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The Russian Connection (Page 21)
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The Final Dakar  (op)
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Mar 12, 2018, 07:18 PM
 
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...x-sater-457013
A Russian-born businessman with ties to President Donald Trump claims to have been a spy working with American intelligence for more than 20 years, according to a statement his spokesman said he provided to government investigators.

Felix Sater said in the statement that he “provided extraordinary assistance to our government involving serious matters of National Security, posing tremendous risks to my safety and the safety of my family.”

Sater has been drawn into the investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, which are being spearheaded by special counsel Robert Mueller and several congressional committees, because of his apparent ties to potential Trump business deals in Russia. In emails that were reported by the Washington Post last year, Sater appeared to try to convince Trump in 2015 to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow and to visit Russia.
Wat?
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Mar 12, 2018, 08:43 PM
 
https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-re...n-russia-probe
Republicans on the House intelligence committee investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election have refused Democratic entreaties to subpoena Twitter for direct messages of Donald Trump associates, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell The Daily Beast.
Honest question: What would justify subpoenaing those DMs? I feel its pretty obvious that there's going to be shady shit in them by way of politics being shady, but I'm not sure there'd be something damning. Also, if I was the GOP, I'd be wary of those DMs being leaked selectively.

That said, are twitter DMs any different than a person's emails? Mueller and committee's have subpoenaed them. I would think, though, emails requested would be limited in scope, so DMs should follow the same limitations.

Lastly, Mueller isn't an idiot. I'd think he'd have requested from twitter. Though you probably need the force of the law for them to hand them over, so GJ subpoena? Would evidence enough to justify an email subpoena be enough to justify one for DMs? I'd think so.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 2, 2018, 07:35 PM
 
WSJ got a copy of an email of Stone telling someone he had dinner with Assange the night before. I hope Mueller crucifies this rat****.

I swear this investigation has me creating a list like Arya.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 9, 2018, 07:26 PM
 
Not a super-accurate drive-by, but the NRA has admitted it accepts foreign donations and gotten some from Russians, but claim the money was fire-walled from political spending.

So that's interesting.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 9, 2018, 08:01 PM
 
This is the biggest news I can think of that I didn't post
https://www.motherjones.com/politics...oney-to-trump/
Robert Mueller’s special counsel team has questioned several Russian oligarchs about the possibility that they illegally funneled Russian money into Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, according to a CNN report published Wednesday evening.
In recent months, however, it has stopped at least two Russian oligarchs when they arrived at US airports to question them. One oligarch, according to sources who spoke to CNN, had his electronic devices searched after his private jet landed at a New York airport.
That takes enormous balls.
     
Waragainstsleep
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Apr 9, 2018, 08:43 PM
 
I heard Mueller raided Trump's lawyer Cohen. Might find some interesting files in that office. More likely about porn stars than Russian oligarchs.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Thorzdad
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Apr 9, 2018, 09:13 PM
 
They raided Cohen’s home, too.
     
Thorzdad
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Apr 10, 2018, 07:57 AM
 
Some more details on what sparked the FBI raid on Cohen.
Short version: It probably wasn't about porn stars.
     
Laminar
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Apr 10, 2018, 10:33 AM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Not a super-accurate drive-by, but the NRA has admitted it accepts foreign donations and gotten some from Russians, but claim the money was fire-walled from political spending.

So that's interesting.
That's just as dumb as the "we don't use tax dollars to fund abortions." Sure, but since you used that Russian money to pay administrative costs and whatever else you need to, suddenly a bunch more "kosher" money is freed up for political spending.

It's the standard strategy of easing the knife in.

1. Of course we didn't accept any foreign money!
2. Okay, maybe we did accept a little foreign money, but it wasn't used for politics!
3. Okay so maybe we used a little of it for politics, but whataboutism!
4. **** you.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 10, 2018, 10:44 AM
 
*ahem*

Someone posited that Cohen may have been housing/shielding Trump Org records that Trump wouldn't want turned over to the probe.
     
reader50
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Apr 10, 2018, 02:10 PM
 
Popehat (Ken White), a civil rights / defense lawyer, has commented on the Cohen raid.

