Merged All things Trump + Russia

[varwoche]

One unforeseen effect of a Trump presidency: Richard Painter has become something of a household name.

Okay, only in certain households, I admit.

I find him hugely entertaining. Not just what he says, but the entire presentation. He's out of central casting, for what role I'm not sure.

 

[Mumbles]

I'm not a lawyer, but it seems too vague to me. Obviously some sort of tangible good would be a "thing of value" but information seems doubtful.

But let's suppose as a hypothetical that he offered to pay her for this information. Then it isn't a "donation". Does that make it legal?

This sort of thing has actually been ruled on in the past - here's a basic description of giving polling results. I strongly suspect that other sorts of information, such as the results of opposition research, would be seen in a similar manner, assuming Toupee Fiasco hasn't man aged to hopelessly corrupt the FEC.

 

[Mycroft]

Hey varwoche, not that I'm not impressed by your use of colours and tables, but I suggest your time would be better spent by putting sources to the little items you collect, not least to make sure they aren't only true in your mind. I'm sure it would also help to convince others that you're not just engaging in free-flying conspiracy theorizing.

Now sourcing is important to you again?

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[ponderingturtle]

Agreed. There's a reason why John McCain has a "Just wait, there are still more shoes that will drop" attitude - at this point, he's the one republican I'd trust on this entire issue - and even there, it's mostly because he's one of the few republicans who is still disgusted by Putin. Most of the rest seem to think "Fascism, oligarchy, white nationalism - as long as we're in power, who cares?"

Why would they have a problem with the goals of the republican party?

 

[WilliamSeger]

As opposed to things like helping the Iranian Guard launder money into a terribly placed Azerbaijan location or that inexplicably high priced property sale to a Russian? There's a lot of options for the potential "real dirt."

Yeah, but I think it's going to be hard to pin anything on Trump personally for that stuff (except for his already-known sleaziness). But there's some reason that Trump appointed Flynn despite the multiple warnings, didn't fire him immediately when the **** hit the fan, and then tried so hard to protect him from Comey. If Mueller gets to the bottom of that, it's gonna leave a mark.

 

[Belz...]

Yeah, but I think it's going to be hard to pin anything on Trump personally for that stuff (except for his already-known sleaziness). But there's some reason that Trump appointed Flynn despite the multiple warnings, didn't fire him immediately when the **** hit the fan, and then tried so hard to protect him from Comey. If Mueller gets to the bottom of that, it's gonna leave a mark.

The odds are that the Trump Jr. revelation is about to leave a mark, too.

 

[uke2se]

The odds are that the Trump Jr. revelation is about to leave a mark, too.

Yep, the cat's out of the bag. Collusion (at least attempted) is now a proven fact.

 

[Ziggurat]

Besides, since when is collusion a crime?

Define collusion, please. Then we can figure out whether or not it's a crime, and whether or not it even occurred.

 

[Belz...]

Yep, the cat's out of the bag. Collusion (at least attempted) is now a proven fact.

It's insane to believe that Trump Jr's deliberate attempt to get dirt on Clinton from a Russian agent with Kushner and Manafort in Trump Tower wouldn't be known to Trump, especially since Trump then went on to yap on Twitter about Clinton's e-mails just as they were about to be dumped onto Wikileaks.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Can you define "notable aid" precisely?

I understand money, but information seems like a grey area.

Would it be legal for a US citizen to hire a foreigner to do opposition research on an opponent?

You are describing a US citizen initiating the search.

What you are missing here is the emails specifically say the information was coming from the Russian government.

That was evidence of a crime and Jr should have called the FBI.

 

[WilliamSeger]

The odds are that the Trump Jr. revelation is about to leave a mark, too.

Yep, the cat's out of the bag. Collusion (at least attempted) is now a proven fact.

The Perfect Storm would be if all these plot trajectories converge.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

The following is popping up all over my facebook feed.

I have many errands to run...don't have time to research right now.

