by Robert M. Traxler
Quite frankly, I am concerned about the charge that the government (the FBI) spied on the Trump campaign staff.
If the FBI had carded, registered informants in the Trump campaign whom they directed and managed, even in the most minor manner, directed and managed by an FBI agent or employee, it is an outrageous crime. A federal government agency being used for domestic political espionage is so far over the top it is difficult to believe. If true, anyone and everyone involved must see the inside of a federal prison.
Now if the Clinton campaign had “spies” in the Trump campaign, who cares, that is normal and has happened since the first two cave people ran for leadership of the cave. Most campaigns from all parties spy on opponents, always have and always will. Nothing unlawful in gathering intelligence on political foes. However, the law and I have a problem with agents of any government agency (but especially the investigative and intelligence agencies) being involved in political espionage in the United States against American citizens, to benefit one political party over the others.
One of the big reasons the people (well most people) admire the military is the separation of our military at all levels from politics; the laws regarding any military officer using his/her office to influence subordinates’ voting preference are clear, and penalties range from five to twenty years for violations. In a democracy, we must have a military that first and foremost supports and defends the Constitution, and then the person leading the nation. The FBI also followed the same rules before President Trump ran for office.
If the goal is a socialist nation, then the military and federal investigative agencies can be loyal first to the party, then the nation. Let us all hope that never happens; if proven true and the FBI did work with a political party to gather intelligence under the cloak of the Patriot Act or FISA. It is an outrage that all Americans, even those of you who disdain President Trump, must demand be corrected and the violators imprisoned. The defenders of using the Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence and Surveillance ACT (FISA) will say that they got a warrant, so end of conversation.
Since 1979 to date, the court has approved 40,117 warrants, but only rejected 21 requests. That’s a rejection rate of 0.052 percent. Hard to get any closer to a rubber stamp than that.
The court was set up to either approve or deny warrants requested by the United States government, mostly the Intelligence agencies and the FBI, for surveillance of foreign spies inside of the United States. The authorization allows for wiretapping a “foreign power or an agent of a foreign power” (which could include American citizens) suspected to be engaged in espionage or terrorism.
The “slippery slope” of using government investigative and law enforcement agencies to target political foes should terrify us all, left and right. A FISA warrant being issued on the grounds members that a campaign staff had contact with a foreign government is a dangerous practice. The Clinton campaign had dozens of employees who had contact with Russia, China, Iran and other nations. To issue a warrant, one must submit an affidavit that is considered sworn testimony before a federal court. If, as I believe, evidence was submitted that was false or unlawfully generated, it is a crime, pure and simple.
An interesting side effect is that many good folks on the left are defending the very eavesdropping laws they have objected to for nearly 40 years; funny how that works. The FBI and the intelligence agencies, normally held in disdain by most good folks on the left, are now magically incapable of error.
Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) has affected many on the left to the extent that they have abandoned their normal beliefs and embraced those who operate in the shadows. Hell must be freezing over — the left openly embracing the FBI, CIA, NSA and other intelligence agencies is something most thought they would never see.
The media, investigative and intelligence agencies working together in a knowingly unlawful act is terrifying, but who cares? The end justifies the means — or does it?
Rarely do the ends justify the means. And never should the FBI, CSA, NSA and the like be political. All of our criminal investigative agencies need to be neutral and separate from politics.
The appearance of probable intrusion is unfortunate, and if proven true it is criminal in my book.
Good piece, Mr. Bob. We seem to be agreeing on issues lately.