Congress, Politics

Would the Use of Burner Phones by Trump Violate the Presidential Records Act?

The House Select Committee is reportedly investigating a gap of seven hours and 37 minutes (11:17 a.m. to 6:54 p.m) in telephone calls on January 6th for President Donald Trump. That reported gap led to questions of whether Trump used “burner phones” to evade any record of calls. It is still too early to determine the cause or responsibility for this alleged gap. However, Trump magnified concerns when he claimed to have never even heard the term “burner phone,” let alone knew what it means. The far more serious question, however, is whether Trump or his aides or allies actively sought to conceal communications during that critical period. There have been claims that the use of such phones would violate the Presidential Records Act. I do not believe that it would be a technical violation of the PRA.

President Trump Trump told the Washington Post “I have no idea what a burner phone is, to the best of my knowledge I have never even heard the term.” That left many skeptical given the ubiquitous use of this term in society.

Moreover, John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser (and now critic) directly contradicted Trump and said that he personally discussed burner phones with the President.

I recently testified in the United States Senate on the danger posed by new forms of communication, including messaging systems designed to delete records of messages. Electronic records are part of the coverage of the Presidential Records Act.

The telephone logs are covered by the PRA as a record to be turned over to the National Archives. However, there is no accusation of destroying the telephone log itself. George H.W. Bush’s administration was accused of destroying telephone logs and records. The question is whether the use of burner phones violates the PRA. I am skeptical that it does. A president could use anyone’s phone during his travels or interactions. That does not violate the PRA.

Jason Baron, the former director of litigation at the National Archives, testified with me before the Senate committee. He is exceptionally knowledgable on the PRA and has an incredible legacy in fighting for the preservation of such records. He notably told the New York Times that the use of such phones might “violate the spirit” of the PRA. That is certainly true if a president employed burner phones to avoid the logging of calls. However, it would not, in my view, be a clear violation of specific provisions under the Act.

That does not mean that Congress does not have a legitimate interest in finding out if burner phones were used and, more importantly, finding out the timeline and subjects of calls made on that critical day.

 

256 thoughts on “Would the Use of Burner Phones by Trump Violate the Presidential Records Act?”

  1. IIRC it was due to a FOIA request by Judicial Watch that we learned that Barack Obama used a gmail account to communicate with HRC via her illegal email server. where was the outrage for his violating the PRA. At the same time Obama made sure to meet with key individual away from the WH so that their names did not appear on the Secret Service’s WH visitors log. I also understand that Biden makes so many trips to Delaware so that he can meet with individuals who will not appear on a visitor’s log

    1. If the records were turned over to NARA, using a gmail account isn’t a PRA violation.

      As for trips, on average Trump spent one out of every three days at one of his properties.

      1. Hey Anonymous I’m sure that you’ve seen this already but you left out the part about how many days that Biden has spent out of the Whitehouse. Maybe you just missed it but we don’t think you have earned the benefit of the doubt. From the Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10414667/Biden-spent-QUARTER-365-days-office-Delaware-homes.html. It’s amazing that you still think we can’t look this stuff up. Some good advice would be that you look it up before you make a statement so you won’t be completely embarrassed.

        1. It’s not amazing that you project beliefs onto me that aren’t mine. It’s one of your ways of trolling.

  3. So now the latest Trump accusation is about a burner phone with all the goods that will finally put Trump in an orange jump suite. I worked in a U.S. facility where top secret documents were used daily. These documents were secured behind three vault doors. The building was guarded by Marine Corps guards with a pistol on their hip. The guards were trained by the State Department. Part of their job was to inspect the facility after working hours to make sure that no classified documents were left out unsecured. If such documents were found whoever left them out would be subject to a report that would likely effect their career path. It was a very serious breech of protocol. There was a person who had a private unsecured server on which was found top secret information. This person’s name was Hillary Clinton. She attended the same classes on information protocol that the Marines attended but she considered herself above it all. https://www.npr.org/2016/01/29/464811045/as-iowa-caucuses-near-clinton-email-probe-persists. So now there are those who speak of the maybe existence of a burner phone when the actual existence of a private server containing top secret information is a known fact. One instance is conspiracy theory and the other has been documented to be true. Which occurrence has a greater danger to our national security?

  4. The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, JeffSilberman, Natacha and Anonymous all got it wrong on the Hunter Biden laptop. https://www.foxnews.com/media/washington-post-hunter-biden-laptop-story-coverage. They also got it wrong on RussiaGate. Will there be apologies for what they have done to their nation? No. They’ll just say a few rosaries and go skipping merily along. I knew a man who just got out of prison after a two year stint. He had absolutely no concept of morality. Life was just about whatever gave him pleasure at any given moment. He had no understanding that hurting other people was unacceptable. He was dangerously mentally ill. There are those who have a complete understanding of the world around them who do the very same things that this man did. You can look to history to see who these people have been and now are. Who are the most dangerous?

  6. Turley says:

    “Moreover, John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser (and now critic) directly contradicted Trump and said that he personally discussed burner phones with the President.”

