There may be something that she may have overlooked for the hearings next week.
Yep.
A Rain Date.
Currently, the USA is looking at a severe Arctic Front that is due to set a hundred or more records. So, while the country is anticipating the truth about the Trump impeachment to begin next week, she needs to be sure to have a backup plan in case the weather dictates it and travel is difficult for witnesses and US House members alike.
Friday, November 08, 2019
"A recount in Flint, Michigan."
November 7, 2019
By Chandelis Duster
Washington - Incumbent Flint, Michigan, Mayor Karen Weaver, (click here) who led the city as it gained national attention over its devastating water crisis, lost her bid for reelection Tuesday, according to official results from the Genesee County clerk's office.
Michigan Democratic state Rep. Sheldon Neeley defeated Weaver in a close race with 7,082 votes to Weaver's 6,877, according to the county clerk's office.
Weaver who became the city's first female mayor in 2015, has not conceded, telling The Flint Journal on Tuesday she "would not rule out a recount."
"I think that I fought a good fight and we will see," she told the Journal. "If he is the winner I will congratulate him. I still want to say to the residents I appreciate all of the support they've shown me."...
By Chandelis Duster
Washington - Incumbent Flint, Michigan, Mayor Karen Weaver, (click here) who led the city as it gained national attention over its devastating water crisis, lost her bid for reelection Tuesday, according to official results from the Genesee County clerk's office.
Michigan Democratic state Rep. Sheldon Neeley defeated Weaver in a close race with 7,082 votes to Weaver's 6,877, according to the county clerk's office.
Weaver who became the city's first female mayor in 2015, has not conceded, telling The Flint Journal on Tuesday she "would not rule out a recount."
"I think that I fought a good fight and we will see," she told the Journal. "If he is the winner I will congratulate him. I still want to say to the residents I appreciate all of the support they've shown me."...
20th Anniversary of "Hardball" with Chris Matthews delivering the strikes.
Thursday, November 07, 2019
No briefing or advice was going to make any difference in Trump's agenda.
He was not listening with the president's ears. He was not thinking with a president's mind. He was listening for any advantage he could take over a foreign country, not the national security of the USA or allies. He was thinking about how the president's power could serve his own purpose without any regard of the costs it would have to the country. Our country. The USA. Or it's allies.
THIS WAS A COLLECTIVE LAUGH. THIS WAS A COMMON EXPERIENCE. WHY?
What did he want from everyone they weren't going to provide?
THIS WAS A COLLECTIVE LAUGH. THIS WAS A COMMON EXPERIENCE. WHY?
What did he want from everyone they weren't going to provide?
I haven't read the book, but, some of this sounds familiar.
Rachel Maddow is reading some of the book. As far as I am concerned, there was warnings about Trump long before his inaugural. The people providing regular briefings to the presidential candidates complained Trump did not attend the briefings and was not interested in them at all.
December 11, 2016
By Louis Nelson
President-elect Donald Trump said he does not need to receive the presidential intelligence briefing every day, suggesting in an interview aired Sunday that such briefings are repetitive and he is happy to rely on those around him on matters of intelligence and national security.
Trump has been given the daily intelligence briefing just a handful of times since winning the White House last month, alarming some in the national security community. But those briefings do not always change day to day, Trump told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace in an interview taped over the weekend. And when he does receive the briefing, Trump said he always instructs those offering him the information to contact him should new developments emerge....
Americans were caught up in the complaints they had about their own lives. People that elected Trump were tired of the Clinton email uncertainty that raised concerns about her worthiness. There were also people in grievance of what they believed and some still believe today is a government that does not solve their problems, but, causes them.
I met them. I looked them in the eye and listened to their ideas of how the government had to be ended because it was the problem. They were not interested in understanding the facts so much as ACTING to remove their pain. Trump was their molotov cocktail. So, one can look at this disaster of a president as the real wishes of those that elected him or they can look at a man that is and has been incompetent all his life, except, for what he wants, needs or desires.