So...any truth?

http://dailycaller.com/2017/07/10/e...-clinton-allies-did-the-same-thing-as-don-jr/

See anything there that says the Ukrainians hacked the RNC's or Trump's emails? That that stole anything?

Look at what was released from the DNC's and Podesta's hacks: Gossip, embarrassing statements, the leaking of one debate question.

Look what the Clinton people were looking for, Manafort being on the Russian payroll.

From Politico last Jan:

A Ukrainian-American operative who was consulting for the Democratic National Committee met with top officials in the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington in an effort to expose ties between Trump, top campaign aide Paul Manafort and Russia, according to people with direct knowledge of the situation.

The Ukrainian efforts had an impact in the race, helping to force Manafort’s resignation and advancing the narrative that Trump’s campaign was deeply connected to Ukraine’s foe to the east, Russia. But they were far less concerted or centrally directed than Russia’s alleged hacking and dissemination of Democratic emails.

If we were only talking about Russia flooding social media with a fake news campaign, I doubt there would be the same concern.

 

[Ziggurat]

You are describing a US citizen initiating the search.

What you are missing here is the emails specifically say the information was coming from the Russian government.

That was evidence of a crime and Jr should have called the FBI.

Why should Trump Jr. have thought that this alleged information was obtained criminally? The fact that it was (again, allegedly) coming from the Russian government isn't proof of criminality. Furthermore, why should T. Jr. have called the FBI about alleged information never materialized and may never have existed?

 

[WilliamSeger]

 

[NoahFence]

Define collusion, please. Then we can figure out whether or not it's a crime, and whether or not it even occurred.

Here's the definition of collusion.

 

[C_Felix]

Apparently, Hannity cited the Politico story last night in his knee-jerk defense of all things Trump.

WaPo provides details here.


What's the term? Oh yeah... Nothingburger.

Awesome!

Thanks for the head start.

My reading turned up this:

A DNC official stressed that Chalupa was a consultant paid to do outreach for the party’s political department, not a researcher. She undertook her investigations into Trump, Manafort and Russia on her own, and the party did not incorporate her findings in its dossiers on the subjects, the official said, stressing that the DNC had been building robust research books on Trump and his ties to Russia long before Chalupa began sounding alarms.

I'd say someone working for the DNC digging up dirt on an opponent is different than a foreign operative offering up dirt and someone with close ties to the campaign claiming that he'd love to get his hands on the dirt.

 

[C_Felix]

See anything there that says the Ukrainians hacked the RNC's or Trump's emails? That that stole anything?

Look at what was released from the DNC's and Podesta's hacks: Gossip, embarrassing statements, the leaking of one debate question.

Look what the Clinton people were looking for, Manafort being on the Russian payroll.

From Politico last Jan:If we were only talking about Russia flooding social media with a fake news campaign, I doubt there would be the same concern.

Thanks!

You posted this as I was reading everything. (Hence why it seems I posted/replied with similar items without giving you credit)

 

[uke2se]

I'd say someone working for the DNC digging up dirt on an opponent is different than a foreign operative offering up dirt and someone with close ties to the campaign claiming that he'd love to get his hands on the dirt.

Of course it is. The White House is flailing now, trying to defend themselves. There's now fire to accompany all the smoke, and they are desperate.

 

[blutoski]

[snipped for brevity]... why should T. Jr. have called the FBI about alleged information never materialized and may never have existed?

Just spitballing here, but how about "because reporting a credible foreign interference with American election is in the national interest" ?

The fact that it wasn't reported suggests that the Trump campaign was not prioritizing the national interest over personal interest. This revelation increases the probability that this is the case.

 

[trustbutverify]

Why should Trump Jr. have thought that this alleged information was obtained criminally? The fact that it was (again, allegedly) coming from the Russian government isn't proof of criminality. Furthermore, why should T. Jr. have called the FBI about alleged information never materialized and may never have existed?

What makes you think the information never materialized?