crooksandliars--2020-07-09--Ousted SDNY US Attorney Testifies Before House Judiciary Committee

Former US Attorney Geoffrey Berman testified behind closed doors with the House Judiciary Committee , about his unceremonious forced departure from his position at the Southern District of New York ( SDNY . )
The committee is conducting oversight into AG Bill Barr 's Justice Department for political interference in his department 's cases , and Berman 's opening statement to the Judiciary Committee makes clear that he was heavily pressured by Barr over the course of 24 hours — both in person and on the phone — to resign so that one of Trump 's political hacks could take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times : Mr. Berman recounted being summoned with no warning in June to a meeting with Mr. Barr at the Pierre Hotel in New York , in which the attorney general asked him to step down .
Mr. Berman said he rebuffed Mr. Barr time and again during a tense , 45-minute discussion , telling him he would not resign and did not want to be fired , according to copies of his prepared statement obtained by The New York Times .
Mr. Barr repeatedly tried to change Mr. Berman ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him a job as head of the civil division at the Justice Department and warning “ that getting fired from my job would not be good for my résumé or future job prospects.
” “ I told the attorney general that there were important investigations in the office that I wanted to see through to completion , ” Mr. Berman told the committee members , according to the statement .
Not satisfied , of course , Barr continued to pressure him , offering him a position as head of the DOJ 's Civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest in that ( insisting throughout the meeting that nothing could entice him away from the job he loved at the SDNY ) Barr offered him a job as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC . )
As alleged carrots , Barr claimed these positions would be good for his resumé , going so far as to imply his career would suffer if he did not take one of them .
Berman had asked why he was being pressured to step aside , Barr told him that Trump wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held the position at the SEC Barr offered him .
Berman made clear Clayton was an unacceptable replacement , as he had `` never been a federal prosecutor nor had criminal legal experience . ''
Clayton is , however , a staunch ally of Donald Trump , and gee , maybe that 's why Barr was trying to get him into that position , considering the SDNY was handling lots of litigation against Trump , including cases involving his taxes , fraud , and golly , that problematic and monstrous Jeffrey Epstein investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside .
Barr announced he was resigning , to be replaced by Clayton .
Berman stated publicly he was not stepping aside — he had a lot of important cases to handle at SDNY .
Barr announced , then , in that case , Trump was firing Berman .
Berman had already assembled a legal team to challenge a dismissal like that , so soon it was announced that Berman would , indeed step down , but had won an important concession : his No .
2 , trusted Deputy , Audrey Strauss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
Not Jay Clayton .
Less than one week later , two administration officials ( Aaron S.J .
Zelinsky and John W. Elias ) testified publicly in front of the Judiciary Committee that Bill Barr improperly pressured them to make legal decisions based on political concerns designed to favor Trump and his friends .
One week later , Jeffrey Epstein 's partner and confidante , Ghislaine Maxwell was taken into custody by none other than the SDNY .
Wonder if that Maxwell arrest would have happened had Barr succeeded in placing Jay @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Former US Attorney Geoffrey Berman testified behind closed doors with the House Judiciary Committee, about his unceremonious forced departure from his position at the Southern District of New York (SDNY.) The committee is conducting oversight into AG Bill Barr's Justice Department for political interference in his department's cases, and Berman's opening statement to the Judiciary Committee makes clear that he was heavily pressured by Barr over the course of 24 hours — both in person and on the phone — to resign so that one of Trump's political hacks could take over his position.
According to The New York Times:
Mr. Berman recounted being summoned with no warning in June to a meeting with Mr. Barr at the Pierre Hotel in New York, in which the attorney general asked him to step down. Mr. Berman said he rebuffed Mr. Barr time and again during a tense, 45-minute discussion, telling him he would not resign and did not want to be fired, according to copies of his prepared statement obtained by The New York Times. Mr. Barr repeatedly tried to change Mr. Berman’s mind, he testified, offering him a job as head of the civil division at the Justice Department and warning “that getting fired from my job would not be good for my résumé or future job prospects.” “I told the attorney general that there were important investigations in the office that I wanted to see through to completion,” Mr. Berman told the committee members, according to the statement.
Not satisfied, of course, Barr continued to pressure him, offering him a position as head of the DOJ's Civil Division, and when Berman expressed no interest in that (insisting throughout the meeting that nothing could entice him away from the job he loved at the SDNY) Barr offered him a job as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC.) As alleged carrots, Barr claimed these positions would be good for his resumé, going so far as to imply his career would suffer if he did not take one of them.
Berman had asked why he was being pressured to step aside, Barr told him that Trump wanted to replace him with Jay Clayton, who held the position at the SEC Barr offered him. Berman made clear Clayton was an unacceptable replacement, as he had "never been a federal prosecutor nor had criminal legal experience." Clayton is, however, a staunch ally of Donald Trump, and gee, maybe that's why Barr was trying to get him into that position, considering the SDNY was handling lots of litigation against Trump, including cases involving his taxes, fraud, and golly, that problematic and monstrous Jeffrey Epstein investigation, too.
Berman refused to step aside. Barr announced he was resigning, to be replaced by Clayton. Berman stated publicly he was not stepping aside — he had a lot of important cases to handle at SDNY. Barr announced, then, in that case, Trump was firing Berman. Berman had already assembled a legal team to challenge a dismissal like that, so soon it was announced that Berman would, indeed step down, but had won an important concession: his No. 2, trusted Deputy, Audrey Strauss, would be the one to replace him. Not Jay Clayton.
Less than one week later, two administration officials (Aaron S.J. Zelinsky and John W. Elias) testified publicly in front of the Judiciary Committee that Bill Barr improperly pressured them to make legal decisions based on political concerns designed to favor Trump and his friends.
Mr. Berman’s case is just part of the larger inquiry. Two department officials testified publicly last month that they had witnessed political appointees intervene in criminal and antitrust cases to serve the political interests and preferences of Mr. Trump and Mr. Barr. And the attorney general himself is scheduled to go before lawmakers this month in his first time before the panel overseeing his department.
One week later, Jeffrey Epstein's partner and confidante, Ghislaine Maxwell was taken into custody by none other than the SDNY.
Wonder if that Maxwell arrest would have happened had Barr succeeded in placing Jay Clayton in that Berman's job?
What a goddamned mess.