    Why did Turley add parenthetically that Bolton is a “critic” of Trump? Presumably that added context was intended to put readers on notice that Bolton’s comments should be suspect given his apparent bias against Trump.

    Why then should not the fact that Turley is on the payroll of Fox not be indicated when he often criticizes the MSM? It seems to me that Turley should always be identified as “Jonathan Turley, Fox legal analyst” or “Jonathan Turley (Mainstream media critic)” just so unfamiliar readers can take into account his paid-for bias towards Fox.

    Is this not a fair question?

    Yet I have a hunch I will be assailed for just asking.

    1. JeffSilberman, yesterday and the day before I posted that Fox News was right about RussiaGate and Hunter Biden’s laptop and you were wrong. Twice now you have dodged admitting that you were wrong. Here’s another thing that Fox News got right. The Steele Dossier was paid for by the Clinton Campaign and once again you were wrong. It’s not just elementary school baseball players who refuse to leave the plate after three strikes. Momma says, now little Jeffy those are the rules. Then little Jeffy cries as he returns to the very end of the bench. Then he does the very same thing the next time he’s up to bat. And the next time and the next time etc. etc. etc. After awhile folks will say he is an incorrigible child.

        1. So JeffSilbrman, you ate saying that Professor Turley has sold out for money and given the chance you would do the same thing. No doubt.

                1. jeffy – you said everyone had a price, I want to know yours. This is not a bidding war.

                  1. I should have written “Everyone HAS a price.” Fortunately, I have never been tempted to sell out for money. I have been seduced by the fairer sex.

                  2. Jeffie might deal if you give him his balls back. While you were gone, he was known as the balless wonder.

                    2. Paul, I don’t know. He was balless the first time I encountered him. I don’t think he could satisfy any woman, he said, surrounded him. Maybe he surrounds himself with paper dolls.

  7. Federal Judge blasts Jan 6 prosecutors for double standard

    “It does feel like the government has had two standards here, and I can’t abide by that,” he added, noting that before January 6, he couldn’t remember an instance where a nonviolent, first-time offender was “sentenced to serious jail time … regardless of their race, gender or political affiliation.”

    McFadden expressed his views during the sentencing of a defendant who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor trespassing. The Biden administration called for her to be sentenced to 75 days in jail and one year of probation, which McFadden believed to be excessive. “The government’s sentencing recommendation here is just so disproportionate to other sentences for people who have engaged in similar conduct,” he said.

    More from Judge McFadden

    “I know that the government believes that the January 6th cases are sui generis [one of a kind] and therefore can’t be compared to other cases. But I don’t agree,” said U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden.

    Democrat Justice Department, Democrat double standard. A clear violation of the equal protection protected by the Constitution.

    1. Iowan2,

      As you know, if it were not for double-standards the Left would have no standards at all.

    2. Iowan, ‘who’ was this defendant?? Your post has no details that anyone could fact check.

        1. REGARDING ABOVE:

          Thanks Anonymous.

          From the article:

          McFadden told Cudd his decision to sentence her to two years’ probation comes “in light of the comments made in [the] days afterward and my concerns about your remorse.”

          He also ordered her to pay a $5,000 fine, $500 in restitution and a $25 special assessment fee. Cudd is among more than 775 people charged in connection with the Capitol riot.
          …………………………………………….
          2 years probation and a $5,000 fine is not too ‘light’ of a sentence. The article also notes that the judge was concerned by this woman’s desire to be ‘part of something violent’.

          1. Instead, McFadden sentenced her to two months probation and a $5,000 fine. McFadden noted the same U.S. prosecutor’s office that recommended jail time for the J6 defendant sought a much lighter sentence for a Code Pink activist with a lengthy criminal record who infiltrated Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearings in September 2018.

            I provided ALL the relevant facts. The Biden DoJ is corrupt.

  8. Doctors, lawyers, presidents et al., without “privilege” there can be no functionality.

  9. Just goes to show you where some of these people have their heads if they believe anything Adam Schiff is part of.

    1. It is far worse than any of us realize. The following article in a UK publication confirms what many of us suspect: the Left is targeting children with their lust for pedophilia.

      ###

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10665389/School-nurse-suspended-revealing-student-11-puberty-blockers.html

      EXCLUSIVE: Connecticut school nurse, 77, is suspended over ‘transphobic’ Facebook post revealing that student, 11, was on puberty blockers, 12 others were non-binary, and that teachers were helping some keep it secret

      “Writing on a local mom’s group in response to a request for local school recommendations, the 77 year-old said: ‘Investigate the school system curriculum…CT is a very socially liberal, gender confused state…..’As a public school nurse, I have an 11yo female student on puberty blockers and a dozen identifying as non-binary, all but two keeping this as a secret from their parents with the help of teachers, SSW [social workers] and school administration. Teachers and SSW are spending 37.5 hours a week influencing our children, not necessarily teaching our children what YOU think is being taught.’

      Cataford went on to claim that ‘children are introduced to this confusion in kindergarten.’ DailyMail.com’s attempts to contact her Tuesday were unsuccessful.”

      ###

      Florida Governor Ron Desantis was right, Disney wants to exploit children. Reject and Condemn Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Leniency For Child Predators

  10. Jonathan: Donald Trump has a long history of using someone else’s phone to avoid a record of a call. In 2018 Stormy Daniels revealed she had a long sexual affair with Trump. Trump was on the golf course when the news broke. He immediately borrowed the personal phone from one member of his Secret Service detail to call Melania. One can imagine Trump’s call: “Honey, it’s all fake news. Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?”

    Now you bizarrely claim that if Trump used a “burner” phone during the period between 11:17 am and 6:54 on Jan. 6 such calls would not be covered under the PRA. That’s a ruse. We don’t know what kind of phone Trump used. But it’s pretty clear that under the PRA (44US Code, Section 2201 the President has a duty to “take all such steps as may be necessary to assure the the activities, deliberations, decisions, and policies that reflect the performance of the President’s…official or ceremonial duties are adequately documented”. Presumably, that would include any device Trump used.

    We know that during the 457 minute period Trump had a number of phone conversations with Senators Mike Lee, Tommy Tuberville and Kevin McCarthy–as well as with Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and Steve Bannon who were huddled in the “command center” in the Willard Hotel. They were not talking about the weather or setting up a golf game. Unless you believe Trump was so delusional or detached from reality he actually believed he won the 2020 election there is no other conclusion but that Trump didn’t wanted no record of those calls because he knew (criminal intent) what he was engaged in was a criminal act–a coup d’etat.

    The 18.5 minute gap in the WH tapes in Nixon’s attempt to coverup the Watergate scandal only involved a third-rate burglary. That pales in comparison to what Trump was attempting–to overturn a legitimate election so he could remain in power. That’s the part you missed in your misplaced attempt to paper over Trump’s criminal acts.

      1. There are over 100 comments “below,” so you should be a bit more specific.

        1. Anomaly,

          You forgot to use your ‘Dennis’ persona when replying to Anon.

      1. Pam – it has become clear to me that I have been out of the loop. I am going to have to buy a burner phone so I can be in the “IN” crowd.

        1. Paul,

          Agreed, I was quite surprised by the bing search results for ‘burner phone’ including discussions on why you would need a burner phone that are quite legitimate.

    3. Professor Turley is not attempting to paper over Trump’s criminal acts. Prof. Turley has stated only that using a so-called ‘burner’ phone is not, in an of itself, a violation of the PRA. Intent is an entirely different question but it would appear you may have misread Turley’s words.

      1. Turley ignores the critical legal issue: the calls are required to be logged regardless of what phones are used, and the calls were not logged. The authorized phones automatically log the calls. That burner phones or some other non-authorized phones were used AND the calls were not manually logged indicates a purposeful choice to avoid logging the calls, and THAT is against the law.

        1. “and the calls were not logged. “

          You don’t know that calls were made. You always jump to conclusions.

          1. Meyer the Troll Liar: we know that calls were made because some of the people who spoke with Trump during those hours — Rep. McCarthy, Sen. Lee, and Sen. Tuberville — made public statements at the time about having spoken with Trump during those hours, and Trump has never denied those calls.

  11. ‘Hunter Biden’s laptop revealed evidence of an international criminal money laundering operation that directly implicates his father in his criminal activity.

    Sometimes you just need to spell it out & recognize the reality of the current state of our ruling regime.’ @jordanschachtel

    1. Anonymous, no link to this “revelation” of an international criminal money laundering operation?

      1. Anonymous, no link to this “revelation” of an international criminal

        If you can’t find the link, just use, sources close to the investigation…

        1. Iowan2, anonymous should be the one posting or citing a link to the source of his claim. His claim his responsibility to provide the link.

          1. You are fond of posting lies under scores of sock puppet accounts then cutting and run

            1. Svelaz – I think you are paranoid. Take a couple weeks off and see if you can get some perspective. 🙂

              1. Paul, the 4:07 PM comment is from the real Svelaz (has been posting here for years with that icon). The 4:12 PM comment is from a troll using Svelaz’s name and has a different icon. It would be good if the troll left permanently.

    2. According to Representative from New York, Jerry Nadler – Democrat, the ‘jury is still out’ on whether the laptop is really Hunter Biden’s. And Nadler says this on the record in hearings in Congress, well after his hometown newspaper, the NY Times, clearly stated the laptop is Hunter’s, it is genuine. It’s politicians like that that give politics such a bad name — shame on Nadler.

