^ that’s crazy

I’m thinking back to early 2017 when I was sure the allegation of Russia collusion was a made up thing like Obama’s gay relationship with a limo driver.

Really staggering to think how fundamentally corrupt trumps team is.

6/7/2018 11:13:30 AM

[Edited on June 7, 2018 at 11:28 AM. Reason : inb4 wikileaks shill accusations]

6/7/2018 11:27:10 AM

well i mean you are a wikileaks shill

6/7/2018 11:44:03 AM

despite flaws, they have done a lot of good for the world. there is a documented, consistent effort to discredit them - all i do is post corrections.

6/7/2018 11:51:45 AM

not a correction, that is just a response



[Edited on June 7, 2018 at 11:57 AM. Reason : the reporting was that it was based on her own claim and quoted "favorite charity" ]

6/7/2018 11:56:21 AM

Yea, consider me unconvinced. A Trumpkin suing someone for defamation is hardly surprising.

Defamation suit threats from Trump and friends:
Trump - buzzfeed, Michael Wolff, Steve Bannon (well it’s really a long ass list)
Bannon - threatened to sue trump right back
Roger Stone - US government
Carter Page - yahoo news
Oleg Deripaska - AP
Melania - Daily Mail
Cambridge Analytica/Robert Mercer - the Guardian

Etc, and this is just a partial list from 2 mns of googling

[Edited on June 7, 2018 at 12:07 PM. Reason : Melania is the only one that has won anything I believe.]

6/7/2018 12:05:00 PM

Im just saying they framed it as her “funneling” money for Cambridge Analytica instead of donating via bitcoin once in 2011. Kinda obvious what they’re doing. I wouldn’t believe a word she says normally, but she is the source for the original claim sooo

6/7/2018 12:19:40 PM

^^don't for get cohen who retracted his lawsuit as soon as he got raided

6/7/2018 6:45:11 PM

Senate Investigators May Have Found a Missing Piece in the Russia Probe
An ex-congressman has alleged ties to the Trump campaign—as well as to powerful figures in Russia and Ukraine. Finding out what he knows is crucial, a top Democrat in the Senate says.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/06/former-gop-congressman-embroiled-in-the-russia-probe/562343/

Quote :

"Curt Weldon, a Republican and former Pennsylvania congressman, lost his re-election campaign more than a decade ago following an FBI probe into his ties to two Russian companies. He has “connections to both Russia and the Trump campaign” that are raising suspicions among senators, a spokeswoman for Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said. Feinstein is the committee’s ranking member, and wants to interview Weldon, the spokeswoman said. The reasons for the committee’s interest in Weldon are murky, but his ties to Russia are significant. Members of Congress believe, for example, that Weldon may lead to answers about why the Trump administration sought to lift sanctions on Russia in the aftermath of the 2016 election despite a public statement by intelligence agencies that the Kremlin tried to help Trump win. Weldon may also have information about the role a Russian oligarch may have played in trying to influence the Trump administration—though Weldon denied this when I asked him about it. Additionally, Weldon appears to have knowledge of a key instance in which a foreign national sought to influence the president through one of his closest advisers—a central theme of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Russia’s election interference."

Feinstein wants to question a former Republican congressman who has connections to Russia and Trump

6/8/2018 9:50:21 AM

Treasury stonewalling on demands for docs on Trump lawyer, Dem senator says
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dem-senator-treasury-stonewalling-demands-docs-trump-lawyer/story?id=55706051

The treasury is not cooperating with the senate finance committee and is not providing the Suspicious Activity Report regarding Cohen and Novartis

6/8/2018 11:36:53 AM

manafort probably isn't getting out on bail this time

6/8/2018 2:49:17 PM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/national-security/special-counsel-mueller-indicts-associate-of-paul-manafort/2018/06/08/507ae696-6b44-11e8-bf8c-f9ed2e672adf_story.html&freshcontent=1?noredirect=on

6/8/2018 3:03:48 PM

^^^ Could the stonewalling be for the same reason some of the other Cohen-related SARs were missing?

