Steve Bannon, a former adviser to President Trump, was arrested today with three other suspects after the Justice Department charged fraud connected to an online fundraising campaign worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The campaign, “We Build the Wall,” was said to have raised over $25 million. It is worth noting that the Justice Department has continued to investigate or prosecute various Trump supporters under Attorney General Bill Barr despite calls by Democratic members and commentators to impeach him.
Manhattan federal prosecutors allege that Bannon, campaign leader Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea “received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from We Build the Wall, which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organization’s public representations.” Notably, the complaint states that Kolfage publicly guaranteed that he would not take salary or compensation, and that 100 percent of funds raised would go toward the wall. Prosecutors allege that he actually took more than $350,000 for personal use and then tried to conceal it. As for Bannon, he is accused of receiving $1 million of the money, including use for personal expenses.
This is the type of criminal charge that is the most challenging for defense attorneys. Jurors react badly to allegations of pilfering public interest funds and items of personal expense tend to look even more extravagant when juxtaposed against a public funding campaign.
The four defendants each face one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries up to 20 years in prison.
Notably, this case comes out of the Southern District which critics alleged would be stopped from pursuing Trump-related cases after Barr replaced U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman. As with the Lafayette Park account in the media, many of the “facts” on the action against Berman were later contradicted. That certainly will continue to be debated in good-faith by people. However, these charges show that the work of the office has continued as promised by Barr in an independent fashion.
While the indictment shows that the Justice Department is still proceeding unheeded by politics, it also shows a disturbing pattern of criminality among close political advisers to the President with criminal convictions or charges for Bannon, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, Roger Stone, and others. That unquestionably raises questions about the President’s judgment and what he is looking for in advisers. Manafort and Stone are the best examples of individuals who had questionable reputations before the 2016 campaign.
Here is the indictment: Bannon complaint
Probably thousands of post-9/11 Cointelpro torture victims lost over $1 million each for non-crimes and non-wrong doing. The perpetrators got promoted to federal judges and law professors, none were even disbarred. Problem is in those felony crimes – under US law – the DOJ participated in the illegality so there are no DOJ prosecutors and we disabled the International Criminal Court. Note: Cointelpro tactics have been illegal since the 1970’s Frank Church Committee reports. Maybe we need a new agency to investigate Cointelpro tactics?
About COINTELPRO, MKUltra, the’Plutonium Files’ experiments:
One of the problems — other than a complete lack of oversight — is that no one went to jail. So no oversight, and no accountability.
Now let’s see DOJ take a close look into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s campaign finance activities.
Sure, can we look into Trump’s inauguration funds and the Russians who paid for it? Can we look into Trump’s Taxes?
Did you see where Biden dropped in polls after naming Kamala and that Trump got a bump in the polls from the DNC convention? Thanks Obama!
Wasn’t Mule Mueller given approx 3 years and approx $30 Mil to look into that? Thank God and Greyhound obama is gone , incompetent Hillary was denied, and DT will win in Nov 2020. Then the rioting and looting and burning s – BLM and ANTIFA will make what is happening now look like a street dance. Now all the big Liberal Attorneys can go out and Carpe Diem, with joy. Nero is taking down the fiddle case. When the burning begins , Nero will begin.
After we deal with the gang of criminals that are the current swamp that is the tRump administration. Jail them all in maximum security federal prisons.
Poor poor little Alhysteria O’crazio Corkheads bought a $3,000 French Bulldog puppy.
The “free stuff” sho is mo betta in Amedika than Puerto Rico, right?
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“Her transition period will be ‘very unusual, because I can’t really take a salary,’ she said in an interview with The New York Times. ‘I have three months without a salary before I’m a member of Congress. So, how do I get an apartment? Those little things are very real.'”
– CNBC
Bannon Arrested On $35 Million Dollar Yacht By Coast Guard And Postal Inspectors
Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s former top adviser, was charged on Thursday in New York with defrauding donors to We Build the Wall, an online fund-raising effort that collected more than $25 million for the president’s signature plan to erect a barrier on the Mexican border.
Mr. Bannon and three other defendants cheated hundreds of thousands of contributors to the initiative by “capitalizing on their interest” in the wall and falsely telling them that “all of that money would be spent on construction,” said Audrey Strauss, the acting United States attorney in Manhattan.
