The Trump Investigation(s) Thread

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Dec 07, 2022 4:53 pm

Zarathud wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 3:49 pm I would not want to sign the affidavit that I searched ALL of Trump’s real estate.

Totally. I'm sure the 3rd party team documented it to all hell and then caveated it some more on top. One of Trump's newer lawyers Christopher Kise suggested this back in September during the initial search. He was immediately sidelined because the rest of Trump idiot lawyers couldn't get out of their own way and only relented around Thanksgiving. I guess you can say they got unearned delay (and ridiculous rule of law shaming latitude).

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Dec 07, 2022 6:38 pm

Is it time for a Kushner thread:

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Dec 07, 2022 8:06 pm

So the thing people have been yelling at Garland's DOJ for about 2-years is getting picked up by ... Congress. Sounds about right.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:11 pm

Brian wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 3:40 pm
Jaymann wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 2:06 pm Reminds me of my EQ character, Felonious Monk.
Felonious Monk was the name of my criminal organization in GTA: Online.

Ermagerd.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Wed Dec 07, 2022 10:23 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:11 pm
Brian wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 3:40 pm
Jaymann wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 2:06 pm Reminds me of my EQ character, Felonious Monk.
Felonious Monk was the name of my criminal organization in GTA: Online.
Ermagerd.

That was the name of the crew. The full name being Ermagerd, hersts!

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Wed Dec 07, 2022 11:22 pm

I know. It was a response to your post that doubled as an inside joke that you've now forced me to explain.

Sigh.

I'm tired.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Wed Dec 07, 2022 11:27 pm

YellowKing wrote:I was just commenting on potentially convicted Trump, I'm aware he hasn't been convicted of anything.....yet.

And yet, he was elected to run the country like his business.

Mission accomplished!

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Thu Dec 08, 2022 8:46 am

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 11:22 pm I know. It was a response to your post that doubled as an inside joke that you've now forced me to explain.

I know.
My response wasn't for you but rather for anybody that might wonder what the hell we were talking about.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:41 am

Brian wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 8:46 am
Blackhawk wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 11:22 pm I know. It was a response to your post that doubled as an inside joke that you've now forced me to explain.

I know.
My response wasn't for you but rather for anybody that might wonder what the hell we were talking about.

(I was going to find a clever way to explain my post in response to your post explaining your post in response to my explaining my post, just to keep the cycle going, but I'm way too tired to think of something clever.)

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Thu Dec 08, 2022 7:46 pm

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:32 pm

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Dec 09, 2022 8:41 pm

Grifman wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 7:46 pm

Request denied! Such surprise. 'Grab them by their classified documents'!

A federal judge declined to hold former President Donald Trump in contempt of court in a closed-door hearing on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The sources also told CNN that Chief Judge Beryl Howell instead pressed the Trump team and the Justice Department to work together to find a mutually agreeable resolution.

ABC News first reported the judge had urged the teams to resolve the matter themselves.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Dec 09, 2022 11:38 pm

Great explainer about how absurd this affair has been by the very frustrated Glenn Kirschner clearly laying out the special treatment of Trump. His take is that Howell denied the contempt request because it amounts to the DOJ asking the judge to give them air cover for DOJ not doing their jobs.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:53 pm

CNN

The special master review of evidence seized from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate is no more.

Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday formally dismissed the case, which Trump brought to challenge the Mar-a-Lago evidence collection and in which she appointed special master Raymond Dearie, another judge, to make recommendations on whether prosecutors could access evidence.

The dismissal of the case now gives the Justice Department full access to tens of thousands of records and other items found among documents marked as classified in Trump’s beach club and private office.

Cannon’s dismissal follows the appeals court above her deciding that she had no authority to be involved in the Justice Department criminal investigation before any charges are brought. The court told Cannon the case must be dismissed and there will be no further proceedings before Cannon in the Southern District of Florida.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 3:30 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:53 pm CNN

The special master review of evidence seized from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate is no more.

Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday formally dismissed the case, which Trump brought to challenge the Mar-a-Lago evidence collection and in which she appointed special master Raymond Dearie, another judge, to make recommendations on whether prosecutors could access evidence.

