Topic: Kevin Clinesmith

Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith has agreed to plead guilty to making a false statement by altering an email used to justify a FISA warrant against Carter Page. This marks the first criminal charge arising from U.S. Attorney John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Russia probe. While CBS provided minimal coverage, the plea is seen as a significant step in uncovering misconduct within the FBI's surveillance of the Trump campaign.

The identity of "Lawyer Number Two" from the Inspector General report is confirmed as Kevin Clinesmith, a Michigan State University alumnus and former FBI attorney. Clinesmith is described as a millennial whose physical appearance is compared to comedian John Oliver. The report links him to significant anti-Trump sentiment and professional misconduct during the Russia investigation.

Internal FBI communications reveal Kevin Clinesmith expressed devastation following Donald Trump's 2016 election victory, fearing the disassembly of progress made during the Obama administration. Clinesmith's messages labeled Trump supporters as "crazies" and "the Tea Party on steroids" while calling Mike Pence "stupid." The hosts attribute this behavior to "brainwashing" and an "arrogance" fostered within the modern American university system.

FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith is accused of altering a CIA email to falsely state that Carter Page was not a source for the agency, which was used to justify continued FISA surveillance. Despite Page's claims that he had reported his Russian contacts to the CIA, the FBI proceeded with wiretaps based on the Steele dossier. The hosts emphasize the danger of a "superiority complex" among federal employees who view the general public with disdain.

Media reports identify FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith as the official who allegedly manipulated an email used to justify surveillance warrants against Carter Page. The New York Times reports that Inspector General Michael Horowitz will criticize the FBI's investigation as "sloppy and unprofessional." The hosts debate whether the final report will be a "dud" due to media spin.