Mistress Broadwell has lawyered up (WaPo)

[grasswire]

Broadwell, a former Harvard University researcher who focused her dissertation on Petraeus’s military career, hired longtime Washington criminal defense attorney Robert F. Muse, the lawyer said Monday.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/petraeus-told-biographer-to-stop-harassing-family-friend-officials-say/2012/11/12/6ccb325c-2d00-11e2-a99d-5c4203af7b7a_story.html

[HooptieWagon]

1. Of course she has....

She's facing a multitude of charges in both civilian and military courts.

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. So, the FBI agent who got in touch with Dave Reichert was from the Tampa office

Was he Ms. Kelley's friend, or simply the agent put in charge of the investigation?

Why would an FBI agent from Tampa pass this information on to Dave Reichert?

More importantly, why would Dave Reichert pass it on to Cantor rather than reporting the leak immediately to the FBI?

I would lawyer up if I was Reichert.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

3. Why would Reichert lawyer up?

I can see Broadwell, as she has most likely exposed classified information.

I'm guessing that Reichert went to Cantor in his role as House majority leader.

[atreides1]

5. Why go to Cantor

The FBI falls under the Executive Branch, not the Legislature...if there was a leak from the FBI Reichert should have reported it to the Department of Justice, which holds authority over the FBI!

Cantor, even as House majority leader had no need to be notified. I think that certain elements within the FBI are still very loyal to Republicans...maybe even its director?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

6. If I were Reichert, I'd leave it to the leadership to deal with the FBI

or he may have gone to Cantor to ask how to handle it. Who knows.

I still don't see why Reichert would need to "lawyer up".

[HooptieWagon]

10. Yes, Riechert went to a Congressional Leader.

Which would seem to be the prudent move. Even if his motive was political, his hands are clean.

[HooptieWagon]

8. Agreed. I don't see where Riechert did anything wrong.

1) Broadwell sends threatening emails.
2) Kelley reports emails to FBI friend.
3) FBI friend traces emails to Broadwell, informs Kelley.
3) Kelley informs Petreaus, who then rells Broadeell to stop. Apparently ends relationship at that time.
4) FBI agent frustrated at slowness of investigation, tells Riechert.
5) Riechert informs Cantor. Apparently Riechert felt a senior Congressman would have more influence with FBI/DOJ.
6) FBI questions Broadwell, takes her computer.
7) FBI questions Petreaus, who then tenders resignation.

So, I don't see where either Congressmen, Riechert or Cantor, have done any wrong. Kelley has apparently done nothing wrong. Petreaus has admitted wrong and resigned. The remaining figures are Broadwell and the Tampa FBI agent. FBI agent possibly revealed information about an on-going investigation (possible crime). Broadwell sent threatening emails accross state lines (federal crime), committed adultry (military crime), and possibly revealed state secrets (military and federal crime). Thats my take.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

13. Awesome synopsis, thank you! n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. "Apparently Riechert felt a senior Congressman would have more influence with FBI/DOJ."

What the fuck?

This is not a question of influence. He received information he wasn't supposed to have about an ongoing investigation. He should have gone directly to FBI, as Cantor quite properly did. Reichert needs to explain why he did not. He has not explained, hence your use of "apparently." You have no idea why he contacted Cantor, and neither does anyone else, since Reichert has refused all comment.

He damn well needs to explain why he took this information to Cantor.

[HooptieWagon]

19. I used "apparently" because we don't know his motive.

It could be he thought he had political dirt to hurt Obama, or he could have simply been trying to get the FBI to move on a stalled investigation. Either case, not much a junior Congressman can do. Either way, he committed no crime. He dumped the mess in Cantor's lap, and kept his hands clean. In retrospect, looks like a smart decision.

[riverwalker]

14. Reichert needs to explain

why did this rogue agent go to HIM specifically. Why Reichert? Why would a Tampa FBI agent go to a Washington congressman? If the rogue agent was frustrated about the case, he had other options and avenues, yet he went to Reichert. Why?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

15. He shouldn't need a lawyer for that...

...and he may not even know why the guy came to him. They may have met before, they may have mutual friends, who knows.

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. Why did he go to Cantor?

Is that proper procedure? Do you know?

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. Reichert should have gone immediately back to FBI

As he knows damn well, since he was in law enforcement for 30 years and ran a major urban law enforcement agency.

In what universe is the correct mode of action to go to the House Majority Leader?

[DURHAM D]

12. I read elsewhere that the agent was a personal friend of Ms. Kelley.

The rogue FBI agent went to Reichert because he thought the FBI had buried the investigation. I have not read anything as to why that agent picked Reichert. Apparently Reichert told Cantor because he could get through directly to FBI Director Mueller. So Cantor called Mueller to find out the status of the investigation. Apparently not much revealed in that conversation except that Mueller knew about it and it was on going and there were no national security issues???

Somewhere along the line the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee (Cong. Rogers) got involved and the Assistant Director of the FBI and another agent gave Rogers a full briefing on November 7th. (Read this in the NY Times)

It seems to me the person in real trouble here should be Mueller as he should have contacted the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency - Director James Clapper the minute this case became something other than an affair and morphed into a national security issue involving the head of the CIA. But Clapper was not told of the investigation until 5:00 pm on the 6th. He met with Obama the evening of the 7th.

The rogue agent that Cantor and his staff called a "whistle blower" was just a disgruntled individual on a mission who has now been removed or something.

[HooptieWagon]

21. Well, the story gets weirder...

It seems the rogue FBI agent was sendi.g nude or semi-nude pictures of himself to the Kelley woman...per a DU thread. I guess he's been suspended.

[dogknob]

4. I hate that phrase, even if she is guilty as sin.

What's she supposed to do, let the Public Defender's office handle it?

[Egalitarian Thug]

7. Television, the drug of the nation. n/t

[edbermac]

9. I wonder if her husband will lawyer up as well.

[HooptieWagon]

11. Divorce Attorney, perhaps.

[LaydeeBug]

20. Listen, everything aside, *she* knew she was boffing that guy. "ALL IN" is a horrible title.nt

[Kali]

22. hubris

[LaydeeBug]

23. LOL

[cynatnite]

24. Everyone involved would be wise to lawyer up. n/t