We’re all going on a WITCH HUNT! We’re not scared ...we persist. (Trump cont.)

[TheClaws]

In response to one of Trump’s incoherent WITCH HUNT! tweets in the last 12 hours, Rep. Adam Schiff sent this:

Adam Schiff @RepAdamSchiff 12 hrs
More
Adam Schiff Retweeted Donald J. Trump

Given all the secret meetings with the Russians, the denials, the false statements, and the guilty pleas, your attacks on the Republican, respected, decorated, Vietnam Veteran running the investigation could not be more false, or transparent.

Previous thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3231026-Trumpwatch-Courage-Calls-to-Courage-Everywhere

Cohen

Michael Cohen payments: AT&T says it cooperated in Mueller probe
money.cnn.com/2018/05/09/media/senators-att-cohen/index.html

And

Russian Oligarch-Linked Firm That Paid Michael Cohen Was Also Represented by Trump Lawyer Marc Kasowitz
The investment firm that the two Trump attorneys worked for, Columbus Nova, calls it a “coincidence.”
www.propublica.org/article/columbus-nova-russian-oligarch-michael-cohen-trump-lawyer-marc-kasowitz

And

‘I’m crushing it’: How Michael Cohen, touting his access to President Trump, convinced companies to pay millions
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-questioned-payment-to-trump-lawyer-michael-cohen/2018/05/09/6ad3a7d6-538d-11e8-a551-5b648abe29ef_story.html

And

Trump Lawyer Helped Recruit Corporate Client With Ties to Kushner Probe
U.S. Immigration Fund LLC, which supplied Chinese investors to Kushner Cos., is among clients Michael Cohen delivered to Squire Patton Boggs
www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-helped-recruit-corporate-client-with-ties-to-kushner-probe-1525902417

And

Leah McElrath
@leahmcelrath
NEW

After the election, Trump attorney Michael Cohen reportedly told potential clients:

"I don't know who's been representing you, but you should fire them all. I'm the guy you should hire. I'm closest to the President. I'm his personal lawyer.”

Inside Michael Cohen's aggressive pitch promising access to Trump
edition.cnn.com/2018/05/09/politics/michael-cohen-trump-lobbying/index.html

Wendy Siegelman
@WendySiegelman
More Wendy Siegelman Retweeted Leah McElrath
Cohen may want to rethink his sale pitch since his lawyers just argued in court that he had a total of three clients in the past year
Clearly that was only three "legal" clients since we're now learning he's had other types of clients

And

Sam Stein
@samstein
Truly remarkable that these companies knew to make big payments into a totally unknown LLC operated by Trump aide who had no position inside the WH and no formal role on the campaign.

And

How Michael Cohen, Denied Job in White House, Was Seen as Its Gatekeeper
www.nytimes.com/2018/05/09/us/politics/michael-cohen-shell-company.html

And

Caroline O.
@RVAwonk
Columbus Nova, the firm that reportedly funneled $500K to Michael Cohen, has scrubbed the part of its website w/ info on founder Andrew Intrater — the American cousin of Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who owns Columbus Nova's #1 client (Renova).

www.cnn.com/2018/05/09/politics/us-firm-scrubs-website-russian-oligarch/index.html

And

Big Cases Bot
@big_cases
New filing in In the Matter of Search Warrants Executed on April 9, 2018: Letter

www.documentcloud.org/documents/4455311-Letter.html

Kyle Griffin
@kylegriffin1
More Kyle Griffin Retweeted Big Cases Bot
In this new filing from Cohen's lawyers, which disputes claims in Avenatti's report, there's this line: “While much of the information in his 'report' is completely inaccurate, Mr. Avenatti has published some information that appears to be from Mr. Cohen’s actual bank records."

Natasha Bertrand
@NatashaBertrand
This would have been more helpful if AT&T, Columbus Nova, and Novartis hadn’t already acknowledged paying Cohen.

And

Treasury inspector general launches probe into possible leak of Michael Cohen’s banking records
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/treasury-inspector-general-launches-probe-into-possible-leak-of-michael-cohens-banking-records/2018/05/09/d33c2010-5391-11e8-b00a-17f9fda3859b_story.html

Special Counsel Mueller’s Team Questioned Blackwater Founder Erik Prince
Sources told The Daily Beast that the Blackwater founder spoke with Mueller’s investigators. It is unclear what questions Mueller’s team had or what info Prince shared.

www.thedailybeast.com/special-counsel-muellers-team-questioned-blackwater-founder-erik-prince

House Democrats obtain new documents from estate of GOP operative in Russia inquiry

abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-democrats-obtain-documents-estate-gop-operative-russia/story?id=55049922

Wendy Siegelman
@WendySiegelman
House Intelligence Committee Democrats have received new materials from the estate of Peter Smith, a GOP operative who reportedly led a campaign to obtain missing Hillary Clinton emails from Russian hackers during the 2016 election

