Actual Quid Pro Quo Allegation

I saw a story pointing to this over the weekend, but the person had not yet been named. Now, it appears to be a *real* allegation, if you will.

From POLITICO

State Dept. official accused of offering 'quid pro quo' in Clinton email scandal

A top State Department official allegedly “pressured” the FBI to downgrade the classification of one of Hillary Clinton’s emails as part of a “quid pro quo,” according to documents released by the bureau on Monday.

The accusation of such an arrangement came from an interview the FBI conducted with an official in its records management division. Notes from the interview were released as part of the FBI’s public posting of documents related to its now-closed investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server.

In the interview, the unnamed official says that Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary of state for management, tried in late June or early July of last year to get the FBI to change a classified email to unclassified, in exchange for the State Department allowing the FBI to place agents in more countries.

Here's the relevant portion of the notes released today:

“[REDACTED] received a call from [REDACTED] of the International Operations Division (IOD) of the FBI, who ‘pressured’ him to change the classified email to unclassified. [REDACTED] indicated he had been contacted by PATRICK KENNEDY, Undersecretary of State, who had asked his assistance in altering the email’s classification in exchange for a ‘quid pro quo.’”

The notes go on to say, “[REDACTED] advised that, in exchange for marking the email unclassified, STATE would reciprocate by allowing the FBI to place more Agents in countries where they are presently forbidden.”

An unnamed official alleges that Kennedy followed up this request by asking during a private meeting whether the FBI could “see their way to marking the email unclassified?”

From Christian Science Monitor:

FBI's handling of Hillary Clinton emails: Was there a quid pro quo?

Both the State Department and FBI have denied the allegation.

State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said Monday that the allegations are factually inaccurate and that Kennedy's conversations were an attempt to understand the FBI's process for releasing certain information to the public via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

"Classification is an art, not a science, and individuals with classification authority sometimes have different views," Mr. Toner said, as The Hill reported. "There can be applicable FOIA exemptions that are based on both classified and unclassified rules. We have an obligation to ensure determinations as they relate to classification are made appropriately."

New FBI release on Clinton email probe refers to 'Shadow Government'

One revelation in the documents came from an interview with an unidentified person who suggested that Freedom of Information Act requests related to Clinton went through a group sometimes called "the Shadow Government."

"There was a powerful group of very high-ranking STATE officials that some referred to as 'The 7th Floor Group' or 'The Shadow Government.' This group met every Wednesday afternoon to discuss the FOIA process, Congressional records, and everything CLINTON-related to FOIA/Congressional inquiries," the FBI's interview summary said.

That group, according to the summary, argued for a Clinton document release to be conducted all at once "for coordination purposes" instead of on a rolling basis as would normally be the case. But the "Shadow Government" did not get its way, and the agency in charge decided for a rolling release, the FBI summary said.

Hmmm. Still not quite clear on what FBI means by ' Shadow Government'.

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GreyWolf's picture

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Pricknick's picture

Hmmm. Still not quite clear on what FBI means by ' Shadow Government'.

It's what we have. Our current government, in no way is visible in a legal, moral or ethical standpoint. It's all smoke and mirrors.
Hence: Shadow.

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Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

Bisbonian's picture

recently. The gist of it is, that politicians come and go every few years, but there are permanent government employees, particularly in the State Department, that actually set the agenda.

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

GreatLakeSailor's picture

Essay: Anatomy of the Deep State | Blog, Perspectives | BillMoyers com
http://billmoyers.com/2014/02/21/anatomy-of-the-deep-state/

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Compensated Spokes Model for Big Poor.

snoopydawg's picture

The article not only talks about the Deep State, it talks about how Obama can kill Americans without due process, start wars anywhere he wants to without congress's permission, lock up anyone indefinitely without charging them and not allowing them access to a lawyer, spy on Americans without a warrant as well as many other unconstitutional actions.
But of course he can't pass any of his legislation because the mean republicans block his agenda.
And he is quite content with having the republicans block his agenda after DWS ran such a crappy election and losing the house. If he was unhappy with the results then DWS would have been fired. Instead after she left the DNC he congratulated her on doing such a fine job.
The rest of the article is a great read, but here is where Bill talks about the Deep State.

