In the wake of the ouster of FBI Director James Comey, several news outlets reported that Comey told both the Justice Department and senior members of Congress just days before he was fired that he needed more resources for the bureau’s investigation into alleged collaboration between the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 election.
However, Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday that he believes the bureau currently has the resources it needs to complete the investigation.
“I believe we have the adequate resources to do it and I know we have resourced that investigation adequately,” he said.
McCabe refused to confirm or deny reports that Comey had sought additional resources for the investigation just before he was sacked, but added that it would be unusual for the FBI to make such a request.
“We do not typically request resources for an individual case,” he said. “As I mentioned, I believe that the Russian investigation is adequately resourced.”
McCabe did emphasize that the Russia probe is a “highly significant investigation,” though, contradicting White House claims that it is “probably one of the smallest things” on the FBI’s “plate.”
The question that I would ask this fellow is:
Is Trump under investigation by the FBI for criminal activities unrelated to Russia; issues involving cases of domestic fraud and malfeasance?
This is a tell. He will not outright obstruct the investigation – he will leave it underfunded at the request of his benefactor Trump.
Well, that’s a real fuckin’ surprise right there.
I’m absolutely SHOCKED he’d say such things…
I’m going to disagree, slightly.
While I wouldn’t stake my life on it, my read is that he’s basically stalling. The neutral wording staves off a Trumpquisition while simultaneously being easily retractable (given the circumstances) without damaging the legitimacy of the investigation.
Possible motivations?
Granted, a lot of these conclusions are informed by my gut-level contrasting of his statements regarding the funds question vs. Comey’s reputation within the FBI. I feel like if he was more ‘Trump-clined,’ he would have been more reticent on that latter issue. Something like, “I’ve great respect for former director Comey, and while I haven’t heard any direct complaints, I can see how someone could come to that conclusion.”
But gosh…Hugh Hewitt tried to tell us the other night that the FBI has 2000 more important investigations than the RUSSIAN one…doncha’ know.