The dismissal of the case now gives the Justice Department full access to tens of thousands of records and other items found among documents marked as classified in Trump’s beach club and private office.

Cannon’s dismissal follows the appeals court above her deciding that she had no authority to be involved in the Justice Department criminal investigation before any charges are brought. The court told Cannon the case must be dismissed and there will be no further proceedings before Cannon in the Southern District of Florida.

And this comes in with a new Congress in 22 days, and with this Congress all but checked out, with the exception of those trying not to have government shutdown. Delay until it doesn't matter... or after you've been president, until you have a more friendly governing body.

Octavious · Post by **Octavious** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:45 pm

I just love how you have a judge that tries to do something that obviously they aren't allowed to do and nobody will do anything about it. She will still have her job FOREVER... Ridiculous

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 5:04 pm

LordMortis wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 3:30 pm
Isgrimnur wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:53 pm CNN

The special master review of evidence seized from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate is no more.

Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday formally dismissed the case, which Trump brought to challenge the Mar-a-Lago evidence collection and in which she appointed special master Raymond Dearie, another judge, to make recommendations on whether prosecutors could access evidence.

The dismissal of the case now gives the Justice Department full access to tens of thousands of records and other items found among documents marked as classified in Trump’s beach club and private office.

Cannon’s dismissal follows the appeals court above her deciding that she had no authority to be involved in the Justice Department criminal investigation before any charges are brought. The court told Cannon the case must be dismissed and there will be no further proceedings before Cannon in the Southern District of Florida.

And this comes in with a new Congress in 22 days, and with this Congress all but checked out, with the exception of those trying not to have government shutdown. Delay until it doesn't matter... or after you've been president, until you have a more friendly governing body.

Congress has no bearing on what the DOJ is doing with this investigation.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 6:14 pm

Octavious wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:45 pm I just love how you have a judge that tries to do something that obviously they aren't allowed to do and nobody will do anything about it. She will still have her job FOREVER... Ridiculous

I don't disagree exactly, except that in general there are very good reasons why judges are insulated from pressure from the political branches. The judge was obviously bending over backwards to help Trump, but she was also clearly acting within her legitimate authority when making these decisions. Unless evidence of direct and improper influence (such as bribery) comes to light, there's not much grounds for removing her.

That said, this does highlight systemic reforms that we should be making. For one, the venue / assignment rules that allow people to reliably direct their lawsuits to specific judges (as happened here) badly need to be fixed. For another, I'm also inclined to think that judicial appointments should be long but not for life.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 8:09 pm

El Guapo wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 6:14 pm The judge was obviously bending over backwards to help Trump, but she was also clearly acting within her legitimate authority when making these decisions.

Was she?

Cannon’s dismissal follows the appeals court above her deciding that she had no authority to be involved in the Justice Department criminal investigation before any charges are brought.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 12:26 am

Alefroth wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 8:09 pm
El Guapo wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 6:14 pm The judge was obviously bending over backwards to help Trump, but she was also clearly acting within her legitimate authority when making these decisions.
Was she?

Cannon’s dismissal follows the appeals court above her deciding that she had no authority to be involved in the Justice Department criminal investigation before any charges are brought.

I just meant that she was making judicial opinions in cases validly before her.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 2:00 pm

U.S. House Democrats to decide whether to release Trump's tax information

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 2:02 pm

I bet they wuss out.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 2:52 pm

The tax community crowdsourcing an audit of Trump’s tax returns would be enlightening. It would make for months of entertainment in the tax community.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:06 pm

Not if they release in mid-March or so.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:10 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:06 pm Not if they release in mid-March or so.

The GOP is going to take control of the committee in a couple weeks, so it's either release now or never.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:20 pm

El Guapo wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:10 pm The GOP is going to take control of the committee in a couple weeks, so it's either release now or never.

But then...

