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May 26, 2019
By RENATO MARIOTTI May 26, 2019
Renato Mariotti is the Legal Affairs Columnist for POLITICO Magazine. He is a former federal prosecutor and host of the “On Topic” podcast.
In the space of three days this week, two federal judges ruled decisively in favor of Congress’ right to subpoena President Donald Trump’s personal financial and business records... More importantly, it suggests that Trump’s strategy of categorically fighting all congressional subpoenas will undermine his ability to stonewall Congress in subsequent cases.
On Monday, federal Judge Amit Mehta issued a sweeping decision rejecting Trump’s personal challenge to a House Oversight Committee subpoena of his financial records from an accounting firm... The main argument Trump advanced was that there was no legislative purpose for the subpoena.
Trump’s argument went further, claiming that Congress is engaging in “law enforcement” and that corrupt behavior by the president is not a “proper subject of investigation.” Mehta cited Watergate as an obvious rebuttal.
Trump’s argument is doomed to fail in the courts because the Constitution gives the House the “full power of impeachment” and it could not exercise that authority without investigating presidential wrongdoing.
Wednesday’s ruling by Judge Edgardo Ramos made equally quick work of Trump’s argument that subpoenas to Deutsche Bank and Capital One for his records lacked a “legitimate legislative purpose.” He found that argument “unpersuasive,” finding that it was “not the role of the judicial branch to question [Congress’] motives.” He denied every one of Trump’s requests.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/26/trump-tax-returns-subpoena-226987
8 hrs ago: "Why Trump's Stonewalling Legal Strategy Will Keep Failing"
If he’s trying to run out the clock on the subpoenas, the weakness of his strategy might actually be speeding things upBy RENATO MARIOTTI May 26, 2019
Renato Mariotti is the Legal Affairs Columnist for POLITICO Magazine. He is a former federal prosecutor and host of the “On Topic” podcast.
In the space of three days this week, two federal judges ruled decisively in favor of Congress’ right to subpoena President Donald Trump’s personal financial and business records... More importantly, it suggests that Trump’s strategy of categorically fighting all congressional subpoenas will undermine his ability to stonewall Congress in subsequent cases.
On Monday, federal Judge Amit Mehta issued a sweeping decision rejecting Trump’s personal challenge to a House Oversight Committee subpoena of his financial records from an accounting firm... The main argument Trump advanced was that there was no legislative purpose for the subpoena.
Trump’s argument went further, claiming that Congress is engaging in “law enforcement” and that corrupt behavior by the president is not a “proper subject of investigation.” Mehta cited Watergate as an obvious rebuttal.
Trump’s argument is doomed to fail in the courts because the Constitution gives the House the “full power of impeachment” and it could not exercise that authority without investigating presidential wrongdoing.
Wednesday’s ruling by Judge Edgardo Ramos made equally quick work of Trump’s argument that subpoenas to Deutsche Bank and Capital One for his records lacked a “legitimate legislative purpose.” He found that argument “unpersuasive,” finding that it was “not the role of the judicial branch to question [Congress’] motives.” He denied every one of Trump’s requests.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/26/trump-tax-returns-subpoena-226987
May 25, 2019
Hundreds protest outside Homestead detention center
Hundreds protest outside Homestead detention center on Mother’s Day
BY MONIQUE O. MADAN
More than 300 people flooded the streets Sunday outside the Homestead detention center for migrant children.
The Homestead shelter, the only facility for migrant children operated by a for-profit [highly profitable] corporation, has been shrouded in secrecy and cloaked in controversy from the moment it was reactivated in February 2018.
Lawmakers scornful of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have been blocked from visiting. Because it sits on federal land, Florida’s child welfare agency is barred from investigating allegations of abuse.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article230274999.html
BY MONIQUE O. MADAN
More than 300 people flooded the streets Sunday outside the Homestead detention center for migrant children.
The Homestead shelter, the only facility for migrant children operated by a for-profit [highly profitable] corporation, has been shrouded in secrecy and cloaked in controversy from the moment it was reactivated in February 2018.
Lawmakers scornful of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have been blocked from visiting. Because it sits on federal land, Florida’s child welfare agency is barred from investigating allegations of abuse.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article230274999.html
May 25, 2019
The ultimate hypocrisy:
While Trump refuses to reveal his tax-returns and the complete Mueller report, he is planning to reveal top-secrets of not only the CIA but also many other U.S. intelligence agencies.
Breaking News about Trump's "ultimate hypocrisy" I.M.H.O.
