Posted originally on CTH on April 20, 2026 | Sundance |

In the next few days, much more about the overall investigative review underway in Florida will likely begin to surface.  The review has been led by USAO Jason A. Reding Quiñones, a federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Florida. Quinones is now supported by Counsel to the AG, Joe diGenova.

As with all investigations containing multiple players and actors, the first investigative information is extracted from testimony by those furthest away from the principals, yet closest to the granular details of the events being reviewed.  The questioning then goes upstream, using information collected to assemble more specific questions as the principal players are approached.

The widest concentric circles are questioned first. Then, using the responses and investigative information from that circle, the questioning and inquiry goes to the next inner circle of participants.  The information is assembled, and more pointed questions are then targeted to the next inner circle; the process continues until the core is questioned.

Beginning with the end in mind, the biggest challenge is knowing what the correct questions are to ask of those who were closest to the corrupt activity (the outer circle).

Background research then becomes critical. From those pointed questions you get answers.  Then, next level of more specific questions get focus, and so on, and so on.

On March 20, 2026, James Comey was subpoenaed.

Also remember, there are two distinct and different aspects to the overall conspiracy and timeline.

There was surveillance of the 2016 Republican candidates by contractors working on behalf of the FBI who was institutionally collaborating with the Clinton campaign; that is known as “Spygate.”   There was then an FBI operation to target and eliminate the threat represented by the 2016 GOP primary winner, Donald Trump; that is known as “Russiagate.”

‘Spygate’ and ‘Russiagate’ are two distinctly different corrupt pathways that eventually merged due to common interests.

The Mueller investigation, an extension of Crossfire Hurricane (Russiagate) was used by Obama-era politicians and internal government officials as a mechanism to block President Trump from executing a divergent foreign policy.  The primary policy of focus was to protect the Obama era operations, including the Iran deal.

Based on mounting evidence, a pattern in other international activities and U.S. participants, the Obama-Clinton-Kerry Iranian deal likely included a mechanism for return payments to U.S. officials following the release of billions in frozen Iranian asset funds and the loosening of sanctions – (ie. pallets of cash).  Qatar was the mediator/broker.

However, it is speculated, perhaps being evidenced, that return payments to the Obama team contained a timing mechanism, and the quid-pro-quo payments were stopped after President Trump withdrew from the Iran deal and re-instituted sanctions.

Thus, a much larger background context exists for why the totality of the U.S. government and Intelligence Community opposed President Donald Trump.   Is it all about the money? Time will tell.  Current events may not be coincidental.

♦ Washington DC uses a system of decades-long constructed silos to control and ultimately hide information adverse to the interests of the DC system itself.  Put another way, people within our government have constructed layers of systems to hide the corruption that takes place.

This silo system is challenging to understand; but thankfully many more people have started to comprehend how it works. The constitutional separation of power mechanisms has been weaponized by the corrupt actors, as we outlined in the example of Adam Schiff hiding the transcript of ICIG Michael Atkinson.

All of us have been frustrated to hear politicians in the legislative branch talk about “sending criminal referrals” to the Dept of Justice, and yet nothing happens.  Part of this is created by ‘stakeholder equities’, specific ownership of the underlying documents that do not accompany the referral (locked in a non-compliant silo).  The intelligence community is notorious for classifying and hiding the evidence of wrongdoing.

Without the direct and specific evidence, and without an aligned intent from the receiver, the referral itself is more of a legislative fundraising narrative than an actionable event.  A pitch without a catcher, and sometimes even without a ball.

You are not alone in your frustration.  However, you might remember CTH providing a very specific outline of how a key position within government could be used to change things.  {GO DEEP} The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, shutting down the IC from hiding evidence is key.  An honest and truthful arbiter of intelligence is a paradigm shift in the DC system; it is also a threat.

With Executive Branch DNI Tulsi Gabbard declassifying purposefully hidden intelligence equities, in combination with the Legislative Branch providing source material from their own silo equities, what you get is an unimpeded flow of information to the Dept of Justice.

Two pipes of information, legislatively authorized and intelligence declassified, joining together in a single stream of actionable evidence flowing unimpeded to the DOJ.  This is the worst-case scenario for corrupt DC entities who hide within the silo system.  From my perspective, this information flow is now in place.

