Michael Cohen Investigation

[Fastbreak 3984]

Avenatti is a bigger twitter troll than Trump - and it's glorious!

[Gil Bang 25944]

15 minutes ago, shnsajax said:

 

Levin is running in my district.  I find him interesting.  Applegate was the first guy to take Issa to the mat, so I'm loyal to 

 

 

As I'm typing this a Levin commercial is playing on my TV featuring schiff.  Wow.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

24 minutes ago, Fastbreak said:

Avenatti is a bigger twitter troll than Trump - and it's glorious!

 

Edited May 10, 2018 by Hugo Stiglitz

[Pig Bellmont 8713]

4 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Yeah, but Mueller is going to be fired before he can file any report - so maybe our best hope is reckless leaks

[ChiTownDoc 21152]

7 minutes ago, Pig Bellmont said:

Yeah, but Mueller is going to be fired before he can file any report - so maybe our best hope is reckless leaks

LOL, that's cute.  So  you think there isn't a well laid out succession plan if/when he's fired?  

[Degenerate Gardner 4085]

1 hour ago, ChiTownDoc said:

LOL, that's cute.  So  you think there isn't a well laid out succession plan if/when he's fired?  

It's a tarp!  Goading Trump into it, he is.

[FondrenRoad 4378]

1 hour ago, ChiTownDoc said:

LOL, that's cute.  So  you think there isn't a well laid out succession plan if/when he's fired?  

I'd be surprised if Mueller didn't have a dead man's switch.  If he is fired, or has an accidental trip and fall out a window, everything he has comes out. It isn't like he's only facing dumbass Trump. He's also dealing with a guy who has no qualms about nerve agents on foreign soil and who's opponents often find themselves accidentally falling out of their apartments.  

[Nice Guy Eddie 13511]

Most believe that mueller has shared enough with other doj officials that the case can continue.  The real interesting part is that if trump fired mueller, he most likely would pardon everyone involved including himself.   

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

For the xx# time, I don’t think Trump is going to fire Mueller.

It gains him nothing.  

Replacing Rosenstein is the biggest threat to the Russia investigation.

Rodinmus Rosenprime has got this.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

19 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Most believe that mueller has shared enough with other doj officials that the case can continue.  The real interesting part is that if trump fired mueller, he most likely would pardon everyone involved including himself.   

Went in the breakroom to get coffee a minute ago and Fox had Dick Cheney on discussing the pardoning of Scooter Libby.  Priming the pump?

[atomheartbevo 89654]

48 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Most believe that mueller has shared enough with other doj officials that the case can continue.  The real interesting part is that if trump fired mueller, he most likely would pardon everyone involved including himself.   

I don’t think Trump can pardon himself, and he can’t hand out pardons in the NY cases anyways.  They’ll probably run a train on Jared as it is  

. 

[Hank Kingsley 20921]

Nailed it. 

 

[Bat Guano 359]

4 minutes ago, Hank Kingsley said:

Nailed it. 

 

I'm guessing it's because his balls have crawled up inside his body and won't come back down.

[Brisketexan 105097]

9 hours ago, FondrenRoad said:

I'd be surprised if Mueller didn't have a dead man's switch.  If he is fired, or has an accidental trip and fall out a window, everything he has comes out. It isn't like he's only facing dumbass Trump. He's also dealing with a guy who has no qualms about nerve agents on foreign soil and who's opponents often find themselves accidentally falling out of their apartments.  

I can all but guarantee that Mueller has multiple dead man's switches.  I suspect that the relevant information exists on multiple media, which are regularly scattered to the four winds (within the bounds of the law).

Seriously, the stakes are too high and Mueller is too smart to do anything less.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13511]

2 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

I don’t think Trump can pardon himself, and he can’t hand out pardons in the NY cases anyways.  They’ll probably run a train on Jared as it is  

. 

No one can stop Trump from issuing a pardon to himself.   There isn't a pardon review board that agrees with any pardon.    Wouldn't the question come up only when a future DOJ investigation went after Trump?  Trump would argue that he was a presidential pardon and then the courts would decide that was valid.

[retread 2951]

9 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

I can all but guarantee that Mueller has multiple dead man's switches.  I suspect that the relevant information exists on multiple media, which are regularly scattered to the four winds (within the bounds of the law).

Seriously, the stakes are too high and Mueller is too smart to do anything less.

If/when Mueller is fired, what is the most likely way in which the investigation would proceed? Reinstatement of independent counsel?

