Holy shit. Trump wants to deport refugees from the VIETNAM WAR.https://t.co/tb65fzw4JZ— Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) December 12, 2018
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Holy shit. Trump wants to deport refugees from the VIETNAM WAR
Claiming North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat or that the Saudi crown prince is not accountable for a murder may bolster Trump’s false narrative, but in the end, it erodes our standing in the world"
Claiming North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat or that the Saudi crown prince is not accountable for a murder may bolster Trump’s false narrative, but in the end, it erodes our standing in the world"— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) December 12, 2018
https://t.co/Ta8GctcH6O
FBI head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap: Chinese efforts to supplant the US as the "world's sole superpower" ...is "the most severe counterintelligence threat facing our country today"
We Australia know this. America, you in danger girl.— Pete EVANS (@911CORLEBRA777) December 12, 2018
China & Russia are working in coordination against the United States. That's the inconvenient truth, but truth it indeed is@LouiseMensch @thespybrief @ericgarland @DrDenaGrayson @TheRickWilson https://t.co/lBaBJhWY3V
Quit over-analyzing this president. He isn't a typical politician. Send the crime beat reporters.
That is a brilliant suggestion. The WH reporters should have a strong background in mafia reporting. https://t.co/z8CxTvzOB3— Chris “Cal” Carnahan (@xtrixcyclex) December 12, 2018
.@BarackObama released Iranian assets that were frozen. @realDonaldTrump wants $5B taxpayer dollars for a vanity wall as his @SenateGOP comrades say they can’t afford $1.1B over 10 years for benefits for Vietnam War Navy Vets.
.@BarackObama released Iranian assets that were frozen. @realDonaldTrump wants $5B taxpayer dollars for a vanity wall as his @SenateGOP comrades say they can’t afford $1.1B over 10 years for benefits for Vietnam War Navy Vets.— Col. Morris Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) December 12, 2018
Republicans claiming they ❤️ Vets is a proven lie. pic.twitter.com/EGkZnvLqwj
Sen. James Inhofe Bought Defense Stock Days After Pushing For Record Pentagon Spending—Then Dumped It When Asked About It
EXCLUSIVE: Armed Services Chair James Inhofe bought 50k-100k in Raytheon stock days after pushing for record Pentagon budget.@lachlan asked his office about it today. He dropped the stock soon thereafter. https://t.co/Y1oT7ouY4W— Sam Stein (@samstein) December 12, 2018
This statement from the Special Counsel’s office today should concern the President: Michael Cohen “has provided our office with credible and reliable information about core Russia-related issues under investigation and within the purview of the Special Counsel's Office.”
This statement from the Special Counsel’s office today should concern the President: Michael Cohen “has provided our office with credible and reliable information about core Russia-related issues under investigation and within the purview of the Special Counsel's Office.”— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) December 12, 2018
Good day to revisit the issue of the National Enquirer in supermarkets across America on Election Day 2016
Good day to revisit the issue of the National Enquirer in supermarkets across America on Election Day 2016: pic.twitter.com/qj6Q1SfTzV— Dan Lavoie (@djlavoie) December 12, 2018
Fox News' Judge Napolitano pulled no punches, saying we now know that Trump "committed a felony"
Fox News' Judge Napolitano pulled no punches, saying we now know that Trump "committed a felony" https://t.co/KdRUSCoKbm— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 12, 2018
Defying Trump and McConnell, Senate votes 60-37 to start debating measure to end US backing for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. 11 Republicans joined all Democrats in support.
Defying Trump and McConnell, Senate votes 60-37 to start debating measure to end US backing for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. 11 Republicans joined all Democrats in support.— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) December 12, 2018
Lisa Korbatov, who introduced Broidy to a Nigerian American dealmaker, was involved in a murky 2008 real estate deal w/Trump
Disgraced Trump Fundraiser Elliott Broidy Tried to Use GOP Contacts to Score Billions in Africa by @DavidCornDC HT @USseriously— Wendy Siegelman (@WendySiegelman) December 12, 2018
Lisa Korbatov, who introduced Broidy to a Nigerian American dealmaker, was involved in a murky 2008 real estate deal w/Trump /1https://t.co/Xf8tbi7a4Q
.@RepAdamSchiff tells @CNN that the House Intel Committee is already in touch with Cohen’s lawyer about bringing him in to testify, potentially before he begins his prison sentence in March.
.@RepAdamSchiff tells @CNN that the House Intel Committee is already in touch with Cohen’s lawyer about bringing him in to testify, potentially before he begins his prison sentence in March.— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) December 12, 2018
No longer just Cohen versus Trump. AMI, the parent company of the National Enquirer, backs Cohen on the record. We now have multiple witnesses saying Trump committed a felony to secure his election.
No longer just Cohen versus Trump. AMI, the parent company of the National Enquirer, backs Cohen on the record. We now have multiple witnesses saying Trump committed a felony to secure his election. https://t.co/Tg7JCXzKKa— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) December 12, 2018
BREAKING: Senate votes 50-49 to overthrow new Treasury Dept policy that no longer requires some 501(c) tax-exempt nonprofits—including politically active "dark money" groups—to disclose donor names & addresses (which already were not public under prior IRS policy) in tax returns.
BREAKING: Senate votes 50-49 to overthrow new Treasury Dept policy that no longer requires some 501(c) tax-exempt nonprofits—including politically active "dark money" groups—to disclose donor names & addresses (which already were not public under prior IRS policy) in tax returns. pic.twitter.com/tkQ62fvW1V— Anna Massoglia (@annalecta) December 12, 2018
JUST IN: U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May survived a crucial no-confidence vote this evening, avoiding the prospect of a bitter leadership contest within her own party.