A review of historic ‘Spygate and Russiagate’ activity is taking place in Florida with a grand jury led by U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. We are now seeing reports of information flows in both directions from DC to Florida, and from Florida to DC.  Quinones is now supplemented with Joe diGenova.

Requests from Quinones, intermediate transfers at DOJ, prompt responses from legislative silos and returns after review -if needed- from DNI.

This is a very positive indication toward some form of accountability. However, there is also an institutional muscle memory that is annoying. It would be better overall if politicians in DC just kept their mouth shut. On the topic of prior targeting of Donald Trump, when we hear the term “sent to the DOJ” we can reasonably be certain that means sent to Florida and sent to USAO Jason Quinones along with Joe diGenova.

There is a very small reliable group of lawyers within the Dept of Justice, when considering the scale and scope of the challenges and cases they are assigned.  Obama and Biden had 12 years of importing ideological lawyers into Main Justice and the various U.S. Attorney Offices.  None of their lawyers are reliable.

The blue state fraud investigations were obviously starting to bog down the limited resources of the DOJ.  Division of labor introduces Vice-President JD Vance to act as a subject-matter-specific Attorney General and USAO Colin Macdonald on fraud enforcement/prosecution.

Treasury Dept financial crimes lawyers are tracing money, domestic and foreign, while supporting both Main Justice and the Fraud Task Force.

This keeps A-DAG Todd Blanche focused on defending Trump policy, deportation and immigration removal efforts, election integrity issues and matters of national security (criminal gang elements).

Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones remains unaffected and on task in Florida.

♦ The silo system is made up, in part, of: The National Security Council (10+ desks, 15 staff/analysts per), the National Security Advisor to the Office of the President, the Dept of Justice National Security Division [DOJ-NSD (foreign review section, counterintelligence export control section, cyber section, counterterrorism section)], Central Intelligence Agency [(CIA), National Intelligence Council, Directorate of Analysis], Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI (Counterintelligence, Counterterrorism, WMD Directorate, Directorate of Intelligence, Cyber)], the Office of the Director of National Intelligence [ODNI (Requirements, Analysis, Collection, National Counterterrorism Center, Mission Managers)], the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Dept of Defense [DoD, (Nuclear, Chemical, Biological, Industrial, International)], the National Security Agency [NSA (Operations, Technology, Cyber], and many more.

Each agency/office a silo, with distinct sub-silos; each with equity stakes in the information they gather, review and analyze; ultimately attributing classification level and intersecting analysis with each other agency as mission aligned.

Sound ridiculous?  It probably is, yet we’ve merely scratched the surface of the IC networks and information flows that swirl around the Office of the President.

Now do you see why DNI Tulsi Gabbard is important?

Literally hundreds of embeds -across multiple silos- have been removed from the aggregate apparatus.  The National Security Council has been taken apart, staff removed, desks shuttered.  The National Intelligence Council was removed from the CIA with personnel fired.  The Directorate of Analysis is now openly confronted.  The ICIG is once again a watchdog, and criminal referrals for former ICIG Michael Atkinson and former CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella have been submitted.

These actions create optimism that substantive change is possible. Simultaneously, with the corrupt behavior removed from the system, these actions lay the groundwork for honest and deliberate cross-silo information sharing.  However, much more work lies ahead.

♦ The U.S. government, under the President Obama administration, was spying on American citizens.

It started with Barack Obama and AG Eric Holder’s use of the IRS database in the 2010 midterm, against the primary threat of the Tea Party movement.  However, an IRS whistleblower from the Cincinnati field office took the continued use of the IRS off the table.

From the period of mid-2012 to April-2016, the administration factually and demonstrably shifted to using the power of electronic surveillance to conduct political spying operations using the NSA database and the metadata captures within it.

However, once that NSA surveillance and spying was identified in April 2016, President Obama had a problem.  That’s where the Obama alignment with the Clinton ‘dirty trick’ comes into play.  After May 2016, Obama needed Hillary Clinton to win the election.  The rest is “Russiagate” history.

