President Donald Trump

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

President Trump heaped praise and insults on the FBI on Friday, sending very mixed signals about a bureau he earlier this month had claimed was “in tatters” and “the worst in history.”

Speaking to reporters before speaking at the FBI’s National Academy, Trump called the bureau “disgraceful.”

“It’s a shame what’s happened with the FBI,’’ the president told reporters. “We’re going to rebuild the FBI, it’ll be bigger and better than ever, but it is very sad when you look at those documents, and how they’ve done that is really, really disgraceful and you have a lot of very angry people that are seeing it.”

But while speaking to more than 200 law enforcement officers who graduated from the FBI’s National Academy, Trump said, “The President of the United States has your back, 100%.”

He added: “I have so many friends that are police officers, so many people in the FBI, these are great, great people. These are really heroes to all of us.”

Trump has been at odds with the FBI over an ongoing investigation into his campaign’s inner circle and Russia. Former FBI Director James Comey said he was fired by the president for refusing to stop an investigation into Trump’s ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn.

When asked Friday whether he would pardon Flynn, who recently pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI, Trump responded, “We’ll see.”

President Trump, via White House

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

President Trump, who boasted that the FBI is “in tatters” and “the worst in history,” will visit the bureau’s National Academy in Quantico, Va., today to speak with what could be a skeptical audience.

Trump will take part in the FBI’s graduation ceremony at a time of strained relations between the president and the bureau’s leadership.

After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running the FBI, its reputation is in Tatters – worst in History! But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2017

The criticism prompted Trump’s FBI Director Christopher Wray to defend the bureau against heightening rhetoric as the special counsel investigation into Russia and the president’s aides continues to heat up.

Trump planned to visit FBI headquarters in May, but it was canceled following his firing of then-Director James come.

Rodney S. Scott, new chief of the agency’s San Diego Sector. Photo via CBP.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A 25-year-veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol has been named the new chief of the agency’s San Diego Sector.

During a ceremony Thursday in Coronado, Rodney S. Scott was announced as the new sector chief.

“I am honored and elated to assume command of the San Diego Sector. My goal is to provide enthusiastic leadership that empowers the men and woman of the sector to excel,” Scott said, according to the Times of San Diego. “I also look forward to building community partnerships and collaborating with area stakeholders for stronger border security and community safety.”

Scott will be responsible for more than 2,400 border agents and support staff and will provide oversight of eight border patrol stations.

Scott previously served as chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector, deputy chief patrol agent in San Diego County, and patrol agent in charge at the Brown Field Station.

Scott launched his Border Patrol career on May 11, 1992.

Robert Mueller, via FBI

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team is requesting information from a data firm used by Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 presidential election.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Mueller’s office has requested all emails from employees who worked with the campaign for data firm Cambridge Analytica. 

The company has complied with the request, which is part of the investigation into possible collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

The House Intelligence Committee interviewed Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix via video call earlier this week.

WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange tweeted that he was contacted by Nix before the November election.

Robert Mueller, via FBI

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A majority of voters polled by a new survey believe Special Counsel Robert Mueller has a “conflict of interest” in the investigation into Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign

The Harvard CAPS-Harris survey found that 54% of polled voters believe that Mueller’s relationship with fired FBI Director James Comey represents a conflict of interest.

Of those who believed there was a conflict of interest, 70% were Republicans, 53% were Independents and 40% were Democrats.

When Mueller retired, he was replaced with Comey. Although the extent of their relationship is unclear, the pair worked together and both threatened to resign over domestic surveillance issues under President George W. Bush.