I would like to believe that Michael Cohen has “seen the light” and regrets everything he did on the “path of darkness” (his words) as Trump’s fixer. Like Dean before him, I think he probably is sincere about starting a new life after getting so mired in seedy politics. But he has to pay the piper, and while he seems … Read More
Breaking: Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty To Lying To Congress And Investigators
Michael Cohen made a surprise appearance in a Manhattan courtroom this morning and pleaded guilty to a new criminal charge. Cohen admitted to making false statements to Congress about his efforts to build a Trump Tower deal in Moscow during the 2016 presidential campaign. That real estate deal has been a focus of the special counsel investigation into whether the Trump … Read More
Breaking: Attorney General Sessions Resigns (at President Trump’s Request)
Interesting. It’s not dated. ….We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018 Matthew Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will be the Acting Attorney General of the United States. … Read More
Breaking: Bomber of 12 Trump Critics In Custody
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities have detained a person in connection with the mail-bomb scare that widened to 12 suspicious packages, a Justice Department official said Friday. Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said authorities planned to announce more information at a press conference. Earlier Friday, authorities said suspicious packages addressed to New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and former National Intelligence … Read More
Got One
From the Department of Justice, just now: Russian National Charged with Interfering in U.S. Political System ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A criminal complaint was unsealed here today charging a Russian national for her alleged role in a Russian conspiracy to interfere in the U.S. political system, including the 2018 midterm election. “The strategic goal of this alleged conspiracy, which continues to … Read More
Breaking: Rosenstein Resigning? Fired?
Hard to tell what is happening. There are conflicting reports: Lost of conflicting reports — now @washingtonpost says he offered to resign, which is consistent w/ @jonathanvswan https://t.co/v6cflnHFnY All good reporters, not sure how much difference it ultimately makes. Like I said, we’ll find out soon enough. (I think.) — Jonathan Cohn (@CitizenCohn) September 24, 2018 Rosenstein… CBS: Expects to … Read More
Lot Of “Smaller” Mass Shootings This Month – Here’s Today’s
Yahoo: Multiple people have been killed at a Maryland Rite Aid distribution center when a female shooter opened fire Thursday. The lone shooter, who has not been identified, is currently in critical condition, but it’s not clear how she was injured, reports said. At least three people are dead and two more wounded during the shooting spree just after 9 a.m. The suspect was armed with a … Read More
Who Is Sam Patton And Why Might This Be A Huge Story?
A guy named Sam Patton was arrested yesterday on the charge of violating FARA, the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Here is his Information Here is the Statement of Offense: Here is “Foreigner A”: Konstantin Kilimnik Here is “Foreigner B”: Serhiy Lyovochkin And now and explanation of its larger relevance: Konstantin Kilimnik set up a lobbying firm in Washington, DC, Incorporation … Read More
Once Again, The GOP-Led NC Legislature Gets Foiled By The Courts In Their Attempt To Gerrymander
Yesterday, a federal district court once again struck down North Carolina’s Republican-drawn congressional map as a partisan gerrymander in violation of the Constitution. This ruling reaffirmed the court’s January decision, which the Supreme Court vacated and told them to reconsider in June under a different legal theory of who has standing to sue. Indeed, while the Supreme Court said each district would have to be challenged individually … Read More
Breaking: Michael Cohen Enters Plea Deal With Prosecutors [UPDATE: Manafort Jury Finds Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts]
pic.twitter.com/O8Myfxnt3W — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 21, 2018 Later today, we should have a better idea of the terms of the deal. The most significant part of his plea deal, expected to be told in court today at 4 pm (SDNY), will be the terms of the campaign finance plea. Do they implicate/leave room for misconduct by the Trump … Read More
Breaking: Trump Revoking Security Clearance Of Former CIA Director John Brennan
The Hill: President Trump on Wednesday revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan. “As the head of the executive branch and the commander and chief, I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation’s classified information, including by controlling access to it,” Trump said in a statement, read by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at Wednesday’s press … Read More
In Other News, The OTHER Trump-Russia Connection
This is getting almost no coverage (update: okay NOW it is), but there is breaking news on another front. The DOJ just announced the arrest of an unregistered Russian agent, Maria Butina. Right now, the only charge is that Ms. Butina was an unregistered foreign agent, but the FBI was investigating her on the belief that she worked at the … Read More
Breaking: More Indictments Today
The Justice Department just announced that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will be be holding a press conference at Main Justice at 11:45 ET to make a “law enforcement announcement.” Rosenstein could be announcing action taken in any manner of case, but the last time we received a notice like this from the Justice Department was on a Friday in … Read More
Breaking: Senate Confirms Benczkowski to Justice Department And He Could Decide Fate Of Russia Investigation
On purely partisan lines (Manchin broke Dem ranks; McCain unable to vote), the Senate has just confirmed a top Justice Department official who could help oversee the Trump-Russia investigation, despite his own troubling connections to Russia and his close ties to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Brian Benczkowski, a former Senate aide to Sessions, will now lead the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, a job … Read More
Breaking: FINALLY, EPA Scott Pruitt Is Out
NY Times: WASHINGTON — President Trump accepted the resignation of Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, he said in a tweet on Thursday. Mr. Pruitt had been hailed as a hero among conservatives for his zealous deregulation, but he could not overcome the stain of numerous ethics questions about his alleged spending abuses, first-class travel and cozy relationships with lobbyists. Mr. Pruitt … Read More