Mr. Bannon was arrested early Thursday on a $35 million, 150-foot yacht that was off the coast of Westbrook, Conn., law enforcement officials said. Working with the Coast Guard, federal postal inspectors and special agents from Ms. Strauss’s office boarded the vessel, which belonged to the exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui, the officials said.
Edited from: “Steve Bannon Charged With Fraud In ‘We Build The Wall’ Campaign”
Today’s New York Times
Seth, NYT post is old news… But the cash isn’t chump change
Quick question Seth. Are you punking in the men’s room as a wash room attendant?
Clide, you’re the puppet who posted that racist comment comparing Michelle Obama to the caged gorilla from that old luggage commercial. Are you going to blow-up this thread because you don’t like Bannon’s arrest?
Now, now Seth, Settle down
Seth, you are posting old NYT news…. And you are punking in the men’s room for attention.
Seth you’re an angry sock puppet who has been posting on JT blog from years ago. Seth’s Modus operandi is “ATTACT”
Seth, Kris Kobach gave a interview to the NYT about the wall fundraising on the telephone and said Trump gave his blessings for the project.
Here’s a prescient Dec. 2018 response from Brian Beutler (Crooked Media) to a We Build the Wall ad with an image of Trump: “This almost certainly ends with some dumbf*ck (or group of dumbf*cks) going to jail.”
https://twitter.com/brianbeutler/status/1075797435094630400
And Jr. gave a speech at a We Build the Wall event in July 2019, saying “This is what capitalism is all about. This is private enterprise at its finest. Doing it better, faster, cheaper than anything else. What you guys are doing is amazing.” We Build the Wall gave out copies of Jr.’s book as a gift when people donated. Apparently Dad and Jr. are now trying to distance themselves from it.
BTW, more props to the USPS, their coastal inspection service helped with the arrests of Bannon on a boat. And apparently Kolfage used a boat he’d illegally bought “We Build the Wall” funds to join the July 4 Trump boat parade in Florida.
It’s only a matter of time before Trump will claim he hardly knows Bannon.
Does Trump know Obergruppenfuhrer Mueller, no, no, does Trump know A-damn Schiitf?
Please accept my sincere and profuse apologies for the typo.
He’s already at it. Ha.
“Here’s a prescient Dec. 2018 response from Brian Beutler (Crooked Media) to a We Build the Wall ad with an image of Trump: “This almost certainly ends with some dumbf*ck (or group of dumbf*cks) going to jail.””
My thoughts exactly upon learning of this. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
Fish, that’s the next big shoe to drop here. Ultimately John Durham will have the most challenging job ever convincing the public that his report is still relevant.
I would wager huge that Durham will be a heck of a lot more ambient, alert, aware, knowledgeable, at the forth coming DEM crat congressional hearing than was sickly Mueller. As Trump said; it was a hoax of investigating. But you Libs have to be hammered with a two by 4. (2 X 4) John Durham coming report has a lot of A-wholes working button holes on the chair seats.
Perfect. And I’m sorry, but if anyone actually donated to this freak show of a fundraising campaign, I’m not saying you deserved to lose your money, but I am saying that comes as close to deserving to lose your money as anything else on the planet does.
One has to wonder if the Trump cult that writes here also invested in Trump wine, airline, Trump University, steaks, water, charity’s, and the Trump Foundation. Just to name a few.
More than a couple, I’d imagine. And can I just say how awesome it is that postal agents were in on the arrest? Repeat, postal agents made the bust. Sometimes reality just flops my mop!!
Knowing how Trump does business, it was immediately clear when he began shuffling funds behind the scenes for the wall that he saw the wall the Mexicans were supposedly going to pay for as a way to receive kickbacks and reward supporters. Standard Trump business. That it took this long for a case to materialize means the evidence is so great Barr couldn’t squash it internally.
JT shifts right into Bannon defense attorney mode in this article, surgically trying to remove old Stevie from the ‘personally spent the money’ allegation. And he tries to do double duty by chest thumping about his friend Barr, but it doesn’t work. Berman was able to leave behind someone at SDNY that clearly is pushing this case.
Buckle up, Trumpers. I guess this let the air out of the Durham balloon somewhat, ay?
First, this is just a cop. an indictment. Each person is PRESUMED INNOCENT. they get to have their “say” and hire lawyers and defend themselves.
Now, we have to allow that a jury may find them guilty. If so, fine! Let the jury decide– after a full and fair due process trial. For now that’s all I got to say about this one.