Kevin Brady (R-TX) warns that releasing Trump’s tax returns could lead to the release of tax returns of Supreme Court Justices

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:23 pm

Congressman Kevin Brady currently serves as the Republican Leader of the House Committee on Ways and Means, considered to be the most influential committee in Congress. Before becoming Ranking Member, Congressman Brady served as Chairman of the Committee for six years.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:26 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:20 pm
El Guapo wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:10 pm The GOP is going to take control of the committee in a couple weeks, so it's either release now or never.
But then...

Kevin Brady (R-TX) warns that releasing Trump’s tax returns could lead to the release of tax returns of Supreme Court Justices

Oh noes please don't release SCOTUS tax returns as reprisals! That would be too much public accountability.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:28 pm

Whatever happened to the GOP motto of "if you have nothing to hide?" Oh yeah, it was replaced by "snitches get stitches." I forgot when TFG changed it. Nevermind.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 7:57 pm

El Guapo wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 2:02 pm I bet they wuss out.

They'll absolutely wuss out. That they are kvetching about this is exactly why I can't stand them. Just do it. They're so afraid of getting shouted at when they are constantly being shouted about something else anyway. If they don't do something then the Republicans get away with something yet again. If they do something, yes the Republicans will yell and stamp their feet. That is who they are. They are already radicalized.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 8:56 pm

El Guapo wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 2:02 pm I bet they wuss out.

They didn't.

LawBeefaroni wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:06 pm Not if they release in mid-March or so.

Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat on the committee, told CNN that release of the full cache of tax documents could be delayed for “a few days” in order to carry out redactions of personal information, such as Social Security numbers.

Spoiler:

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:23 pm

Lol at all the doomsaying being wrong again.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:23 pm

Are they going to be redacted beyond any usefulness?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:35 pm

pr0ner wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:23 pm Lol at all the doomsaying being wrong again.

I'm glad they did the right thing but this reaction is bullshit when you look at the wide view. Still it must be so satisfying to be such a serious person.

Alefroth wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:23 pm Are they going to be redacted beyond any usefulness?

It depends how fine a filter they apply. Are they redacting the well known PII (SSN, birthdays, phone numbers, etc.)? If they go beyond to enterprises names, officers, etc. then it'll be muddier for sure.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:47 pm

After the vote, House Democrats revealed that the materials they obtained showed that the I.R.S. had failed to audit Mr. Trump’s tax filings during his first two years in office, despite having a program that makes audits of sitting presidents mandatory. The agency began an audit only after the chairman of the committee, Representative Richard E. Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts, requested Mr. Trump’s taxes in 2019. That audit is not complete.

To put a fine point on this. This is why we "doomsay". This system is *BROKEN*. The powerful are trampling on the rule of law. Congress releasing these documents tries to balance the scales for sure but we deserve answers about what is being done to address the rampant lawlessness in the government.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 10:14 pm

"Nothing's gonna happen"

Something happens.

"It's not enough because the system is BROKEN".

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:11 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:20 pm
El Guapo wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:10 pm The GOP is going to take control of the committee in a couple weeks, so it's either release now or never.
But then...

Kevin Brady (R-TX) warns that releasing Trump’s tax returns could lead to the release of tax returns of Supreme Court Justices

Lol - it's a threat to the SCOTUS.
But as a viewer, I'm thinking a big fat sarcastic "Oh no!!"

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:12 pm

I mean...

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:16 pm

Unagi wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:11 pm Lol - it's a threat to the SCOTUS.
But as a viewer, I'm thinking a big fat sarcastic "Oh no!!"

Seriously. I again repeat, the amount of financial info I need to provide and the things I need to attest to as part of my role as a volunteer in various local organizations is borderline onerous. Fingerprinting. Background checks. And I'm supposed to feel that seeing tax records for elected and lifetime appointed officials is unreasonable? GTFO.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:36 pm

Smoove_B wrote:
Unagi wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:11 pm Lol - it's a threat to the SCOTUS.
But as a viewer, I'm thinking a big fat sarcastic "Oh no!!"
Seriously. I again repeat, the amount of financial info I need to provide and the things I need to attest to as part of my role as a volunteer in various local organizations is borderline onerous. Fingerprinting. Background checks. And I'm supposed to feel that seeing tax records for elected and lifetime appointed officials is unreasonable? GTFO.

Bingo

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk