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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#263101: Nov 29th 2018 at 4:17:36 PM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2018/11/29/day-679/

    Day 679: "Stayed away" 
1/ Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to making false statements to Congress, admitting that he continued to engage in negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow well into the 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen previously said talks regarding the Moscow project stalled in January 2016, when in fact negotiations continued through June with Cohen traveling to Russia for meetings on the project. Cohen also told Congress that when the project allegedly stalled, he emailed Dmitry Peskov, a top aide to Putin, seeking help, but claimed he never received a response. That was also false. Cohen and Peskov discussed the project for 20 minutes by phone. Prosecutors also said that Cohen continued to have contact in 2016 with Felix Sater, a Russian developer assisting with the project. Cohen briefed Trump on the status of the project more than three times. In July 2016, Trump tweeted: "For the record, I have ZERO investments in Russia." And, in January 2017, Trump told reporters that he had no deals in Russia because he had "stayed away." In exchange for pleading guilty and continuing to cooperate with Robert Mueller, he hopes to receive a lighter sentence. It's Cohen's second guilty plea in four months. (Washington Post / New York Times / NPR / ABC News / Politico / CNN / NBC News)

https://www.npr.org/2018/11/29/671864979/trump-moscow-real-estate-talks-continued-into-presidential-run-documents-show

📌 The Re-up: Day 221. Trump's company was pursuing a plan to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow while he was running for president. Discussions about the Moscow project began in September 2015 until it was abandoned just before the presidential primaries began in January 2016, emails show. The details of the deal had not previously been disclosed. The Trump Organization has turned over the emails to the House Intelligence Committee, pointing to the likelihood of additional contacts between Russia and Trump associates during the campaign. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-business-sought-deal-on-a-trump-tower-in-moscow-while-he-ran-for-president/2017/08/27/d6e95114-8b65-11e7-91d5-ab4e4bb76a3a_story.html

📌 Day 221. Trump's business associate promised that Putin would help Trump win the presidency if he built a Trump Tower in Moscow. “I will get Putin on this program and we will get Donald elected,” Felix Sater, a Russian immigrant, wrote to Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, in 2015. “Our boy can become president of the USA and we can engineer it,” Sater wrote in an email. “I will get all of Putins team to buy in on this, I will manage this process.” At the time, Sater was a broker for the Trump Organization and was paid to deliver real estate deals. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/politics/trump-tower-putin-felix-sater.html

📌 Day 221. Trump discussed a proposal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow with his company’s lawyer three times. The project was abandoned in January 2016 “from solely a business standpoint” and had nothing to do with Trump’s campaign his attorney Michael Cohen told the House intelligence committee. "I made the decision to terminate further work on the proposal," Cohen said. “The Trump Tower Moscow proposal was not related in any way to Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign.” (Bloomberg)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-28/lawyer-says-he-discussed-moscow-tower-plan-with-trump-3-times

📌 Day 221. Trump's attorney sent an email to Putin’s personal spokesman to ask for help advancing a stalled Trump Tower project in Moscow. Michael Cohen sent the email in January 2016 to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s top press aide, at the recommendation of Felix Sater, a Russian-American businessman who was serving as a broker on the deal. "I respectfully request someone, preferably you, contact me so that I might discuss the specifics as well as arranging meetings with the appropriate individuals," Cohen wrote. "I thank you in advance for your assistance and look forward to hearing from you soon." The email marks the most direct documented interaction of a top Trump aide and a senior member of Putin’s government. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/top-trump-organization-executive-reached-out-to-putin-aide-for-help-on-business-deal/2017/08/28/095aebac-8c16-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html

📌 Day 221. Four months into the presidential campaign, Trump signed a “letter of intent” to pursue building a Trump Tower in Moscow. The involvement of then-candidate Trump in a proposed Russian development deal contradicts his repeated claims that his business had “no relationship to Russia whatsoever." The Trump Organization signed a non-binding letter of intent in October 2015. (ABC News)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-knew-moscow-tower-proposal-campaign-lawyer/story?id=49472342

📌 Day 222. Michael Cohen said he didn't inform Trump that he had sent the email to Putin’s top press official asking for "assistance" in arranging a licensing deal for a Trump Tower in Moscow. The Trump Organization attorney sent the email in January 2016 to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s top press aide, at the recommendation of Felix Sater, a Russian-American businessman who was serving as a broker on the deal. Cohen said he never heard back from Peskov and the project never got off the ground. (Wall Street Journal / Politico)

