Fox News contributor Sara A. Carter reports newly redacted text messages reveal disgraced FBI agent Peter Strzok had a personal relationship with Rudolph Contreras, the District of Columbia Judge who abruptly recused himself from former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn’s criminal case.
In a text message chain from Page to Strzok on July, 25, 2016 she writes, “Rudy is on the FISC! Did you know that? Just appointed two months ago.” At that point, the pair continues to discuss other issues but comes back to Contrares, “I did. We talked about it before and after. I need to get together with him.” Then later Strzok appears to return to his discussion about Contreras.
Strzok/Page July texts
Page: “Thought of it because you had to Google FISC judges and him there. I’m telling you.”
Strzok: “….She brought up a good point about being circumspect in talking to him in terms of not placing him into a situation where he’d have to recuse himself.”
Page: “I can’t imagine you either one of you could talk about anything in detail meaningful enough to warrant recusal.” Page then goes back to discussing a different issue saying, “Anyway, maybe you meant to, but didn’t.’
Strzok: “Really? Rudy. I’m in charge of espionage for the FBI. Any espionage FISA comes before him, what should he do? Given his friend oversees them?”
Page: “Standards for recusal are quite high. I just don’t think this poses an actual conflict. And he doesn’t know what you do?”
Strzok: “Generally he does know what I do. Not the level or scope or area but he’s super thoughtful and rigorous about ethics and conflicts. (redacted) suggested a social setting with others would probably be better than a one on one meeting. I’m sorry, I’m just going to have to invite you to that cocktail party. Of course you’ll be there. Have to come up with some other work people cover for action.”
Page: “Why more? Six is a perfectly fine dinner party.”
Sources close to Flynn tell The Daily Caller‘s Chuck Ross that Strzok’s relationship with Contreras “is something they might look into.”
Source close to Gen. Flynn camp tells me that this is something they might look into. Flynn's attorney declined comment.
The Federalist‘s Sean Davis notes, “[n]ews of Strzok’s dismissal by Mueller was leaked the day after Flynn’s guilty plea was accepted by the FISA judge who just happens to be buddies with the guy who interviewed Flynn for the FBI.”
At this time, no details have been made public as to why Contreras recused himself from the case.
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras of DC recuses from fmr Trump national security advisor Michael T. Flynn's criminal case, court says. Emmet G. Sullivan, a 1994 Clinton appointee and fmr Reagan and Bush I judicial appointee, takes over by random draw https://t.co/4PWa0CLIPIpic.twitter.com/XubybAtXIc
With each passing day, more evidence suggests the indictment of former National Security Adviser Ret. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn was a dubious one.
In what would be an insurmountable blow to special counsel Robert Mueller’s unchecked Russia probe, former federal prosecutor Sidney Powell says if there is a man who can bring justice for Flynn, it’s Judge Emmet G. Sullivan.
As the Daily Callerreported, Sullivan “issued a “Brady” order requiring Mueller to provide Flynn all information that is favorable to the defense whether with respect to guilt or punishment.”
According to Margot Cleveland of The Federalist, the order suggests “bombshell are likely ahead.”
With a protective order in place, Flynn’s attorneys should start receiving the required disclosures from the special counsel’s office. There is reason to believe these will include some bombshells.
First, we know from the recently released GOP House Intelligence Committee memo and the Grassley-Graham criminal referral of Christopher Steele, the FBI and DOJ withheld significant (and material, in my view) information in seeking a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to conduct surveillance on Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page. There is cause to believe the FISA court was connected to the criminal charge filed against Flynn because Contreras, who recused less than a week after accepting Flynn’s guilty plea, “is one of just three FISA court judges who sits in the District of Columbia, where it is likely the Trump-Russia FISA warrants were sought.”
Was other evidence withheld, either from the FISA court or from Flynn’s attorneys in negotiating a plea? Again, there is reason to believe so, given the players involved and the facts already uncovered. […]
Mueller must now provide Flynn all exculpatory evidence: Significantly, if the information is favorable to Flynn but the special counsel’s office believes it is immaterial, government attorneys must nonetheless provide the evidence to Sullivan to allow him to make the call. In other words, Mueller’s team cannot unilaterally decide what evidence matters, as the Department of Justice did in applying to the FISA court for a surveillance warrant on Page while withholding the key fact that Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee paid for information crucial to the application.
Byron York of the Washington Examiner reported former FBI Director James Comey told congressional investigators he did not believe Flynn lied during an unannounced interview with agent Peter Strzok on January 24th, 2017.
According to veteran political operative and Infowars correspondent, Roger Stone, lawyers for Flynn are preparing legal action to have all charges against him dropped.
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