Michael Flynn Pleads Guilty To Lying To FBI
[guest post by Dana]
Via ABC News:
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, once a member of President Trump’s inner circle of advisers, has pleaded guilty in a deal with the Special Counsel investigating foreign meddling in the 2016 elections in which he admits to lying to the FBI about his back-channel conversations with the Russian ambassador.
Flynn’s plea signals the former top adviser to President Trump is now cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team. A brief statement released by Mueller’s team Friday morning does not say what information Flynn has provided the government as part of the deal, but people familiar with the agreement told ABC News Friday he has made a decision to assist investigators.
Apparently, President Trump’s lack of support influenced Flynn’s decision to testify against him and members of the Trump family:
The general told confidants about his decision to plead guilty in the last 24 hours, according to people close to Flynn, who say the former adviser feels President Trump has abandoned him and has agreed to answer questions about the president or anyone else.
Reportedly, Flynn is also “prepared to testify that candidate Trump directed him to make contact with the Russians.”
ABC also reports that Flynn is willing to testify against Trump and members of the Trump family. Now, before everyone starts yelling “collusion,” the report said nothing about why Trump allegedly directed him to reach out to Russia. If it was contact for election collusion, that’s dire. I also think that’s highly unlikely. If it was contact to set the stage for post-election relations and cooperation, that’s far less problematic — unless members of the Trump administration (or Trump family) have been lying to the FBI about those contacts. So, we could be looking at less of a criminal conspiracy and more of a festival of lies surrounding a non-conspiracy. That’s at least consistent with the guilty pleas (Flynn and Papadopoulos) so far.
Charges here.
Statement from President Trump’s personal attorney, Ty Cobb:
Today, Michael Flynn, a former National Security Adviser at the White House for 25 days during the Trump administration, and a former Obama administration official, entered a guilty plea to a single count of making a false statement to the FBI.
The false statements mirror the false statements to White House officials which resulted in his resignation in February of this year. Nothing about the guilty plea nor the charge implicates anyone other than Mr. Flynn. The conclusion of this phase of the Special Counsel’s work demonstrates again that the Special Counsel is moving with all deliberate speed and clears the way for a prompt and reasonable conclusion.
(Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.)
ABC News issued a correction Friday on a report published earlier in the day that stated former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was instructed by President Trump to contact Russians while Trump was still a candidate.
Instead, the “clarification” noted that Trump’s request came after the election – a significant detail as Trump would have been transitioning from campaign mode to preparing for the start of his administration.
“A clarification tonight on something one of Flynn’s confidants told us and we reported earlier today,” Brian Ross said during ABC News’ “World News Tonight” on Friday. “He said the president had asked Flynn to contact Russia during the campaign. He’s now clarifying that, saying according to Flynn, candidate Trump asked him during the campaign to find ways to repair relations with Russia and other hot spots, and then after the election, the President-elect asked him, told him to contact Russia on issues, including working together to fight ISIS.”
Thanks to Kevin M. for alerting me to ABC’s update.
–Dana
Good morning.
Dana (023079) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:16 amSeals the Art of the Deal..
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:17 amhttps://www.thedailybeast.com/abc-flynn-to-testify-trump-ordered-him-to-talk-to-russians
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:18 amI’ve long said, you get to Jared through Flynn. It seems like Jared’s team is now hoping he gets a second chance at testimony before he gets busted himself.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2017/11/30/on-the-jared-and-flynn-stories/
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:21 amAs French said, directing contacts with the Russians post-election isn’t an issue. The angle I think Mueller is pursuing is that 1) Trump knew Flynn lied to the FBI when he denied the contacts, and 2) that Trump’s suggestion to Comey to go easy on Flynn amounts to an obstruction of justice of an investigation into that lie—which investigation has now led to a guilty plea.
Pete (2f6a0b) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:22 amthis is why you don’t hire “top brass” losers out of the sleazy US Military sewer and put them in civilian jobs
i tried to warn you Mr. Trump
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:23 amFrench: The sharp-eyed reader will note that Flynn is being charged with lying to the FBI about activity that isn’t criminal.
Neither are consensual blow-jobs..
whine
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:25 amBlack Friday, Captain, sir.
“The truth is, these are not very bright guys and things got out of hand.” – ‘Deep Throat’ [Hal Holbrook] ‘All The President’s Men’ 1976
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:25 ammaking a young jewish girl do a blowjob on your herpes penis is way worse than anything Mr. Flynn did that’s for sure
Bill Clinton is just nasty
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:29 amThe WaPo has a clear article. It is unlikely they are covering for Trump.
(emphasis mine)
Flynn lied about talking to the Russians AFTER the election, but while Obama was still President, which is something of a no-no, but not unprecedented. Reagan had sent a message of unknown content to the mullahs in Iran during his transition.
NONE of this has, IN ANY WAY, anything to do with the election of collusion therein.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michael-flynn-charged-with-making-false-statement-to-the-fbi/2017/12/01/e03a6c48-d6a2-11e7-9461-ba77d604373d_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-banner-high_flynn-937am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:29 amThe wheels of justice turn slowly, but they grind exceeding fine…
Help me out here, cultists. Didn’t Trump fire the FBI director, in part, because he wouldn’t make the original investigation of Flynn go away? Isn’t it now clear that Trump is guilty of obstruction of justice for trying to cover up this felony committed by his friend and close advisor?
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:29 amTrump has at much admitted to have directed to. Recall the administrAtion wanted to cybeestrike against Russia based on the crowdstrike fraud.
In retrospect i find felts comment ironic re his involvement with black bag jobs against
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:30 amAyers
Appropriate sentencing?
Tar/feather..ride on a rail?
Section 8 housing..only public transportation to minimum-wage job flipping burgers. But then his taxes will increase if he can’t rise above $75k.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:31 amBut the usual trolls will do their usual job: deceive, inveigle and obfuscate.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:32 amNONE of this has, IN ANY WAY, anything to do with the election of collusion therein.
what you have is a sleazy military turd what got fired for lying to Mr. Pence and then turned around and lied to the sleazy FBI
given his demonstrable lack of integrity his further testimony may not be much of a prize for Herr Mueller and his gestapo
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:33 amFlynn lied about talking to the Russians AFTER the election, but while Obama was still President, which is something of a no-no, but not unprecedented. Reagan had sent a message of unknown content to the mullahs in Iran during his transition.
October surprises are Republican Party platform planks.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:33 amThis has to do with Flynn asking the Russians AFTER THE ELECTION to play nice with Obama so that things would not get out of hand. And then he lied about it. But the only CRIME here is that he lied about it.
So, trolls, try not to get all hot and bothered. This is just a tease.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:34 amFlynn flipped, and Trump’s flippin’ out.
Tillman (a95660) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:35 amSteely Dan
https://g.co/kgs/QJqqFo
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:35 amOctober surprises are Republican Party platform planks.
How does “December” get changed to “October” in your head?
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:36 amThere want anything to the October surprise narrative, except it covered up Gary sicks incompetence, retroactively.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:37 amMore scum from the sewer of the military industrial complex rising to the top.
mama (3b68d8) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:37 amIt’s a generic term for Trumpublican dirty tricks kevin
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:37 amThe “October surprise” was Hillary unable to stand up or walk without help. Probably Russians with darts!
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:38 amI’ve just updated the post with President Trump’s personal attorney’s statement:
Dana (023079) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:39 amAre we tired of winning yet?
But this is just a nothingburger. I’ll have mine with a side of Freedom Fries, thanks.
grass is greener (51fdf0) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:39 amThis was punishment for telling Obama that Al queda wee very much alive, but you see Kate steinle and ambassador Stevens are unavailable for comment.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:39 amYou can’t make this stuff up.
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:41 amAbout what? For how long?
And was that directed or was it he asked if he could respond to certain Russian approaches?
There was no actual contact between Mike Flynn and the Russians (not hidden from Trump and others) that we know of. So it would be in that case that somebody else in the campaign shut that down.
And what was that about? Just in general? To see if they had and would make public Hillary’s deleted emails? To see what the Russians had to say about policy on ISIS and on Syria?
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:41 amBen Burn, Tillman, DSPCA and Dave are lying fukks who bring nothing but noise here.
I dare any of them to find something in this story that says there was ANY election collusion on ANYONE’S part. But they can’t. Instead they will just spread some manure around hoping someone else is a dumb as they are.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:41 amThat was in September, which made Brazile frantic, the most ridiculous element after the Pokemon gambit was tying a washed up left wing comic and gadfly mayoral candidate into this grishenko nonsesnse
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:42 amit is monumental news in the special counsel’s investigation, dwarfing even the indictment of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. First, and most bluntly, it’s notable because the former national-security adviser, the closest adviser to the president on the most sensitive issues of defense and national safety, is pleading guilty to a felony committed while he served as national-security adviser.
Second, the move puts Mueller’s investigation inside the White House.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:43 amhttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/547241/
They forgot to mention that Obama personally urged Trump not to appoint Flynn.
Nope, Obama dunnit!
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:43 am27, That kind of reckless conflation is gonna come down hard on Cubanos someday.
26, just go to that one Pizza Place in DC, pretend its all you can eat and do as the biker gang did in A Bronx Tale, just keep a window open to escape.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:44 amRandy credico who apparently had ties with Wikileaks, since Wikileaks is a gratis info broker one wonders what the fuss is about. Meanwhile criminal negligence on the part of signer is rewarded
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:45 amUrban: what would you expect from a Nun killer.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:45 amStatement y Donald trump’s personal attorney:
The question is not what is in the guilty plea. The question is: It true that Flynn is “prepared to testify that candidate Trump directed him to make contact with the Russians” and, if so, what does he mean by that, and does Mueller think he has anything important to say?
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:46 amNope, Obama dunnit!
Did the Chicago fire too!
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:47 am@33. And Obama smiled.
Tillman (a95660) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:47 amWe got layered from the bay of pigs to Watergate to Iran contra, comes with the territory ulb
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:48 am@30. Kevin, the Flynn-Flam Man! White man speak with Foxed tongue.
“That would put you inside the White House.” – ‘Deep Throat’ [Hal Holbrook] ‘All The President’s Men’ 1976
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:49 amYes Lynn didnt lick boot like clapper and brennan,
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:50 am30 It’s never been about collusion IMO
It’s about emoluements and Trumpenfuhrer.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:51 amI also think that the use of the word “candidate” Trump in a speculative tweet is not all that informative. I think it is quite possible that Flynn’s contacts with the Russians during the Transition WERE made at the direction of Trump. And for just the reasons Flynn has said — to let the Russians know that if they kept reacting to Obama, they would tie Trump’s hands later.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:55 amThey call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning,
No-one you see, is smarter than he,
And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder,
Flying there-under, under the sea!
Everyone loves the king of the sea,
Ever so kind and gentle is he,
Tricks he will do when children appear,
And how they laugh when he’s near!
They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning,
No-one you see, is smarter than he,
And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder,
Flying there-under, under the sea!
source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/flipperlyrics.html
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:55 amKevin M’s flippin’ out too. Now, now, Kevin. Do ya need a hug?
Tillman (a95660) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:55 amI’ll have mine with a side of Freedom Fries, thanks.
you waited til i started no-carb christmas
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:56 amSo Trump directed someone to ask the Russians to help swing a presidential election?
Whoops, my bad. That was Ted Kennedy.
