As you’ve probably heard by now, one of the top lawyers dealing with the Carter Page warrant, a man named Kevin Clinesmith, is reportedly going to plead guilty to falsifying evidence. While this is hopefully not the only shoe to drop, it’s still a big one. It affirms what many Republicans have been saying for years, namely that the FBI was so desperate to go after the Trump campaign via a retroactive FISA warrant that they were willing to lie to make it happen.

In the wake of the news, Democrats have largely remained silent or tried to deflect. Meanwhile, the media are trying to recast Clinesmith as “low-level,” which would be irrelevant but is also not true. He was absolutely near the top when it came to garnering the warrant. Whether he was directed to do what he did is a question that hopefully the Durham report will answer.

To drive the point home of just how bad the responses to the corruption were prior to this news, Drew Holden (better known on Twitter as keeper of the receipts) has put out a thread showing past Democrat and media reactions. It’s something to behold.

She wasn’t alone in congress though. Here’s everyone’s favorite @RepSwalwell pic.twitter.com/DADbD8vJKM

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

@davidcicilline clearly got the message about The Brave Men And Women Of The FBI. pic.twitter.com/eKFJkAYWDk

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

The upper house got involved too. @SenWarren, come on down! pic.twitter.com/8J96lbEwKA

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

Here’s “Fusion Natasha” getting in on the act.

And it wasn’t just folks in Congress. There was plenty of bad reporting on this whole episode – that thread is still to come – but this one from @TheAtlantic & @NatashaBertrand aged pretty poorly. Shout out to @johnbrennan who continues his consistent losing streak against facts. pic.twitter.com/xOsby68P5D

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

Never Trump is well represented as well.

Speaking of aged poorly, I think @WalshFreedom has some apologies to make here. pic.twitter.com/UTumtaFpUv

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

Let’s not forget the media reactions.

And it wouldn’t be a liberal conspiracy theory unless @JoyAnnReid was onboard. pic.twitter.com/IajfBwTEMs

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

And speaking of the folks involved covering for themselves, I think @SallyQYates should probably come clean.

Also a demerit to @thehill for repeatedly using the line “Sally Yates rips” pic.twitter.com/nY1HFWkscf

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

I can think of at least one person in the FBI who doesn’t have “impeccable integrity and professionalism” @NicolleDWallace. pic.twitter.com/JSIwbjataZ

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

I just don’t know what to say about these ones from @JoeNBC. pic.twitter.com/mBuSUezPVR

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

The great irony here of course is that all of these people did exactly what they accused Trump (wrongly) of doing: making the FBI into a political issue rather than trying to get to the truth.

Something tells me we’re a long way from getting there, but getting closer…

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) August 14, 2020

I might need a cigarette after that one, and I don’t even smoke.

The amount of gaslighting and purposeful obtuseness that has been employed over the last several years is just incredible. (Most of) these people are not dumb. They could see what we all saw, yet for purely political reasons they acted blind to it all. Not only that, they chastised and tried to shame anyone who would dare speak the truth. There’s a bit of poetic justice in seeing their narrative blow up in their faces.

(Please follow me on Twitter!!! @bonchieredstate)