More on Peter Smith in this thread - Smith had deep ties within the GOP, and in the '90s was known as "Newt Ginrich's money man" and was involved in the Bill Clinton Troopergate scandal

twitter.com/WendySiegelman/status/994313069584113667

I found the clip of Avenatti defending his current strategy

Brian Stelter
@brianstelter
Avenatti responds to the critics of his always-on-TV strategy: "Here's the bottom line, Anderson: It's working. It's working in spades... Because we're so out front on this, people send us information, people want to help our cause..."

twitter.com/brianstelter/status/994013989053988864

Michael Avenatti
@MichaelAvenatti
More Michael Avenatti Retweeted Brian Stelter
We are not changing. Especially because the strategy is working perfectly. Period.

Manu Raju
@mkraju
NEWS: In move to potentially end standoff amid GOP threats of holding Sessions in contempt, DOJ invites Nunes and Gowdy to a classified Thurs briefing on material department warned could risk human lives if disclosed. Nunes had issued subpoena for it. w/@LauraAJarrett @jeremyherb
A copy of the appendix to Nunes subpoena shows that he wants “all documents referring or related to the individual referenced in Chairman Nunes' April 24, 2018 letter to Attorney General Sessions." Disclosing info on individual has sparked DOJ concern.
edition.cnn.com/2018/05/09/politics/devin-nunes-classified-briefing-justice-department/index.html

GOP Rep. Tom Rooney says to us that he doesn't believe DOJ's concerns that disclosing info would risk lives. "That assumes we will immediately turn and leak the information, which would jeopardize potentially sources and methods," insisting they don't have a "cavalier" attitude
Copy of appendix of Nunes subpoena reviewed by @LauraAJarrett says he wants "all documents" involving an individual described as intel source. Conaway told me DOJ is "overplaying" its hands and he's "not convinced" disclosure could lead to loss of lives.

Susan Hennessey
@Susan_Hennessey
More Susan Hennessey Retweeted Manu Raju
This is a hugely significant story. DOJ and the IC do not trust the HPSCI chair to protect sources and methods that directly risk human lives. Nunes simply cannot continue to serve in the role and Speaker Ryan is wrong to not remove him and appoint a suitable choice like Conaway.

And

Caroline O.
@RVAwonk
Senior US intelligence officials are warning that Devin Nunes is risking lives with his latest demand for classified intel related to the Russia probe.

Nunes is still going forward with it. And Paul Ryan signed off on it.

House intel Republicans, including Rep. Tom Rooney, say the concerns are unfounded b/c no one on the committee would leak such information.

...except they have leaked such information. Repeatedly.

shareblue.com/devin-nunes-doj-russia-probe-intelligence-sources/

And

Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney
NEW: JOHN KELLY and ROSENSTEIN called NUNES and GOWDY last night to defuse a confrontation over access to MUELLER investigation documents.

The lawmakers will head to DOJ tomorrow for a briefing on the matter.

Story w/ @BresPolitico and @rachaelmbade

White House intervenes in dispute between DOJ and House GOP
Reps. Gowdy and Nunes will be briefed tomorrow on their request for documents related to the Mueller probe.
www.politico.com/story/2018/05/09/justice-house-republicans-white-house-578847

Missed bits out:

Susan Hennessey
@Susan_Hennessey
This is a hugely significant story. DOJ and the IC do not trust the HPSCI chair to protect sources and methods that directly risk human lives. Nunes simply cannot continue to serve in the role and Speaker Ryan is wrong to not remove him and appoint a suitable choice like Conaway.
You don’t even have to agree that Nunes would actually reveal the information to reach this conclusion. The intelligence oversight system is based on trust. Without trust it is irretrievably broken. The IC and DOJ don’t trust Nunes and he cannot perform his job functions.
I try not to say these kinds of things lightly. It isn’t political. Pick Mike Conaway, pick Trey Gowdy, whatever. Nunes at the helm is inflicting damage that cannot be undone.

🤔Jake Laperruque 😒
@JakeLaperruque
Replying to @Susan_Hennessey
Do you think the decision to hold a briefing by DOJ (as opposed to documents) mitigates/removes that risk? Seems hard to tell from reports what it will necessarily include

Susan Hennessey
@Susan_Hennessey
I’m sure it’s an effort to lower the temp. But it’s beside the point. This episode is DOJ sounded its alarms. We should listen.

And

Devlin Barrett
@DevlinBarrett
Nunes on Monday: "“I’ve never referenced an individual. They did that. I didn't."
Nunes subpoena last week: Provide "all documents referring or related to the individual."

