New DOJ Docs on Rosenstein

[WEEKLY UPDATE]

JUDICIAL WATCH SUES FBI FOR SETH RICH RECORDS

[[link removed]]
I know many Americans remain concerned about the murder of DNC
staffer Seth Rich.

We know that the Seth Rich controversy came up in Peter Strzok-Lisa
Page emails
[[link removed]]
we
just uncovered. In a heavily redacted August 10, 2016, email exchange
[[link removed]],
Strzok
sends Page a forwarded message from unidentified agents from the
FBI’s Washington Field Office (WFO) discussing Rich.

A public affairs official whose name was redacted opens the WFO email
chain, writing:

Various news outlets are reporting today that Julian Assange suggested
during a recent overseas interview that DNC Staffer, Seth Rich was a
Wikileaks source, and may have been killed because he leaked the DNC
e-mails to his organization, and that Wikileak’s was offering
$20,000 for information regarding Rich’s death last month. Based on
this news, we anticipate additional press coverage on this matter. I
hear that you are in class today; however, when you have a moment, can
you please give me a call to discuss what involvement the Bureau has
in the investigation.
An unidentified WFO agent responds: “I’m aware of this reporting
from earlier this week but not any specific involvement in any related
case.”

An unidentified WFO agent subsequently writes deputy assistant
director in the bureau’s Counterintelligence Division
Jonathan Moffa and Strzok: “Just FYSA. I squashed this with
[redacted]”.

Strzok then forwards the email chain to Page.

Now, seeking the full truth, we have filed a FOIA lawsuit against the
FBI for all records related to Rich
[[link removed]],
who was the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Voter Expansion Data
Director.

Rich, 27, was murdered on July 10, 2016, according to the Metropolitan
Police Department of the District of Columbia. The DC police reported
[[link removed]]
that Rich was killed at approximately 4:19 a.m. in the 2100 block of
Flagler Place NW, Washington, DC.

No one has been charged in connection with Rich’s death. The DC
police are offering a $25,000 reward
[[link removed]]
for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or
persons responsible.

We filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia after the FBI failed to respond to our July 26, 2019, FOIA
request seeking all records related to Rich and his murder (_Judicial
Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice _
[[link removed].
1:20-cv-00385)).

There is significant public interest in the Seth Rich murder, and the
FBI’s game-playing on document production in this case is
inexcusable.


HOW THE NIH BOUGHT FETAL PARTS FOR ‘HUMANIZED MICE’ TESTING

As a result of a Judicial Watch lawsuit
[[link removed]],
we received 676 pages
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of records from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showing that
the agency paid thousands of dollars to a California-based firm to
purchase organs from aborted human fetuses to create “humanized mice
[[link removed]
for HIV research.

In March 2019 we filed a lawsuit
[[link removed]]
against the Department of Health and Human Services for all contracts
and related documentation between the FDA and Advanced Bioscience
Resources (ABR) for the provision of human fetal tissue to be used in
humanized mice research (_Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department Health and
Human Services
[[link removed]
(No. 1:19-cv-00876)).

The records show that NIH paid at least $18,100 between December 2016
and August 2018 to Advanced Bioscience Resources (ABR) for livers and
thymuses from second trimester aborted fetuses. They include at least
26 such purchases from ABR by Dr. Kim Hasenkrug, senior investigator
[[link removed]]
at the NIH lab
[[link removed]]
in
Hamilton, Montana.

Purchase orders associated with the transactions state: “These
tissues, liver and thymus, are required [by] Ron Messer for ongoing
studies of HIV in the Hasenkrug Lab. Our mice will be ready for
reconstitution soon.”

Beginning with a December 21, 2016, payment to ABR and running through
April 2018, the records show that a fetal liver and thymus set costs
$680, and payment was due upon receipt. On May 23, 2018, the cost
increased to $750.

The records also include “Tissue Acquisition Invoices” and sales
receipts issued by ABR. Payment was made by credit card.

ABR has been the subject of criminal referrals
[[link removed]]
from House and Senate committees investigating whether Planned
Parenthood or any other entity was illegally profiting from the
handling of fetal tissue from aborted babies.

Federal law
[[link removed]]
regulates the purchase and acceptance of human fetal tissue for
research purposes. It is unlawful to knowingly transfer fetal tissue
for profit. According to the records, agency officials concluded in
March 2018 that: “Federal regulations for the protection of human
subjects do not apply to above named activity.”

The records include a November 2009 “Request for Review of Research
[[link removed]]
Activity Involving Human Subjects” with the protocol title “Study
of HIV infection and vaccine protection in mice reconstituted with a
human immune system” that describes the development of a
“cohort” of humanized mice using human fetal tissue:

Recent reports have demonstrated that immunodeficient mice
reconstituted with 17-19 week old human fetal tissue develop a human
immune system and are susceptible to HIV infection and disease. The
goal of this project proposal is to create such humanized mice to
study the role of immune cell subsets and virus-neutralizing
antibodies in vaccine protection. The experiments will entail the
development of a cohort of mice all reconstituted with the same human
cells so as to be histocompatible. This will require transplantation
of the mice with 1 mm3 pieces of fetal thymus as well as
reconstitution with stem cells isolated from cord blood and liver.
Once the humanized mice have been established, some will be vaccinated
to prime distinct subsets of immune cells. Immune cell subsets from
vaccinated mice will be adoptively transferred into naive mice, which
will then be infected with HIV to test the antiviral activity of the
immune cells. The goal of these experiments is to establish correlates
of immunity against HIV.

