Work and other life things has prevented me from posting for eight days, which is equivalent to eight months in these manic-news-cycling days of the Trump era. What did I not even comment on? Well, the government shutdown over the weekend, and arguments about DACA. Oh, and Stormy Weather. But that was ages ago it seems. Let’s start with this week, … Read More
Investigators Scrutinizing Newly Uncovered Payments By The Russian Embassy
Officials investigating the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election are scrutinizing newly uncovered financial transactions between the Russian government and people or businesses inside the United States. This could reveal good stuff. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, charged with investigating Russian election interference and possible collusion by the Trump campaign, is examining these transactions and others by Russian diplomatic personnel, … Read More
Bannon Subpoenaed By Mueller
Steve Bannon is testifying right now behind closed doors before the House Intelligence Committee, which is also investigating Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election and ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. I don’t think that is big news — it is the House and their credibility is liimited. But this is an interesting development, even if it was expected: … Read More
Breaking: New Trump Scandal Not Even The Worst Of The Week
When you realize the president’s lawyer paying hush money to adult film star before election might not be be one of the 5 worst stories of the week for him https://t.co/5MwBsgNZNA — Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) January 12, 2018 Chait is correct. But it is sex and it is easy to understand, so maybe this one will have legs. Stephanie Clifford … Read More
Trumpism And Racism: Part Two — Breaking News
Holy Shit. Washington Post headline: Uh…. when have you ever seen that word in a headline? Story: President Trump grew frustrated with lawmakers Thursday in the Oval Office when they floated restoring protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal, according to two people briefed on the meeting. “Why are we … Read More
Document Dump: Trump’s Lawyer Files Defamation Suit Re: Steele Dossier
Michael Cohen, Trump’s (not very good) Roy Cohn, has filed two lawsuits in Manhattan relating to the allegations about him in the Steele Dossier. Both lawsuits assert defamation. Cohen seems quite adamant that the allegations of his Russian ties and contacts are false. Perhaps they are. But as the lawsuits go, he probably doesn’t have much of a case. Buzzfeed, … Read More
Cyber Crime Expert Joins Mueller’s Staff
WaPo: Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has added a veteran cyber prosecutor to his team, filling what has long been a gap in expertise and potentially signaling a recent focus on computer crimes. Ryan K. Dickey was assigned to Mueller’s team in early November from the Justice Department’s computer crime and intellectual-property section, said a spokesman for the special … Read More
Trump To Meet Mueller — Maybe
WaPo: Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has raised the likelihood with President Trump’s legal team that his office will seek an interview with the president, triggering a discussion among his attorneys about how to avoid a sit-down encounter or set limits on such a session, according to two people familiar with the talks. Mueller brought up the issue of … Read More
Congress Makes First Criminal Referral To DOJ In Trump-Russia Scandal — And It Is Steele!
This is, uh, bullshit. Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a senior committee member, told the Justice Department they had reason to believe that a former British spy, Christopher Steele, lied to federal authorities about his contacts with reporters regarding information in the dossier, and they urged the … Read More
New York Times With More Info On Trump-Russia Scandal and Comey Firing
Although much of the media is focussed on the allegations in Michael Wolff’s new book Fire and Fury, the New York Times let loose with an important article last night. Michael S. Schmidt’s report in the New York Times contains so many blockbusters that it’s hard to know where to begin. Here are the most critical claims: Special counsel Robert S. Mueller … Read More
Manafort Sues Mueller
This day continues to be bizarre. Manafort is suing the Department of Justice, and names Rosenstein and Mueller as defendants, claiming that Mueller acted outside his authority by indicting him. This is an extremely unusual move. If an indictment can be challenged legally, typically the defendant files a motion to dismiss the indictment as part of the criminal case. It’s … Read More
Bannon Turns On Trump In Russia Scandal… And Other Related News From A New Trump Tell-All
Two big developments in Trump-Russia scandal world: (1) In a New York Times op-ed, the CEOs of Fusion GPS (the opposition research firm that did oppo research on Trump resulting in the Steele dossier) made it clear that the FBI investigation into Trump did NOT come about as a result of the dossier, giving lie to the propaganda pushed by … Read More
Congressional Republicans Are Working To Bury Trump-Russia Investigations
Aside from the saber-rattling with North Korea, and the attempts to delegitimize institutions, perhaps the most troubling trend to come from the Trump Administration so far are the efforts by many Republicans in Congress to prevent a full accounting of Russia’s interference in our election and any possible Trump campaign conspiracy with it. This is particularly true in he House … Read More
Trump Cavalcade of Crazy Continues
It’s the week between Christmas and New Year’s, normally a down time everywhere. A lot of people are on vacation, Congress is out, etc. But Trump seems to have time on his hands. He’s not WORKING… President Trump is at his Florida golf club this morning, marking his 88th day at a Trump golf property and his 114th day at … Read More
Why Trump Won’t Fire Mueller
Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, write this in today’s WaPo: Those investigations [of Manafort and Flynn] would go on even if Mueller leaves. When the Justice Department initiates an investigation, it can’t be closed without following a set of procedures that ensure cases aren’t shut down for improper reasons. If a case is opened, it can’t be “declined” — … Read More