Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
U.S. intelligence unquestionably had Butina on its radar by spring 2015, in part because she left an overt trail of open-source intelligence documenting her contacts with major conservative figures at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the National Rifle Association and the libertarian Freedom Fest, starting in 2013. (Some of those she met at events had U.S. security clearances.)
For at least 18 months, the FBI even surveilled her regularly as she roamed the United States, according to sources.
Yet the FBI chose not to arrest her until 2018, charging her just two weeks ago with acting illegally as a Russian agent of influence without properly registering, a charge she and her lawyer deny.
Before that, the U.S. government had cleared and even helped to facilitate a meeting for two congressmen — one a Republican, the other a Democrat — in summer 2015 in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Butina and her Russian handler; it then approved her receiving a student visa to stay more regularly in the United States, starting in 2016.
...
The watch-wait-and-see approach the FBI used with Butina was much more in line with the instincts of former prosecutor and Mueller successor James Comey. The prize, in that mindset, is much more the announcement of criminal charges and convictions than the knowledge of knowing you disrupted harm before it happened.
That may explain why Mueller, now the special counsel in the Russia election-meddling case, didn’t take the lead on Butina’s prosecution even though it clearly has ties to the 2016 election.
It’s a classic case where the FBI focused less on prevention and more on prosecution after the fact. And, in so doing, the FBI may have created a scandal of its own doing: It could have spared us the salacious political yarn of Maria Butina, had it just acted preemptively as it did with Anna Chapman.
In other words, let the criminal activity persist until it can be used for leverage against an opponent.
U.S. intelligence unquestionably had Butina on its radar by spring 2015, in part because she left an overt trail of open-source intelligence documenting her contacts with major conservative figures at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the National Rifle Association and the libertarian Freedom Fest, starting in 2013. (Some of those she met at events had U.S. security clearances.)
For at least 18 months, the FBI even surveilled her regularly as she roamed the United States, according to sources.
Yet the FBI chose not to arrest her until 2018, charging her just two weeks ago with acting illegally as a Russian agent of influence without properly registering, a charge she and her lawyer deny.
Before that, the U.S. government had cleared and even helped to facilitate a meeting for two congressmen — one a Republican, the other a Democrat — in summer 2015 in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Butina and her Russian handler; it then approved her receiving a student visa to stay more regularly in the United States, starting in 2016.
... The watch-wait-and-see approach the FBI used with Butina was much more in line with the instincts of former prosecutor and Mueller successor James Comey. The prize, in that mindset, is much more the announcement of criminal charges and convictions than the knowledge of knowing you disrupted harm before it happened.
That may explain why Mueller, now the special counsel in the Russia election-meddling case, didn’t take the lead on Butina’s prosecution even though it clearly has ties to the 2016 election.
It’s a classic case where the FBI focused less on prevention and more on prosecution after the fact. And, in so doing, the FBI may have created a scandal of its own doing: It could have spared us the salacious political yarn of Maria Butina, had it just acted preemptively as it did with Anna Chapman.
In other words, let the criminal activity persist until it can be used for leverage against an opponent.
Yep and that's why they let her stay longer. She was used in the setup.
Yep and that's why they let her stay longer. She was used in the setup.
That's exactly what their strategy is.
Exhibit B - Paul Manafort. What were his charges? ..not collusion... but numerous tax offenses from 5-10 years ago.
They knew about that, but let it persist until they needed leverage. Then they had the opportunity to jail him and try to squeeze whatever they could out of him.
Exhibit B - Paul Manafort. What were his charges? ..not collusion... but numerous tax offenses from 5-10 years ago.
They knew about that, but let it persist until they needed leverage. Then they had the opportunity to jail him and try to squeeze whatever they could out of him.
Exactly. They were fully aware of all of his doings and Mueller decided to not charge him years ago.
Alleged Russian spy Maria Butina has been working on a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors for a few weeks. Looks like that deal might get done today.
Maria Butina has "flipped" and will "fully cooperate" with the U.S. Government, to include Special Counsel Bob Mueller. Can't wait to her what she has to say.
And what does this have to do with the GOP and those that voted for Trump ? Isn't the left enamored with Marxism and Stalin ? Those are your comrades not mine...
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,320 posts, read 54,318,035 times
Reputation: 40696
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kracer
Perhaps the op might want to review the effort by Trump to counter Putin's strategy.
Take a glance at the Obama response to Putin and then review the actions trump has taken.
The conclusion would clearly suggest Putin was playing Obama and now the media has taken up where Obama left off and it thrills Putin immensely. Putin must feel a tingle running up his leg every time Obama's name is mentioned. When will the democrats realize Putin is playing them.
When will Trump realize Putin's playing HIM?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.