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--Statue Of Melania Trump Gets Torched

Statue Of Melania Trump Gets Torched

Whether a political statement or just locals fed-up with the eyesore , someone torched the statue on July Fourth .
The statue went up last year , much to the dismay of many Slovenians .
A wooden statue of first lady Melania Trump was torched near her hometown of Sevnica , Slovenia , on July Fourth , according to the artist who commissioned the sculpture .
Brad Downey , a Berlin-based American artist , told Reuters he had the blackened and disfigured life-sized sculpture removed as soon as police informed him a day later of the vandalism .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Downey , who had hoped the statue would foster a dialogue about the political situation in the United States and highlight the first lady ’ s status as an immigrant married to a president sworn to reduce immigration .
Melania Trump ’ s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the news service .
President Trump in recent weeks has made preservation of statues in the US — even those of Confederate leaders who tried to defeat the union in the Civil War — a campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by protesters demonstrating against racism and police brutality

Whether a political statement or just locals fed-up with the eyesore, someone torched the statue on July Fourth. The statue went up last year, much to the dismay of many Slovenians.
Source: New York Post
A wooden statue of first lady Melania Trump was torched near her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia, on July Fourth, according to the artist who commissioned the sculpture.
Brad Downey, a Berlin-based American artist, told Reuters he had the blackened and disfigured life-sized sculpture removed as soon as police informed him a day later of the vandalism.
“I want to know why they did it,” said Downey, who had hoped the statue would foster a dialogue about the political situation in the United States and highlight the first lady’s status as an immigrant married to a president sworn to reduce immigration.
Melania Trump’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the news service.
President Trump in recent weeks has made preservation of statues in the US — even those of Confederate leaders who tried to defeat the union in the Civil War — a campaign priority as a number have been damaged by protesters demonstrating against racism and police brutality


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--Biden Calls For A New Plan To Rebuild A Better Economy

