The Robert Mueller Investigation

[Bama Chick 28596]

I for one appreciate the tweets being posted all in one place.

I use Twitter for my frivolous interests (Harry Styles, soccer, Alabama football, Big Brother, British Royals, fashion) - it’s my safe place when real world shit gets too overwhelming and I just want to read about and look at pretty things and people. I don’t follow a single political or current events account.

So I’m happy to have them here to keep informed if I need them.

Keep on Hugoing Hugo.

[triplehorn 2664]

Rudy shows every sign he's acting as an unregistered foreign agent.  Some say there are laws against this.

 

WaPo Bezos Times: Giuliani works for foreign clients while serving as Trump’s attorney

Spoiler

Rudolph W. Giuliani continues to work on behalf of foreign clients both personally and through his namesake security firm while serving as President Trump’s personal attorney — an arrangement experts say raises conflict of interest concerns and could run afoul of federal ethics laws.

Giuliani said in recent interviews with The Washington Post that he is working with clients in Brazil and Colombia, among other countries, as well as delivering paid speeches for a controversial Iranian dissident group. He has never registered with the Justice Department on behalf of his overseas clients, asserting it is not necessary because he does not directly lobby the U.S. government and is not charging Trump for his services.

His decision to continue representing foreign entities also departs from standard practice for presidential attorneys, who in the past have generally sought to sever any ties that could create conflicts with their client in the White House.

“I’ve never lobbied him on anything,” Giuliani said, referring to Trump. “I don’t represent foreign government in front of the U.S. government. I’ve never registered to lobby.”

Carrie Menkel-Meadow, a legal ethics professor at University of California-Irvine, said it is generally unwise for the president’s lawyer to have foreign business clients because of the high likelihood they will have competing interests.

“I think Rudy believes because he is doing the job pro bono the rules do not apply to him, but they do,” Menkel-Meadow said.

Since Trump hired him in April, Giuliani has repeatedly crossed the lines traditionally followed by presidential lawyers. He has regularly opined on Iran, North Korea and other policy issues outside his purview, while also publicly revealing details about his discussions with his client and with the office of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, which is investigating whether the Trump campaign assisted Russia in interfering with the 2016 election.

Among the clients represented by Giuliani’s consulting firm is the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, whose mayor was a leading figure in Party of Regions, the Russia-friendly political party at the center of the federal conspiracy prosecution of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. His firm worked for the mayor in 2018 and is expected to work for him again later this year, Giuliani said in an interview.

Kharkiv has contracted with a subsidiary of Giuliani’s consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, to help set up a new office of emergency management there, according to Giuliani and others involved in arranging the deal. Giuliani traveled to Ukraine last November to meet with Kharkiv officials and then hosted a delegation from the city in New York in March, about three weeks before he was hired as Trump’s attorney, according to officials and Ukrainian news reports.  

Another current Giuliani client is the Mujahideen-e-Khalq, or MEK, an Iranian resistance group operating in exile that was listed as a terrorist group by the State Department as recently as 2012. Giuliani said he has regularly received payments from MEK over the past 10 years; he declined to disclose his fees.

[..]

Lobbying experts said some of Giuliani’s work for overseas clients is likely to require registration under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), which mandates disclosure to the Justice Department of attempts “to influence U.S. public opinion, policy, and laws” on behalf of foreign entities or individuals. Although violations are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, the Justice Department has prosecuted only a handful of cases in recent decades.

Joshua Ian Rosenstein, a partner at the Sandler Reiff law firm, which specializes in FARA and other lobbying registration questions, pointed to Giuliani’s MEK speech in Washington in May as an example of political activity requiring registration.

“Political activity is a broad term,” Rosenstein said. “It includes any actions — including speeches, PR work and media outreach — that are intended to or anticipated to influence the U.S. government or the U.S. public with regard to the formulation, adoption, or modification of the policies of the U.S., or with regard to the political or public interests, policies, or relations of a foreign political party.”

Two White House spokespeople declined to comment on Giuliani or whether his work for foreign entities posed any conflict of interests for the president.

But Giuliani’s talkative and freewheeling style has irritated many White House officials, who say his frequent pronouncements are unhelpful and have often put the president in difficult positions. Giuliani often gives Trump personnel advice, White House aides said, and he said in a recent Post interview it would be good for Trump to have a more “political” chief of staff than John F. Kelly ahead of the 2018 midterms.

“He seems to be blending the services of a lawyer with the services of policy in the White House,” said William Jeffress Jr., a lawyer who represented Richard B. Cheney’s chief of staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby. “If you begin to stray to seek to influence the president or the White House that could be a problem. If you are seeking to influence the government in representing a foreign power, then you have a duty to register.”

