U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions sacked former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe just hours before the agent’s retirement in a move many Americans hope is the first of many.
The Washington, D.C., swamp is rife with elitists who thumb their noses at the rule of law and cover each other’s back, even across party lines. Everyday Americans routinely shake their heads in disgust with the full knowledge that they would be behind bars for similar actions.
McCabe, the No. 2 to disgraced former FBI Director James Comey, had been the subject of a government investigation that concluded he leaked information and lacked “candor” in testimony before Congress. Basically, he was a Deep State operative who lied to Congress. The FBI has a long-standing policy that lying means automatic termination, and many individuals have been fired.
The president, FBI office of Personal Responsibility and current FBI Director Christopher Wray agreed with Sessions’ firing. With McCabe out, the public appetite for justice in Washington has been wetted. But, many hope there are still more to come. These are some of the bad actors that could be next on the chopping block.
FBI Agent Peter Strzok
There was no shortage of political operatives at the FBI during the Obama Administration and Peter Strzok played a pivotal role in helping Hillary Clinton avoid indictment for her repeated national security breaches. Strzok has become a national embarrassment for his titillating emails with government lawyer Lisa Page and their joint efforts to act against then-candidate Donald J. Trump. The pair reportedly had an “insurance policy” that could be used against Trump should he win the White House.
The lovers’ texts also revealed they enjoyed a personal relationship with a federal FISA judge. The same court that allowed surveillance of Trump campaign officials after the phony Russian Dossier funded by Hillary and the Democratic National Committee was used.
Although Strzok was dismissed from the Russia investigation for bias against Pres. Trump, he remains employed at the FBI. However, the Office of Inspector General is reviewing the role the agent played in the Hillary Clinton investigation and potential lack of “candor” in testimony he gave to Congress.
Director of Veteran’s Affairs David Shulkin
Rumors circulated around Washington after Pres. Trump canned Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that Shulkin’s neck would be on the chopping block next. This Obama Administration holdover passed a Senate confirmation vote unanimously. That in itself points to a problem these days.
Tasked with improved accountability at the VA, Shulkin reportedly took a lavish European vacation using money dedicated for helping veterans. The Inspector General (IG) also cited Shulkin’s chief of staff for attempting to cover up the misuse of taxpayer dollars. The travel costs topped $122,000, and the IG called his actions “failures in leadership.” Reports have also surfaced that VA hospitals are not properly maintained or supplied, and doctors have been forced to borrow supplies from neighboring facilities to treat patients.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller
Political pundits have bandied about whether or not Pres. Trump can terminate Mueller. The White House has indicated the president has the “right” to fire anyone he deems unfit for a position. Democrats push back claiming that firing Mueller might be an impeachable act.
Other sources claim that Mueller can only be fired by the U.S. Attorney General. Since Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe, oversight falls to Deputy U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein. Much of this speculation has been driven by the precedent set by the investigation of former Special Counsel Ken Starr into the Clinton Whitewater Real Estate scandal. Regardless of who drops the hammer on this guy, the cost simply outweighs any credible benefit for the American people.
Robert Mueller has racked up a bill that nears $1 million per month, and hit approximately $6 million in 2017 before things got ramped up. This figure appears to be on pace with what Ken Starr’s probe cost taxpayers. Over six years, Starr wasted more than $70 million only to write a report scolding the Clintons.
Team Starr enjoyed Powerball-like cash benefits during the long and drawn out “investigation” and Mueller seems to be cashing in on another meaningless political stunt. To date, the highest profile people to be indicted include former Gen. James Flynn and campaign consultant Paul Manafort. Neither has actually been linked to anything Russia. Taxpayers appear to be footing a bill for relatively common crimes such as lying and tax evasion.
The closest Mueller has come to meddling was indicting 13 Russian nationals. Recently re-elected Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin has mocked the charges saying no Russians will ever be extradited to the United States.
Dumping another $70 million or more into political theatrics may seem like “crumbs” to the Swamp’s Nancy Pelosi, but that money could go a long way toward wild fire prevention in California, combating gangs such as MS-13, reducing the murder rate in Chicago, improving mental health treatment to stop school shootings, rebuilding roads, bridges and levees, or simply supplying VA hospitals with medicine to ease the pain of soldiers.
Enriching team Mueller is a waste of American resources.
~ Liberty Planet