“On 9-10 May of this year,” the May 14 memorandum explained, “Sen. Edward Kennedy’s close friend and trusted confidant [John] Tunney was in Moscow.” (Tunney was Kennedy’s law school roommate and a former Democratic senator from California.) “The senator charged Tunney to convey the following message, through confidential contacts, to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Y. Andropov.”
Kennedy’s message was simple. He proposed an unabashed quid pro quo. Kennedy would lend Andropov a hand in dealing with President Reagan. In return, the Soviet leader would lend the Democratic Party a hand in challenging Reagan in the 1984 presidential election. “The only real potential threats to Reagan are problems of war and peace and Soviet-American relations,” the memorandum stated. “These issues, according to the senator, will without a doubt become the most important of the election campaign.”
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/03/remember_when_ted_kennedy_asked_the_russians_to_interfere.html#ixzz5027Z0ctg
harkin (aeabd2) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:57 amLucein conein who helmed the diem coup and was later one of the godfathers of the idea, said if he had been put in charge of Watergate there would be no slipups. Then again he spirited ellsberg from a vengeful Corsican acid, seguin so fwiw.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:57 am@43. re #30.
“They doubt our ancestry. But they don’t say the story isn’t accurate.” – Ben Bradlee [Jason Robards] ‘All The President’s Men’ 1976
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:57 amFlynn wishes he hadn’t kicked his cough syrup habit last week.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:57 amElection collusion is one aspect of the case against Trump. Flynn only copped to the felony today; he and Mueller will have a lot to talk about in coming days. It’s like you expect a whole season’s worth of plot development in a single episode…
Mueller now has the balls of two caporegimes firmly locked in his legal vise. If you don’t think Trump and his remaining lackeys are sweating by now, you’re kidding yourself. This is a major step towards bringing them to justice.
And this already proves that Trump was guilty of obstruction of justice when he fired the FBI director to cover up the original investigation of this
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:58 amfriend and close advisor’s, er, ah, “former Obama administration official’s” felony.Mob boss, you think if he had been a little negligent, no pentagon papers no plumbers no Watergate, the butterfly effect writ large.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:58 amFirst, and most bluntly, it’s notable because the former national-security adviser, the closest adviser to the president on the most sensitive issues of defense and national safety, is pleading guilty to a felony committed while he served as national-security adviser.
Gee, I remember when a President was impeached for a worse felony (perjury rather than lying-to-cops) while in office, yet it was no big deal. After leaving office he pled guilty to a misdemeanor version of the charge and surrendered his law license, but again no big deal.
The hyperventilating is getting bothersome.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:00 am50 Trump has no ideology..well maybe pieology or cakeology. His svelte physique tells us.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:00 ama former Obama administration official
This is their strategy. Connect Flynn to Obama at every opportunity
They forgot to mention that Obama personally urged Trump not to appoint Flynn.
And conveniently ignore this because it nullifies the strategy.
Dana (023079) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:01 amSo am I bit cynical, because I’ve seen some and read the rest.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:02 amNot one of these trolls has a word of content other than their trolling. We need that permanent troll-remover script.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:03 amAnd conveniently ignore this because it nullifies the strategy.
It has some gravitas if there were some self awareness..alas Obama remains powerful in their heads.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:04 amfelony committed while he served as national-security adviser
hadn’t sleazy US Army General Mike Flynn already been fired when he lied to them fbi gestapos
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:04 am@58. This is Patterico’s site. He’s no longer a Republican. I think that he mainly has a distaste for partisan hacks. I think that you fit well in that category. Who’s the troll Kevin? He might consider you more of a troll than any of us at this point.
Tillman (a95660) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:08 amIt’s not hyperventilating because we’re not stressed. More like an adrenaline spike.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:09 amPretty soon everyone will run from the derogation Republican
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:10 amWe don’t agree very often, but Kevin is usually capable of reasoned discourse. He seems really, really upset today though.
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:12 am60. happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:04 am
No, he was interviewed in the White House on January 24, when the FBI already knew what the answers were. He was “cleared” by the FBI a day after Trump asked Comey if he could see his way clear to going easy on him,
At 6:25 am February 15, Zero Hedge has this: (that’s Feb 15 in spite of the URL saying Feb 14)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-14/mike-flynn-may-face-felony-charges-lying-fbi
But by 10 pm Zero Hedge reports:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-15/fbi-reportedly-will-not-pursue-charges-against-cooperative-and-truthful-mike-flynn
But now Flynn has pled guilty to those very same potential charges Trump and Comey discussed on February 14.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:12 amMy guess is June 2018 when the hoary Tux Bill becomes public offal.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:13 amBut now Flynn has pled guilty to those very same potential charges Trump and Comey discussed on February 14.
oh i get it
Herr Mueller never found anything so he has to manufacture it
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:16 amFlynn gets a Disney Pass?
He must have volunteered to pull the switch.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:16 amhttps://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/831351619509968896?lang=en
You can see Trump’s response asking why isn’t anybody complaining about the leak (about the Kislyak conversation in December that caused him to fire Mike Flynn when it became clear had lied to too many people about that conversation, though Trump found the conversation OK- Flynn had made no promise of removing sanctions or said anything out f order)
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:17 amDave, I am upset at the content-free sniping and non sequitur assertions I am seeing here. This Flynn indictment is a nothing-burger (as indeed this whole investigation has been). There is not ONE iota of evidence that there was ANY election collusion, or indeed any Russian contacts on any subject before the election.
Now, if you want to say “Oh! Trump asked Flynn to talk behind Obama’s back during the transition!”, well, yeah. Probably. And so what? It would not be the first time this kind of thing has happened during party changes. Nor is it a bad thing. Nor is it outside what you might expect during a TRANSITION.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:20 amhappyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:16 am
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:23 amMueller never found anything so he has to manufacture it
He knows that few will look beyond the headlines, so all he has to do is indict for “crimes” ancillary to his investigation and, like the Scooter Libby case, people will think the investigation found something.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:24 amFinancial funny bizness can be complex and involved. Trumpsters are excused from class.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:24 amAnd this already proves that Trump was guilty of obstruction of justice when he fired the FBI director to cover up the original investigation of this friend and close advisor’s, er, ah, “former Obama administration official’s” felony.
No president is guilty of anything for firing an executive official. Congress tried to outlaw firings once, and even impeached a president when he fired the rat-bastard anyway. Later the Supreme Court said the Prez can do that BY RIGHT.
Next you’ll tell me that an AG using prosecutorial discretion can be charged with obstruction. And right after that the entire edifice of government disintegrates into endless charges of obstruction.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:29 amWaiting for the FBI to plead guilty to lying to the American people. There oughtta be a Law!
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:30 am50 Trump has no ideology..well maybe pieology or cakeology. His svelte physique tells us.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:00 am
At least we’ll never see him in Mom Jeans, Rear Admiral BeenBurned! Winning!!!!!
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:34 amRanch:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/01/explosives-found-in-package-near-german-christmas-market-potsdam
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:35 amReading the thread, I see the lefty premature victory emincelation has begun in light-loafered earnest.
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:44 amThey never fail to amuse, bless their hearts and pointyheads
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:46 amI guess you mean, “not one iota other than the meeting between the campaign manager, son and son-in-law, which they set-up and attended to facilitate a gift from the Russian intelligence services intended to influence the election”. That seems like a fairly big iota to me.
Oh, and the fact that his campaign manager was a paid Russian agent who secretly laundered millions of dollars from the Kremlin for his services. That seems like another medium-to-large iota.
But other than that, and some smaller iotas from Carter Page, George Papadopoulos and Kushner all admitting contacts that they and/or the campaign had previously categorically denied, yeah, nobody got nuthin’ on Trump!
Is Flynn’s confession the end of the story? Of course not. These things proceed in stages. Getting Flynn (and hopefully Manafort) to sing is major breakthrough for Mueller. In addition, Flynn’s plea to a felony that Trump tried to cover up should strengthen the nexus for the eventual obstruction charges that Trump has already confessed to on television.
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:49 amSo, you’re saying that if Trump carried out his fantasy of shooting someone on Fifth Avenue, he could fire any federal official who tried to investigate it (for the sake of argument, let’s suppose he shoots a mailman, making it a federal crime…), without being guilty of obstruction?
I guess he was right about what his true believers are prepared to let him get away with…
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:57 amAny questions now why the FBI neither put Hillary under oath nor recorded the interview, not even notes?
Deep State getting busy!
harkin (9803a7) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:03 amMincing, mincing, mincing
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:03 amHe’s a mincing machine
Transparency, harkin!
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:05 amJames Comey today on Twitter:
And then:
LOL. Shorter version: “Suck it, pumpkin boy.”
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:07 amThis at least gets all the lefty sexual assault/perversion/harrassment out of the news.
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:07 amThat’s what amounts to “Winning!!!!” for them these days…
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:08 amteh irony is lost on Comeytose
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:09 amIn other news, the first name has been revealed within the slush fund congress has been using to pay off harassment claims:
Blake Farenthold (R-Texas)
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/01/blake-farenthold-taxpayer-funds-sexual-harassment-274458
Davethulhu (fab944) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:10 amPerhaps a friendly journalist puppet can find it and leak it for him…
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:10 amhttps://pjmedia.com/election/chris-matthews-democrats-pissed-white-working-class-voters-long/
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:15 amA moment of honesty from Mr. Tingles…
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:15 amthat wasn’t sexual harassment allegations Mr. Farenhold was faced with that was hostile work environment
very different things
i’d be very disappointed if he resigned over that
sounds like he made a bad hire is all
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:16 am@93
From the article I linked
Davethulhu (fab944) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:20 amyeah i doubt it
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:21 am72. Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:24 am
The investigation created something – the pre-Mueller investigation.
This is how it started – I think this is approximately what happened:
President Obama placed moderate sanctions on Russia for their interfering in the election – not just hacking (he understood and tolerated and expected spying) – but leaking to Wikileaks and other places. Also maybe their attempts to tamper with the voter registration system, and maybe even get into the software, all of which started too late to affect anything.
All along they had considered that, if they did this, there would be retaliation. If he expelled some Russian diplomats, U.S. diplomats would be expelled from Russia.’
That didn’t happen.
Then trump tweeted that Putin had made wise decision.
This activated the curiosity of Obama Administration officials.
Was there any contact between Russian diplomats and trump transition people? yes there was? What was said? So they found that Russian Ambassador to the USA Sergei Kislyak had discussed with an American if trump would lift the sanctions and the American had said that if theer was no retaliation it would be easier. Or something like that. Who ws this American, tey asked. Unmask him! It was Mike Flynn.
So far so good. Legal.
Then somebody wanted to get Trump to revoke this appointment of Mike Flynn. So they leaked to David Ignatius of the Washington Post — a minor leak – that Flynn had had conversations with Kislyak. And a possible violation of the Lacey Act.
This was illegal.
Flynn was asked about it and said he hadn’t discussed sanctions. It was a Christmas greeting and condolence call for the crash of that Russian airplane going to Syria. And this and that but not anything about sanctions.’
Flynn got appointed National Security Adviser.
The insiders knew he was lying. And Trump was not bothered by the Lacey Act problem.
So they set out to get Flynn into more trouble. With the idea of getting him fired. For patriotic reasons let us assume. Because they didn’t trust Mike Flynn.
So now he gets questioned by the FBI. What did he talk about? He lies. At the end they tell him they know what he said and and is he certain and he starts talking about a bad memory.
