Remember the old TV game show PASSWORD? It probably wouldn’t be much of a hit today because it was a quiet game that required some element of literacy and wit, but in its heyday it was a staple of daytime TV. Alan Ludden (the late husband of Betty White, for trivia fans) was the host, but each round began with an announcer saying in a low voice, “The password is…….”
So, here’s an idea: let’s play “PASSWORD 2019”! Of course, since it’s 2019, it has to be about politics, because in 2019, everything is about politics. I’ll be the announcer and say (ahem), “The password is...ACCOUNTABILITY”
What do you think the first clue should be? (And don’t say “Hillary.” There are just too many ways one’s mind can go from there, only some of which have to do with jail.) A good clue might be the word JUSTICE.
Of course, if the partner’s politics are left of center, he or she (or “ze”) might take the clue JUSTICE and guess something like SOCIAL, as in “social justice.” Someone in the middle or leaning right might guess LIBERTY, as in “liberty and justice for all.” But if I were the partner in this round, I think my first guess might very well be ACCOUNTABILITY. That’s the element of justice that has been at the top of my mind for many months –- and yours too, I’ll bet –- because it’s what has been conspicuously absent from our system of justice. We’ve seen quite a few people blatantly lie to Congress, leak classified and confidential material, destroy evidence, ignore evidence, “fix” investigations, and use fraud to obtain warrants in an attempt to affect the outcome of an election and, later, to bring down a duly-elected President of the United States. And nothing happens to them.
However, this is far from over, thanks in large part to ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes of California. He’s been like a dog with a bone on the issue of accountability, and after close to three years he’s finally tasting a bit of the meaty marrow. On Saturday, the WASHINGTON EXAMINER ran his piece “The Russian Collusion Hoax Meets Unbelievable End” (meaning the “Russia” part actually turned out to be associated with the Clinton campaign and its production of the dirty Steele “dossier”). And on Sunday, he announced that he is ready to go forward with eight criminal referrals related to the origins of the Trump/Russia investigation. “We’re prepared this week to notify the attorney general that we’re prepared to send those referrals over and brief him if he wishes to be briefed,” he said on FOX News. In other words, they’re so prepared that they’re prepared to be prepared!
He and his investigators have found as many as two dozen individuals who may be be subject to criminal referrals. All of them do involve classified or sensitive information, so he can’t go too far into detail.
Nunes broke down the referrals into three different categories during an interview with Maria Bartiromo. First, there are five of what he calls “straight-up” referrals, dealing with specific individuals and specific crimes such as lying to Congress, misleading Congress and leaking classified information. He didn’t name names but I’m sure we’re all thinking of the same group of individuals.
He said the other three are more complicated in that they include conspiracy to commit crimes. These primarily relate to the abuse of the FISA court and involve “numerous individuals.” Other acts of conspiracy relate to the manipulation of intelligence.
As closely as you and I have been following this, there’s apparently still a lot we don’t know due to its highly classified nature. As Nunes put it, “There’s so much left. Remember, the American people have only seen the pieces that have been declassified so far...[about abuse of the FISA court}...There’s still more information. I’ve said this before: This was their ‘insurance policy.’ A lot of people think the insurance policy was just the overall investigation of the Trump campaign. It’s actually much more conspiratorial than that.”
There’s a third category that Nunes called a “global leak referral,” involving the leaking of highly sensitive classified information to a very small group of reporters over the last “2-1/2-plus” years. He said they have “a pretty good idea” of who is behind these leaks. More investigation may be needed, however, to pin down additional leakers, as reporters were in the habit of citing anonymous sources (“current and former senior officials”). Nunes said there were individuals within the DOJ and FBI who wanted to be, in effect, “the next Deep Throat,” the person who, in his own mind, is “leaking classified information for the betterment of all society.”
Last year, a joint Republican-led task force from the Judiciary Committee and the Oversight Committee started investigating this, but at this point Nunes is looking to Attorney General Williams Barr (“a grownup is finally in the room”) to go forward and “do a clean-up.” Public support is growing thanks to a decision by task force member Doug Collins of Georgia to release numerous transcripts of congressional testimony (not the classified stuff) that justify our long-held suspicions of wrongdoing.
Nunes pointed out that Congress can only investigate, not indict, so Attorney General Barr will have to get the Justice Department involved in a criminal investigation (if he hasn’t done that already) before there can be...what’s that password? Right: ACCOUNTABILITY.
