This is a doozy of a statement. It perfectly encapsulates each logical flaw defenders of Crossfire Hurricane invoke to justify the investigation. Each point is easily refuted with just a little logic.

We’ve never been told what George Papadopoulos supposedly said to the Australians that made it “appear” the campaign had advance knowledge of the Wikileaks release. But given that conservative commentators on Fox News and in Forbes magazine were openly theorizing that Russia had Hillary’s emails from her time as Secretary of State, anyone simply repeating that rumor could have given the impression, mistakenly, when viewed in retrospect, after the releases, that they had known they were coming. This should have been an obvious possibility to the top detectives at the FBI. Feinstein says this report from the Aussies created the “possibility” that the campaign had advance knowledge. But of course anything is possible, including repeating rumors from Fox News. The timeline for when George made this statement doesn’t help either, as it was months before the DNC emails were hacked. Given the totality of circumstances, the possibility that George’s statement reflected advance knowledge was highly improbable.

Incompetence was the main negative influence on opening such a whacky investigation on such flimsy evidence. However, implicit bias against Trump, combined with incompetence, seems to have been the real problem. When she says here there was no evidence of bias, she means no one explicitly put in writing that they were only pursuing the investigation to get Trump. In fact, I think the evidence does show that they really believed what they were investigating could be real. Which speaks to their incompetence, given the far fetched nature of the allegations and the lack of applied logic.

Flynn was the incoming National Security Advisor and even James Comey said his talking to the Russians was legitimate.

Flynn had a professional disagreement with the ICA conclusions. Flynn’s telling Kislyak to not retaliate actually improved the US’s security.

This is likely true, but as discussed on point one, the decision to open the investigation based on the Australian hearsay was fatally flawed on its own.

Here’s where they like to conflate Obstruction, Collusion, and Russian Interference. By the time Trump fired Comey the FBI had known for months there was no Collusion, but were keeping the investigation open in hopes he might lash out in anger, which he did, so they could then morph it into an Obstruction investigation, given their lack of evidence for Collusion. Regardless of what Russia did or didn’t do, contacts do not Collusion make, and we hardly needed a Special Counsel to investigate Russian Facebook ads and the like.

The Senate Investigation made a lot of to due about Konstantin Kilimnick, but it didn’t prove Collusion any more than Mueller did. Because Collusion didn’t happen. You’d think everyone could agree on that by now.

Given that it didn’t happen, and the investigation was opened on flimsy grounds, by people who’s personal text messages reveal they hated Trump and wanted him to lose desperately, it was certainly not justified.

The FISA was a major scandal. The flimsy opening hasn’t received the same scrutiny. If it did, if for instance we knew what George is supposed to have said verbatim, it would quickly become clear that the investigation should have never been opened, much less carried on for years.

Interior FBI, Pete Strzok’s office

The phone rings

Strzok: Peter Strzok
FBI Agent: Pete, Hey, how are you doing?
Strzok: I’m holding up. How’s your case coming?
FBI Agent: Truthfully, I think we’re done. We’ve run Flynn’s name through every database we have and can’t find a single hit or any indication he might be working with the Russians. Thank God, right? I mean, he’s days away from becoming the National Security Advisor
Strzok: Huh. Yeah, that’s good news I suppose. Alright, well go ahead and close the case I guess. Let’s remember to keep this extremely confidential. If the Trump team finds out too soon they will hit the roof.
FBI Agent: Yeah, that seems inevitable. Wonder if we should all start buying professional insurance…
Strzok: That’s actually not a terrible idea.

McCabe’s office
Andy McCabe is on the phone, listening intently when Strzok enters his office. He gestures silently for Strzok to take a seat and wait until he’s off the call.
McCabe: It made it to the Oval? … Ok Good, I’m sure they will see what we’re seeing here. He completely undermined the sanctions…
The call continues…
McCabe: Yessir, we’ll have some ideas for you when you go to that meeting, tomorrow. Got it. Ok, I’ll get back to you. Yep.
He hangs up.
Strzok: Hey Andy. So, I just wanted to fill you in on the latest with Crossfire Razor.
Andy is distracted
McCabe: Flynn talked to the Russian Ambassador.
There’s silence. Pete is a little confused.
Strzok: Isn’t that… his job?
McCabe: He undermined the sanctions!
McCabe looks stressed. Strzok sees they aren’t on the same page of urgency.
Strzok: Oh. The expulsions you mean?
McCabe: Whatever. He told them not to retaliate. Why would he do that?! Unless…
McCabe trails off, stroking his chin, his mind going to wild conspiratorial places.
Strzok: Ok. Well, I should probably tell you something.
He waits for McCabe’s attention to focus.
McCabe: What?
Strzok: I just closed the Flynn case.
McCabe: What!

Strzok excitedly runs back into his office. Picks up the phone and dials.
Strzok: Hey! You didn’t close that case yet, did you?

Interior, Oval Office, the next day, January 5th
Obama: So thanks everyone for coming. As you know we’ve expelled two dozen Russian diplomats, and closed two of their properties. We were expecting some sort of retaliation, but it never materialized, and now we know why.
Brennan: This is direct interference in US Policy. They’re undermining our National Security before they’ve even taken office!
Biden: And by a National Security advisor. That’s ironic!
Silence
Clapper: Who isn’t yet in office. That’s actually illegal, Mr. President.
Biden: Oh yeah, it’s called the Logan Act. I saw an episode of West Wing about it!
Obama: Great Show.
Comey: The problem sir, is the incoming National Security Advisor has the right to contact foreign leaders to begin building relationships. This seems actually to be legitimate for him to be doing
Obama: Not if he’s working with a foreign power that just got their stooge elected.
Brennan: Indeed, Mr. Comey. I’m not sure you recognize the seriousness of what just took place. I’ve had a high level source in the Kremlin this entire time who’s been feeding me reports suggesting Putin himself has been directing the entire operation. The operation you were investigating and still allowed to be successful.
Room erupts into arguing.
Comey: John, with all due respect, the FBI has been following a completely different intelligence stream than you have. And we’re very deep, still, into our investigation.
Obama: Well so far you haven’t found anything, Jim.
Silence.
Susan Rice speaks up.
Rice: Gentlemen, the problem we have is the new Administration is due to take office in a few weeks. They’re going to find out about the FBI investigation. It will be much easier to hide the CIA investigation from them. We need to decide how to handle the disclosure.
Obama: I don’t see why we disclose anything. Jim, you’re FBI Director. Isn’t there good reason for us not to tell the incoming people anything about your investigation into them?
Comey: It’s a tricky situation sir. I think if they ask the right questions, I will have no choice but to disclose certain things.
Silence. Obama clearly doesn’t like the answer.
Obama: Look Jim, I know we haven’t always been on the same page. And I can’t say I’m happy with your actions the past year. In fact, one could argue you’re the reason we’re here. But, that said, I’m not asking you to do anything untoward. Just do everything by the book. But as far as my administration, I think we will hold back any and all information as it pertains to Russia. Especially given this phone call. What are we doing about that?
Sally Yates speaks up
Yates: I have an idea sir. We have this tape, but it’s not in itself criminal. The uh..Logan Act aside. But the optics are bad. It looks like collusion. In fact, I’d argue that Flynn is now blackmailable by the Russians. If…
Obama: If what? You’ve lost me… He just did them a favor and they are going to blackmail him for it?
Yates: If it became public that he was talking to the Russians, but a mystery what he said, we could use that dynamic sir to weaponize this call. I have some connections at the Washington Post. What if we leaked to them the fact that the call took place, but pretend not to know what was discussed. That way Flynn will have to confess to undermining us, or he will have to explain his actions publicly.
Obama: That’s good. That’s very good. Jim, why can’t you come up with ideas like this?
Comey: I’m sorry. I’ll try harder sir.
Clapper: Well you’ll get your chance tomorrow at Trump Tower. Jim, I think you should brief Trump on the Dossier, personally. Especially the part about prostitutes urinating on him.
Obama: Ha! Yeah, I love that. You game Jim?
Comey: Uh… Yessir, if that’s what you want. I can gauge his reaction for any signs of guilt.
Obama: Y’all aren’t still using that .. British thing? Are you? I hear the press is about to publish it. Make sure you aren’t too exposed.
Comey: We may have used it. To get a FISA warrant.
Rice: Oh Jesus.