From the Biden Campaign Press Release : An economy where every American enjoys a fair return for their work and an equal chance to get ahead .
An economy more vibrant and more powerful precisely because everybody will be cut in on the deal .
In this time of crisis , Joe Biden has a plan to create millions of good-paying jobs and to give America ’ s working families the tools , choices , and freedom they need to build back better .
That starts with a real strategy to deal with the pandemic .
We can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public health crisis .
Trump may have forgotten about COVID , but COVID hasn ’ t forgotten about us .
On March 12 , April 27 , and June 11 , Biden laid out a comprehensive strategy to get the pandemic under control and effectively reopen the economy — an approach that will both protect the health and safety of our people and boost economic activity .
He will start implementing that plan on Day One .
Biden will also provide further immediate relief to working families , small businesses , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , local , and tribal governments with the aid they need so educators , firefighters and other essential workers aren ’ t being laid off .
• Extend COVID crisis unemployment insurance to help those who are out of work .
• And , Biden will immediately put people to work by enlisting them to help fight the pandemic , including through a Public Health Jobs Corps .
But that ’ s just the start .
The Biden economic recovery plan for working families will build our economy back better .
Whenever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall , we have acted together to lay the foundation — through public investment and a strong social contract — for the American people to pull together and push forward .

From the Biden Campaign Press Release:
An economy where every American enjoys a fair return for their work and an equal chance to get ahead. An economy more vibrant and more powerful precisely because everybody will be cut in on the deal.
In this time of crisis, Joe Biden has a plan to create millions of good-paying jobs and to give America’s working families the tools, choices, and freedom they need to build back better.
That starts with a real strategy to deal with the pandemic. We can’t solve the jobs crisis until we solve the public health crisis. Trump may have forgotten about COVID, but COVID hasn’t forgotten about us. On March 12, April 27, and June 11, Biden laid out a comprehensive strategy to get the pandemic under control and effectively reopen the economy — an approach that will both protect the health and safety of our people and boost economic activity. He will start implementing that plan on Day One.
Biden will also provide further immediate relief to working families, small businesses, and communities. Biden will:
Provide state, local, and tribal governments with the aid they need so educators, firefighters and other essential workers aren’t being laid off.
Extend COVID crisis unemployment insurance to help those who are out of work.
Provide a comeback package for Main Street businesses and entrepreneurs.
And, Biden will immediately put people to work by enlisting them to help fight the pandemic, including through a Public Health Jobs Corps.
But that’s just the start. The Biden economic recovery plan for working families will build our economy back better. Whenever America has had its back against the wall, we have acted together to lay the foundation — through public investment and a strong social contract — for the American people to pull together and push forward.
Read more here.
Read the full text of Biden's speech


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--Jim Jordan Flips Out, Suggests Falsely That Now Pelosi And Maxine Waters Can Audit Trump's Taxes

The most odious Republican Freedom Caucus Congressman is livid that Trump lost his `` case '' in the conservative laden Supreme Court in both rulings .
Jordan spent years investigating Hillary Clinton over the Benghazi nonsense , and continued his witch hunt over `` her emails . ''
He led the way on partisan Republican phony investigations for political gain .
Now Jordan is very worried that Congress might eventually be able to get Trump 's tax records ?
He told Fox News , `` Think about the average American . ''
The President is not an average American .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ business holdings .
He continued , `` Think about the average American who is terrified of being audited by the IRS .
If Congress has the ability to look at Trump 's tax returns and everything else ... you 're talking about Nancy Pelosi , Adam Schiff , and Maxine Waters auditing the president , I think that ’ s a terrifying thing ... '' it is a terrifying thing for a corrupt politician to be audited , Gym .
And no one is suggesting a free-for-all against any sitting president .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlined in The Constitution .
Every presidential candidate since Richard Nixon has released years of tax returns to clear up any possible conflicts of interest they might have as president .
But Trump refused to do so even after he promised multiple times that he would .
He first claimed that he would do so after the `` federal audit '' of his taxes were completed , but that excuse went by the wayside long ago .
He has n't even proven that his taxes ARE under audit .
It 's hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audit by forcing his Treasury Secretary to fix it .
Jim Jordan 's whining is rich given that Republicans subpoenaed First Lady Hillary Clinton 's Christmas card list in their endless efforts to find dirt .

