US Politics

[Gomig-21]

Pretty obvious that it was going to be Manafort TBH, if one has been following what has going on, especially with the FBI raids on his house. This is also a federal indictment which is VERY serious business. This isn't a felony that has a $10,000 bail and ends up costing $15,000 in fines and 3 years probation. Once we find out what exactly the charges are, we'll be able to tell if he faces any time in prison and then what are the after-effects of Manafort's crimes to the rest of the campaign.

PDF of the full indictment, 12 counts!

https://www.justice.gov/file/1007271/download

 

[RabzonKhan]

Former Trump Campaign Chair Paul Manafort Faces 12 Federal Charges

An indictment against him for conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, false statements, and other charges, is the first to emerge from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia interference in the 2016 election.

• David A. Graham 10/30/2017
  
  Paul Manafort, the veteran GOP operative who chaired Donald Trump’s presidential campaign during the summer of 2016, along with his business partner Rick Gates, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
  
  The indictment, which was unsealed on Monday, contains 12 counts, including conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading statements under the Foreign Agent Registration Act, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.
  
  Manafort walked into the FBI’s Washington Field Office, accompanied by his attorney, on Monday morning, and CNN reported Gates also turned himself in. The indictments represent the first cases to emerge from Mueller’s apparently wide-ranging investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, including whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russians to influence the outcome. Reports on Friday had indicated that the first charges were expected Monday.
  
  There have been many signs that Manafort, 68, was a target of the Mueller investigation, including a no-knock, early-morning raid on an apartment that he owns in Alexandria, Virginia, in July. Among the possible areas of interest are millions that Manafort apparently received from the political party of deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a client of Vladimir Putin for whom Manafort worked; an agreement with Oleg Deripaska, another Putin ally with whom Manafort signed an eight-figure lobbying contract; and a series of suspicious wire transfers and cash movements that some experts say could indicate money-laundering.
  
  In June, Manafort retroactively filed disclosures under the Foreign Agents Registration Act for work between 2012 and 2014.
  
  Gates, who is 45, is a junior partner and protégé of Manafort’s. Like Manafort, he joined the Trump campaign. He remained after Manafort left, but was forced out of a pro-Trump outside group in April amid the Russia probe.
• Political Repercussions
  The first charges in Mueller’s case come at a delicate time, and the way Washington reacts to them could set the stage for the next weeks, months, or even years in American politics.
  
  In recent days, an increasing number of Republican officeholders and conservative pundits have suggested that Mueller’s investigation should be disbanded. A campaign among conservative journalists has sought to recirculate an old story about a uranium deal as new information, framing it as more pressing than potential Russian collusion with the Trump team.
• Although it sometimes feels as though the Russia probe has been years in the making, Mueller was only appointed to his post in May, shortly after President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. In comparison with other, similar investigations, like the Clinton-era Whitewater case, the first charges here come unusually soon. While Mueller, a respected former FBI director himself, has tended to shun politics, and his team has been unusually leak-resistant, bringing charges now could serve the purpose of justifying his investigation by showing results.
  
  The president’s reaction to the charges is another x-factor. At times in the past, Trump and his allies have issued threats to the Mueller team through the press, attempting to restrict the scope of the investigation by suggesting that Trump might fire Mueller. Sunday morning, Trump tweeted, “All of this ‘Russia’ talk right when the Republicans are making their big push for historic Tax Cuts & Reform. Is this coincidental? NOT!”
• Although Trump has been less eager to defend Manafort than some other former aides swept up in the investigation—former Press Secretary Sean Spicer once claimed Manafort “played a very limited role” on the campaign—the president could still attempt to force Mueller out. That would threaten a reprise of the 1973 Saturday night massacre, in which President Richard Nixon, seeking to fire the Watergate special prosecutor, saw his attorney general and deputy attorney general resign. Solicitor General Robert Bork did fire the prosecutor, but the incident ultimately hastened the end of Nixon’s presidency.
  
  Manafort’s Background
  Although news of the pending indictment inspired fevered political oddsmaking over the weekend, Manafort should perhaps always have been the favorite for the first indictment. Although Mueller only took up his role in May, he took over a pre-existing investigation of Manafort when he began. Reports in September indicated that Manafort had been under FBI surveillance in his apartment at Trump Tower for at least two stretches, once starting in 2014 and ending before
• Manafort joined the Trump campaign, and again starting some time in 2016.
  
