Allen Weisselberg, Trump Organization CFO, Granted Immunity In Cohen Investigation (middle east, conspiracy)

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

Similar broad powers were given to Special Counsel investigation of the connection between the Clintons and Whitewater that expanded to include endless things not tied to Whitewater.

That investigation took out 15 people and concluded it had insufficient evidence to charge the Clintons with a crime until Bill perjured himself about a consentual relationship with a celebrity struck aide.

Exactly---
And I would just point out that during the Whitewater investigation and then the Monica Lewinsky investigation and impeachment process, Ken Starr pressured and pressured Susan McDougal to testify against Clintons
Offered her immunity and she just refused to testify
She went to jail when her immunity-offer testimony would have allowed her to walk free...

And for those who were not experiencing the Whitewater/Clinton investigation in real time:

Bill Clinton WAS served a subpoena re the Whitewater investigation as a WITNESS--not a target --
although that WAS Starr's purpose in almost everyone's mind--
to get Clinton as a defendant, not just a witness
Clinton testified in May of 96 via videotape and denied he pressured David Hale (the banker) to obtain the loan in question...
Susan McDougal, her husband James, and Arkansas Gov Jim Guy Tucker were on trial for conspiracy and fraud related to government-backed loans to Whitewater Development company in the 80s....

The husband James McDougal was partner w/Clintons in Whitewater Development deal.
The prosecution's primary witness David Hale claimed that Clinton when he was AK govenor pressured HIM/Hale to make loans to McDougal (sounds similar to Manafort's case except that banker was trading quid pro quo for Ambassadorship)
Hale was ALREADY under investigation for defrauding the SBA out of 3.2 MILLION way more than the Whitewater loan in question---he tried and failed to get his brother to corroborate his testimony against Clinton

Susan McDougal was called to testify in the case and refused to answer just 3 questions--
She served 18 mo for contempt of court and 22 mo in total for Whitewater case...
Her husband was convicted but prior to sentencing he cooperated with Office of Independent Council/Ken Starr and tried to get her to do the same thing....McDougal's defense attorney said that the OIC wanted Susan McDougal to claim she had a sexual relationship with Clinton because they were going after him for Lewinsky. She refused and then Ken Starr served her with ANOTHER subpoena for a 2nd Whitewater grand jury.
At that grand jury she only stated her name and refused to answer any other questions.

If you read about Susan McDougal's charges and her history of legal jeopardy during the Clinton years it seems pretty obvious based on her acquittal on all 12 counts in 1998 of the embezzlement case brought in CA and her criminal indictment by Ken Starr before the CA trial that she was screwed over by "some" Republicans in the legal system who wanted to use her to get to Clinton...
she sued one of the attorneys Nancy Mehta who prosecuted her for malicious prosecution and that case settled out of court---that doesn't happen unless the prosecutor and the legal system know they would lose----that they did indeed use their power to persecute someone illegally. Under law.

Now Trump is trying to claim that same type of malicious prosecution from Mueller's investigation and the SDNY
The problem is that there is way more evidence to show Trump WAS complicit in the crimes he is likely going to be accused of in the future than there was against Susan McDougal.

And Trump's insiders COULD still refuse the immunity deal--but it would mean being in contempt of court and serving time in jail because of that refusal...

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

This is probably why Melania was crying on election night. They did not want this level of scrutiny in their lives. Ultimately Trump didn't expect to actually win, so he didn't think he would get it.

Kellyanne was on the morning shows on Election Day blaming the GOP for what she perceived would be a loss.

She is a pollster by trade and believed the polls including her own.

[Cruithne]

And another one gone, and another one gone,
Another one bites the dust!

[cuebald]

Originally Posted by GotHereQuickAsICould

I'm thinking you might be on to something.

What possible reason would Putin have to provide Trump and his family a safe haven?

Sanctions not lifted. Oil deal not done. Magnitsky Act still in place making travel difficult for some of Putin's friends.

