Judicial Watch Sues FBI for Seth Rich
Records
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 we
just uncovered. In a heavily redacted August 10, 2016, email
exchange, 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,
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
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 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 (No.
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,
we received 676
pages 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” for HIV research.
In March 2019 we filed a lawsuit
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 (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 at the NIH
lab 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 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
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 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”
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: “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
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 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 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 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 but the parts weren’t delivered until April 19, 2017.
On April 20, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed
$680 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 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 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. The tissues were delivered on August 21, 2017.
On August 10, 2017, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed
$680 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 by credit card. They were to be delivered on September 10,
2018.
On September 6, 2018, NIH’s Rocky Mountain Labs was billed
$750 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 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
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 (No. 1:19-cv-00481)).
Here’s some of what we found.
On May 15, 2017, Public Affairs Specialist Marsha Murphy sends Rosenstein
an
email 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 Rosenstein: “Rod, We’re proud of you.” Later that year, Huber
was
chosen by then-Attorney General Sessions to head up the Clinton
Foundation investigation.
(On May 17, 2017, Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller special
counsel.)
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 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 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.
On May 18, 2017, Horwitz emails
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 from Katherine
Davis, 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 from former Obama Special Counsel Jonathan
Su: 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
from former Obama White House Deputy Associate Counsel Mike
Leotta 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
Judge Brett Kavanaugh for Senior D.C. District Court Judge
John D. Bates’ cell phone number, three days before the appointment
of Robert Mueller.
On May 16, 2017, Rosenstein received a supportive email
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 indicate that Rosenstein spoke
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 to Rosenstein with the subject line “Great move” and the
message “Well done.”
On May 20, 2017, Rosenstein requests a phone
call 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
from this lawsuit that included a one-line email
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
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, 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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