Comey Chief Of Staff Who Worked On Clinton Exoneration, Quits FBI One Week After Congressional Testimony | Zero Hedge
Description: One week after testifying to various House committees in conjunction with an ongoing probe into the bureau's conduct while investigating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's mishandling of classified information, CNN reports that former FBI Director James Comey's chief of staff, James Rybicki has quit.

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# Comey Chief Of Staff Who Worked On Clinton Exoneration, Quits FBI One Week After Congressional Testimony

FBI Director Chris Wray will be replacing his chief of staff over the next few weeks - one week after he testified before House committees in their ongoing probes into the bureau's conduct while investigating Hillary Clinton's email case, several sources told CNN on Tuesday.

James Rybicki

James Rybicki - who also served as James Comey's chief of staff, will be replaced by white-collar lawyer, Zachary Harmon, according to the sources.

"Jim Rybicki notified me last month that he will be leaving the FBI to accept an opportunity in the corporate sector," said Director Wray, adding "While this is an exciting move for the whole Rybicki family, Jim will be dearly missed by the FBI family -- and by me personally. His many years of dedication to the Bureau and (Justice Department), his level-headed judgment and earnest professionalism, and his steady good cheer have been an asset to us all and have contributed greatly to the safety and security of our nation."

Congressional investigators questioned Rybicki over how the FBI handled the Clinton email investigation last week, according to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), however the closed-door questions were likely designed to avoid overlapping with special counsel Robert Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation.

Congressional Republicans had sought Rybicki's testimony for months on the hope that he can provide key information supportive of President Trump's decision to fire James Comey, while Democrats have called the GOP investigation an effort to undermine the ongoing Mueller probe.

Last fall, Senate Republicans released a partial transcript of an interview with two FBI officials - one of whom Senators Grassley (R-IA) and Graham (R-SC) believe to be Rybicki. During the interview, investigators were told that Comey decided in early May 2016 to draft his exoneration of Hillary Clinton.

Rybicki, as it turns out, was involved at some level in the crafting of Hillary Clinton's exoneration - which downgraded Hillary Clinton's mishandling of classified information and use of a private server from the legally consequential phrase "grossly negligent" to "extremely careless" - not a legal term of art.

> 15) We do know that both #Rybicki and #Priestap were both involved in the crafting of James Comey's infamous statement that exonerated Hillary Clinton.
> (Note the other recipients #Strzok #McCabe #Baker and others including several names redacted)https://t.co/VoMPJXTNV2 pic.twitter.com/wntnYpA4nA

> — TrumpSoldier (@DaveNYviii) January 5, 2018

And as we noted in December, the edits to former FBI Director James Comey's original draft went far beyond what was previously known, as detailed in a letter from Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chairman Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) to FBI Director Christopher Wray, which revealed specific edits made by senior FBI agents to Comey's draft after Deputy Director Andrew McCabe exchanged drafts of Comey's statement with senior FBI officials, including Peter Strzok, Strzok's direct supervisor, E.W. "Bill" Priestap, Jonathan Moffa, and an unnamed employee from the Office of General Counsel (identified by Newsweek as DOJ Deputy General Counsel Trisha Anderson) - in what would ultimately decriminalize Clinton's conduct, allowing them to recommend against prosecuting then-candidate Hillary Clinton.

FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok and was removed from the Mueller probe after an internal investigation found a trove of anti-Trump text messages between Strzok and his mistress, Lisa Page while they were both investigating Hillary Clinton's email case.

Last year, the Justice Department sought to block Rybicki from appearing before Congress - defying requests from Senate Judiciary heads Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who were willing to keep the testimony to matters outside the scope of Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation.

The DOJ refused, “consistent with the Department’s long-standing policy regarding the confidentiality and sensitivity of information relating to pending matters" - pointing to the "confidentiality and sensitivity of information relating to pending matters," as well as the ongoing Mueller investigation.

Tarmac Meeting

Rybicki was also involved in the aftermath of the infamous June 27, 2016 "tarmac" meeting in Phoenix between Bill Clinton and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch - which happened six days before James Comey's exoneration statement. After the press was tipped off to the clandestine meetup, the FBI engaged in a furious scramble to figure out who leaked word of their sitdown.