Interior Trump Tower, next day
Comey, Clapper and Brennan are briefing the Trump Team
Preibus: But no votes were changed, right?
Clapper: No sir, no we don’t believe so. Just the hacking of the DNC and Podesta, and RT television.
Bannon: Does anyone even watch RT television? I can’t fucking find it on my TV.
Trump: Larry King has a show on RT. I was on it last year!
Silence as the room considers that.
Trump: Well thanks guys for coming in. It sounds like you’re saying the Russian stuff, if it did happen, which frankly I doubt, this is all a scam if you ask me, by Hillary’s people. Let’s get a press release out that says that, that it didn’t affect the Election. You three, you can all sign on to it.
Brennan: I don’t believe that would be appropriate, sir.
Trump: No, huh? Alright, we’ll put something out ourselves. Ok, thanks gentlemen.
Comey: Sir, I have one more thing I’d like to discuss with you in private, if you don’t mind.
Trump: James Comey. You’re more famous than me now!
Room laughs.
Trump: Sure, everyone, thanks, I’d like to talk to Jim alone. Thanks.
The Room empties out slowly.
Trump: What’s up?
Comey: Sir, there’s a report out there, that’s been floating around to all the press, that you had prostitutes in a hotel room in Moscow in 2013.
Trump: Huh? That’s ridiculous. Wait.. what year was it?
Comey: 2013.
Trump thinks.
Trump: No, there weren’t any prostitutes. There were never any prostitutes.
Comey: I understand. But you should know the news media is planning to publish this, and some other stories soon. They are just waiting for a news hook.
Trump: A News Hook? Like what? What’s that mean?
Comey: A legitimate excuse to publish.
Trump: Like you telling me this, right now. That could be a news hook.
Comey: I hadn’t thought of that, but possibly.
Trump: I’ve got my eye on you, Jim.

Interior, George Papadopolous’ mother’s home
Phone rings.
Papadopolous: Hello?
FBI: Hello George. This is the FBI. Do you think we could have a word with you?
George: Uh, sure. What’s it about?
FBI: Oh, I think you know what we want to talk about.
Silence
George: Sergei Millian?
Silence.
FBI: Exactly. So, uh.. you wanna come with us to a station to talk?
George: When?
FBI: How about right now? We’re standing outside.
George looks through window blinds. Agent on phone waves.

Interior FBI Station Chicago.
FBI agent: So, just going back to the WikiLeaks thing. Did anyone tell you, did any Russian Officials tell you that that would happened, like before it did?
George: Russian Government Officals? No. But there was that one guy, the professor from the Hoover institute, but that was before I was on the Campaign. Wait, I thought you wanted to talk to me about Sergei Millain.
FBI: I think this is actually more important, George. We know you knew, about the WikiLeaks release, before it happened. Who told you?
George races through his mind.
George: Uh.. who told me… who told me… uh, you know who I think it was, yeah, and this is good that you reminded me of this, because I just remember now, there was this guy. This professor, from Malta….He told me!
FBI: That’s excellent. That’s just what we wanted to hear.
George: So does this mean, the other stuff, you’re not investigating the other stuff?
FBI: What other stuff, George? All we want is to hear more about this person, a professor did you say? Tell us about when he told you about Wikileaks ahead of time.

Interior Fusion GPS
Phone rings. Christopher Steele is on the line for Glenn Simpson.
Simpson: Chris, hey I just heard.
Steele: You said it would never go public, Glenn! My life is ruined!
Simpson: Calm down, Chris. It’ll be alright. You just need to lay low for awhile.
Steele: I’m going to bloody kill you for ever getting me involved in this!
Simpson: I can get you more money. Much more money.
Steele makes a curious face at hearing this and is suddenly calmed.
Simpson: We just got a new client. (he says in sing song fashion)
Steele: Really. Another private citizen? I assume the DNC will be pretending they don’t know us.
Simpson: Who needs the DNC, when you have George Soros and half of Hollywood and Silicon Valley.
Steele: Holy Shit.
Simpson: Yeah. Sit tight. Lay low. The paychecks just increased four fold.

McCabe’s office. Phone rings. John Brennan is calling.
Brennan: Andy, how’s it coming on Crossfire Razor? Congratulations on the successful sacking of General Flynn.
McCabe: Thanks John. It feels very rewarding to know that we saved the country from that traitor.
Brenan: Definitely. I just wish Jim understood the threat the way you understand the threat.
McCabe: Yeah, well you know Jim. He has his own compass.
Brennan: So what’s the latest. Have you gotten anywhere on Manafort? I think he’s the likely conduit to the Russians, it was never Flynn, really.
McCabe pauses.
McCabe: Yeah, we’ve tracked one of his contacts, a guy named Kilimnick. He went to school in Russia. We’re investigating whether he might have ties to Russian Intelligence.
Brennan: Ties? I’ll look into it. Thanks.

Interior NY Times
Mike Schmidt takes a call
Schmidt: Michael here.
Brennan: Michael, this is John Brennan, Director of the CIA. I have a scoop for you about repeated contacts between a senior member of the Trump Campaign and Senior Russian Intelligence Officers.
Schmidt: Holy Crap. This thing is really real?!

Interior WH. Reince Preibus’ office
There’s a knock on the door. Andy McCabe comes in.
McCabe: Hey Reince.
Preibus: Andy, how’s it going?
McCabe: Good. Look, I just wanted to let you know that story yesterday in the Times, that’s total bullshit.
Preibus: Thank You! We’ve been trying to figure out what’s going on all day. “Repeated contacts” with Russian intelligence. That’s crazy! I’ve been on this campaign for months and I’ve never seen a Russian!
McCabe: I know. I don’t know who leaked it but it’s completely blown out of proportion.
Preibus: But you are investigating us.
Awkward pause.
McCabe: Anyway, I just wanted to let you know.
Preibus: Well, can you say something, publicly? To lift this cloud, as Trump likes to say.
McCabe: I’ll have to get back to you on that.

