The official Representing the Department of Justice in the Mar-A-Lago affidavit unsealing hearing today was Jay Bratt, Chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the DOJ.
This is a big deal when you consider the Chief’s job description on the Justice.gov website:
“The Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) supervises the investigation and prosecution of cases affecting national security, foreign relations, and the export of military and strategic commodities and technology. The Section has executive responsibility for authorizing the prosecution of cases under criminal statutes relating to espionage, sabotage, neutrality, and atomic energy.It provides legal advice to U.S. Attorney’s Offices and investigative agencies on all matters within its area of responsibility, which includes 88 federal statutes affecting national security. It also coordinates criminal cases involving the application of the Classified Information Procedures Act. In addition, the Section administers and enforces the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 and related disclosure statutes.”
Attorney General Garland ain’t playin’ the junior varsity here, folks, he sent the head of the division.
I’m not a lawyer, but here is what some who are had to say about Bratt’s selection for this job:
Important to note that Jay Bratt, the Chief of the DOJ Counterintelligence & Export Control Section, remains the primary interlocutor on the investigation. Confirms that national security considerations continue to steer the ship. https://t.co/7Y9WKCeXzy
— Brandon Van Grack (@BVanGrack) August 16, 2022
It's likely been at least seven years since Jay Bratt argued in front of a judge. Pretty remarkable. https://t.co/K5OFqAPcWu
— Brandon Van Grack (@BVanGrack) August 18, 2022
Well, these ARE remarkable circumstances.
“In this case, the court has found probable cause there’s a violation of one of the obstruction statutes, and that evidence of obstruction would be found at Mar-a-Lago” said DOJ's Jay Bratt in court today. via @Tierney_Megan @kpolantz
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) August 18, 2022
Keep digging guys, you’ll find more.
Jay Bratt will be able to give weight to the DOJ's argument that the potential violations are serious and the investigation must not be derailed
I am actually relieved to see DOJ seems to understand what needs to happen at this hearing.
MG is doing good work.
— Equal Sign (@OakLeafViews) August 18, 2022
Yep, he sent the heavy hitters.
Also, it's extremely notable that the "top dog" head of DOJ counterintelligence, Jay Bratt, is the one arguing the government's case
Lawyer arguing for media orgs said "alleged probable cause here"
Judge snatched him up quick "Not alleged probable cause,there is probable cause"
— ǤᎥᖇᒪᔕ ꀭꐇꌚ꓅ աǟռռǟ ĦΔV€ ᖴᑌᑎᗪᗩᗰᗴᑎ丅ᗩᒪ ⦑human⦒ ཞıɠɧɬʂ (@CeliaFateEsq) August 18, 2022
Apparently, the judge ain’t playing either.
⚡️DOJ counterintelligence official Jay Bratt is seated inside and expected to argue on behalf of the govt
💡REMINDER In June DoJ top counterintelligence dude Jay Bratt searched MaL w/ other officials, then subpoenaed for copy of surveillance tapes, tape showed boxes were moved🎤 https://t.co/d2kq8yG6CS
— Kailee Evans 🗳Veterans support Democrats (@mana_kai7) August 18, 2022
Whoa, he was there for the initial search too…
The most remarkable thing about this email, which looks authentic, is that someone as senior as Jay Bratt is personally emailing opposing counsel about fairly routine details like this one. That’s unheard of. It conveys the enormous gravity of the case for DOJ. https://t.co/t3nJqFXo0I
— Robert Kelner (@robkelner) August 18, 2022
So, they took his passports to protect his privacy, then he whined about it. No good deed goes unpunished when you deal with Trump.
More media critique: The new Politico story on Trump's taking of classified documents minimizes its seriousness "just a chaotic moving process!" The tone is not consistent with the Espionage Act, the many TS/SCI docs, reports of Trump choosing docs, the presence of Jay Bratt. 1/ https://t.co/WOGGj1Nks3
— capitolhunters (@capitolhunters) August 17, 2022
That Politico article was crap.
Trumpers: "Send your librarians!"
Reality: "Hi, I’m Jay Bratt. Chief at the Counterintelligence Section, National Security Division, US Department of Justice here on behalf of the National Archives."
— John Powers (@ReportingfromNY) August 18, 2022
🤣
Go get him, Jay.
All the magats out there voting former guy picks to go into the general election probably ought to be paying attention. They won’t but they really should. Their deity is looking more and more like a traitor apart and aside from the J6 asininity he instigated and voting into high public office people he endorsed is going to be a real bad look (yes, I know, if they cared who they looked they would have left the cult long ago).
The ‘pubes were pissed off former guy endorsed RWNJ’s who are winning republican primaries and those primary winners have been all against the FBI, DOJ, and anyone pointing out just how massive a criminal this orange idiot is. Come the general election folks are going to have a choice of voting for sane people (i.e. the democrat candidate) or voting in the members of the Kooky Pants Party who support a traitor. If the democrats use this as a weapon freely given to them, they will clean up in places they were not expected to do well in. I would not be surprised to see some solid red seats in deep red states go blue. I’m not predicting this since voters are surprising individuals but some of red seats just became just became toss-ups and toss-up seats became friendly territory for them.
Reckon we’ll see tho’…
I don’t give a rat’s ass how pissed off the Maga crowd gets. They are nazi sympathizers. Bring it on asswipes. Your boys couldn’t get it done 1933-1945, on foreign soil, so go ahead you fucking traitors. Take on the United States law enforcement, the FBI, the DOJ, & the military. If you survive the encounter,(doubtful if you come armed), we will see you crying in court as your nuts get squeezed in a legal vise.
Dear Trumpers,
Trump picked the FBI director that raided his home.
Ok bye.
Well said. Al!