The Trump Investigation(s) Thread

[Rip]

Half of the "treaties" this century were not ratified. The point is we can't negotiate non-binding agreements with our partners and then elect unqualified maniacs. It won't work.

I assume by this century you mean since 2000 and not the last 100 years because that would be patently false. Even then since 2000 of 8 treaties only three were not ratified. Kind of a small sample size to get all that worked up about.

[LordMortis]

I would suggest being careful what you wish for because treaties that can be done by a simple majority could work out about as well as others actions that have been changed to simple majority. I can just imagine Treaties that come and go routinely as administrations change. A treaty should be something that has longevity across administrations of different parties.

Like withdrawing from TPP (an admittedly "bad deal") or the Paris accords (which were admittedly weak) or NAFTA which is a fucking great deal that were actively trying to destroy because ????

So yeah, that is one of the worst things going on here. I am soooo glad you see it. Can you communicate this to various family members for whom I can't even sit a table with any more.

[Unagi]

[hepcat]

I would suggest being careful what you wish for because treaties that can be done by a simple majority could work out about as well as others actions that have been changed to simple majority. I can just imagine Treaties that come and go routinely as administrations change. A treaty should be something that has longevity across administrations of different parties.

Like withdrawing from TPP (an admittedly "bad deal") or the Paris accords (which were admittedly weak) or NAFTA which is a fucking great deal that were actively trying to destroy because ????

So yeah, that is one of the worst things going on here. I am soooo glad you see it. Can you communicate this to various family members for whom I can't even sit a table with any more.

Like most families these days, you should setup a Trump table and a non-Trump table for get togethers.

[Zarathud]

Only one table has metal silverware.

[Scoop20906]

Only one table has metal silverware.

And a no kneeling sign displayed patriotically.

[Pyperkub]

I would suggest being careful what you wish for because treaties that can be done by a simple majority could work out about as well as others actions that have been changed to simple majority. I can just imagine Treaties that come and go routinely as administrations change. A treaty should be something that has longevity across administrations of different parties.

Like withdrawing from TPP (an admittedly "bad deal") or the Paris accords (which were admittedly weak) or NAFTA which is a fucking great deal that were actively trying to destroy because ????

So yeah, that is one of the worst things going on here. I am soooo glad you see it. Can you communicate this to various family members for whom I can't even sit a table with any more.

TPP wasn't a bad deal for the US (no deal is perfect), I just hated that the IP provisions were jackhammered into it by US Industry. On the whole, I think it was the right move to provide an economic counterbalance to China, and protected a lot of US interests while tying our allies in the region much more closely to us, just more US Corporate than Consumer interests.

[Pyperkub]

Only one table has metal silverware.

The other gets the sippy cups and crayons

[hepcat]

...and has a table that's only a foot off the ground.

[LordMortis]

TPP wasn't a bad deal for the US (no deal is perfect), I just hated that the IP provisions were jackhammered into it by US Industry. On the whole, I think it was the right move to provide an economic counterbalance to China, and protected a lot of US interests while tying our allies in the region much more closely to us, just more US Corporate than Consumer interests.

We'll just have to disagree over spillt milk. It was right to move to provide and economic counterbalance to China but this was the right move IMO and while I likely didn't concur on the specifics it opened a lot of loopholes for multinational handling of Chinese manufactured goods. I don't have the energy to go back and find the percentages of the game.

This makes no excuses for backing out.

[Pyperkub]

TPP wasn't a bad deal for the US (no deal is perfect), I just hated that the IP provisions were jackhammered into it by US Industry. On the whole, I think it was the right move to provide an economic counterbalance to China, and protected a lot of US interests while tying our allies in the region much more closely to us, just more US Corporate than Consumer interests.

We'll just have to disagree over spillt milk. It was right to move to provide and economic counterbalance to China but this was the right move IMO and while I likely didn't concur on the specifics it opened a lot of loopholes for multinational handling of Chinese manufactured goods. I don't have the energy to go back and find the percentages of the game.

This makes no excuses for backing out.

Fair enough - the perfect is the enemy of the good.

[Skinypupy]

Cohen is now likely to cooperate with the investigation...and his lawyers have ditched

As attorneys for Michael Cohen rush to meet Judge Kimba Wood’s Friday deadline to complete a privilege review of over 3.7 million documents seized in the April 9 raids of Cohen’s New York properties and law office, a source representing this matter has disclosed to ABC News that the law firm handling the case for Cohen is not expected to represent him going forward.

Cohen, now with no legal representation, is likely to cooperate with federal prosecutors in New York, sources said. This development, which is believed to be imminent, will likely hit the White House, family members, staffers and counsels hard.