There is a distinct timeline shift during this period that most seem to overlook, because “Russiagate” was/is easily the shiniest thing for people to follow.  However, it was the precursor scandal, ‘spygate’, that is more critical yet gets almost no attention.

Here it becomes critical for people to understand exactly what was taking place.  Absolutely nothing had anything to do with: the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, aka FISA – surveillance impacting Americans (FISA-702), the FISA Court, masking, minimizing or unmasking.  None of those terms apply. What the Obama administration was doing was simply spying.

The only reason the aforementioned terms enter the discussion is through the method used by the NSA compliance officer to reveal the nature of how the database was being compromised.  The only tool for the NSA to reveal the spying was to report it to the FISA Court which holds jurisdiction over the use of the database.

When FISA Judge Rosemary Collyer was made aware of the spying, in October 2016 by NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers, she then interpreted the NSA admissions through the language of the FISA Court.

When Judge Collyer released her report in March 2017 [SOURCE], that’s how the FISA terminology entered the discussion.  However, nothing about the use of the NSA database to conduct political surveillance or spying had anything to do with the Obama administration using the FISA-702 authority to exploit the system.

Collyer noted that 85% of the Obama administration’s searches of the database, from 2012 to 2016, had nothing to do with FISA inquires. No attempt at minimization or justification was being done, and further, only 15% of the use of the database was being done in compliance with the rules governing the use of the database.

Tens of thousands of searches were conducted by the Obama administration, as they used their access to the NSA database to spy on their targets.  The NSA identified the spying culprits colloquially as “FBI Contractors,” but factually nothing was ever provided to verify that assertion.

In fact, the only attribution that could be associated with the “contractor” claim, is the workstations and user access IDs deployed to search the database.   To this day, we do not know where those workstations were located, or who was behind the user IDs operating the searches.

What we do know is that massive spying operations were undertaken during the period from 2012 to 2016, and many of those searches were for the same people repeatedly; meaning the same people were under constant illegal surveillance and all of their electronic information was being reviewed by the Obama administration.

♦ Again, just for emphasis, the Obama administration was spying on targeted Americans repeatedly, and absolutely none of the activity had anything to do with FISA authorities.  It was the existence of the NSA captures, the database itself, which brought the Obama administration to a place where it became useful for their spying operation.

The use of the NSA database for domestic spying operations followed the moment when the use of the IRS database was no longer feasible.  Once congress and the American people became aware of the IRS and DOJ’s collaborative “special research project,” a targeted surveillance mechanism that culminated in the IRS/DOJ agreeing to settle a class-action lawsuit, the Obama administration switched from using the IRS data to using the NSA data.  It really is that simple.

The overwhelming amount of activity that takes place within the NSA database, is simply the U.S. government conducting electronic surveillance.  That’s the issue highlighted by “Spygate,” President Barack Obama’s unlawful use of the data captures to monitor targets identified by the administration.

Just like the Cincinnati IRS whistleblower (’12), once the NSA compliance officer noticed what was happening (March ’16), the trail of spying became a risk to the Obama administration.  That’s the moment when Hillary Clinton’s planned deployment of the vast Russian conspiracy became of value to Obama and the surveillance perpetrators.

The Clinton campaign had been planning to use Russia as a dirty trick tool against the winner of the GOP nomination.  The testimony of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign manager, Robby Mook, even admitted it.

John Durham – Q: In the Summer of 2016, was Mr. Trump’s relationship with Russia something that the campaign focused on?

Robby Mook – A: Yes. I mean, it was frankly something we were focused on before that time. But absolutely.

Q: Mr. Mook, before the break you had testified that there was a conversation in which you told Ms. Clinton about the proposed plan to provide the Alfa-Bank allegations to the media; is that correct?

A: Correct. 

Q: And what was her response?

A: All I remember is that she agreed with the decision.

[SOURCE]

What became known as “Russiagate” was the 2016 Clinton campaign smear that was directed at Republican candidate Donald Trump.  However, “Spygate” preceded the deployment of the smear.

The Obama administration used Clinton’s Russiagate to hide Obama’s Spygate.

President Obama’s support for the dirty trick Hillary Clinton created, starts with his motive to hide the spying.