Giuliani has also lobbied the president to promote his son, Andrew, a low-level White House aide who has clashed with Kelly and others in the West Wing. The elder Giuliani said that before becoming Trump’s attorney, he asked about a promotion he believed Trump had promised his son, and the president responded in the affirmative. He said he has not talked to the president about the issue since becoming his lawyer.

But three White House officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Giuliani continued to lobby Trump for his son’s promotion after he became the president’s lawyer.

Andrew Giuliani, who works in the White House Public Liaison Office, often arranges sports team visits to the White House and has been a regular Trump golfing partner for years. He suggested in an interview with The Post that some at the White House have bristled at his efforts to root out leaks.

“I’ve been lucky enough to know the president for close to 30 years and known him well for 20 years,” Andrew Giuliani said. “I find him to be similar to an uncle, and I’m lucky enough to be very close to his family.”

[...]

Giuliani said he is not as involved at the consulting company as he was before taking over as the president’s lawyer. The firm did not respond to a request for comment.

Giuliani said he never brings up his other clients with the president. He also said he has turned down some potential clients who have approached him recently, including a Russian business; he declined to identify the company.

“I really don’t think he does,” Giuliani said, when asked if the president knew who his clients were. “He knows I do a lot of security work all over the world.”

White House officials say they cannot be sure if Giuliani’s claim about not discussing clients with the president is true or not. The two men often talk late at night and early in the morning, and the conversations are frequently wide-ranging.

Giuliani also defended his work with Kharkiv Mayor Gennady “Gepa” Kernes, who was close to deposed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych before he fled to Russia and who has since sought to align himself with the new government in Kiev. Kernes uses a wheelchair after nearly being killed by an unidentified gunman in 2014. His allies have blamed Russian President Vladi­mir Putin for the attack, an allegation the Russian government has denied.

“I wasn’t concerned about them because he just got his legs blown off by Putin,” Giuliani said, referring to alleged links between Moscow and Kernes. “Maybe those ties were before.”

 Representatives for TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, a New York consulting firm involved in arranging the meetings between Kharkiv officials and Giuliani, did not respond to requests for comment.

On Giuliani’s MEK relationship, a spokesman for the group, Shahin Gobadi, did not respond to a question about payments to Giuliani for speeches but said his appearances were not the same as working for the group.

“Mayor Giuliani’s advocacy for the human rights and democracy in Iran has been consistent with his long-held views,” Gobadi wrote in an email to The Post. “He has never worked for the MEK in any shape or form. He has never done any lobbying on behalf of the MEK.”

He added later, “Of course, he has relation with the MEK and has publicly said to have worked with them in line with his views but he has not worked for them.”

MEK was formally listed as a terrorist group by the State Department until the Obama administration dropped the designation in 2012 amid a sustained lobbying campaign. Members of the group have been implicated in the deaths of Americans and thousands of Iranians, primarily in the 1980s when the neo-Marxist group was allied with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the war between Baghdad and Tehran.

MEK supporters, including many U.S. conservatives, say the group has changed since then and is a valuable bulwark against the theocratic Iranian regime.

Daniel Benjamin, a State Department counterterrorism coordinator during the Obama administration, criticized Giuliani’s advocacy for the MEK and suggested he and others may have violated the law. Benjamin said the Treasury Department was so concerned about an MEK lobbying and public relations program featuring Giuliani and other notables in 2012 that it opened a preliminary inquiry into the issue.

“Plenty of us working in counterterrorism found just the appearance of support for a listed organization that had American blood on its hands to be outrageous,” said Benjamin, now a scholar at Dartmouth College. “An unfortunate consequence of the decision to delist was that this investigation got shelved.”

MEK officials deny any inappropriate lobbying and said the Treasury review cited no violations by the group. They also say allegations of terrorism and of responsibility for the death of Americans are unfounded and distributed as part of a propaganda campaign on behalf of the Iranian government.

Carol D. Leonnig in Washington contributed to this report.

What a deceptive lying asshole Rudy is.  All told, don't bet on him walking away unscathed.

[jimmyjazz 45899]

Quote

He has never registered with the Justice Department on behalf of his overseas clients, asserting it is not necessary because he does not directly lobby the U.S. government and is not charging Trump for his services.

As if Rudy isn't getting "paid" for his services.

[TwiceHorn 31450]

11 hours ago, triplehorn said:

Here's a tweet:  new filing in US v Manafort 

  Hide contents

 

One take I saw: out of total desperation and being the only play left, Manafort's team will attempt something so vile that it will result in a mistrial.  Hence the attempt by team Mueller to request the above limits.

Meh.  Strikes me as a fairly standard motion in limine, particularly in these circumstances.  I suppose that it is conceivable that Manafort tries to provoke a mistrial through his counsel's conduct, but it's rather rare that that occurs.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

9 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

As if Rudy isn't getting "paid" for his services.