6/9/2018 10:48:19 AM

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article212756749.html

Quote :

"Several prominent Russians, some in President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle or high in the Russian Orthodox Church, now have been identified as having contact with National Rifle Association officials during the 2016 U.S. election campaign, according to photographs and an NRA source... ... influential Russians who met with NRA representatives during the campaign include Dmitry Rogozin, who until last month served as a deputy prime minister overseeing Russia’s defense industry, and Sergei Rudov, head of one of Russia’s largest philanthropies, the St. Basil the Great Charitable Foundation. The foundation was launched by an ultra-nationalist ally of Russian President Putin... In a weeks-long exchange of letters with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, NRA General Counsel John Frazer disclosed that the group accepts foreign donations, but that none has been used in elections and that Russian contributions and member dues totaled $2,500 in 2016. In April, Frazer cut off the exchange without divulging any of the group’s so-called 'dark money' donors, who are allowed to contribute anonymously and can further shield their identities behind shell companies. It is unclear whether the group has traced the sources of all of those funds. Of the $30 million the NRA reported spending to support Trump, more than $21 million was spent by its lobbying arm, whose donors are not publicly reported. Two NRA insiders say that overall, the group spent at least $70 million, including resources devoted to field operations and online advertising, which are not required to be publicly reported... During their visit, the NRA group met with Rogozin, who served as the deputy prime minister overseeing Russia’s military industrial complex for seven years and previously was Russia’s ambassador to NATO. Late last month, Putin put him in charge of the Russian space program. Rogozin is a far-right nationalist who has 'extensive ties to the Russian arms industry' that he managed and 'is deeply hostile to the West,' said Mike Carpenter, who was a Russia specialist while a senior Pentagon official in the Obama administration... Rudov's career has kept him on a lower-profile trajectory running a conservative religious charity, the St. Basil’s the Great Charitable Foundation. St. Basil's chairman and founder is Putin ally and Orthodox Church figure Konstantin Malofeev, a Russian billionaire sanctioned in 2014 by the U.S. Treasury Department because of his support for Russian-backed separatists who invaded Crimea early that year... Malofeev's foundation is used to support his various causes, which have included financing mercenaries who forcibly wrested control of eastern Ukraine from the Kiev government..."

6/11/2018 1:25:45 PM

The Brexit campaigns similarities and overlaps have been mentioned before in this thread.

in a call-in show with Nigel Farage, Arron Banks (who largely funded the Brexit campaign) just admitted that russian collusion may have happened at low level
https://twitter.com/carolecadwalla/status/1006240274639618049

6/12/2018 11:31:30 AM

^^Again. We gotta fix our shitty campaign finance laws.

^GUILTTTTTEEEEEEEEE!1!1!1

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-12/mueller-seeks-order-protecting-evidence-in-russia-troll-case

This is what’s gonna be fucked up about the counter-Intelligence aspect of this fiasco. We will see how the judge rules, but we allow a ton of secrecy (too much?) when national security is involved. This shit could remain sealed for years, and I think we are in a position where we need to know NOW. I don’t blame Mueller, his only obligation is to prosecute illegal activities (and possibly participate in FBI counter-Intelligence activities) within the law. It’s congress’s responsibility for oversight and keeping the public informed. I still don’t understand how the GOP has been able to get away with their coverup in Congress.

6/12/2018 7:23:21 PM

https://twitter.com/abc/status/1006906114259156992?s=21

Wooooo boy.

6/13/2018 10:44:23 AM

Time to escalate with Canada.

6/13/2018 10:50:26 AM

Cohen in the news today...

6/13/2018 3:50:50 PM

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/15/politics/michael-cohen-cooperation-federal-investigators/index.html

Quote :

"(CNN)President Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen has indicated to family and friends he is willing to cooperate with federal investigators to alleviate the pressure on himself and his family, according to a source familiar with the matter."

6/15/2018 11:26:10 AM

Manafort, who had nothing to do with the Trump campaign according to the president, will be spending some time in prison starting today.

The only possible way Manaforts strategy makes sense is if he would rather die in jail than have his family in danger (from what? I’m sure you can guess).

