We previously discussed the controversial career of Marc Elias, a partner at Perkins Coie, who featured prominently in the alleged concealment of the Clinton campaign’s funding of the Steele Dossier. Elias later gathered donors in challenging elections for Democratic candidates and fighting voting reform bills, including some controversial comments. Now the role of Elias and Perkins Coie could be raised in the investigation (and expected report) of Special Counsel John Durham. However, he and the firm have finally separated. Elias is now opening a legal group that purportedly will focus on, among other areas, ethics and campaign disclosures. That irony may not be lost on Durham who is looking into the origins of the Russian investigation, including not just the dossier but another controversy linked to Perkins Coie. Durham is reportedly investigating whether individuals or groups knowingly created or passed along false information or tips to the FBI to start the Russian investigation.
I previously described news accounts linking the firm and Elias to the dossier scandal:
Throughout the campaign, the Clinton campaign denied any involvement in the creation of the so-called Steele dossier’s allegations of Trump-Russia connections. However, weeks after the election, journalists discovered that the Clinton campaign hid payments for the dossier made to a research firm, Fusion GPS, as “legal fees” among the $5.6 million paid to the campaign’s law firm. New York Times reporter Ken Vogel said at the time that Clinton lawyer Marc Elias, with the law firm of Perkins Coie, denied involvement in the anti-Trump dossier. When Vogel tried to report the story, he said, Elias “pushed back vigorously, saying ‘You (or your sources) are wrong.’” Times reporter Maggie Haberman declared, “Folks involved in funding this lied about it, and with sanctimony, for a year.”
It was not just reporters who asked the Clinton campaign about its role in the Steele dossier. John Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, was questioned by Congress and denied categorically any contractual agreement with Fusion GPS. Sitting beside him was Elias, who reportedly said nothing to correct the misleading information given to Congress.
The Washington Post also reported that “Elias drew from funds that both the Clinton campaign and the DNC were paying Perkins Coie.”
Maggie Haberman, who called out the Clinton campaign for lying about the funding, was one of those who revealed the departure of Elias from Perkins Coie.
Elias’ controversial role on the alleged cover up of the dossier funding has not deterred Democratic donors who funded an Elias group called Democracy Docket. Indeed, even though many law professors and experts called for disbarments and ethical investigations of Trump lawyers for misleading or false statements, there has not been a call for even a simple inquiry into whether Elias misled Congress, the media, or others by these same academics and experts. Likewise, these allegations have had little follow up by the media despite Elias’ continued work for Democratic causes and candidates.
Neither the firm nor Elias have faced any charge of wrongdoing or ethical violations in this or related matters in the Russian investigation. Indeed, there may not have been a basis for such charges. We only have allegations because there has been no interest in any serious inquiry in Washington. Moreover, even if there was a basis for any charges, the statute of limitations would likely prove a barrier absent some new violation like lying to investigators.
That brings us to Durham. It is not known if Durham has questioned Elias or whether the denial of funding of the dossier will feature into his investigation on the dossier. What is known is that Perkins Coie may come in another matter raised by Durham investigators: Alfa Bank, a privately owned commercial bank in Russia. The Alfa Bank controversy is likely to make a number of powerful people particularly uneasy. Clinton campaign-linked figures such as Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson allegedly pushed the debunked claim that the Trump campaign had a server linked directly to the bank, which in turn was linked to Vladimir Putin and his cronies.
The Alfa Bank conspiracy reportedly was pitched to the Justice Department, including through contacts with Bruce Ohr. One figure referenced in coverage of the controversy was Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann, a co-partner with Marc Elias at Perkins Coie. Indeed, according to some reports, Christopher Steele named Sussmann as the source of the Alfa Bank allegation. Carter Page unsuccessfully tried to sue Perkins Coie over its connection to the Russian investigation. (The case was tossed on jurisdictional grounds).
The question is now whether we will now learn the full story of the role played by Elias and Perkins Coie in the starting of the Russian investigation. That role could be detailed in a report by Durham though it is not clear if the establishment will allow that report to see the light of day. While most Democrats demanded the full disclosure of the Mueller Report, they are expected to oppose the release of all or parts of the Durham Report. Anticipating that move, last week 44 GOP senators demanded the public release of the report once it is completed.
Footnote 233 from IG Report on FISA and Crossfire Hurricane:
“Steele told us that he had a second meeting with this attorney in October 2016, and that he had met with another attorney from Perkins Coie in July 2016.”