  12. From November, 2021, long before the current discussion of burner phones:
    “Some of the organizers who planned the rally that took place on the White House Ellipse on Jan. 6 allegedly used difficult-to-trace burner phones for their most “high level” communications with former President Trump’s team. Kylie Kremer, a top official in the March for Trump group that helped plan the Ellipse rally, directed an aide to pick up three burner phones days before Jan. 6, according to three sources who were involved in the event. One of the sources, a member of the March for Trump team, says Kremer insisted the phones be purchased using cash and described this as being “of the utmost importance.””
    rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/jan-6-rally-organizers-trump-white-house-1262122/

    As for Turley’s claim “The question is whether the use of burner phones violates the PRA,” he once again misdirects. The primary question is not “whether the use of burner phones violates the PRA” itself, but whether the choice not to log the calls is a violation of the PRA. The PRA requires that the calls be logged. The decision not to log the calls is indeed a violation of the PRA. The use of burner phones is simply a demonstration that there was a purposeful choice to avoid the automatic logging that occurs when the authorized phones are used. But Turley cannot bring himself to say it.

    1. Turley’s habit of distracting and deflecting for the Trump cult is well known. Turley has perfected the “Bill Barr summary” he only says what the cult wants to read or hear.

      1. I think what you really mean, is that Turley has a “habit” of trying to stay within the law and the Constitution, which really frosts those fishy winged leftists.
        Where were you when Hillary “physically” destroyed her phones and hard drives, after she was ordered to keep them intact? That’s right, you were nowhere to be found. That was a clear violation of law, in addition to the other violations that she was not prosecuted for by Comey’s FBI.

        While Trump has been out of the WH for over a year, your cult continues to dwell on him and his family and supporters, as if all the problems caused by your leftist cult are clean and unimpeachable.

        1. John Louis: Hillary didn’t incite an insurrection to try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after losing an election. Hillary didn’t use burner phones prior to, during and after an insurrection she plotted to evade making a record of crimes and those who committed them, either. Hillary was investigated and exonerated, so you are the one who is obsessing about nothing.

          Trump has been out of the White House for over a year, but still won’t shut up or go away. No prior occupant of the WH has ever done this, out of respect for the will of the American people and consistent with their patriotic duty to preserve and protect the Constitution. Spewing lies and pitting Americans into opposing camps is un-American, but your hero can’t accept the fact that most Americans never voted for him in either 2016 or 2020, and never approved of him, either. He continues to hold rallies to air his grievances, to undermine President Biden and to push the Big Lie.

          1. “ Trump has been out of the White House for over a year, but still won’t shut up or go away. ”

            Alas, everyone feels the same about you, yet here you are, same shlt, different day.

            1. You don’t speak for “everyone”-being convinced that “everyone” agrees with you is a discipleship tactic used by the alt-right media you rely on.

          2. Natacha says:

            “He continues to hold rallies to air his grievances, to undermine President Biden and to push the Big Lie.”

            Even Fox News won’t cover his live rallies anymore. Fox is in enough trouble promoting the Big Lie!

            1. Because Fox has gotten sued for spreading lies about voting machines changing or not counting votes and/or being manipulated by other countries, many of the disciples are now tuned into even more alt-right outlets for their daily dosage of slop. And, there are several of them. The disciples believe each and every lie they tell and are firmly convinced that mainstream media cannot be trusted. These outlets carry Trump’s ridiculous vainglory rallies as if they are news. He keeps spewing the lie about his “landslide victory” being stolen by a “rigged election”, despite all proof to the contrary. The disciples are immune to fact, and they fall for whatever they are told.

              No POTUS in US history has ever faced what Biden is up against in his own country: the candidate he beat who goes on daily attacks against him that are broadcast on alternative media outlets dedicated to spreading the Big Lie that his electoral victory was rigged, attacking the POTUS and his party, criticizing his every move, attacking and lying about members of his family, attacking his mental and physical health, his standing in world politics and blaming him for all of the problems for which his predecessor is truly responsible. They even go so far as to praise the Russian dictator who helped the losing candidate cheat his way into office and who is murdering innocent Ukrainians because their hero is beholden to him and praised him for being “smart and savvy”, calling the invasion of Ukraine “wonderful”. Their toxic lies are being used as Russian propaganda. No matter how many investigations and reports prove that Russia helped him cheat, they refuse to believe it. All for the ego of a malignant narcissist and a party hungry to seize power and which is gerrymandering and rigging local election boards that will count votes in the next election, all to try to cheat to gain political power. Then, we have profound ignoramuses like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Josh Hawley, and the others who have no respect for the offices they hold, their constituents or the Constitution. We are in unprecedented times now. Democracy has never been in more danger than it is right now, and the ReTrumplicans are to blame.

              1. Yes, OAN and Newsmax will air Trump’s rallies, but Fox will not. It’s ironic that Fox has become too mainstream for the lying Trumpists and Q-Anon cultists! Fox is censoring Trump’s rallies, but not a whisper from Turley.

              2. “No POTUS in US history has ever faced what Biden is up against in his own country…”

                Bzzzt.

                Let’s do a fact check and substitute President Trump in your Big Lie ————>>>

                No POUTS in history has ever faced what Trump was up against in his own country: the candidate he beat who goes on continual attacks against him that are broadcast on mainstream media outlets dedicated to spreading the Big Lie that Russia helped Trump win, that his electoral victory was rigged, while continually attacking POTUS Trump and his party, criticizing his every move, attacking and lying about members of his family, attacking his mental and physical health, his standing in world politics and blaming *him* for all of the problems for which his predecessor is truly responsible.