Yes, there is another government concealed behind the one that is visible at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue, a hybrid entity of public and private institutions ruling the country according to consistent patterns in season and out, connected to, but only intermittently controlled by, the visible state whose leaders we choose. My analysis of this phenomenon is not an exposé of a secret, conspiratorial cabal; the state within a state is hiding mostly in plain sight, and its operators mainly act in the light of day. Nor can this other government be accurately termed an “establishment.” All complex societies have an establishment, a social network committed to its own enrichment and perpetuation. In terms of its scope, financial resources and sheer global reach, the American hybrid state, the Deep State, is in a class by itself. That said, it is neither omniscient nor invincible. The institution is not so much sinister (although it has highly sinister aspects) as it is relentlessly well entrenched. Far from being invincible, its failures, such as those in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, are routine enough that it is only the Deep State’s protectiveness towards its higher-ranking personnel that allows them to escape the consequences of their frequent ineptitude. [2]

I don't remember which president warned us about the Deep State, but it might have been Truman. I'll look for it.
image_215.jpeg

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snoopydawg's picture

http://www.truth-out.org/progressivepicks/item/34912-illicit-surveillanc...

Mike Lofgren: I think they should read it because we get a lot of pseudo-information from corporate media that focuses very intently on the horse race between the two parties to the exclusion of more fundamental issues. Meanwhile, regardless of who is elected, government policy regarding issues like economic regulation or national security doesn't change very much. I wasn't totally satisfied that my first book, The Party Is Over: How Republicans Went Crazy, Democrats Became Useless, and the Middle Class Got Shafted, answered the question, "What is it that happened to the US in the last 30 to 40 years such that both parties seem to enact the same policies on big things like militarism, Wall Street, or trade?" While there are considerable differences between the parties on cultural and identity issues, there is very littledifference in the big money issues, which is what a certain class of people who run the country are really interested in and that is what I try to explain.

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Alex Ocana's picture

Both parties are rotten - how could they not be, given the complete infestation of the political system by corporate money on a scale that now requires a presidential candidate to raise upwards of a billion dollars to be competitive in the general election? Both parties are captives to corporate loot. The main reason the Democrats' health care bill will be a budget buster once it fully phases in is the Democrats' rank capitulation to corporate interests - no single-payer system, in order to mollify the insurers; and no negotiation of drug prices, a craven surrender to Big Pharma.

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/3079:goodbye-to-all-that-reflectio...

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From the Light House.

I highly recommend. I'd recommend that one as a nice, concise kind of explanation for just what we have. In one passage he calls it not a conspiracy so much as an evolution - it isn't like there's some room all these people meet and set one agenda, their agenda simply evolved into one that's only about money and power. They own it all, and that book makes an excellent case. If I thought I could get friends to read just that one they'd see what I rant on and on about. And the man was a Republican staffer so not like anyone can accuse him of being some Commie either. But most of my friends aren't the reading fool that I am and really, I can't say I blame them for that sometimes. I read enough to make me very fucking angry and there are times I wish I could stop, but I can no longer just look away.

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Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

snoopydawg's picture

I bet that they wouldn't believe it anyway. We saw how much people can change their way of thinking over at DK. No matter how much proof we provided about who Hillary actually is, they wouldn't believe it. Just kept sticking to their talking points that what we were saying was right wing talking points.
Then ag, they can't get us to believe what they do either.

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MsGrin's picture

That's what I can't figure out...

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'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member

Bisbonian's picture

I have not seen the FBI mentioned in the same way, but it makes sense. But most recently, the State Department seems to be the biggest player. Whether that is because of all the news related to the State Dept these days, or whether they really are the center of the action, I don't know.

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

MsGrin's picture

...but it's the FBI's notes is why I'm wondering if this illustrates some level of self awareness or if it's just intended to represent State (possibly as a derogatory statement).

