How messed up are Trump Supporters?

[Angrboda]

Justice, Spy World Veterans Warn Of Consequences If Trump Releases Secret Docs

"Basically you have a counter terrorism tool used to spy on a presidential campaign, which is unprecedented in our history," Trump tweeted in remarks quoting Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.

But FISA applications are prepared by career lawyers at the Justice Department and the FBI, supported by volumes of underlying evidence, and require signoff from high levels at both institutions.

The applications on Page, who was exposed to law enforcement scrutiny over his ties with Russia, were approved four different times — by political officials from administrations representing both Democrats and Republicans.

The signature of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on the final application — who was nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Republican Senate — has made Rosenstein a political target of conservatives.

Carrie Cordero, a former Justice Department national security lawyer who handled such applications, said she was "deeply concerned about the motivations and timing for this upcoming release."

"While transparency about intelligence community operations is important, the continued release of information related to the Russia investigation, the Carter Page FISAs and related materials appears to be for political purposes as we near midterm election," said Cordero, now a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

"That neither builds confidence in intelligence community activities nor enhances the nation's security."

The topmost Justice Department officials involved also privately object, according to one account.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, said he had been "previously informed" by FBI Director Christopher Wray and Rosenstein that some of the materials Trump has ordered to be released amount to a "red line that must not be crossed as they may compromise sources and methods."

"This is evidently of no consequence to a president who cares about nothing about the country and everything about his narrow self-interest," Schiff said.