                1. All *as* he was being setup and framed by his own Intel community, FBI, CIA, the media, and his own party.

                2. While giving his predecessor credit for the successes that were due to *his* leadership and policies.

            2. That is a pretty stupid analysis. Fox won’t cover all of his rallies because there have been so many. Further, they run a different type of organization, presenting a variety of news and opinion. Even Turley appears on Fox, and based on what Chris Wallace said, Turley is free to say anything he wishes.

          3. I think it’s pretty safe to conclude that the candidates and media for our last 3-presidential elections destroyed trust in campaigning, elections, voting integrity and the electoral college. It’s difficult to assign the “most egregious” actions, but the media runs a close second if not in first place. And since you added Hillary to the discussion, keep in mind that Hillary and the DNC used the Perkins-Coe law firm as a shield and pass-through to dig up dirt as well as to launder money to hire Fusion, to hire a foreign former intelligence officer, to gather information from Russian FSB agents to concoct and slander the Trump Campaign. That entire sleazy operation, dishonest congressional members on the house intelligence committee, coupled with a partisan media created a feeding frenzy that led to a 2-year, $30M Muller investigation that produced not but was used by the media and politicians to tell extraordinary lies to the general public. It became the basis leading to 2-impeachment trials and fueled a rabid hatred for Russia that was unsubstantiated. Now, we have the Biden administration where there were ample claims of election misconduct (voting process, not voter count) by Trump and many others. Then there is the Hunter-Biden China connections that has all the hallmarks of criminal activity, but an accommodating media, refuses to even mention it, much less conduct a journalistic investigation. Is it any wonder that trust in candidates, congress, the media and presidential administrations have reached historically lows. At the rate we’re losing integrity, we could easily lose our democracy and freedom in the not too distant future.

      2. That’s indeed strange..
        As I see JT only points to facts.

        But fact don’t matter you say?

      3. Fish do not have wings,
        Women do not have testicles,
        Biden did not win,
        and Epstein did not kill himself.

        1. Ray does not have testicles either. Or he’d admit the truth that Biden did win.

        2. Flying fish have wings.
          Your wife has testicles.
          Biden did win.
          Ted Cruz killed Epstine.

    2. according to three sources who were involved in the event

      When I saw the first line, I knew this was going to be revealed at the tail end of the conspiracy fable.

      1. The journalist isn’t going to reveal his sources, but he wrote “The three sources say Kylie Kremer took one of the phones and used it to communicate with top White House and Trump campaign officials, including Eric Trump, the president’s second-oldest son, who leads the family’s real-estate business; Lara Trump, Eric’s wife and a former senior Trump campaign consultant; Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff; and Katrina Pierson, a Trump surrogate and campaign consultant. The [March for Trump team] member says a second phone was given to Amy Kremer, Kylie Kremer’s mother and another key rally organizer. The team member says they did not know who the third phone was purchased for. “That was when the planning for the event on the Ellipse was happening, she needed burner phones in order to communicate with high-level people is how she put it,” the March for Trump team member tells Rolling Stone, referencing Kylie Kremer.”

        The J6 Committee should call all of the people named in that statement to testify under oath. If it’s a “conspiracy fable,” they can say so under oath, where there’s a penalty for lying.

        1. Anonymous, I’ll give you ten to one it was the same sources who leaked the Steele Dossier. That was just after they leaked that the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation. Even after everything that the “sources” have put out they still set down the saucer of milk and the little kitties still lick it up.

    4. As Joseph Biden and other top Democrats have been quoted so often: “there is not a scintilla of evidence, not a shred of evidence, that burner phones were used by former POTUS Donald J. Trump, either on 1/6/21 or any other time. Why is there a nearly 8 hour gap — at this point, it’s being investigated is all anyone should be saying, rather than trying a case that doesn’t exist yet. For all we know, a banker’s box of phone records might be discovered with the logs included therein. Or not. Is it a bit fishy? Sure — no one believes anything anymore inside the Beltway —

      1. “For all we know, a banker’s box of phone records might be discovered with the logs included therein.”

        The calls were required by law to have been logged and the call logs turned over to the National Archives at the end of Trump’s term. If Trump has a banker’s box of phone records that weren’t turned over, he’s breaking the law.

  14. The desperation is strong with these Charlie Brown characters. Maybe, just maybe this time, Lucy won’t yank the football away. And then what? The border will be secure? We will become energy independent, again? Inflation will drop below 3%? Food prices will drop? Biden will suddenly have a functioning brain and speak in coherent sentences? Harris will stop cackling? Biden’s administration will end negotiations with Iran? Biological males will stop competing in women’s athletics? Soft porn will be removed from all schools? Kindergartners won’t be indoctrinated about their gender identity? Black Lives Matter will peacefully protest black on black crime in Chicago? Antifa and the ACLU will peacefully defend the rights of all Americans? Alrighty then.