November 7, 2019
By Phillip Rucker
Senior Trump administration officials (click here) considered resigning en masse last year in a “midnight self-massacre” to sound a public alarm about President Trump’s conduct, but rejected the idea because they believed it would further destabilize an already teetering government, according to a new book by an unnamed author.
In “A Warning” by Anonymous, obtained by The Washington Post ahead of its release, a writer described only as “a senior official in the Trump administration” paints a chilling portrait of the president as cruel, inept and a danger to the nation he was elected to lead....
I think the Republicans need to pay attention to the findings of the US House and protect their country from a dangerous president that is only going to get worse. The Trump Administration will not get better. How can it, it isn't even staffed.
Anyone ask Stephen Miller if he actually has a conscience? He must feel so overwhelmed by the mass dysfunction of this president he could be really scared.
December 11, 2016
By Louis Nelson
President-elect Donald Trump said he does not need to receive the presidential intelligence briefing every day, suggesting in an interview aired Sunday that such briefings are repetitive and he is happy to rely on those around him on matters of intelligence and national security.
Trump has been given the daily intelligence briefing just a handful of times since winning the White House last month, alarming some in the national security community. But those briefings do not always change day to day, Trump told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace in an interview taped over the weekend. And when he does receive the briefing, Trump said he always instructs those offering him the information to contact him should new developments emerge....
Americans were caught up in the complaints they had about their own lives. People that elected Trump were tired of the Clinton email uncertainty that raised concerns about her worthiness. There were also people in grievance of what they believed and some still believe today is a government that does not solve their problems, but, causes them.
I met them. I looked them in the eye and listened to their ideas of how the government had to be ended because it was the problem. They were not interested in understanding the facts so much as ACTING to remove their pain. Trump was their molotov cocktail. So, one can look at this disaster of a president as the real wishes of those that elected him or they can look at a man that is and has been incompetent all his life, except, for what he wants, needs or desires.
November 7, 2019
By Phillip Rucker
Senior Trump administration officials (click here) considered resigning en masse last year in a “midnight self-massacre” to sound a public alarm about President Trump’s conduct, but rejected the idea because they believed it would further destabilize an already teetering government, according to a new book by an unnamed author.
In “A Warning” by Anonymous, obtained by The Washington Post ahead of its release, a writer described only as “a senior official in the Trump administration” paints a chilling portrait of the president as cruel, inept and a danger to the nation he was elected to lead....
I think the Republicans need to pay attention to the findings of the US House and protect their country from a dangerous president that is only going to get worse. The Trump Administration will not get better. How can it, it isn't even staffed.
Anyone ask Stephen Miller if he actually has a conscience? He must feel so overwhelmed by the mass dysfunction of this president he could be really scared.
Democratic candidates need to pay attention. The electorate is finding it difficult to feel confident about choices before them.
The American electorate needs to start feeling confident about their choice in the upcoming primaries. The candidate that can instill the strongest sense of confidence will come out a winner. The women candidates need to put their best on the table, they have that extra PROOF to succeed. The women candidates will be the first of their gender to succeed to the presidency, they have to overcome all the undeserved bias and bring confidence to the electorate.
Good luck.
November 7, 2019
By Savvanah Behrman
It’s a year away, (click here) but the 2020 presidential election is considered to be a “significant source of stress” in a majority of Americans, according to a new poll.
According to the annual “Stress in America” survey from the American Psychological Association, 56% of U.S. adults identified 2020 as a “significant" stressor.
That is an increase from the contentious 2016 matchup, when respondents were asked the same question just three months before the election, and 52% of adults reported that the presidential election was incredibly stressful....
Good luck.
November 7, 2019
By Savvanah Behrman
It’s a year away, (click here) but the 2020 presidential election is considered to be a “significant source of stress” in a majority of Americans, according to a new poll.
According to the annual “Stress in America” survey from the American Psychological Association, 56% of U.S. adults identified 2020 as a “significant" stressor.
That is an increase from the contentious 2016 matchup, when respondents were asked the same question just three months before the election, and 52% of adults reported that the presidential election was incredibly stressful....
