Russiagate, Because I Feel I Should

Chuck Ross at Da Caller on how Spy Court Sidelines FBI Agents Who Wiretapped Carter Page. Not much really new except that he names FBI agent #1, Stephen Somma as a likely candidate. As Capt. Ed at Hot Air in Consequences: FISA Court Disqualifies FBI Agents Linked To Carter Page Warrants points out:

The banishment of Crossfire Hurricane figures is almost certainly meant to be embarrassing, but that’s about as much teeth as FISC has in this situation. As the New York Times’ Charlie Savage points out, the court has limited authority to deal with FBI misconduct. It has no oversight over the Department of Justice at all, which is an executive-branch agency. Presumably the court’s rotating judges had already adopted a more skeptical approach to more recent surveillance warrant applications after reading the Michael Horowitz report, but unless Congress changes the FISA law, courts are still required to follow it.

For a more learned take, take Jonathon Turley, FBI Agents Connected To Carter Page Surveillance Barred From FISA Process

In a further demonstration of the abuses that led to the surveillance of Trump officials, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court has barred FBI officials involved in the wiretapping of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page from appearing before the court. in rebuke that exceeded the remedial recommendations made by the independent monitor recently appointed by the court. Notably, this goes beyond the recommendations for David Kris, the highly controversial choice as an independent monitor of reforms. The order of Judge Boasberg further belies arguments that the surveillance of the Trump-relate figures was well-based and justified, as I discussed in any earlier column.
. . .
We will have to wait to see if there are meaningful reforms of this court. Boasberg made a baffling mistake in the appointment of Kris. Moreover, this is not a permanent ban. Most importantly, Sen. Rand Paul is being opposed in his efforts to put serious protections in place, including opposition from the Justice Department.

At AmGreat, Julie Kelly says Without Consequences or Penalties, FISA Should Expire. Yep. And the FISA court is clearly on the ball, FISA court mistakenly says Fusion GPS was digging up dirt on Hillary Clinton, not Trump (Jerry Dunleavy, WaEx). Judge Boasberg clearly reads the NYT. Whoopsie!

Bonchie at Red State details how New Documents Reveal How Robert Mueller Let Conspiracies Run Wild for Years Despite Having Answers Almost Immediately. They knew the Trump Tower meeting was a nothing burger in four days, but let the rumor mill continue to operate.

Mollie Hemingway wonders why If Bloomberg Couldn’t Buy 2020, How Could Russia Buy 2016? Heh.

“We had years where people were saying a couple hundred thousand dollars in barely literate Facebook ads from Russians caused Donald Trump to win. Here you had a guy spend nearly $1 billion and he went nowhere. It’s a humiliating defeat for Michael Bloomberg,” she said.

Host Bret Baier drilled the point home: “So Russians influenced the election with $200,000, or $300,000 in Facebook ads? And Mike Bloomberg couldn’t get more than 50 delegates with $600 million dollars?”

From sundance at CTH,  Attorney General Bill Barr Responds to Federal Judge Who Questioned His Credibility…. A pointed but civil reply. A middle finger would be more appropriate.

Tyler at PJ Media, Trump Campaign Files Multi-Million-Dollar Defamation Lawsuit Against CNN Over Russia Collusion Claims. One of those suits I hope succeeds that won't.

Insty, AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE DNC-MSM NO LONGER LOVES ROMNEY: Mitt Romney’s vote to clear path for probe into Hunter Biden’s Burisma ties (NYPo). From Jordain Carney on Da Hill, Romney to vote for Burisma subpoena

Liz Johnson, a spokeswoman for Romney, said Friday that he would support the subpoena — which is expected to request documents and an interview with former Blue Star Strategies consultant Andrii Telizhenko — during Wednesday's committee meeting after getting assurances from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).

“Senator Romney has expressed his concerns to Chairman Johnson, who has confirmed that any interview of the witness would occur in a closed setting without a hearing or public spectacle. He will therefore vote to let the Chairman proceed to obtain the documents that have been offered," Johnson said.

Nancy Palsy triples down,  Nancy Pelosi On Impeachment: Trump Can Say ‘Acquit This Or That,’ But ‘He’ll Never Be Vindicated’, from Justin Caruso at Da Caller.

From WaEx, Shameless Hillary Clinton says email scandal apology was 'against my better judgment'. That's OK. We didn't believe you meant it, and we didn't accept it.