Proceeding with what I really want to discuss:
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD BE DONE AGAINST BLM and ANTIFA.
at least part of what should be done.,
put teams of FBI on them, follow the money, cook up some indicments like this,. and it will go a long way to restoring law and order
i sure hope THAT is in the works. Because the BOGUS nonprofit BLM is doing a lot more harm to society
Talking point straight from Bannon’s mouth, Kurtz.
What’s really got to be bouncing around in the popcorn popper of trump brain today is that not only does SDNY have Bannon on a wall scam, but this probably means Trump is lined up for some time now on tax and insurance fraud upon leaving government.
Good times!
I have not had the time to tune into Steve’s show for a month. I do follow Raheem Kassam on twttr
I am just saying what every lawyer committed to our system of due process believes, Bug. Every accused person is presumed innocent, and has their day in court.
A complaint or indictment is just one side of the story. Steve will have his own and no matter how much you hate him, he is an American with constitutional rights too.
Even the most despicable accused persons have the benefit of due process and we are all protected by it. I remind people of this regularly. Many times on this blog i have stated this in the context of certain cretins whom I deeply dislike. I happen to like Steve so you can bet I will say it for him too.
It used to be liberals would affirm such admonitions and not mock them. I understand that the Democrat crowd is increasingly illiberal these days. I am required as a lawyer to maintain my commitment to our system of due process and the right of trial by jury enshrined in the 7th amendment even if I too have my own reservations.
Bug, Will you join me in affirming that all accused persons in America, are presumed innocent of charges until proven guilty?
I will join you in that, Kurtz.
Sounds like there are doctored invoices in this case though. Going to be hard to get around those. Either way, we’re looking at a trump pardon.
They have to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. Bannon used to be an investment banker. They are trained in many necessary procedures to protect themselves from this very kind of thing. Bannon may be able to introduce credible testimony of witnesses and experts to raise a reasonable doubt and win his own aquittal.
Fraud cases are easy to bring and hard to finish.
Kolfage or whatever this other guy’s name may have a lot harder time winning his end of it.
That is my immediate, superficial speculation on the small information we have here to consider.
I don’t hate Bannon, Kurtz. I bet he’s fun at social gatherings.
I may hate the white nationalism, the limited views on globalism, the fact he brought Breitbart into the Oval office — but I don’t hate him personally. I always have a soft spot in my heart for the most misguided among us.
Bug:
What part do you hate? The “white” or the “nationalism.”
More From The Southern District Of New York:
Trump Loses Another Round In Battle Over Tax Returns
A federal judge on Thursday rejected President Trump’s latest effort to block the Manhattan district attorney from obtaining his tax returns, roundly dismissing Mr. Trump’s arguments that the prosecutor’s grand jury subpoena was “wildly overbroad” and issued in bad faith.
The ruling by Judge Victor Marrero of Federal District Court in Manhattan marked another setback for the president in his yearlong legal fight to block the subpoena. The conflict has already reached the Supreme Court once and could end up there again as Mr. Trump’s lawyers quickly filed papers saying he would appeal.
The district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat, has been seeking eight years of Mr. Trump’s personal and business returns and other financial records as part of an investigation into the president’s business practices.
Reacting to the judge’s ruling, Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with the Iraqi prime minister on Thursday, “This is a continuation of the witch hunt, the greatest witch hunt in history. There’s never been anything like it.” “We’ll probably end up back in the Supreme Court,” he added.
The Supreme Court, in a landmark decision last month, denied Mr. Trump’s initial argument that a sitting president had immunity from criminal investigation. But that ruling opened the door for the president to return to the lower court in Manhattan and raise other objections to the subpoena.
It has been known that Mr. Vance was investigating whether any New York State laws were broken when hush-money payments were made in the run-up to the 2016 president election to two women who said that they had affairs with Mr. Trump.
But Mr. Vance’s office suggested recently in a court filing that its inquiry was broader, also focusing on potential bank and insurance fraud.
The prosecutors, defending their subpoena for Mr. Trump’s records, cited undisputed “public reports of possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.” Mr. Vance’s office made it clear in court recently that it viewed the tax returns as central evidence in its investigation.
The New York Times also has reported that Mr. Vance’s office issued a separate subpoena last year to the president’s longtime lender, Deutsche Bank, seeking records that Mr. Trump and his company provided to the bank when he sought loans. The bank complied with the request, The Times reported, although there was no indication the bank’s records included Mr. Trump’s tax returns.