Welcome former Mayor Bloomberg. I was wondering if he was going to seek a run for the presidency.
He will be a direct challenge to Tom Steyer. These two men are rather interesting folks. They have been staunch supporters of the Democratic Party in recent years. Although I believe, if memory serves me, the former Mayor was elected as a Republican candidate to his mayoral office.
I needed to check.
He was a Democrat before his run for the mayoral office in New York City where he won as a Republican. The GOP is very different today and it is no surprise the former Mayor Bloomberg considers himself a Democrat again. He is not alone.
Mayor Bloomberg will be looked at by Democrats as an activist as well. He has been fighting the good fight, no different than Tom Steyer. Gun Control and recently the Climate Crisis with dedicated monies for MIT to help solve this urgent problem. The difference between the two Democratic activists turned candidate is that Tom Steyer hasn't served in government before and that may be a handicap with the former Mayor looking at his potential.
At any rate, if Michael Bloomberg decides to run for office I hope it is within the Democratic Party and not as an Independent. I wish him well, this has been his aspiration for some time now.
November 7, 2019
By Mike Calia and Brian Schwartz
Mike Bloomberg, (click here) the billionaire former mayor of New York, is preparing to enter the Democratic presidential primary, according to NBC News, which cited a Bloomberg advisor.
The move didn’t necessarily mean Bloomberg, 77, was announcing a campaign, a source close to Bloomberg told NBC News. Rather, this source said, he’s doing this to keep his options open. Bloomberg is “troubled” by what he has seen in the Democratic field, the source added.
“He’s still not sure,” a source told CNBC. This source also said these are “unprecedented times” and that Bloomberg is concerned about what he’s seeing both from Democrats and President Donald Trump....
I needed to check.
He was a Democrat before his run for the mayoral office in New York City where he won as a Republican. The GOP is very different today and it is no surprise the former Mayor Bloomberg considers himself a Democrat again. He is not alone.
Mayor Bloomberg will be looked at by Democrats as an activist as well. He has been fighting the good fight, no different than Tom Steyer. Gun Control and recently the Climate Crisis with dedicated monies for MIT to help solve this urgent problem. The difference between the two Democratic activists turned candidate is that Tom Steyer hasn't served in government before and that may be a handicap with the former Mayor looking at his potential.
At any rate, if Michael Bloomberg decides to run for office I hope it is within the Democratic Party and not as an Independent. I wish him well, this has been his aspiration for some time now.
November 7, 2019
By Mike Calia and Brian Schwartz
Mike Bloomberg, (click here) the billionaire former mayor of New York, is preparing to enter the Democratic presidential primary, according to NBC News, which cited a Bloomberg advisor.
The move didn’t necessarily mean Bloomberg, 77, was announcing a campaign, a source close to Bloomberg told NBC News. Rather, this source said, he’s doing this to keep his options open. Bloomberg is “troubled” by what he has seen in the Democratic field, the source added.
“He’s still not sure,” a source told CNBC. This source also said these are “unprecedented times” and that Bloomberg is concerned about what he’s seeing both from Democrats and President Donald Trump....
The Russian music crowd sourcing video made in Moscow is a real statement about the profound freedoms Russians experience everyday.
Moscow’s city court (click here) has ruled to disband an indigenous people’s rights group almost 20 years after its founding, the latest in a series of NGO shutdowns that critics see as retaliation for their activities.
Russian authorities blacklisted the Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North/Russian.
Indigenous Training Center (CSIPN/RITC) as a “foreign agent” in 2015. Founded in 2001 to provide wide-ranging assistance to the peoples of the Russian North, Siberia and the Far East, the NGO renounced its foreign funding and was taken off the “foreign agent” list last year....
Russia has imprisoned a Jehovah’s Witness from Siberia (click here) to six years in prison on charges of “extremism,” the independent Tayga.info news website reported Tuesday.
Sergei Klimov was detained in the city of Tomsk in June 2018 on suspicion of being an “de facto leader” of a local branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Russia outlawed the Jehovah's Witnesses in 2017, making it a criminal offense for the group’s estimated 175,000 worshippers living in the country to meet or distribute literature....
