. Far less than Trumps 49%.r
The monointelelct menstral also compares oranges to assholes.... 4 candidates in 1860 splitting the vote....You want willfully stupid, look in the mirror.....asshole Nice try...
I don't believe you any more than you believe Strzok in this case or any other in this area because you always, and I mean ALWAYS defend the President.
That is a general rule for me. Not specific for this particular case.
Anyone who has been observing this blog that you can no separate yourself from your ideological position. In the past, occasionally you were able to take off the blindfolds.
But since this election your objectivity has disappear. It appears to be your hatred for "liberals". Even worse is the belief that the free press is Fake News because it reports information contrary to the Trump agenda. He frames the image of his brilliance and you subscribe to the image instantly.
As to being "upset". Elections don't always go my way, it's a free country...at least we have been. Given the dicatorical direction taken by this President I sincerely believe that he poses a threat to the republic. And unfortunately you will fall in step with him no matter what.
that you can no separate yourself from your --ideological-- " CULTIST" position
Fixed it for you Roger.....
4 candidates in 1860 splitting the vote....Nice Try
There were 4 candidates in 2016 splitting the vote also. Opps!!! ð
Yeah that's right communism lover. He is a cultist. George Will has been telling people like Scott to open their eyes but he's got the cult disorder .
4 candidates in 1860 splitting the vote....Nice Try
There were 4 candidates in 2016 splitting the vote also.
Hey asswipe....did any in 2016 win an electoral vote, let alone a whole percent??? My cats have more brains than you, dummy...Bigger OOOPS!!! LOL again at you...
george will?
alky, i've always admired and respected george will. right up until he started telling us that it would be a good idea to help the dems enact their agenda just because he doesn't like trump.
had hillary been elected we would be stuck with two new marxists on the USSC, a tax INCREASE, and an economy that would go from the toilet to the fucking sewer.
george is what WFB used to call a 'well fed republican'. he has his sweet georgetown residence, enough wealth that he'll never be uncomfortable, and all the trappings of someone who would never be seen with the working class.
will, kristol, and all the rest of the never trump set are throwing a bit of a tantrum. but they don't have to go out and toil each day like the rest of us. they enjoy the salons of DC, and the admiration of asshats like you that will never in a million years understand what led up to us getting trump as our president.
Ot looks like Scott believes that the Inspector general is a bunch of deep state conspiracy theorists since the inspector general’s investigation of Strzok’s involvement in the Hillary Clinton investigation found no evidence that his political views directly influenced any investigative actions he took in that case that were reviewed by the IG.
rrb has just confirmed that he's not a Republican.
Cultist
Blogger Roger Amick said...
rrb has just confirmed that he's not a Republican.
that's correct alky.
i used to be.
i'm now registered as a conservative.
you don't know the difference do you?
go look it up and copy/paste it here, jag off.
did any in 2016 win an electoral vote, let alone a whole percent???
Yes, Hillary Clinton won quite a few. But Donald Trump won much more. ððððĪĢðððĪŠ
ðð
Yes, Hillary Clinton won quite a few. But Donald Trump won much more. ððððĪĢðððĪŠ"
Dennis is having a "Stroak" kind of a day.
Mueller wasting 10' s of Millions of dollars is trolling 12 Russian Generals.
Lol
Kansas Democrat = KD
I am a Democrat. So what is your point Ole Roger?
Actually Roger...
You didn't read the report. One of the few areas where Hirowitz believed that biased played a part was in regards to Strzok. He suggested that bias was the likely reason that Strzok put a higher priority on the Trump investigation at the expense of following up on the A. Weiner laptop email mess.
His decesiom, of course led to some pretty poor timing.
" No Americans involved"
I am a Democrat.
You are as democrat as lincoln was black.....asshole
KD = Kansas douchebag....
did any in 2016 win an electoral vote, let alone a whole percent???
Yes, Hillary Clinton won quite a few. But Donald Trump won much more.
You are a bigger douche than the asshole from Kansas.....IOW's you lost again jag off.....You posting emoji's is another sign of brain damage by trump....
12 more indictments from the fake mueller witch hunt....timing is good that with donnie meeting putin....he just can't slip him the tongue when kissing him...LOLOLOL
President Trump has often scoffed at the notion that Russia was behind the hacking of a Democratic National Committee server. On Friday afternoon, his ridicule was again called into question.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officials in connection with the hack of the Democratic National Committee’s computer server and subsequent leaking of emails of Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager, the latest charges in special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing probe into Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 election.
All 12 of the defendants worked for the GRU, the main military foreign-intelligence service of the Russian Federation.
commie said … President Trump has often scoffed at the notion that Russia was behind the hacking of a Democratic National Committee server
SO DID THE DNC AID RUSSIA BY NOT GIVING FBI ACCESS TO THEIR SERVER?
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