JUST IN: U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May survived a crucial no-confidence vote this evening, avoiding the prospect of a bitter leadership contest within her own party. https://t.co/X6rxAokidt pic.twitter.com/ZDB0XG2xoO— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) December 12, 2018
THREAD RE INDICTING PRESIDENT. Trump’s defenses to campaign finance vio crumbling rapidly, partic after AMI admission. I predict the only thing he has left is idea sitting President cant be indicted. This thread fleshes out aspects of that, expands on NYT
Former Acting Solicitor General of United States.
THREAD RE INDICTING PRESIDENT. Trump’s defenses to campaign finance vio crumbling rapidly, partic after AMI admission. I predict the only thing he has left is idea sitting President cant be indicted. This thread fleshes out aspects of that, expands on NYThttps://t.co/rbZqNUfu2o— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) December 12, 2018
- 1.The 2 DOJ opinions saying sitting Presidents can’t be indicted have 3 limitations for Trump that mean they don’t necessarily protect him. And, even if DOJ policy means a sitting President can’t be indicted, that could actually hurt Trump in huge ways. Start with the 3 limits.5 replies71 retweets255 likes
- 2. First, they do not necessarily apply to crimes that go to obtaining Presidency itself. It is one thing if we're talking about unrelated crimes, like perjury in current office (which has chilling fx etc). But we may want to avoid incentivizing a world where the prize of winning2 replies58 retweets265 likes
- 3. Presidency is a get out of jail free card for crimes you committed to get there. That’s the world of House of Cards, or certain less developed countries around the globe.4 replies53 retweets289 likes
- 4. Second, as @WalterDellinger has argued, there is a real difference between indicting a President and forcing them to go through trial. The indictment might be permissible–indeed, it might be required if a President doesn’t agree to voluntarily waive the statute of limitations6 replies49 retweets232 likes
- 5. Third, the opinions don’t apply to state crimes, and it looks like some of the violations here may have state law counterparts. So, for example, the Attorney General of New York may be able to bring charges, DOJ opinions won’t protect Trump.7 replies62 retweets264 likes
- 6. Now, let’s say all that is wrong, and Trump can’t be indicted. As I said in NYT, there are several deep reasons why that is bad for Trump, too (which is part of the reason why Presidents and candidates outside of Nixon stay far away from questionable conduct).2 replies35 retweets188 likes
- 7. The first thing is that it feeds impeachment, indeed, it may require it. If indictment is off the table, then impeachment must be on it. The whole idea of a sitting Pres can’t be indicted is b/c you have to go thru impeachment proceedings first and then try him for the crime.5 replies54 retweets226 likes
- 8. This means that Congress is under a constitutional duty to investigate every aspect of the allegations and commence a full-blown inquiry, precisely because the criminal process (which would be used in the case of every other American) cannot be used.4 replies49 retweets258 likes
- 9. That is hardly good news for President Trump. @JerryNadler is a brilliant and dogged investigator, and he’s also a balanced one who hasn’t wanted to trigger impeachment unless he has to. Trump’s argument may mean Nadler has to.3 replies49 retweets237 likes
- 10. The second problem for Trump is that it intersects with his ability to stay silent. His lawyers keep talking about a “perjury trap” if he talks to prosecutors, claiming he has a 5th amendment right to avoid self incrimination.2 replies24 retweets171 likes
- 11. But if Trump can’t be indicted, then why should he be able to plead self-incrimination rights, which are after all about criminal liability?7 replies33 retweets214 likes
- 12. It may be that the statute of limitations would still permit charge for perjury after he leaves office – but that is years later and not true should Trump win a second Term (I know, unlikely at this point, after all, even serving out his Term looking increasingly unlikely).5 replies26 retweets171 likes
- 13. Trump’s arg would create a huge disparity w/all other fed employees—who would have to cooperate w/law enforcement or lose their job. Why should President be above that?3 replies27 retweets178 likes
- 14. Brings me to most impt point: DOJ policy about sitting President indictment is generic, BUT Special Counsel regulations (which I had the privilege of drafting for DOJ as a young pup back in good ol' 1999) permit departures from DOJ policy.6 replies73 retweets219 likes
- 15. Mueller can seek a departure from DOJ policy, and obtain permission to indict Trump. Partic if Trump insists on not providing testimony, and not waiving statute of limitations, such a departure may be granted by Acting AG.4 replies51 retweets180 likes
- 16. Of course, we don’t even know who the Acting AG is, DOJ won’t tell us who is supervising investigation –Whitaker or Rosenstein? (Something of an aside here: that’s the way the Soviet Union operates, in America, we have an inalienable right to know who are governors are.)4 replies59 retweets252 likes
- 17. Either Whitaker or Rosenstein may conclude that in America, no one is above the law, and authorize the indictment of Trump.5 replies32 retweets152 likes
- 18. If Mueller asks (and he may be the one making the ask for SDNY given his other investigations), Special Counsel regs say if Acting AG refuses to indict, must report it to Congress, both majority and minority parties.2 replies34 retweets150 likes
- 19. Here is kicker #1:Special Counsel regs therefore put thumb on scale of Mueller asking Acting AG to indict, as that is the one way Mueller can be sure info he has uncovered in his investigation is provided to Congress. EVEN if Mueller thinks AG would say no, he may need to ask6 replies44 retweets174 likes
- 20.Particularly in a world of witness tampering, fake AGs installed &now serious allegations of lying by President, and indeed, felonies, that may be Mueller’s best option. Key purpose of Special Counsel regs is shining sunlight on govt wrongdoing+avoid appearances of impropriety2 replies20 retweets115 likes
- 21. Kicker#2: Trump has to know all of this, at least if he has decent counsel. Trump may therefore conclude, as Spiro Agnew did before him, he has 1 card left to play: resign and plea to avoid jail time. END23 replies53 retweets214 likes
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