Interior FBI. Comey’s office.
Comey: How’d it go?
McCabe: He asked us to correct the story, publicly.
Comey: You told him we don’t do that?
McCabe: I told him I’d get back to him.
Comey: Even better. Obstruction of Justice. That’s going to be how we get these guys. Just the other day Trump asked me to “take it easy” on Flynn. Take it easy, can you imagine.
McCabe: My God, we’ve already got them. I suggest we open an investigation on Trump right now, personally, for Obstruction of Justice, as a counterintelligence matter in collusion with Russia.
Comey: I love it Andy.
There’s a pause.
Comey: You know Andy, at some point he’s likely to fire me. And you’ll be in charge.
McCabe: And I’ll nail his ass for Obstruction of Justice!

Interior Oval Office
Rod Rosenstein is ushered in.
Trump: Rod, I have very important news.
Rod: What’s that sir?
Trump: I’m firing James Comey. He’s a show boat, a grand stander, and he won’t say I’m not under investigation! He won’t’ say it. I ask him over and over to and he won’t’ do it. It’s a cloud, it hangs over everything. And don’t think I don’t know fucking Obama is behind all of it. Still lives here in DC! He’s right down the street, organizing all this, I’m sure.
Rosenstien: I can assure you sir, former President Obama is not involved in any investigation I’m aware of.
Trump: Yeah, sure. Well, look. I want you to write a letter, about why I should fire Comey. That way we can say it was your idea.
Rosenstein gulps.
Trump: Ok?
Rosenstein: Yes, Mr. President. I’ll write it tonight.

A Television blares the headline that Comey has been fired. Camera pulls out to McCabe’s office. He’s gently weeping with his head on his desk.
Phone rings
McCabe: Jim! I just heard the news. God, this is terrible.
Comey: It’s OK Andy. I knew this day would come. Tell them to let me use the jet to get home. Go in my office safe and get my memos. It’s time to go full Obstruction. I’m going to Michael Schmidt.
McCabe, gaining his composure: Oh Schmidt. Yeah, He does great work.

Interior Rosenstein’s office. The lights are dim. McCabe knocks and enters.
McCabe: Rod. Are you ok?
Rod: No Andy. I’m not. They used me. They told me to write that letter, and then they pretended it was my idea!
McCabe: I understand.
Rod: I didn’t want Comey to get fired!
McCabe: none of us did. But it’s happened now. We need to talk about the next steps.
Rod: Right. (Regaining his composure). Hiring a new FBI director.
McCabe: what?! No, I’m Director. No, I mean opening a full blown Obstruction of Justice case on the President.
Rod: oh.
McCabe: The public is already clamoring for it, after the Schmidt story, about the President telling Comey to go easy on Flynn.
Rod: Yeah, not good. He just doesn’t understand the traditions of the office.
McCabe: Bullshit, he’s a monster! Or a mobster, that’s what Comey thinks. We need to take him down, he’s a threat to the country.
Rod thinks a minute.
Rod: I agree. What if I wore a wire? I could get him on tape saying why he fired Comey.
McCabe: Jesus. Let me get back to you on that…

Interior Rosenstein’s Office. Bob Mueller is at the desk.
Rod: I just want this over with. Investigate the Russia stuff, I think you’re not likely to find much. But then investigate Comey’s firing. And how it had nothing to do with me!
Mueller: I understand. I don’t want to be another Ken Starr. I’ll look at the Russia thing. Wrap that up quickly. Then see what the lawyers can come up with on his firing Comey. Our best bet…
Rod: yeah?
Mueller: is if he fires me!

A year later. Interior Jay Sekulow’s office
He makes a call.
Sekulow: Bill? How are you?
William Barr is on the other end.
Barr: Good Jay. How’s the case coming? I’m watching closely, with disgust.
Sekulow: I think we’re alright. They’ve got nothing on Collusion, because it didn’t happen, as everyone knows. The whole thing is a damn Democrat hoax.
Barr: There’s far more worth investigating in Uranium One, I’d say.
Sekulow: Exactly. But you know how this Deep State operates. Two sets of rules.
Barr: Definitely
Sekulow: it’s clear Bob is trying to get the President on Obstruction of Justice. And not even just for firing Comey, but for supposedly obstructing Mueller!
Barr: ridiculous. It’s an investigation into whether it’s investigation is being Obstructed, in real time, by the President of the US. Unbelievable.
Sekulow: it’s a Coup!
Barr: That’s exactly what it is. And I know just which statutes they are looking at too, and they’re reading them wrong. The President can’t Obstruct Justice by executing his article two powers. It’s ridiculous. In fact, I’m going to write a memo to Rod Rosenstein explaining that to him.
Sekulow: Please do. Rod is such a spineless jerk. I never know what side the guy’s on.
Barr: His side. He’s a DC survivor.
Sekulow: He’s survived so far. And Sessions, don’t even get me started on him. But what if neither of them were in the picture. If Trump nominates a new AG after the mid term, that new AG would be unrecused.
Barr: that’s true
Sekulow: How about you? We nominate you. You take over the Investigation. Mueller sees the writing on the wall, or, in your memo. He gets that you’ll overrule him and win, because the law is actually on your side.
Barr: that’s true
Sekulow: Mueller is forced to close up, show his cards. What do you say? We need you.
Barr: I’m in.

Interior DOJ. Robert Mueller and Andrew Weissmann are coming in to see William Barr.
Barr: Hey Bob. Good to see you.
Mueller: Hello Bill. I was surprised to see you take this job. I thought you were retired.
Barr: I thought you were retired, Bob.
Silence.
Weissman: So we just wanted to give you a heads up on our thinking, on the report.
Barr: Is it done yet?
Weissman. Yes. But… We decided not to make a determination on whether obstruction was committed.
Barr: Not to decide? But that was why we hired you.
Mueller: The President cannot be charged with a crime, under the OLC opinion. Therefore, we do not believe it wise to allege he’s committed a crime. Although we would say if he was innocent, but we cannot exonerate him given the evidence on both sides of the question.
Barr: Uh huh. So you’re not saying he’s guilty, but you’re saying he’s not innocent.
Weissman: Pretty much
Mueller nods.
Barr: Well.. ok. Let me think about that. Thanks for the heads up.

Exterior of DOJ, Weissman and Mueller get in to the back of a Black Tahoe
Weissman: I think this is the right move boss. This way You don’t have to fight Barr on the evidence and the law. We just put it all out there, and then Congress uses it as an Impeachment road map. It’s like passing the football over the head of Barr, and having Congress score the touchdown.
Mueller: Unless Barr intercepts the pass and ends the game.
Awkward silence as Weissman considers.