One attorney was obviously Sussmann. I’d say that Elias is a good candidate to be the second. If he’s the “October 2016” attorney that might link him to the Alfa Bank smear scam which was launched via Slate magazine at that time.
Is Mr. Elias in Durham’s crosshairs? Interesting timing with this parting from Perkins.
Marc Elias is the guy paid to tell the court the election is rigged when Republicans win but that rigged elections are conspiracy nonsense when Democrats prevail. He represents everything wrong with the system.
Not surprising he’s the guy the Democrats turned to hide the fact they were paying for the dossier. Then said nothing as Podesta denied any Democratic party involvement with it to Congress. I believe that’s called “lack of candor” in FBI parlance, and it can get you criminally charged.
What else did Elias do? Help his Perkins colleague Sussmann push the phony Alfa Bank story to the FBI? (That’s also probably a crime.) One wonders.
Elias has straddled the line between sleazy and illegal for years. It would be delicious if he finally got nailed working on the dark side of it.
“Clinton Lawyer Featured In Steele Dossier Scandal Opens Firm With Focus On Ethics and Campaign Disclosures”
– Professor Turley
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Marc Elias’ guest “A” list for the “Grand Opening Gala” of his new Ethics and Campaign Disclosures firm:
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The Obama Coup D’etat in America is the most egregious abuse of power and the most prodigious crime in American political history.
The co-conspirators are:
Kevin Clinesmith, Bill Taylor, Eric Ciaramella, Rosenstein, Mueller/Team, Andrew Weissmann,
James Comey, Christopher Wray, McCabe, Strozk, Page, Laycock, Kadzic,
Sally Yates, James Baker, Bruce Ohr, Nellie Ohr, Priestap, Kortan, Campbell,
Sir Richard Dearlove, Christopher Steele, Simpson, Joseph Mifsud,
Alexander Downer, Stefan “The Walrus” Halper, Azra Turk, Kerry, Hillary,
Huma, Mills, Brennan, Gina Haspel, Clapper, Lerner, Farkas, Power, Lynch,
Rice, Jarrett, Holder, Brazile, Sessions (patsy), Nadler, Schiff, Pelosi, Obama,
Joe Biden, James E. Boasberg, Emmet Sullivan, et al.
Marc Elias is a good man who is in the process of turning his life around. We should all wish him the best. The bend over and grab your ankles.
Our Republic has reached its end game; they all do, republics that is. The middle man baked into a representative republic model become corrupt over time and the level of corruption increases exponentially until the corroded bottom falls out. One of the answers to this problem is term limits but no one sees that passing, again the one’s that need termed vote on the issue. The best we can do is prepare for the waterfall of events soon to befall us from dividing the nation in half to the worst senecio of a bloody civil war. God will not save the Union. My personal prepared agenda is helping my son survive since at my age I will not bennifit from serious preparedness. Things like helping him build a business that is built on survival, aquiring property in States that respect the Constitution and be on the right side of a break up, and other survival strategies that have the potential of thriving not just surviving.
“It’s the [democracy], stupid!”
– James Carville
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“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the people discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy–to be followed by a dictatorship.”
– Alexander Fraser Tytler
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The failure is of “democracy” not the American restricted-vote republic. The failure is that of elected officials who broadened the vote to dependent parasites in search of other people’s money.
The singular American failure is the judicial branch which has ignored its sworn duty to support the “manifest tenor” of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The entire American welfare state is unconstitutional and must have been immediately struck down by the Supreme Court, no matter who “voted” for it. Congress cannot tax for anything but “…general Welfare…” and it cannot regulate anything but money, commerce and land and naval Forces. That parasites desire “free stuff” does not bear. The Founders gave Americans the one and only thing they could: Freedom Through Self-Reliance. All men are created equal; after creation, all men are on their own.
An ancillary failure is the resolve of elected officials to preserve and “keep” the severely-restricted-vote republic. Turnout in 1788 was 11.6% by design. The Greeks created democracy and restricted the vote; the Romans perpetuated the restricted-vote republic. The Founders gave Americans a severely-restricted-vote republic, distinctly not a one man, one vote democrazy, aka ochlocracy. Women, slaves and the “poor” were never intended to vote because they were never needed to vote. It’s the Constitution that rules, not the vote. The desires of individuals don’t bear – freedom does. The governmental structure was intended to be severely limited and restricted, small, focused and diligent about preserving and perpetuating the dominion of the literal U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Elected officials took hiatus from their free enterprises and served briefly. Never were the creation of thousands of lucrative fiefdoms and a parasitic, wealthy, ruling class intended. Originally, the states severely limited and restricted the vote to those loyal to the Constitution: Male, European, 21 with 50 lbs. Sterling/50 acres. In the absence of the implementation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court, states’ loss of control of elections has doomed America.
