Friday felons

[aurora]

Let's move discussion here, including new Manafort plea deal info.

[aurora]

Unclear if he is cooperating:

www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/national-security/manafort-plans-to-plead-guilty-to-second-set-of-charges/2018/09/14/a1541068-b5c9-11e8-a7b5-adaaa5b2a57f_story.html

[aurora]

Who can explain "superseding criminal information " to me?

[biscoffcookies]

Sept 14, 2018 8:55:18 GMT -5 aurora said:

Who can explain "superseding criminal information " to me?

I can!

An "information" is a charging document that is not presented to the Grand Jury and typically used when a defendant is pleading and has waived his right to a grand jury indictment.

Superseding means it replaces the previous charging document (here the original DC indictment). Superseding typically happens when you add charges.

So this is the document that Manafort will plead guilty to and I expect it has more charges than the previous indictment.

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

Initially I was really excited at the prospect of him flipping on Trump, but reading further, I wonder if he’s just pleading guilty to avoid trial, knowing that Trump will likely pardon him (since he’s said as much about a hundred times) right away anyway.

[pitta12]

I’m seeing reports on Twitter that he is pleading guilty to only 2 of 7 counts, which they say could mean a cooperation agreement is part of the deal. There’s a hearing at 11 (Eastern) and it should become more clear then. Fingers crossed for a big Friday Flip!

[cous0226]

I hope he flips and can't wait for all the playbacks on tv of 45 loving hard on Manafort.

[One Girl In All The World]

Sept 14, 2018 8:58:46 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Initially I was really excited at the prospect of him flipping on Trump, but reading further, I wonder if he’s just pleading guilty to avoid trial, knowing that Trump will likely pardon him (since he’s said as much about a hundred times) right away anyway.

h and I are having the same discussion. But I have to wonder what would be the motivation of the presecutors to accept a plea if he isn’t cooperating.

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

Sept 14, 2018 9:07:15 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

Sept 14, 2018 8:58:46 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Initially I was really excited at the prospect of him flipping on Trump, but reading further, I wonder if he’s just pleading guilty to avoid trial, knowing that Trump will likely pardon him (since he’s said as much about a hundred times) right away anyway.

h and I are having the same discussion. But I have to wonder what would be the motivation of the presecutors to accept a plea if he isn’t cooperating.

This is true - I think I’m too afraid to be optimistic about any of it since Trump is running around acting guilty as fuck and committing crimes in plain sight with no repercussions. I sincerely hope Manafort is offering up new information for them!

[mbcdefg]

Sept 14, 2018 8:58:46 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Initially I was really excited at the prospect of him flipping on Trump, but reading further, I wonder if he’s just pleading guilty to avoid trial, knowing that Trump will likely pardon him (since he’s said as much about a hundred times) right away anyway.

Trump: I dropped Arpaio pardon during [Hurricane] Harvey because of ratings: www.politico.com/story/2017/08/28/trump-arpaio-ratings-harvey-242106

So, yeah, probably

[eclaires]

But if he's pardoned can't he be compelled to testify, and doesn't have the right to plead the 5th? I thought that was the big drawback to Trump pardoning these people - it means they can be forced to testify.

Yes? No? Maybe? lol.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Sept 14, 2018 9:13:20 GMT -5 eclaires said:

But if he's pardoned can't he be compelled to testify, and doesn't have the right to plead the 5th? I thought that was the big drawback to Trump pardoning these people - it means they can be forced to testify.

Yes? No? Maybe? lol.

Yes. That's correct.

[WOT?*]

Sept 14, 2018 9:15:38 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Sept 14, 2018 9:13:20 GMT -5 eclaires said:

But if he's pardoned can't he be compelled to testify, and doesn't have the right to plead the 5th? I thought that was the big drawback to Trump pardoning these people - it means they can be forced to testify.

Yes? No? Maybe? lol.

Yes. That's correct.

