The Memo and the Washington Post: "The Story Must Be Told"

So now the memo drafted by Devin Nunes (R-CA) has been released. There's not that much new in there that we hadn't already heard or suspected, but I think it is interesting to see the reactions from the media and the Democrats. One of the advantages of riding a treadmill at the gym is that I can watch both CNN and Fox. The contrast is striking. While Fox is positive over the release, CNN paints a dark picture of a threat to our national security and the damage it is doing to our FBI and intelligence agencies.

There was poor old Wolf Blitzer wringing his hands in the aptly-named Situation Room. Aside from the threat to our republic, he also tried to make the case that there were other factors besides the "Steele Dossier" that went into the FISA affadavit. Yet, the memo revealed that then-Asst. FBI Director Andrew McCabe himself told Congress that without the dossier there would have been no FISA application warrant.

As a former DEA agent, I can tell you that had I applied to a judge of any type for a warrant to eavesdrop without disclosing information that the FISA court was never told, namely, that the Steele  dossier contained so much unverified (and never verified) information, that it was paid for by the DNC and the Clinton campaign-and that (British subject) Steele had confided his intense wish to then Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr-of all people- that Trump never be elected president, I would hate to have to go back and face the wrath of that judge.

In addition, reading the memo, what sources and methods have been compromised here by the release of this memo? None other than that which was already revealed in the past year. I don't think that this memo represents an indictment of the rank and file of the FBI or the DOJ. It was the very highest officials in Washington who have apparently abused their positions.

And isn't it interesting given the release of the new movie, Post, which heralds the Washington Post for releasing the Pentagon papers during the Nixon years, that the same media is so opposed to the release of this memo because they are so concerned about national security and the harm it will do the FBI and our intelligence agencies? Here's how the Washington Post is covering this story today. (The op-ed page contains opposing opinions on the release including one by a Republican congressman, Will Hurd ( R-Tx), who voted for the release.) Here is today's online edition front page (screen shots).

Note the top of the second half: "The story must be told." How ironic.

As for the Democrat memo in response that the House voted not to release: One reason given by the Republicans is that it was presented for a vote within a 24 hour period. However, I do think in the interests of transparency that the Democrat memo should be released. Let the public decide.