The Trump Investigation(s) Thread

[Zaxxon]

Hence the 'for my part' piece.

[Freyland]

For my part, I don't claim to have enough info to judge her based on the specifics or history of her relationship with The Donald. It's enough to judge her based on the objective fact that she's married to the biggest bully in the world yet claims anti-bullying as a signature issue.

I'd have had similar disparaging remarks had Skyler White made a public campaign against meth dealing.

Sure, but those remarks presumably wouldn't be that Skyler White was a gold-digging whore, right?

Hey, I thought you were done?

In any case, the real disconnect is that Green Goo is making his judgements based on past info and you are saying we really can't make judgements about her "contemporary", or relatively present situation and mindset. You can both be right, but if you agree with Goo's analysis of that past information (as I do), it really does lend to the "knowing made her bed and now has to lie in it" mentality.
*Shrug* If it's good enough to tell our kids that so they learn Life lessons, then it's good enough for Melania.

[Pyperkub]

REEE TAIIII NERR!

I could hear it in my mind, but I couldn't place it. Then I saw Ben Afleck's face in my mind and started busting up!

[Isgrimnur]

Glad to be of assistance.

[Holman]

Even if she is complicit with Trump's style and would make a big splash in our righteous fantasy of first-lady rebellion, beating up on Melania is a waste of time and seems really icky to me. She's hardly the worst person in Trumpland, and she is doing less harm than any of them. Let her go.

[Unagi]

I think the bottom line is this: We are not trying to and do not mean to dump on her, however - if we occasionally use her in discussions in a poor light, there is good reason not to really feel too bad for her.

Personally, I feel bad for anyone and everyone (I could stop there, cause I think life is hard, frankly, but especially those) who's trying to better themselves under really poor circumstances and are trying to help others. She doesn't really fit that profile too well, and has (as I think GreenGoo wrote about (more or less) perfectly in-line with my views on her) even earned a position of that I feel reserved to pity her. That being said, I think a lot of what she does is to help her parents get into the U.S. (and keep them here) and also keep her special needs son flush with care.

She is enabling a fucking monster by making him look like someone like her tolerates him (this is my best statement to make for her).
Also already mentioned is how her situation (and her parents) mirrors so many of the people currently being threatened by Trump's "policy"... The most obvious threat (valid or not) that Malania may be under is the expulsion of her parents from thier life in the US (or herself). Seriosly... I wouldn't be shocked at all. And while she has my sympathy - that's a shitty way to support the thousands of others in your same position... That's what I come out with feeling about her on that topic. Aunt Melania will maybe become a new phrase??

[Unagi]

Let her go.

I agree, for what it's worth... Personally, I'm just pointing out my inner thinkings.

[Holman]

Aw, hey. Look at this total coincidence.

WaPo: Russia-linked company that hired Michael Cohen registered alt-right websites during election.

These sites include Alt-right.co, Alternate-right.com, Alternate-rt.com, Alt-rite.com, and other similar combinations, which were all registered in the two days following a speech given by then candidate Hillary Clinton in August 2016 in which she excoriated the far-right movement known for its extremist, racist, anti-Semitic and sexist viewpoints. The sites are not currently operational.

Columbus Nova, which describes itself as an investment firm, has been the subject of significant public scrutiny after it was revealed that it had retained as a consultant Cohen, whose home and offices in New York were recently raided by federal investigators. Michael Avenatti, a lawyer for the adult film actress Stormy Daniels, circulated a document on Tuesday that purported to show that Columbus Nova gave $500,000 to Cohen in the first half of 2017.

So weird that this Russian oligarch-controlled financial services firm funneling money to Trump's fixer bought those alt-right websites during the campaign when weaponizing online content was part of the Russian strategy.

Anyway, I think the main point here is NO COLLUSION.

[ImLawBoy]

I think the bottom line is this: We are not trying to and do not mean to dump on her

Well, some people are.