Incidentally, Bill Barr will be testifying before the House Judiciary Committee (chaired by Jerrold Nadler) on Tuesday. It’s a routine, public appearance, meant to deal with budgetary issues, but who knows if they’ll even talk about the budget? Democrats disappointed with Barr’s summary of the Mueller report will undoubtedly take the opportunity to give him grief about it, try to discredit him, and demand –- even through a completely unnecessary subpoena –- that the entire, unredacted report be made public, even though we know it concludes that there was no “collusion” (conspiracy) with Russia, and even though it contains classified material and not-to-be-released grand jury testimony.
Nunes said he wants the Mueller report to be made public, “but not just the Mueller report,” because some of the people who wrote it were involved in the conspiracies he’s including in these eight criminal referrals. As an example, he pointed out that Mueller’s lead attorney and another top lawyer were in the chain of custody for the Steele “dossier,” asserting that it was impossible for them not to have known it was just dirt from the Democrats. The report is written to fit their narrative, he said. (He calls it “the Mueller dossier.”) In fact, it’s MORE important to have the information underlying the report than it is to have the report itself. We need it all to get the complete picture.
Comments 1-25 of 40
Firewagon
04/10/2019 03:58 PM
As old Rip Van Winkle might have said upon waking up: "It's About Time!" This whole 'conspiracy' relates to taking down a presidential candidate, and failing that, attempting a coup d'etat on a sitting President of The United States! My caveat on "ACCOUNTABILITY" accepts NOT the prosecution of the low lying fruit, such as Strozk, Page, et al, although they need prosecuting. This "Republic" only survives when/if that etched in stone above that SCOTUS lair, "EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW" is restored. That means, all at the top of that totem pole, that engaged America's mighty security departments in this coup, should be brought to JUSTICE! Let There Be Blood....
Firewagon
04/10/2019 03:28 PM
As old Rip Van Winkle might have said upon waking up: "It's About Time!" This whole 'conspiracy' relates to taking down a presidential candidate, and failing that, attempting a coup d'etat on a sitting President of The United States! My caveat on "ACCOUNTABILITY" accepts NOT the prosecution of the low lying fruit, such as Strozk, Page, et al, although they need prosecuting. This "Republic" only survives when/if that etched in stone above that SCOTUS lair, "EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW" is restored. That means, all at the top of that totem pole, that engaged America's mighty security departments in this coup, should be brought to JUSTICE! Let There Be Blood....
Wonda Hartwig
04/09/2019 09:08 PM
"The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine." It has been slow since a lot of names have already come out (Spygate, various books). I wanted all of those named to be dragged to jail and be prosecuted and in prison right then. But it does take time to gather real evidence against these people. After all, Republicans can't just make things up as they go along and make it come true, only Democrats can do that. So I have waited and prayed for those gathering the evidence. I want names, but I have a feeling that won't happen right away (unless someone leaks it, which seems to happen when Republicans are the target). But like 'Kathaleen Webster' I too am very concerned about the safety of those who will be on the front line. I hope I have just watched too much TV where the answer to all questions is to bump off anyone whose testimony might be damaging. Thank you Devin Nunes and all who work with him. I pray for Representative Nunes, AG Barr and all who will be involved in this process, that they will be honest and transparent in all they do, that they will be safe. Also, dear God - I'm only human (but I try to be good) - I hope we get Hillary once and for all. May God bless all.
rodney burke
04/09/2019 06:33 PM
This guy is a God Send. he has pressed on no matter what. As Dan Bongino says repeatedly "He knows the whole story". The house of cards is about to fall, one card at a time and loud will be the crash thereof. I will be dheering for each one.
Georgia Ellen Bolton
04/09/2019 06:22 PM
If True JUSTICE dosen't HAPPEN AMERICA IS GONE FOR GOOD...
Gmail IS CORRECT!!!
Mel Krause
04/08/2019 08:30 PM
Should be about 50 referrals instead of 8. Guess he's testing the waters first.
Maria Ayala-Theis
04/08/2019 08:10 PM
ALL involved must be made accountable... ALL!!! The guilty must understand that there IS a difference to be made!
James Moore
04/08/2019 06:48 PM
Talk is cheap and that is all we have gotten. These scoundrels are overdue getting an inside look at a federal prison. Patience has worn thin.
Ellen McCarter
04/08/2019 06:31 PM
Please!!!! Get 'er done!!! I am from Fresno...love Devin...'bout time someone does something to the radical left... they are NOT GOD LIKE,!!!! THEY HAVE BECOME COMPLETE FOOLS!!!
Kay Melba
04/08/2019 06:30 PM
I hope this is true. The American people are tired of politicians breaking the law, making up rules, and never being held accountable. I hope and pray that our country is able to survive this.