Interior DOJ
Barr is giving a press conference.
Barr: So, given that the Special Counsel determined to not make a determination, that leaves it to me, the Attorney General, in consultation with Rod Rosenstein and the Office of Legal Counsel, to determine that the President did not, in fact, commit an Obstruction of Justice offense.
We shift to a car radio broadcast of Barr. We’re in Andrew Weissmann’s beat up Saab. He is clutching the steering wheel in disbelief and anger. He pulls over to the side of the road and gets out of the car. In very similar fashion to the popular meme, he lets out a scream.
Weissmann: Nooooooooo!

THE END

Interior: Fusion GPS office, Washington DC

Phone Rings.  Glenn Simpson answers it.  We cannot hear the other end of the conversation.

Simpson: Right.  Right.  No, I understand, he’s basically got the thing wrapped up.  With the way they award delegates, there’s just no way to stop him at this point.  I understand.  Well we appreciate your business, Paul.  Please don’t hesitate to call us for anything else during the campaign.  Okay.  You too.  Bye.

He hangs up, looking distressed.  His partner Peter Fritsch has been watching from across a desk.  

Fritsch:  What was that about?

Simpson: Paul Singer. He wants to suspended the contract, he says he won’t make any more payments going forward.  We’re done.

He throws down pencil he’s been holding.  Fritsch lets out an exasperated sigh.

Fritsch: I just hired three contractors on this project!  They’ve been working their asses off.  This Russian business angle is really starting to pay off.

Simpson: It’s too late, he’s got the nomination wrapped up.  Paul’s boy Marco has no shot anymore.  It’s done.  (He pauses)  We’re done.

There’s a moment of silence in the room.

Fritsch: Well… what are we gonna do now?

Simpson thinks a moment.  

Simpson: We could always go to the Democrats.  I can get a meeting with Marc Elias.

Fritsch: They already have the best oppo money can buy.  What do we have that they don’t already know?

Simpson thinks for a second.  

Simpson: (motioning with his hands the outline of a marquee) “Trump – Russia”

Fritsch:  What’s “Trump – Russia”? (Incredulously)

Simpson: Nothing.    …Yet….

Interior: Marc Elias’ office, Perkins Coie Law Firm.

Elias: Okay, what do you guys got?

Simpson: Plenty. Trump University is a scam.  Decades of stiffing contractors.  Hires illegal immigrants for his hotels while railing against them in his speeches. He’s a millionaire at best, nowhere near being a Billionaire…

Elias looks bored, checks his watch.  Fritsch and Simpson exchange nervous looks.  Time to swing for the fences.

Fritsch: There’s something else.  Russia.

Elias: Russia? (Confused)  What about Russia?

Fritsch: We think you guys will really want to pay attention to the Russian angle. 

Silence.  Elias is confused, both slightly irritated and curious.

Simpson: Trump sells a disproportionate amount of his condos to Russians.  In cash. He has visited several times to Moscow looking to do a big deal there.  He recently held his Miss Universe Pageant there.  And he has close ties to a Russian mafia member named Felix Sater.

Elias: Huh.  That’s interesting.  We’ve got a mountain of research on this guy, but I haven’t heard any of this before.  

Fritsch: Just think, the party of Reagan, suddenly nominating a man with close financial ties to the Evil Empire.  One might even question where his loyalty lies.  He’s suggested we shouldn’t be paying to defend NATO. And that Russia should be allowed to take Crimea!  He’s basically a Manchurian Candidate.

Elias seems startled by this last suggestion.

Elias: That’s going a little far, don’t you think?  

Simpson: It’s not an angle anyone is looking at now, but given my journalist contacts, it very quickly could be a major issue in discussion.

Elias thinks about it.

Elias: Huh.  Well it’s definitely new.  And none of this other crap sticks, (shifts through papers) the bankruptcies, the divorces, no one gives a shit, it’s baked into the cake with this guy.  But this is interesting.  No one likes a whiff of conflicting loyalties.  I like it.  Let’s go forward.

Exterior Perkins Coie Law Firm, walking to parked car.

Fritsch: We’re back! 

Simpson: And in to a much deeper pocket.

Fritsch: They’re going to want something good though.  He really liked the mob and conflicted loyalty thing.  All we really have right now is condos.  

Simpson: We’ve got something else.

Fritsch: What’s that? Have you been holding out on me?

Simpson: Paul Manafort.  I’m hearing rumors he could be joining the campaign. I already have a file a mile wide on the guy, been following him for years.  Ukraine, not Russia, but working for a pro-Russian party.  Should he join the campaign, the checks will write themselves.  

Fritsch: Interesting.  I know a Ukrainian politician pretty well, a guy named Leshchenko.  I’ll call him and see what he knows about Manafort.

Simpson nods as they get in an older model BMW.  Simpson’s phone rings.

Simpson looks at Fritsch, surprised at the caller ID.

Simpson: Chris, how’s it going?

Christopher Steele is on the other end of the call.

Steele: It’s busy.  Very busy Glenn.  In fact, I’m calling because I need to farm some work out to you.  Just routine asset location, for a very wealthy individual who’s been cheated.

Simpson: Ok.  Well things are kind of busy here too.  I’m not sure if we’re going to have the time and manpower to take on another assignment right now.  Who is the person you need us to look into?

Steele: Paul Manafort

Very Upscale Hotel Lobby, NYC

Paul Manafort is meeting with Tom Barrack about getting a job on the Trump Campaign. 

Barrack: You know I think the world of your abilities Paul, but this isn’t Ukraine.  This is the Big Leagues.  You’ve been out of play for a very long time.  

Manafort: But I know Republican Conventions.  I’ve been counting delegates since 76 for Gerald Ford. I held off Reagan, when everyone could see he was the destiny of the Republican Party.  Not the greatest result ultimately, I’ll grant you, but quite a feat for a young up and comer.  I managed the damn convention in 1996 for Bob Dole.  I know how these things operate.  And let me tell you, they will steal the nomination from Trump, mark my words.  They’re having meetings about how to do it right now, I guarantee you.  But I know every trick they’re thinking about, better than they do.

Barrack: Trump doesn’t like that you’re friends with Roger Stone.  He thinks stone is small time, doesn’t want him near the campaign.  Can’t shake him though, like a dog with fleas.  

Manafort: I barely talk to Stone.  Like you said, I’ve been in Ukraine the last 16 years.  It’s nice that he’s pushing so hard for me, but I need you to talk to Donald.  You’re the voice he trusts, that he respects.

Barrack considers in silence.

Manafort: Here (taking out a folded paper from his expensive suit pocket) I wrote out a resume even.  Everything I’ve done, everything I can do for him.  And I’ll work for free.

Barrack: For free?!

Manafort: For free.  I just wanna help him win.

Barrack: And get back in the game. (pointing at him with the papers knowingly) Your boy really got the boot over there. Man, when it goes bad over there it gets dicey quick.

Manafort: Tell me about it.  American politics is child’s play.

Barrack: Ha.  Well, he’ll like that you will work for free.  He’s paying for all of this out of his own pocket you know.

Interior Washington Post Board Room.  Donald Trump is coming in for an interview as the new unstoppable nominee for the Republican Party.

Post Publisher Fredrick Ryan welcomes Trump in.