Yes, it's serious.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 10, 2018, 07:36 PM
 
Originally Posted by reader50 View Post
Yes, it's serious.
I mean, duh.

The back of the napkin math is pretty simple. Justice might supposed to be blind, but no one is going after the President's personal lawyer, even for unrelated matters, in such a manner, without having some very compelling evidence.

I would actually be mildly surprised if one of our former resident conservatives thought this was a fishing expedition.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 10, 2018, 08:09 PM
 
Attempt Number Two
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/10/u...-december.html
In the hours that followed Mr. Trump’s initial anger over the Deutsche Bank reports, his lawyers and advisers worked quickly to learn about the subpoenas, and ultimately were told by Mr. Mueller’s office that the reports were not accurate, leading the president to back down.
Corroboration
https://twitter.com/rcohen/status/983848010667962369
When @MarkWarner delivered his “red line” speech to warn against firing Mueller back in December, a lot of people asked: “why now?”

This is why.
     
Thorzdad
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Apr 10, 2018, 08:45 PM
 
So...will we get to the weekend without Trump firing Mueller? Everyone says it would be political suicide for him to do so, but would it really? Would the republicans really do anything? Or, would they see it as an opportunity to get rid of the manchild and install an actual adult (Pence...ugh) that they can reliably work with?
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 10, 2018, 09:03 PM
 
The GOP calculus is an interesting thing. I think they're too spineless. Them refusing to protect Mueller shouldn't be surprising though. It sends a negative message about the President, and as we know, party before country.

The other aspect, to me, is I think voting for something that would publicly undermine the president this could get some republicans primaried, if not worse. It's what makes them reinstating Mueller so hard to predict.

Though I would say after the election thing McConnell is not to be trusted and Ryan's consent of Nunes' actions is another red flag.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 10, 2018, 09:03 PM
 
Oh and I'll bet Mueller survives to next week with the caveat that the bet is off if we get new bombshells.
     
Thorzdad
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Apr 10, 2018, 09:29 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
...with the caveat that the bet is off if we get new bombshells.
Like the ones he’s going to drop on Syria to distract everyone?
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 10, 2018, 11:27 PM
 
No, investigation related.
     
Waragainstsleep
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Apr 11, 2018, 11:13 AM
 
Just saw a meme that claimed Cohen has been working out of offices belonging to the law firm that represents Cambridge Analytica and Gazprom. Is that right?

I realise thats entirely circumstantial but holy **** is that dodgy if its true.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 11, 2018, 07:11 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
That's just as dumb as the "we don't use tax dollars to fund abortions." Sure, but since you used that Russian money to pay administrative costs and whatever else you need to, suddenly a bunch more "kosher" money is freed up for political spending.
I don't think it's that simple though. The issue lies in how heavily any entity leans on that funding (PP clearly leans heavily on governmental reimbursements, so yes, you're a few degrees removed from funding abortions). It's be interesting to see what the increases the NRA had in income, donations and political spending, and if there is any correlation.

Anyway: https://www.npr.org/2018/04/11/60153...d-contributors
The National Rifle Association has accepted contributions from about 23 Russians, or Americans living in Russia, since 2015, the gun rights group acknowledged to Congress.

The NRA said in a letter to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., unveiled on Wednesday, that the sum it received from those people was just over $2,500 and most of that was "routine payments" for membership dues or magazine subscriptions.
That's not a lot of money. Though I wonder if they're answering narrowly. What about Russian organization? Or Russian-linked?
     
