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

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#240901: May 3rd 2018 at 10:15:21 AM

He either flips or goes to prison for years. They've got him now.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#240902: May 3rd 2018 at 10:18:23 AM

So what exactly does "wire-tapped" mean in this context?

i'm tired, my friend
TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#240903: May 3rd 2018 at 10:20:26 AM

[up]Feds tapped Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's phones

It means his phones lines. They evidently intercepted a call between him and Trump, and getting a warrant to do that means they had evidence of a crime to justify the warrant.

Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#240904: May 3rd 2018 at 10:26:23 AM

So... why do we know this?

Mueller's investigation has been incredibly leak-free, so this coming out is... suspect.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#240905: May 3rd 2018 at 10:27:40 AM

And implicates Trump in the same go. Whoa.

One curious thing—nothing in that list of Muellers questions implicates a violation of the emoluments clause. I wonder about that.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#240906: May 3rd 2018 at 10:28:40 AM

[up][up]Probably because this might still be in connection to the Cohen case, not the Special Counsel investigation.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#240907: May 3rd 2018 at 10:30:02 AM

[up][up] Technically, they were notes based on the topics Mueller's team told them they wanted to talk about, and not the questions themselves.

edited 3rd May '18 10:30:45 AM by megaeliz

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#240908: May 3rd 2018 at 10:41:06 AM

From my go-to guy for understanding this stuff, what does the Cohen Wiretap tell us?

THREAD: What does news that Michael Cohen was wiretapped tell us about the investigation of him? (Short answer: A lot.)

1/ Today @NBC News reported that federal law enforcement wiretapped Michael Cohen’s phones in the weeks leading up to the search of his office, home, and hotel room.

2/ As a starting point, a wiretap means federal law enforcement was investigating *ongoing* criminal activity. In order to obtain a wiretap, investigators had to convince a judge that Cohen would use the phone to communicate regarding criminal activity during the 30-day period.

3/ That is different from a search warrant, which often seeks evidence of *past* crimes. To get the search warrant, the prosecutors had to convince the judge that evidence would be found in a location. That evidence (documents, etc.) could be about crimes from months ago.

4/ In contrast, the wiretap seeks the ability to intercept calls in the future. So the prosecutors had to convince the judge that there was good reason to believe that Cohen would have conversations that would be evidence of a crime within the next 30 days.

5/ Typically the way prosecutors do this is by recording a call between the person using the phone and a cooperator during which criminal activity is discussed. There are other ways to prove a phone is being used to discuss crime, but the evidence on that point must be solid.

6/ That isn’t enough, though, because wiretaps require prosecutors to convince the judge that the wiretap is *necessary.* If prosecutors can only prove that Cohen is talking with their cooperator, they don’t need a wiretap because they can just record calls with the cooperator.

7/ So prosecutors also have to show the judge that Cohen used the phone to communicate with others who are part of the criminal activity. This is typically done by looking at phone records and providing evidence that others in contact with the phone are committing crime.

8/ Wiretaps are difficult to get. A normal wiretap has to be approved by a supervisor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, then by special attorneys at the Justice Department, then by a Deputy Assistant Attorney General note , and then by a judge. This one certainly got additional scrutiny.

9/ Once a judge signs a warrant, calls are screened by monitors at the FBI. Each monitor listens and determines early in the call if it is (1) not related to criminal activity or (2) privileged. If they determine the call is unrelated to crime or privileged, they stop listening.

10/ (Sometimes they “spot check” calls that are very long to see if the previously unrelated to crime has taken a turn and is now about criminal activity.)

11/ It is highly unusual to wiretap an attorney’s phone because so many of the conversations could be privileged. A wiretap like this would receive extra scrutiny from the Justice Department and the judge even if Cohen didn’t represent the president.

12/ When a phone is wiretapped, typically the investigation is “covert.” In other words, the person doesn’t know they’re being investigated. If the investigation isn’t covert, the person is unlikely to use the phone to discuss crime.

13/ For that reason, prosecutors who have a wiretap typically keep the investigation under wraps even if the person is in the process of committing a crime, unless serious crimes are being committed that could harm others, evidence is being destroyed, or they have what they need.

14/ For that reason, the search warrants executed at Cohen’s home, office, and hotel room are now much more interesting. Executing a search warrant means that the investigation is no longer hidden, and in the most “in your face” way possible.

15/ Prosecutors had to know that if they executed the search warrants, Cohen would be much less likely to talk on the phone about crime going forward. So why ruin their wiretap? Either they already had enough evidence to make their case, or they thought he would destroy evidence.

16/ Either reason is very bad news for Cohen. So who told NBC News about the existence of the wiretap? My guess is either Cohen’s camp or Trump’s camp. The existence of the wiretap may have been revealed to them by prosecutors, and they could have reason to leak. /end

ADDENDUM: Prosecutors would have detailed how they were handling calls that could be a privileged in their application for the wiretap, and the judge would have reviewed and approved it.

edited 3rd May '18 12:15:45 PM by megaeliz

Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#240909: May 3rd 2018 at 11:38:06 AM

Nvm

edited 3rd May '18 11:39:02 AM by Larkmarn

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#240910: May 3rd 2018 at 1:05:59 PM

Putting this just so people are aware of it, and can refute it, if it comes up.

From USA Census Bureau:

Mar ‘18 trade deficit down 15.2% to $49.0b. Exports up 2.0% to $208.5b. Imports down 1.8% to $257.5b. go.usa.gov/xRu5r #Census

Mar ‘18 exports of goods and services ($208.5b) were the highest on record. For more export data from this release, go to: go.usa.gov/xRu5r #Census

These are temporary numbers showing increase of exports based on fear alone. The threat of tariffs has caused the entire world to up their purchases creating backlog and warehouse of goods. 1/

WARNING: Trump will try to use these numbers to show consumer confidence and boast that trade wars are good. He will try to convince the masses that this is the new norm under his trade policy. 2/

This couldn't be further from the truth. In only a few months, you will see that purchase will be at an all time low because trading partners already have a backlog of goods which resulted from the fear buying. 3/

Import and export numbers will drop drastically and consumer confidence will decrease considerably and the stock market will plummet. [1]

edited 3rd May '18 1:07:00 PM by megaeliz

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#240911: May 3rd 2018 at 1:55:13 PM

Mueller Seeks 70 Blank Subpoenas in Manafort Case

(CN) – Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Thursday filed a request for 70 blank subpoenas in the Virginia court presiding over one of two criminal proceedings involving former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

The two-page filing doesn’t offer much in the way of details, but each subpoena orders the recipient to appear at the federal courthouse in Alexandria on July 10 at 10 a.m. to testify at Manafort’s trial on charges stemming from Mueller’s investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Although Manafort faces no charges related to the Trump campaign, he is accused in cases filed both in Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, D.C. of hiding the work he did for and the money he made from a Russia-friendly political party in Ukraine and former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.

In Virginia, he is also accused of concealing foreign bank accounts, falsifying his income taxes and failing to report foreign bank accounts.

In Washington, Manafort faces counts of conspiracy to launder more than $30 million, making false statements, failing to follow lobbying disclosure laws and working as an unregistered foreign agent.

The request comes one day before Manafort is expected to appear in a Virginia federal court where his attorney, Kevin Downing, will make a case for dropping of several counts against his client.

In a filing Monday night, Downing requested a hearing to air his concerns that Manafort’s chances at a fair trial have been spoiled thanks to media reports featuring leaks from anonymous government officials.

This means he will subpoena documents and witnesses in relation to the Virginia criminal case against Manafort.

edited 3rd May '18 1:55:29 PM by megaeliz

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#240912: May 3rd 2018 at 2:54:16 PM

Y'know, if the timing didn't make this impossible, I'd suggest Mueller was getting ready to run for President.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#240913: May 3rd 2018 at 3:29:53 PM

If he gets these convictions he can probably Zachary Taylor his way into the Oval Office.

TroperOnAStickV2 Call me Stick from Redneck country Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Call me Stick
#240914: May 3rd 2018 at 3:38:39 PM

He'd be a damn sight better than what we have now.

Not shitting on Muelller with the pothole, just stating the facts.

Hopefully I'll feel confident to change my avatar off this scumbag soon. Apologies to any scumbags I insulted.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#240915: May 3rd 2018 at 3:39:42 PM

Isn't the fact that Mueller hates being political one of the reasons he's been so good at what he's doing now, though?

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#240916: May 3rd 2018 at 3:48:44 PM

[up] He's way too straightlaced and by the book to be a politician, I think.

All qualities that make an excellent Public Servant though.

edited 3rd May '18 3:50:39 PM by megaeliz

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#240917: May 3rd 2018 at 3:52:05 PM

Considering he was the longest-serving FBI director since Hoover I'm sure he's a decent politician.

They should have sent a poet.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#240918: May 3rd 2018 at 4:00:58 PM

Just a random notation here, 17% of Kentuckians don't have enough food to feed themselves. 200,000 are children.

Basic survival is only carried on because of church efforts which have repeatedly campaigned the government for help only to be ignored.

Rand Paul is our guy in Washington. I.e one of the most powerful politicians in America.

That says a lot about the Right.

edited 3rd May '18 4:02:59 PM by CharlesPhipps

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#240919: May 3rd 2018 at 4:07:53 PM

[up][up] Well, partisan politics, at least.

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#240920: May 3rd 2018 at 4:17:29 PM

[up][up] The right is rejecting church's pleas? That won't go well with most Christians in the state I assume. Nor will refusing to provide help for hungry children.

Life is unfair...
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#240921: May 3rd 2018 at 4:24:13 PM

You'd think that but the simple fact is there's a Chinese Wall between the Religious Right and the average Kentuckian that identfies as Christian.

The Religious Right (i.e. the guys who prop up Rand and his cronies) is a propaganda machine, a series of untaxed corporations, and a bunch of really rich churches that actually have a questionable number of members but an infinite number of causes (like abortion, homosexuality, transphobia, and more that benefit no one).

Then there's the local churches which skew conservative but tend to actually be deeply invested in local suffering as well as a surprising number of outreach programs of themselves but skew to, again, hunger or war relief. It's becoming a bit of an issue as these churches are forming their own blocks due to the internet and rise of their own political efforts. It's just they tend to be moms, old ladies, and personal pastors versus the machine.

The two haven't clashed much but they have started to in bigger areas because, again, massive personal suffering in the region due to drugs and hunger. It's led to a shift in the state legislature that is disrupting the Republican machine there. But honestly, its taking a frustratingly long time for the Christians in the state to realize their leadership aren't remotely Christ-like.

edited 3rd May '18 5:14:16 PM by CharlesPhipps

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#240922: May 3rd 2018 at 4:26:16 PM

Trump Signs “Religious Freedom” Executive Order On National Day Of Prayer, Creating Faith-Based Office

So Trump is back to ruling by decree, and has put a knife in the Separation of Church and State in the process.

*sigh*

"Yup. That tasted purple."
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#240923: May 3rd 2018 at 4:26:56 PM

Basic survival is only carried on because of church efforts which have repeatedly campaigned the government for help only to be ignored.

Rand Paul is our guy in Washington. I.e one of the most powerful politicians in America.

That says a lot about the Right.

What do you expect them to do, vote for a Democrat? They'd rather watch their children starve to death. note 

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#240924: May 3rd 2018 at 4:29:13 PM

[up][up]We cannot get Trump and Pence out of the White House fast enough.

i'm tired, my friend
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#240925: May 3rd 2018 at 4:30:19 PM

Mind you, the starving part of the state is not coincidentally the part of the state where they drag bodies out of their home every day due to O Ds.

https://odcp.ky.gov/Documents/2016%20ODCP%20Overdose%20Fatality%20Report%20Final.pdf

As of 2016, 1500 die of it each year. The rest know how to manage their addictions better and just live in comatose haze. Another area where churches are providing the only health relief as the State Government wants more prisons and harsher penalties for it.

They also made it a law you can't sue the pharmaseutical companies for making them too powerful or wrongful death by it.

edited 3rd May '18 4:31:39 PM by CharlesPhipps

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.

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