[Chooky 13307]

5 minutes ago, retread said:

If/when Mueller is fired, what is the most likely way in which the investigation would proceed? Reinstatement of independent counsel?

Devin Nunes and Sid Miller would take over the investigation which would result in an indictment on MSNBC.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

I think Rosenstein holds the dead man’s switch.

[Dahobbs 17534]

15 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

No one can stop Trump from issuing a pardon to himself.   There isn't a pardon review board that agrees with any pardon.    Wouldn't the question come up only when a future DOJ investigation went after Trump?  Trump would argue that he was a presidential pardon and then the courts would decide that was valid.

That last conclusion seems very much in doubt. 

[Jester 382]

18 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

No one can stop Trump from issuing a pardon to himself.   There isn't a pardon review board that agrees with any pardon.    Wouldn't the question come up only when a future DOJ investigation went after Trump?  Trump would argue that he was a presidential pardon and then the courts would decide that was INvalid and send him to FPMITA prison.

fify.  I think the better question is if Pence would issue him a pardon ala Nixon/Ford.

[Chooky 13307]

5 minutes ago, Jester said:

fify.  I think the better question is if Pence would issue him a pardon ala Nixon/Ford.

If his support remained in the low forties then yes.  Mid twenties then no.  Pence is the phoniest self opportunist since John Edwards.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Pence will absolutely pardon Trump if he has the opportunity. 

No doubt about it.  

 

[TwiceHorn 31452]

I don't know that the courts will ever weigh in on the limits of the pardon power.  I suspect that they will leave the remedy for any "unprincipled" pardons to the impeachment process.  Of course, that leaves end of term pardons without remedy.
 

[jimmyjazz 45903]

20 hours ago, hayden_horn said:

he's going to be the lawyer who very nearly single-handedly, though admittedly with the great help of trump and assoc, took down a sitting president for corruption. 

I don't know the law from obscure 15th century poetry, but every time I see Avenatti interviewed I'm struck by just how sharp he comes across.  He's never at a loss for a coherent thought, and he is acutely aware of when to shut up.

You know, like a good lawyer.  <cue Rudy>   

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

21 hours ago, hayden_horn said:

he's going to be the lawyer who very nearly single-handedly, though admittedly with the great help of trump and assoc, took down a sitting president for corruption. 

[DixonHur 11296]

Be best!

[triplehorn 2664]

1 hour ago, jimmyjazz said:

I don't know the law from obscure 15th century poetry, but every time I see Avenatti interviewed I'm struck by just how sharp he comes across.  He's never at a loss for a coherent thought, and he is acutely aware of when to shut up.

You know, like a good lawyer.  <cue Rudy>   

and how to position himself

 

 

[triplehorn 2664]

Must watch: Avenatti with Maddow from last night. 

Avenatti is holding a sword of Damocles over Cohen AND Trump's heads.  He apparently possesses hard evidence of the money flow into and out of Cohen's popup LLC likely in the form of three SAR's (Suspicious Activity Reports) filed to the Dept of Treasury.

Listen carefully from right at about 2:20" to 2:40" -- Avenatti's voice quivers with emotion:  "The American people are going to be very upset about what they learn..."

I get the feeling Avenatti has seen/possesses evidence (SARs) that has Trump dead to rights on getting an undisclosed piece of the action.

 

 

 

Edited May 10, 2018 by triplehorn

[Tuco 5076]

 

For a little additional background on Columbus Nova, Forbes has a good article.

Quote

Lipari, a former executive at Columbus Nova, suggests on his web site that Vekselberg is the only material client.

Columbus Nova is not currently registered as an investment adviser with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which requires U.S. firms that manage more than $100 million for outside clients to register with the securities regulator. Its SEC registration terminated in 2012.

...

According to old press releases and securities filings, Columbus Nova was founded in 2000 as “the U.S.-based affiliate of the Renova Group," Vekselberg’s holding company. SEC filings also show that Columbus Nova and Renova U.S. Management are primarily owned by Andrew Intrater, a 56-year-old U.S. citizen who is Columbus Nova’s CEO and Vekselberg’s cousin.

It's also worth noting that one of the founding partners, Jason Epstein, left the company in December 2017.

 

 

[triplehorn 2664]

Worth further consideration: if there are multiple SARs that pertain to Cohen's popup LLC that show both the cash in flow as well as cash out flow (including the real potential there are multiple LLC transaction nodes Cohen oversees), the cash out flow may not only show Trump getting a fat envelope. 

Renaissance man  Michael Cohen is also a national deputy finance chair for the RNC.  