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/28/michael-cohen-trump-lawyer-putin-russia-242102

📌 Day 223. The Kremlin confirmed that Trump’s personal lawyer reached out during the 2016 presidential campaign requesting assistance on a stalled Trump Tower real estate project in Moscow. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said they received Michael Cohen’s email, but the Kremlin didn't reply. Peskov said that he had seen the email but that it was not given to Putin. (Associated Press / Washington Post)

https://apnews.com/b584e7f4fffe46f6ae4520727f117201

📌 Day 278. Trump's personal lawyer met with the House Intelligence Committee today. Michael Cohen emailed Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, during the presidential campaign seeking help getting a Trump Tower built in Moscow. Peskov said he never responded to the email. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-appear-house-intel-panel-tuesday-n813521

Cohen is the 33rd person Robert Mueller has charged. (Five Thirty Eight)

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/michael-cohen-is-the-33rd-person-mueller-has-charged-and-could-be-among-the-most-important/

2/ Trump called Cohen a "weak" and "not a very smart person" for cooperating with Mueller, saying his former lawyer is "lying […] to get a reduced sentence." For the fourth straight morning, Trump attacked Mueller's investigation, musing whether it will "just go on forever." When asked why Trump ever hired Cohen, the president replied: "A long time ago he did me a favor." (Politico / Washington Post / CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/29/trump-accuses-michael-cohen-of-lying-about-trump-tower-deal-in-plea.html

Trump: Rosenstein belongs in jail, because "he should have never picked a special counsel." Trump declined to say whether he would fire Rosenstein. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/29/trump-rosenstein-belongs-in-jail-1026104

3/ Trump's written responses to Mueller about building a Trump Tower in Moscow during the campaign reportedly align with what Cohen said in court, according to Trump's lawyers. Rudy Giuliani attempted to explain why Trump would call Cohen a liar if they had the same understanding of the facts, saying: "Cohen has just told us he's a liar. Given the fact that he's a liar, I can't tell you what he's lying about." (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/us/politics/trump-cohen-moscow-trump-tower.html

4/ Trump abruptly canceled a planned meeting with Putin shortly after Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court to lying to Congress about his efforts to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 presidential campaign. He cited Moscow's seizure of Ukrainian assets and personnel for the cancellation. (NBC News / Politico / New York Times / Washington Post)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-cancels-putin-over-ukraine-aggression-n941726

5/ Trump made several calls from a blocked number in the middle of the night to Roger Stone during the 2016 campaign. The call logs were turned over to Mueller and draw a direct line between Stone and Trump, which has rattled Trump's legal team and showed how closely the special counsel is scrutinizing their relationship. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-night-owl-calls-to-roger-stone-in-2016-draw-scrutiny-in-mueller-probe/2018/11/28/77d6174e-f332-11e8-80d0-f7e1948d55f4_story.html?utm_term=.5fd277ca8bb7

Notables.

The Department of Veterans Affairs told congressional staffers that it will not reimburse veterans who were paid less than they were owed as a result of delayed or deferred GI Bill payments. VA officials promised the opposite earlier this month. The VA said it can't make the payments it owes without auditing its previous education claims because that would delay future payments. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/veterans-affairs-dept-tells-congressional-staffers-it-won-t-repay-n941491

The Senate Judiciary Committee cancelled a hearing on judicial nominees as Jeff Flake's demand for a bill to protect Mueller continues. Flake is holding firm to his vow to vote against judicial nominees on the floor and in committee unless Mitch Mc Connell schedules a vote on the bipartisan special counsel legislation. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/28/senate-judiciary-nominee-flake-mueller-1025918

More than 4 in 10 companies plan to raise prices to offset the higher cost of production due to Trump's trade war. About 1 in 10 companies said the tariffs would encourage them to move more jobs offshore. (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/28/manufacturers-say-trump-tariffs-to-bring-higher-prices-not-jobs-survey.html

Federal agents raided the Chicago City Hall office of Trump's former tax lawyer. It's not yet clear whether the search has anything to do with Trump, but Ed Burke did work for Trump for more than a decade, obtaining $14 million in property tax relief for the Chicago Trump Tower. (Chicago Sun-Times / Fortune / Vox / Washington Examiner / The Hill)

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/418928-federal-agents-raid-office-of-tax-firm-that-previously-worked-for

Trump: "I miss New York." (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/29/trump-i-miss-new-york-1026136

Edited by sgamer82 on Nov 29th 2018 at 6:03:52 AM

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#263102: Nov 29th 2018 at 4:58:24 PM

It's likely a case of the cops deliberately turning a blind eye towards people they knew would be targeted by violence than assisting in it.

MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#263103: Nov 29th 2018 at 5:32:59 PM

Rudy Giuliani attempted to explain why Trump would call Cohen a liar if they had the same understanding of the facts, saying: "Cohen has just told us he's a liar. Given the fact that he's a liar, I can't tell you what he's lying about." (New York Times)
How the hell did Giuliani ever manage to get a license to practice law when his arguments in defending Trump not only started off with blatantly incoherent logic, but keep progressively becoming worse at that?

The Senate Judiciary Committee cancelled a hearing on judicial nominees as Jeff Flake's demand for a bill to protect Mueller continues. Flake is holding firm to his vow to vote against judicial nominees on the floor and in committee unless Mitch Mc Connell schedules a vote on the bipartisan special counsel legislation. (Politico)
I guess Flake is not all just talk on this issue, huh? Let's see if he'll manage to make McConnell blink first in this game of chicken.

More than 4 in 10 companies plan to raise prices to offset the higher cost of production due to Trump's trade war. About 1 in 10 companies said the tariffs would encourage them to move more jobs offshore. (CNBC)
Well now, how is Trump and his fanatics going to spin this one?

Trump: "I miss New York." (Politico)
Oh boo hoo hoo hoo. Cry me a fucking river, Donasshole Trumpissant. You'll be missing far, far, far more than that when you get your inevitable comeuppance. And I'll revel in it.

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#263104: Nov 29th 2018 at 5:40:22 PM

Flake has flaked before. While I'm happy with this development, I wouldn't be surprised if he caves in for some symbolic gesture to protect Mueller.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#263105: Nov 29th 2018 at 5:42:24 PM

Trump misses New York City? I'm guessing it's not mutual.

Disgusted, but not surprised
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#263106: Nov 29th 2018 at 5:51:01 PM

I'm not surprised, wasn't it reported pretty early on that Trump is homesick and didn't actually want to leave his house/apartment/whatever.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#263107: Nov 29th 2018 at 5:52:28 PM

I’m not sure how relevant it is, but this came up on my feed and I had to share it.

Arizona Man Accidentally Shoots Himself in the Groin in Walmart

A man was taken to hospital in Arizona this week after shooting himself in the groin area inside a Walmart in Buckeye, Maricopa County.

The local police department tweeted on Tuesday officers were working what appeared to be a “self-inflicted accidental shooting” inside the Watson and Yuma Walmart.

Buckeye PD later confirmed in an update: “Adult male accidentally shot himself in the groin area inside the Walmart Watson & Yuma. Being transported to hospital. No other injuries.”

The Arizona Republic newspaper reported the incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. after a semiautomatic handgun that was being held in the man’s waistband began to slip. The gun, which was not in a holster, discharged as he attempted to reposition it, the man told cops.

The Arizona Republic reported when police officers responded to the gun shot the man was found in the meat section of the Walmart store with “survivable injuries.” Officers said they filed a report for the unlawful discharge of a firearm but it was believed to be accidental.

That's hilarious.

Edited by megaeliz on Nov 29th 2018 at 8:56:43 AM

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#263108: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:00:34 PM

Flake's opposition is more symbolic than anything, since he didn't run for re-election in 2018. He'll be leaving in January, replaced by Democrat Kyrsten Sinema who wouldn't likely vote in McConnell's favor anyway.

All he's really doing is providing a stopgap for the next month that stops McConnell from squeezing any more nominees through before giving up his seat. If McConnell thinks protecting the ability to shut down the Mueller Investigation is more important than however many nominees they could approve in only one month, he's not going to budge.

And as that window of time shrinks, the likelihood of him budging will only shrink with it. This is good because it helps us stop some of Trump's nominees from getting through, but I don't think for even a second that it will actually win us the legislation Flake's trying to get passed.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Nov 29th 2018 at 7:03:42 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#263109: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:01:38 PM

[up][up]It has nothing to do with US politics, so Im gonna say it's not.

i'm tired, my friend
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#263110: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:04:19 PM

Basically: Once January comes and the Senate reshuffles with Republicans still retaining their majority, you can expect the flow of nominees to start up again. Flake sacrifices very little political capital by making this stand, while McConnell loses very little by giving no inch and just letting him futilely make it.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Nov 29th 2018 at 7:05:57 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#263111: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:07:50 PM

Hilarious yes, relevant no.