The most odious Republican Freedom Caucus Congressman is livid that Trump lost his "case" in the conservative laden Supreme Court in both rulings.
Jordan spent years investigating Hillary Clinton over the Benghazi nonsense, and continued his witch hunt over "her emails." He led the way on partisan Republican phony investigations for political gain.
Now Jordan is very worried that Congress might eventually be able to get Trump's tax records?
He told Fox News, "Think about the average American."
The President is not an average American. He/she needs to be transparent with his business holdings.
He continued, "Think about the average American who is terrified of being audited by the IRS. If Congress has the ability to look at Trump's tax returns and everything else... you're talking about Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and Maxine Waters auditing the president, I think that’s a terrifying thing..."
it is a terrifying thing for a corrupt politician to be audited, Gym. And no one is suggesting a free-for-all against any sitting president. Just congressional oversight of the executive branch as outlined in The Constitution.
Every presidential candidate since Richard Nixon has released years of tax returns to clear up any possible conflicts of interest they might have as president. But Trump refused to do so even after he promised multiple times that he would.
He first claimed that he would do so after the "federal audit" of his taxes were completed, but that excuse went by the wayside long ago.
He hasn't even proven that his taxes ARE under audit. It's hard to believe that he wouldn't stop an audit by forcing his Treasury Secretary to fix it.
Jim Jordan's whining is rich given that Republicans subpoenaed First Lady Hillary Clinton's Christmas card list in their endless efforts to find dirt.
Their hypocrisy is endless.


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--Trump Appointees Gorsuch And Kavanaugh Voted Against Keeping His Taxes Hidden

Katyal : This is not a mixed bag or a victory for Trump .
Trump shouldn ’ t be happy @ @ @ @ @ is he lost .
He lost resoundingly 7-2 including his own appointees to the court @ @ @ @ @ very quickly .
The Nixon tapes case moved in a matter of three months pic.twitter.com/ZXDz1YIxN9

Katyal: This is not a mixed bag or a victory for Trump. Trump shouldn’t be happy about this. The fact is he lost. He lost resoundingly 7-2 including his own appointees to the court... these cases can move very quickly. The Nixon tapes case moved in a matter of three months pic.twitter.com/ZXDz1YIxN9
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) July 9, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--Biden-Sanders Panels Unveil Progressive Policy Blueprint

Unity Task Forces formed by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders unveiled sweeping party platform recommendations Wednesday that—while falling short of progressive ambitions in a number of areas , from climate to healthcare—were applauded as important steps toward a bold and just policy agenda that matches the multiple crises the nation and humanity now face .
`` We 've moved the needle a lot , especially on environmental justice and upping Biden 's ambition , '' said Sunrise Movement co-founder and executive director Varshini Prakash , a member of the Biden-Sanders Climate Task Force .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do to push Democrats to act at the scale of the climate crisis . ''
The climate panel—co-chaired by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) and former Secretary of State John Kerry—recommended that the Democratic Party commit to `` eliminating carbon pollution from power plants by 2035 , '' massively expanding investments in clean energy sources , and `` achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for all new buildings by 2030 . ''
In a series of tweets Wednesday night , Ocasio-Cortez—the lead sponsor of the House Green New Deal resolution—noted that the Climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's previous target for 100 % clean energy . ''
`` Of course , like in any collaborative effort , there are areas of negotiation and compromise , '' said the New York Democrat .
`` But I do believe that the Climate Task Force effort meaningfully and substantively improved Biden 's positions . ''
The 110 pages of policy recommendations ( pdf ) from the six eight-person Unity Task Forces on education , the economy , criminal justice , immigration , climate change , and healthcare are aimed at shaping negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party 's convention next month .
Sanders said that while the `` end result is n't what I or my supporters would 've written alone , the task forces have created a good policy blueprint that will move this country in a much-needed progressive direction and substantially improve the lives of working families throughout our country . ''
`` I look forward to working with Vice President Biden to help him win this campaign , '' the Vermont senator added , `` and to move this country forward toward economic , racial , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , for his part , applauded the task forces `` for helping build a bold , transformative platform for our party and for our country . ''
`` I am deeply grateful to Bernie Sanders for working with us to unite our party and deliver real , lasting change for generations to come , '' said the former vice president .
On the life-or-death matter of reforming America 's dysfunctional private health insurance system—a subject on which Sanders and Biden clashed repeatedly throughout the Democratic primary process—the Unity Task Force affirmed healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not embrace Medicare for All , the signature policy plank of the Vermont senator 's presidential bid .
Instead , the panel recommended building on the Affordable Care Act by establishing a public option , investing in community health centers , and lowering prescription drug costs by allowing the federal government to negotiate prices .
The task force also endorsed making all Covid-19 testing , treatments , and potential vaccines free and expanding Medicaid for the duration of the pandemic .
`` It has always been a crisis that tens of millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a pandemic , it 's potentially catastrophic for public health , '' the task force wrote .
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed , a former Michigan gubernatorial candidate and Sanders-appointed member of the Healthcare Task Force , said that despite major disagreements , the panel `` came to recommendations that will yield one of the most progressive Democratic campaign platforms in history—though we have further yet to go . ''
Observers and advocacy groups also applauded the Unity Task Forces for recommending the creation of a postal banking system , endorsing a ban on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of private prisons , and imposing a 100-day moratorium on deportations `` while conducting a full-scale study on current practices to develop recommendations for transforming enforcement policies and practices at ICE and CBP . ''
Marisa Franco , director of immigrant rights group Mijente , said in a statement that `` going into these task force negotiations , we knew we were going to have to push Biden past his comfort zone , both to reconcile with past offenses and to carve a new path forward . ''
`` That is exactly what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franco , a member of the Immigration Task Force .
`` For years , Mijente , along with the broader immigrant rights movement , has fought to reshape the narrative around immigration towards racial justice and to focus these very demands .
We expect Biden and the Democratic Party to implement them in their entirety . ''
`` There is no going back , '' Franco added .
`` Not an inch , not a step .
We must only move forward from here . ''