  Manafort, a veteran Republican operative, joined the Trump campaign in March 2016. He was hired for his expertise in counting delegates at conventions, stemming from his work successfully defending President Gerald Ford against a challenge from Ronald Reagan at the 1976 Republican National Convention. Manafort was also a former business partner of Roger Stone, the flamboyant on-again, off-again Trump adviser who is also said to be under scrutiny in the current probe.
  
  Shortly after Manafort joined the campaign, Trump locked up enough delegates to effectively clinch the nomination, but on a troubled campaign filled with inexperienced and often ineffective workers, Manafort soon rose through the ranks, becoming campaign chair in May. Previous campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was soon pushed out amid campaign struggles and a controversy over his grabbing and manhandling a journalist at a Florida campaign event. Read more
• 
  

@Gomig-21, thanks for the funny pics

 

[Gomig-21]

@Gomig-21, thanks for the funny pics

He's getting pounded on Twitter lol. Seriously, you look at all the other president's accounts and then you look at his and it's like going from an adult conversation to a junior-high girl fight! It's pure gold, as scary as it is, to know this is the president of the United States being berated like a child, no pun intended. Never thought I'd see the day when a common citizen is telling the POTUS "you going to jail, bro" LOL! What times we live in.

His first tweet regarding the matter. Look at the first word he uses, "sorry"! That is unbelievable!!! Then the predictable deflection.

https://twitter.com/x/status/925005659569041409

Followed by of course..

https://twitter.com/x/status/925006418989715456

Also a 3rd person has pleaded guilty - George Papadopolous Trump's Ex-Foreign policy adviser.

 

[RabzonKhan]

He's getting pounded on Twitter lol. Seriously, you look at all the other president's accounts and then you look at his and it's like going from an adult conversation to a junior high girl fight! It's pure gold as scary as it is to know this is the president of the United States being berated like a child, no pun intended. Never thought I'd see the day when a common citizen is telling the POTUS "you going to jail, bro" LOL! What times we live in.

His first tweet regarding the matter. Look at the first word he uses, "sorry"! That is unbelievable!!! Then the predictable deflection.

https://twitter.com/x/status/925005659569041409

Followed by of course..

https://twitter.com/x/status/925006418989715456

Also a 3rd person has pleaded guilty - George Papadopolous Trump's Ex-Foreign policy adviser.

I agree with you, every decent American is ashamed, and I blame Trump’s vulgar behavior and constant lies, you reap what you sow. He is a disgrace to the office of President and the United States.

Trump’s nasty buddy, Roger Stone has been banned from Twitter, what a shame, a man is known from the company he keeps.

Roger Stone was kicked off Twitter Saturday after a profanity-laced tirade targeting journalists. His rant occurred hours after news organizations began reporting on an impending indictment coming from Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's election interference. Stone has been seen as one of the major players from the Trump campaign who possibly helped collude with Russia in the 2016 election.

On Saturday Stone used abusive and homophobic language on Twitter to harass CNN reporters, including Don Lemon. Link

 

[Gomig-21]

I agree with you, every decent American is ashamed, and I blame Trump’s vulgar behavior and constant lies, you reap what you sow. He is a disgrace to the office of President and the United States.

Here's a question for you and any others feel free to jump in: this is obviously to get Manafort to open up the flood gates of information or face serious prison time. In that case, will he keep his lips sealed in hopes (or under a deal with Trump) that the latter would pardon him? Or does he have no choice but to give up any incriminating information in exchange for a plea deal?

 

[RabzonKhan]

Here's a question for you and any others feel free to jump in: this is obviously to get Manafort to open up the flood gates of information or face serious prison time. In that case, will he keep his lips sealed in hopes (or under a deal with Trump) that the latter would pardon him? Or does he have no choice but to give up any incriminating information in exchange for a plea deal?

Yesterday I was listening to Adam Schiff’, top ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee investigating Russian-gate, He told ABC News that, “the president cannot pardon people if it’s an effort to obstruct justice, if it’s an effort to prevent Bob Mueller from learning about the Pres’s own conduct”.