YouTube needs to ban anything Russia and give them a taste of their own medicine.
Wednesday, November 06, 2019
Well, looky thar. There are rules for the deposition of witnesses.
...The deposition will proceed as follows: (click here) The majority
wil1 be given l hour to ask questions, and then the minority be given l hour to ask questions. Thereafter, we will
alternate back and forth between majority and minority in
45-minute rounds until questioning is complete.
We will take periodic breaks, but if you need a break at any time, please do let us know.
Under the House deposition ru1es, counsel for other persons or government agencies may not attend. You are allowed to have an attorney present of your own during this deposition, and I see that you have brought two. Would counsel please now state their appearance for the record?...
It wasn't a free for all like the Republicans said. They even cited law.
Executive 0rder 13526 (click here)
Specifically, I think the Chairman spoke about declassification.
December 29, 2009
Sec. 3.1. Authority for Declassification. (a) Information shall be declassified as soon as it no longer meets the standards for classification under this order.
(b) Information shall be declassified or downgraded by:...
Other than his name and it's spelling, Ambassador Taylor doesn't begin his deposition until page 17.
As this deposition is under oath, Ambassador Taylor, would you please stand and raise your right hand to be sworn. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give js the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
AMBASSADOR TAYLOR: I do.
MR. G0LDMAN: Thank you....
All the depositions conducted by the US House Select Committee on Intelligence is best found here (click here). I found other links inconvenient.
This is Ambassador Bill Taylor's deposition (click here). Page 17 begins his testimony.
We will take periodic breaks, but if you need a break at any time, please do let us know.
Under the House deposition ru1es, counsel for other persons or government agencies may not attend. You are allowed to have an attorney present of your own during this deposition, and I see that you have brought two. Would counsel please now state their appearance for the record?...
It wasn't a free for all like the Republicans said. They even cited law.
Executive 0rder 13526 (click here)
Specifically, I think the Chairman spoke about declassification.
December 29, 2009
Sec. 3.1. Authority for Declassification. (a) Information shall be declassified as soon as it no longer meets the standards for classification under this order.
(b) Information shall be declassified or downgraded by:...
Other than his name and it's spelling, Ambassador Taylor doesn't begin his deposition until page 17.
As this deposition is under oath, Ambassador Taylor, would you please stand and raise your right hand to be sworn. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give js the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
AMBASSADOR TAYLOR: I do.
MR. G0LDMAN: Thank you....
All the depositions conducted by the US House Select Committee on Intelligence is best found here (click here). I found other links inconvenient.
This is Ambassador Bill Taylor's deposition (click here). Page 17 begins his testimony.
Inflammatory accusation by the most Un-American of all citizens, Jr.
...On Wednesday, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., revealed the name of the alleged whistleblower in a tweet.
Trump Jr. presented no evidence that the person identified is the whistleblower, though the name has been circulating in right-wing media and on Twitter for several days.
The tweet links to a Breitbart News article that claims the:
- whistleblower worked in the Obama administration and
Of course, it has to be an Obama problem. That is solid rhetoric.
- interfaced” with officials who “played key roles” in facilitating the infamous Trump dossier produced by former British spy Christopher Steele, citing as evidence that
Of course, it is linked to Christopher Steele and the dossier. No surprise there, which immediately indicates Jr. is lying to help out his dear old dad.
- individual’s name appears in email chains related to Ukraine policy....
BUT, how did Jr. get his hands on email chains regarding Ukraine? I don't believe a word of this, but, emails from Ukraine? That sounds plenty illegal to me.
Before everyone believes it is best to throw the baby out with the bath water, this is more a district by district issue.
She is only interested in allowing dollar for dollar TAX CREDITS for the wealthy.
This is a sample of the Louisiana school scores (click here).
This is a district by district issue and I guarantee it depends on wealth distribution, segregation and economic depression.