And I'll believe Flake actually has a spine when he slaps McConnell on the Senate floor and not a minute before.

It's been fun.
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#263112: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:27:21 PM

I would say it is relevant. A guy who handles his weapon that irresponsible could easily shot someone else by accident. That is exactly why the US needs stricter gun laws.

MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#263113: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:47:06 PM

I seriously question why that gun apparently did not have its safety turned on. It's in your fucking belt, you need the safety on if you don't want the trigger/hammer to fire the gun as a result of getting pushed by or snagged on something in the course of someone accidentally bumping into you.

Edited by MarqFJA on Nov 29th 2018 at 5:48:48 PM

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#263114: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:48:22 PM

Because he was the kind of idiot to walk around with a handgun stuffed into his shorts right by his junk.

It's been fun.
TechPriest90 Servant of the Omnissiah from Collegia Titanica, Mars, Sol System Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Servant of the Omnissiah
#263115: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:49:06 PM

New Yorkers don't miss Trump. Nor do they want him back. They're simply too busy to care, and Trump is irrelevant to most of them.

Which, given that this is New York, is hardly surprising.

I hold the secrets of the machine.
MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#263116: Nov 29th 2018 at 6:51:00 PM

Technically, Trump is relevant to New York, in that anytime he decides to spend any amount of time in his NYC residence, the security measures that follow him ensure a lot of traffic jams around said residence, thus negatively impacting the daily routines of many New Yorkers.

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#263117: Nov 29th 2018 at 7:16:40 PM

A pretty good summation of how truly pathetic Seth Moulton's insurrection was. With fellow Bay State Reps Jim McGovern and Richard Neal set to take up leadership of the Rules and Ways & Means Committees, it's an exciting time for Massachusetts. Pity I can only cast a vote for this asshole. He's going to be a backbencher forever.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#263118: Nov 29th 2018 at 7:31:29 PM

[up]x5 he didn’t even have it in a Holster!

Stuff like this is why Massachusetts requires you to take a gun safety class to get a license. You can’t fully prevent people from being idiots, but hopefully, they might pick up something about how to safely handle guns.

(I’ll be the first to admit that our system isn’t perfect, but it’s a heck of a lot better than most of the rest of the country.)

Edited by megaeliz on Nov 29th 2018 at 10:38:06 AM

RJ-19-CLOVIS-93 from New Zealand (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#263119: Nov 29th 2018 at 9:22:35 PM

You think the Republicans are going to re-nominate Trump or not?

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#263121: Nov 29th 2018 at 9:26:33 PM

[up]Seconded.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#263122: Nov 29th 2018 at 9:53:43 PM

[up][up][up]You know the answer's "yes."

Edited by CrimsonZephyr on Nov 29th 2018 at 12:53:57 PM

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#263123: Nov 29th 2018 at 9:54:49 PM

So, here's a weird hypothetical. Note that this is not a prediction. It probably won't happen and I am in no way asserting it will. I'm just curious about the mechanics behind it and how they pertain to our governing system.

Let's say we actually manage to get impeachment proceedings going for Trump. In 2020, at the same time that he's actively campaigning for re-election. In the event that he wins re-election prior to the impeachment hearing finalizing its decision, would he then be impeached for his first term or second?

Like, I know that an impeached President can still be re-elected for office, so would being removed on an impeachment hearing from his first term carry over and remove him from his second? Or would he be considered to have been already removed from office for his first term but re-elected to serve a second?

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#263124: Nov 29th 2018 at 10:03:23 PM

... I’m in my final year of law school and I think you just broke my brain. Pretty sure if you’re impeached you’re gone regardless, because crimes are crimes, regardless of whether the investigation finishes in August 2020 or February 2021.

Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#263125: Nov 29th 2018 at 10:09:10 PM

I doubt it would ever come up, if somehow against all reason Trump won an election at the same time the Republicans decided to go along with impeaching their own President if there was any doubt about it they would just wait until Trump was sworn in for his second term and then boot him out.


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