Well, all of them including the thumb.Just out of curiosity, how many fingers on that one hand?
Comey and Mueller
- Thread starter Musburger1
- Start date
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
Just following up with the previous meme...
The judge sees the clown show for what it is. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...am-lying-trying-to-target-trump-cmon-man.html
ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
http://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/386067-rod-rosenstein-is-not-above-the-law
"
This government within the government has now crossed a line that is unacceptable. By gaining the recusal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Rosenstein stepped into the shoes of the attorney general, even though he was not appointed to that role by the president.
Now he believes he is above the law despite the myriad of conflicts he has ignored to authorize these unlimited investigations of the administration he supposedly serves. Remember, Rod Rosenstein provided the memo supporting the firing of Comey and then turned around and installed Mueller, a friend of Comey’s, as special counsel, right after trying to get Mueller the position of head of the FBI."
"
The president’s new lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, did exactly the right thing in getting out the real facts about the Stormy Daniels payment. He is right that such a personal expense is not a campaign expense, did not use donor funds and, even if he were wrong, we have an administrative process for determining that fact under the Federal Election Commission. Remember, the payments were made in the last days of the campaign and so would never have been reported before the election. No difference could ever have been made.
The legal status of this payment does not rise to a high crime or misdemeanor, is not money laundering, wire fraud or any of these other inflated charges. It was a reimbursement to a lawyer for an expense incurred. We have to stop trying to criminalize non-disclosure payments for perfectly legal acts. This is not the “Pentagon Papers.” There is no compelling national interest in Stormy Daniels relating the minute-by-minute events of a consensual event from 10 years ago.
However, the potential case related to the Democrats in which millions of dollars paid to a law firm were funneled to an opposition research firm, Fusion GPS, is far more clear cut. It used donor, not personal funds, it was falsely reported during the campaign and the ultimate recipient was not disclosed. Yet, no sirens are blaring. And by the way, exactly who is paying for Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels, and the continued work of Fusion GPS? Might that be donor money not being reported?
It’s the double standard led by the team at the top that is undermining the rule of law. Either these are both administrative matters to be handled by the Federal Election Commission or they are both criminal investigations with raids on law firms, but we can’t have the lawyers of one party raided and the lawyers of the other party laughing out loud.
The Republicans and the Justice Department inspector general have raised legitimate questions about the operation of the FBI and the Justice Department. The FBI’s deputy director, Andrew McCabe, was removed for alleged lying that was painstakingly documented by the inspector general’s report. The texts of FBI officials Lisa Page and Peter Strzok exposed animus against the president by the bureau’s lead agents.
Christopher Steele was paid for by the Democrats and did become a vendor of the FBI when he spread completely unsubstantiated allegations of the worst kind against the president to the press and, allegedly, lied about it. These transgressors are all giving interviews and writing books, basking in support from the “resistance.”
The point is straightforward. There are plenty of serious questions about the foundation of all these investigations, and it is entirely legitimate for congressional committees to demand documents and answers. This is especially important here because while, technically, the president should be able to demand answers, he is blocked from doing so by the threats of the special counsel to subpoena and prosecute him for even raising doubt about the Mueller operation.
Now, quite stunningly, Rosenstein, who has been behind Justice Department stonewalling of Congress for months, dares threaten even Congress for merely carrying out its fully protected duty. Talk about thin-skinned. We need to now restore the true, unbiased and fairly administered rule of law here that answers the question of whether Donald Trump colluded with the Russian government without attempting to trap the president into obstruction of justice for a nonexistent crime or turning this into a circus."
"
This government within the government has now crossed a line that is unacceptable. By gaining the recusal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Rosenstein stepped into the shoes of the attorney general, even though he was not appointed to that role by the president.
Now he believes he is above the law despite the myriad of conflicts he has ignored to authorize these unlimited investigations of the administration he supposedly serves. Remember, Rod Rosenstein provided the memo supporting the firing of Comey and then turned around and installed Mueller, a friend of Comey’s, as special counsel, right after trying to get Mueller the position of head of the FBI."
"
The president’s new lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, did exactly the right thing in getting out the real facts about the Stormy Daniels payment. He is right that such a personal expense is not a campaign expense, did not use donor funds and, even if he were wrong, we have an administrative process for determining that fact under the Federal Election Commission. Remember, the payments were made in the last days of the campaign and so would never have been reported before the election. No difference could ever have been made.
The legal status of this payment does not rise to a high crime or misdemeanor, is not money laundering, wire fraud or any of these other inflated charges. It was a reimbursement to a lawyer for an expense incurred. We have to stop trying to criminalize non-disclosure payments for perfectly legal acts. This is not the “Pentagon Papers.” There is no compelling national interest in Stormy Daniels relating the minute-by-minute events of a consensual event from 10 years ago.