If a community has wealthy citizens and DeVos institutes her tax credit, the schools will be able to carry out more intense improvements, but, for depressed districts in a state like Louisiana, the changes will never come with DeVos's proposal. There is a huge wealth gap and it is effecting the education of American children. That needs to be addressed and federal programs that distribute monies to poor districts with targeted improvements KNOWN to improve student performance for that district is the way to improve quality of life for all Americans. The sooner wealth is not sequestered in pockets of opportunity in the USA, the sooner poverty will resolve and opportunity will replace it.
The Voice of the Deal Maker with self - serving priorities as part of international relationships.
Sorry, but, if Trump can't come to terms with his own "British Trump" there is something really wrong.
Is Facebook propaganda coming under control? Did it effect the elections last night?
Breaking the law is Un-American. Just that simple. Whistleblowing is an act of courage and should not ever be compromised.
November 5, 2019
By Burgess Everett and Marianne Levin
Standing beside President Donald Trump (click here) on Monday night, Sen. Rand Paul called for the media to unmask the Ukraine whistleblower and was cheered by rallygoers in Kentucky.
“Do your job and print his name!” Paul said as the president clapped and looked on approvingly.
On Tuesday, the Kentucky Republican went a step further, threatening to reveal the name himself.
But many of Paul’s colleagues oppose the idea of exposing the identity of the person who helped launch the impeachment drive by detailing Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president.
Senior Senate Republicans are worried about the precedent it would set, fearing government sources would be less likely to reveal wrongdoing in future presidencies.
They also have a simpler concern: not breaking the law.
“We should follow the law. And I believe the law protects whistleblowers,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn....
Breaking the law is Un-American. Just that simple. Whistleblowing is an act of courage and should not ever be compromised.
November 5, 2019
By Burgess Everett and Marianne Levin
Standing beside President Donald Trump (click here) on Monday night, Sen. Rand Paul called for the media to unmask the Ukraine whistleblower and was cheered by rallygoers in Kentucky.
“Do your job and print his name!” Paul said as the president clapped and looked on approvingly.
On Tuesday, the Kentucky Republican went a step further, threatening to reveal the name himself.
But many of Paul’s colleagues oppose the idea of exposing the identity of the person who helped launch the impeachment drive by detailing Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president.
Senior Senate Republicans are worried about the precedent it would set, fearing government sources would be less likely to reveal wrongdoing in future presidencies.
They also have a simpler concern: not breaking the law.
“We should follow the law. And I believe the law protects whistleblowers,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn....
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
At least one state level commutation has happened. We need to hear the same good news from all the states.
November 5, 2019
By Sean Murphy
Oklahoma City -- More than 450 inmates (click here) walked out the doors of prisons across Oklahoma on Monday as part of what state officials say is the largest single-day mass commutation in U.S. history.
By Sean Murphy
Oklahoma City -- More than 450 inmates (click here) walked out the doors of prisons across Oklahoma on Monday as part of what state officials say is the largest single-day mass commutation in U.S. history.
The release of inmates, all with convictions for low-level drug and property crimes, resulted from a bill signed by new Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. The bill retroactively applied misdemeanor sentences for simple drug possession and low-level property crimes that state voters approved in 2016.
Stitt has made reducing Oklahoma's highest-in-the-nation incarceration rate one of his top priorities and has appointed reform-minded members to the state's Pardon and Parole Board....
I can't believe this isn't front page in every newspaper in the country today. Giuliani was taking bribes.
Trump and/or his campaign could have as well. These men had remarkable access to the president at what seems all the time. I am fairly confident Dowd represents the men because Trump asked him to do so. I am curious as to when he started the case in relation to his resignation from being Trump's personal attorney.
This is far more than campaign violations, they were working for Russia. They are immigrants and have made it through the citizenship process. They, Guiliani and Trump, possibly his family and campaign are in a whole lot of trouble, the way I see it. These are bribes paid directly to Guiliani and possibly many others. The need for understanding the Special Counsel's report is never more important. I can't believe Robert Mueller missed this one.