    1. “The desperation is strong with . . .”

      All part of their “circus.”

      The “bread” is the Left’s welfare programs.

    2. Olly– Well said! It is astounding that the democrat “leaders” and their trolls on this blog would put Trump’s alleged use of burner phones ahead of each of the very real, very serious issues you mention, any one of which would be confronted by any leader actually concerned about this country.

      1. I agree, but in reality, they really don’t have another play. This supposed “pathological liar” ran on the promise to Make America Great Again, and despite them doing everything short of dropping a nuke on the White House to get rid of him, he held to that promise. This left the Democrats with one option if they were to take back the White House, and it’s the birthing person of all active measures; undo everything that is good for this country, turn us into a third world $hithole, and then gaslight the American people that we’ve been Built Back Better. The problem for them is no amount of gaslighting makes Top Ramen taste like steak, slows down the dollars as you fill your tank, or makes you safe in crime infested cities. So in their twisted and desperate thirst for power, they believe if they can somehow magically make Trump disappear, it will take his presidency with him and we’ll be back in 2016 ready for their brand of progress.

      1. Hungary is an excellent place. It is more civilized than a barroom full of leftists.

  15. Hilary wiped her server and destroyed computers that were already subpoenaed. Maybe Trump was smarter to do it before a subpoena was issued.
    Standards for all or there are standards for none. Clinton set the standard.

    1. Americans hate Biden, loathe the legacy media, resent liberal elites lecturing them about morality and social justice while ordinary folks cant pay their utility bills, housing rent, grocery bills, and gasoline. Democrats response? Get Trump.

      Americans are kicking the door to send Democrats to the bottom of a river with or without a bucket of concrete, but Leftists are convinced they are doing a splendid job censoring books, defunding police and having trannies read kids books at libraries. This much theater cant be acquired at upscale performing arts centers.

      1. The Svelaz that made this comment is not the real Svelaz.

        “ Americans hate Biden, loathe the legacy media, resent liberal elites lecturing them about morality and social justice while ordinary folks cant pay their utility bills, housing rent, grocery bills, and gasoline. Democrats response? Get Trump.”

              1. why cant you folks use one static IP address with fixed email address, and not resort to sock puppets?

                Smh

                The one and only Svelaz

                  1. He inhaled the nail polish he was using at his West Hollywood Nail Salon.

                    1. Is he the one that wrote graffiti on the bathroom walls and included his phone number?

    2. The PRA does not require anyone to turn over a server or computers. The issue for both Clinton AND Trump is whether they created all records required by the PRA and turned over all records required by the PRA.

      Clinton was investigated. Trump should be as well. As you said: Clinton set the standard of being investigated for these things.

      1. Anonymous – Hillary and her staff set the record for answering “I don’t remember.” This is the bar that must be met.

        1. Paul, I doubt that Hillary said some variant of “I don’t remember” any more often than Trump did when he was answering many fewer questions from Mueller: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/sports-news/2019/04/full-text-of-muellers-questions-and-trumps-answers/
          In fact, Trump totally refused to answer a bunch of the questions.

          So Trump already used that bar. Unlike Trump, Clinton showed up in person to sit through hours and hours of questioning. Trump needs to be questioned in person, just like Clinton. If he wants to claim that he can’t recall, he can do so. Keep in mind that people who claim they can’t recall are sometimes then prosecuted for perjury, if there’s sufficient evidence that they do recall. Trump would be safer pleading the 5th, like his attorney John Eastman did many times.

          1. You don’t recall that you have been wrong on almost every issue on the blog. Maybe one day we will see you in jail for perjury in a more official setting since that is your modus operandi.

        2. Hillary and her staff did set a new all-time record for answering “I don’t remember.” But let’s not forget the President Reagan response ” I don’t recall,” and “I just can’t recall.” In light of his alzheimer’s in later years, he might have been as honest as can be. But Hillary didn’t suffer any cognitive impairment, nada. And who knows, she might get elected in 2024 — a rematch election: Trump v. Clinton. Wow —can you imagine.

  16. The significance of Jan 6, 2021 was it saw the collapse of a brazen conspiracy to nullify a Presidential Election result, and to install an unelected (losing) candidate as President. The authority and privileges of the White House were utilized by the plotters.

    If burner phones were used to advance the goals of the conspiracy, and to prevent its detection and intervention of legal authorities, then of course there was a violation of the PRA. But, that is a small potatoes violation compared to the “big lie”, and attempt to use it to intimidate the Democrats into surrender.

    If the plot of Trump-Giuliani-Eastman had progressed as planned instead of collapsing (thanks to VP Mike Pence), it could have collapsed at a later stage (e.g., Speaker Pelosi refusing to convene a 12th Amendment House procedure) — or, it could have led to civil war. If you don’t think so, ponder the question of Jan 20th 2021 arriving with two warring camps and 2 Presidents of the United States. How would the Supreme Court have ruled? How would the Secret Service have acted? The US Military? The WH staff?