Meanwhile acting Attorney general Sally Yates sends a criminal referral over to the White House. I think it is about what Flynn really talked about. Possible violation of the Lacey Act.
‘
White house counsel looks at it. It seems OK what Flynn said. He didn’t make any commitments. Trump doesn’t have any problem with what Flynn said even though he didn’t tell Flynn to say that. It worked out well, didn’t it? Russia didn’t retaliate. Russia got no promises in return.
So now they leak about the content of the call. Flynn can’t deny it – he can’t repeat what he told the press and Mike Pence and others after the first leak. He’s told the FBI that his memory could be bad. And he knows it was eavesdropped on. So he engages in double talk.
He gets questioned also by Sean Spicer. And Reince Priebus. Also doubletalk. He doesn’t sound honest. Trump feels compelled to fire him – for lying to Mike Pence (back in early January before January 15, before Pence went on Meet the Press I think it was.) Trump needs good relations with the Vice President.
But when Trump meets FBI Director Comey he says to him privately that he thinks Flynn is a good guy and he hopes he can see his way clear to not charging him – he doesn’t really want to see him prosecuted (for lying to the FBI – which is the only investigation at issue)
The very next day the FBI leaks (illegally) to CNN that they won’t prosecute him.
Now that’s what Flynn pleaded guilty to.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:21 amMoar Winning!!!!!!!
“The Trump administration switched sides Wednesday in a case pending before the Supreme Court that could retroactively nullify tens of thousands of agency decisions.
The case, Lucia v. SEC, has major implications for the process by which federal agencies try or punish those in violation of laws or regulations.
The litigation concerns an agency’s decision to allow career bureaucrats to preside as the functional equivalent of judges during enforcement proceedings. These officials, called administrative law judges (ALJs), are hired by career bureaucrats. They are not appointed by the president, a court or an agency head, but they exercise significant authority on behalf of the U.S. government in official proceedings.
ALJs can, among other things, issue subpoenas, make decisions about the credibility of witnesses or the admissibility of evidence, and issues provisional rulings that are generally upheld on final review — if a final review occurs at all.”
http://dailycaller.com/2017/11/30/this-trump-decision-is-a-major-blow-to-the-administrative-state/
Colonel Haiku (63965c) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:21 amI think your problem is with the special counsel law, because once he is named a special counsel he can pursue any wrongdoing. He isn’t limited to the initial issues to be investigated.
DRJ (15874d) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:28 amsleazy attorney general jackoff rod rosenstein didn’t even follow the law when he appointed Herr Mueller
he just said go fish
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:43 am100% correct.
By doing exactly what you predicted they’d do and I quoted.
NJRob (d9cfb8) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:43 am“Nevertheless, as I explained in connection with George Papadopoulos (who also pled guilty in Mueller’s investigation for lying to the FBI), when a prosecutor has a cooperator who was an accomplice in a major criminal scheme, the cooperator is made to plead guilty to the scheme. This is critical because it proves the existence of the scheme. In his guilty-plea allocution (the part of a plea proceeding in which the defendant admits what he did that makes him guilty), the accomplice explains the scheme and the actions taken by himself and his co-conspirators to carry it out. This goes a long way toward proving the case against all of the subjects of the investigation.
That is not happening in Flynn’s situation. Instead, like Papadopoulos, he is being permitted to plead guilty to a mere process crime. A breaking report from ABC News indicates that Flynn is prepared to testify that Trump directed him to make contact with the Russians — initially to lay the groundwork for mutual efforts against ISIS in Syria. That, however, is exactly the sort of thing the incoming national-security adviser is supposed to do in a transition phase between administrations. If it were part of the basis for a “collusion” case arising out of Russia’s election meddling, then Flynn would not be pleading guilty to a process crime — he’d be pleading guilty to an espionage conspiracy.”
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454269/michael-flynn-plea-less-newsworthy-it-seems
harkin (aeabd2) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:45 amYes, the irony of “lock her up”. This whole thing just gets weirder and weirder.
noel (b4d580) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:52 amnobody’s saying sleazy US Army General Mike Flynn isn’t a skeevy douchebag Mr. noel
NOBODY
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:57 amCan’t lock her up if you give her special treatment at every turn.
harkin (aeabd2) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:57 amKevin M — completely agreed that what Flynn has pled guilty to has nothing to do with the election or collusion during the election.
That said, he got a plea deal for a reason. It seems very likely that he had something on someone, and agreed to gave it up.
What that something is, and who it’s on, is an open question. It *could* be the smoking gun on collusion. It could be something smaller.
Both the Trumpists and the anti-Trumpists will see what they want, in that.
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:59 amcorrupt slutboy Robert Mueller’s job is to keep the investigation open as long as possible to make it undesirable to join the administration and to inhibit policy coordination and execution as much as possible
this is not complicated
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:03 pmThe investigation really hasn’t been going on that long, as federal investigations go.
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:12 pmno but it’s a marathon not a sprint is all i mean to say
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:17 pmoh here is a current event btw for you:
Cook County pop tax goes away today
wow that’s clever
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:20 pmKevin, Harkin, NJRob been readin’ too many Fox ‘Cairos’- they be broadcasting today from Egypt in de ‘Nile.’
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:26 pmWhat does Mueller know now that the USG surveillance activities conducted under whatever means didn’t already know at the time of his appointment? Thus far the SC’s activities appear to be laundering selective results of Obama’s surveillance of the Trump campaign that were illegally leaked and questionably gathered during the campaign. This fusion of intel/LE for political reasons is the real threat – not talking to foreign government officials during a political campaign or transition.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:31 pm> What does Mueller know now that the USG surveillance activities conducted under whatever means didn’t already know at the time of his appointment?
We don’t know, and by design we *can’t* know. That’s how criminal investigations work.
> This fusion of intel/LE for political reasons is the real threat – not talking to foreign government officials during a political campaign or transition.
I agree that intelligence agencies meddling in domestic politics is a threat. But so is campaigns working with foreign governments. (Note that I have no problem with the *transition* working with foreign governments; that’s a different beast entirely).
So how do you balance concern for the threats, and how do you design a system which protects against both threats?
*Any* such system is going to need to have a place for investigations which don’t reveal their findings while the investigation is ongoing, and which are immune to interference from the people being investigated.
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:34 pmAnother conviction by the federal bureau of incompetents that amounts to a Martha Stewart crime.
mg (60b0f7) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:36 pmHf, I already bought and drank my can of Coke and I was smart enough to say no to a plastic bag.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:36 pm“Everyone quickly figured out,” Mr. Young wrote, that “having a massive group of people all dressed the same with their faces covered not only helps in defending against the police, but also makes it easier for saboteurs to take the offensive against storefronts, banks and any other material symbols and power centers of capitalism and the state.”
From NYTimes article praising Antifa’s fashion sense: ‘What to wear to smash the state’ (5 will get you 10 the title will probably change after scrutiny).
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/style/black-bloc-fashion.html?referer=
harkin (bd8145) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:58 pmyeah that damn bag’s how they git you now
i’m pretty excited to be honest though
when i went to Texas over thankful, i seriously got a Diet Coke in the airport before going to baggage claim
but i’m also really fond of my homemade crystal light, and that’s not going away
so for sure this was a good if somewhat harrowing experience
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 12:59 pmoh the recipe for the crystal light has changed as I upped the xylitol if anyone needs it let me know
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:00 pm105. aphrael (e0cdc9) — 12/1/2017 @ 11:59 am
This is also a counter-intelligence investigation it’s been said. he might have alot of ifoormation on Russia. And Turkey.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:09 pmTrump told associates as recently as last weekend — while he was visiting his Mar-a-Lago resort for Thanksgiving — that he isn’t worried about the outcome of Mueller’s probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, which has grown to encompass his response to the investigation.
But there is a growing sense of dread among Trump’s closest confidants that the noose is tightening — if not around the president, then around his closest advisers and family members.
Abject delusion often leads to surprise
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/01/trump-white-house-michael-flynn-response-274518
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:21 pm‘Martha Stewart crime dine’: Chicken Kiev tonight, Captain, sir! Extra butter!
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:21 pmCobb added: “The conclusion of this phase of the Special Counsel’s work demonstrates again that the Special Counsel is moving with all deliberate speed and clears the way for a prompt and reasonable conclusion.”
That is beyond wishful thinking. It is borderline delusion.
Flynn’s future testimony might not stand up in court, given that he will have been convicted of lying. But the information he provides will help Mueller hound anyone and everyone in the Trump orbit, in pursuit of the swamp’s political revenge.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:24 pmhttp://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/01/white-house-lawyer-ty-cobb-predicted-russia-probe-thanksgiving/
So the NYT is following the Dotard-in-Chief’s lead in promoting violent extremist groups?
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:27 pmCobb must feed the Chief Narcissist the nectar of bonehead optimism.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:33 pmAdmiral Ben Burn — what’s the evidence that leads you to conclude that Mueller is pursuing “the swamp’s political revenge” rather than actual criminal activity?
I mean, I don’t *know*, because that’s how federal investigations work. I can infer that Flynn must have given them something reasonably actionable in exchange for the plea bargain, but I have no idea what that is.
But you seem to *know* that there’s nothing to it, and that it’s nothing more than political revenge.
How do you know that? What’s your evidence?
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:34 pmPlease excuse any mixed metaphors when discussing TRump.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:35 pmBut you seem to *know* that there’s nothing to it, and that it’s nothing more than political revenge.
Please direct me to the graf.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:38 pmaphrael, the system design is fine as long as the actors don’t use or abuse their authority to treat political differences as criminal or to turn the all-sensing power of the USG against political adversaries or those who fall out of the government’s favor. Neither side in this affair has been particularly candid about their actions. One side treats the other like spies and criminals and the other side objects to being treated as spies and criminals while their quibbles contradicted by surveillance reports take them down one at a time. I remain open to the possibility that the Trump team has acted far outside the bounds of normal political behavior but what I see is an investigation that looks more like a cleanup of questionable or improper actions by the Obama administration’s intel/LE leaders. The justification for the surveillance activities producing the information leading to admissions like Flynn’s is the key to understanding how appropriate or inappropriate it was.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:41 pmWall st had a sad over Flynn. It recovered and finished down only 41 pts
Imagine when it hits the fan for reals.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/01/investing/dow-drops-flynn-trump/
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 1:45 pmRabbb
mg (60b0f7) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:09 pmhttps://www.cartoonmovement.com/depot/cartoons/2011/04/08/smoke_signals__jan_erik_ander.jpeg
The Russia issue was front and center during much of the general election campaign and yet these guys just had to keep talking to the Russians? Then lie about it? Even my slow brain knows that the CIA and FBI monitor these things.
For smart people, they sure are dense.
noel (b4d580) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:16 pmStupidity is contagious, and they were working for the “Typhoid Mary” of stupid…
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:24 pmOh happyfeet. You say, “Nobody’s saying sleazy US Army General Mike Flynn isn’t a skeevy douchebag Mr. noel… NOBODY”
Psst. Are you inferring that the Commander in Chief is a NOBODY?
noel (b4d580) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:26 pmI’m not a criminal defense lawyer or a prosecutor – I’m a transactional lawyer, albeit with a few decades of experience. But I don’t understand the guilty plea when he’s open to indictment for any other crimes. If there was a lot of evidence of other crimes I have to believe there would be more internal cooperation and testimony before a plea deal.