That's what I thought too, so thanks for the confirmation.
Here's hoping for a quick pardon and a looooong sentence in a not-plush location for obstruction and contempt of court.

[mrshandy]

I think Mueller must be getting something out of him if he is offering a plea. Manafort knew he was going to lose in DC.

He would've been found guilty of all charges in VA if it hadn't been for one Trump juror. There was no way they would find one in the District.

[mbcdefg]

Bin Laden raid commander resigns from Pentagon board after criticizing Trump


www.yahoo.com/gma/bin-laden-raid-commander-resigns-pentagon-board-criticizing-111707835--abc-news-topstories.html

Retired Adm. William "Bill" McRaven, who led the mission to kill Osama bin Laden, resigned from his post on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board last month, just days after he publicly criticized President Donald Trump, the Pentagon confirmed Thursday.



"I can confirm that Admiral (ret) William H. McRaven resigned from the Defense Innovation Board, effective August 20, 2018,” Heather Babb, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, told ABC News on Thursday. "The Department appreciates his service and contribution on the board."



The Defense Innovation Board is an independent advisory committee to the Pentagon specializing in issues related to technology and innovation.



His resignation was first reported by Defense News on Thursday.

The resignation came four days after he criticized the president for revoking the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, who McRaven called "one of the finest public servants" he’d "ever known."



"Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John [Brennan]. He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don’t know him," McRaven, the former head of Special Operations Command, wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post last month. "Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.



"Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation," McRaven added in the op-ed.

[mrsd2006]

Nikki Haley got $53K motorized curtains for her $58K/mth NY residence

It was approved under Obama administration

thehill.com/homenews/administration/406659-state-dept-spent-more-than-52k-on-nikki-haleys-apartment-curtains

Patrick Kennedy, a top State Department official under the Obama administration, defended the purchase to the Times, noting that Haley only has one part-time staffer at the residence.

“All she’s got is a part-time maid, and the ability to open and close the curtains quickly is important,” Kennedy told the newspaper.

[aurora]

Sept 14, 2018 9:41:15 GMT -5 mrsd2006 said:

Nikki Haley got $53K motorized curtains for her $58K/mth NY residence

It was approved under Obama administration

thehill.com/homenews/administration/406659-state-dept-spent-more-than-52k-on-nikki-haleys-apartment-curtains

Patrick Kennedy, a top State Department official under the Obama administration, defended the purchase to the Times, noting that Haley only has one part-time staffer at the residence.

“All she’s got is a part-time maid, and the ability to open and close the curtains quickly is important,” Kennedy told the newspaper.

Gosh, I don't have a part time maid or motorized curtains. I am clearly doing something wrong.

[aurora]

Sept 14, 2018 9:13:20 GMT -5 eclaires said:

But if he's pardoned can't he be compelled to testify, and doesn't have the right to plead the 5th? I thought that was the big drawback to Trump pardoning these people - it means they can be forced to testify.

Yes? No? Maybe? lol.

The WaPo story* I posted said that 45 has been counseled not to pardon anyone until Mueller's investigation is over (I imagine for that very reason).

*I think it was there. I read several related articles this morning.

[cous0226]

I had seen somewhere that 45 and Manafort lawyers had been talking. I assume Manafort wanted a pardon but that doesn't help 45 politically and as we know it's always about 45.

[pitta12]

Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer have the scoop on that referrral Feinstein made to the FBI on Kavanaugh. Attempted rape.

www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-sexual-misconduct-allegation-against-the-supreme-court-nominee-brett-kavanaugh-stirs-tension-among-democrats-in-congress

[curbsideprophet]

Sept 14, 2018 9:41:15 GMT -5 mrsd2006 said:

Nikki Haley got $53K motorized curtains for her $58K/mth NY residence

It was approved under Obama administration

thehill.com/homenews/administration/406659-state-dept-spent-more-than-52k-on-nikki-haleys-apartment-curtains

Patrick Kennedy, a top State Department official under the Obama administration, defended the purchase to the Times, noting that Haley only has one part-time staffer at the residence.