However, the potential case related to the Democrats in which millions of dollars paid to a law firm were funneled to an opposition research firm, Fusion GPS, is far more clear cut. It used donor, not personal funds, it was falsely reported during the campaign and the ultimate recipient was not disclosed. Yet, no sirens are blaring. And by the way, exactly who is paying for Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels, and the continued work of Fusion GPS? Might that be donor money not being reported?
It’s the double standard led by the team at the top that is undermining the rule of law. Either these are both administrative matters to be handled by the Federal Election Commission or they are both criminal investigations with raids on law firms, but we can’t have the lawyers of one party raided and the lawyers of the other party laughing out loud.
The Republicans and the Justice Department inspector general have raised legitimate questions about the operation of the FBI and the Justice Department. The FBI’s deputy director, Andrew McCabe, was removed for alleged lying that was painstakingly documented by the inspector general’s report. The texts of FBI officials Lisa Page and Peter Strzok exposed animus against the president by the bureau’s lead agents.
Christopher Steele was paid for by the Democrats and did become a vendor of the FBI when he spread completely unsubstantiated allegations of the worst kind against the president to the press and, allegedly, lied about it. These transgressors are all giving interviews and writing books, basking in support from the “resistance.”
The point is straightforward. There are plenty of serious questions about the foundation of all these investigations, and it is entirely legitimate for congressional committees to demand documents and answers. This is especially important here because while, technically, the president should be able to demand answers, he is blocked from doing so by the threats of the special counsel to subpoena and prosecute him for even raising doubt about the Mueller operation.
Now, quite stunningly, Rosenstein, who has been behind Justice Department stonewalling of Congress for months, dares threaten even Congress for merely carrying out its fully protected duty. Talk about thin-skinned. We need to now restore the true, unbiased and fairly administered rule of law here that answers the question of whether Donald Trump colluded with the Russian government without attempting to trap the president into obstruction of justice for a nonexistent crime or turning this into a circus."
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
Judge Ellis to attorneys for the Office of the Special Counsel in District Court today about their motivations for bringing the various charges they've brought against Paul Manafort. --
Manafort was seeking to have the bank and tax fraud charges against him dismissed in federal court in Alexandria, with his lawyers arguing that the alleged crimes have nothing to do with the election or with President Trump.
Ellis agreed, but he made no immediate decision on the defense motion.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...b0acb0-4ca2-11e8-b725-92c89fe3ca4c_story.html
“You don't really care about Mr. Manafort... What you really care about is what information Mr. Manafort could give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump or lead to his prosecution or impeachment, or whatever..."
Manafort was seeking to have the bank and tax fraud charges against him dismissed in federal court in Alexandria, with his lawyers arguing that the alleged crimes have nothing to do with the election or with President Trump.
Ellis agreed, but he made no immediate decision on the defense motion.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...b0acb0-4ca2-11e8-b725-92c89fe3ca4c_story.html
Ellis wants to see the scope memo. Hell, I can't wait to see it.
ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
What's really interesting is that now Manafort's lawyers have claimed that Mueller's team has acknowledged that they don't have any actual "evidence."
http://thefederalist.com/2018/05/03...-evidence-of-contacts-with-russian-officials/
http://thefederalist.com/2018/05/03...-evidence-of-contacts-with-russian-officials/
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
This judge was a Republican appointee (back when N.Virg was more reliably conservative).
He has senior status now.
He has been hard on Govt in past, will be interesting to see how he looks at this
-----------
update
On Mueller he said --
"We don’t want anyone in this country with unfettered power. It’s unlikely you’re going to persuade me the special prosecutor has power to do anything he or she wants."
"I don't see what relation this indictment has with what the special counsel is authorized to investigate ... "
Nice to suddenly see someone sane involved in this matter"I don't see what relation this indictment has with what the special counsel is authorized to investigate ... "
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Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
One more very interesting item that came out of this hearing today. The warrants Team Mueller used for searches in the Manafort probe were an extension of the earlier FISA warrant relating to Carter Page and the Trump campaign (this is the one that kept getting 90 day extensions). The Page FISA warrant was a counterintelligence warrant under Title I.
The problem for Mueller now is that he has admitted the Manafort charges relate to events that occurred years before the campaign. In other words, common crimes having nothing to do with counterintelligence. As such, the warrant should have been a Title 3 warrant requiring probable cause under the 4th Amendment.
They never showed this. Accordingly, it seems that all those searches may be invalid
The problem for Mueller now is that he has admitted the Manafort charges relate to events that occurred years before the campaign. In other words, common crimes having nothing to do with counterintelligence. As such, the warrant should have been a Title 3 warrant requiring probable cause under the 4th Amendment.