[Gil Bang 25944]

Did Rudy actually say that Avenatti was "unsuccessful"?

[Brisketexan 105097]

1 minute ago, Gil Bang said:

Did Rudy actually say that Avenatti was "unsuccessful"?

At this point, we can't rule out Rudy saying "Moon men control Tom Brady's colon using a remote control that channels through Hillary's head."  Seriously, can you rule out ANYTHING coming from Rudy's mouth?

[Pods 7552]

On 5/9/2018 at 3:52 PM, TahoeHorn said:

I have no doubt that Cohen was functioning as a bagman.  I've been crystal clear on that.  I am unclear how easy that will be to prove.

Hey Tahoe...IMPEACHMENT IS A POLITICAL PROCESS. 

Now, since you have no doubt Cohen was Trump's bagman, do you support impeaching Trump, or are you a hypocrite?

[Nice Guy Eddie 13511]

Admittedly I don't know much about payoffs and sham contracts/bribes but would you use the same LLC to pay off porn stars and perform lobbying/consulting with legitimate and not-so-legitimate companies?    Come on Cohen, shell out a few extra bucks to create a different LLC.     Wouldn't a competent fixer now how best to structure companies to keep other transactions separate and private, especially when you're near the President?

[TahoeHorn 107]

3 minutes ago, Pods said:

Hey Tahoe...IMPEACHMENT IS A POLITICAL PROCESS. 

Now, since you have no doubt Cohen was Trump's bagman, do you support impeaching Trump, or are you a hypocrite?

Neither.  As I explained before, it's like the way I feel about the head of the Gambino crime family.  The process requires the case to be made.  If I were making the call for myself I'd dump him.  But I'm not going to tell the people who don't want him dumped that they should dump him until I have an argument that THEY should believe.

I've said this many times.

[kevwun 15774]

4 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Admittedly I don't know much about payoffs and sham contracts/bribes but would you use the same LLC to pay off porn stars and perform lobbying/consulting with legitimate and not-so-legitimate companies?    Come on Cohen, shell out a few extra bucks to create a different LLC.     Wouldn't a competent fixer now how best to structure companies to keep other transactions separate and private, especially when you're near the President?

He was in well over his head.  We are fortunate that almost no competent people work for Trump.

Edited May 10, 2018 by kevwun

[jimmyjazz 45903]

It must be a real beating for Tahoe to go through life as such a level-headed, rational objectivist and yet be constantly misunderstood.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13511]

3 minutes ago, kevwun said:

He was in well over his head.  We are fortunate that almost no competent people work for Trump.

Cohen is acting like the moron mafia guy in Casino that writes down everything in his notebook to ensure he gets reimbursed for his criminal trips, ultimately giving the FBI all the info they need to bring everyone else down.  

[Mojo Hand 4580]

10 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Admittedly I don't know much about payoffs and sham contracts/bribes but would you use the same LLC to pay off porn stars and perform lobbying/consulting with legitimate and not-so-legitimate companies?    Come on Cohen, shell out a few extra bucks to create a different LLC.     Wouldn't a competent fixer now how best to structure companies to keep other transactions separate and private, especially when you're near the President?

Also, a legit consultant isn't usually moonlighting from an ongoing job for the president.   This wasn't a dude who moved on from the campaign to a new line of work as a consultant.   He was the president's personal attorney and a direct representative of the president while he had his hand out selling access. 

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3861]

25 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

    Wouldn't a competent fixer now how best to structure companies to keep other transactions separate and private, especially when you're near the President?

I think to come up with a plan like that, it’d take someone smart enough to get into the second worst law school in the country.  

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

One of the more compelling allegations in the Dossier was that Cohen took over for Manafort and his clean up duty after Manafort left the campaign.

What was Rick Gates doing after Manafort left the campaign?

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

 

[NameAlreadyInUse 5112]

So was talking to my dad yesterday.  He was happy about this news about Cohen.  His thoughts were if they go after Cohen, then they just have to go after Hillary too.  She's finally going to get hers.

Hillary is a singularly unlikable character.  Its amazing she made it to the head of the Democratic ticket.  But its even more amazing how much time and energy the right wing echo chamber has spent making sure that even the little bit of likability she might have has been wiped out by whole sections of this country.  Obama was the one in power the last 8 years, but Hillary is the one that the old Republicans all have a hardon for taking out.  I wonder what they are going to do when she dies.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Hillary should fake her own death and then re-emerge years later at George Soros’s house in Switzerland just to troll the fuck out of the right.