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'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member

Bisbonian's picture

(and which my partner just shared with me) entirely changes my understanding of this. This talks about the long term State employees calling some of Clinton's people "The Shadow Government"...specifically lawyers from the law firm representing her, who set up their own system of releasing the emails for the FOIA request about Benghazi.

https://oversight.house.gov/release/chaffetz-nunes-statement-new-fbi-fil...

These career public servants, which normally process FOIA requests, considered it odd that a separate system was set up to review the Clinton emails, including bringing on Austin Evers and former IRS employee Kate Duval, both of whom had formerly worked at Williams & Connolly – the very same law firm representing Secretary Clinton.

The two Legislative Affairs attorneys met regularly with a group of senior State Department officials which the career personnel dubbed “the shadow government.” The group included Secretary Kerry’s Chief of Staff, Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy, and others, who met to decide how to respond to Congressional and FOIA requests related to Secretary Clinton.

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

MsGrin's picture

at least about this subject.

But I had not bumped into this. And this is on the weirder side of crap which has to be reviewed to get a handle on what all she and her peeps did, so it's kinda interesting in a freaky way.

Thank you. Wink

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'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member

At least since 1992, when she really did think she was the co-president, deeply resented not being treated as such by the public. The meme was "First Bill, then Hill." The animosity of the women in HillaryLand toward what they called "the white boys" (Billy & his crew) is indescribable.
"as to be reviewed to get a handle on what all she and her peeps did, so it's kinda interesting in a freaky way. "

Feel strongly the most important thing we can do is prevent Her Heinous being POTUS.

It is SO hard to believe, accept, even by those who know it to be true, if they aren't part of the Clinton team. Terrifying.

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Bisbonian's picture

It was obvious even then, that we would be going through this, now. (though I thought it would have been a bit sooner.)

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

was STOLEN, remember ROFL

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Some ad hoc committee of people composed partly of add-ons from Clintons legal team is suddenly given responsibility for these emails outside the normal channels. The career folks dub that committee the "Deep State." It's sarcasm coming from folks pissed by this usurpation of their authority, but it's also sadly too close to the truth to be that funny.

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MsGrin's picture

I seem to have a bit of an autistic streak, and sometimes that manifests in my having a very wry sense of humor and other times I'm just head-scratchingly confused if a statement looks true and not at all funny.
Sarcasm makes sense. Looking at it from that vantage, it's also more than a wee bit passive aggressive.

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'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member

Roy Blakeley's picture

The deep state is real and worthy of concern (and I admire Bill Moyers a great deal), but the shadow government here appears to refer to specific Hillary Clinton cronies whose jobs have been to protect her from FOIA requests related to the mess she made in Libya.

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Wasn't Foster Dulles the SOS under Eisenhower? He and brother Allen, who ran the nascent CIA wreaked global havoc without restraint....working undercover, according to their own agenda. Read the nonfiction account of their part in the "shadow govt." In Talbot's "The Devil's Chessboard."

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Hillbilly Dem's picture

It's almost as if they have one position for the public and another private (i.e. actual) position. Hillary's admission in one of her "secret speeches" merely confirms what we all suspected. And she will be business as usual if she's elected POTUS.

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"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey

Not Henry Kissinger's picture

Limited hangout to show the FBI turned down Kennedy's quid pro quo offer.

The memo does, however, show collusion between State and Clinton in attempting to strong arm the FBI into changing the classification.

State had previous claimed they remained independent of the Clinton's during the investigation. The Podesta wikileaks emails have blown that claim out of the water by showing communication between campaign operatives and State employees on the matter of which emails to release to Congress. (How they chose the emails to give to Congress is a whole other little coverup within a coverup BTW.)

So now the FBI releases it version to place itself in a good light showing the classifying agent with clean hands. But remember it was the FBI OID who pressured the classifier on behalf of Kennedy at State, so not everybody at FBI looks like a boy scout here.

Interesting to note, further down the memo talks about an "all agency meeting" (CIA, DIA, and 'others') chaired by Kennedy at STATE to specifically discuss Clinton email classification status with regard to her FOIA release, Kennedy's purpose being again to muscle the FBI into DEclassifying her emails so she could not be said to have been storing classified information on the home brew server.

