Friday, October 25, 2019

Impeachment Inquiry Is Legal, Judge Rules, Giving Democrats a Victory


Feds blow door off safe, issue subpoenas as probe into Giuliani associates escalates


BREAKING: Following a historic victory against dark money by CREW, Americans for Job Security has released its donors from 2010 through 2012, including major contributions from Peter Thiel, Richard & Helen DeVos, Sheldon & Miriam Adelson and Robert McNair.


Donald Trump Has a Big Problem in the Senate A resolution meant to be a show of solidarity by Republicans with the president has instead become a sign of weakness.


The U.S. Treasury says that the federal deficit for fiscal 2019 was $984 billion, a 26% increase from 2018.


BREAKING (!): Judge rules the House is entitled to Mueller grand jury material. Huge win for Judiciary Committee / Dems.


Trump warns of catastrophic recession if he's impeached or driven from office.


President Obama remembering Rep. Elijah Cummings: "There's nothing weak about being honorable. You're not a sucker to have integrity and to treat others with respect."


!! Rudy Giuliani butt-dialed an NBC News reporter — twice — leaving long voicemail messages in which he's heard discussing Joe Biden, business in Bahrain and his need for cash. "The problem is we need some money," Giuliani says to unidentified man.


Scoop: Rep @tedlieu sent a letter to Mulvaney asking how they're handling the cyber crisis after our @axios story earlier this wk. A WH "data breach would give our adversaries an untold advantage in almost every foreign policy and national security matter."


Senate Intel is wrapping up a three-year bipartisan investigation, and we've found nothing remotely justifying this. Mr. Barr's "investigation" has already jeopardized key international intelligence partnerships. He needs to come before Congress and explain himself.


Opinion: Explosive William Barr news points to Trump’s weakness and panic


US puts B-1B bombers in Saudi Arabia......


Eric Trump tells @WSJ of the Trump Hotel in DC: “People are objecting to us making so much money on the hotel, and therefore we may be willing to sell.” Those objections began more than three years ago, before the 2016 election.


Hillary Clinton on Elijah Cummings: "He also prayed and worked for healing. He weathered storms and earthquakes, but never lost his faith. Like that Old Testament prophet, he stood against corrupt leadership of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel."


I'm not the only one stating to think Trump could get convicted.


Secretary @HillaryClinton went there. She said that Congressman @RepCummings , was like his namesake the Prophet Elijah who stood up against King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.


Mitch McConnell has refused to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act for more than 200 days. This is obstruction for the sake of obstruction. Change is coming. Contribute now to make it happen.


“Obnoxious and greedy politicians never make it in the end!”


JUST IN: The Washington Nationals have released a statement confirming that President Trump was not invited to throw out the first pitch of Game 5 of the World Series (if Game 5 is necessary). Chef Jose Andres has been invited to throw out the first pitch.


Analysis: Republicans are increasingly flailing while defending Trump from impeachment inquiry


MLB umpire tweets, deletes MAGA missive promising ‘CIVAL WAR’ if Trump is impeached: report


LIVE: Funeral for the late Rep. Elijah Cummings in Baltimore.


Tim Morrison, a top adviser on Trump's NSC is expected to testify before House impeachment investigators next week & corroborate key elements of Bill Taylor's account that Trump was pressing for Ukraine to publicly announce investigations into the Bidens.


Just a casual chat about ethnic cleansing.


This is total madness. You have Barr going around the world with insane conspiracy theories, foreign governments saying, “ no that isn’t true,” to these conspiracy theories, yet he pursues investigation anyway. THE U.S. LOOKS LIKE A JOKE.


The DOJ (Barr) initiating a criminal investigation of it's own Russia probe, will likely cause: 1. Trust in the rule of law to diminish. 2. A chilling effect on current, (real), investigations. 3. Many in world to think our Democracy is in a death spiral. Scary times.


True


Rpt: White House official expected to bolster Taylor's testimony that Trump pushed Ukraine to investigate the Bidens


The federal judge also imposed a $100,000 fine for violating the order. The government will pay the fine, not DeVos personally, according to a report.


What a pathetic, pathetic embarrassment. It is one thing for the Administration (the Dept of Justice, even!) to be wandering around in a stupor and without its pants on here at home. But they’re trailing this nonsense all over the world...


Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California, a first-term lawmaker who has gained wide notice for her forceful grilling of corporate executives in congressional hearings, plans to endorse Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president, sources say


John Durham and Bill Barr target CIA officials, FBI agents who started a probe that proved Moscow launched a cyber war on America. Justice Dept. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry Into Its Own Russia Investigation


With all due respect to people who say otherwise, there is no reason to trust John Durham who buried Bush Admin torture crimes & has signed on to this obviously corrupt endeavor. And he doesn't "need" a grand jury for anything. Spare us this crap about institutionalists. Please.


Criminal inquiry of Trump-Russia probe 'born in political taint'


Rudy Giuliani faces legal risks for not registering as a foreign agent. But how close is he really to time in jail?