Trump: New building.  This is very nice. Good luck with it.  

Ryan: Thanks. We’ve heard you’re going to be announcing your foreign policy team shortly.  Any you can share with us?

Trump: Well I hadn’t thought of doing it, but if you want I can give you some of the names. Walid Phares, who you probably know, adviser to the House Republican caucus. Carter Page, PhD. George Papadopolous, he’s an energy and oil consultant, excellent guy. (Trump’s voice trails off as we shift across the ocean to George Papadopolous in England)

Interior of George Papadopolous’ living room.  He’s watching reruns of Fox News. Judge Andrew Napalitano is on as a guest.

Napalitano: What my sources are telling me is that right this very moment there’s a discussion going on in the Kremlin about what to do with 20,000 emails from Hillary Clinton’s server they’ve hacked, and whether to release that during the campaign.

The phone rings, distracting George form watching, he bolts upright at seeing who’s on the caller id. 

Papadopolous: Ericka, hi.  How’s it going?

Ericka Thompson, who George has met through mutual acquaintances and is hoping to get in bed, despite her having a boyfriend, is on the line.  

Thompson: Good.  Hey George, some friends and I are getting together tonight for a few drinks, care to join?

Papadopolous Sure, where at?

Interior Fusion GPS office.

Fritsch: So I talked to my Ukranian guy.  

Simpson:  Did he have anything good?  I’m having a hell of a time just finding where Manafort has stashed all that Ukranian money.  

Frisch: So, it’s funny you should mention that. My guy says a lot of the money was off the books.  Well, except there is a book. A ledger.  To be specific a black ledger.

Simpson: A Black Ledger. (not sure where this is going)

Fritsch: Right, and apparently it shows Manafort receiving millions in cash under the table from the Party of Regions.  

Simpson: Huh. Any idea where the cash went?

Fritsch: None.  

Simpson: Great.  Well, any ties to Russia

Fritsch: None that I’m aware of.

Simpson: Great (exasperated).  Well I’ve gotta call Chris and tell him that we’ve hit a dead end.  I hate to let him down. 

Fritsch: Isn’t Steele a Russian expert?

Simpson: Expert at taking their money!

Fritsch: No, c’mon, I’m serious, didn’t he used to work in Moscow for MI6?

Simpson: Yes he did.

Fritsch: Well when you call him to give him the bad news, why not make him an offer to make up for our lack of progress.

Simpson: What kind of offer?

Fritsch: A Dossier.  From an ex-MI6 agent, on (makes marquee hand gesture) “Trump – Russia”

Simpson leans back in his chair considering the idea.  He knows this is crossing a line, but given the desperate state of both projects, the DNC and Steele’s wealthy client, this might be his only option.

Simpson: Alright, I’ll make the call.

Interior, casual hip bar in London.

George is quite drunk at a table of young political operatives from various countries living in England.  

Thompson: George, how can you work for that buffoon!

George: Trump is going to be President of the United States.  I guarantee you.  And I’ll be working in the White House, so you might wanna show some respect. 

Ericka Thompson’s boyfriend pipes in.

Boyfriend: No bloody way in hell.  Hillary Clinton is a shoo-in.

George: No, I’m confident Trump will win.

The booth becomes silent at George’s conviction.

George: The Clintons have a lot of baggage, and the Trump team has a lot of (hiccups) material we can use on her. And… And (in a hushed tone) I hear Russia has some damaging material they may release as well, during the campaign.

Thompson: Russia?! Where did you hear that George?

George makes several bizarre motions but can’t get out a sentence.

George: I have… believe me… I have many connections… in many places.

Boyfriend: A Real International Man of Mystery!  

Interior FBI NY Field Office.  Carter Page is being debriefed before a big Russian spy trial he is a witness in.

Female FBI Agent: So just relax up there, tell the truth, you’ll do just fine.

Page: I always tell the truth, I have nothing to hide.

FBI agent nods.

Page: In fact when I was just in Moscow I told the Foreign Minister that I was “male-1” in this case.  Just… you know, in the spirit of openness.

The FBI agent’s face goes white.

FBI: You told them that.

Page: Yeah, you know, just in the spirit of openness.

FBI: uh huh.

The FBI writes a note on her legal pad “open ci investigation”

Interior of Christopher Steele’s English home.  The phone rings.

Steele: Glenn, how’s it coming on the Manafort case? I just heard he was named to the Trump Campaign.  That puts a bit of urgency in to the matter, I must tell you.  My client is very eager to get his money back form Mr. Manafort and doesn’t like to think he might have some sort of immunity now.

Simpson: Well, it does complicate things a little Chris.

Steele: Complicate how?

Simpson: Well, a couple cases have now intersected for us.  Your case.  And… the Election.

Steele: The American Election

Simpson: Right, specifically the one Manafort is at the helm of.

Steele: Donald Trump?

Simpson: Right.

Steele: Oh dear.

Simpson: Yeah, it’s tricky, but the thing is, it could actually be a blessing in disguise.

Steele: go on….

Simpson: Well…. When was the last time you were in Russia?

Steele: Oh God, it’s been decades.

Simpson: Well, you still have contacts over there right?

Steele: Not really.  The closest I have to a Russian contact is young Igor who works for us as a contractor.

There’s a pregnant pause.

Steele: What are you getting at Glenn?

Simpson: We’ve got a research project.  On Trump. But it’s hit a dead end.  It has to do with Trump’s ties to Russia.  It pays VERY WELL.

Steele makes a interested face upon hearing those words.

Interior of Alexander Downer’s office.  

Downer: He said what?

Thompson: He said he thinks Russia has damaging material on Hillary Clinton that they will release during the campaign.  Also he said they had other material on her as well.  He seemed very confident they would win because of it.

Downer: Well God let’s hope not.

He pauses to think.

Downer: Let me meet him.  Yes, set up a drink for me with him, you tag along.  Let’s see what he has to say, we’ll wire to Canberra the results.  Never know…

Interior of the New Economic School, Moscow.  Carter Page is giving a rambling speech.  The audience is bored and not sure why he is speaking at their graduation.

Page: We must reject the old Cold War way of thinking and embrace all that the West and Russia have in common, and can achieve together.

We zero on two officials in the wings. They are speaking Russian with subtitles

Official 1: Who is this guy?  Why was he invited?

Official 2: He works for Trump.  He loves Russia. It’s a chance at good relations.

Carter can be heard continuing his speech, which has gone on well too long.

Official 1: But he’s an idiot!

Exterior NYC courthouse.  Glenn Simpson is about to go inside for an unrelated case.  But first he’s on the phone with Christopher Steele.

Simpson: Is it done?

Steele: (guiltily) yes.  It’s written.  The first bit at least. 

Simpson: You made it sound convincing, like spy stuff?

Steele: Business intelligence, Glenn. That’s the business we’re in, remember?

Simpson: Sure.  Well email it to me, I’ve gotta sit through this long boring Prevezon case today and I need something to read anyway. 

Steele: No way.  I can’t do that Glenn.  I’ll send it by FedEx.