Edited from: “Trump Must Turn Over Tax Returns To D A, Judge Rules”
Today’s New York Times
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NOTE: Reader Comments to this story wonder how many times this case can bounce back and forth between Manhattan and the Supreme Court.
All of this refers to events which occurred in December 2018 et seq. Amazing the alacrity with which federal prosecutors will strike when the spirit moves them. (The burden of the complaint is that the four principles took salaries when they promised to not take salaries; the salaries appear to have amounted to 8% of the funds raised).
Jonathan Turley wrote:
“This is the type of criminal charge that is the most challenging for defense attorneys. Jurors react badly to allegations of pilfering public interest funds and items of personal expense tend to look even more extravagant when juxtaposed against a public funding campaign.”
But “This is absurd x XXii” is just fine with it.
I would like to see this sort of scrutiny applied to the “BLACK LIVES MATTER” constellation of “nonprofits” and all their crowdfunding efforts.
It won’t be, I’m sure. The courts are corrupt and untrustworthy.
Painting with your broad brush again, today, I see.
Yet another attempt by Turley to put a positive spin on the crooked dealings of Trump and his allies. The thrust of this piece is to praise Bill Barr and cast doubt on the validity of the charges against Bannon and Shea. And, I’d like to know how Republican donors can pay to erect a wall on U.S. property when Congress refused to fund the project.
Did the he 501 (1,2,3 ) (C) Forms 990s audit originate with IRS or the Southern District NY? If not IRS then why? Did IRS begin audits of DT’s Federal forms 1040s or what alleged crimes/basis did the Southern District allude to in the filing for 8 years of DT’s Tax returns. If not a definitive cause, then why allow a phising expedition? Under US Tax Code, the statute of limitations is 3 years unless there is established Fraud. When some one (DT) is receiving about 600 + 1099- Misc, Forms K-1 from many sources ( S-Corp, 1065 Partnership, or LLC members, etc) if that return was printed out, it be 3 ft plus high. There is no direct path in anyone’s Fed 1040 that would lead to direct interactions to Russia, Switzerland, or any foreign nation. Those Countries do not issue said 1099s, etc., to a foreign individual or Corp.
Yeah, you Trump, Barr haters going to hate. The wall is in process of building and DT got/received the funds. Donald Trump inherited 26 years of Democrat failures. Remember the phone call of Jimmy Carter’s to Bill Clinton 1994? Lift all the sanctions on North Korea and wal la, NK stops nuclear proliferation s. Well how did that work out? We now know don’t we. I would allege and wager if the info was released, (emails, etc,) it would confirm that Obama lead the Coup attempt against Trump. It seems that few people seem to care, that this insurrection was carried out.. Barr will not prosecute, via the Durham report, as he beieves it would save the System to not do so. I say it will destroy the system and there will no longer be a Rule of Law. They charge who, when , with a law, as they then choose.
Obama’s lifting sanctions and fully funding Iran to nuclear weapons agreement is/was egregious. Just like North Korea, Iran lied but obama being muslim freed the cash and now with in months Iran will be spewing nuclear toward Israel. They have also said, will attack Great Satan America. Pelosi, Schumer, Biden, Dems et al, been in office each, now more than 40 years and that is reason America is where/what it is today. Yes, elect Biden, Harris steps in and America goes socialists- Communism and you can pull the draw sting on America. Selah
“what alleged crimes/basis did the Southern District allude to”
Among other things, they’re investigating tax fraud related to Trump’s hush money payments, which themselves involved violation of election law. Those are some of the alleged crimes.
If you want to read more, try the SCOTUSblog page for Trump v. Vance, and if you’re willing to pay for PACER access, additional files are here: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14664/trump-v-vance-jr/
“obama being muslim”
RME at anyone who believes that nonsense.
Well he has a muslim name, he was raised as a muslim, his so-called little holy quran says you can’t leave the clan cult ideology (islam) with out being taken out. (beheaded). So, if walks like a mule, brays like a mule, has ears of a mule, it probably is a mule. Obanma no more a Christian than my two little dogs. Believe as you choose, to each his own. But there-again only Good Democratic Socialists have opinion rights.