[Fitzy]

Cohen is now likely to cooperate with the investigation...and his lawyers have ditched

As attorneys for Michael Cohen rush to meet Judge Kimba Wood’s Friday deadline to complete a privilege review of over 3.7 million documents seized in the April 9 raids of Cohen’s New York properties and law office, a source representing this matter has disclosed to ABC News that the law firm handling the case for Cohen is not expected to represent him going forward.

Cohen, now with no legal representation, is likely to cooperate with federal prosecutors in New York, sources said. This development, which is believed to be imminent, will likely hit the White House, family members, staffers and counsels hard.

Please have the pee tape. Please have the pee tape.

[Paingod]

You'll have to file a Freedom of Tinklination Act form to find out.

[Smoove_B]

I'm no expert, but when a lawyer bails on defending another lawyer, it has to be really, really bad, right?

[Jag]

Cohen is now likely to cooperate with the investigation...and his lawyers have ditched

As attorneys for Michael Cohen rush to meet Judge Kimba Wood’s Friday deadline to complete a privilege review of over 3.7 million documents seized in the April 9 raids of Cohen’s New York properties and law office, a source representing this matter has disclosed to ABC News that the law firm handling the case for Cohen is not expected to represent him going forward.

Cohen, now with no legal representation, is likely to cooperate with federal prosecutors in New York, sources said. This development, which is believed to be imminent, will likely hit the White House, family members, staffers and counsels hard.

[Kurth]

I'm no expert, but when a lawyer bails on defending another lawyer, it has to be really, really bad, right?

Nope. There can be a million reasons. Some bad, some not so bad. There's also the question of whether Judge Wood will let Cohen's counsel bail, if that's what's in the works. As counsel, once you've made an appearance on behalf of a client, you can't drop them unilaterally. The Court gets a chance to weigh in, and, in almost all cases, the Judge won't let counsel out unless there's substitute counsel ready to take over.

[GreenGoo]

I'm no expert, but when a lawyer bails on defending another lawyer, it has to be really, really bad, right?

I'm not sure about that, but if Cohen has flipped, and please let it be so, Drumpf is dead. He might not know where EVERY body is buried, but he certainly knows the people who know.

I actually never expected to see Cohen cooperate. It's too big a deal to let myself be hopeful, yet.

What's the over/under on when Drumpf issues his pardon? edit: Oh shit, this is in NY? No pardon for you, douchenozzle.

[stessier]

I'm no expert, but when a lawyer bails on defending another lawyer, it has to be really, really bad, right?

Doesn't it usually just signal that the lawyers don't agree with the client's strategy?

[Holman]

Katy Tur is reporting that Cohen's lawyers have been informed that SDNY is preparing papers for his arrest.

[Smoove_B]

Doesn't it usually just signal that the lawyers don't agree with the client's strategy?

I took it to mean it was a losing proposition, i.e. not worth their time, energy and/or name association with being his representative in court. I guess it's not as bad as it looks, but I'm still pretty sure he's fuct.

[Daehawk]

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/08/politics ... index.html

President Donald Trump on Friday declined to rule out the possibility that he could pardon his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort or personal lawyer Michael Cohen.
The President also reiterated his belief that he has the power to pardon himself, though he again said he would not do so.
‪"I haven't even thought about it," Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn, referring to Manafort and Cohen. "I haven't thought about any of it. It's certainly far too early to be thinking about that."
He added, "They haven't been convicted of anything. There's nothing to pardon."

Its like Bill Gates pardoning Microsoft for something or your mom pardoning you for murder. WTF. Our system is seriously this shitty?

[gilraen]

Doesn't it usually just signal that the lawyers don't agree with the client's strategy?

I took it to mean it was a losing proposition, i.e. not worth their time, energy and/or name association with being his representative in court. I guess it's not as bad as it looks, but I'm still pretty sure he's fuct.

I took it to mean that they did the math and realized that they aren't going to get paid for the thousands of man-hours that they would have to put into Cohen's defense (not that he would deliberately stiff them per se, but he'd go bankrupt long before his trial is over, at the rate they are going).

[LawBeefaroni]

I'm no expert, but when a lawyer bails on defending another lawyer, it has to be really, really bad, right?

Doesn't it usually just signal that the lawyers don't agree with the client's strategy?

I heard that it's because he was running out of money to pay them. Their type of counsel don't come cheap. No charity among thieves and all that.

[GreenGoo]

Probably shoulda hung on to that $130k he paided Stormy out of the goodness of his heart, although I'm not sure how far $130k goes regarding the types of lawyers he needs.

[LordMortis]

I'm no expert, but when a lawyer bails on defending another lawyer, it has to be really, really bad, right?