Trump’s Targeting of Intelligence Agencies Gains a Harder Edge
By Michael S. Schmidt and Julian E. Barnes
May 25, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump tried somewhat clumsily last year to revoke the security clearance of the former C.I.A. director who played a role in opening the Russia investigation. He then wanted to release classified documents to prove he was the target of a “witch hunt.”
Both attempts petered out, hampered by aides who slow-rolled the president and Justice Department officials who fought Mr. Trump, warning he was jeopardizing national security.
Mr. Trump took the highly unusual step on Thursday of granting Mr. Barr the power to declassify the most closely guarded secrets of the C.I.A. and the country’s 15 other intelligence agencies. Mr. Barr had asked for the authority to facilitate his review of the intelligence agencies’ involvement in the early stages of the Russia investigation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/25/us/politics/trump-intelligence-agencies.html
By Michael S. Schmidt and Julian E. Barnes
May 25, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump tried somewhat clumsily last year to revoke the security clearance of the former C.I.A. director who played a role in opening the Russia investigation. He then wanted to release classified documents to prove he was the target of a “witch hunt.”
Both attempts petered out, hampered by aides who slow-rolled the president and Justice Department officials who fought Mr. Trump, warning he was jeopardizing national security.
Mr. Trump took the highly unusual step on Thursday of granting Mr. Barr the power to declassify the most closely guarded secrets of the C.I.A. and the country’s 15 other intelligence agencies. Mr. Barr had asked for the authority to facilitate his review of the intelligence agencies’ involvement in the early stages of the Russia investigation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/25/us/politics/trump-intelligence-agencies.html
The ultimate hypocrisy:
While Trump refuses to reveal his tax-returns and the complete Mueller report, he is planning to reveal top-secrets of not only the CIA but also many other U.S. intelligence agencies.
May 25, 2019
The FAKE video, which slowed Nancy Pelosi comments down to make her appear drunk "has racked up millions of views, with Facebook refusing to remove it."
Instead, Facebook finally "downgraded the video's visibility and included a link to a fact-checking website, pointing out that the footage is misleading."
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/real-v-fake-edited-nancy-pelosi-clip-goes-viral-1.3904642
In other recent news:
Facebook Removed Nearly 3.4 Billion Fake Accounts In 6 Months
May 23, 20196:58 PM ET
Facebook says it removed 3.39 billion fake accounts from October to March. That's twice the number of fraudulent accounts deleted in the previous six-month period.
In the company's latest Community Standards Enforcement Report, released Thursday, Facebook said nearly all of the fake accounts were caught by artificial intelligence and more human monitoring. They also attributed the skyrocketing number to "automated attacks by bad actors who attempt to create large volumes of accounts at one time."
The fake accounts are roughly a billion more than the 2.4 billion actual people on Facebook worldwide, according to the company's own count.
"Most of these accounts were blocked within minutes of their creation before they could do any harm," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told reporters in a call on Thursday.
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/23/726353723/facebook-removed-nearly-3-2-billion-fake-accounts-in-last-six-months
"REAL VS. FAKE"
Real v fake: edited Nancy Pelosi clip goes viralThe FAKE video, which slowed Nancy Pelosi comments down to make her appear drunk "has racked up millions of views, with Facebook refusing to remove it."
Instead, Facebook finally "downgraded the video's visibility and included a link to a fact-checking website, pointing out that the footage is misleading."
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/real-v-fake-edited-nancy-pelosi-clip-goes-viral-1.3904642
In other recent news:
Facebook Removed Nearly 3.4 Billion Fake Accounts In 6 Months
May 23, 20196:58 PM ET
Facebook says it removed 3.39 billion fake accounts from October to March. That's twice the number of fraudulent accounts deleted in the previous six-month period.
In the company's latest Community Standards Enforcement Report, released Thursday, Facebook said nearly all of the fake accounts were caught by artificial intelligence and more human monitoring. They also attributed the skyrocketing number to "automated attacks by bad actors who attempt to create large volumes of accounts at one time."
The fake accounts are roughly a billion more than the 2.4 billion actual people on Facebook worldwide, according to the company's own count.
"Most of these accounts were blocked within minutes of their creation before they could do any harm," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told reporters in a call on Thursday.
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/23/726353723/facebook-removed-nearly-3-2-billion-fake-accounts-in-last-six-months
May 22, 2019
By Kevin Liptak
Updated 11:57 AM ET, Wed May 22, 2019
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump said in impromptu remarks Wednesday that he told Democrats at the White House he couldn't work with them while they were pursuing investigations into him and his administration.
The Rose Garden speech came after an abbreviated meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who were there to discuss a bipartisan infrastructure spending package.
He said during the meeting with Democrats that he couldn't work with them until their investigations are over.