To save the nation, there is a simple and immediate resolution available. The entire American welfare state must be legally and fully abrogated and vaporized. The Supreme Court must strictly reimplement the Constitution and severe vote restrictions must be imposed by states.
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“[We gave you] a republic, if you can keep it.”
– Ben Franklin
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Let’s keep it!
Let compassion flow from religious and charitable organizations; privatize the compassion industry and get it out of government.
Let’s keep Franklin’s severely-restricted-vote republic.
The American republic has not reached its end game. All it needs is the re-implementation of the severe voting limitations and restrictions of the Founders and the re-implementation of the “manifest tenor” of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Elias being part of a law firm focusing on ethics is like Timothy McVeigh opening an architectural company.
Like Ted Bundy overseeing a sorority.
Gary Ridgeway opening a school for wayward girls.
Jeffery Dahmer opening a vegetarian restaurant.
John Wayne Gary opening a halfway house for underprivileged boys.
You get the picture.
Can you say “Irony?”
McC It would be good if John Durham would take the position of Wiford Brimley in the movie, Absence of malice. He said, “when I leave here, someone’s ass will be in my briefcase”. Durham should take the position that “many” would be in his briefcase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvqtrhjsghQ
FBI Agent Sadusky in National Treasure
I expect very little will be done. The Democrats Party is totally corrupt and the Republican Party is partly corrupt. Corruption has much more than 50% of the votes.
Why would only 44 Republican Senators demand the full disclosure and not ALL of the Republicans?
Any question there is a “Deep State” at work?
McConnell and McCarthy should be leading a 100% stand by the Republicans for Full Disclosure….and not allowing any deserters!
When the Republicans regain control of both Houses of Congress in 2022….they should immediately begin Investigations of the Media, Big Tech, and the Democrat Party to demonstrate the collusion between all three.
Then, they should open investigations into the FBI and the Intelligence Organizations to disclose those corrupt relationships during the Obama Administration.
Finally….the Congress should investigate the Military Senior Leadership’s embrace of CRT, White Rage, and Threat of Domestic Terrorism concerns about White Supreamacists.
The Senate under Republican control should exercise its Advise and Consent Power re promotions of Military Officers and ensure promotions are done upon Merit and strict adherence to those being promoted demonstrating proof of being apolitical and adherents to being defenders of the Constitution,
“While most Democrats demanded the full disclosure of the Mueller Report, they are expected to oppose the release of all or parts of the Durham Report. Anticipating that move, last week 44 GOP senators demanded the public release of the report once it is completed.”
Bring it all I say. Mueller Report full disclosure. Durham Report full disclosure. Full history of how the ‘Steele dossier’ actually began in R circles. Hell, put the pee tapes up for full review. We know they’re out there.
Start two columns: one column >> the email lady…, next column >> the treasonous grifter. Compare and contrast.
eb
The Steele dossier never “began in R circles.” The Washington Post did an article about the origins of the dossier and how Marc Elias helped the Clinton campaign hide the fact it was financing it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-lawyer-kept-russian-dossier-project-closely-held/2017/10/27/e7935276-ba68-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html
No doubt this use of Perkins Coie as the cut-out for making payments to Fusion contributed to the common misconception that the Republicans had anything to do with Steele.
Swamp scum.
Right now the forces of the swamp are aligned with the Democratic party, so the Dems tolerate and protect the scum.
But corruption corrupts.
People on the right might decide that corruption is the only way to get power.
Then we will have a race to the bottom with Americans being the losers.
Watch the Lefty posters with their “But Trump” comments or their attacks on Turley because he writes the truth.
Gotten to recognize many of the posters who write garbage; skip past as soon as I recognize their drivel.
“People on the right might decide that corruption is the only way to get power.”
.
Too late. That train left the station a long, long time ago. We’re just at the point where they’re not even trying to hide it anymore.
eb
You are right about everything you posted, because the Dems are all corrupt and the GOP are 50% corrupt we have to start attacking the GOP and clean out all the RINO’S and get some real action, and take control of the peoples government, we need to start with MITCH McConnell,
he loves China more than this country. HIs China doll ( SEC. of Transportation ) was the first to jump ship when the election was stolen from Donald Trump.
I’m sure that the cabal on the left will keep this guy busy and pay him lots of exaggerated fees for his past service to the Party