TIMELINE:

♦ September 2015 – Billionaire Paul Singer contracts with Glenn Simpson and Fusion GPS for opposition research on candidate Donald Trump during 2016 GOP presidential primary.  Simpson prior work during time at Wall Street journal serves as reference.

♦ November 2015 – Simpson hires Nellie Ohr to assist on Trump project.  Ohr was CIA open-source analyst.  Revelations by NSA compliance officer in April 2016 point to November 2015 as origin of multiple unauthorized searches of NSA database.

♦ December 2015 – Mrs. Ohr contacts Christopher Steele, submitting data for cross-reference with sources and seeking collaboration on Trump project. Ohr using ham radio license as independent operator.

♦ January – March 2016 – GOP Presidential primary ongoing.  Candidate Donald Trump wins majority of primary delegates from all early state contests.  Momentum for Donald Trump becomes significant.  Cruz, Kasich, Rubio final group along with Trump.  Late March, Paul Singer contacts Glenn Simpson to cancel opposition research. NSA compliance officer notifies NSA Director Mike Rogers about unauthorized use of database by “contractors.”  Rogers asks for full review.

♦ April 2016 – April 16, 2016, NSA compliance officer reports to Director Rogers of approximately 10,000 database searches, using “same identifiers” over “multiple dates.” Rogers responds by shutting down contractor access and blocking all FISA-702(17) “about” queries.  April 17, 2016, Glenn Simpson wife, Mary Jacoby, visits White House.  Glenn Simpson pitches preassembled oppo-research file on Trump to Clinton Team.  Clinton lawyer Michael Sussmann takes over payments and signs contract with Fusion for continued work.

♦ May/June 2016 – Chris Steele constructing dossier on Donald Trump, submissions returned to Fusion GPS, Nellie Ohr and husband Bruce Ohr, #4 in DOJ-NSD.  External contacts made to Trump orbit by foreign officials from Australia (Downer), U.K (Mifsud) and Cyprus.  Trump campaign continues presidential primary victories. Trump enlists Paul Manafort as delegate manager for upcoming RNC convention.

♦ July 2016 – FBI opens official investigation of Trump for Russia collusion, predicated on contact from Australian Ambassador about non-existent claim Trump group receiving Clinton/DNC emails from Russian hackers.  Attempted FISA application rejected.

♦ August 2016 – CIA Director John Brennan informs Harry Reid of Clinton oppo-research effort known colloquially as Trump-Russia.  Former Acting CIA Director Mike Morrell, long time Clinton ally, publishes article in New York Times claiming Russians want Trump victory.   Hillary proclaims vast Russian conspiracy theory.

♦ September 2016 – Director Brennan directly informs White House, President Obama, Susan Rice, Lisa Monaco of Clinton oppo-research effort known colloquially as Trump-Russia.  Fusion GPS, Glenn Simpson and Michael Sussmann identified as sources for organizing oppo-research Steele Dossier.

♦ October 2016 – Steele Dossier assembly used by DOJ-NSD in FISA application against Trump campaign official Carter Page.  Through April 2016, FBI used Carter Page as undercover employee in case against Russian Evgeny Buryakov; now October 2016, FBI claims Carter Page is official “agent of a foreign government” to gain FISA warrant.  Steele Dossier serves as replacement for Woods File supporting Title-1 search warrant.

♦ November 2016 – Donald Trump wins 2016 presidential election defeating Hillary Clinton and stunning world.  Clinton campaign blames Russians for her loss. Accuses Trump of colluding with Russia.   Trump campaign and transition team now under Title-1 full counterintelligence surveillance by FBI via Page FISA warrant.

♦ December 2016 – Joint Analysis Report released by intelligence community, claiming Russians were involved in attempting to influence 2016 election.  All Trump campaign and transition members under full physical and electronic surveillance. All communication intercepted.  Officially FBI Director James Comey denies President-elect Trump under investigation.

♦ January 2017 – Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) released by Obama administration claiming confidence Russia had attempted to interfere in the 2016 election.  Sanctions imposed by Obama; Russian diplomatic corps expelled.   FISA surveillance warrant resubmitted with no new context and renewed by FISC without question.