They never showed this. Accordingly, it seems that all those searches may be invalid
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ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
Here is the redacted version of Rosenstein’s August 2, 2017 memo outlining the scope of the Mueller investigation. From what we can see, there is nothing here that would allow Mueller to go after pre-existing matters unrelated to the 2016 campaign.
This is why the judge in N.Virg is demanding to see the unredacted version
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4429623-Rosenstein-Aug-2-2017-Memo-on-Mueller-Authority.html
This is why the judge in N.Virg is demanding to see the unredacted version
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4429623-Rosenstein-Aug-2-2017-Memo-on-Mueller-Authority.html
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
The most recent unclassified version of the House Intel Committee's report, that came out today, shows the real purpose of the DOJ/FBI redactions. They were trying to their own people from public scrutiny. People like James Comey and Andrew McCabe.
These before and after versions their dirty pool. Here, McCabe admitted they hadn't substantiated anything against Michael Flynn. Further, the ambush of Flynn at the White House was directed by Comey.
These were not proper redactions. They had nothing to do at all with national security or sources/methods. Instead, it is obvious to any honest person that they were trying to cover up their own corruption and hide from accountability for their actions before and after Trump’s election.
These before and after versions their dirty pool. Here, McCabe admitted they hadn't substantiated anything against Michael Flynn. Further, the ambush of Flynn at the White House was directed by Comey.
These were not proper redactions. They had nothing to do at all with national security or sources/methods. Instead, it is obvious to any honest person that they were trying to cover up their own corruption and hide from accountability for their actions before and after Trump’s election.
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Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
Trump only dropped unemployment to 3.9% to distract from Stormy Daniels
Garmel
To your point CNN last night spent nearly all their time on Stormy Daniels . Van Jones had his panties in a wad over it all. I marveled that he could really pretend this was so outrageous and dangerous to the country.
They must have to rehearse to have 4 people on a panel have such emotional responses to this.
yet no word on what Comey, Mueller, Rothstein, et. al. have done and are doing. Or MAYBE discuss what Kerry did , even if they agree with what he did.
But what a porn star and Trump might have done 12 years ago??
To your point CNN last night spent nearly all their time on Stormy Daniels . Van Jones had his panties in a wad over it all. I marveled that he could really pretend this was so outrageous and dangerous to the country.
They must have to rehearse to have 4 people on a panel have such emotional responses to this.
yet no word on what Comey, Mueller, Rothstein, et. al. have done and are doing. Or MAYBE discuss what Kerry did , even if they agree with what he did.
But what a porn star and Trump might have done 12 years ago??
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
And the purpose of the Nunes drafted House report is to make the FBI, DOJ and Special Counsel look bad. Rep Gowdy said he has MUCH more confidence in Exec Branch investigations, including Mueller's.
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
Besides just "seeing it," I think the scope memo was written after the fact (months after) to back door the Manafort charges which have nothing to do with the original Russia claims. It's clear to anyone with a functioning brain that Manafort would never have been charged with anything but for his association with Donald Trump. Combine this with all the illegal leaks and theyve made a complete mess of it all. Probably should be tossed.
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
This is also pretty funny.
Remember the bogus indictments Mueller came up with coincidentally at the same time news was hitting of the embarrassing failure by the FBI in the Parkland shooting?
This was all nonsense as the defendants were foreign nationals. Mueller never thought he would ever hear anything else about it.
Well, guess what?
One of them showed up to defend himself
DOH!
Mueller panicked, realizing he had no actual case, and is begging for a continuance
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...stpone-court-hearing-in-russian-meddling-case
Remember the bogus indictments Mueller came up with coincidentally at the same time news was hitting of the embarrassing failure by the FBI in the Parkland shooting?
This was all nonsense as the defendants were foreign nationals. Mueller never thought he would ever hear anything else about it.
Well, guess what?
One of them showed up to defend himself
DOH!
Mueller panicked, realizing he had no actual case, and is begging for a continuance
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...stpone-court-hearing-in-russian-meddling-case
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
It appears that Nunes is going for a contempt resolution against Sessions (failure to comply, or even respond), which will be followed by a contempt motion.
The only good reason I can come up with for this position is that DOJ is trying to protect a criminal case. It seems certain that at least one related grand jury has already been seated (Utah is most likely). Possibly more than one (Arkansas probably, N.Virg possibly). If so, then indictments are probably already be on the way.
On top of this, Congress seems to leak everything its gets its hands on. If so, then the Sessions choice is protecting the criminal case vs. Congressional oversight. If this or something close to this is not the case, then its yet another black mark for Sessions.
The only good reason I can come up with for this position is that DOJ is trying to protect a criminal case. It seems certain that at least one related grand jury has already been seated (Utah is most likely). Possibly more than one (Arkansas probably, N.Virg possibly). If so, then indictments are probably already be on the way.