“All she’s got is a part-time maid, and the ability to open and close the curtains quickly is important,” Kennedy told the newspaper.

This is crazy.

[pitta12]

A 17-page cooperation agreement is part of the Manafort plea, per multiple reporters on Twitter.

[pixy0stix]

Sept 14, 2018 9:41:15 GMT -5 mrsd2006 said:

Nikki Haley got $53K motorized curtains for her $58K/mth NY residence

“All she’s got is a part-time maid, and the ability to open and close the curtains quickly is important,” Kennedy told the newspaper.

Is she like the mom from The Others? Frantically running from room to room to close the curtains?

[curbsideprophet]

Wapo alert just said Manafort is cooperating with Mueller.

[kadams767]

Sept 14, 2018 10:26:21 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

Sept 14, 2018 9:41:15 GMT -5 mrsd2006 said:

Nikki Haley got $53K motorized curtains for her $58K/mth NY residence

It was approved under Obama administration

thehill.com/homenews/administration/406659-state-dept-spent-more-than-52k-on-nikki-haleys-apartment-curtains

Patrick Kennedy, a top State Department official under the Obama administration, defended the purchase to the Times, noting that Haley only has one part-time staffer at the residence.

“All she’s got is a part-time maid, and the ability to open and close the curtains quickly is important,” Kennedy told the newspaper.

This is crazy.

She's supposed to be a respected ambassador and political leader, but she can't figure out how to open and close curtains with only a PT house staff? 

We're doomed.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Sept 14, 2018 10:36:42 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

Wapo alert just said Manafort is cooperating with Mueller.

To clarify, because I'm dumb occasionally and haven't slept much lately: this means he already *has* cooperated with Mueller, right?  They don't issue a plea deal without knowing at least most of what they're going to get, do they?

[mrsd2006]

Just a reminder...
Trump praises Manafort for ‘refusing to break,’ unlike Cohen

“Unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to ‘break’ - make up stories in order to get a ‘deal,’” he tweeted. “Such respect for a brave man!”

www.politico.com/story/2018/08/22/trump-response-paul-manafort-michael-cohen-
791378

[ESF]

I'm not too worked up about a motorized curtain for a diplomat's NY apartment.

I had a college friend whose father was her country's ambassador to the UN, and I went to their apartment in NY. t was not really a home for the diplomat. The whole thing is basically a diplomacy office with some bedrooms. It had offices, a professional restaurant style kitchen, with refrigerators that were off-limits to my friend because they kept the food for the various diplomatic dinners that were regularly held at the apartment.

These people are constantly entertaining and constantly working in all rooms of their house. Their need to be discrete or not discrete may change on a dime, and they are in a confined space where neighbors can easily see in. Motorized curtains are not a big deal. There's serious corruption going on, we shouldn't be worrying about this.

[mbcdefg]

 

Statement from @presssec on Paul Manafort’s plea deal and cooperation agreement: “This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.”

[pixy0stix]

Sept 14, 2018 10:50:53 GMT -5 ESF said:

I'm not too worked up about a motorized curtain for a diplomat's NY apartment.

I had a college friend whose father was her country's ambassador to the UN, and I went to their apartment in NY. t was not really a home for the diplomat. The whole thing is basically a diplomacy office with some bedrooms. It had offices, a professional restaurant style kitchen, with refrigerators that were off-limits to my friend because they kept the food for the various diplomatic dinners that were regularly held at the apartment.

These people are constantly entertaining and constantly working in all rooms of their house. Their need to be discrete or not discrete may change on a dime, and they are in a confined space where neighbors can easily see in. Motorized curtains are not a big deal. There's serious corruption going on, we shouldn't be worrying about this.

Eh, it's funny because of the excuse they gave. It's just another thing to talk about. We're capable or worrying about several things at once.