The FBI again refused, but after the FBI later confirmed it wouldn't comment on the decision to the press, Clinton went out and gave a press conference saying that no classified info had been sent - a blatant lie which she knew the FBI wouldn't contradict publicly.

Until now.

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The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

MsGrin's picture

That would make a great essay in it's own right...

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'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member

Not Henry Kissinger's picture

Six ways State tried to cover up Clinton's emails

I know the Examiner is a rightwing rag, but they still do a nice job of laying Hillary's collusion with the State Dept.

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The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

snoopydawg's picture

your link provided names of some of the people in it.

'Shadow Government' tried to stop email releases
A group of high-ranking State Department officials, dubbed the "Shadow Government" by witnesses who spoke to the FBI, pushed to release all 30,000 of Clinton's emails at the same time, in Jan. 2016, rather than over the course of several months starting in summer 2015.
The powerful group met every Wednesday afternoon to discuss how to handle FOIA requests for Clinton's emails. Regular attendees included Secretary John Kerry's chief of staff and Kennedy.
"Shadow Government" members argued the release of Clinton's emails should happen all at once to facilitate "coordination." The move would have overwhelmed reporters with thousands of email chains and prevented the controversy from lingering over the course of the proposed rolling releases.

The bots on DK have looked into the email releases and selectively post ones that they don't think are damaging.
I remember when they appreciated the leaks that Assange released when they showed Bush in a bad way, but now that he's going after Hillary, he's a treasonous rapist who needs to face the charges against him even though when he left Sweden those charges had been dropped because there wasn't any evidence that he raped those women.
The US government pressured Sweden's government to bring charges against him. He rightly afraid that if he leaves the embassy he will end up either in the USA or dead.
Many members of congress have stated that he should be killed, including Hillary who thinks it is appropriate to use a drone to take him out.
She is following in Obama's footsteps of killing people without a trial to decide guilt or innocence first.
I wonder how many members at DK agree with her?

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reflectionsv37's picture

Take a stroll over to the dark side and read the comments in the diary about Ecuador cutting off Assange's access to the internet. It's frightening! I wandered over to see if there were any posts about the email releases and that was the closet I could find. Assange is now hated there along with Snowden. They should both be tried for treason. It's a full on hate fest over there. I truly can't believe some of what I read there and by posters who used to seem to have some grasp of reality. They have completely lost their minds. What an incredible cesspool! Hard to believe I actually participated over there for 11 years.

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“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
George W. Bush

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Steven D's picture

now that I used to imagine were impossible.

2016 will go down as a critical year in the history of the United States for good or bad.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Roy Blakeley's picture

but reality reveals my paranoia was wholly inadequate.

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I've thought for decades they're all a member of what I termed the green party - the money party. I remember when Newt went after Clinton on Monica and telling my mother they all work together in some back room somewhere, saying "you be for that, and I'll be against it, and we'll get it done or not done accordingly." My Right Wing mother asked how I could be so cynical and I asked her how she could not. This was long before I started really paying attention, and I don't mean to say I was in any way prescient - I just felt that way after seeing what they do. And now, that's all been confirmed this year, right out in the open too - they don't even hide it anymore.

That is what amazes me about supposed liberals who are acting as bad as the loony Tea Party ever did. I feel like we all suspect it and have suspected it for a long time, and now that its confirmed for us, people can STILL ignore it? Just blows me away.

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Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

kharma's picture

following an old man who regurgitates the NYT in every one of his posts.

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There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams

of American politics down to the level of a sporting event where two teams vie for supremacy. The sole objective of the site is to root for and support the Good Team, while disparaging and hindering the Bad Team. Commentary necessarily tends to be simplistic, since any serious criticism of the Good Team is either discouraged or forbidden. Its Leader must be respected and promoted at all costs.

It is what it is. As a vehicle for maintaining Party solidarity and enthusiasm, a kind of team-building exercise, DKos has been and still is somewhat effective. But as a forum for analysing and discussing fundamental political realities from a broader perspective, it has become next to useless.

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native

kharma's picture

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There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams

featheredsprite's picture

And me , little Miss Mary Sunshine, I'm depressed by it all.

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Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.

MsGrin's picture

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'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member