Laminar
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Apr 12, 2018, 11:49 AM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
That's not a lot of money. Though I wonder if they're answering narrowly. What about Russian organization? Or Russian-linked?
This is the part where they admit to a little bit of foreign money. Later they'll sink the knife in a little deeper and admit there was more money.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 12, 2018, 06:27 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
This is the part where they admit to a little bit of foreign money. Later they'll sink the knife in a little deeper and admit there was more money.
Right. I'm not discounting that you're right, but given my partisan bias, let alone my general cynicism, I'm trying to take things at face value ATM. I like speculating, but I don't feel comfortable doing here for whatever reason.
     
Thorzdad
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Apr 14, 2018, 07:24 AM
 
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 14, 2018, 03:50 PM
 
Yeah, I'm gonna doubt that one until a better outlet confirms it.
     
subego
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Apr 14, 2018, 06:59 PM
 
Wittes said the same.
     
OreoCookie
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Apr 14, 2018, 11:01 PM
 
I have never heard of McClatchyDC.com, is that a reputable news source? If I were you guys, I'd hold my horses until other news outlets corroborate the story.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
     
subego
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Apr 15, 2018, 12:40 AM
 
Originally Posted by OreoCookie View Post
I have never heard of McClatchyDC.com, is that a reputable news source? If I were you guys, I'd hold my horses until other news outlets corroborate the story.
They’re legit.

McClatchly owns a bajillion newspapers in second-tier (and lower) markets.

That doesn’t mean the story is right, but they have a reputation one would imagine they want to preserve.
     
OreoCookie
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Apr 15, 2018, 04:15 AM
 
I see. I hadn’t heard of them before so I didn’t know how much stock to put into the story. Especially with such a significant story, I’d rather not let confirmation bias get the best of me.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
     
subego
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Apr 15, 2018, 05:12 AM
 
Originally Posted by OreoCookie View Post
I hadn’t heard of them before...
Yeah. That’s kind of their problem.

Prepare to have your mind blown. McClatchy started in the 19th Century.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 15, 2018, 11:08 AM
 
They're reputable, I'm suspicious because the headline speaks for Mueller without really delving into how or what he's obtained.
     
Thorzdad
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Apr 16, 2018, 09:34 AM
 
SCOTUS to hear case that would bolster Trump's ability to fire officials. An affirmative decision would be seen to give him enhanced authority to justify firing Mueller.
In addition to representing the administration before the Supreme Court, Francisco, a former law clerk for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, could be in line to oversee the Mueller inquiry if Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein is fired.
     
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Apr 17, 2018, 12:13 PM
 
I found out what that “something the Russians may have on Trump” Comey was talking about. It turns out Stormy is the daughter of the oligarch that bought the Trump property at an over inflated price. Her real name is Ivana Sukmov.
     
Chongo
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Apr 18, 2018, 12:58 PM
 
I wonder why Newsweek was trying to distract from Stormy? Did Trump secretly buy Newsweek through some third party? Mueller best get on this as well!

http://www.newsweek.com/russia-route...ongress-801686

Moscow routed millions of dollars to the U.S. expecting the funds would benefit ex-President Bill Clinton’s charitable initiative while his wife, Hillary Clinton, worked to reset relations with Russia, an FBI informant in an Obama administration-era uranium deal stated.
http://www.newsweek.com/what-we-know...d-obama-693348

The Obama administration and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have risen to the center of controversy over a 2010 nuclear deal that handed Russia control of 20 percent of the U.S.’s uranium supply. The Uranium One deal has been referred to as a Russian nuclear bribery scheme and similar names since government documents surfaced last week showing the FBI had substantial evidence of racketeering by Russian officials before the Obama administration approved the deal.
45/47
     
subego
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Apr 18, 2018, 02:12 PM
 
Two paragraphs ripped off from The Hill are a distraction?
     
Chongo
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Apr 18, 2018, 04:42 PM
 
Anything that is not about Stormy is a distraction. Stormy is the key to bringing down Trump, based on the amount of coverage on MSDNC and DNCNN(AKA The Sh*thole network).
45/47
     
Laminar
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Apr 18, 2018, 04:43 PM
 
Chongo's trying to make it one. It's reeeeally important to him that he be able to believe that both sides are equally bad.
     