Lynch had previously said the meeting was ‘unscheduled’ - described it as an ‘ambush,’ and said that she ‘wouldn’t do it again.’

And in emails obtained by the ACLJ, we learned that Jim Rybicki was involved in the FBI's damage control efforts.

Per the ACLJ:

> On July 1, 2016 – just days before our FOIA request – a DOJ email chain under the subject line, “FBI just called,” indicates that the “FBI . . . is looking for guidance” in responding to media inquiries about news reports that the FBI had prevented the press from taking pictures of the Clinton Lynch meeting. The discussion then went off email to several phone calls (of which we are not able to obtain records). An hour later, Carolyn Pokomy of the Office of the Attorney General stated, “I will let Rybicki know.” Jim Rybicki was the Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to FBI Director Jim Comey. The information that was to be provided to Rybicki is redacted.

And with that, a swamp creature who would have been central to the FBI's "secret society" assembled to undermine Donald Trump appears to have been sent down the drain into corporate employment.

Tags
Politics
Holding Companies - NEC

## Comments

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YUNOSELL Jan 23, 2018 2:41 PM Permalink

Swamp draining?

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I woke up YUNOSELL Jan 23, 2018 2:44 PM Permalink

Quitting doesn't absolve him from prosecution

In reply to Swamp draining? by YUNOSELL

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robertsgt40 I woke up Jan 23, 2018 2:50 PM Permalink

Nobody wants to be the last rat off the ship.

In reply to Quitting doesn't absolve him… by I woke up

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overbet robertsgt40 Jan 23, 2018 2:56 PM Permalink

I can tell from that picture this guy loves to smoke cock. I would wager quite a bit on that read. Its all in the eyes.

In reply to Nobody wants to be the last… by robertsgt40

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eatthebanksters I woke up Jan 23, 2018 2:51 PM Permalink

The rats are jumping ship...

In reply to Quitting doesn't absolve him… by I woke up

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Muddy1 I woke up Jan 23, 2018 2:53 PM Permalink

The rats are jumping ship.

And why would any private sector firm want such a tainted employee?

In reply to Quitting doesn't absolve him… by I woke up

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null I woke up Jan 23, 2018 2:53 PM Permalink

No, but probably takes some balls to show up every day until you are.

In reply to Quitting doesn't absolve him… by I woke up

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The Chief I woke up Jan 23, 2018 2:53 PM Permalink

He will likely be prosecuted...and his "new employer", whomever that is, should know right now that they will have a shitshow on their hands.

In reply to Quitting doesn't absolve him… by I woke up

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Occams_Chainsaw YUNOSELL Jan 23, 2018 2:45 PM Permalink

If you can't drain the swamp make it unlivable for the critters residing within.

In reply to Swamp draining? by YUNOSELL

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Squid Viscous YUNOSELL Jan 23, 2018 2:45 PM Permalink

looks to me like he won't fare too well in Leavenworth

In reply to Swamp draining? by YUNOSELL

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chubbar Squid Viscous Jan 23, 2018 2:54 PM Permalink

He's going to be real popular at shower time.

In reply to looks to me like he won't… by Squid Viscous

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chubbar YUNOSELL Jan 23, 2018 2:54 PM Permalink

Probably needs time to pack his bags for prison.

In reply to Swamp draining? by YUNOSELL

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JustPrintMoreDuh Jan 23, 2018 2:41 PM Permalink

So how will this guy be "suicided"?

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JRobby JustPrintMoreDuh Jan 23, 2018 2:45 PM Permalink

Costa Rica is a relatively low cost "haven"

In reply to So how will this guy be … by JustPrintMoreDuh

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TheBigCluB Jan 23, 2018 2:42 PM Permalink

between the juice and Mormons we are fvked

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BritBob Jan 23, 2018 2:43 PM Permalink

Clinton mishandled a lot of things -

In Buenos Aires in 2010, when she was Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton made the mistake of saying that the United Kingdom and Argentina should talk about the sovereignty of the Malvinas. Now if she was better informed she would not have fallen for that mythical Malvinas' deception.

The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina - Who told you that?

Plain and simple state indoctrination.