This is all due to the whistleblower's report. The US House can't ignore this as part of the impeachment proceedings.
November 5, 2019
By Elliot Hannon
One of the Ukrainian-American associates (click here) of Rudy Giuliani who is believed to have played a key role in brokering the deal to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his son is now cooperating with the congressional impeachment inquiry. Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-born American citizen who was arrested last month on campaign finance charges for allegedly funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars from foreign donors into Trump’s political action committee, had initially hired former Trump lawyer John Dowd and refused to cooperate with congressional investigators. Dowd previously represented Trump during a portion of the Mueller investigation.
Parnas, however, has since changed lawyers and has indicated he will cooperate by complying with subpoenas for his testimony and documents. Trump has tried to distance himself from Parnas and fellow Giuliani associate Igor Fruman, who also helped facilitate fulfilling the White House’s demand that Ukraine investigate Biden. “I don’t know them. I don’t know about them. I don’t know what they do,” Trump said. “Maybe they were clients of Rudy. You’d have to ask Rudy.” Parnas’ lawyer said Trump’s statement was “plainly false.”
Trump's new strategy may be banking on Parnas to be loyal to Russia and change the projection in some way to allow bribery and intimidation to be an act of innocence.
The New York Times reports that when Parnas hired John Dowd, the former Trump lawyer, that Dowd sought approval from the president, who in a letter from another Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow, said he “consents to allowing your representation of Mr. Parnas and Mr. [Fruman].” The men’s selection of Dowd as legal representation was an indication that they would stick with the White House in its efforts to stonewall investigators on the matter, but following Trump’s disavowal that legal strategy appears to have changed. One would assume Parnas began to wonder if his lawyer was acting in his best interest or the president’s....
Russia never let's go. Russia will seek out people that have any connection or have been friendly to Russia and it will leverage them for influence or more. Russia fully expects all those Russian babies born in the USA to exercise their citizenship rights.
October 10, 2019
By Michael Biesecker, Larry Neumister and Eric Tucker
Washington — Two Florida businessmen (click here) tied to President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani have been arrested on campaign finance violations resulting from a $325,000 donation to a political action committee supporting Trump’s reelection.
Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman were arrested on a four-count indictment that includes charges of conspiracy, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission and falsification of records.
Parnas and Fruman were central to Giuliani’s efforts to get government officials in Ukraine to investigate business dealings by former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter in the war-torn former Soviet republic.
Records show that Parnas and Fruman used wire transfers from a corporate entity they controlled to make a $325,000 donation to the America First Action committee in 2018. But wire transfer records that became public through a lawsuit show that the corporate entity reported as making the transaction was not the true source of the money.
John Dowd, an attorney for the men, hung up on an Associated Press reporter calling about the case....
Is this actually a surprise to people? Guliani was receiving Russian bribery money. What is surprising is his successful influence at all. He was nobody, but, a lackey for Trump. Guiliani had no official title or any capacity to even approach the Ukraine president. Why did this happen at all?
There is an aspect to this that seems to be an undercurrent not easily detected. Trump learned early on that having access to him was important. He was filtering that access with payment. How many other people, including dictators, like that from the Philippines and otherwise paid to reach him? In what form did the bribery take place in his hotels and golf courses? There is a much larger crime being committed by Trump that cannot be ignored. Did the Russians pay to be at the White House the morning after Comey was fired or was it simply a quid pro quo for influencing the election?
October 10, 2019
By Adam Geller and Mary Jane Jalonik
Washington - The former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (click here) was removed from her post after insisting that Rudy Giuliani’s requests to Ukrainian officials for investigations be relayed through official channels, according to a former diplomat who has spoken with her.
The ambassador, Marie Yovanovitch, is scheduled to testify before congressional lawmakers on Friday as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Democrats say they expect her to appear despite the White House’s position that no administration officials cooperate with the probe...
I would expect after understanding the espionage in the Special Counsel report, understanding the extent obstruction by Trump was a part of a larger strategy would be just as important. These two men are the missing pieces. They are the indisputable connection between Russia and Trump.