Apprise as to what a hush money payment has in regards to demanding Tax Returns? Bank Statements would probably be starting point, would you not think oh pseudo-savant one? I believe the hush money matter has already been put to rest. I would like to see,said alleged prostitute’s tax return, from that year also. Did she declare the full amount as self employed Income and Pay the required regular income tax and the self-employed taxes (15.3%) on the proper amount? If it was still obama’s admin, then the IRS on any adverse party, would have an IRS approval look quickly, You remember Lois Learner, don’t you?
PS There is medication for that REM Tourettes syndrome also. No charge for the diagnosis, either.
You Sir, are in the wrong country. You said you came for the freedom – you really came for the “free stuff.” People must adapt to the outcomes of freedom. Freedom does not adapt to people, dictatorship does. Seattle, Portland, Chicago, etc., are all examples of a dearth of the discipline inherent in freedom through self-reliance – parasites supported by the state are emboldened and incorrigible, and whether they are terminal for this society remains to be seen. Remember, the American Founders established a severely restricted-vote republic not a one man, one vote democrazy. Turnout for the first presidential election, 1788, was 11.6%, by design.
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1st Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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Compulsory Social Engineering –
4th Principle of the Communist Manifesto Under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat
“the Justice Department has continued to investigate or prosecute various Trump supporters under Attorney General Bill Barr despite calls by Democratic members and commentators to impeach him.”
The arrest was made by SDNY, not by Barr. Nor does this exempt Barr from criticism and possible impeachment for other things he’s said and done.
“Notably, this case comes out of the Southern District which critics alleged would be stopped from pursuing Trump-related cases after Barr replaced U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman.”
Perhaps now you understand why Berman wasn’t willing to resign and be replaced by Carpenito at Barr’s connivance, but didn’t challenge it when he’d be replaced by Audrey Strauss, his next in line and his appropriate replacement. Barr tried and failed to replace Berman, as Barr could not legally replace him. Only Trump could fire Berman.
JT understands but pretends he doesn’t, that the SDNY is run by someone Berman trusted and forced the baffoon Barr to accept by outmaneuvering him on his firing. This case was obviously not cooked up in a month and was one of those Berman wanted his hand picked successor to to take over the finish line. Barr could not afford to try another firing in this office, though shutting down or soft peddling this case was probably one of his goals when he tried to take over the office.
Considering the source, we will have to see. Bannon is unlikely to take a plea,
I am very suspicious of these charges. The Southern District of New York is known to be in Chuck Schumer’s hip pocket. The campaign wasn’t run in New York and should have been investigated by prosecutors elsewhere. I strongly suspect this is purely political designed to help Biden.
I’ll wait for more information. One positive effect of all the chicken-little-left’s incessant squawking is that I’m starting to learn to not rush off in judgement.
If you read the indictment, you’d know the they were indicted for wire fraud. As long as people in SDNY were defrauded and paid online, there’s nothing wrong with SDNY filing charges. Here’s a copy of the indictment: https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/20/politics/bannon-indictment/index.html
Just another on Trump’s list to pardon and let go. People have to wonder if the Trump family didn’t get a piece of that action. Again Turley does not tell the whole story, a firewall was in place just in case Barr does what Barr does best….obstruct justice. Love the last line in Turley’s article. “However, these charges show that the work of the office has continued as promised by Barr in an independent fashion” That’s got to be one of Turley’s best punch-lines ever.
In many, many ways, the Wall is a scam. It was a scam issue in the Trump campaign “Who is going to pay for it? MEXICO!”
It is a scam in the current campaign “We are building the wall” {no, they are not really}
It is a scam in the fundraising “Hey, give us some money to help build the wall.”
A sucker is born every minute. Trumpland has more than its fair share of suckers.
Imagine how many Trump officials and former officials and family members would be indicted and convicted if Bill Barr was not a complete Trump sycophant. These are just the corruptions he cannot bury, or people who have turned on Trump.
Barr’s Justice Department seemed to bury the criminal referrals against Don Jr. and Jared which had been referred from the Senate Intelligence Committee.
He’s buried criminal referrals of James Comey and Andrew McCabe, too. Is that because he’s nothing but a sycophant?
The impeachment PCrap is just gratuitous garbage. The socialists can’t be impeached apparently and tha should be a two way street. amendment. On Bannon it’s what did he know and when did he know it. On purpose, on bad advise, or is it just more PCrap. The amount is soi small it would take that much for ten years for the socialists under Pelosi to pay off the interest on theri debts.