[Edited on June 15, 2018 at 11:53 AM. Reason : X]

6/15/2018 11:48:27 AM

Manafort going to jail pending trial, no bail/house arrest this time
https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/15/politics/judge-sends-paul-manafort-to-jail-pending-trial/index.html

[Edited on June 15, 2018 at 12:22 PM. Reason : .]

6/15/2018 12:22:36 PM

LOCK HIM UP

6/15/2018 12:40:05 PM

Quote :

"Manafort, who had nothing to do with the Trump campaign according to the president,"

That statement from Trump killed me.

6/15/2018 1:03:30 PM

How long until Cohen flips and what does he know that could bury Trump?

6/20/2018 10:59:21 PM

Anyone know the due process behind a contempt of Congress charge or impeachment if the GOP goes after Rosenstein tomorrow? Like does he get to defend himself at all?

6/21/2018 3:55:58 PM

Didn't he suggest that he would subpoena the communications of House Intelligence Committee aides as part of his defense if they carried out their charge?

Per this article: https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/12/politics/rod-rosenstein-house-investigation/index.html

Quote :

"... as an American citizen charged with the offense of contempt of Congress, [Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein] would have the right to defend himself, including requesting production of relevant emails and text messages and calling them as witnesses to demonstrate that their allegations are false..."

6/21/2018 5:07:34 PM

Oh yeaaaaaaa!!!


It’s all still kinda wonky though. Essentially the House Cmte would be referring Rosenstein to the DOJ for prosecution. They’d be referring him to himself. So some underling would have to take over and determine if there is a case?

What a god damn convoluted mess.

6/21/2018 6:43:00 PM

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1012295859072126977?s=21

Like all of us, the president wants to put a good thought in his managers head ahead of performance reviews.

6/28/2018 7:37:28 AM

How mother fucking dumb do you have to be to think that "But Putin told me he didn't do it!!!" is a strong argument?

6/28/2018 7:40:29 AM

The President probably “takes his word” because he knows the person whose word he is taking has information on him that would put him and his whole family behind bars. He also knows that he and his associates worked together with that man and his associates to help sway the 2016 American elections.

6/28/2018 7:42:46 AM

Oh, I get why Trump has to say it, but how can anyone in the public read that and nod along (I typically assume his tweets are meant for his base)? Its more than ignorance, It's intentionally suspending disbelief to prop up your worldview. The power of cognitive dissonance continues to boggle my mind.

6/28/2018 7:51:05 AM

Trump's campaign manager who didn't take a salary had a $10MM loan from a Russian oligarch

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-manafort/manafort-had-10-million-loan-from-russian-oligarch-court-filing-idUSKBN1JN2YF

6/28/2018 8:08:42 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnA-W6T60TI

the death of our republic in real-time. Watch Jim Jordan "witch hunt" Rod Rosenstein.

6/28/2018 12:30:12 PM

^^i was surprised I missed that article from last year but it's pretty amazing it relates to Mueller's filings on Monday

6/28/2018 1:13:00 PM

bizarro world:

Quote :

"Tom Arnold ? Verified account @TomArnold Follow Follow @TomArnold More Michael Cohen didn’t say Me & him were teaming up to take down Donald Trump! Michael has enough Trump on his plate. I’m the crazy person who said Me & Michael Cohen were teaming up to take down Trump of course. I meant it. Michael doesn’t get paid by Vice #thehuntforthetrumptapes"

https://twitter.com/TomArnold/status/1010192466480386049

complete with photo of Tom Arnold and Michael Cohen

6/29/2018 11:26:22 AM

Russia investigators likely got access to NRA's tax filings, secret donors

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article214075459.html

Quote :

"Legal experts... say it would be routine for Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators, who are looking at the NRA's funding as part of a broader inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections, to secretly gain access to the NRA's tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service. On the returns, the group was required to identify its so-called 'dark money' donors - companies and wealthy individuals who financed $21 million of the group's publicly disclosed pro-Trump spending, as well as its multi-million-dollar efforts to heighten voter turnout. The NRA's nonprofit status allows it to shield those donors' names from the public, but not the IRS..."