Earlier Wednesday, Pelosi had told reporters Trump was engaged in a "cover-up."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/22/politics/donald-trump-democrats-mueller-russia-feud/index.html?cid=web-alerts&nsid=68484876
BREAKING NEWS: Trump says he refuses to work with Democrats until investigations halt.
CNNBy Kevin Liptak
Updated 11:57 AM ET, Wed May 22, 2019
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump said in impromptu remarks Wednesday that he told Democrats at the White House he couldn't work with them while they were pursuing investigations into him and his administration.
The Rose Garden speech came after an abbreviated meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who were there to discuss a bipartisan infrastructure spending package.
He said during the meeting with Democrats that he couldn't work with them until their investigations are over.
Earlier Wednesday, Pelosi had told reporters Trump was engaged in a "cover-up."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/22/politics/donald-trump-democrats-mueller-russia-feud/index.html?cid=web-alerts&nsid=68484876
May 18, 2019
May 18, 2019 Updated 9 min ago
This video was real poignant and funny when I first viewed it; but upon the next viewing proved it was an unreliable [changing] piece of online media. Are readers familiar with this concept? This inevitable reality indicates ANY online link, especially those from questionable sources can and will change!
Please be careful, when posting this type of an image:
TOO FUNNY TO FORGET!
Tapper on Trump tweet: 54 words, many of them not trueMay 18, 2019 Updated 9 min ago
This video was real poignant and funny when I first viewed it; but upon the next viewing proved it was an unreliable [changing] piece of online media. Are readers familiar with this concept? This inevitable reality indicates ANY online link, especially those from questionable sources can and will change!
Please be careful, when posting this type of an image:
May 17, 2019
The White House's latest Mueller absurdity is shocking. Even for Trump.
Trump officials say Russia is interfering. Trump shrugs.
The position of Trump and the White House is this: It is not a legitimate legislative purpose for Congress to further flesh out special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s findings with the goal of fortifying our election security against future outside attacks on our political system.
Sections of the Mueller Report describing the structure and actions taken by the Internet Research Agency are heavily redacted. Sections … describing the hacking activities undertaken by Russian intelligence services likewise contain significant redactions, which impair the ability of the Committee to gain a complete understanding of Russia’s actions. Without this information, the Committee is unable to fully perform its responsibility to protect the impending 2020 elections — and thus our republic itself — from a recurrence of foreign interference.
The oversight battles just took a new turn. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has sent a detailed new letter to the White House, protesting its blanket resistance to any and all House oversight efforts.
What makes this more galling is that members of Trump’s own administration say that Russian interference efforts are an ongoing threat. FBI Director Christopher A. Wray recently declared those efforts represent a “significant counterintelligence threat,” adding that he views Russia’s 2018 efforts as a “dress rehearsal for the big show in 2020.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/17/white-houses-latest-mueller-absurdity-is-shocking-even-trump/?utm_term=.57aa8fa0e539
The position of Trump and the White House is this: It is not a legitimate legislative purpose for Congress to further flesh out special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s findings with the goal of fortifying our election security against future outside attacks on our political system.
Sections of the Mueller Report describing the structure and actions taken by the Internet Research Agency are heavily redacted. Sections … describing the hacking activities undertaken by Russian intelligence services likewise contain significant redactions, which impair the ability of the Committee to gain a complete understanding of Russia’s actions. Without this information, the Committee is unable to fully perform its responsibility to protect the impending 2020 elections — and thus our republic itself — from a recurrence of foreign interference.
The oversight battles just took a new turn. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has sent a detailed new letter to the White House, protesting its blanket resistance to any and all House oversight efforts.
What makes this more galling is that members of Trump’s own administration say that Russian interference efforts are an ongoing threat. FBI Director Christopher A. Wray recently declared those efforts represent a “significant counterintelligence threat,” adding that he views Russia’s 2018 efforts as a “dress rehearsal for the big show in 2020.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/17/white-houses-latest-mueller-absurdity-is-shocking-even-trump/?utm_term=.57aa8fa0e539
May 16, 2019
Barr asks Pelosi "DID YOU BRING YOUR HANDCUFFS?" (AP) yesterday
Barr asks Pelosi at event: ‘Did you bring your handcuffs?’
By LAURIE KELLMAN
yesterday [5/16/19
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr tried out a little contempt humor on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with interesting results.
The setting was the National Peace Officers Memorial Day service Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol.
Barr approached Pelosi, shook her hand and said loud enough to be overheard, “Madam Speaker, did you bring your handcuffs?” That’s a reference to Barr’s refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s report.