November 4, 2019
By Anne Flaherty
This is far more than campaign violations, they were working for Russia. They are immigrants and have made it through the citizenship process. They, Guiliani and Trump, possibly his family and campaign are in a whole lot of trouble, the way I see it. These are bribes paid directly to Guiliani and possibly many others. The need for understanding the Special Counsel's report is never more important. I can't believe Robert Mueller missed this one.
This is all due to the whistleblower's report. The US House can't ignore this as part of the impeachment proceedings.
November 5, 2019
By Elliot Hannon
One of the Ukrainian-American associates (click here) of Rudy Giuliani who is believed to have played a key role in brokering the deal to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his son is now cooperating with the congressional impeachment inquiry. Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-born American citizen who was arrested last month on campaign finance charges for allegedly funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars from foreign donors into Trump’s political action committee, had initially hired former Trump lawyer John Dowd and refused to cooperate with congressional investigators. Dowd previously represented Trump during a portion of the Mueller investigation.
Parnas, however, has since changed lawyers and has indicated he will cooperate by complying with subpoenas for his testimony and documents. Trump has tried to distance himself from Parnas and fellow Giuliani associate Igor Fruman, who also helped facilitate fulfilling the White House’s demand that Ukraine investigate Biden. “I don’t know them. I don’t know about them. I don’t know what they do,” Trump said. “Maybe they were clients of Rudy. You’d have to ask Rudy.” Parnas’ lawyer said Trump’s statement was “plainly false.”
Trump's new strategy may be banking on Parnas to be loyal to Russia and change the projection in some way to allow bribery and intimidation to be an act of innocence.
The New York Times reports that when Parnas hired John Dowd, the former Trump lawyer, that Dowd sought approval from the president, who in a letter from another Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow, said he “consents to allowing your representation of Mr. Parnas and Mr. [Fruman].” The men’s selection of Dowd as legal representation was an indication that they would stick with the White House in its efforts to stonewall investigators on the matter, but following Trump’s disavowal that legal strategy appears to have changed. One would assume Parnas began to wonder if his lawyer was acting in his best interest or the president’s....
Russia never let's go. Russia will seek out people that have any connection or have been friendly to Russia and it will leverage them for influence or more. Russia fully expects all those Russian babies born in the USA to exercise their citizenship rights.
October 10, 2019
By Michael Biesecker, Larry Neumister and Eric Tucker
Washington — Two Florida businessmen (click here) tied to President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani have been arrested on campaign finance violations resulting from a $325,000 donation to a political action committee supporting Trump’s reelection.
Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman were arrested on a four-count indictment that includes charges of conspiracy, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission and falsification of records.
Parnas and Fruman were central to Giuliani’s efforts to get government officials in Ukraine to investigate business dealings by former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter in the war-torn former Soviet republic.
Records show that Parnas and Fruman used wire transfers from a corporate entity they controlled to make a $325,000 donation to the America First Action committee in 2018. But wire transfer records that became public through a lawsuit show that the corporate entity reported as making the transaction was not the true source of the money.
John Dowd, an attorney for the men, hung up on an Associated Press reporter calling about the case....
Is this actually a surprise to people? Guliani was receiving Russian bribery money. What is surprising is his successful influence at all. He was nobody, but, a lackey for Trump. Guiliani had no official title or any capacity to even approach the Ukraine president. Why did this happen at all?
There is an aspect to this that seems to be an undercurrent not easily detected. Trump learned early on that having access to him was important. He was filtering that access with payment. How many other people, including dictators, like that from the Philippines and otherwise paid to reach him? In what form did the bribery take place in his hotels and golf courses? There is a much larger crime being committed by Trump that cannot be ignored. Did the Russians pay to be at the White House the morning after Comey was fired or was it simply a quid pro quo for influencing the election?
October 10, 2019
By Adam Geller and Mary Jane Jalonik
Washington - The former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (click here) was removed from her post after insisting that Rudy Giuliani’s requests to Ukrainian officials for investigations be relayed through official channels, according to a former diplomat who has spoken with her.
