This thread is for talking about:
The election interference and collusion investigation, both in the FBI and congress.
The firing of James Comey, and continuing fallout of it.
The special counsel, Robert Mueller and his investigation, et all.
Any further claims about wiretapping of Donald Trump.
Things we will not be talking about:
Impeachment, until further notice. So far this includes a lot of speculation with the investigation itself remaining unresolved, so we're leaving it off the table until a notable event happens.
The definition of treason/whether Trump et al can be charged with it. Off the table unless we see that charge on paper.
The media.
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DO NOT POST SETH ABRAMSON TWITTER THREADS IN HERE WITHOUT CORROBORATION FROM RELIABLE SOURCES.
Identify all twitter authors. Don't post from dubious sources or random accounts.
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Official prevention of cross contamination post.
Trump's foreign trip and other foreign policy issues:
Foreign Policy Thread
Trump admin/family corruption and grift not related to Russia:
Corruption/Grift/Ethics Violations in the Trump Administration
General Middle East goings on:
The Middle East Thread
Trump immigration policy, Muslim ban and beyond:
Immigration Policy Thread
Reminder: Watergate comparison/discussion is on topic here, but don't get too into the weeds on it.
Posts
DO NOT POST SETH ABRAMSON TWITTER THREADS IN HERE WITHOUT CORROBORATION FROM RELIABLE SOURCES.
I appreciate this one a lot. I keep getting my hopes up and then remembering the source.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
I'm asking rather than googling because I doubt I will be the only one.
near as I can tell, he's a twitter guy who takes verified information and extrapolates to varying degrees of success. More often than not he's wrong though.
He's very excitable and sensationalizes a lot. So he assembles a fair amount of reasonable information, adds in some innuendo and rumor and draws STUNNING CONCLUSIONS. He's not necessarily wrong, but he's not careful so leaps to conclusions quickly. He's a much shittier version of Josh Marshall, who is the person you should actually follow for all Russian collusion needs.
For example, here's him today on ways in which Stephen Miller might be screwed.
James Comey, as head of the FBI, was investigating whether or not Russia interfered with the 2016 elections and if they did, did they have assistance from any Americans in doing so.
He was then fired by Donald Trump, with the strong backing of Stephen Miller and Jared Kushner in particular.
Jeff Sessions had recused himself after the first lie he told about his contact with Russian entities during the campaign, so public pressure mounted and forced Deputy Attorney General Ron Rosenstein to appoint a special counsel in the matter to investigate the firing of Comey and whether it constituted obstruction of justice as well as whatever crimes were underlying that obstruction of justice.
Existing Charges
1) Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, with a number of counts surrounding tax evasion and conspiracy against the United States (to evade taxes) centered on their dealings with pro-Russian political parties in the Ukraine. But also just in general.
2) George Papadopoulos has pled guilty to lying to the FBI and is now acting as a cooperating witness. He repeatedly reached out to Russian interests during the campaign.
Potential Avenues of Investigation
1) Obstruction of Justice
This is the original purpose of the investigation centered around Comey's firing. However, it has seemingly spun off in all sorts of directions like...
2) Collusion with the Russian government to help them interfere with the American election. We have numerous meetings and points of contact between the government and the campaign at this point. These have Sessions all tied into knots that are totally not perjury you guys. Many arranged by Papadopoulos but also the infamous Don. Jr. and Jared Kushner meet about "adoption" with a Russian lawyer in New York incident. We also have Kushner attempting to set up untraceable back channels with the Russian government, potential quid pro quos involving sanctions and a billion other avenues to investigate here.
3) The plot to kidnap the Turkish dissident Fethullah Gülen from his home in Pennsylvania and deliver him to Turkish authorities in exchange for $15 million. This is centered around disgraced National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and might be the actual proximate cause of this whole mess. If Trump fired Comey to protect Flynn. Though Flynn could also have been involved with the Russian government. He was very busy. Flynn's son is also implicated and recent reports suggest that Mueller has enough to indict both of them, but is attempting to use Flynn's son as leverage in convincing Flynn Sr. to flip on higher ups (which means the president).
4) The real financial goings on with the Trump organization. These have been ruled "off limits" by Trump himself because things are transparently wrong with them. The most obvious potential avenue is money laundering involving Russian nationals. The Trump Organization has been fined for similar violations in the past. Other obvious targets: Trump and Kushner's personal financial dealings which are almost definitely shady, fraudulent business practices, legal violations all over the place, etc.
5) Petty (and grand) corruption. Some stuff is obvious, like Trump promoting his properties with public money or siphoning money budgeted to protect him to his golf courses or hotels. But there are a ton of other avenues Mueller could pursue.
6) Whatever the fuck Felix Sater was involved with. Longtime Trump associate, longtime gangster, sometime FBI informant, international man of mystery/idiocy. Could literally be anything from legitimate business to black market weapons dealing.
You know how Nixon got "All the President's Men" to dramatize his downfall?
With this admin we are going to need Peter Jackson. Director's cut Peter Jackson.
No, the Coen's are really the only people I trust to nail the "burn after Reading" vibe this whole thing has.
We definitely need JK Simmons to say "Hold on, run that by me again"
I think someday after this is all over I'm gunna wanna find a really good summary, sit down, and just try to comprehend it all.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
He and his wife are very worried about their sons legal troubles and he's likely facing the kind of charges that even bringing down the president won't completely zero out. It's likely only a matter of time.
A better question is - does Trump and co. think he's already flipped? Whether he actually did or not is incidental.
http://www.businessinsider.com/devin-nunes-michael-flynn-turkey-russia-2017-11
Don't think there's any allegations on Nunes yet. Wonder how long that will take.
Knowing Mueller it's a matter of time. Nunes must be sweating fierce.
The best and brightest president.
I wonder who he's hiding from?
If he’s lucky, he’s in hiding. You never know with the Russians. They are absolutely not above assassination.
Okay, but why didn’t he ask Putin whether he colluded with Clinton over uranium? Total missed opportunity!
Come Overwatch with meeeee
Now technically... I don't think the FBI are cops at all? In the technical sense of what powers they have.
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This is incredibly pathetic.
That's obviously a lie. Trump would want to bitch about his inauguration numbers.
maybe Mueller has him in protective custody
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You know, in kind of a twisted way, I envy the amount of fun the Russians must be having with this.
"Comrade, Damp American President has said he spoke with Shirtless Leader."
"Pfffft ok, ok hahaha good now be releasing statement that Shirtless Leader did not speak with him ahaha."
So now we have Trumps own word that Putin is a liar, right?
Either that or Trump lied about it.
Someone, please press them on this.
Mueller must have freaked him out recently, so he's gas lighting like he's never gaslit before.