I think a lot of what she does is to help her parents get into the U.S. (and keep them here) and also keep her special needs son flush with care.

Are you suggesting that Barron has "special needs" in a medical/disability sense, or did you intend something else? If the former, all I've seen are internet doctors making baseless claims that Barron has autism, which is wildly wildly inappropriate, whether he does or not.

[LordMortis]

I think the bottom line is this: We are not trying to and do not mean to dump on her

Well, some people are.

I heard if only she let people dump on her, POTUS would never have cheated on her and gatos WITCH HUNT would never be a thing. MAGA!

[Unagi]

Are you suggesting that Barron has "special needs" in a medical/disability sense, or did you intend something else? If the former, all I've seen are internet doctors making baseless claims that Barron has autism, which is wildly wildly inappropriate, whether he does or not.

I personally believe that he is. That's all. It's based on my son also being 'on the spectrum' (roughly the same age) and me seeing some massively similar behavior in the very limited times I've seen him on stage, etc.
I wouldn't insist that he is on the spectrum, but parents of autistic kids can see some of the 'markers' in their behavior and Barron does show some of them. /shrug
I'm not 100% sure of it, clearly - but I'm free to speculate.
I'm fast and loose with my "wildly wildly inappropriate" claim only because I'm sitting here on OO. FWIW.

[El Guapo]

By the way, none of this Melania and Barron stuff relates to any trump investigations.

[coopasonic]

By the way, none of this Melania and Barron stuff relates to any trump investigations.

yet

[ImLawBoy]

I'm fast and loose with my "wildly wildly inappropriate" claim only because I'm sitting here on OO. FWIW.

And FWIW, I don't know why I typed two "wildly"s there. I only intended to type one. So it was a rebuke, but not as strong strong as I intended.

[ImLawBoy]

To further clarify (and go even more off topic), I think it's OK to say, "if he does have autism, that could factor into her decision to stay with Trump". I think throwing it out there like it's a diagnostic fact that he has autism is a step too far (acknowledging that it's being done on our little internet corner, and not as a feature piece on a widely read site).

[Max Peck]

I'm fast and loose with my "wildly wildly inappropriate" claim only because I'm sitting here on OO. FWIW.

And FWIW, I don't know why I typed two "wildly"s there. I only intended to type one. So it was a rebuke, but not as strong strong as I intended.

Bummer. I was hoping it was a Wild Wild West reference that I couldn't quite grasp. I was looking forward to figuring it out.

[El Guapo]

Meanwhile, Devin Nunes continues to seek out new lows:

[LordMortis]

Trump wants to his lapdogs to be loyal, not smart.

But yeah, investigation is closed for the third time. NO COLLUSION. Burn the assets and anyone involved to send the proper message to any would be whistleblowers. This is America and in America we don't take kindly to #metoo snowflakes.

I will give Trump one thing. He's avoided riots in all of this so far. His lapdogs may just eventually take that credit away from him.

[Max Peck]

Pence: Time to 'wrap up' Russia probe

US Vice-President Mike Pence has urged special counsel Robert Mueller to "wrap up" his investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

He said the White House has "fully co-operated" with the probe, which is looking at whether US President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Russia.

Mr Trump and the Kremlin have repeatedly denied the allegations.

His remarks came as he and Mr Trump greeted three Americans returning from North Korea after being held there.

"In the interests of the country, I think it's time to wrap it up," he told NBC News early on Thursday morning at Joint Base Andrews.

The vice-president added the administration had provided more than a million documents to Mr Mueller's investigation team.

"fully co-operated"


Also, apparently my memory is faulty. All this time, I thought that Mueller's mandate was to investigate Russian interference in the election, not specifically and solely whether the Trump campaign colluded in the Russian interference.

[LordMortis]

"In the interests of the country, I think it's time to wrap it up,"

He then added for clarification "This is how some countries not showing proper respect end up with two black eyes instead of just the initial one."

