GT Progressive News: Here's a thread on a HUGE implication for the Mueller-Rosenstein investigation that's gone under the radar. This week, the Senate will take up Brian Benczkowski’s suspicious nomination to head the criminal division at the Department of Justice.

Monday, July 9, 2018

Here's a thread on a HUGE implication for the Mueller-Rosenstein investigation that's gone under the radar. This week, the Senate will take up Brian Benczkowski’s suspicious nomination to head the criminal division at the Department of Justice.

Here's a thread on a HUGE implication for the Mueller-Rosenstein investigation that's gone under the radar.

This week, the Senate will take up Brian Benczkowski’s suspicious nomination to head the criminal division at the Department of Justice.
— Zac Petkanas (@Zac_Petkanas) July 9, 2018

Zac Petkanas‏Verified account @Zac_Petkanas 3 hours ago

Benczkowski is not qualified. He’s never served as a prosecutor or tried a case — something the position has required all but once since 1990 given its oversight and management of the litigation strategy for hundreds of federal prosecutors.

2 replies61 retweets119 likes

Zac Petkanas‏Verified account @Zac_Petkanas 3 hours ago

In fact, Benczkowski's only qualification seems to be that he’s suspiciously refusing to recuse himself from the Mueller-Rosenstein investigation despite his deep conflicts.

2 replies58 retweets126 likes

Zac Petkanas‏Verified account @Zac_Petkanas 3 hours ago

Conflict #1: Benczkowski represented a Putin-linked Russian bank — Alfa Bank — under investigation for its secret connections with the Trump Organization during the campaign where he worked to attack the Steele dossier.

2 replies68 retweets136 likes

Zac Petkanas‏Verified account @Zac_Petkanas 3 hours ago

Conflict #2: Benczkowski discussed firing FBI Director James Comey with his former boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, while serving as head of the Trump transition team for DOJ. Comey’s firing is the subject of an ongoing criminal obstruction of justice investigation.

3 replies64 retweets127 likes

Zac Petkanas‏Verified account @Zac_Petkanas 3 hours ago

Given how unqualified he is as well as his connections to Russia and Trump, there is concern that Benczkowski is intended as a White House mole who will leverage the job's visibility into the Mueller investigation to inform Trump of any wiretaps or significant developments.

2 replies57 retweets106 likes

Zac Petkanas‏Verified account @Zac_Petkanas 3 hours ago

Despite these concerns, Benczkowski's nomination was rammed through the Senate Judiciary committee on a party line vote over the vigorous objections of every single Democrat on the committee. You can see the Democrats' letter here:

Senator Dick DurbinVerified account @SenatorDurbin

At a time when we need the DOJ Criminal Division to help uncover, prevent, and deter Russian interference in our democracy, Mr. Benczkowski is simply not the right person to lead that effort. See my letter here.

Show this thread

2 replies67 retweets114 likes

Zac Petkanas‏Verified account @Zac_Petkanas 3 hours ago

Surely we can find someone to head DOJ's criminal division who has tried a case, served as a prosecutor and who doesn’t have conflicts with the Mueller-Rosenstein investigation.

2 replies43 retweets130 likes

Zac Petkanas‏Verified account @Zac_Petkanas 3 hours ago

Bottom line: Benczkowski's nomination should be rejected and special counsel Mueller should be allowed to do his job without interference, especially in light of the progress he's made with 23 indictments, five guilty pleas and one prison sentence in only one year.