Family of FBI Official Who Opened Case Into Trump-Russia Collusion Lifelong Donors to Democrats and Left-Leaning Causes, Including ACLU

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Former head of counterintelligence at the FBI Bill Priestep married into a family full of lifelong donors to Democratic politicians, including Hillary Clinton.

Priestap oversaw the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s unauthorized use of a private email server for government communications while she was secretary of state. He is also the person who helped former FBI Director James Comey craft the now-infamous statement recommending no charges be brought against Clinton in the case.

Priestap, we now know, ultimately made the decision to open the investigation into collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Russian government dubbed “Crossfire Hurricane.” He is also the author of handwritten notes discussing the true reason behind the questioning of former Trump National Security Adviser Gen. Micahel Flynn – which possibly was to frame him.

“What is our goal?” one of the notes reads about the FBI interviewing Flynn. “Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?”

“If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ + have them decide,” another note reads.

Priestap’s wife is Sabina Menschel. Menschel is partner and president of one of the most prominent investigative firms in Washington D.C., Nardello & Co.

Menschel’s father Richard Menschel is a former partner at Wall Street banking giant Goldman Sachs. He and his brother Robert are well-known philanthropists. Members of the Menschel family are lifelong donors to Democratic politicians and political action committees.

Through charitable funds the family overseas, the family has also awarded grants to the ACLU and helped to finance projects such as Untouchable, a 2016 documentary about the unintended consequences of the sex offender registry.

Sabina herself donated to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election cycle. That calls into question Priestap’s decision to not recuse himself from both the Clinton and Trump investigations.

Priestap became Assistant Director of Counterintelligence at the FBI in January 2016, the same month Donald Trump would be inaugurated president. The position would make him the “number one” in that division.

There is also reason to believe Priestap traveled to Europe soon after becoming head of counterintelligence at the FBI. Priestap was interviewed by lawmakers on Capitol Hill on June 5, 2018 about the SpyGate controversy.

He was asked by Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan (R) about a trip he took in 2016. The exact date is redacted in the transcript of the questioning, but indications are that it was around April or May 2016.

That time period is pivotal in the SpyGate timeline as April 2016 is when Professor Joseph Mifsud, associated with institutions in both London and Rome, allegedly told then Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos that the Russians had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails. That statement would be the genesis of the Russia investigation and the main impetus for opening for the FBI looking into the matter.

The location of Priestap’s trip is redacted in the transcript but Jordan does ask if Priestap met with Joseph Mifsud during the trip. Priestap says no, but then qualified his answer by saying he met with several individuals whose names he did not remember.

“Sir, if I could qualify the answer by there were some officials from this organization who I don’t recall their name.” Priestap said. “There were a series of briefings they were providing me, so I had a main counterpart, and he would bring in a team for 1 hour and they’d tell me about things. There might be several members of that team. I don’t remember all their names.”

Jordan also asks if Priestap met with Alexander Downer. Downer is an Australian diplomat who allegedly notified the FBI after Papadopoulos told him about his conversations with Mifsud and the dirt the Russians supposedly had. Downer was serving as the Australian ambassador to the UK at the time, making London a possible destination.

The travel to that part of the world at that time is also noteworthy because as Priestap himself acknowledges, he didn’t like to travel. He took only three trips during his 2½-year tenure as Assistant Director of Counterintelligence at the FBI.

The FBI’s handling of the SpyGate controversy is receiving new scrutiny in light of allegations that interference in the U.S. election originated in Rome, Italy. The relationship with Mifsud is also receiving attention as documents in Flynn’s case reveal the FBI may have been aware of Mifsud – and perhaps even working with him – since 2014.

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