I mean the House already proved NO COLLUSION and are apparently willing to try take down anyone how would try to demonstrate otherwise, so yeah, if the country knows what's good for it, they'll wrap this up now.

[Unagi]

To further clarify (and go even more off topic), I think it's OK to say, "if he does have autism, that could factor into her decision to stay with Trump". I think throwing it out there like it's a diagnostic fact that he has autism is a step too far (acknowledging that it's being done on our little internet corner, and not as a feature piece on a widely read site).

In any case, I meant it in the context of empathy.

[Jaymann]

"In the interests of the country, I think it's time to wrap it up,"

He then added for clarification "This is how some countries not showing proper respect end up with two black eyes instead of just the initial one."

I mean the House already proved NO COLLUSION and are apparently willing to try take down anyone how would try to demonstrate otherwise, so yeah, if the country knows what's good for it, they'll wrap this up now.

Just as swiftly as they wrapped up the Benghazi hearings.

[LawBeefaroni]

By the way, none of this Melania and Barron stuff relates to any trump investigations.

yet

You took the post right out of my keyboard.

[hepcat]

Who among us still does not believe Barron is the real brains behind all this? He even has a super villain name. Barron Trump. I mean, come on. With a name like that, he's building ICBMs out of his lego blocks at 4 and firing them at the maid whenever she walks past.

I for one welcome my new overlord, Barron Trump!

[LawBeefaroni]

Who among us still does not believe Barron is the real brains behind all this? He even has a super villain name. Barron Trump. I mean, come on. With a name like that, he's building ICBMs out of his lego blocks at 4 and firing them at the maid whenever she walks past.

I for one welcome my new overlord, Barron Trump!

New overlord, same as the old overlord. And the last one.

[Jeff V]

Who among us still does not believe Barron is the real brains behind all this? He even has a super villain name. Barron Trump. I mean, come on. With a name like that, he's building ICBMs out of his lego blocks at 4 and firing them at the maid whenever she walks past.

I for one welcome my new overlord, Barron Trump!

It does evoke a certain imagery that even appears to share the same pedigree:

[hepcat]

His dad, perhaps.

I actually feel badly for Barron. He didn't ask to be born into all that crap.

[LordMortis]

His dad, perhaps.

I actually feel badly for Barron. He didn't ask to be born into all that crap.

Is it weird that I hope to continue to be able to feel badly for him? As the alternative is that he turns into Jr or Ivanka? There doesn't seem to be any hope that he gets the pass that the other one does.

[gilraen]

His dad, perhaps.

I actually feel badly for Barron. He didn't ask to be born into all that crap.

Is it weird that I hope to continue to be able to feel badly for him? As the alternative is that he turns into Jr or Ivanka? There doesn't seem to be any hope that he gets the pass that the other one does.

Well, he could turn into Tiffany (which might be a best-case scenario for him)

[Sepiche]

So, Giuliani resigned from his former law firm, theoretically so he could focus on defending the President, but it sounds like the real reason is the partners were uncomfortable with his characterization on Hannity that payoffs like Cohen's are commonplace:
http://thehill.com/homenews/administrat ... n-payments

But the firm itself indicated that its executives have been discomfited by some of Giuliani’s public statements.

In a headlining-making interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News Channel last week, Giuliani had suggested that hush-money payments, of the kind Cohen apparently made to Daniels, were commonplace.

“Michael would take care of things like this like I take care of this with my clients,” he told Hannity.

On Thursday, a Greenberg Traurig spokeswoman told The New York Times, “Speaking for ourselves, we would not condone payments of the nature alleged to have been made or otherwise without the knowledge and direction of a client.”

[Pyperkub]

Six states hacked enough that Voter Registration data could have been altered in 2016:

But the report also says that in at least six of those states, the Russian-affiliated cyber operatives "went beyond scanning and conducted malicious attempts on voting-related websites" — a specific detail that had not been previously reported.

