Coming February 6, 2024 . . .
MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE
by Michael Wolraich
Pre-order at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop
Coming February 6, 2024 . . . MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE by Michael Wolraich Pre-order at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop |
By Julia Ainsley & Tom Winter @ NBCNews.com, Aug. 28, 6:26 pm
WASHINGTON — Federal investigators working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller are keenly focused on President Donald Trump's role in crafting a response to a published article about a meeting between Russians and his son Donald Jr., three sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
The sources told NBC News that prosecutors want to know what Trump knew about the meeting and whether he sought to conceal its purpose [....] the White House confirmed that Trump had "weighed in" as the response to the Times report was drafted aboard Air Force One on July 8 as the president returned to the U.S. from the G20 meeting in Germany. The Washington Post reported that Trump had "dictated" the response.
[....] A person familiar with Mueller's strategy said that whether or not Trump made a "knowingly false statement" is now of interest to prosecutors.
"Even if Trump is not charged with a crime as a result of the statement, it could be useful to Mueller's team to show Trump's conduct to a jury that may be considering other charges." [.....]
Comments
Contrast w "I didn't know his name or what it was about..." Forrest Gump answers. "I don't even know any Russians" when they've been courting Russians for 15 years. "I didn't know they were meeting" when the micromanaging patriarch is 1 floor up at a meeting on the same topic. Intentionally deceptive responnse for Jr penned by Donald himself. Looking good.
by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 2:22am
Some related interesting on Congress, who may be shaping up to be pro-Mueller and who is not, in the GOP
Missed this one from last week:
Corker, he was harangued by Trump over the sanctions bill, Trump was arguing it was unconstitutional. Knowing what we now know about the way Trump often tries to "make a deal" that probably back fired badly. Afterwards, Corker is not shy about calling Trump out on Charlottesville and even questioning his competence as well.
On Senator Tillis:
and then this important paragraph
If a "senior GOP aide" said that, that to Politico, that means that a lot more are thinking it.
And this was while they were still having to figure out what to do over his threat of a shutdown, as the rest of the article elaborates. When they wanted to do the budget and move on to taxes. Now that threat is made ineffective by the Houston situation. So maybe more of them will feel they can come out from under cover?
But yesterday we have another article from Politico that shows that a anti-Mueller/ProTrump faction could shape up from the House:
Republican floats measure to kill Mueller probe after 6 months
By AUSTIN WRIGHT Updated 08/28/2017 07:27 PM EDT
they quote Ryan in June at the end and don't note any evidence of change:
by artappraiser on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 3:20am
Oh good, just found an attempt at list! Published Mon. morning at Newsweek. Good to pass around to friends and relatives, especially in the appropriate states and districts for spinal encouragement purposes:
The Republicans Who Stand Between Trump and Impeachment. We Name Names
by artappraiser on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 3:25am
Art... From that Newsweek...
So these are the scumbags from the House and the Senate?
The House:
The Senate:
Sheesh... I wouldn't TRUST most of those losers to walk my dog.
GOOD LUCK!
~OGD~
by oldenGoldenDecoy on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 9:04am
Well to each his own, but I really don't think calling them names will help get Trump out if that is what one might want to happen. Rather, those on the list need to know voters, especially their constituents, would appreciate them even more strongly expressing and even acting on their concerns.
This is a good piece considering some of the strategic thinking that might be involved by all politicos concerned:
Trump looks to 2020 but a more immediate peril looms: Democratic control, and impeachment power, in the House
Analysis by Paul Kane @ WashingtonPost.com, Aug. 26
Among other things, Kane's article contrasts how Bill Clinton managed to evade impeachment by maintaining strong personal relationships with antagonists, which some advisors have suggested Trump do as well, while Trump seems set on an opposite tactic of divide and conquer by attacking any that dare question his supposed wondrous genius.
It follows that support from constituents would help. Even though in a perfect world, we'd hope politicians acted on personal integrity, it's not a perfect world.
Probably should be noted that Clinton had the support of a majority of the public, too, in that a majority did not want to see him go. Though I never did an investigation of votes vs. polls of constituents on that.
One thing the article raised for me: if people care more about having a Dem Congress in 2018 and think that is possible, maybe it is better to accept having to live with Trump until then, not to encourage a show of support now to GOP congresspersons who challenge Trump. That would mean a Hobson's choice of living with Trump as president until the 2018 so that GOP up for election get smeared because they didn't challenge his behavior.
by artappraiser on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 9:25pm
Art... I just now saw this . . .
Here... I'll make it quite clear.
S-C-U-M-B-A-G-S
"To each their own"... my ass...