Guys that work for Trump for free seem to have a habit of ending up in prison 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

 

[Longhorn_Fan68 33869]

yessss

[SizzleChest 8283]

56 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

 

So, two weeks before the midterms, huh?

[Tuco 5076]

5 minutes ago, SizzleChest said:

So, two weeks before the midterms, huh?

Edit - Nevermind...you were talking about the potential sentencing date, not the update.

Edited July 10, 2018 by Tuco

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

 

[SKJ 1311]

I mean, what a fucking pathetic witch hunt this is.

[yaqdum 182]

1 hour ago, SKJ said:

what a fucking pathetic witch hunt this is

yep, this is more of a which hunt.  as in: which asshole is going to bob up next?

[Pods 7552]

6 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

 

 Paul Manafort gets an extra round of butthole checks today. 

[Chooky 13307]

48 minutes ago, Pods said:

 Paul Manafort gets an extra round of butthole checks today. 

It's a new butthole in a different buthole checking facility.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Micheal Flynn still managed to beclown himself today.

[triplehorn 2664]

Good.  Let's get it on. Criminal enforcement against Cambridge Analytica.  I'll be interested to see what kind of exposure happens with folks like Flynn and Bannon who were a part of the Cambridge Analytica/Russian psy-ops effort to game populist right wing policy and election results in Europe.  

Edited July 11, 2018 by triplehorn

[Captainant 27654]

Our resident lizard person Ted Cruz was heavily into CA as well. Could explain why he's been figuratively tounge punching Trump's fart box ever since he lost the nomination

[triplehorn 2664]

Take a look at the FEC.gov website and filter for "recipients" of campaign spending by election cycle using Cambridge Analytica.  Zero entries in '11-'12, then a burst of GOP affiliated expenditures starting '13-'14 (the same time Russia and Trump started scheming for a WH run) followed by a comparative explosion in '15-'16. 

Fast forward to '17-'18 and there is only a single entry to Cambridge Analytica:

 

Republican BOB HUFF FOR CONGRESS / CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA / NY / voided: to be refunded / disbursement date 3/9/18  / $10, 027.00 

 

Going back to '13-'14, North Carolina GOP and Thom Tillis gave hundreds of thousands to Cambridge Analytica specifically for "Micro-Targeting".  That is an election Tillis barely won.  And no one else seems to list Micro-Targeting re funds spent on CA, which is odd.

I'm not having any luck finding Dem candidates who paid CA.  Trump and Cruz gave a boatload.

FEC / Cambridge Analytica disbursements

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Things are moving smoothly for Manafort 

[Longhorn_Fan68 33869]

neat

[triplehorn 2664]

"Imaged documents from Rick Gates' personal laptop - total 8,290"

Any pending butthole checks will require jaws of life.

[Continental Op 3934]

Nothing burger!! Witch Hunt!! DO SOMETHING!!!

[Pods 7552]

"Audio recordings of defendant Manafort's phone calls" 53 

[triplehorn 2664]

 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

4 minutes ago, triplehorn said:

 

Manafort committing more crimes behind bars?!

No way that happens.

[jimmyjazz 45899]

These people . . . they're just the best.

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3861]

6 minutes ago, triplehorn said:

 

Not exactly fool proof process there, officer.  Minimum security true to its name.

 

Next footnote:  "Also, Manafort is not allowed small arms, but has developed a workaround.  He called up his Russian buddy and they shipped a truckload of AKs, Uzis and 100,000 rounds in a bag labeled 'THESE ARE DEFINITELY GUNS.'  We told him not to, but what can you do."

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

[atomheartbevo 89648]

That’s a lot of subpoenas witch hunts.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Per Natasha B. 

House Democrats are calling on GOP to release the transcript of Peter Strzok’s testimony. They revealed some of the Republicans’ questions to Strzok as part of their statement >>

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

So 

Manafort asked the judge to be moved closer to his lawyers.

The Judge said they’d move him to Alexandria Detention Center, a much tougher facility.

Manafort’s lawyers tried to retract the request citing “safety.”

Judge’s response:

"The professionals at the Alexandria Detention Center are very familiar with housing high-profile defendants including foreign and domestic terrorists, spies, and traitors."

Judge ordering Manafort moved after he attempted to retract his request upon learning where he would be.

[Chad Fuck 17670]

Be careful what you wish for? 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

10 minutes ago, Chad Fuck said:

Be careful what you wish for? 

Manafort’s team was actually trying to get the trial delayed. The excuse was his current facility was 100 miles from his lawyers and he couldn’t adequately prepare with all the new Rick Gates information dumped on them.

Judge was like, “Well, we will move you closer to your representation. Trial starts in two weeks. GFY.”

 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Just a reminder that our elected officials are putting career FBI people on trial and not the people conspiring with the Kremlin.

