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2016-11-16 Home Front: Politix

What may have led to Cong. Mike Rogers removal from Trump team

[WAPO] The ouster of former congressman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) from Donald Trump’s transition team is a worrisome sign of continuing internecine battles in the GOP and the ascendancy of Trump’s personal political allies in shaping the president-elect’s agenda.
Who knew he was on the team anyway ?
Rogers, a widely respected former FBI agent who headed the House Intelligence Committee, had been seen as a figure of stability and continuity in intelligence matters. He was mentioned as a possible next director of the CIA or director of national intelligence. But Rogers was told last weekend by Rick Dearborn, executive director of the transition team, that he was being removed from his role in the national-security group advising Trump. He was replaced by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who took over as the committee’s chairman after Rogers left Congress in 2014 and has been a far more partisan chairman.

Rogers had angered House GOP hard-liners when his committee issued a bipartisan report in 2014 clearing Hillary Clinton of personal wrongdoing in the 2012 Benghazi incident. That report was characteristic of the way Rogers chaired the committee, in a working partnership with then-ranking Democrat, Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.). (Rogers added "additional views" that criticized "senior State Department officials" for dismissing threat warnings, denying requests for extra security in eastern Libya and other errors.)

But this consensual approach clearly didn’t suit Trump’s inner circle. Rogers had been brought into the transition by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), another official with bipartisan credentials, who was ousted himself a week ago and replaced by Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Some GOP insiders see the real power behind Trump as his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and they argue that there has been bad blood between Kushner and Christie for more than a decade. In 2005, when he was U.S. attorney, Christie obtained a guilty plea from Charles Kushner, Jared’s father, on charges of tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign contributions.
Con't.

Posted by Besoeker 2016-11-16 00:29|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 Trey Gowdy smiles, pets dog, sips his G&T.

Posted by Besoeker 2016-11-16 00:37|| 2016-11-16 00:37|| Front Page Top

#2 The national media continues its assault on the Republican Party. Anyone that bought the NYT spin on 'reporting without bias' on Monday needs a slap in the head for being gullible. I just wish one of them would show up outside my door so I could kick them down 24 flights of stairs, then I'd pitch them into Wollaston Harbor where they could suffer from hypothermia.

Posted by Raj 2016-11-16 00:48|| 2016-11-16 00:48|| Front Page Top

#3 This suggests that despite his tentative tone, Trump may well lower the boom on her come January 20th.

Posted by gorb 2016-11-16 01:20|| 2016-11-16 01:20|| Front Page Top

#4 I'd rather they hit the Clintons where it hurts - show fraud (that should be straightforward), revoke 501(c)(3) status to the beginning, where they'll be treated as a C corporation (35% marginal tax rates) and hand them the bill. Bare minimum $100 million due once interest and penalties are tacked on.

Posted by Raj 2016-11-16 01:39|| 2016-11-16 01:39|| Front Page Top

#5 A good start.

Posted by gorb 2016-11-16 01:45|| 2016-11-16 01:45|| Front Page Top

#6 clearing Hillary Clinton of personal wrongdoing in the 2012 Benghazi incident

Since we know she wasn't blameless - in fact, should've resigned because it happened on her watch even if she was ...

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2016-11-16 04:50|| 2016-11-16 04:50|| Front Page Top

#7 Raj, if you need help with 24 flights of stairs give me a call. I can be there in about an hour. Not as young as I used to be but I could kick one down 6 flights at least. 8^)

Posted by AlanC 2016-11-16 07:04|| 2016-11-16 07:04|| Front Page Top

#8 Why should Trump depend on Rogers when he and his wife's questionable actions vis-à-vis Libya will likely be under intense scrutiny in the next Congress.

Posted by Heriberto Greper9897 2016-11-16 07:16|| 2016-11-16 07:16|| Front Page Top

#9 Aegis founder Lt Col Tim Spicer was a gun runner. The firmed has cleaned itself up a bit, but Kristi Rogers wasn't picked to be the U.S. CEO because of her good looks. Placement and access my friends. Placement and access.

Rogers thought he might have a shot at Brennan's job. I suspect Trey Gowdy whispered into Steve Bannon's ear.

Posted by Besoeker 2016-11-16 07:23|| 2016-11-16 07:23|| Front Page Top

#10 Alarming? Hardly. When asked about his departure, Rogers gave the boilerplate "We're going in different directions" response. Chances are that might be the most accurate description. He's always been a bit of a shape shifter and, at times, an active participant in the Smart Power apparatus. It also probably didn't help when he recently fudged his answer when asked about his Intel briefing with Trump regarding Russian hijinks.

Posted by DepotGuy 2016-11-16 09:15|| 2016-11-16 09:15|| Front Page Top

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