What puzzles me is that if Flynn says he was ordered to contact Russia, the order has to be criminal somehow in order for the order to matter. Aside from specious Logan Act fantasies that a lot of the administration’s enemies have (and would hate to have used against them in the future) it’s hard to see how the order would be anything but what I would expect an incoming administration to do.
But supposing Mueller now wants to get, say, Jared Kushner. Kushner knows they want to get him for false statements or twist ordinary behavior into a crime so he simply pleads the Fifth. Mueller indicts him with nothing more than Flynn’s testimony. Flynn has already pleaded guilty to lying and has demonstrably lied on other occasions and broken lobbying laws too. When he is cross-examined about these other acts he has to plead the Fifth because he can’t admit them. So he has admitted lies, and demonstrable lies and misdeeds that he can’t comment on because he’s invoking the Fifth. And Obama said don’t hire Flynn – we get Obama administration testimony or an unseemly refusal by that administration to provide the testimony.
At that point, what has the prosecution proven? I have no idea whether there is more that is available from other sources. But if there isn’t I don’t see how this inquiry goes further other than some investigatory end-of-life noise for awhile.
Lazlo Toth (0699ca) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:37 pmJared Kushner is the “very senior member” of President Donald Trump’s transition team who directed incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn to contact the Russian ambassador to the United States and other countries about a UN Security Council vote on Israeli settlements, sources familiar with the matter tell CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/01/politics/jared-kushner-michael-flynn-russia/
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:42 pmPlead abject ignorance, Nuke ’em from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:43 pmPlease don’t call me “mr. noel”, happyfeet. You’re making me feel a little old.
Unless that “mr.” is short for mentor or something.
noel (b4d580) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:43 pmcheck up for robert
mg (60b0f7) — 12/1/2017 @ 2:58 pmhttps://imgur.com/gallery/mSbiD5u
I love dogs.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:01 pmMr. noel I love President Trump so much.
He’s the best president i ever had my whole life.
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:02 pmoops sorry i was replying to your more earlier comment I just now saw about the “mr. noel” thing
i will endeavour to remember your preferences in this regard
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:03 pmEven apart from anything Flynn gives him, Mueller has now established that in pressuring, threatening and eventually firing the FBI director, Trump was carrying out a corrupt scheme to cover-up a felony.
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:07 pmThanks happyfeet. You’re a true friend.
The way you converse, you kind of remind me of my Ukrainian buddy at the gym. Good guy.
noel (b4d580) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:13 pmMueller’s an effing dork is what Mueller has now established
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:13 pmthank you!
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:13 pmOK now, happyfeet. Be nice.
Just how does Mueller getting a guilty plea and an agreement to cooperate from Flynn make him an “dork”? Sorry, “effing dork”.
Thats a whole lot tougher than a ham sandwich indictment, right?
noel (b4d580) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:32 pmherr mueller’s blowing through tens of millions of dollars and all he has is silly and contrived martha stewart piffle-puff to show for it
that’s just sad and demeaning, and not just for himself – he shames the whole Mueller family by his unmanly deeds
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:38 pmSo Mcfarlane had flynn to speak every ambassador to swing a UN layering of Israel,doesn’t sound so ominous now does it?
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:49 pmCool move. A joyous Noel to you and yours.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 3:50 pmVery near beer:
https://mobile.twitter.com/ByronYork/status/936733787781779457?p=v
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:12 pmIf the brand is in danger Trump will ditch Jared and Ivanka just as Nixon ditched Haldeman and Ehrlichman.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:18 pmYes. The honor amongst thieves at least achieves a Nixonian level. We assume DICK! was a loyal American but we shall never know.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:21 pmSilly rabbit:
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:21 pmhttps://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-gets-until-monday-to-decide-on-moving-embassy-to-jerusalem/
silly rabbit
Netanyahoo wants to use that moving company 7 Dancing Israelis formerly of New York. I think that’s the sticking point.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:24 pmOops sorry about that,
https://mobile.twitter.com/oliverdarcy/status/936746822688739329
Paging Brian Ross, to the white courtesy phone
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:26 pmPass the quail in papaya sauce:
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:29 pmhttp://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/01/former-nsa-employee-kept-top-secret-information-at-home.html
“So the NYT is following the Dotard-in-Chief’s lead in promoting violent extremist groups?”
Since the Times supported the Soviets for decades and even had editorials comparing Iraq insurgents to the minutemen, I’d say their lead is safe.
harkin (bd8145) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:34 pmWell the times was as bad as molotov monthly, (new York review) want there some leading cultural figure who had a very special tie to that publication, ah yes weinsteins dismissed assistant who called him out seven years ago.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:43 pmUca
So about that detail:
https://mobile.twitter.com/FoxNews/status/936626946427023362?p=v
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:52 pm154 – Poor Brian Ross, needing to have the difference between candidate and president-elect explained.
https://twitchy.com/gregp-3534/2017/12/01/heads-should-roll-abc-news-corrects-brian-ross-on-candidate-trump-vs-president-elect-trump/
Wasn’t he the guy who tried to blame the CO theatre shooting on the tea party?
harkin (bd8145) — 12/1/2017 @ 4:54 pmSearch for honest Republican dies with his Party.
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/362850-corker-to-vote-no-on-gop-tax-bill
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:06 pmThe William blunt wannabe, those words you are using.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:09 pmcorker’s an anti-semitic twat
he’s like a fuzzy HR McMaster
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:35 pmThose Haslam flunkies have the sh!t touch, just look at the Tennessee athletic department and their recent hijinks.
urbanleftbehind (fc08fe) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:38 pmMr. Feet, tweet the Twitter-In-Chief: “Burn the tapes.”
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:39 pmThen again, haslam isn’t running again either, OT what of the fsu/texas a&m swap?
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:42 pmit’s not cold enough for a fire yet Mr. DCSCA
i have my window open even
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:47 pmYou’ll always have Nixon to reminisce on, DGEEZR!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:48 pmI promise to push Harriet Gunman off of the 20 and in her stead put whoever is man enough to say “Zivjeli!”
urbanleftbehind (fc08fe) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:55 pmBrian Eno Does Not Have A Twitter Account
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:55 pmLeon Panetta withdraws from the Premature Leftwing Emincelation, he’s not impressed: https://ntknetwork.com/leon-panetta-its-a-stretch-to-say-trump-team-broke-law-with-russian-contacts/
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/1/2017 @ 5:58 pmSearch for Democratic gentleman only brings in another boor:
“A woman who worked as the finance director for a promising Nevada Democrat is alleging that he repeatedly harassed and made sexual advances toward her during his 2016 congressional campaign — and like many young people on campaigns all over the country, she did not know what to do with her complaint and didn’t feel comfortable bringing it to the campaign’s leadership.
So she quit her job. And he’s now in Congress.”
https://www.buzzfeed.com/katenocera/she-says-she-quit-her-campaign-job-after-he-harassed-her?utm_term=.mcGMyeKdq#.rnVvGeVl2
harkin (bd8145) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:06 pmThe curious thing is praljak was a former filmmaker, it as if scores or mike Nichols became a general, but until last year he was definitely a trivial pursuit curiosity
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:12 pmI’d say more of the latte because the kind of film he specialized in:
Mhttps://vlada.gov.hr/news/pm-praljak-s-act-speaks-of-deep-moral-injustice-towards-bosnian-croats/22949
He looked a little like the late art carney or Theodore bikel
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:17 pmDemocrat Delivery Diva Drops Drawers Pinches-off Prolific Ponyloaf!
Gee… thanks Jeff Bozo! http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/11/30/pooping-amazon-home-sacramento-video/
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:21 pmI think your problem is with the special counsel law, because once he is named a special counsel he can pursue any wrongdoing. He isn’t limited to the initial issues to be investigated.
No, my primary problem is with all the sophomoric comments on this blog from 3 or 4 people.
As for Mueller, that he wants to “go after” any “wrongdoing” he can get a conviction on is pretty much par for the course. The Plame case lasted years and got ONE PERSON for lying about something that wasn’t even a crime. So far the same here. The contacts that Flynn lied about were unlikely criminal (as Leon Panetta said today and many commenters agree).
Note also that he pled guilty to lying, but apparently did so in order to spare his son some difficulty. Like torture, extorting a plea does not always yield truth.
So far, Mueller has found one person in Washington who told a lie. Target-rich environment.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:24 pmWouldn’t it be fun if someone accused Mueller of sexual harassment?
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:25 pmA better link, they couldn’t go after tudjman itzabegovic, because they are demised.
https://www.rferl.org/a/balkans-without-borders-mostar-bridge-praljiak/28884107.html
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:28 pmFBI oughtta he picked up on racketeering charges: http://althouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/these-new-fbi-documents-show-fbi-was.html
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:32 pm“The documents show the FBI worked to make sure no more details of the meeting would be revealed to the American people. No wonder the FBI didn’t turn these documents over until Judicial Watch caught the agency red-handed hiding them. These new documents confirm the urgent need to reopen the Clinton email scandal and criminally investigate the resulting Obama FBI/DOJ sham investigation.”
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:33 pmDana–
In case you haven’t heard, ABC has retracted that word “candidate.”
https://hotair.com/archives/2017/12/01/abc-hugely-damning-report-trump-flynn-earlier-might-gotten-one-tiny-detail-wrong/
https://twitter.com/oliverdarcy/status/936746822688739329/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fhotair.com%2Farchives%2F2017%2F12%2F01%2Fabc-hugely-damning-report-trump-flynn-earlier-might-gotten-one-tiny-detail-wrong%2F
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:38 pmPapadopoulos also pled guilty to lying.
DRJ (15874d) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:40 pmSomething g I hadn’t considerd, malbeek is predominantly accessible from malbeek by bridge, so in the event of a social dislocation in that region,
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:42 pmUntil I reread black widow, so why is a criminal coverup not apply able in Tucson, rhetorical question.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:46 pm@ Dave, who wrote:
This is absolutely wrong. Mueller has now established that Mueller made false statements to the FBI. Not a single damned other thing has been proved or established; and not a single thing at all has been established by this guilty plea as against anyone other than Flynn, who — by virtue of this plea — will no longer be able to contest the established fact that he lied to the FBI on the specific included within the plea. Nothing that Flynn did or could have said in this plea would have ever, under any circumstances, have been binding upon Trump or any other potential defendant in any future criminal proceeding. So there is no part of this statement which is remotely correct.
Beldar (fa637a) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:48 pmExcuse me: Mueller has established that Flynn made false statements to the FBI. Sorry for the editing mistake.