The ambassador, Marie Yovanovitch, is scheduled to testify before congressional lawmakers on Friday as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Democrats say they expect her to appear despite the White House’s position that no administration officials cooperate with the probe...
I would expect after understanding the espionage in the Special Counsel report, understanding the extent obstruction by Trump was a part of a larger strategy would be just as important. These two men are the missing pieces. They are the indisputable connection between Russia and Trump.
November 4, 2019
By Anne Flaherty
Former ambassador to Ukraine (click here) Marie Yovanovitch says she felt threatened, was told to 'watch my back': Impeachment deposition originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
House Democrats on Monday released hundreds of pages of deposition transcripts that included testimony by a former top diplomat of feeling personally "threatened" by President Donald Trump's phone call to Ukraine's president and that a former senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo resigned in large part because Pompeo didn't do enough to protect her.
The transcripts of interviews with former U.S. ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and former Pompeo aide Michael McKinley were the first of what is expected to be more than a dozen transcripts released in the coming days ahead of public impeachment hearings as early as next week....
Monday, November 04, 2019
What is good for the goose is not good for the gander.
Donald J. Trump never spoke to the Special Counsel in person, but, he was willing to answer questions in writing. Robert S. Mueller, III found that sufficient to the inquiry of Russia's interference with the 2016 elections. Now, the whistleblower is willing to do the same, but, McConnell states he is not willing to carry out the responsibility of the US Senate to understand the circumstances of the burgeoning impeachment going forward.
Does McConnell know how to compose such questions? I am worried about Moscow Mitch. He doesn't legislate and now he doesn't compose questions. THIS IS A WHISTLEBLOWER. It is very decent of him/her to be willing to answer further questions at all. The US Senate is irresponsible and the USA has it's national security in question.
The US Senate is not dealing with a wayward president who today is saying if Quid Pro Quo exists, so what? (click here) Trump's presidency has gone from bad to worse. The USA national security hangs in the balance and he says if he broke the law it should not matter. It would seem Mulvaney floated this attitude of Trump's and now he is using it as if it is a legitimate defense.
It is like being cheated on by your spouse, "But, honey, it doesn't mean anything."
November 3, 2019
By James Gordon Meek, Benjamin Siegel and Mark Osborne
The first Ukraine whistleblower (click here) has offered through their legal team to answer congressional Republicans' written questions directly to them and under penalty of perjury, bypassing Democrats who control the impeachment process, attorney Mark Zaid confirmed to ABC News on Sunday.
Zaid said the original offer to answer written questions was to the full House Intelligence Committee, under the control of Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Republicans have complained about the unfairness of the closed-door depositions and impeachment process, with some suggesting the whistleblower's identity should be known so President Donald Trump can face his accuser....
Does McConnell know how to compose such questions? I am worried about Moscow Mitch. He doesn't legislate and now he doesn't compose questions. THIS IS A WHISTLEBLOWER. It is very decent of him/her to be willing to answer further questions at all. The US Senate is irresponsible and the USA has it's national security in question.
The US Senate is not dealing with a wayward president who today is saying if Quid Pro Quo exists, so what? (click here) Trump's presidency has gone from bad to worse. The USA national security hangs in the balance and he says if he broke the law it should not matter. It would seem Mulvaney floated this attitude of Trump's and now he is using it as if it is a legitimate defense.
It is like being cheated on by your spouse, "But, honey, it doesn't mean anything."
November 3, 2019
By James Gordon Meek, Benjamin Siegel and Mark Osborne
The first Ukraine whistleblower (click here) has offered through their legal team to answer congressional Republicans' written questions directly to them and under penalty of perjury, bypassing Democrats who control the impeachment process, attorney Mark Zaid confirmed to ABC News on Sunday.
Zaid said the original offer to answer written questions was to the full House Intelligence Committee, under the control of Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Republicans have complained about the unfairness of the closed-door depositions and impeachment process, with some suggesting the whistleblower's identity should be known so President Donald Trump can face his accuser....
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