Hugh Hewitt: The Key Point on the FISA Memo
The recent release of the memo from GOP Rep. Devin Nunes revealed one major fact that stands out above all other revelations: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court warrant-or FISA warrant on Carter Page (and the three subsequent renewals of the warrant) omitted a material fact. While the FBI admitted that the information came from a politically motivated source, the bureau did not disclose that the source had been financed by Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. That's a damning omission.
The non-disclosure of a material fact in an application for a FISA warrant-its minimization, indeed one could argue its camouflaging-is a very big deal and its provenance should be thoroughly investigated. It threatens to undermine every warrant submitted to a FISA court.
What I've called "Trump torque" is pulling on everyone in the news business-his critics are often overheated and his defenders tend to ignore his errors. This "torque" is twisting every single story in one direction or another.
But: It's not about President Trump. Or at least this one shouldn't be. It's about when American courts approve surveillance of Americans. And that's every American's concern.
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