Russia Collusion Scandal (aka A Leftist fantasy)

[Julio3000]

There are two stories in the NYT and WP this week that offer some tea leaves to read. One about Cohen's finances, one about Trump's.

Lots of cash, not a lot of obvious provenance for it.

[Runnin]

Mueller requested and received 70 more blank subpoenas (after 35 in April) from a courthouse in Virginia. I'm sure that means nothing.

[The Chosen One]

Mueller requested and received 70 more blank subpoenas (after 35 in April) from a courthouse in Virginia. I'm sure that means nothing.

Witch Hunt!

[Runnin]

Witch Hunt!

[thethe]

Any comments on TS Ellis III comments?

[thethe]

[thethe]

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/...mpression=true

Alas, figuring that he was playing with the house money, Mueller made a reckless bet: He charged not only Russian individuals but three Russian businesses. A business doesn’t have the same risks as a person. A business can’t be thrown in jail. And while members of Mueller’s prosecutorial stable have a history of putting real businesses out of business, a business that is run by a Putin crony and serves as a front for Kremlin operations is not too worried about that either.

So . . . guess what? One of those Russian businesses, Concord Management and Consulting, wants its day in court. It has retained the Washington law firm of Reed Smith, two of whose partners, Eric Dubelier and Katherine Seikaly, have told Mueller that Concord is ready to have its trial — and by the way, let’s see all the discovery the law requires you to disclose, including all the evidence you say supports the extravagant allegations in the indictment.

Needless to say, Mueller’s team is not happy about this development since this is not a case they figured on having to prosecute to anything more than a successful press conference. So, they have sought delay on the astonishing ground that the defendant has not been properly served — notwithstanding that the defendant has shown up in court and asked to be arraigned.


_____________

Time to show those cards Mr Mueller

[nsacpi]

Any comments on TS Ellis III comments?

It is fair to ask what is different about the Manafartov and Cohen cases. Why one was handed off and one retained by Mueller's team. Nothing wrong with the judge taking an interest in this.

[nsacpi]

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/...mpression=true

Alas, figuring that he was playing with the house money, Mueller made a reckless bet: He charged not only Russian individuals but three Russian businesses. A business doesn’t have the same risks as a person. A business can’t be thrown in jail. And while members of Mueller’s prosecutorial stable have a history of putting real businesses out of business, a business that is run by a Putin crony and serves as a front for Kremlin operations is not too worried about that either.

So . . . guess what? One of those Russian businesses, Concord Management and Consulting, wants its day in court. It has retained the Washington law firm of Reed Smith, two of whose partners, Eric Dubelier and Katherine Seikaly, have told Mueller that Concord is ready to have its trial — and by the way, let’s see all the discovery the law requires you to disclose, including all the evidence you say supports the extravagant allegations in the indictment.

Needless to say, Mueller’s team is not happy about this development since this is not a case they figured on having to prosecute to anything more than a successful press conference. So, they have sought delay on the astonishing ground that the defendant has not been properly served — notwithstanding that the defendant has shown up in court and asked to be arraigned.


_____________

Time to show those cards Mr Mueller

I think Mueller and company might have made a mistake in not anticipating this possibility. Otoh, the charging document provides quite a bit of detail regarding the grounds for the charges. I don't think this was a frivolous indictment. The prosecution may have to burn some intelligence sources and capabilities to lay out the case.

[Julio3000]

Any comments on TS Ellis III comments?

The judge is being duly stringent here, and that's a good thing. If Mueller shows his cards to the judge and the case proceeds, I'm assuming you'll concede that he has a reasonable case?

[thethe]

The judge is being duly stringent here, and that's a good thing. If Mueller shows his cards to the judge and the case proceeds, I'm assuming you'll concede that he has a reasonable case?

All I've ever wanted was to see some actual progress. So far it'd all been speculation which is irresponsible considering the magnitude of the charges.

[nsacpi]

All I've ever wanted was to see some actual progress. So far it'd all been speculation which is irresponsible considering the magnitude of the charges.

there has been quite a lot of new information coming out...i guess progress is in the eye of the beholder

for example the list of questions provides a lot of insight imo on the scope of Mueller's investigation...the declaration by Trumps attorney that he might take the fifth also provides insight

[thethe]

there has been quite a lot of new information coming out...i guess progress is in the eye of the beholder

for example the list of questions provides a lot of insight imo on the scope of Mueller's investigation...the declaration by Trumps attorney that he might take the fifth also provides insight

Taking the fifth is not a 'tell' unless you don't believe in true constitutional rights.

Further, collusion is essentially off the table and now they are trying to get Trump on a crime to defend himself against a fake accusation. Anyone would fight in his position. But the 'fight' is now called obstruction.

[nsacpi]

Taking the fifth is not a 'tell' unless you don't believe in true constitutional rights.

Further, collusion is essentially off the table and now they are trying to get Trump on a crime to defend himself against a fake accusation. Anyone would fight in his position. But the 'fight' is now called obstruction.

progress and information is there for those who aren't averting their gaze

[thethe]

progress and information is there for those who aren't averting their gaze

Could not agree more

[Julio3000]

Taking the fifth is not a 'tell' unless you don't believe in true constitutional rights.

Further, collusion is essentially off the table and now they are trying to get Trump on a crime to defend himself against a fake accusation. Anyone would fight in his position. But the 'fight' is now called obstruction.

You're quite right about the 5th A. I think he will end up invoking it, because his lawyers have rightly determined that he couldn't get through an interview without bull****ting...and it may be because it's prudent for the lawyers to assume that their client may not have been truthful with them. Not to allow him to testify is the only safe choice.

collusion is essentially off the table

I don't understand your reasoning here.

Anyone would fight in his position. But the 'fight' is now called obstruction.

Channeling Nixon.

[57Brave]

The Daily Beast can confirm that Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen received hundreds of thousands of dollars from a company controlled by Putin-aligned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. The allegations were initially made by Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels’ lawyer. According to a dossier published by Avenatti on Tuesday evening, “Vekselberg and his cousin Mr. Andrew Intrater routed eight payments to Mr. Cohen through a company named Columbus Nova LLC beginning in January 2017 and continuing until at least August 2017.” The funds, Avenatti suggested, may have been used to reimburse Cohen for the $130,000 hush payment made to Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. Vekselberg was sanctioned by the U.S. government in April. And according to The New York Times, he was recently questioned by federal agents working with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. —Noah Shachtman

[nsacpi]

swampy

[mqt]

The Daily Beast can confirm that Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen received hundreds of thousands of dollars from a company controlled by Putin-aligned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. The allegations were initially made by Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels’ lawyer. According to a dossier published by Avenatti on Tuesday evening, “Vekselberg and his cousin Mr. Andrew Intrater routed eight payments to Mr. Cohen through a company named Columbus Nova LLC beginning in January 2017 and continuing until at least August 2017.” The funds, Avenatti suggested, may have been used to reimburse Cohen for the $130,000 hush payment made to Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. Vekselberg was sanctioned by the U.S. government in April. And according to The New York Times, he was recently questioned by federal agents working with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. —Noah Shachtman

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/u...-payments.html

Yeah, this is all totally normal, not at all suspicious activity.

[Hawk]

... and my guess is that if asked to expound, the extent of said 'suspicious activity' would boil down to:

"RUSSIA!™"