~OGD~
by oldenGoldenDecoy on Sat, 09/02/2017 - 8:29pm
CNN has that Mueller is going to extraordinary measures to pressure Manafort:
Special counsel subpoenas Manafort's former attorney and spokesman
By Evan Perez, CNN Justice Correspondent, Updated 9:31 PM ET, Tue August 29,
There is this thing called attorney-client privilege. I imagine some major lawyer v. lawyer ego combat. Unless something weird is going on like Laurenza actually wanting them to subpoena her for some reason like saving her from being sued for breaking attorney-client privilege which she would actually like to do.
by artappraiser on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 9:57pm
They can easily subpoena Manafort's lawyer and all Trump-Manafort communications post-investigation with the opportunity to black out any with genuine defense related purposes. It's not like Manafort works for the government still or ever - if Trump's team talked to him or his lawyer recently, how much do you think was rrlated to items that would help his trial and how much would be pressure or enticements related to Trump's survival? I'm guessing 1-99%.
by PeraclesPlease on Wed, 08/30/2017 - 1:08am
Mueller teams up with New York attorney general in Manafort probe
The cooperation is the latest sign that the investigation into Trump's former campaign chairman is intensifying.
By Josh Dawsey @ Politico.com, 08/30/2017 07:26 PM EDT
by artappraiser on Wed, 08/30/2017 - 8:05pm
The piece you read on Kushner yesterday is also germane to things - all those real estate deals are in New York, and Mueller can have Schneiderman pull on those loose threads if Trump tries pardoning at the federal level. Will Jared flip on Trump? does he even like him? does he want to go down like dear old dad?
by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 5:45am
for sure....those little details in the story like carrying around the wallet Dad made him while in prison....
And the whole Javanka and their daddy dearests story could be the stuff of the most florid South American telenovas. I was just thinking how Ivanka seems to be the only other personThe Donald has extended something like unconditional love. So in that position, I am imagining a child would wonder: is it real or is he going to betray me someday like he does everyone ele? And even before The Donald seriously runs for the presidency, hubby and wife having arguments over her attachment due to jealousy, but she accuses et tu Jared? Mega drama continually ensues, Ivana herself makes a guest appearance in a bit part....
p.s. recall you posted a couple of good tweets along Ivanka lines from "FakeMelania".
by artappraiser on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 11:09am
Paul Manafort’s Overseas Political Work Had a Notable Patron: a Russian Oligarch
Efforts by the former Trump campaign chairman to advance interests in Ukraine, Georgia and Montenegro were often connected to Oleg Deripaska
by artappraiser on Wed, 08/30/2017 - 8:19pm
Cohen is GOP Finance head - too funny. Smell the sulphur, follow the money.
by PeraclesPlease on Thu, 08/31/2017 - 11:16am
Exclusive: Mueller Enlists the IRS for His Trump-Russia Investigation
Will the accountants take down key members of Team Trump? Or force the president’s tax returns into the open?
by artappraiser on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 3:08am
Exclusive: Manafort Notes From Russian Meet Refer to Political Contributions
by Ken Dilanian and Carol E. Lee @ NBCNews.com, Sept. 1
by artappraiser on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 3:33am
Trump Attorneys Lay Out Arguments Against Obstruction-of-Justice Probe to Mueller
In meetings and memos, lawyers argue president didn’t obstruct justice by firing former FBI Chief Comey
for those who, like me, don't have a subscription for full access, some pieces that summarize the piece:
Washington Examiner-7 hours ago
Fox News-9 hours ago
CNN-7 hours ago
by artappraiser on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 3:38am
Sure sign it was all getting to him this morning:
by artappraiser on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 11:29am
IRS is back on his ass - and he likely can't shake them this time (he can't pardon undeclared income or illegal deductions).
by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 1:20pm
Alex Shepard points out that the above tweet
contradicts Trump’s own reasoning for firing Comey in the first place. The initial justification for Comey’s firing was contained in a letter from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, which criticized Comey for overstepping his bounds as FBI director and for publicly announcing the reopening of the Clinton investigation days before the election. So Trump is attacking Comey for both exonerating Clinton and going after her.
Of course, Rosenstein’s letter was always a flimsy pretext. Comey was obviously fired for not shutting down the Russia investigation after Trump asked him to. But that flimsy pretext also served as a defense against the allegation that Trump obstructed justice by firing Comey.
by artappraiser on Sat, 09/02/2017 - 1:45am
But Trump's own draft if the memo contradicts it too (WSJ version)
Palmer notes Pence's appearance in the story ties him into coverup and obstruction of justice as well - needed to keep him out of office when/if Trump falls.
by PeraclesPlease on Sat, 09/02/2017 - 2:04am
On Pence, @ Raw Story I just ran across a more detailed summary of Prof. Shugerman's argument from O'Donnell's show, seemed pretty thorough, easier than trying to find and then watch a video.
by artappraiser on Sat, 09/02/2017 - 2:31am
Peracles... Yup Yup Yup . . .
See my latest post over in news.
As Mrs Decoy says, "Just like Agnew under Nixon--get rid of Pence before dumping the jackass..."
~OGD~
by oldenGoldenDecoy on Sat, 09/02/2017 - 8:22pm
Major Mueller breaking at NYTimes:
Mueller Has Draft of Trump Letter on Comey’s Firing
By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT and MAGGIE HABERMAN 1:05 PM ET
The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, has a copy of a letter President Trump wanted to send to James B. Comey explaining the rationale for firing him. The White House counsel blocked the president from sending the letter.
by artappraiser on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 2:18pm
Look at all the major "Mueller developing" over the last 24 hrs on this thread: who's doing all the leaking?
by artappraiser on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 2:21pm