Who Is Sam Patton And Why Might This Be A Huge Story?

Ken AshfordBreaking News, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

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

Will The Shoe Drop Today?

Ken AshfordElection 2018, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Mediate: MSNBC’s Chuck Todd issued a warning to the press on Thursday evening regarding the Russia investigation: Don’t miss work tomorrow.Todd’s MTP Daily panel was discussing Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s probe, and speculating as to when the investigation will wrap up. “Here’s what I’ve learned about Bob Mueller,” Todd said. “Not a single person that has known him, been with him, worked with him, wouldn’t … Read More

Dark Times Ahead?

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

I have predicted — not here, but on Twitter (and NOW here) — that Trump will pardon Manafort before the 2018 elections. Some are saying he might even fire Sessions and/or Mueller.  I don’t know if I believe all THAT. But the conventional wisdom that it would be stupid and self-destructive if he did that, especially before the elections, seems … Read More

Breaking: McGahn Out

Ken AshfordGeneral corruption, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Another Trump insider leaving.  It’s made all the more interesting (to me) by this quote recently in Vanity Fair: Two sources told me that Trump continues to raise the possibility of a pardon for Manafort, his former campaign chairman. Trump has been clashing with White House counsel Don McGahn, who, sources said, is strongly against granting Manafort a pardon. (A lawyer for … Read More

Trump Talking Like A Mob Boss

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

In his new softball interview with Ainsley Earhardt, Trump says that it “almost” ought to be illegal for people to receive deals to testify: This whole thing about flipping, they call it. I know all about flipping, for 30, 40 years I have been watching flippers. Everything is wonderful and then they get 10 years in jail and they flip … Read More

Sarah Is Not Having A Fun Day Either

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Video of abovepic.twitter.com/eYSojIkyMM — Maggie Jordan: (@MaggieJordanACN) August 22, 2018 Sanders had no effective response when asked how Trump can continue to deny knowing about hush money – when, in fact, he is on tape discussing that subject. No credible response seems possible here – the tape speaks for itself — West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) August 22, 2018

Trump’s Horrible Day

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Even the conservative news aggregation site Drudge Report, normally an influential and sympathetic voice toward the president, ran the headline: “Trump hell hour.” NBC News anchor Chuck Todd called it perhaps “the most consequential day of the Trump presidency — yet.”  What does the Cohen plea mean for Trump? Well, the plea agreement with the prosecutors in Manhattan does not require … Read More

Breaking: Michael Cohen Enters Plea Deal With Prosecutors [UPDATE: Manafort Jury Finds Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts]

Ken AshfordBreaking News, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

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

From Here To November: Buckle Up

Ken AshfordElection 2018, L'Affaire Russe, Supreme Court, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Paul Waldman wrote yesterday that the next eleven weeks are going to be decisive for the Trump presidency. He notes first that Michael Cohen appears to either be on the cusp of indictment or cooperation and that could spell all kinds of new headaches for Trump both politically and legally. He’s already been proved right about that…. BREAKING: @MichaelCohen212 has reached a … Read More

Truth Isn’t Truth And The Weekend Of Trumpism

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Orwellian… It’s very hard to comment on this.  What you’re thinking is what everyone is saying. Bizarre, Orwellian, insane. But there was so much more this weekend. Lord knows we could use some more civic education in our country, and so I’m delighted that the President has suggested we study the McCarthy era more closely. But the parallel won’t work … Read More

He’s Unhinged

Ken AshfordClinton Email Faux Scandal, L'Affaire Russe, Race, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Nobody is even trying to calm him down.  Many many tweets about the Mueller probe (Agent Strzok), one misogynist/racist tweet calling Omarosa a “dog”, and ONE having to do with world affairs (a terrorist attack in London). One of these days, he will spell “counsel” right consistently (he got it correct with the Lou Dobbs tweet, but not the Judicial … Read More