Nunes sought all documents on person described as longtime intelligence source
www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nunes-subpoena-to-justice-dept-requested-all-documents-about-individual-described-as-longtime-intelligence-source/2018/05/09/93fbc154-53c2-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html

Laura Jarrett
@LauraAJarrett
More Laura Jarrett Retweeted Devlin Barrett
CNN, WashPo, Politico have all now confirmed the subpoena says give me everything on the individual...

Gordie Truax
@gordster2001
Is it a lock Trump will fire Mueller?

Sarah Kendzior
@sarahkendzior
More Sarah Kendzior Retweeted Gordie Truax
No. More likely that Trump:

1. will run out the clock, consolidating power until Mueller's evidence while damning is rendered useless by a lawless system

2. will fire Rosenstein as a way of marring the investigation while avoiding a direct hit on Mueller

This is why it is critical that Mueller present evidence quickly and indict admin members who've committed crimes in plain sight.

We do NOT have the luxury of time -- we never did. You can't go by the book when the book is burning.

Be lawful, be honest -- and go faster.

time.com/5271646/donald-trump-michael-cohen-rudy-giuliani/

More of Trump/Giuliani's dissembling over the Cohen payments.

AFP news agency
@AFP
#BREAKING Saudis will seek nuclear weapon if Iran does, minister says

www.yahoo.com/news/saudis-seek-nuclear-weapon-iran-does-minister-183207859.html

And

The Latest: Israel says it struck Iranian targets in Syria
www.apnews.com/5ec23074ec414753844640e73a4a27f3/The-Latest:-Israel-says-it-struck-Iranian-targets-in-Syria

And

Julia Davis
@JuliaDavisNews
#Russia's state TV is having a panel discussion as to where to find 8 trillion rubles needed to implement Putin’s domestic policy goals. Female host says: "Looks like we found it. Trump is withdrawing US from the #Iran nuclear deal. Oil prices should go up, which is good for us."

Bolton pushing to eliminate White House cyber job
The move could send the message 'that the U.S. is taking the gas pedal off of cybersecurity,' one former NSC official says.

www.politico.com/story/2018/05/09/bolton-white-house-cyber-czar-523430

And

Trump Administration’s ‘Nerve Center’ for Sanctions Policy Is ‘Depleted’ at the Worst Possible Time
The Iran deal is on the brink. North Korea is under intense scrutiny. And Russia policy is, well, evolving. But the key office in Treasury remains understaffed.

www.thedailybeast.com/trump-administrations-nerve-center-for-sanctions-policy-is-depleted-at-the-worst-possible-time

www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/05/gina-haspel-confirmation-hearing/560033/?utm_source=atltw

edition.cnn.com/2018/05/09/politics/gina-haspel-cia-hearing-unanswered-questions/index.html?sr=twCNNp050918gina-haspel-cia-hearing-unanswered-questions0506PMVODtop&CNNPolitics=Tw

Sarah Kendizor is right. It's probably already too late.

I doubt even an audio of Trump actually colluding with Putin would make much difference now. It would be seen as him doing the right thing for the US.

Because ...

Three Americans released by North Korea back in U.S. nbcnews.to/2wsdU7t

twitter.com/NBCNews/status/994473083107819520/photo/1

He's said he thinks it'll be the highest ever ratings for 3 am

Its all he thinks about. The fact he called it exciting said it all.

https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/994475382542757889

He doesn't know their names and says congratulations on being in this country. The hostages are allowed to be bit players in Trump's big show.

The photo of one of the detainees weeping was probably taken when they told him who would be meeting them at the airport.

Have we had Rudy and the Beast?

Ew ... did he really say that about the ratings, Pain? That’s truly awful.

Fekko

Competition is fierce and the field rather crowded but this one is a contender.

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-is-no-longer-the-worst-person-in-government/2018/05/09/10e59eba-52f1-11e8-a551-5b648abe29ef_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4b3be2f91490

If this were fiction any decent editor would send the manuscript back for a serious reality check. What a strange and sordid world emerges out of this administration.

time.com/5271000/michael-cohen-essential-consultants-novartis-vekselberg-att/?utm_campaign=time&xid=time_socialflow_twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com

Clara Jeffery
‏*@ClaraJeffery*
God watching Trump try and make a delicate (for him) statement at Andrews re North Korea, these hostages, and Otto Warmbier is like watching a toddler juggle knives. You want it to work but you know it can’t.

Annnnnnd he just claimed this must be best ratings ever for 3 am.

[there are people on twitter incensed that this is what CNN thought to mention rather than focusing purely on the freeing of 3 people etc, failing to see that it was Trump that brought it up in the first place and that's why it's noteworthy!]

Is no-one else as terrified by the Israel-Iran-Syria thing as I am? Or has Trump's media blackout impinged here, as well? Or am I just so upset I missed it?
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-iran-war-latest-syria-golan-heights-rocket-air-strikes-a8344291.html

It is a very dangerous development Ouais.