Beldar (fa637a) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:49 pmmichael flynn’s a dirty trashy army-liar that’s all he is
they should call him General Liar cause that’s all he does is lie all the time
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:56 pmQuick custidirs custidium:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/14/fbi-director-denies-cover-up-involving-fast-and-furious-guns-found-at-border.html
How about learner, paz koskinen re tea party targeting by the IRS,
The latter actually attempted to destroy evidence.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 6:57 pm@166. But the heat is on, Mr. Feet. Strike a deal– or strike a match.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:11 pmVery convenient, don’t you think:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/13/officials-say-no-evidence-criminal-charges-warranted-so-far-in-irs-targeting.html
Jystivr delayed is justice denied.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:11 pmKevin M,
There is a reason we care about lying and a reason we care about overcriminalizing lying. It is a delicate balance:
DRJ (15874d) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:13 pm187
It’s almost as if as long as you’re on the correct side, the FBI will not only ignore it, they’ll help cover it up.
harkin (8fd90b) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:14 pm180… the market took a hit over that bit of disinformation. Another pinheaded Brian Ross Eff-up.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:16 pmLike say cover up the assassination of an ambassador by a terrorist group (we saw the end result this week in wash grin) the quartermastering of perhaps two even three criminal cartels, the delivery of 150 billion in frozen assets including precious metals as an inducement to a nuclear power.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:19 pmthis whole heat thing seems super over-rated to me and i think you can tell this is true by how President Trump wasn’t compelled to hit the twatter on this
literally *nobody* cares about an over-promoted army-trash loser like Mike Flynn
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:20 pmnot even his dopey pothead son i bet
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:21 pmNo coronello as I pointed out in the Althouse link, brian ross has committed enemy action. Not mere error.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:21 pmIt depends do you only want hacks like admiral Kirby, fir instance who will justify any betrayal of an ally or his own former service.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:24 pmDRJ–
Yes, of course. But the point that I m making and you seem intent on missing, is that there is as yet no SUBSTANCE here.
This could have just as easily been an investigation of flying saucers and somebody lied. That does not say a single thing about flying saucers. And yet, the news media and the Left (birm) seem to be implying that it does.
Again: lies prove nothing. Flynn was FIRED for these lies already, when he told them to Pence.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:25 pmAnd, I point out again, the damning lie told this morning was from the news media when ABC said that Flynn got his orders from candidate Trump.
Something that needs correction in Dana’s post as well (Reportedly, Flynn is also “prepared to testify that candidate Trump directed him to make contact with the Russians.”).
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:28 pmThere are numerous justifications for criminalizing lying: lies frustrate investigations, waste time and resources, and threatened incorrect results. But lies by government actors threaten even greater harms: they interfere with democratic self-governance by concealing relevant information from the voting public, undermine faith in institutions, and may implicate areas with informational imbalances, making uncovering lies particularly difficult.
And yet lying to the public by “government actors” (or by news media, which is just as bad) is not a crime.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:30 pmmr. flynn you lied about not committing a crime
well eff me up the butt i guess herr mueller
precisely. Now pls to sign this plea bargain what will magically turn you into a pair of lacy panties
ok
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:30 pmSo you have the rhodes road show echo chamber (which overlaps with the journolust) as the tablets lee Harris noted, a successor operation is effect re the Saudi/iranian proxy fight involving ignatius of bozos, and erdbrink of Carlos slims
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:38 pmthe damning lie told this morning was from the news media when ABC said that Flynn got his orders from *candidate* Trump
and corrupt fbi slutboy Jim Comey got so excited he found Jesus
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:47 pmi can’t stop listening to this
the show’s a guilty pleasure too
what’s kooky is i looked around for a live performance anyone had done of it
and the ones i found, they’re all just awful
i take that to mean these ones in the youtube are making it sound much easier than it is
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 7:49 pmPost updated with ABC’s correction.
Dana (023079) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:00 pmit’s more fun without the clarification cause that way we can pretend Herr Mueller and his sleazy fbi gestapo accomplished something with the tens of millions they’ve spent
oh well
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:04 pmYes but then it comes a time ‘ to put away childish things’ and face the truth. We remember what that used to be like
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:10 pmand then mary engalls goes blind and trips over the oil lamp and the whole damn cabin burns down and everyone dies
thanks a lot Mary
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:13 pmLying FBI need a thorough housecleaning, starting at the top.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:15 pmWell this Wray fellow seems an ok sort, but you have to remove mccabe and prietap, and the fellow who throws every foia into a round basket.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:23 pmSubmitted without comment:
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-doesnt-understand-bible-because-jesus-isnt-josephs-son-728186
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:29 pmThey probably insulted all three religions, heck of a job.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:30 pmand then newsweek goes blind and trips over the oil lamp and the whole damn cabin burns down and everyone dies
thanks a lot newsweek
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:33 pmCape Wind Associates announced today that it has ceased the development of its proposed offshore wind farm and is surrendering its federal lease for 46 square miles in Nantucket Sound, officially putting an end to a 16-year effort to build the controversial project.
lol pervy mitt romney’s trashachusetts continues to be a smarmy elitist joke even today in the year of our lord Donald trump 2017
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:38 pmThe industrial revolution, have they heard of such a thing.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 8:50 pm@184, Beldar
Yeah, well, you know that’s just like, uh, your opinion, man.
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:29 pmtwo corinthians walk into a bar
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:39 pmThat’s very likely, why do you think Paul had to preach about immorality to Christians, because they had become immersed in this world.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:41 pmSo the second book in the tregillis series starts with a flashback from 1963, where the final volume hadn’t been written yet, of course that world ended in otherworldly apocalypse as in beneath the planet of the apes
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:44 pmIt’s not personal, it’s business:
https://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2017/05/russia-special-counsel-mueller-conspired-radical-islamic-groups-fbi-chief/
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:47 pmBut seriously, it has been alleged by Trump’s partisans that there could be no obstruction of justice, because there was no underlying crime to cover-up. Now it is a matter of record that a felony was committed.
Trump pressured the FBI director, the CIA director, the NSA director, the Director of National Intelligence, and perhaps others, and eventually fired the FBI Director to (by his own admission) corruptly impede the investigation of Flynn’s crime(s).
Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:52 pmNow this is the rest of the story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/kushner-reportedly-told-flynn-to-contact-russians-over-anti-israel-un-resolution/
narciso (d1f714) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:04 pm“Preservation of marine products is of great importance to the coastal poor.”
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:18 pmit’s the smallishness of herr mueller and his picayune fbi gestapo what’s so striking
tiny little men they are
homunculi, really
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/1/2017 @ 10:20 pmNow it is a matter of record that a felony was committed.
Meta-crime on top of meta-crime? This is such a stretch. Let’s analyze what you are saying:
Flynn lies to an FBI agent.
Flynn is fired by the WH for telling Pence a similar lie.
Trump fires the FBI director to stop the FBI from prosecuting Flynn for lying*.
Really? This is the story you want to go with?
—————
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/2/2017 @ 1:08 am*Assuming they wanted to. They don’t have the necessity to be headline wh**es that a special counsel does.
corruptly impede the investigation of Flynn’s crime(s).
The only crime Flynn committed was to lie to an FBI agent. The contacts with the Russians DURING THE TRANSITION were not a violation of any law that would ever be used against a President-elect. Not even Trump. My GOD but you are mouth-frothing today.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/2/2017 @ 1:13 amIt’s good that you corrected the fake news aspect of this post, Dana…
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/936805557029048321/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpjmedia.com%2Ftrending%2Fabc-issues-major-correction-botched-flynn-report-led-dow-plunge%2F
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 7:53 amDave continues to put the “con” in conservative…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 7:55 amHe’ll probably put in a stand a line post:
https://mobile.twitter.com/Debradelai/status/936788621490774016
narciso (000b53) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:42 amIf that was the only crime he committed, why would he plea to it?
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:50 amI like that last post, narciso! Seems to show all of this collusion crap to be as ridiculous as it really is, AND highlights the terrible people of the last administration for what they are.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:53 amCthulhu gasping and grasping… Squidtastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:54 amThe predictable Haiku deflection.
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:56 amGive it time, Cthulhu, all your fevered dreams will be dashed on the rocks.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:57 amAnd I’m loving it, Jerry!!!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:58 amTrump admits to obstruction of justice
https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/937007006526959618
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 10:58 amPresident Trump’s handling this silly and picayune martha stewart nonsense with grace and style
the FBI meanwhile truly needs to grow the eff up
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:13 amBreaking News!… Chuck Todd has been found on the floor and unresponsive in his MTP dressing room, a wastebasket full of used tissue and a nearly empty bottle of Costco Kirkland® Skin Lotion next to him.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:14 amIf there was collusion here, they wouldn’t have had Flynn plead to this one puny count. WTFU!
Joy Behar can’t be reached for comment…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:17 am“The former top FBI official assigned to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election was taken off that job this past summer after his bosses discovered he and another member of Mueller’s team had exchanged politically charged texts disparaging President Trump and supporting Hillary Clinton, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
Peter Strzok, as deputy head of counterintelligence at the FBI, was a key player in the investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server to do government work as secretary of state, as well as the probe into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election.
During the Clinton investigation, Strzok was involved in a romantic relationship with FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who worked for Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, according to the people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The extramarital affair was problematic, these people said, but of greater concern among senior law enforcement officials were text messages the two exchanged during the Clinton investigation and campaign season, in which they expressed anti-Trump sentiments and other comments that appeared to favor Clinton.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/two-senior-fbi-officials-on-clinton-trump-probes-exchanged-politically-charged-texts-disparaging-trump/2017/12/02/9846421c-d707-11e7-a986-d0a9770d9a3e_story.html?utm_term=.f7633cf68ab1
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:24 amWho woulda thunk it!?!?
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:25 amTrump tweets:
Cthulhu describes this as: “Trump admits to obstruction of justice”
This is really all you have to know about the veracity of Mr. Cthulhu.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:26 amSquidtastic!!!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:27 amSo, Trump knew that Flynn lied to the FBI, back when he was fired, and then removed Comey.
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:30 amChief Grasper haiku!
How’s it hanging kernel popcorn?
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:32 amthe bigger reveal is what herr mueller’s penchant for manufacturing process crimes tells us about the sleazy corrupt p.o.s. FBI he ran
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:36 amhttps://lawfareblog.com/flynn-plea-quick-and-dirty-analysis
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:38 amwe also learned a little something about what complete dumbasses your average US Army generals are, especially after they step outside the perimeter of the sleazy joke military
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:39 amCNN’s Chris Cillizza is still pushing the “during the election” crap. Here’s his lead:
And his entire piece hangs on that fake news. Of course, CNN has killed it’s comment section so there is no pushback for this crap.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/01/politics/mike-flynn-indictment-analysis/index.html
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:52 amCilizza is a fool and a journolister but I repeat my self
https://mobile.twitter.com/ThomasWictor/status/937039771054075906?p=v
narciso (d1f714) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:54 ambut of course now our enemies know our military’s led by vainglorious idiots what are so unbelievably stupid they have to be assigned a special private whose only job is to wipe the drool off their silly gay-assed uniforms
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:54 amSo, Trump knew that Flynn lied to the FBI, back when he was fired, and then removed Comey.
See #225. Correlation is not causation. Particularly when it is so tenuous and disproportionate.
Kevin M (752a26) — 12/2/2017 @ 11:56 amAndy McCarthy pulls no punches in exposing the Mueller follies for the dirty and dangerous criminalization of politics it is and makes an interesting proposal to give the architects of Russia-palooza a taste of their own medicine. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but … it’s an interesting idea.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:11 pm@252
Actually, I think Trump is just saying what he thinks sounds good. I doubt he was aware at the time that Flynn had lied to the FBI, but Trump’s gotta Trump.
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:16 pmToo damn’ bad about the “mistake” and “update”. Another juicy Big Hate gone glimmering. Hate when that happens.
Richard Aubrey (0d7df4) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:17 pmSuggestion: Suppose Flynn didn’t lie. Do you think that would make any difference to the fibbies?
it all goes back to the slimy corruption of Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and his cowardly Deputy Attorney General Jeffy Sessions
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:18 pm254. It only took .0003 sec to check. NYT: Flynn Resigns as National Security Advisor “after it was revealed he misled VP Pence and other WH officials about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US. [On] Monday, a former administration official said the Justice Department warned the WH last month that Mr Flynn had not been fully forthright about his conversations with the Russian ambassador.”