Simpson: FedEx?! It’s a word doc, right?!

Steele: Glenn, this is a very sensitive position you’ve put me in.  I could getall of England in trouble for doing this. I’m mailing it.  You’ll get it in a few days.

Interior Rob Goldstone’s office.

Goldstone: Emin, hello, how are you?

Emin Agalarov, Rob’s celebrity Russian client.

Agalarov: My Father happened to run in to a very well-connected lawyer today.  I need you to get a meeting.  For her.  With Donald Trump.  Do you think you can make that happen?

Goldstone: Who is she?  

Agalarov: She’s well-connected, that’s all you need to know.

Goldstone: Well, what should I tell him it’s about?  

Agalarov: I don’t know.  Make something up.  You’re a publicist.

Exterior Federal Courthouse

Simpson hangs up and sighs.  He heads into the courthouse.  He sees Natalia Veselnetskya waiting outside the chambers.  

Simpson: Natalia, nice to see you again.

Veselnetskya nods politely and says something in Russian. Simpson asks the man next to here, Rinat Akhmetsin 

Simpson: so, any plans while in NY?

Akhmetsin, though he speaks English, just shrugs…

Interior Simpson’s office.  An open FedEx envelope is on his desk and he’s reading the Dossier. Peter Fritsch walks in.

Fritsch: Is that it?

Simpson: This is it.

Fritsch: Is it good?

Simpson: Oh, it’s… interesting.

Fritsch: Anything the DNC can use?

Simpson: That I’m not so sure about.

Interior ITV Press studios.  Julian Assange is being interviewed.

Assange: WikiLeaks has a very big year ahead. We have a lot of material in relation to Hillary Clinton that we will be releasing shortly.

Image fades to laptop screen of interview in DNC headquarters.  

DNC tech worker: What do you think he has?

DNC employee: I don’t know, but we should do an entire sweep of our system just in case.  Call Crowdstrike.

A day later, DNC offices, Crowdstrike CEO Shawn Henry delivers the bad news.

Henry: It does look like you’ve been hacked.  We can’t see when it was exfiltrated, but someone archived every email for export.

Gasps as the DNC chieftans consider the possibilities.

DNC chief: So someone has our emails.  Maybe even Wikileaks.

Henry: It’s quite possible.

DNC chief: Any idea who did it.

Henry: Attribution for these things is difficult, there’s many different variables that go into it…

DNC chief interrupts him.

DNC chief: Was it Russia?

Henry: Russia?

DNC chief: Yeah, we’ve… been told to look out for Russia.

Henry: Huh.  I mean, sure, it could be Russia.

A Flat Screen TV is on CNN.  Jake Tapper is announcing the WikiLeaks release of DNC emails.  The camera pulls back to reveal we are in Alexander Downer’s office.

Downer: Ericka!  Ericka, get in here!

Ericka Thompson enters the room. Downer motions to the TV.

Downer: It’s what he said.  It’s just what the little pissant said would happen!  Call the US Embassy tell them I need to see the Ambassador.  

She leaves the room to do so.  He calls after her.

Downer: Tell them it’s urgent!

Interior of the US Embassy.  Downer and Thompson are shown in to an ornate office.  Elizabeth Dibble enters the room to greet them.

Dibble: Mr. Downer, this is a pleasant surprise.  What brings you in today?

Downer: Is the Ambassador not in?

Dibble: Away on business I’m afraid.  You’re stuck with me.  How can I be of service?  

Downer hesitates, unsure of whether he will be taken serious.

Downer: A Campaign aide of Trump’s, here in London, told me and my assistant some very unusual predictions which appear to very suspiciously have come true.

Interior FBI HQ.  Pete Strzok’s office.  He’s texting Lisa Page.

Strzok: Are you free tonight?

Page sees the text come through, but is rubbing the shoulders of Andrew McCabe. She makes a dismissive face.

Back in Pete’s office the phone rings.  

Pete: Pete Strzok.

He listens intently.

Pete: The Wikileaks releases, sure.  He… he knew ahead of time?  Can you email me over the information?! As soon as possible, yes.

Pete texts Lisa once again.  

Strzok: Big development.  Please call me!

Interior FBI board room.  Bill Priestap, Andrew McCabe, Strzok, Page, and several others are reviewing the communique from England.

Strzok: He “suggested” (making air quotes) that Russia had “suggested” (air quotes again) that they could assist the campaign by releasing material damaging to Hillary Clinton.

Page: Which is just what happened!

McCabe: He suggested.

Priestap: No, They suggested.

Strzok: The Russians suggested.

McCabe: Suggested Papadopolous.

Silence.

Strzok: Right.  So what do you think?

Priestap: Pretty shaky.  But what’s the harm in investigating.  If they’re innocent…

McCabe: Right… (his voice trailing off) This guy is such a small fry though.  It can’t be him who’s talking to the Russians.

Page: Who is it then?

McCabe: Flynn.  It’s gotta be Flynn.

Priestap: The National Security Advisor?  Would Papadopoulos even be in touch with him?

Strzok: It’s gotta be someone lower, more on George’s level.

Page: Why not George himself?

Strzok: I don’t think so, I’ve looked into him. No Russian contacts that I can tell. 

Priestap: What about Carter Page?

McCabe: Yes!

Strzok: He’s in Russia as we speak.  The Russians attempted to recruit him just last year. The guy is completely out to lunch.

McCabe: It’s gotta be him.  (pauses) Or Flynn!

Page: What about Paul Manafort, the new campaign manager.  

Strzok: Super shady.

Priestap: Hell, let’s just open on all three of them.

McCabe: And Flynn!

Priestap: Maybe. At some point.

Interior DNC Offices.  Robby Mook is meeting with Simpson and Fritsch.

Mook: Thanks for coming guys.  You know I’ve done opposition research before, but I’ve never seen it come into play like this before.

Simpson: Right.

Mook: I mean, because you guys tried to warn us, about Russia, and Trump.

Fritsch: Yes, we’ve been working on that investigation.  (he starts to take out a file but Mook excitedly keeps talking)

Mook: Cause I mean, you guys said, that Trump was in bed with Russia, and then Russia hacked us!

Simpson: Russia hacked you?

Mook: Haven’t you seen it?! It’s all over the news.

Simpson: sure, sure, but can I ask, how do you know it was Russia

An awkward silence fills the room.

Mook: Well, I mean, we thought about your research, and we asked Crowdstrike, you know, could it be Russia, and they said yeah.

Fritsch: They said it could be Russia.

Simpson: Well you know, Peter, nothing in the cyber world is ever a sure thing.

Fritsch: right, sure.

Mook: Well, we were hoping, you know, given your knowledge on this, you could give us some more insight into, Trump’s relationship with Putin.  

Simpson: Right.  (he pauses) So, we contracted out to a former British spy with deep contacts in the Kremlin, and he came up with some… interesting information.

Interior FBI headquarters.  Another meeting in the conference room.

Strzok: So we’re giving the Trump Campaign a briefing, just typical national security basics, kind of a courtesy thing.  We’re going to try to gauge their reactions to things when we bring up Russia.