A smiling Pelosi let Barr know the House Sergeant at Arms was present at the ceremony, should any arrest be necessary, according to a person who witnessed the exchange and described it on the condition of anonymity. Barr chuckled and walked away, this person said.
https://www.apnews.com/3f769e19bf034c139e8973c653582969
By LAURIE KELLMAN
yesterday [5/16/19
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr tried out a little contempt humor on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with interesting results.
The setting was the National Peace Officers Memorial Day service Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol.
Barr approached Pelosi, shook her hand and said loud enough to be overheard, “Madam Speaker, did you bring your handcuffs?” That’s a reference to Barr’s refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s report.
A smiling Pelosi let Barr know the House Sergeant at Arms was present at the ceremony, should any arrest be necessary, according to a person who witnessed the exchange and described it on the condition of anonymity. Barr chuckled and walked away, this person said.
https://www.apnews.com/3f769e19bf034c139e8973c653582969
April 30, 2019
BREAKING NEWS: TRUMP TRIES TO BLOCK SUBPOENAS, CAUSING TOP DEMOCRATS TO CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the General Discussion forum). If you believe this was done in error, please contact Omaha Steve to appeal. In accordance with wishes of Omaha Steve - according to his comment - I've reposted the Opening Post here:
Biden: If Trump blocks investigations, Congress has no choice but to impeach him
BY JOHN BOWDEN - 04/30/19 09:13 AM EDT
Former Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Congress should move forward with impeachment proceedings if the White House and Republicans work to block Democratic efforts to investigate matters "left undone" by special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," the 2020 presidential candidate said that Democrats would have "no alternative" but to impeach President Trump if he were to block a congressional investigation into whether he obstructed justice by firing former FBI Director James Comey and attempting to fire Mueller.
Biden's call for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings if the White House blocks its investigation falls short of the position of his fellow 2020 primary contender Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who said at a town hall last week that Congress should begin impeachment proceedings now.
"We have very good reason to believe that there is an investigation that has been conducted which has produced evidence that tells us that this president and his administration engaged in obstruction of justice. I believe Congress should take the steps toward impeachment," she told a CNN town hall in New Hampshire.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/441301-biden-if-trump-blocks-investigations-congress-has-no-choice-but-to
BY JOHN BOWDEN - 04/30/19 09:13 AM EDT
Former Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Congress should move forward with impeachment proceedings if the White House and Republicans work to block Democratic efforts to investigate matters "left undone" by special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," the 2020 presidential candidate said that Democrats would have "no alternative" but to impeach President Trump if he were to block a congressional investigation into whether he obstructed justice by firing former FBI Director James Comey and attempting to fire Mueller.
Biden's call for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings if the White House blocks its investigation falls short of the position of his fellow 2020 primary contender Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who said at a town hall last week that Congress should begin impeachment proceedings now.
"We have very good reason to believe that there is an investigation that has been conducted which has produced evidence that tells us that this president and his administration engaged in obstruction of justice. I believe Congress should take the steps toward impeachment," she told a CNN town hall in New Hampshire.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/441301-biden-if-trump-blocks-investigations-congress-has-no-choice-but-to
Trump sues Deutsche Bank, Capital One to block subpoenas
After US lawmakers demanded Donald Trump's financial records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One, the US president sued to stop the release. The subpoenas would serve to "ferret" for damaging material, the lawsuit says.
Previously, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said the subpoenas were part of an investigation "into allegations of potential foreign influence on the US political process," hinting at Trump's dealings with Russia.
Responding to Trump's legal move, Schiff and his colleague from the House Financial Committee Maxine Waters said the lawsuit was "meritless."
"This lawsuit is not designed to succeed; it is only designed to put off meaningful accountability as long as possible," they said.
https://www.dw.com/en/trump-sues-deutsche-bank-capital-one-to-block-subpoenas/a-48541673 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/441301-biden-if-trump-blocks-investigations-congress-has-no-choice-but-to
After US lawmakers demanded Donald Trump's financial records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One, the US president sued to stop the release. The subpoenas would serve to "ferret" for damaging material, the lawsuit says.
Previously, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said the subpoenas were part of an investigation "into allegations of potential foreign influence on the US political process," hinting at Trump's dealings with Russia.
Responding to Trump's legal move, Schiff and his colleague from the House Financial Committee Maxine Waters said the lawsuit was "meritless."
"This lawsuit is not designed to succeed; it is only designed to put off meaningful accountability as long as possible," they said.
https://www.dw.com/en/trump-sues-deutsche-bank-capital-one-to-block-subpoenas/a-48541673 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/441301-biden-if-trump-blocks-investigations-congress-has-no-choice-but-to
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Name: NMIGender: Do not display
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