[Longhorn94 2448]

maybe this has been covered and i missed it but isnt it a conflict of interest for Cohen to accept these engagements in order to give insight on and access to his only client? Wouldnt he be required to notify Trump of his engagement by ATT, Novartis, etc and get a waiver for each? What happens if the obligation to provide insight or access conflicts with his fiduciary responsibility to Trump as his personal attorney? I believe Trump knew about each and hope they have proof of such knowledge. But if they dont, is this another opportunity for Trump to hang Cohen out to dry? And yet another reason for Cohen to flip?

[Sawbonz 27547]

2 minutes ago, Longhorn94 said:

maybe this has been covered and i missed it but isnt it a conflict of interest for Cohen to accept these engagements in order to give insight on and access to his only client? Wouldnt he be required to notify Trump of his engagement by ATT, Novartis, etc and get a waiver for each? What happens if the obligation to provide insight or access conflicts with his fiduciary responsibility to Trump as his personal attorney? I believe Trump knew about each and hope they have proof of such knowledge. But if they dont, is this another opportunity for Trump to hang Cohen out to dry? And yet another reason for Cohen to flip?

Per some expert on NPR as long as he doesn’t meet the definition of a lobbyist — have to be 3/3 in the criteria — it’s absolutely legal. Paraphrasing but basically said selling influence is legal if you don’t meet the criteria for a lobbyist 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

I’m beginning to think there might not be much interest in getting Cohen to flip.

I mean, how many fucking people need to flip to lock up a conspiracy case and bring justice to the real criminals? 

FLYNN

PAPADOPOULUS

GATES

FULLY COOPERATING 

Seems like Cohen might be table scraps at this point.

 

[Longhorn94 2448]

6 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

Per some expert on NPR as long as he doesn’t meet the definition of a lobbyist — have to be 3/3 in the criteria — it’s absolutely legal. Paraphrasing but basically said selling influence is legal if you don’t meet the criteria for a lobbyist 

im not talking about being a lobbyist. as an attorney, he has a fiduciary responsibility to not engage with anyone that presents a conflict of interest with a current client. if he does not disclose his relationship with ATT to Trump, accepts $600k from ATT to persuade Trump to allow the merger with TimeWarner to proceed, then tries to talk Trump into allowing the merger, he has committed a major breach of ethics. he MUST disclose that relationship to Trump. he must tell his client that he may be hired by another with a potentially competing interest and it MAY not be in Trump's best interest for him to accept it.  Trump must waive the conflict before Cohen can accept it. So either Trump did that and is in trouble or Cohen did not disclose/get waivers and is in trouble. 

[Pescado_Rojo 19416]

51 minutes ago, NameAlreadyInUse said:

So was talking to my dad yesterday.  He was happy about this news about Cohen.  His thoughts were if they go after Cohen, then they just have to go after Hillary too.  She's finally going to get hers.

Hillary is a singularly unlikable character.  Its amazing she made it to the head of the Democratic ticket.  But its even more amazing how much time and energy the right wing echo chamber has spent making sure that even the little bit of likability she might have has been wiped out by whole sections of this country.  Obama was the one in power the last 8 years, but Hillary is the one that the old Republicans all have a hardon for taking out.  I wonder what they are going to do when she dies.

She was pretty obviously next in line for the dems from the moment Obama was sworn in. They had 8 years to focus on her and focus they did. The dem field in 2020 will be pretty crowded, so they can't laser focus on any one potential candidate like they did Hillary. You did see a little of it when Oprah's name got floated. I'd guess it took less than 24 hrs for the right wing memes to start showing up on the usual suspect's Facebook posts, but then she downplayed it and the memes stopped. Since the nomination likely won't be decided before summer of 2020, it will be much harder for them to gin up the hate like they did with H.  

[Sawbonz 27547]

2 minutes ago, Longhorn94 said:

im not talking about being a lobbyist. as an attorney, he has a fiduciary responsibility to not engage with anyone that presents a conflict of interest with a current client. if he does not disclose his relationship with ATT to Trump, accepts $600k from ATT to persuade Trump to allow the merger with TimeWarner to proceed, then tries to talk Trump into allowing the merger, he has committed a major breach of ethics. he MUST disclose that relationship to Trump. he must tell his client that he may be hired by another with a potentially competing interest and it MAY not be in Trump's best interest for him to accept it.  Trump must waive the conflict before Cohen can accept it. So either Trump did that and is in trouble or Cohen did not disclose/get waivers and is in trouble. 

You think Cohen gives a fuck about an ethics sanction?  How many lawyers are disbarred for failure to disclose a conflict of interest?