Recall that Sally Yates dropped the dime on Flynn with the WH counsel who asked for the evidence that DOJ eventually coughed up and Flynn resigned after that brief investigation.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:33 pm@257 Nobody is disputing that. The new “revelation” in Trump’s tweet is that Trump knew he lied to the FBI not to Pence.
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:35 pmI understand. That’s what Sally Yates visit to the WH was about and why the WH counsel wanted proof.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:38 pmRear Admiral BeenBurned (hat tip, Mr. Baker)
Rear Admiral BeenBurned has closed down his shop.
He didn’t want to, it was all he had got.
Selling stone cold crazy, antifa heat,
Rear Admiral’s collection of chicken legs and feet.
Sadly he left, telling no one goodbye.
Rear Admiral wore his Mom Jeans, pink shirt and trout tie.
In his front pocket he carried his little Red Book
And went straight ’round the bend, with nary a look
His lies and misstatements had ordered his fate.
He laughed and told jokes, a little too late
He kept fvcking chickens, to give him a boost
But those well-rogered chickens all came home… to roost!
Rear Admiral BeenBurned has closed down his shop.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:39 pmHe didn’t want to, it was all he had got.
Selling stone cold crazy, antifa heat,
Rear Admiral’s collection of chicken legs and feet.
The End.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:40 pmI think Yates was concerned about the things that Flynn truthfully told the FBI.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/16/politics/sally-yates-anderson-cooper-cnntv/index.html
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:45 pmDer Kurt has a message for the malcontents… https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/936941753130782720/photo/1
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:47 pmsally yates is the skank what said it was unconstitutional to ban terrorists from coming into the country and the entire Supreme Court told her she was a moron
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:48 pmY’all sure treat the Tux Bill thread like nerd kryptonite.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:54 pmthe tax bill isn’t really a thing until it passes
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:55 pmSafety does not exist in nature.
Helen Keller, sometime during the 20th century.
Wake up and smell the coffee boyzz.
Steve57, later.
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:58 pmHouse Harkonnen will only worsen Rumpublican Senators.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/2/2017 @ 12:58 pmHow much evidence would the one third electorate need to shut their freaking pieholes?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-tweets-he-knew-flynn-lied-to-fbi-when-he-asked-comey-to-let-flynn-go
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/2/2017 @ 1:03 pmYour 60 had some peanut ball resonance haiku. I didnt thin you could get better at anything except idiocratics.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/2/2017 @ 1:07 pm262. I don’t think to two stories are exclusive, Davethulhu. The compromise Yate’s is talking about is that Flynn said one thing to Kislyak privately and another to the FBI, Pence and the public. While his public story was consistent with what he told the FBI, Pence and others it was at odds with the intercepts of Kislyak’s communications. The 18 days is the time it took for DOJ to decide what proof they were willing to release and the time it the WH counsel to validate it before going to POTUS with the results. The Russia hysteria of the time probably explains why he was not fully forthcoming with the FBI and VP but as a former DIA Director who was unpopular with the Obama holdovers it was an exceedingly foolish thing to do.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/2/2017 @ 1:16 pmFeel teh burn, Rear Admiral.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/2/2017 @ 1:23 pmFlynn changed story to FBI, no charges expected. There was no reason for Trump to throw gas on the fire by talking about firing Flynn for lying to the FBI at the time unless he wanted him prosecuted which we know he didn’t because he wanted Comey to let this go.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/2/2017 @ 1:30 pmYou know trump should have thence, and told him the ground rules, a self inflicted injury.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/2/2017 @ 1:32 pm@273
So did the FBI reverse themselves or did they charge him on a different lie?
Davethulhu (6a4a84) — 12/2/2017 @ 2:01 pmThey squeezed him on everything they had on him until he said his “less than fully forthcoming” account was a lie not a result of a hazy recollection during a tumultuous time filled with multitudes of meetings and phone calls to a wide variety of individuals.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/2/2017 @ 2:10 pmHere’s to coming here and finding a country worth s***,
You had best to bow your head when passing Basilone road.
MASTER-AT-ARMS SECOND CLASS MARK A. MAYO
UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For heroism while serving at Naval Station Norfolk Security Detachment, Norfolk, Virginia on 24 March 2014. While performing his duties as Chief of the Guard, Petty Officer Mayo was alerted to a suspicious individual walking towards USS MAHAN (DDG 72) on Pier 1, Naval Station Norfolk. Petty Officer Mayo pursued the individual up the brow of the ship while both he and the Quarterdeck watch-standers directed the individual to stop and provide identification. Failing to comply, the individual approached the Quarterdeck, attacked and disarmed the Petty Officer of the Watch. After boarding the ship, Petty Officer Mayo realized that the Petty Officer of the Watch no longer had control of her weapon. With complete and total disregard for his own personal safety, Petty Officer Mayo immediately placed himself between the Petty Officer of the Watch and the assailant. While fearlessly engaging the assailant and shielding the Petty Officer of the Watch, Petty Officer Mayo was fatally wounded. His exceptionally brave actions saved the lives of four watch-standers and ensured the safety of the entire crew of USS MAHAN (DDG 72). By his courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risk, Petty Officer Mayo prevented the loss of lives, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
For the President,
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/2/2017 @ 2:52 pmJONATHAN W. GREENERT
Admiral, United States Navy
#BlackLivesMatter
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/2/2017 @ 2:58 pmI’ll go on record here saying I don’t think there will be any more criminal charges filed.
I think Mueller is writing a report to DOJ finding nothing criminal, other than those matters that have been charged.
Flynn’s other problems will likely be referred to DOJ for further consideration of whether he should be charged for the issues involving Turkey. They are completely unrelated to the campaign or Russia, and there is no reason DOJ cannot handle those matters. Potentially the same with regard to Manafort’s potential tax issues.
Two people lied to the FBI, and they are being charged with having done so.
My reason for this is that the ostensible target is Kushner.
But Kushner has a very very saavy criminal defense attorney, Abbe Lowell. And Lowell has repeatedly sent Kushner to meet with Mueller’s investigators to answer their questions, and Kushner has continued to provide documents to Cong. investigators and answer their questions. There is no way Lowell would have this continue if he was concerned that Kushner was in jeopardy.
The report Mueller writes will be unflattering for the rookies who were coming into the Trump Admin., and the way they handled some aspects of the transition, but it will conclude there are no further criminal charges to be pursued.
shipwreckedcrew (3881cb) — 12/2/2017 @ 3:07 pmso you don’t think Herr Mueller will play this out at least through November 2018
so which bible bits will corrupt sleazy fbi pickledick Jim Comey’s gonna barf up when he finds out?
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 3:17 pmoopers
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 3:18 pmgonnaABCNEWS Suspends Brian Ross for 4 Weeks Without Pay…
… for doing FAKE NEWS all up in it
let’s be clear about that
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/2/2017 @ 3:20 pmYes. you’re safe. Hillary! could invite every member of the US District Attorney’s office to the San Diego zoo.
Shoot every damn animal.
And then whoop it up with selfies like it never happened.
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/2/2017 @ 3:30 pmIt’s non rape rape.
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/2/2017 @ 3:31 pmhttps://mobile.twitter.com/alimhaider/status/937072530032078848/photo/1
narciso (d1f714) — 12/2/2017 @ 3:41 pmIf Trump knew Flynn had lied to the FBI, then he knew (or should have known) that Flynn was guilty of a felony, and intervening (as he did multiple times, with multiple people) to shield Flynn from investigation is obviously, by definition, obstruction of justice.
I think it’s great that Trump has now expanded on his previous confession to Lester Holt. Keep those tweets coming, President Snowflake!
Dave (445e97) — 12/2/2017 @ 3:57 pmABC suspends Brian Ross for four weeks for screwing up the story.
Dave (445e97) — 12/2/2017 @ 4:09 pmIsrael was weinsteined or keillored by the outgoing administration, a remarkable degree of lack of self awareness, we are a settler if you live anywhere west of Georgia who benefit from the settlements
narciso (d1f714) — 12/2/2017 @ 4:28 pm@287. Or he was set up and bit on some ‘fake news’ bait chummed by a right wing nut. Exhibit A- James O’Keefe.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/2/2017 @ 4:32 pmSenility and dementia may be a good defense strategy for OOJ in an impeachment trial. A Senate jury may show mercy given the symptoms of same in so many of its members.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/2/2017 @ 4:38 pmFor all you legal eagle wannabes out there – A question:
Why would Mueller have Flynn plead guilty to the least possible serious crime in terms of federal felonies, AND include in the terms of the plea agreement a provision that entitles Flynn to have his sentenced reduced in exchange for his cooperation?
Flynn gets to plead to the least serious offense, AND Flynn gets to have the sentence associated with that least serious offense reduced even further.
When that is the outcome of the plea “negotiations”, who do you think was holding the stronger bargaining position going in?
shipwreckedcrew (3881cb) — 12/2/2017 @ 4:53 pmHmmm. Mebbe he couldn’t live with his son carrying a felony conviction on his resume to perpetuity.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/2/2017 @ 4:56 pm293 – you are considering what Flynn’s motives might be. I’m asking what Muellers motives were.
Shipwreckedcrew (7a129a) — 12/2/2017 @ 5:47 pmI recalled that gen. Flynns case was similar to that Richard Allen, Reagan’s first national security advisor, who was dismissed at the end of the first year, but for other conflict issues. Gorka resembled pipes another brilliant eastern European academic, his interest was the soviet’s, Gorka was jihadism
narciso (d1f714) — 12/2/2017 @ 6:09 pmSo Flynn must have some yuuuge dirt on President Snowflake, then?
Maybe Trump promised him he’d take care of the investigation, as he tried, so ineptly, to subsequently do? (And admitted to doing…)
Dave (b9b0e6) — 12/2/2017 @ 6:16 pmFBI defies Congress on info about anti-Trump, pro-Clinton Mueller team member who investigated both.
“By hiding from Congress, and from the American people, documented political bias by a key FBI head investigator for both the Russia collusion probe and the Clinton email investigation, the FBI and DOJ engaged in a willful attempt to thwart Congress’ constitutional oversight responsibility,” Nunes said in a statement Saturday afternoon. “This is part of a months-long pattern by the DOJ and FBI of stonewalling and obstructing this committee’s oversight work, particularly oversight of their use of the Steele dossier. At this point, these agencies should be investigating themselves.”
To add insult to injury, at just the moment the leaked stories appeared, the Justice Department out of the blue notified Nunes that it would meet some of the committee’s demands for information that it had been refusing for months. That didn’t make the chairman happy, either.
“The DOJ has now expressed — on a Saturday, just hours after the press reports on Strzok’s dismissal appeared — a sudden willingness to comply with some of the committee’s long-standing demands,” Nunes said in the statement. “This attempted 11th-hour accommodation is neither credible nor believable, and in fact is yet another example of the DOJ’s disingenuousness and obstruction.””
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/byron-york-nunes-blows-up-threatens-contempt-after-fbi-stonewalls-house-on-russia-investigator-demoted-for-anti-trump-bias/article/2642387
Wonder if this investigator was the same one who decided no need for Hillary to be sworn in nor recorded.
harkin (8fd90b) — 12/2/2017 @ 7:52 pmSwearing her in would have added nothing and the FBI doesn’t record interviews except in very specific circumstances defined in their policies.