Catharine Bankhead
04/08/2019 06:06 PM
I pray that the Lord will reveal the hidden things that the Democrats have pushed under the carpet! It’s time their hate and manipulation gets called out. The American people need to know and put an end to this Trump hate syndrome once and for all
Denise Tracy Petrie
04/08/2019 05:51 PM
Governor Huckabee... I really appreciate your continuing exposure of the injustice perpetrated by the Democrat hierarchy in the election of President Trump. I listen to Rush. I listen to Sean. I understand what happened. I also understand the part that British and possibly Australian intelligence agencies played in the attempted coup. I am aware of the part that the Bush family played in this travesty. I'm sure we are all aware of the complicity of the mainstream media in perpetuating this hoax. I am also aware of the eight criminal indictments Devin Nunes has prepared. I'm not sure any of the prosecutions will ever come to fruition. My question is: If this criminal conspiracy is allowed to be concealed for the sake of international relations and/or the lack of political will, will this country and the Constitution survive?
Charles L. Roberts
04/08/2019 05:18 PM
I'm ready for the prosecutions to begin. For too long we've seen the Democratic dog and pony show that was based upon nothing but a hoax. We've seen people with their hand in the cookie jar and lying repeatedly. Now is the time to expose the truth uncovered by the Republicans, use it to bring justice back into the DOJ and the FBI. Convict the people who began the hoax and let them add further names and information to expose potentially the worst fraud ever perpetrated on the American People.
Elizabeth Ann McMullan
04/08/2019 04:29 PM
Deven Nunez, Hold them all accountable!
Shari Jordan
04/08/2019 04:08 PM
No one really cares anymore. If the people we know that are guilty including Obama and Hillary Clinton are not prosecuted then there will never be faith in our justice system ever again. Our government is so corrupt in so many branches its mind blowing. But justice needs to start at the top. Americans need to SEE that these corrupt individuals will be punished and only then can we begin to heal and have faith once again in our government & our justice system.
Joy Gotwalt
04/08/2019 03:54 PM
I am worn out with the rhetoric and lack of teeth that any of this has gotten us. I believe it has been damaging to the US as a whole, divisive and counterproductive. I would love to see something come out of this in the way of making the troublemakers be held accountable. I think that will be a step toward healing which is what we need. We need a strong two party system, where differing ideas may be shared and problems discussed with a method and intent of real problem solving.
Kathaleen Webster
04/08/2019 03:48 PM
I'm very happy to see accountability come to the forefront, but in light of any issue being brought up to prosecute the Clintons, I fear for lives of those speaking up. How will this be brought about without compromising those lives?
Beth Wells
04/08/2019 03:34 PM
I first thought that my clue for the password would be transparency. But I think there are too many people that really don't understand it's relationship to accountability. I don't think you can have one without the other. If you are being accountable, you have nothing to hide. (That being said, I do think that there are things not meant for public release. And that is where public opinion gets manipulated. But the judicial system should not be swayed by public opinion.) I think term limits would solve a lot of problems.
Jeff Davidson
04/08/2019 03:32 PM
I will be very, VERY disappointed of some heads don't roll with these "referrals".
Barbara McKnight
04/08/2019 03:21 PM
The Democrats should be accountable, they want everyone else to be. Their job in the Capitol is to work for the American people not to continually work against the President that was voted in by the people. Quit trying to change the Constitution abide by it.
Mark Leiter
04/08/2019 02:49 PM
Only 8? I hope that's just the beginning!
Elizabeth Wagner
04/08/2019 02:32 PM
Hillary Clinton will not be indicted. Everyone in political circles knows she and Bill have spent 40 years collecting dirt on anyone and everyone in politics; both democrats and republicans. If she goes down, she'll take half of DC with her. On balance, that will be deemed too disruptive to American government, and refusing to indict her will be justified as so.
Most of the people who could face indictment will be in the DOJ/FBI, but they will be lower level and not the big fish.
Curtis Eastes
04/08/2019 01:47 PM
I believe criminal charges should be brought. We the American people are tired of criminals getting away with what they have done without consequences. We saw it with Hillary, Holder and many others including Obama.
David E Palmer
04/08/2019 01:42 PM
America, our Constitution, our very way of life in America are in jeopardy when our elected officials use lies, slander, and fake investigations to overthrow a duly elected president that obviously loves America. A prerequisite for leadership is selflessness. A true leader cares more about their countrymen than themselves. Men and women that are willing to stand and fight for America and what she stands for are going to be attacked. President Trump and Judge Kavanaugh are perfect examples of this. If America loving people expect to have men and women to stand up and lead our country, we better demand to see justice in this matter! I believe we have many good leaders in our Country today. They need to know that America loving people have their back and will stand and support them. We are lucky to have them today!
Charles Prentice
04/08/2019 01:37 PM
I can only pray that people will be held accountable and if found guilty also need to pay with loss of revenue for the whole "witch hunt"