Priestap: Ok.  Fine.  What else have we got?  It’s been three weeks, where are we on Crossfire Hurricane.  

Page: Well, we’ve opened on Michael Flynn

McCabe interrupts: Yes!

Page: Just given his travels to Russia and all.  

Priestap: Doesn’t he have a top secret clearance?  Didn’t he get that renewed?

Page: Yes, but that was before, you know, the emails and everything.  Anyway so now we have four investigations going, including into Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort. 

Strzok: Manafort’s the guy if you ask me.

McCabe: Flynn.

Awkward silence

Page: So we’ll be gauging reactions at the briefing.   Also we’re sending in an undercover to talk to Papadopolous.

McCabe: Dead End.

Page: Maybe.

Priestap: Who are you sending in?

Stzok: A hot blonde.

Page: If he knows anything he’ll talk.  Meanwhile, we continue to think Carter Page is the most likely target for working with Russia. (McCabe gives angry face) Unfortunately, OGC won’t sign off on a FISA. Not enough evidence for probable cause they say.  

Strzok: That’s ridiculous.  We need that FISA. We need to find out if any of this is true.  Even if Trump isn’t likely to win.  Think of it… think of it as an insurance policy, in the unlikely event that you die before you reach 40.

Interior Fusion GPS offices.  Simpson receives a call.

Simpson: Hi Marc, mind if I put you on speaker, Peter’s here as well.

Elias: Sure.  Look.  These memos are bombshell stuff.  Where’s this coming from? Can you back this up?

Simpson: Well, you know, Chris has a network of sources deep in the Kremlin, can’t really identify them for their own protection.

Fritsch makes a face that says “I hope he buys that!”

Simpson: But it’s solid.  If Chris got it, you can take it to the bank.

Elias: Well, Hillary has read it.

Both gulp.

Elias: And actually she wants you to take it to the FBI.  She’s sick of being the only candidate with an FBI investigation, and given the DNC’s dirty laundry is being published all over the press, she want something done about these allegations.  

Simpson:  Understandable, it’s terrible what happened.

Elias: Right.  So, do either of you have connections at the FBI? That you could get this to?  We can’t be the ones to bring it to them, you understand.

Simpson: Of Course not.  Of course not.  Um, you know I think Chris actually has FBI connections. 

Elias: The guy who wrote this?  The guy in England?

Simpson: Right.

Elias: Oh well that’s perfect.  Yeah have him get this to the FBI.  Don’t worry they’ll investigate it, we’ll make sure of that.  And then…

Simpson: yes?

Elias: We need to get this in press.  Do you think you can do that?

Simpson: That’s my specialty.  But it’ll help if the FBI is already looking at it.  That’ll provide what they call a news hook. 

Elias: Great, well let’s get that going.  

Simpson calls Steele.

Simpson: Chris, do you still have contacts in the FBI?

Steele: Many, why?

Simpson: We need to take the Dossier to them.

Steele: What?! I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.

Simpson: I’ve got orders, form the very top.

Steele: The top, like, Hillary?

Simpson: Yes.  I can get you more money as well.

Steele: Alright, I’ll start making calls.

Interior FBI offices.  Strzok’s knocking on Lisa Page’s office door.

Strzok: Hey, are you free tonight?

Page: No, sorry, I have to work late for Andy.

Strzok: You two work late quite a lot lately.

Page: Jealous much Pete?

Strzok: I’ve been looking at this Dossier thing.  This is garbage.

Page: Who cares, you want that FISA don’t you?  We’re using it, then you can find out once and for all if Carter Page is who you think.

Strzok: Yeah.

Page: That’s all that matters, in the end.  We can’t let Trump become President. Right? Right?!

Strzok: No, no. Don’t worry, We’ll stop him.  So… are you free tomorrow night?

Interior Michael Isikoff’s office. Phone rings.

Isikoff: Isikoff here

Simpson: Michael, I have a scoop for you.

Isikoff: Ooh, good, I like those.

Simpson: It involves an ex-MI6 agent, who has gathered bombshell evidence that a Trump aid named Carter Page is working with Russians to hack the DNC in exchange for sanctions relief.

Isikoff: Woah, I’m all ears.  Do you have proof?

Simpson: No, but… the FBI is looking into the allegations seriously.  And I can prove that.

Isikoff: Oh that’s perfect!  I can totally use that.

October 31st.  Eric Lichtblau, reporter for the NY Times is calling Pete Strzok.

Strzok: Pete Strzok

Lichtblau: Pete, this is Eric at the Times.  I have some information I’d like to run by you, off the record.

Strzok: Oh great.  Ok, what?

Lichtblau: We understand you’ve been investigating Trump’s connections to Russia and the hacking of the DNC.  Can you tell us how it’s coming?  I’ve got Hillary people breathing down my neck on this.

Strzok: You too, huh?  Yeah, look, all I can tell you is there’s nothing to it.  It’s bullshit.  We’ve turned every fucking stone and can’t find shit.  We had a tip from a Diplomat but it could have just been bar talk.  There’s various actors pushing crap in to us about servers and sanctions and things I can’t even discuss they’re so disgusting and we can’t verify any of it.  And that’s after a lot of investigating.  So, write what you want, keep me anonymous.  But that’s the story, no big there there.

Lichtblau: Got it, thanks Pete.

Interior Fusion GPS office.  Steele calls.

Steele: Glenn, what the hell is this story in the Times!

Simpson: I know I know.  It’s a nightmare.

Steele: This whole operation is going to shit.  Are we still gonna get the million?!

Simpson: Yes, calm down.

Steele: Calm down, my ass.  If I know Hillary, she’s not paying us after this debacle.  I need to talk to reporters.

Simpson: We talked to over a dozen that one day in DC.

Steele: And none of them wrote anything!  Listen, you dragged me in to this, now it’s my ass on the line, my name on that stupid Dossier, and we’re not gonna get the million!

Simpson: We’ll get the million.

Steele: Bullshit.  I’m calling David Corn.  He’ll publish something, watch.

Election Night.  Peter Strzok is watching in disbelief as Trump is declared President.  He texts Lisa Page.

Strzok: OMG I can’t believe this is happening.

Page: Don’t ever text me again.

Interior of the Oval Office, the White House.  Obama has called John Brennan in.

Obama: John thanks for coming.  Now I’m sure you’ve heard all of the talk in the news about Russia being behind the Wikileaks releases, and Trump maybe even being involved.

Brennan: Yes Mr. President, we’ve been covering it closely.

Obama: Well, I think the country needs to know, definitively.

Brennan: Right.

Obama: Do you think you could, do that?  For the country?

Brennan: Yes Mr. President I believe we can.  I’ll get an Intelligence Community Assessment together. 

Obama: Ok, great.  But don’t… Don’t use the British stuff.  You know what I mean?

Brennan: Yes sir, and no, no we won’t.   I have my own man, deep in the Kremlin.  He’s been sending me confidential reports all year that track very closely with what’s been in the press, about Trump and Russia.  