Shipwreckedcrew (7a129a) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:07 pmWhy? Did they only talk about grandchildren and wiping servers like, with a cloth?
harkin (8fd90b) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:28 pmSo was ackermans piece about the FBI just fake news or were they the minority
http://heavy.com/news/2017/12/peter-strzok-lisa-page-fbi-trump-texts-affair
narciso (d1f714) — 12/2/2017 @ 8:29 pmSo if the fibbies don’t record interviews, how can they prove somebody lied? Have to take their word for it, I guess.
Richard Aubrey (0d7df4) — 12/3/2017 @ 5:53 amAt one point, Martha Stewart’s public insistence she wasn’t guilty was going to be considered “lying” about the affair. That folded pretty quickly, but the point is…don’t talk to the fibbies. If you insist you didn’t talk to them, and you didn’t, it’s harder for them to make stuff up.
“In Washington, the ostensible story is rarely the real story. We know, for example, that former President Clinton engineered a meeting with President Obama’s attorney general, Loretta Lynch, on the tarmac of the Phoenix Airport on June 27, 2016.
That’s the official story, replete with the charming and intentionally disarming detail that all they talked about was their grandchildren. It was just coincidental, don’t you know, that at the time the FBI was looking into Hillary Clinton’s use of a “personal” email server to send, receive and store classified information.
And it was also simply coincidental that just a few days later, the director of the FBI – who served under Attorney General Lynch – announced that he wouldn’t recommend a prosecution of Hillary Clinton.
What we haven’t known, until now, is that a frantic scramble erupted in the halls of the FBI to cover up this meeting. In fact, the FBI turned its sharp light not on the scandalous meeting between the attorney general and Bill Clinton – but rather on one of the whistleblowers who got the word out.
The organization I head, Judicial Watch, asked the FBI on July 7, 2016, for any records that might pertain to the infamous tarmac meeting. We had to sue after we were ignored by the agency.
Then the FBI told us flat-out that it couldn’t find any records. And we now know that was flat-out untrue. Because, in responding to another one of our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits, the Justice Department gave us heavily redacted documents that showed there were additional documents tucked away at the FBI headquarters.
If not for Judicial Watch’s lawsuits these documents would still be hidden today.
Because of the revelation in our other lawsuit, the FBI – without our knowledge—”reopened” our FOIA request. The agency supposedly found about 30 pages of information, which it needed six weeks to review. The FBI finally gave them to us late Thursday.
Now we know why the FBI played shell games. The documents show that FBI officials were concerned solely about the leaking of details of the tarmac meeting. None of the documents show top agency officials cared one whit about the propriety of the meeting itself, but only about who blew the whistle on the covert tête-à-tête.
In one email, an FBI official writes “we need to find that guy.” And in another we learn that the Phoenix FBI office was contacted “in an attempt to stem any further damage.” An FBI official working on Lynch’s security detail even goes so far as to suggest non-disclosure agreements to keep the full facts from coming forth.
No wonder the FBI didn’t turn these documents over until we caught it red-handed, hiding and lying about them.
Simply put, the FBI appears to be fully complicit in a cover-up that attempted to influence a presidential election for a favored candidate – Hillary Clinton. And the truth was trampled on a Phoenix tarmac.”
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/12/03/new-documents-reveal-fbis-clinton-cover-up.html
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/3/2017 @ 7:17 amFlashback: NYT, April 22, 2017: Comey Tried to Shield the FBI From Politics. Then He Shaped an Election.
Rereading it knowing what we know about Strzok’s indiscretions, involvement in both the Clinton and Trump investigations, as well as the circumstances of his dismissal from Mueller’s team and reluctance of DOJ/FBI to answer Congressional inquiries is interesting to say the least.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/3/2017 @ 7:40 amColonel, crazy.
Richard Aubrey (0d7df4) — 12/3/2017 @ 9:45 amYeah, yeah. But it’s all good because TRUMP!!!!!
299-. Peter Strzok was one of the leaders of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails – ABC News reported in August that he’d been removed from Mueller’s inquiry, but without giving a reason. Strzok was transferred to Human Resources.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 10:10 am300. Richard Aubrey (0d7df4) — 12/3/2017 @ 5:53 am
They do produce contemporaneous (same day presumably) notes, They are called 302s, I think.
But the situation is such that they can give people second chances: “We have information that contradicts that. Is that your final answer?”
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 10:17 am“People who lie to the FBI generally do so because, if they told the truth, they would be admitting to a crime. But the two conversations that Flynn falsely denied having were not criminal. He may have believed they were criminal but, if he did, he was wrong. . . . The second question is why did Mueller charge Flynn only with lying? The last thing a prosecutor ever wants to do is to charge a key witness with lying. A witness such as Flynn who has admitted he lied — whether or not to cover up a crime — is a tainted witness who is unlikely to be believed by jurors who know he’s made a deal to protect himself and his son.”
—- Alan Dershowitz
http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/362948-why-did-flynn-lie-and-why-did-mueller-charge-him-with-lying
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/3/2017 @ 10:45 amNow there should have been memory on how blame was a self inflicted wound:
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/12/feminism_the_fake_indian_the_tragic_state_of_the_fbi_and_the_flynn_flam.html
narciso (d1f714) — 12/3/2017 @ 10:50 amAssumes facts not in evidence.
Even if we take the same, much-criticized attitude toward the Logan Act that saved Hillary Clinton from prosecution (“He broke the law, but we can’t prosecute him for it”) we don’t know everything that was discussed in that conversation, nor do we know for sure that it wasn’t part of a much farther-reaching conspiracy to corrupt the 2016 election with foreign influence.
Given that Trump’s son, son-in-law and campaign manager have confessed to setting up and attending a meeting with Russian intelligence cut-outs to facilitate illegal gifts intended to influence the election, it’s quite possible that Flynn’s conversation was a later component of the same scheme. With the Russians having intervened, massively, in the election to assist Trump, in December it was time to deliver up their pound of flesh.
Dave (445e97) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:18 am306.
That’s probably exactly what hapepend. It’s the Logan Act which, on its face forbids even communication with a foreign country about U.S. foreign policy. It was passed around the time as the Alien and Sedition Acts but Thomas Jefferson’s Republicans did not repeal it.
It has apparently never been used (except to caution people) and is considered a dead letter.
There’s a more limited interpretation in which this refers to purporting to represent the United States government, or a future United States government, but would be very hard to violate.
I think you can tell it was the Logan Act that Mike Flynn was worried about because something new became public with the indictment.
Michael Flynn did not only talk to Russia about sanctions – he tried to get them to veto, or not support, a United Nations Security Council Resolution that the Obama Administration was going to abstain on and let pass.
Mike Flynn told the FBI he only inquired of Russia (and several other countries) how they were going to vote. In reality, he asked them not to vote it. That was on instructions from Jared Kushner.
There wasn’t a reason for Mike Flynn to agree to a plea bargain except for that. Lawyers will not usually be complicit in in pleading someone guilty to a totally bogus charge. It was the lest serious possible charge Mike Flynn could plead guilty to.
The New York times writes that certain accusation are not in the informatio, and seesms to say that therefore Mike Flynn would not have immunity for that. Is that right?
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:18 am308. Dave (445e97) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:18 am
What are you talking about? You mean that meeting in June, 2016 where they were supposedly going to get “dirt” on Hillary? That was the “gift” and there isn’t anything even illegal about that provided that they did not become conspirators in doing something illegal in the United States.
They weren’t told that was Russian intelligence, and it was supposed to be information the Russian chief prosecutor had uncovered. And they didn’t get anything of value, either, anyway.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:24 amDaves cue card only has a few letters, that fit. Strzok seems to have been the bureau’s point person on the dossier, which was an in kind Russian contribution, like the trust operation
narciso (d1f714) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:29 amMore fan fiction, like gave sherman
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/01/abcs-flynn-trump-report-caused-panic-in-the-stock-market-then-they-corrected-the-story-video
narciso (d1f714) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:37 amThat’s the initial email that prompted Trump Jr, Kushner and Manafort to set up a meeting to receive the gift. Trump’s three head lackeys LEAPT at the offer of illegal assistance from agents of the Russian government, and if you don’t think the FSB and SVR were behind it, as part of their documented campaign to influence the election, you are being ridiculous.
Accepting any thing of value as a gift from a foreign principal to influence an election is a violation of US election laws. Conspiring to do so is also against the law.
The Russian intelligence services aren’t running a charity, so a quid pro quo was almost certainly discussed at some point, and Flynn – being policy-literate, unlike Junior, Kushner and Manafort – would have been the natural person to discuss what Trump was prepared to offer the Russians in return for their assistance.
Dave (445e97) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:41 am301.
It definitely wasn”t a coincidnce, but nobody except Bill and Hillary Clinton had to attempt to time it that way.
Hillary Clinton just kept pushing off the interveiew, and after the tarmac meeting she quickly agreed.
My theory is that this was sprung on Loretta Lynch in an attempt to determine whether shehad been warned that Bill Clinton was the target of any investigation. The fact that she didn’t avoid that meeting at all costs meant that Bill and Hillary Clinton were not the targets of a RICO
investigation.
Had he tried to schedule a meeting in advance she would have refused.
Had he arranged to run into her at some event, it wouldn’t be possible for her to avoid meeting with him and the fact that she exchanged a few words with him would tell Bill Clinton nothing.
He needed to “accidently” run into her in a situation where she would need to take a positive decision not to see him, but she could without difficulty.
Bill Clinton managed to keep her talking and probably paid careful attention to hat topics she was willing to discuss and what topics she avoided.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:43 am221. Dave (445e97) — 12/1/2017 @ 9:52 pm
James Comey specifically testified that he didn’t consider that to be pressure.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:46 amThe Guardian discovers a tantalizing clause in Flynn’s plea agreement:
In other words, wearing a wire, or allowing his phone conversations to be recorded, for Mueller.
That would neatly address Dershowitz’s point about pleading guilty to lying. If Mueller has Trump or his lackeys on tape talking about where the bodies are buried, Flynn’s personal credibility won’t really be an issue.
Dave (445e97) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:49 amI’m sure it’s just a coincidence that thanks to the plea agreements the government gets to keep any intercepts used in producing them and any questions about them right where they are, safe from discovery and away from Congressional inquiries for now.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:51 amCertainly, crazy, that was just by happenstance:
narciso (d1f714) — 12/3/2017 @ 11:56 amhttps://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/12/03/brett-baier-interviews-cia-director-mike-pompeo-and-former-director-panetta-at-reagan-defense-forum/
316
I don’t Flynn would risk it out of fear for his son, but he could screw it up with entrapment speech and behaviors. Murky good maybe.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:00 pm316. But Flynn’s guilty plea has already been made public. All that about … participating in covert law enforcement activities ,.. may be boilerplate. Who;s he going to record? Unwary Russians?
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:03 pmSubsequent conversations none of us are privy to, Sammy. Plus the fact we don’t know the time stamps.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:05 pmSammy. And we have to take the fibbies’ word for it that the 302 is actually contemporaneous, accurate, or true.
Richard Aubrey (0d7df4) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:13 pmIIRC, Libby was convicted in the absence of same.