    Trump was spearheading a coup to remain in office Unconstitutionally. Those who participated in this plot deserve to be indicted and punished for their venal crimes.

    1. You’re right enigma Thanks for the correction but the most important part of my post is correct.

      1. I think your point was to rationalize everything Trump-related. None of those other things you mentioned happened during an attempt to overthrow the government. “Overthrow” might be a bit harsh I admit. Technically the goal was to halt the certification of electors so that substitute electors put in place by the Trump White House could take their place and install the loser as President. Close to overthrow but not exactly the same.

        1. Shall we first wait on any evidence of the acts of DJT?
          I mean: everything – and I mean everything – that they accused him off seems to be proven wrong.
          So give him credit.
          And if he says “I was not involved” I believe him more than any newspaper/media or social media.
          Proof is what I want to see, not insinuations or make beliefs.

          1. “everything – and I mean everything – that they accused him off seems to be proven wrong”

            If you believe that, you’re in denial.

            1. Prove (with facts) me wrong on the Russia gate, the quit pro quo, the hunter Biden laptop, the spying in the trump tower, the Mueller report..
              Pick one.

              1. The Mueller report proves you wrong. Roger Stone colluded with Russian agent Guccifer 2 re: the Wikileaks release of the data Russia hacked from the DNC servers. Paul Manafort colluded with Russian agent Kilimnik in sharing private campaign polling data. Trump publicly called for Russia to commit a crime on his behalf. If you cannot admit these facts, you are in denial.

                1. I did not know that DJT name was Stone.
                  So try a bit harder?
                  Or read the question I asked.
                  Proof of DJT’s wrongdoing.

                  1. Quote even one thing that the Mueller Report stated about Trump but isn’t true.

      2. Margot, LBJ promised that n******* would be voting for Democrats for 200 years.

        “ “I’ll have them n******** voting Democratic for the next two hundred years. [Said to two governors regarding the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to then-Air Force One steward Robert MacMillan]”
        ― Lyndon B. Johnson

        Enigma justifies everything under the rubric of “Democrats = Master, Republicans = want to free us”.

        Meanwhile, Biden had a press conference days ago that was an unmitigated disaster:

        https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1508525310295351298?t=MDNCmBHvwZUrKTi68SD5hw&s=19

        Doocy: “The big things you say on the world stage keep getting walked back.”

        Biden: “What’s getting walked backed?”

        Biden: You told troops they are going to Ukraine, the U.S. would use a chemical weapon, and called for regime change in Russia.

        Biden: “None of the 3 occurred.”

        He likely doesn’t remember saying the comments. Might explain why he isn’t walking them back himself.
        The legacy media is re-interpreting his comments for us normies, by running his speech through their Bidenators.

        Expect more of this cluster f**** Presidency / Enigma bending over for the next 3 years. Enigma will gladly scream, “thank you, Mistuh” because he is a disgrace to blacks who died hoping to be free at last from Democrats.

        1. Greg Price is a liar, and you chose to repeat his lie.

          You and Price wrote “Biden: You told troops they are going to Ukraine, the U.S. would use a chemical weapon, and called for regime change in Russia.” Price corrected himself that it should have been Doocy there, not Biden, and for some strange reason you couldn’t be bothered to correct your copy. But what’s more important — what Price didn’t correct AND you didn’t correct — is what Doocy actually said.

          Doocy: “It sounded like you told US troops they were going to Ukraine, it sounded like you said it was possible the U.S. would use a chemical weapon, and it sounded like you were calling for regime change in Russia.”
          And Biden’s response, “None of the three occurred. … None of the three, you interpret the language that way, …” (and he then notes what he was actually saying). Biden was pointing out that Doocy was talking about Doocy’s own interpretations of what Biden actually said. But you’re not honest enough to quote accurately.

          1. Biden; (to paraphrase) ‘If Russia uses chemical weapons, we will retaliate in kind’

            Biden; talking to the troops in Poland. ‘when you go into Ukraine you will see….’

            Biden; My God, the man (Putiin) can not be allowed to stay in office.

            All three of those statements were walked back by White House Staff
            Yesterday day Biden says he stands behind each of those those statements.. (OKPsaki, Sullivan and Blinken are idiots, so…..)

            1. Don’t paraphrase. The question is what Biden actually said, not your interpretation of it.

              Biden’s actual statements:
              “We would respond if he [Putin] uses it [chemical weapons]. The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use.”
              Speaking about troops in *Poland*: “But the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian people have a lot of backbone. They have a lot of guts. And I’m sure you’re observing it. And I don’t mean just the military, which is, we’ve been training since back when they uh, Russia moved into, into southeast, southeast Ukraine. But also the average citizen. Look at how they’re stepping up. Look at how they’re stepping up. And you’re gonna see when you’re there. And some of you have been there. You’re gonna see, you’re gonna see women, young people, standing, standing in the middle of, in front of a damn tank, just saying, “I’m not leaving. I’m holding my ground.” They’re incredible. But they take a lot of inspiration from us.”