Falklands - Argentina's Imaginary Territory (1 pg):- https://www.academia.edu/35715281/Falklands_Argentinas_Imaginary_Territory

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lester1 Jan 23, 2018 2:43 PM Permalink

Why the fuck are corrupt FBI agents McCabe, Strozk, and Bruce Ohr still drawing a government paycheck ???????

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rtalcott lester1 Jan 23, 2018 2:49 PM Permalink

And they will be getting a great retirement/benefits package too.

In reply to Why are corrupt FBI agents… by lester1

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Stan522 lester1 Jan 23, 2018 2:54 PM Permalink

Add Rosenstein..... He recommended Mueller then hired him. He also was there during Clinton uranium deal..... He stinks too..!

In reply to Why are corrupt FBI agents… by lester1

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1777 Jan 23, 2018 2:43 PM Permalink

Well here we go...

Goin' to get muh popcorn!

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nope-1004 Jan 23, 2018 2:43 PM Permalink

Will Comey now take back his tweet about "justice served" when false accusations about Trump were paraded in the corrupt media? The jerk even quoted scripture in the tweet. Blasphemy at its finest.

Comey... you hitched your wagon to the Clinton Crime Syndicate. You have no one to blame but yourself for being greedy.

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shankster nope-1004 Jan 23, 2018 2:45 PM Permalink

Didn't he write book or a pamphlet or something

In reply to Will Comey now take back his… by nope-1004

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Ophiuchus nope-1004 Jan 23, 2018 2:56 PM Permalink

Everything is a lie. EVERYTHING! Divide and conquer is the name of the game. Memes, memes, everywhere memes.

Forgive them father; they know not what they do.

In reply to Will Comey now take back his… by nope-1004

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Joebloinvestor Jan 23, 2018 2:43 PM Permalink

Soros owned company no doubt.

Sure tells a lot about the vetting his future employer did.

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shankster Jan 23, 2018 2:44 PM Permalink

As the swamp gurgles.

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max_is_leering Jan 23, 2018 2:44 PM Permalink

want to see him dressed up in orange... question is when?

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shankster Jan 23, 2018 2:45 PM Permalink

Time to get Judge Roy Bean in DC.

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natronic Jan 23, 2018 2:47 PM Permalink

WRAY worked there and refused to fire McCabe? Sound like WRAY needs to go too!!!

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FoggyWorld natronic Jan 23, 2018 2:55 PM Permalink

Wray isn't firing this guy either. He is being allowed to quit.

In reply to WRAY worked there and… by natronic

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Hillarys Server Jan 23, 2018 2:47 PM Permalink

Rats fleeing the ship?

Go to Disney, you'll get a thousand dollar bonus.

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Catahoula Jan 23, 2018 2:47 PM Permalink

Another FBI cockroach. Thousands more hiding in the walls of the bureau

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1777 Jan 23, 2018 2:49 PM Permalink

What this really was, was a...

FAILED COUP!!!!

Unbelievable...

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Theophilus Carter Jan 23, 2018 2:51 PM Permalink

'Anyone seen my nailgun?' - James R.

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Bill of Rights Jan 23, 2018 2:52 PM Permalink

Future Self inflicted shotgun wound to the back of the head.

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Stan522 Jan 23, 2018 2:52 PM Permalink

Rats are abandoning the ship..... Expect more to follow...!

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TheBigCluB Jan 23, 2018 2:53 PM Permalink

roll out the guillotines

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Moe Howard Jan 23, 2018 2:53 PM Permalink

Hang him first before he leaves. Have the trial later.

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TheBigCluB Jan 23, 2018 2:56 PM Permalink

People came to the place de la Revolution in droves to watch the guillotine do its grisly work, and the machine was honored in countless songs, jokes and poems. Spectators could buy souvenirs, read a program listing the names of the victims, or even grab a quick bite to eat at a nearby restaurant called “Cabaret de la Guillotine.” Some people attended on a daily basis, most famously the “Tricoteuses,” a group of morbid women who supposedly sat beside the scaffold and knitted in between beheadings. The theater even extended to the condemned. Many people offered sarcastic quips or defiant last words before being executed, and others danced their way up the steps of the scaffold.

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