In an “Overview
[[link removed]
provided by Advanced Bioscience Resources, the firm describes itself
as a “non-profit corporate foundation” which is “devoted to
providing services in connection with the procurement of human organs
and tissues for medical and scientific research.”

In Hasenkrug’s November 2009 “Request for Review of Research
Activity Involving Human Subjects,” he is asked
[[link removed]
“Where are the subjects of this research activity located?”
Hasenkrug answers: “The material for this research is obtained from
natural or induced abortions from females in California.” Another
question is: “Has the research activity that you are proposing in
this form been approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)
elsewhere?” Hasenkrug answers: “No IRB review of the research
activity … has taken place.”

The records include a November 2009 email
[[link removed]]
from the deputy director of the Office of Human Subject Research
(OHSR) in Bethesda, MD, to Hasenkrug at the NIH lab, approving his
research project and instructing him: “Provide documentation that
you will not seek the identity of the subjects who have provided the
samples you will receive as well as documentation from ABR that under
no circumstances will the identity or link to the identifiers of the
subjects be released to you.” The signature block concluding the
email includes the phrase: “The NIH is committed to maintaining the
highest stands for the protection of human subjects.”

The Advanced Bioscience Resources’ “Tissue Acquisition Invoices”
are a catalog of horrors. I’ve detailed them below for you:

On December 21, 2016, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680 for
a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by credit
card on January 10, 2017. The “justification” states: “These
tissues, liver and thymus, are required [by] Ron Messer for ongoing
studies of HIV in Hasenkrug Lab. Our mice will be ready for
reconstitution soon.”

On January 25, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card in February 2017.

On February 8, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on February 15, 2017.

On March 9, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on March 24, 2017.

On March 30, 2017, ABR provided a second trimester thymus and liver to
Hasenkrug’s lab at no charge due to a “delivery delay.” The
parts were needed by March 17, 2017 and NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs
was to have been charged $680
[[link removed]]
but the parts weren’t delivered until April 19, 2017.

On April 20, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card in May 2017.

On May 17, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on May 19, 2017.

On June 28, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were received on May
30, 2017.

On July 5, 2017, a redacted NIH employee placed an order for a second
trimester liver and thymus on behalf of Ron Messer. NIH redacted the
price from the email, citing confidential commercial information.
However, the $680 price is included in the purchase order
[[link removed]].
The tissues were delivered on August 21, 2017.

On August 10, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card in September 2017.

On August 24, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card in September 2017.

On September 21, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card in October 2017.

On October 5, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on October 24, 2017.

On October 26, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card in November 2017.

On December 13, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by credit
card on December 22, 2017.

On January 3, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on January 11, 2018.

On January 25, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on January 30, 2018.

On February 7, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on February 16, 2018.

On March 1, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on March 16, 2018.

April 4, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $680
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on April 18, 2018.

On May 23, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $750
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card in June 2018.

On May 31, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $750
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
card on June 26, 2018.

On June 27, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $750
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by credit
card and delivered on July 10, 2018.

On August 15, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $750
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester thymus and liver, which were paid for by Visa
and delivered on August 23, 2018.

On August 10, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs ordered a second
trimester liver and thymus and paid $750
[[link removed]]
by credit card. They were to be delivered on September 10, 2018.

On September 6, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed $750
[[link removed]]
for a second trimester liver and thymus, which was paid for by Visa on
September 14, 2018.

These records detailing the federal government’s purchases of organs
of aborted fetuses are the most disturbing I’ve ever seen in all my
time at Judicial Watch. Every responsible official in government –
from President Trump to HHS Secretary Azar – should investigate and
stop the trafficking of organs of aborted unborn human beings for
taxpayer-funded Frankenstein-type experimentation.


ROD ROSENSTEIN’S COZY COMMUNICATIONS WITH OBAMA OFFICIALS AND MEDIA

Emails were flying at the DOJ in the days surrounding Rod
Rosenstein’s appointment of Robert Mueller as a special counsel to
go after President Trump.

We have received 382 pages
[[link removed]]
of documents showing former Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein’s
communications with former Obama officials, including Eric Holder, and
information sharing with the media in the days immediately surrounding
the inception of the Mueller investigation.

We obtained these documents in response to a FOIA (Freedom of
Information Act) lawsuit
[[link removed]]
we filed against the U.S. Department of Justice for all records of
communications of Rosenstein between May 8 and May 17, 2017 (_Judicial
Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice _
[[link removed].
1:19-cv-00481)).

Here’s some of what we found.

On May 15, 2017, Public Affairs Specialist Marsha Murphy sends
Rosenstein an email
[[link removed]]
with the subject line “Eric Holder just called for you.” The
message says: “Please call him.”