Fix your Russian to English translation Micheal
Even though Bannon got the boot a couple years before he pulled this scam, he is the type Trump likes. Bannon simply got too big for his britches and Trump can’t have that. Bannon convinced himself that he could take money even when he stated he wouldn’t. This is no different than any one of the endless scams Trump has pulled. Trump has boasted he made money each of the six times he went bankrupt, screwing contractors and anyone else in the process. Trump took millions from donors and labeled the donations with his Trump Charity. If there is one thing Trump has to boast about it is getting away with any and every conceivable scam possible. Bannon was his own piece of work, running parallel to Trump but not enough of a boot licker like Cohen. When thieves fall out; write the books boys. The money is there now. After Trump gets bounced he will fade away into talk show oblivion. The world is sick and tired of Trump.
Isaac presumes to know the outcome of this matter before Bannon has even entered a plea. How careless our Democratic party cheerleaders are in their predictions.
Reflects badly on Trump, even if he had nothing to do with the fundraising organization. For a different reason, but similar in connecting associations, Cardi B (WAP) association with Biden reflects badly on Biden.
Correction, Bannon is not a Trump supporter, he turned against him and wrote a tell all book. Impeach Barr, and run him out of town tarred and feathered on a rail. Nothing happens under Barr that is “independent”.
Actually, he is. His web site plainly supports the president. He’s critical but still supports him, as do thousands of others.
Bannon is definitely a Trump supporter Sarge. There is no other game in town except submit to globalism and its imperatives to destroy the nation state as such and allow endless “free trade” at the expense of America, to allow endless mass migration, to allow endless control of information by multinational global corporations ie the “free press,” and to allow endless movement of big money capital from one market to another. This is globalization and Trump is a foe and so they are going full bore against him. Bannon too.
Now how about you give us some reporting on Thailand since you are here. I read in the SCMP there are “pro democracy protests.” What’s your take? Are you against the monarchy, too? I suspect you prolly are. Let’s here some real reporting on something you are in a good position to talk about. I will check in later.
CORRECTION: Sergeant Sabai,* your “breast cloth,” “shawl-like,” “thin and soft” appellation-as-affectation is showing.
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“Bannon aims to make a comeback in circle of Trump influencers ahead of election”
“Trump fired him in 2017, but recently Bannon praised his former boss on Fox News and Trump is rumored to have spoken positively of him in return
“But [Bannon] recently appeared on Fox News, discussing the forthcoming election and lavishing praise on the boss who fired him.
“When people see the difference between the order of Trump and the chaos of [presumptive Democratic candidate Joe] Biden,” [Bannon] said, “I think it’s going to be a pretty clear choice and I think Biden’s going to have a very tough time making this case to people.”
– The Guardian
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“…Attorney General William P. Barr…portrayed Mr. Durham’s work as rectifying…injustices by [Obama holdover] officials…in 2016…”
“Ex-F.B.I. Lawyer Expected to Plead Guilty in Review of Russia Inquiry”
WASHINGTON — A former F.B.I. lawyer intends to plead guilty after he was charged with falsifying a document as part of a deal with prosecutors conducting their own criminal inquiry of the Russia investigation, according to his lawyer and court documents made public on Friday. The lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, 38, who was assigned to the Russia investigation, plans to admit that he altered an email from the C.I.A. that investigators relied on to seek renewed court permission in 2017 for a secret wiretap on the former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, who had at times provided information to the spy agency. Mr. Clinesmith’s lawyer said he made a mistake while trying to clarify facts for a colleague. President Trump immediately promoted the plea agreement as proof that the Russia investigation was illegitimate and politically motivated, opening a White House news conference by calling Mr. Clinesmith “corrupt” and the deal “just the beginning.” Mr. Trump has long been blunt about viewing the investigation by the prosecutor examining the earlier inquiry, John H. Durham, as political payback whose fruits he would like to see revealed in the weeks before the election.
Attorney General William P. Barr has portrayed Mr. Durham’s work as rectifying what he sees as injustices by officials who sought in 2016 to understand links between the Trump campaign and Russia’s covert operation to interfere in the election.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBYpiIz7LoQ
*Sbai (ស្បៃ) is a Khmer word that refers to any kind of thin and soft garment.[2] In clothing, it specifically refers to shawl-like garment or breast cloth used mostly by women[3][4] and to the lesser extent religious men[5]. While the term sabai is used by Thai which derived from Khmer word (sbai) that refers to the same shawl-like garment.[6][4][7]
– Wiki