[Chad Fuck 17670]

21 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Manafort’s team was actually trying to get the trial delayed. The excuse was his current facility was 100 miles from his lawyers and he couldn’t adequately prepare with all the new Rick Gates information dumped on them.

Judge was like, “Well, we will move you closer to your representation. Trial starts in two weeks. GFY.”

 

I'm well aware of the attempt.  I'm also aware this judge is not having anyone's bullshit, and that entertains me.

[Gil Bang 25944]

 

[TwiceHorn 31450]

3 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

So 

Manafort asked the judge to be moved closer to his lawyers.

The Judge said they’d move him to Alexandria Detention Center, a much tougher facility.

Manafort’s lawyers tried to retract the request citing “safety.”

Judge’s response:

"The professionals at the Alexandria Detention Center are very familiar with housing high-profile defendants including foreign and domestic terrorists, spies, and traitors."

Judge ordering Manafort moved after he attempted to retract his request upon learning where he would be.

 

  Hide contents

 

 

Some real dumbass shit from his lawyers.  Or some major crawfishing by Paulie Nonuts.

 

I was reminded elsewhere that "white collar" criminal lawyers like those representing Manafort rarely deal with clients in pretrial detention and therefore don't think of things like moving from one shitty jail to a shittier jail, which is still rather idiotic, but a reminder that these lawyers and defendants are only really dealing with a facsimile of the criminal justice system that affects most of America.  It's an accurate facsimile in a lot of respects, but lacks a lot of the nitty gritty.

 

Also, the writ of habeas corpus (Doc 118) and the list of documents (117-1) don't match.  Any idea what Doc 117 is?  Might be an exhibit list of some form or other, maybe a Brady production.

Edited July 12, 2018 by TwiceHorn

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3861]

Lulz at “Alexandria officials are well skilled at housing traitors.”  Oh, I just mentioned that offhanded.  No particular reason. 

[triplehorn 2664]

A note on the Benczkowski confirmation today - I wasn't happy about it because I do not trust Trump to not meddle any way he can.  Benczkowski was on the Trump transition team and represented Russian Alfa Bank right up through his initial nomination.  

I also had the same mistrust when Chris Wray was nominated by Trump to replace Comey after Trump fired him over the stain of the ongoing Russia investigation.  Prior to his nomination, Wray was at King & Spalding law firm who happen to represent Rosneft and Gazprom, two of Russia’s largest state-controlled oil companies with Rosneft prominently appearing in the Steele dossier.  It's the kind of stuff that can drive you mad under these circumstances.  However now it appears Dir FBI Wray is absolutely upholding his job, is defending the FBI, and doing the important work they do without taint.

Re Benczkowski, it turns out DAG Rod Rosenstein supported his nomination in his remarks to the New York City Bar White Collar Crime Institute
 last May:

"The President nominated a highly qualified lawyer named Brian Benczkowski to serve in that position almost one year ago. But Brian is still awaiting a confirmation vote, as are Jeffrey Clark, our nominee for the Environmental Division; Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division; and Jody Hunt for the Civil Division.

Each nominee meets or exceeds the qualifications normally required for those important jobs. President Trump deserves great credit for nominating champions of the rule of law to serve in the Department of Justice."

Perhaps it's important to sometimes remember that lawyers represent clients.  Even if Benczkowski fears are unwarranted, putting those fears out there and making a stink about it serves a useful purpose in making it clear that targeted scrutiny will follow his work.  He does his job competently and with integrity,  it will be fine.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

 

[Bruh Man 3160]

Manafort's mugshot

 

[Longhorn_Fan68 33869]

[Anastasis 23469]

Paulie looking rough. 

[safe sex 11709]

Looks like he's had his butthole checked a few times recently. 

[Ten Bears 2481]

56 minutes ago, Bruh Man said:

Manafort's mugshot

 

WOOMP WOOMP you evil piece of shit.

[texas08 1599]

He on that prison diet.

 

That flabby neck skin is almost gone. Good for him.

 

 

 

[retread 2951]

working on that porn stache

[Party_Taco 3724]

So perhaps I’m mistaken as today was a blur, but did I see that Trump somehow just got an Alfa Bank lawyer appointed to DOJ?

 

If so, that’s a clear shot over the bow for Rosenstein/Mueller...

[Pods 7552]

2 hours ago, Party_Taco said:

So perhaps I’m mistaken as today was a blur, but did I see that Trump somehow just got an Alfa Bank lawyer appointed to DOJ?

 

If so, that’s a clear shot over the bow for Rosenstein/Mueller...

Brian Benckowski to head the Criminal Affairs Division. He was also on the Trump transition team. He makes up for all of that with his amazing experience though. He's never prosecuted a case before, so he'll be learning on the job. 

[Mapache 1117]