I think that makes a lot of sense, I don’t think Trump will be successful to undermine Mueller’s investigation by pardoning his cronies, and if he does try, that will be a clear case of obstruction of justice.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

It's just a nothing burger. Someone Manafort did in 2006.

 

[Gomig-21]

Yesterday I was listening to Adam Schiff’, top ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee investigating Russian-gate,

BTW, a little off-topic but the use of "gate" added to any named scandal gets me every time lol. The reason is we're huuuuuuuuuuuuugeah New England Patriots fans here and you know that the whole "gate" thing started with Spy-Gate lol. I believe it's the first time it's been used since the original Watergate scandal broke out under Nixon's but I can't help think every time someone uses "gate," that it's following in the footsteps of the Pats an Spy Gate lol.

He told ABC News, In an interview that, “the president cannot pardon people if it’s an effort to obstruct justice, if it’s an effort to prevent Bob Mueller from learning about the Pres’s own conduct”. I think that makes a lot of sense, I don’t think Trump will be successful to undermine Mueller’s investigation by pardoning his cronies, and if he does try, that will be a clear case of obstruction of justice.

That makes a lot of sense. Basically he'll either have his lawyers make deal with Trump's lawyers behind closed doors that he keeps his mouth shut, take the sentence and then get pardoned OR... his lawyers might not trust that it would work out that smoothly and besides, he and his family's name would be shamed for ever if he goes that route and so he would have no choice but to take some sort of plea deal and open the floodgates of information on the presidents or his close associates' involvement with campaign and Russia. This is quite the bombshell.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

The charge is making a false statement to FBI. Seems like the sentence will be light and there will be a bail.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/30/politics/paul-manafort-russia-investigation-surrender/index.html

 

[F-22Raptor]

That is 3 former Trump officials that have now been charged. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

He's getting pounded on Twitter lol. Seriously, you look at all the other president's accounts and then you look at his and it's like going from an adult conversation to a junior high girl fight! It's pure gold as scary as it is to know this is the president of the United States being berated like a child, no pun intended. Never thought I'd see the day when a common citizen is telling the POTUS "you going to jail, bro" LOL! What times we live in.

His first tweet regarding the matter. Look at the first word he uses, "sorry"! That is unbelievable!!! Then the predictable deflection.

https://twitter.com/x/status/925005659569041409

Followed by of course..

https://twitter.com/x/status/925006418989715456

Also a 3rd person has pleaded guilty - George Papadopolous Trump's Ex-Foreign policy adviser.

An literally a short time after Trump's "no collusion" tweet, Papadopolous pleads guilty to lying about colluding with Russia. You can't make this stuff up. What a disgrace.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/30/politics/tax-reform-preview-republican-plan/index.html

 

[RabzonKhan]

Trump Campaign Adviser Met With Russian to Discuss ‘Thousands’ of Clinton Emails

The New York Times By MATT APUZZO

WASHINGTON — A professor with close ties to the Russian government told an adviser to Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign in April 2016 that Moscow had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton in the form of “thousands of emails,” according to court documents unsealed Monday.

The adviser, George Papadopoulos, has pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. about that conversation. The plea represents the most explicit evidence connecting the Trump campaign to the Russian government’s meddling in last year’s election.

“They have dirt on her,” the professor told him, according to the documents. “They have thousands of emails.”

Mr. Papadopoulos was quietly arrested in July and has since been cooperating with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, records show. Mr. Papadopoulos’s conversation in April raises more questions about a meeting in June at Trump Tower, where Mr. Trump’s eldest son and senior advisers met with Russians who were similarly promising damaging information on Mrs. Clinton.

Taken together, the meetings show that early in the presidential race, people at the heart of Trump campaign and on its fringes were aware that Russian government officials were trying to help Mr. Trump.

The professor whom Mr. Papadopoulos met was not identified in court documents. The professor introduced Mr. Papadopoulos to a woman identified as a relative of the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, and to someone in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Papadopoulos repeatedly tried to arrange a meeting between the Trump campaign and Russian government officials, court records show. Read more

 

[RabzonKhan]

What Mueller's Indictments Mean For Trump Now

Newsweek Greg Price 10/30/2017

President Donald Trump was not charged with any crimes Monday morning, but Monday's flurry of activity worsened a political quagmire that’s rocked and distracted Trump for his first 10 months in office.