On top of this, Congress seems to leak everything its gets its hands on. If so, then the Sessions choice is protecting the criminal case vs. Congressional oversight. If this or something close to this is not the case, then its yet another black mark for Sessions.
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Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
The release of more Strzok-Page texts has shed a little light on the close relationship between demoted FBI agent Peter Strzok and Judge Contreras, who presided over the Flynn plea. What happned and the timing of it all is not a good look for Mueller.
Shortly after the Flynn plea, Judge Contreras was recused from the case. We still have not been told whether that was sua sponte or whether he was ordered off by the Chief Judge. See
Strzok had already been taken off the case by the time Flynn signed his plea deal on 11/30/2017. Contreras accepted Flynn's plea the very next day 12/1/2017. The Page/Strzok texts were not released until about ~12/5/17. See
And
At the time the plea was accepted, Contreras had not been informed that Strzok had been part of the case or that that Strzok had been removed from the case for improper conduct. See
It's highly doubtful Judge Contreras was very happy Strzok and company had put him in such a compromising position. Nor were the chief judge of the FISA court or the chief judge of the DC Circuit court. We know that within 5 days of the release of the Page-Strzok texts, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan was assigned to the case. I suggest the assignment of Sullivan was not random. I think the chief judge hand-picked him for this case. Sullivan has the reputation of someone who would not take any more of Mueller's nonsense. For example, Mueller obviously knew about those texts and he knew he was about to demote Strzok/Page off his team. But he never informed th judge of this. His trial attorney swore in court there was nothing else to say about the case. Then Mueller rushed to get the just signed deal before Contreras prior to the release of the texts.
It is clear that one reason Mueller was in a rush was to forego a collateral attack on the plea itself once all this new information was released. Remember the Flynn plea was drafted after Strzok's removal. The laguage of the plea specifically precluded Flynn from filing a 28 USC §2255 motion to vacate the plea.
See
And
Mueller made his choices --
-- to not disclose to Judge Contreras the existence of the texts
-- to not disclose Strzok was involved in the Flynn investigation
-- to not disclose Strzok had to be removed from the case for misconduct
To me, these choices look like fatal flaws to Mueller's case against Flynn, possibly more. If so, Mueller deserves whatever crap rolls down hill upon him.
Shortly after the Flynn plea, Judge Contreras was recused from the case. We still have not been told whether that was sua sponte or whether he was ordered off by the Chief Judge. See
It is clear that one reason Mueller was in a rush was to forego a collateral attack on the plea itself once all this new information was released. Remember the Flynn plea was drafted after Strzok's removal. The laguage of the plea specifically precluded Flynn from filing a 28 USC §2255 motion to vacate the plea.
See
-- to not disclose to Judge Contreras the existence of the texts
-- to not disclose Strzok was involved in the Flynn investigation
-- to not disclose Strzok had to be removed from the case for misconduct
To me, these choices look like fatal flaws to Mueller's case against Flynn, possibly more. If so, Mueller deserves whatever crap rolls down hill upon him.
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Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
As some here are aware, there is a second case against Manafort in the DC courts that had a hearing back on April 19 before Judge Amy Berman Jackson. The challenges made in that one were --
1) Jurisdictional challenges to the Special Counsel
2) Motions to dismis multiplicitious charges
3) Motions to strike the laundering/forfeiture allegations
See
One item noticeable line showed Judge Berman was interested in challenges to the Rosenstein appointment order, noting it said "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign." More skeptical than Judge Ellis in N.Virg.
1) Jurisdictional challenges to the Special Counsel
2) Motions to dismis multiplicitious charges
3) Motions to strike the laundering/forfeiture allegations
See
One item noticeable line showed Judge Berman was interested in challenges to the Rosenstein appointment order, noting it said "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign." More skeptical than Judge Ellis in N.Virg.
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
The basic question that Mueller's behavior presents, which was reinforced by his lawyers telling the judge that Mueller had "secret powers," is whether these secret courts and sealed investigations can be run without any accountability in a Constitutional system of self-government.
As each day passes, it becomes more and more evident that Mueller sees himself as some type of extra-Constitutional being. He does not think the courts have any jurisdiction over him, he believes he can withhold information from them and that he can basically do whatever he wants. We will have to wait and see whether the federal courts will go along with Mueller's interpretation of his own powers or not.
As each day passes, it becomes more and more evident that Mueller sees himself as some type of extra-Constitutional being. He does not think the courts have any jurisdiction over him, he believes he can withhold information from them and that he can basically do whatever he wants. We will have to wait and see whether the federal courts will go along with Mueller's interpretation of his own powers or not.
I35
5,000+ Posts
UH.......NO!!! The corruption that has been proven over and over again of the FBI, DOJ, and special counsel did a great job of their own to make themselves look bad.
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
Defend the ******** to the very end, Husker. I'll give you points for tenacity, if not intelligence.
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