On May 16, 2017, U.S. Attorney John Huber wrote to
[[link removed]]
Rosenstein: “Rod, We’re proud of you.” Later that year, Huber
was chosen
[[link removed]]
by then-Attorney General Sessions to head up the Clinton Foundation
investigation.

(On May 17, 2017, Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller special counsel
[[link removed]].)

The documents reveal that Rosenstein had communications with
Washington Post reporter Sari Horwitz that included multiple
off-the-record calls, information sharing, and smoothing over
arguments with the DOJ press office.

In an email exchange
[[link removed]]
on May 12, 2017, with the subject line “Off the record” Horwitz
complains to Rosenstein about then-DOJ spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores
yelling at her and the Washington Post’s national security editor
and calling a story of theirs “bullshit.” Rosenstein replies, “I
will talk to Sarah.” Horwitz adds that she is “around all night if
[Rosenstein wants] to talk off the record.”

In an email exchange
[[link removed]]
between May 13-16, 2017, Horwitz requests that they speak off the
record again. Rosenstein replied by sending her a link to a story
about him in _The Baltimore Sun_
[[link removed]].

On May 18, 2017, Horwitz emails
[[link removed]]
Rosenstein with the subject line, “Urgent” to ask him about
President Trump being the focus of an FBI investigation: “The
Washington Post has been told by very good sources that President
Trump is now a focus of the FBI investigation Can I please talk to you
as soon as possible on deep background?”

On May 15, 2017, Rosenstein received an email
[[link removed]]
from Katherine Davis
[[link removed]],
likely the _60
Minutes_ producer. In it, she states: “I hope you’re handling all
of this craziness this week. Am sure you are. Much to discuss. FBI
finalists. And whether you are considering recusing (hoping not but
lmk) Lmk when I can come and visit. Next week? You know where to reach
me in the meantime.”

In the days surrounding the appointment of Robert Mueller as Special
Counsel, Rosenstein received calls from multiple emails of support
from former senior Obama administration officials.

On May 12, 2017, Rosenstein received an email
[[link removed]]
from former Obama Special Counsel Jonathan Su
[[link removed]
Hi Rod: I know there’s a lot going on right now, but I wanted to
send you a note of support. If there’ s anything I can do to be of
help, please let me know. Hope you hang in there.”

On May 13, 2017, he received a similar supportive email
[[link removed]]
from former Obama White House Deputy Associate Counsel Mike Leotta
[[link removed]]
with the subject
line “Thinking of you and your family.” The message says: “I
hope you’re hanging in there, [redacted] despite all the press
attention, attacks, and contradictory claims.”

On May 14, 2017, Rosenstein emailed
[[link removed]]
Judge Brett Kavanaugh for Senior D.C. District Court Judge John D.
Bates’
[[link removed]]
cell
phone number, three days before the appointment of Robert Mueller.

On May 16, 2017, Rosenstein received a supportive email
[[link removed]]
from former Obama Deputy Attorney General, James Cole: “You have the
right approach. I always found that if you concentrated on doing your
job (protecting the constitution) your reputation takes care of
itself.”

On May 16, 2017, the day before Mueller was appointed, scheduling
emails
[[link removed]]
indicate that Rosenstein spoke
[[link removed]]
with both Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and then-Speaker of the House
Paul Ryan (R-WI).

The day after the special counsel appointment, on May 18, 2017, Judge
Bates sent an email
[[link removed]]
to Rosenstein with the subject line “Great move” and the message
“Well done.”
On May 20, 2017, Rosenstein requests a phone call
[[link removed]]
with Obama’s former Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Neal Katyal,
who was also Al Gore’s co-counsel in Bush v. Gore and recently
published the book, _Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump_.

These astonishing emails show that Rod Rosenstein had many
Obama/Clinton and media friends supporting him around the time he
infamously appointed Robert Mueller.

And these records are the latest in Judicial Watch’s ongoing
investigation into the activities of Rosenstein.

In October 2019, we released Rosenstein’s communications
[[link removed]]
from this lawsuit that included a one-line email
[[link removed]]
Mueller stating: “The boss and his staff do not know about our
discussions”, as well as “off the record” emails with major
media outlets around the date of Mueller’s appointment.

In September 2019, through a separate lawsuit, we released records
[[link removed]]
from the Department of Justice showing officials’ efforts in
responding to media inquiries about DOJ/FBI talks allegedly invoking
the 25th Amendment to “remove” President Donald Trump from office
and Rosenstein offering to wear a “wire” to record his
conversations with the president.

Later that month, we uncovered a two-page memo
[[link removed]],
dated May 16, 2017, by then-Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe
detailing how Rosenstein proposed wearing a wire into the Oval Office
“to collect additional evidence on the president’s true
intentions.” McCabe wrote that Rosenstein said he thought it was
possible because “he was not searched when he entered the White
House.”

Rosenstein was better than some at covering his tracks, but his career
has been swallowed in the sinkhole enveloping all those who crafted
the conspiracy to unseat the President.

Until next week …





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