Doesn't it usually just signal that the lawyers don't agree with the client's strategy?

I heard that it's because he was running out of money to pay them. Their type of counsel don't come cheap. No charity among thieves and all that.

If true, there's a certain poetry, even if he's innocent. It's pretty clear he has been using the threat of legal costs as intimidation since long before there was any hubbub about the Party of Trump rising to power. It's not necessarily right but it's poetic. Can he get a public defender?

[LawBeefaroni]

I'm no expert, but when a lawyer bails on defending another lawyer, it has to be really, really bad, right?

Doesn't it usually just signal that the lawyers don't agree with the client's strategy?

I heard that it's because he was running out of money to pay them. Their type of counsel don't come cheap. No charity among thieves and all that.

If true, there's a certain poetry, even if he's innocent. It's pretty clear he has been using the threat of legal costs as intimidation since long before there was any hubbub about the Party of Trump rising to power. It's not necessarily right but it's poetic. Can he get a public defender?

IANAFL but I think you need to be arrested or charged with a crime (not sure of the threshold) before you can get a public defender. You don't get one to lawyer-up during investigation.

[stessier]

So soon?

[El Guapo]

Probably shoulda hung on to that $130k he paided Stormy out of the goodness of his heart, although I'm not sure how far $130k goes regarding the types of lawyers he needs.

The number / expense of lawyers he was using, that's literally maybe a day or two.

[Fitzy]

I've seen speculation that the lawyers are leaving because they were paid by the Trump campaign and to stay on would be a conflict of interest if Cohen is flipping on Trump.

I have no idea if (a) They were paid by the campaign and (b) even if they were, that would be a conflict of interest if Cohen flips.

Kind of seems like wishful thinking to me, but I'm hoping to see Trump go down in flames if he is guilty of something.

[Holman]

Please let Cohen act as his own attorney Please let Cohen act as his own attorney Please let Cohen act as his own attorney Please let Cohen act as his own attorney Please let Cohen act as his own attorney Please let Cohen act as his own attorney ...

[Skinypupy]

NY AG files suit against Trump Foundation

NEW YORK - Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced a lawsuit against the Donald J. Trump Foundation, and its directors, Donald J. Trump (“Mr. Trump”), Donald J. Trump, Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump. The petition filed today alleges a pattern of persistent illegal conduct, occurring over more than a decade, that includes extensive unlawful political coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing transactions to benefit Mr. Trump’s personal and business interests, and violations of basic legal obligations for non-profit foundations. The Attorney General initiated a special proceeding to dissolve the Trump Foundation under court supervision and obtain restitution of $2.8 million and additional penalties. The AG’s lawsuit also seeks a ban from future service as a director of a New York not-for-profit of 10 years for Mr. Trump and one year for each of the Foundation’s other board members, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump. The Attorney General also sent referral letters today to the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Election Commission, identifying possible violations of federal law for further investigation and legal action by those federal agencies.

[Zaxxon]

Nonsense. I have it on high authority that any investigations into Trump-related businesses or persons is nothing but a WITCH HUNT.

[LordMortis]

Nonsense. I have it on high authority that any investigations into Trump-related businesses or persons is nothing but a WITCH HUNT.

I have in on high authority that he has checked in to it and multiple sources say he can pardon himself, so don't waste the money. He won't have to pardon himself because he's not guilty and he hasn't even thought about it but he can, in fact, pardon himself.

[gilraen]

A semi-regular reminder from John Oliver how the Trumpistas not only want you to believe that this is just a "witch hunt" but are also going "full O.J." in order to undermine the investigation in the eyes of the public.

[msteelers]

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

[Ralph-Wiggum]

Nonsense. I have it on high authority that any investigations into Trump-related businesses or persons is nothing but a WITCH HUNT.

I have in on high authority that he has checked in to it and multiple sources say he can pardon himself, so don't waste the money. He won't have to pardon himself because he's not guilty and he hasn't even thought about it but he can, in fact, pardon himself.

I know this is a joke, but can he actually pardon himself from state charges? I thought his authority was just for federal charges.

[Unagi]

Only federal.

[stessier]

Nonsense. I have it on high authority that any investigations into Trump-related businesses or persons is nothing but a WITCH HUNT.

I have in on high authority that he has checked in to it and multiple sources say he can pardon himself, so don't waste the money. He won't have to pardon himself because he's not guilty and he hasn't even thought about it but he can, in fact, pardon himself.

I know this is a joke, but can he actually pardon himself from state charges? I thought his authority was just for federal charges.

Yes, just federal.

[Smoove_B]

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

And now he's rage Tweeting about it. Happy birthday indeed, you moron.