I am not aware of any evidence that Putin does things out of the goodness of his heart, but if he does decide to bankroll a Trump Tower in Moscow and let Trump live there, my heart goes out to Melania.

What a cruel twist of fate that would be.

Vlad is not a nice boy. He does not play well with others. He has an estimated $200B hidden away that he has stolen over the years. He is ex-KGB, and he has the morals of a shark closing in on its breakfast. If you are familiar with Luke Harding's books, he presents a chilling view of what Putin is capable of if crossed. It is no secret that when Trump was in trouble and domestic banks wouldn't talk to him, he went to Russia. Working with Vlad is like a title loan shop - you may avoid the immediate problem, but you are going to be in deeper than you ever would have imagined, and it is going to cost you to repay that debt. Not all "loans" are repaid with currency. Sometimes obligation is part of the deal. The Japanese used to call it "On", when one party owed another one.

In short, I don't think Trump can resign. He's in for life, however long or short that might be. As long as he's in the WH, he's safe. If he loses that, he may have a serious problem he can't solve with money.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by r small

For Trump the entire exercise was about touting his brand. To be known as "former presidential candidate Donald Trump". To go on talk shows and bloviate as if he had some credibility since he was a "former presidential candidate". And all the while claiming the election was rigged in favor of "crooked Hilary". Well, it didn't turn out that way.

Right up to the election Trump called it a rigged ( election) system because of the Electorial College. That it was the EC that gave him a win is beyond ironic.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by hellopity

Agreed. Trump has always been about his brand and his legacy for his family. It will be interesting to observe what’s left of the Trump Org and DJT Foundation when the SDNY is through with its surgical dissection of these entities.

Seems to me the future of Trump Org has been and will remain tied to the ME, especially Saudi Arabia.

[i_love_autumn]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

Right up to the election Trump called it a rigged ( election) system because of the Electorial College. That it was the EC that gave him a win is beyond ironic.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by momonkey

I guess we're conceding the fact that the Trump campaign did not collude with Russia and that, in spite of their most dishonest attempts to steal the election, the Clinton campaign lost a practically won election all by their sleazy, cheating selves (with some help from the O-DOJ).

Too premature to conclude anything.

Regardless of who would win in 2016, the winner would enter office with unprecedented real and perceived conflicts of interest and baggage.

The higher the stakes, the more that is invested in Oppo Research and smear campaigns. Both parties and Super PACs do it.

Interesting that both campaigns attempted to use Russia to get something on the opposition.

[phma]

Originally Posted by cuebald

Vlad is not a nice boy. He does not play well with others. He has an estimated $200B hidden away that he has stolen over the years. He is ex-KGB, and he has the morals of a shark closing in on its breakfast. If you are familiar with Luke Harding's books, he presents a chilling view of what Putin is capable of if crossed. It is no secret that when Trump was in trouble and domestic banks wouldn't talk to him, he went to Russia. Working with Vlad is like a title loan shop - you may avoid the immediate problem, but you are going to be in deeper than you ever would have imagined, and it is going to cost you to repay that debt. Not all "loans" are repaid with currency. Sometimes obligation is part of the deal. The Japanese used to call it "On", when one party owed another one.

In short, I don't think Trump can resign. He's in for life, however long or short that might be. As long as he's in the WH, he's safe. If he loses that, he may have a serious problem he can't solve with money.

Oh boy !!!
If only Clapper and Brennan knew what you knew they could have said YES when ask if they had seen any evidence of Trump colluding with Russia. .

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by chessgeek

That is so true. This is so reminiscent of Watergate back in 1974 when I was just 14. I remember Nixon flashing the peace sign on his way out. He resigned on August 9, 1974 (yes, I googled that ). I have a feeling Trump will go out with less class and may even flip us the bird.

I do not see Trump resigning under any circumstances, come what may, in my crystal ball.