Chongo
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Apr 18, 2018, 05:05 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
Chongo's trying to make it one. It's reeeeally important to him that he be able to believe that both sides are equally bad.
I don’t reeeeeeeeely neeeeeed to beleeeeeeive anything.

Meanwhile, criminal referrals were sent to the DOJ.
https://desantis.house.gov/_cache/fi...l-referral.pdf
45/47
     
Laminar
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Apr 18, 2018, 05:28 PM
 
Originally Posted by Chongo View Post
I don’t reeeeeeeeely neeeeeed to beleeeeeeive anything.
Chongo: Please always remember that Democrats love abortions. That fact has helped many many Trump voters sleep at night, knowing that voting for Trump has directly led to the immediate repeal of Roe vs. Wade and abortions have stopped happening.
     
Chongo
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Apr 18, 2018, 05:43 PM
 
The also love selling the organs from them.
45/47
     
andi*pandi
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Apr 18, 2018, 09:51 PM
 
Don't forget to sauté them with fava beans and a nice chianti.
     
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Apr 18, 2018, 10:43 PM
 
To celebrate that their master plan to destroy the GOP by egging Trump into running as a Republican and having sex with the Russian agent code named “Stormy Daniels”. Mission accomplished!
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 19, 2018, 12:17 PM
 
Cohen dropped his defamation suit against buzzfeed. Talking out of my ass, I wonder if this because SDNY is now in possession of all of Cohens material and therefore he couldn't hold anything back in discovery.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 19, 2018, 09:53 PM
 
Not sure the memos go in any one place, but since they'll foster more speculation putting one in here



Trump saying Flynn has judgement issues is out there (though likely accurate) He had just appointed him! The speculation is the redacted name refers to Putin.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 19, 2018, 09:56 PM
 


A. Do you believe Trump spoke to Putin then? During the campaign he claimed he never met him.
B. Trump's bodyguard testified to House Intel Trump did stay overnight in the hotel. Who do you believe?
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 19, 2018, 10:19 PM
 


Reince asked Comey if there was a FISA on Flynn. Why would he even suspect such a thing?
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 19, 2018, 10:24 PM
 


It sounds like portions of the Steele dossier were corroborated by the time of Trump's inauguration, which is consistent with what we've heard about the FISA on Stepanopolous
     
Chongo
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Apr 24, 2018, 02:11 PM
 
The Democrats have given up on Mueller? The DNC has filed a civil lawsuit.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/20/polit...sia/index.html

(CNN)The Democratic National Committee is suing the Trump campaign, Russia, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and several relatives and associates of President Donald Trump alleging a grand conspiracy that harmed Democrats through WikiLeaks' publication of internal party emails during the 2016 presidential campaign.
45/47
     
reader50
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Apr 24, 2018, 04:28 PM
 
It might get settled for PR reasons, or go somewhere if more substantial evidence turns up. Based on current evidence, experts think it's on shaky legal ground.

The short version: the claims against the Russians are solid. But as the Russians will be a no-show, those claims won't go anywhere. All the other claims are unlikely to stick. WikiLeaks is a news organization for example, and can't really be sued for publishing news-worthy items. Only the actual leakers could be sued.

As legal suits move forward at a crawl, the DNC may have filed in anticipation of more details emerging. At present, not a single claim has turned up against Trump personally. I'm starting to wonder if he's more in the (noisy) puppet category, and really doesn't know what his machine was up to. Mueller has turned up a heck of a lot of smoke, and some small fires. But hasn't tied it together into a conspiracy in my opinion. Not yet, anyway.
     
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Apr 24, 2018, 04:57 PM
 
I don't read that as given up. I read that as getting aggressive.
     
Waragainstsleep
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Apr 24, 2018, 05:33 PM
 
I read that since its a civil suit, pleading the 5th is off the table. At least I think I read that.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
 
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