Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley wants to know about the documents he footnoted back on March 15th, 2018, pertaining to DOJ Deputy Bruce Ohr.  A letter today to DAG Rod Rosenstein outlines the request:

[scribd id=379825722 key=key-8tts6Dl8UYf0EDxQMky1 mode=scroll]

(Grassley Pdf Links)

On the DOJ National Security Division side of Main Justice, attorney Bruce Ohr remains employed, but invisible; likely under tight investigative controls.  Much like FBI Agent Peter Strzok, Mr. Ohr possesses key knowledge related to the National Security Division of the DOJ. In addition, Mr. Ohr had interactions with Christopher Steele and more importantly Fusion-GPS and founder Glenn Simpson.

It is not coincidental that Ohr was demoted twice, yet his overall employment never terminated.

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Perfect timing today as Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats celebrates last Thursday’s swearing in ceremony of Michael Atkinson as Inspector General of the Intelligence Community.

Coincidentally, or not, last Thursday was the release of the IG Draft Report on the DOJ-NSD and FBI activity in the Clinton investigation; and coincidentally, or not, today DNI Dan Coats participated in planning a new investigative approach to review the Obama Intelligence Community’s engagements in political surveillance:

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President Trump, Chief-of-Staff John Kelly and White House Counsel Don McGahn  met with DOJ Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats today to discuss the revelations of former FBI, DOJ and intelligence officials conducting politically motivated surveillance on the Trump campaign in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

After the meeting the White House released the following statement:

“Based on the meeting with the President, the Department of Justice has asked the Inspector General to expand its current investigation to include any irregularities with the Federal Bureau of Investigations or the Department of Justices tactics concerning the Trump Campaign. It was also agreed that White House Chief of Staff Kelly will immediately set up a meeting with the FBI, DOJ, and DNI together with Congressional Leaders to review highly classified and other information they have requested.” (link)

Two months ago Inspector General Michael Horowitz launched a third investigation into DOJ and FBI conduct as it relates to the abuse of the FISA court by former officials.  The FISA abuse investigation was the second outcropping from the original IG investigation into FBI and DOJ conduct during the Clinton investigation.

The first off-shoot OIG review ended with an IG report on Asst. FBI Director Andrew McCabe and a criminal referral for illegal leaks to the media and lying to the IG and FBI investigators.

The original IG investigation started by looking into the results of a 2015/2016 FBI investigation of Hillary Clinton’s classified email use.  That original investigation resulted in a lengthy Draft Report which is currently in draft review phase.  This much anticipated report is on schedule be published in final form within the next two weeks.

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Earlier this afternoon President Donald Trump hosted 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. and the Furniture Row racing team at the White House:

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WH South Lawn – 2:28 P.M. EDT – THE PRESIDENT: Come on up here. A lot of courage, driving those cars. A lot of courage. Good afternoon. Today, I’m thrilled to welcome the 2017 NASCAR Champion, Martin Truex Jr. That is fantastic. (Applause.) And, Sherry, thank you. But I’m going to be mentioning you in a little while, Sherry. Thank you very much. And the entire Furniture Row Racing Team to the White House. Thank you, Furniture Row. (Applause.) Thank you. Great job.

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Economic security is national security. “Economic growth, national security, those are the Presidents’ two most important priorities” ~ Secretary Mnuchin.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin discusses the ongoing trade negotiation with China and the specifics of sector-by-sector agreements in principle. The overall approach by the Trump administration is to balance the trade relationship through opening of Chinese markets to U.S. exports and retain stability within U.S. manufacturing sectors.

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The dragon is in the details…. and that’s where you find slayer-Secretary Wilbur Ross!

After over a year of discussions and structured way-points, China came into last weeks U.S. trade talks with outstretched steel fists. The delegation they sent to the negotiating table were some of the most loyal and die-hard communist leaders within their national economic team.

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Earlier today President Trump highlighted a quote from Dan Bongino to the Fox News Morning group.  The citation references former CIA Director John Brennan and his rather looming responses to the requests by the office of the President for DOJ and FBI review.

Additionally, President Trump has changed the last half of his daily schedule to allow for a 3:00pm meeting today with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray.  Meeting Topic: ‘The Big Ugly’.

Washington, D.C. – 10:51 A.M. EDT – THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. And good morning. I want to thank all of you and our distinguished guests for joining us today for a ceremony like few will ever have again — this is a very special one — including Vice President Pence, Secretary Pompeo, Secretary Mnuchin, Secretary Chao, Secretary Perry, Secretary Nielsen, Director Coats, and my nominee for the VA Secretary, who will do a fantastic job, Robert Wilkie. Thank you very much.

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

President Trump Twitter @POTUS / Vice President Pence Twitter @VP

Sarah H Sanders Twitter @SHSanders45

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appears on Fox News Sunday for an interview with the insufferable swamp gatekeeper Chris Wallace.  The primary topic is China and the ongoing trade discussions.  However, look at the stone cold stare from Mnuchin at the very end when he points out that Wallace never even brought up the important Iran sanctions.  If looks could kill, Wallace would have spontaneously combusted.

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