♦ February 2017 – National Security Advisor Michael Flynn under fire for talking to Russian ambassador in December during Christmas holiday.  Flynn wrongly accused of discussing possible policy changes and not to worry about Obama sanctions. Full court press by FBI and DOJ to leak information to media about Trump under FBI counterintelligence investigation.  James Comey leaks information to friend, Columbia University Professor Daniel Richman as intermediary to media.  Washington Post publish article citing FBI intercept of Flynn-Kislyak phone call.

♦ March 2017 – • On 16th HPSCI Chairman Devin Nunes releases information to public about Obama presidential daily briefing containing information about Trump-Russia collusion investigation and surveillance of Trump campaign by FBI. First public indications that “wires were actually tapped.”  • On 17th copy of FISA application delivered from FISA Court to Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice-Chairman Mark Warner. Shortly after 4pm, Warner instructs SSCI Security Director James Wolfe to leak the FISA application to media.  Wolfe transmits 82 pictures to Politico journalist Ali Watkins via encrypted phone images [FISA application 83 pages with one blank page].  FISA application returned to courier FBI Agent Brian Dugan.  • March 20th, James Comey testifies to HPSCI during open hearing admitting for first time publicly that President Trump, and his entire administration, is under official FBI counterintelligence investigation.  Comey claims no information previously given to congressional oversight due to “sensitivity of the matter.” Attorney General Jeff Sessions forced to recuse.

♦ April 2017 – Absent an AG, and without confirmed DAG, interim and acting DAG Dana Boente receives request for FISA renewal from FBI Director James Comey.  On same day FISA application is renewed for second time, journalist Ali Watkins -having ownership of illegal and leaked unredacted FISA application- writes first details of FISA application, then transfers employment to New York Times for senior role in Trump-Russia reporting. FBI continues leaking details of investigation to media. Mid April Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein arrives to take all responsibilities related to AG Sessions recusal.

♦ May 2017 – Early May, Deputy AG Rosenstein has phone call with FBI Director James Comey, “What do you want me to do – wear a wire?”   Mid-May, Rosenstein takes former FBI Director Robert Mueller to White House for oval office meeting with President Trump.  Next morning Mueller returns to White House to pick up cell phone he accidentally left in Oval Office. Later in afternoon, President Trump fires FBI Director James Comey. Following day Rosenstein talks to Mueller (3X) and coordinates meeting.  Robert Mueller appointed Special Counsel; Mueller chief deputy Andrew Weissmann assumes organization of investigation.

♦ June 2017 – Weissmann assembles Crossfire Hurricane team into Special Counsel.  WFO FBI Agent Brian Dugan begins to suspect SSCI leak of FISA application based on media reporting.  Agent Dugan requests and receives first warrant for cell phone records of SSCI Security Director Wolfe and NYT journalist Ali Watkins.  June 29th Andrew Weissmann requests renewal of Carter Page FISA warrant to continue surveillance of administration.  Application renewed.

♦ July 2017 – While conducting investigation of internal FBI conduct during Clinton email investigation, Office of Inspector General Michael Horowitz discovers inappropriate activity within FBI investigative team.  Horowitz informs DAG Rosenstein and SC Robert Mueller about Lisa Page and Peter Strzok compromise.  Weissmann removes Page and Strzok to avoid scrutiny by OIG of special counsel team.  President Trump White House Counsel Don McGahn discovers all 2016/2017 transition team emails, phone records, electronic communications and devices have been given to Andrew Weissmann by General Services Administration as requested by the FISA authority carried by special counsel.

♦ August 2017 – DAG Rod Rosenstein officially expands Special Counsel investigative scope as requested by Andrew Weissmann to include five specific targets: Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos and Walid Phares [targeting angle = FARA violations, per DOJ-NSD authority] Mr. Phares organized interview between Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abel Fattah al-Sisi during 2016 campaign.  FISA surveillance authority used to collect evidence of financial transactions, banking records, travel, communication and full Title-1 counterintelligence operations deployed against targets.