7/2/2018 1:41:29 PM

bttt for the senate intelligence committee affirming the intelligence community's conclusion that russia meddled in our election in favor of donald trump and against clinton

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-report-affirms-intelligence-communitys-conclusion-that-russia-favored-trump-over-clinton/2018/07/03/4f0f03a2-7ef7-11e8-bb6b-c1cb691f1402_story.html?utm_term=.d2a9b1663a55

7/5/2018 11:21:28 AM

https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/ywkmdj/trump-personal-attorney-michael-cohen-changed-twitter-and-linkedin

Quote :

"Eagle-eyed social media watchers spotted on July 4 that Cohen had quietly deleted the words “personal attorney to President Donald J. Trump” from his Twitter bio. His LinkedIn page also now lists his current job as simply “attorney.” The page notes that Cohen’s old gig as Trump's attorney lasted from January 2017 until June 2018. His role as “EVP & Special Counsel to Donald J. Trump” at The Trump Organization, likewise, ended in June 2018. Cohen’s social media makeover follows a blockbuster interview he gave to ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Monday, in which Cohen signaled a willingness to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller and federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. Mueller is probing the Trump campaign’s possible ties to Russia, and New York prosecutors are reportedly investigating Cohen’s personal business affairs, including payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claims she was paid for her silence after having an affair with Trump. "

7/5/2018 1:13:32 PM

https://www.emptywheel.net/2018/07/03/putting-a-face-mine-to-the-risks-posed-by-gop-games-on-mueller-investigation/

Pretty stunning post from someone who was and is a pretty big skeptic of surveillance and who was quite guarded on Russia-Trump team from the start.

It’s basically down to Tracey and Greenwald who still think this Russia thing with Trump is a hoax no collusion.

[Edited on July 6, 2018 at 8:48 AM. Reason : D]

7/6/2018 8:47:56 AM

do they ever explain what they dangerous and false information was?

7/6/2018 9:01:34 AM

http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-putin-confidant-nato-helsinki-summit-2018-7

7/7/2018 5:21:36 PM

Quote :

"It's not us," Putin reportedly told Trump. "It's the subordinates fighting against our friendship.""

We’ve basically got “Twilight” level smut being reported about our whitehouse and a mobbed-up dictator.

Is it me, or is this nightmare getting worse?

7/8/2018 4:37:19 PM

https://twitter.com/rollcall/status/1016431861441220608?s=21

Lol. What is happening?

7/9/2018 6:40:55 PM

To make it more bizarre, check out how this dude portrayed it:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/396146-gop-senator-says-he-got-testy-on-russian-trip-and-called

Quote :

"This is what I said: No. 1, stop screwing with American elections,” Kennedy said. “No. 2, get out of eastern Ukraine and let them self-determine. No. 3, get out of Crimea and let Crimea self-determine. No. 4, stop screwing around in Syria and help us settle the mess. And No. 5, do not allow Iran to get a foothold in southern Syria. Because if you do that, there’s going to be another war.” "

What a tuff guy.

[Edited on July 9, 2018 at 8:02 PM. Reason : Is this even the same meeting?]

7/9/2018 8:01:34 PM

^^Good look on the emptywheel post: https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/09/media/marcy-wheeler-journalist-reveal-source-fbi/index.html

7/9/2018 9:08:41 PM

posting to read later:
Will Trump Be Meeting With His Counterpart — Or His Handler?
A plausible theory of mind-boggling collusion.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/trump-putin-russia-collusion.html

(i've posted about the connections going back to the 80's before ITT)

7/10/2018 1:47:12 PM

That's a great article

7/10/2018 2:06:50 PM

To be clear he says over and over this is worst case and does not profess it to be likely.

I’ve already seen the usual bad faith arguments from both sides of the spectrum calling that article toxic and a fraud.

7/10/2018 3:00:12 PM

The scenario laid out in that article is likely very close to the truth. Most of this stuff is known facts at this point...

7/10/2018 5:58:59 PM