It’s hard to believe that it’s happening here, but our president is working to foil free and fair elections in 2020 in order to rob us of our ability to vote him out of office. We can’t make the mistake of believing that it can’t happen here. In fact, it will if we don’t act.


Klobuchar: Arrows point to abuse of power in Russia probe query


Opinion: Trump and his lawyers think he can get away with anything. It’s outlandish.


Not only did Republicans violate House rules yesterday by bringing their phones into a secure area, but Matt Gaetz and his staff also handed out expired congressional passes to some uncredentialed reporters and the crew of HBO’s “The Swamp.”


#BREAKING: Senate GOP blocks three election security bills for second day

There is only one reason...

ISIS oil field and Raqqa attacks send a message: We're back


Trump, Barr push specious theory against backdrop of impeachment


AP: White House fearful of GOP defections during impeachment vote


Barr's political goals eyed in criminal review of Russia probe


Didn't Trump say something about the world laughing at us. Well...


This is the mark of a fascist dictator who launches a criminal investigation into anyone he believes opposes him. America, if you wondered why Germans did not rise up against Hitler you are living it.


Analysis: The Trump campaign has over $1 million in outstanding bills from American cities


Pentagon is planning to send tanks and armored vehicles to Syrian oil fields


Imagine leaving the humans to be slaughtered but sending back the tanks to protect the oil.


A thing that happened today that won't get much attention: Senate Republicans confirmed *another* lifetime federal judge who earned a rare and embarrassing "not qualified" rating by the American Bar Association.


City of Albuquerque sends Trump campaign $211,000 bill for rally, asks him to "pay our taxpayers back" Do you also agree that Trump should be called "Grifter-in-Chief"?


No one likes Mitch McConnell.


Barr takes DOJ even deeper down a very ugly path. The Department must know every move here will be scrutinized for years. And we haven't seen anything yet that looks even close to a criminal predicate


Special Counsel investigation resulted in: -34 indictments -8 convictions/guilty pleas -A finding that Russia interfered in US elections in a sweeping & systematic manner AG Barr of @TheJusticeDept is now essentially trying to say that none of that should have happened. Really?


Chairman Schiff and Nadler: "These reports, if true, raise profound new concerns that the Department of Justice under Attorney General William Barr has lost its independence and become a vehicle for President Trump's political revenge."


"Ask yourself why no facts favorable to the president have leaked from the Republican side. It's not because they don't leak. It's because there aren't any." -Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney


That Barr has launched a criminal investigation of the origins of the Russia investigation but not launched an investigation of the Ukrainian matters smells more than fishy, it smell like whatever scum smells like! Barr sure knows how to look like an evil doer...


Dear AG Barr (@TheJusticeDept), What is the office # at DOJ where your team works on the THREE-YEAR investigation into how Rudy Giuliani knew in advance Comey was re-opening the email case? A few dozen million of us would like to barge in to see what the fucking holdup is.


They were already freaking out before, but Taylor’s testimony is “reverberating” with the GOP. It points to a blatant quid pro quo, and they can’t find a way to explain it away.


Yes, Barr must be disBarred. But let’s stay focused: all evidence suggests @realDonaldTrump used your money to extort Ukraine. Nothing matters more than holding him — and him first — accountable. Stunts like this are Trump-directed distraction devices.


BREAKING: OJ ANNOUNCES MANHUNT FOR REAL KILLER!


My new piece at @thedailybeast has my absolute favorite cover art ever: "Trump’s Ukraine Clown Posse Sounds Like Shit"


Does anyone NOT believe her? Isn’t this like his 23nd or 24th accuser?


NYT Breaking: Probe into Trump Russia investigation becomes criminal investigation


What would be the result of the bar of every major city in the United States calling for Barr's resignation?


Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was held in contempt of court after violating a court order to stop collecting on loans from students who attended a now-defunct for-profit college


Trump and Barr are tryin’ to fabricate a phony scandal as a massive distraction from Trump’s heinous crimes.


"The opening of a criminal investigation is likely to raise alarms that Mr. Trump is using the Justice Department to go after his perceived enemies."


NEWS: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard WILL NOT seek re-election. She announced the move in an e-mail and video. “I will not be seeking re-election to Congress in 2020,” she said. She was facing a serious primary challenge from Hawaii state Sen. Kai Kahele.


US plans to send tanks to Syria oil fields, reversing Trump troop withdrawal – reports Armor units require much more support than what was in Syria before. This is insanity.


New House impeachment witness schedule: Monday, 9:30: Charles Kupperman Tuesday, 9:30: Alexander Vindman Wednesday, 9:30: Kathryn Wheelbarger Thursday 8:00: Tim Morrison


It should be noted that the Hunt and Fish NYC is a restaurant owned by, wait for it,...Anthony Scaramucci. And they're hosting a fundraiser for...Tulsi Gabbard?!?


Criminal inquiry opened into Trump-Russia probe's origins: NYT


Maria Butina, the Russian gun-rights activist convicted in the United States for acting as an unregistered foreign agent, is scheduled to be released from prison today and deported to Russia.