Obama: Really, great.  Well, bring him here, to the US just to be safe.  We can buy him a house. I just don’t want to use the British thing. We’ll let the press have that one.

Brennan: Understood sir.  

Obama: Thanks John, thanks for taking care of this.

THE END.

We’ll never know what George said, on either May 6th or May 10th, to either Alexander Downer or Erika Thompson, or both. The closest we’ll get is what’s in the Downer 302, which even our side has never thought to ask for.
But if I had to guess, I would say George said this:

How did I arrive at this formulation?

Let’s start here: The first quote is from Bill Preistap, the second from Andy McCabe.

What material did the Trump team have? How about this?

Now we see the first sentence is innocuous. But there’s a second sentence. This two sentence formulation would explain the highlighted words in EC, that have puzzled many readers

“Also” because it was the second sentence. “This process” refers to the process of traditional legal opposition research described in the first sentence.

Now what about this highlighted portion? This is actually the only part of the verbatim section of the EC that matters when it comes to Collusion allegations.

If you read the second sentence from my original guess at what George said, you see that he says he “hears” Russia has this and that and might do this or that. Where did he get that information? The Aussies had a guess. Their GUESS is what you see highlighted above 👆

But here’s what George’s statement SUGGESTS to me where he got that information:

I found a new article just now, from Australia. Check out how well it tracks with my theory.

The term “Special Counsel” is widely used in the Justice Department and can mean many different things. For instance, Lisa Page actually had “Special Counsel” in her job title

A Special Counsel can also be a US Attorney specially tasked to look at a specific matter for the Attorney General. Rosenstein explained this before a Senate Committee

Although the Independent Counsel law was allowed to lapse after both parties decided they didn’t want another Ken Starr, the part 600 Regulations were meant to replace it with a little more control and less latitude for the prosecutor named. Here, Rod wants to make sure we understand the difference, while coyly intentionally confusing the way the term Special Counsel can be used

You can see from the part 600 Regulations, a crime must be identified to be investigated. Also there must be a conflict with the DOJ investigating.

Lindsey Graham asks Rod what crime he identified. He tries to explain he didn’t actually appoint Mueller under 600 so he didn’t need to identify one but Lindsey ignores him and asks another unrelated question. Note the use of the term Special Counsel

Manafort thought, like every legal expert in America (and still do) that Mueller was appointed under 600. He therefore challenged whether his Ukrainian tax problems were in his purview. Mueller’s lawyers answered, it doesn’t matter because Mueller was not appointed under 600. He was appointed under 510 (like Durham) and 515 because he was brought in from retirement. Read for yourself

The appointment of Mueller made most Americans think there was a crime to investigate, that there was a conflict from the WH, and that Mueller had carte blanche. None of these were true. He was just a US Attorney tasked with a certain group of issues to look at, thus the infamous scope memo, giving him his marching orders. The fact that Mueller’s team wrote it’s own scope memo only after deciding what it wanted to pursue shows it essentially assumed part 600 like powers, under a fraudulent sleight of hand.

A long form “bombshell” article published in June of 2017 in the Washington Post opened with an intriguing source deep in Kremlin who reported directly to John Brennan, head of the CIA, about Putin’s efforts to get Trump elected.

Then in September 2019 CNN breathlessly reported on a spy deep in the Kremlin who had to be extricated due to Trump’s loose lips.

Russian media quickly identified him as Oleg Smolenkov

Turns out Oleg was happy to feed Brennan what he wanted to hear, but when the CIA suggested he be extricated from Russia before Putin discovered him, he was less than enthusiastic about leaving, and seemingly unconcerned for his safety

But leave he eventually did, faking his death while on vacation in Montenegro. And he bought a million dollar house in DC under his own name, publicly!

As bad as all this sounds for Oleg’s veracity, the NY Times put the cherry on top when they, without naming him directly, let slip, with just a little reading between the lines, that Brennan had based the Intelligence Community Assessment solely on the word of Smolenkov!

If the Guccifer 2.0 hacking of the DNC and transferring the emails to Wikileaks narrative is the origin story of Russian Interference, the George Papadopolous and Alexander Downer conversation is the origin story of the Russian Collusion tale. But, like the hacking, the official narrative is inconsistent and still totally vague, despite it being invoked constantly to validate the investigation, most recently by Mueller himself this weekend in the Washington Post.

The original story had George and Alexander in the Kensington Wine Room.

We know the date of this evening was May 10th, 2016, because the Australian Government decided to confirm that publicly.

However, in the Mueller Report, the date of May 6th, 2016 is given, and Downer is not mentioned by name.

When and Where George made his statement aside, what exactly he said remains a mystery. For example, in these quotes from Bill Priestap and Andrew McCabe, given under oath, George is only said to have claimed that the Trump Team had material on Hillary Clinton, not Russia.

For his part, George has never admitted to saying anything like what has been described. At various times he’s claimed he doesn’t remember saying anything, or that if he did it might have been something he heard on Fox News.

Mueller has long asserted that George was repeating information he received from Joseph Mifsud, who was acting on behalf of Russia to reach out to the campaign.

However, there’s no evidence Mifsud was working on behalf of Russia, no evidence he said what’s reported to George, no evidence George then repeated that to Downer.

The only evidence for Mifsud to have said anything of the sort to George is George’s own statements. But George has been convicted by Mueller of lying to investigators! And the basic official story requires believing George about his breakfast with Mifsud, but not believing him about his evening with Downer!

Additionally, nothing about Mifsud was known to investigators in 2016. It was only in 2017 that George told the FBI about him. Throughout the pre election phase of the investigation, all the FBI knew was what Downer told them. Which, by the way, still isn’t known! While the original communique from the Embassy has been recently released, with vague language about George “suggesting” Russia had “suggested” they could release information on Clinton, the actual notes from the interview Strzok conducted in person with Downer have never been released.

There’s a major inconsistency in the origin story of Russiagate: the hacking of the DNC by Guccifer 2.0, and the transferring of those emails to Wikileaks, which are claimed to be the emails published July 22nd, 2016.

There are several issues with the timeline Mueller has given. Assange announced on June 12th, 2016 that Wikileaks would be publishing bombshell material that summer relating to Hillary Clinton.

Guccifer 2.0 in his first blog post June 14th, 2016 claimed to have already given the DNC emails to Wikileaks.

Guccifer 2.0 DNC’s servers hacked by a lone hacker

However, Mueller ignored both of these public statements, and claims that Wikileaks only initiated contact June 22nd, 2016.

And Mueller further claims that it was only after several unanswered requests by Wikileaks that Guccifer 2.0 finally sent the DNC emails July 14th, and WikiLeaks acknowledged receipt July 18th, 2016, a mere four days before their blockbuster July 22nd, 2016 publication of thousands of DNC emails.

We now know the initial documents Guccifer 2.0 released on his WordPress blog actually came from John Podesta’s email inbox, not from the DNC employees inboxes that make up the WikiLeaks release.

Additionally, Shawn Henry of Crowdstrike admitted to the House Committee investigating the hack that they had no evidence of Russian exfiltration of the emails.