Twelve charges were handed down by Special Counsel Robert Mueller against former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and a business associate, Rick Gates—who joined the Trump campaign when Manafort did back in March 2016. Both were charged with running a money laundering scheme for more than a decade, allegedly funneling millions through offshore accounts, and also face tax evasion and failure to disclose work as foreign agent charges.

Trump is not named in the indictment, but Mueller and his team may be using the indictment to gain leverage on Manafort and Gates in hopes of flipping them to get information on someone much higher in the campaign or administration.

Manafort and Gates are "the first of many dominoes to fall,” Fox News commentator Andrew Napolitano said on Monday, adding that Mueller was working his way up "the totem pole" to "the big prize...the president of the United States."

More critically, former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty earlier this month to lying to the FBI about his interactions with a Russian professor who claimed to have “dirt” on Democrat Hillary Clinton, according to The New York Times. That guilty plea was unsealed Monday—and once again links the Trump campaign to collusion with Russia.

Papadopoulos had previously told the FBI in January that his meeting with the Russian professor was “a nothing,” but his just-unsealed indictment explained Papadopoulos knew the professor sought him out for a meeting due to his role in the campaign. At the April, 2016 meeting, the professor told Papadopoulos about emails that could be used against Clinton, and Papadopoulos later admitted to knowing the professor had deep ties to the Russian government.

"The professor only took interest in defendant Papadopoulos because of his status with the campaign," the indictment read, "and the professor told Papadopoulos about the 'thousands of emails' on or about April 26, 2016, when defendant Papadopoulos had been a foreign policy adviser to the campaign for over a month."

Still, the Papadopoulos plea now means there are at least two instances known of Trump campaign officials directly setting up—or trying to set up—meetings with Russians who promised damaging information on Clinton. The president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., admitted that he held a June 2016 meeting with a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer for that exact purpose.

Papadopoulos’s guilty plea offers evidence of collusion, or attempted collusion, with Russia, even if the president publicly refused to acknowledge it.

Trump stood by his claim that Mueller’s investigation was a “witch hunt” over the weekend, further asking why there was no probe into Clinton’s emails or that her campaign funded the research that led to the infamous Trump-Russia dossier. Some took the president’s twitter barrage Sunday as a means to distract after it was revealed Friday Mueller would officially file charges Monday morning.

Trump’s response Monday morning was that Manafort’s actions happened years before he ever signed on to the Trump campaign. He also added: “…Also, there is NO COLLUSION!”

Trump did not mention that Manafort worked for him as far back as the 1980s, when Manafort was hired to do some lobbying related to Trump's gaming and real estate interests. Manafort had long been considered a major player Washington D.C. and was known to have worked for a pro-Russian Ukrainian president who was eventually ousted in 2014.

Papadopoulos's lawyer said his client had no comment on Monday. "We will have the opportunity to comment on George's involvement when called upon by the court at a later date," his lawyers said in a statement. "We look forward to telling all of the details of George's story at that time." LINK

 

[Gomig-21]

So I guess Manafort pleaded not guilty and so did Rick Gates. Bail for Manafort was set at $10 million and Gates at $5 mill. That's a little chunk of loot for sure. I think the "not guilty" plea was very predictable but what is interesting is that they're basically both under house arrest for the duration of the trial, which could be a very long time. Tremendous stuff.

Minutes ago from the head kahuna.

https://twitter.com/x/status/925333956110757888

https://twitter.com/x/status/925335577217683456

https://twitter.com/x/status/925336826717593600

BTW, that 2nd tweet about Popodopoulos is unbelievable! The shameless lying is incomprehensible. "A few knew the low level volunteer who has proven to be a liar?"
Really?

loooool. Un-be-liev-a-buuuuull.

Check out Obama's record compared to the others. The only one who comes close is Jimmy Carter & Bush Sr. but those two only served 1 term. Obama's perfect record was through 8 years.

Ahahaaaa I thought this was one of the better ones thrown at him.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/tax-reform-republican-plan/index.html