Richard Jewell is not available for comment. They were going to have him write his own confession, but even a bubba rent-a-cop was too smart for them.
Some suspected that Flynn started cooperating last summer.
Presumably the covert law enforcement activities have already taken place.
Dave (445e97) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:16 pm323
Mueller is a Sage of Politics. (the Art of controlling your environment)
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:19 pm323. The only thing is, Flynn was still working together with Trump’s lawyers – until very recently we’ve been told. That could be true if Flynn was wearing a wire against foreigners, and Donald Trump’s Trump’s lawyers knew about it.
In which case it might make a lot of sense that Trump would be really anxious to get this out.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:22 pm325
That could also be stealth Mueller. The recent announcement was just the official pronouncement previously there were sharing that were filtered and scrubbed.
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:25 pmIf there was a substantial crime committed, the Feds most likely wouldn’t have had Flynn plead to this one puny count. It’s really that simple. Now put this explanation away for safekeeping and refer to it when you realize that there was no there there, lefties.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:26 pmRe: Dave @370 in the garbage tax bill thread
Alan Dershowitz, may, at this point, be politically biased in favor of Trump, and he may be exaggerating his certainty, but he’s basically right about the Logan Act and about any obstruction of justice in connection with it. Some of his facts are wrong. Reagan did not negotiate with the Ayatollahs before he was president, although he may have communicated toughness indirectly, causing Iran to conclude a deal with Jimmy Carter.
Not sure his legal analysis is 100% correct – that the Logan Act is a dead letter, but no one wants to see that tested in court. I think people prefer to leave it up in he air. Nobody in Washington politics would actually want to live under it, but abolishing it might invite too much.
Sammy Finkelman (e70ce9) — 12/3/2017 @ 12:47 pmOr Stephen hatfill, that little fishing expedition prompted by kristof, yielded a five million dollar settlement
narciso (d1f714) — 12/3/2017 @ 1:07 pm@327. =Haiku= Gesundheit! ‘If there was a substantial crime committed, the Feds most likely wouldn’t have had Flynn plead to this one puny count. It’s really that simple.’
It’s really this simple:
Dean Pleads Guilty in Deal; Will Aid the Prosecution
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19—John W. Dean 3d, the former counsel to President Nixon, pleaded guilty today to plotting to cover up the truth about the Watergate break‐in.
He made his plea as part of a bargain with the special Watergate prosecutor, Archibald Cox, under which Dean agreed to be a prosecution witness in future proceedings against alleged participants in the cover‐up — including, potentially, against President Nixon.
Mr. Cox allowed Dean to plead guilty irk Federal District Court here to a single felony count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and defraud the United States, punishable by a maximum five‐year prison term and a $10,000 fine, with sentencing deferred until the bargain is kept.
Mr. Cox also promised not to prosecute Dean for any other Watergate‐related crime, reserving only the right to prosecute the lawyer for perjury.
Immunity Fight Ends
In return, Dean gave up his long fight for total immunity from prosecution, and he pledged his “complete cooperation” with the Cox prosecution.
Dean is considered the crucial witness against a number of former high officials in the White House and in the Nixon re‐election campaign, including John N. Mitchell, the former Attorney General, and H. R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman, former Presidential aides.
Beyond that, he is the key witness in any potential proceeding against the President.
In his testimony before the Senate Watergate committee last June, Dean swore that Mr. Nixon had participated in the cover‐up of the break‐in at the Democratic national headquarters on June 17, 1972.
Dean told the committee that the President had said that $1‐million would not be too much to pay for those arrested for the break‐in to keep them silent. The President, Dean went on, knew also that executive clemency had been promised in return for silence.
Dean said that Mr. Nixon had congratulated him on the “good job” he had done in limiting the authorities’ investigation of the break‐in.
This testimony has been denied and the prosecutor’s search for confirmation has led to the confrontation between the President and the prosecutor over the White House tape recordings of conversations between the President and other persons.
Six Acts Tied to Dean
It is not entirely clear that Dean will be permitted to be a witness if those tapes are not turned over. A Federal judge in New York hinted yesterday that without the tapes, he might bar Dean as a witness in the obstruction of justice trial of Mr. Mitchell and Maurice H. Stens. Mr. Cox declined comment on the issue today, saying he wanted to see precisely what the judge had said.
The contours of the CoxDean bargain began to unfold this morning in the courtroom of Chief Judge John J. Sirica of the Federal District Court here. By 10 A.M. the room was filled with participants and with persons who had been forewarned that something was about to happen.
Mr. Dean’s attorney, Charles N. Shaffer, read into the record a letter dated yesterday in which Mr. Cox formally offered the bargain: The Government would “accept‐a guilty plea” to the single count to “dispose of all other potential charges which might otherwise arise out of the investigation of the so‐called Watergate incident and the alleged cover‐up.”
Judge Sirica read the formal charges. The conspiracy to thwart the investigation, the judge read, was carried out in various ways, as follows:
– Suborning perjury.
– Giving false statements and concealing evidence in the trial before Judge Sirica last winter of the men arrested in the break‐in.
– Offering clemency to the defendants.
– Paying to keep the arrested men silent (James F. Neal, the assistant prosecutor largely responsible for the Dean case, later put the payments at $450,000).
– Asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation for information.
– Attempting to get the Central Intelligence Agency to provide the money for the payments.
In furtherance of the conspiracy, Judge Sirica continued reading, Dean had committed six specific “overt acts”: on or about June 27, 1972, he directed G. Gordon Liddy to tell E. Howard Hunt Jr. to leave the United States; he had asked Gen. Vernon A. Walters, the deputy director of the C.I.A., whether the C.I.A. could use covert funds to pay the bail and salaries of those involved in the Watergate break‐in; he had asked the President’s former private attorney, Herbert W. Kalmbach, to raise funds with which to make payments to the Watergate defendants; he had met with Jeb Stuart Magruder of the campaign staff to help Magruder prepare “false, deceptive and misleading testimony” to give the grand jury; he had asked John C. Caulfield to offer executive clemency to James W. McCord, Jr., another of the original defendants, and he had asked L. Patrick Gray 3d, former acting director of the F.B.I., for reports of information gained in the investigation break‐in.
No Promises
The charges read, Judge Sirica called in Mr. Neal to sum up the evidence against Dean. Mr. Neal, who resigned today, for personal reasons, noted that the co‐conspirators included both Magruder and Frederick C. LaRue, special assistant to Mr. Mitchell, both of whom have already pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, as well as “others” unnamed.
Both Mr. Neal and Mr. Shaffer said that the prosecution had made no promises to Dean regarding sentence. Then, after Judge Sirica asked the defendant the customary questions regarding the voluntariness of the plea, the clerk took over. “How do you plead?” he asked.
“I plead guilty,” Dean replied.
President Nixon dismissed Dean last spring. At that point and for months to come, the lawyer held out for a full grant of immunity from prosecution before he would agree to testify, saying he refused to be made the “scapegoat.” The Senate gave him immunity from prosecution based on the use of his Senate testimony, but Mr. Cox held out, insisting on the bargain that Dean accepted today.
In a written statement distributed after court recessed, Dean explained, “Events have resolved that matter, and I have confidence that I cannot and will not be made the scapegoat.” He said, though, that he probably could have escaped conviction on “legal technicalities,” but that that would have been a “shallow victory.”
Mr. Cox did not specify the proceedings in which Dean might be called to testify. In the letter he sent to Dean’s counsel outlining the bargain he was offering, the prosecutor said simply that Dean would be required to testify “in any and all cases” in which he had “relevant information.”
It is not clear whether a President could be prosecuted on criminal charges. In the legal battle involving Spiro T. Agnew, the Justice Department contended that the President, although not the Vice President, was immune from such prosecutions while in office. It is fairly clear, however, that such prosecutions could take place after he leaves office.
http://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/20/archives/dean-pleads-guilty-in-deal-will-aid-the-prosecution-immunity-fight.html
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/3/2017 @ 1:10 pmC’mon, grandpa, that is so half a century ago…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/3/2017 @ 1:15 pmInteresting comparison DCSCA, but at least with Watergate we knew the crime(s) being covered up. As Andy McCarthy and others continue to point out we still don’t know what crime Trump’s committed or Mueller’s investigating.
Flynn’s post election conversation with Kislyak and sanctions was neither illegal or improper but his less than fully forthright description of it in his January FBI interview evidently was. If Flynn were going to be your John Dean you’d expect him to have confessed to the still unknown underlying crime and subsequent attempts to cover it up. Diane Feinstein raised impeachment hopes for some on the Sunday shows today but as leaky as everybody has been so far nothing beyond supposition or innuendo that would warrant Trump’s prosecution or impeachment has surfaced. However, we are beginning to learn the details of improper behavior by more than a few Obama-era officials.
Maybe this will start the stampede of senior republicans to the WH to inform the president he’s going to be impeached and removed as events following Dean’s plea did but it’ll likely take more that this.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/3/2017 @ 1:47 pm@332. History often rhymes. We didn’t know the extent of it at the time, hence the Dean plea and unraveling. Dean himself recently noted Flynn was situated further up the food chain than he was to Nixon, too. OOJ seems to be what they’re building toward. More rhymes: Nixon should have burned his tapes; Trump should stop his tweeting.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/3/2017 @ 2:15 pmAbout 99% of what’s in Flynn’s plea agreement is boilerplate. These are fill-in-the-blank forms used DOJ wide.
Shipwreckedcrew (56b591) — 12/3/2017 @ 4:06 pmSo is the rise in corporate rate from 20 to 22 the beginnings of poison pill? If a tax bill goes through clean at 20, RelucTrump (that part of the party betwern Never and True Trump) gets the one thing it really wants and Trumps utility goes way down.
urbanleftbehind (468cdf) — 12/3/2017 @ 4:13 pmWatch 3 minutes of Dershowitz on Fox&Friends yesterday. Powerline has it linked.
Dershowitz says exactly what folks like me who have played in this arena suspect to be true about the Flynn deal.
Its not a deal that a prosecutor with leverage would make. Its a deal that a prosecutor whose investigation is floundering makes.
shipwreckedcrew (56b591) — 12/3/2017 @ 4:45 pmNo friend of Trump makes the case that The Odds of Impeachment Are Dropping despite the Flynn plea.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/3/2017 @ 4:48 pmThis thread has gone stale but Andy McCarthy’s analysis of the latest developments is worth a look. The implications of his analysis are chilling for our constitutional republic. In a saner time Trump would never have been nominated but if Mueller is using his authority to build a case for impeachment after all of the Russia fear mongering this is going to get real ugly before it gets better.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/4/2017 @ 1:58 pmYes that is the updating of fitz vapors over the espionage act:
https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/282501/
Quelled surpruse
narciso (d1f714) — 12/4/2017 @ 2:01 pmYou reap what you sow..
Admiral Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 12/4/2017 @ 2:02 pm1984 is aspirational:
narciso (d1f714) — 12/4/2017 @ 2:09 pmhttp://thefederalist.com/2017/12/04/fusion-gps-scandal-implicates-media-possible-pay-publish-scheme
narciso, I have a feeling that there’s a lot more we’re going to learn about Strzok and other involved in the activities of the intel/LE community over the past few years. The current and recently departed Obama team may be smuggly enjoying turning the screws against the new administration but I suspect the tables will soon turn if they don’t wise up.
crazy (d99a88) — 12/4/2017 @ 2:13 pm