♦ September 2017 – FBI Agent Brian Dugan conducting surveillance of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and communication between SSCI Vice-Chair Mark Warner and Chris Steele representative Adam Waldman.  Dugan intercepts Waldman side of conversation for investigative file.  Weissmann and 18 lawyers, 50 FBI agents and 200 staff continue Trump targeting operations, continue full Title-1 authorized FISA surveillance, and outline cases against Manafort (financial crimes/FARA), Flynn (FARA), and Papadopoulos (lying to investigators).

♦ October 2017 – FISA search warrant used by Mueller/Weissmann special counsel expires.  Weissmann requests expanded scope memo from Rosenstein to target Michael Flynn Jr for use against his father, Michael Flynn.  Cases against Manafort and Papadopoulos ongoing.  Media 24/7 with Trump-Russia collusion.  Meanwhile, FBI Agent Brian Dugan first approaches SSCI Security Director James Wolfe about FISA leak and media contacts.  Agent Dugan forced by USAO Jessie Liu to inform SSCI Chair Burr and SSCI Vice-Chair Warner about ongoing leak investigation.

♦ November 2017 – All prior surveillance and assembled evidence used via Title-1 search warrant authority, in combination with FARA and threats against Mike Flynn Jr, used to coerce a guilty plea by Michael Flynn (Nov 31).   House Intelligence Committee now seeking to review FISA warrant, DOJ and FBI denying access.  Political debate between Chairman Devin Nunes and ranking member Adam Schiff ongoing.

♦ December 2017 – AFTER securing Flynn guilty plea, immediately first reports of Lisa Page and Peter Strzok text messages released.  Within days, Bruce Ohr identified, demoted twice, former Crossfire Hurricane investigation now being scrutinized.  Nellie Ohr’s name surfaces.  Chris Steele and Fusion GPS now being reviewed with increased suspicion.  Testimony to Senate by Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson “accidentally” leaked by SSCI member Dianne Feinstein (keep stories straight, motive).   Nunes memo -vs- Schiff memo battle for media narrative.  Internal details of prior FBI targeting operation begin to surface with evidence showing sketchy behavior.  FBI Agent Brian Dugan confronts SSCI Security Director James Wolfe with evidence against him, Wolfe admits to leaks.  SSCI fire Wolfe.

♦ January 2018 – Apex for Special Counsel.  Brian Dugan assembles file against Wolfe submits for grand jury indictment. Due to file touching on Trump-Russia issues, Wolfe criminal activity file submitted to Special Counsel Weissmann for review.  Nunes memo released and discussed.

♦ February 2018 – Text messages between SSCI Vice-Chair Warner and Chris Steele layer Adam Waldman surface. Andrew Weissmann organizes a press conference for Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein to conduct, announcing indictments of 17 Russians and entities for 2016 election interference; this is timed as Trump departs for summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

♦ March 2018 – Public begins to absorb totality of FBI (mis)conduct in the Trump targeting operation.  The information war is in full swing.  Narrative battles are throughout media.

♦ April 2018 – Leaks of the FISA application against Carter Page now under scrutiny.  A criminal referral from OIG toward FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe for lying to INSD investigators about his media leaks.

♦ June 2018 – The criminal indictment of SSCI Security Director James Wolfe unsealed and made public.

♦ July 2018 – The DOJ informs the FISC that despite issues surfacing about the predicate of the FISA warrant they authorized against Carter Page for being an agent of a foreign power, everything was ok.  A week later, the DOJ then releases to the public the first FISA Title-1 search warrant ever seen, …

…the publicly released version of the FISA application is the exact copy of FISA that was contained in the FBI evidence file against James Wolfe.  The same exact document hand carried from the FISC to the SSCI on March 17, 2017, was the copy released by the DOJ in July 2018 – not the DOJ-NSD copy.  How did that happen?

♦ December 2018 – Despite the DOJ refusing to indict James Wolfe for leaking the Top-Secret Compartmented Intelligence Carter Page FISA application, and after the guilty plea was entered for lying to investigators, and while the Judge was considering Wolfe’s sentencing, in December of 2018, after the midterm election and under penalty of perjury, the USAO in Washington DC swears to the Judge in the case that James Wolfe leaked the FISA application.

Cover up much?