In most of those six instances, the Russian cyber attackers attempted to use a "SQL" injection, which involves using special characters on a public facing website to gain access and either read or manipulate data.

The report says that in "a small number of states," the Russian operatives were in a position to alter or delete voter registration data. DHS has previously said Russian hackers only broke into the voter registration system in Illinois, but that there's no indication any records were altered.

But by all means, let's not continue the investigation or have a National Cybersecurity Head...

[LordMortis]

Six states hacked enough that Voter Registration data could have been altered in 2016:

But the report also says that in at least six of those states, the Russian-affiliated cyber operatives "went beyond scanning and conducted malicious attempts on voting-related websites" — a specific detail that had not been previously reported.

In most of those six instances, the Russian cyber attackers attempted to use a "SQL" injection, which involves using special characters on a public facing website to gain access and either read or manipulate data.

The report says that in "a small number of states," the Russian operatives were in a position to alter or delete voter registration data. DHS has previously said Russian hackers only broke into the voter registration system in Illinois, but that there's no indication any records were altered.

But by all means, let's not continue the investigation or have a National Cybersecurity Head...

What you fail to state is that Trump won, so there is nothing wrong. Not even millions of illegal votes for Hillary could stop him. Now if he had lost, then we'd have problem.

[Unagi]

Cohen’s $600,000 deal with AT&T specified he would advise on Time Warner merger, internal company records show

I mean - wtf. "advise on" OH REALLY. f- you - not buying it AT&T.

The deal with a random LLC that somehow has magical advisotorial insight on the Time Warner merger. Right.


Someone should start a Kickstarter to pay the person that whistle blows on this BS.

[Holman]

Cohen is a Renaissance man, a genius of all disciplines, a polymath.

(Cohen when asked about Avenatti's info release yesterday: "His documents is wrong.")

[Rip]

I have to admit this is way more interesting than House of Cards.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/about-that ... 1525992611

[Pyperkub]

I have to admit this is way more interesting than House of Cards.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/about-that ... 1525992611

Not paying, so need more information.

[LordMortis]

+1 so the best I can muster is "I never referenced and individual" was the last thing I remember from Nunez, which may or may not be relevant.

[Isgrimnur]

The author:

Strassel favorably profiled then-candidate for US vice president Sarah Palin shortly before the 2008 election in an article entitled "'I Haven't Always Just Toed the Line'". The article originally appeared in the Weekend Interview section of The Wall Street Journal on November 1, 2008. In 2012, Strassel wrote an editorial in the WSJ that alleged the Obama campaign was targeting Frank L. VanderSloot, a national finance co-chair for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign and a top campaign donor. Strassel's editorial was disputed by journalists and liberal commentators. In May 2013, as part of the IRS targeting controversy, Strassel reported that the IRS (not the Obama campaign) targeted conservatives, including Frank L. VanderSloot. In November 2017, Strassel's coverage of the Trump–Russia dossier scandal was alleged to have stoked tensions between the Wall Street Journal's reporting staff and editorial Board (of which Strassel is a member); the latter having been widely criticised for taking a partisan, 'pro-Trump' stance.

[El Guapo]

I have to admit this is way more interesting than House of Cards.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/about-that ... 1525992611

Not paying, so need more information.

Just to connect the dots, it's a Strassel op-ed parroting the Nunes story of what's going on with the House counter-investigation (which is a bunch of minor variations on one big lie).

[Ralph-Wiggum]

Its an opinion piece more or less stating that the FBI's refusal to turn over information to Nunez must be because the FBI was spying (unsaid but clearly intended to suggest illegal spying) on the Trump campaign. Of course, there is nothing mentioned about the fact that Nunez has been leaking like a sieve any information he thinks help Trump, which would clearly ruin any FBI asset's cover, if not put them in danger. So, more or less, it's more pro-Trump, anti-FBI propaganda.