              Only your third quote is close to correct: “For God’s sake, this man [Putin] cannot remain in power.”
              Biden’s statement was not a call for “regime change” (Doocy’s substitution), as “regime change” means “the overthrow of a government considered illegitimate by an external force and its replacement with a new government according to the ideas or interests promoted by that force” (britannica.com/topic/regime-change) or “The replacement of one administration or government by another, especially by means of military force” (lexico.com/en/definition/regime_change).

              1. . And you’re gonna see when you’re there. And some of you have been there. You’re gonna see, you’re gonna see

                So we already have troops in Ukraine and are sending more.

              2. QUESTION: Could — if chemical weapons were used in Ukraine, would that trigger a military response from NATO?

                THE PRESIDENT: It would re- — it would trigger a response in kind, whether or not — you’re asking whether NATO would cross; we’d make that decision at the time.

                1. What part of “we’d make that decision at the time” don’t you understand?

                  1. “It would trigger a response in kind.”

                    They use chemical weapons, we will use chemical weapons on you.

                    That’s what “in kind” means.

                    Face it Dementia Joe is stupefied and a grave danger to the Nation.

                    “IN KIND”

                    How does any one sort out from the crap, The President of the United States is spewing as he attempts to look like a President?

    2. Enigma, you are right. But if the voters held everybody accountable for their actions, we’d all be a lot better off. But no matter who we are, our own political hero’s never do anything wrong.

      2. My political heroes have done wrong, done too little, made big mistakes, and been human. It’s when people deify their political leaders that trouble really starts.

  18. Based on public news and books written recently, some presidents intentionally install agency heads that have virtually no experience or expertise in the agency they are running. This makes it easy for presidents to claim plausible deniability (“didn’t know it was illegal or improper…”).

    Instead of taxpayer funded show trials, why not make the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies “Independent” so presidents can’t game the system like this?

    1. Not a bad idea. So this process of intentionally installing inexperienced persons in positions of decision-making power explains how Pete Buttigieg was installed in the Cabinet position of Secretary of Transportation. His experience included driving the roads around South Bend, and using public transportation on occasion. Add to that his having driven across state lines from Indiana to Illinois several times, which is Interstate travel. Yup, he’s qualified all right.

  19. You can count on the Lefties….just like clockwork……they show up on time to seek every opportunity to express their condemnation of anything Trump and Turley.

    But…..they never show the same zeal when ti comes to their favorite Democrats or government agencies, Democrat Bills, actions, or crimes.

    The FBI has has possession of Hunter’s Laptop for years and now they are saying they have no idea where it might be.

    Of course they refuse to talk about any investigation even to declare there is no investigation or one was done and no DOJ Prosecutor would take the Case.

    Which we know is bogus BS…as they will leak information when it can be useful to its own political agenda.

    So where is that Laptop and what information was on it that implicates Joe Biden, James Biden and Hunter Biden to criminal acts and conspiracies?

    Enough has been leaked by others so that two years later….AFTER Biden was installed as President even the NYT and other democrat propaganda outlets are announcing the Laptop is real…is Hunters….and has lots of. information.

    The IRS is doing a tax fraud case on Hunter….and as he and the Big Guy (share financial accounts and share money) why would the IRS not include Joe Biden in that Investigation?

    Why does it take years to investigate the patent violations and go after the Perps for those…..and get convictions in Federal Court?

    Convince me we are not being made Victims to yet more Cover-Up’s by the FBI, DOJ, and Democrat controlled Congress…..I shall wait!

    1. Ralph Chappell,

      “ You can count on the Lefties….just like clockwork……they show up on time to seek every opportunity to express their condemnation of anything Trump and Turley.”

      Funny, righties did the same thing when Obama was in office. Maybe lefties learned from the best.

      1. “the same thing”

        Obama’s Presidential use of the IRS and FBI against political enemies is not the same thing.

        1. We are not talking about Obama, we are talking about righties. They do the same thing as I’m seeking at every opportunity to condemn Obama for whatever grievances they can come up with.

          1. “We are not talking about Obama, we are talking about righties.”

            That is correct righties didn’t use the IRS and FBI against their political enemies. That was Obama’s turf.

  20. 37 minutes of phone call gap, Oh my. That’s almost as bad as 33,000 missing emails. If my memory is correct wasn’t there missing phone data from the Muller investigators? There should be a rock band Adam Schiff and the Corruptor’s. I wonder if they’re meeting in an underground bunker again?

    Pelosi is already sending out the scouts regarding the midterms. Maybe if Joe and her got cognitive assessment test’s together they could get a discount? Did Adam Kinzinger ask Trump for a position in his administration and get turned down?

    1. “Whataboutism” back in play Margot? I niote that Turley says, meekly, “no clear violation.” But if the intent was to avoid the PRA, it sure sounds more than clear.

      1. If SleepyJoe has taught us anything, it’s that you can get the job you always wanted if you stay in your basement.

Comments are closed.