Unity Task Forces formed by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders unveiled sweeping party platform recommendations Wednesday that—while falling short of progressive ambitions in a number of areas, from climate to healthcare—were applauded as important steps toward a bold and just policy agenda that matches the multiple crises the nation and humanity now face.
"We've moved the needle a lot, especially on environmental justice and upping Biden's ambition," said Sunrise Movement co-founder and executive director Varshini Prakash, a member of the Biden-Sanders Climate Task Force. "But there's still more work to do to push Democrats to act at the scale of the climate crisis."
The climate panel—co-chaired by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and former Secretary of State John Kerry—recommended that the Democratic Party commit to "eliminating carbon pollution from power plants by 2035," massively expanding investments in clean energy sources, and "achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for all new buildings by 2030."
In a series of tweets Wednesday night, Ocasio-Cortez—the lead sponsor of the House Green New Deal resolution—noted that the Climate Task Force "shaved 15 years off Biden's previous target for 100% clean energy."
"Of course, like in any collaborative effort, there are areas of negotiation and compromise," said the New York Democrat. "But I do believe that the Climate Task Force effort meaningfully and substantively improved Biden's positions."
The Climate Task Force has agreed to elevate Biden’s climate standards across the board & adopt a whole-of-gov mobilization, incl:
- Ambitious construction, mass transit, & transport, & ag standards+investment
- Creating millions of good jobs
- Centering climate justice standards — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 8, 2020
The 110 pages of policy recommendations (pdf) from the six eight-person Unity Task Forces on education, the economy, criminal justice, immigration, climate change, and healthcare are aimed at shaping negotiations over the 2020 Democratic platform at the party's convention next month.
Sanders said that while the "end result isn't what I or my supporters would've written alone, the task forces have created a good policy blueprint that will move this country in a much-needed progressive direction and substantially improve the lives of working families throughout our country."
"I look forward to working with Vice President Biden to help him win this campaign," the Vermont senator added, "and to move this country forward toward economic, racial, social, and environmental justice."
Biden, for his part, applauded the task forces "for helping build a bold, transformative platform for our party and for our country."
"I am deeply grateful to Bernie Sanders for working with us to unite our party and deliver real, lasting change for generations to come," said the former vice president.
On the life-or-death matter of reforming America's dysfunctional private health insurance system—a subject on which Sanders and Biden clashed repeatedly throughout the Democratic primary process—the Unity Task Force affirmed healthcare as "a right" but did not embrace Medicare for All, the signature policy plank of the Vermont senator's presidential bid.
Instead, the panel recommended building on the Affordable Care Act by establishing a public option, investing in community health centers, and lowering prescription drug costs by allowing the federal government to negotiate prices. The task force also endorsed making all Covid-19 testing, treatments, and potential vaccines free and expanding Medicaid for the duration of the pandemic.
"It has always been a crisis that tens of millions of Americans have no or inadequate health insurance—but in a pandemic, it's potentially catastrophic for public health," the task force wrote.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former Michigan gubernatorial candidate and Sanders-appointed member of the Healthcare Task Force, said that despite major disagreements, the panel "came to recommendations that will yield one of the most progressive Democratic campaign platforms in history—though we have further yet to go."
We build on and expand Biden's public option to make it:
- truly public (Medicare administered)
- more generous (cutting out of pocket in half)
- automatic for low-income Americans
- Inclusive of a zero deductible option It is now more generous than Medicare. 6/ — Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) July 8, 2020
Observers and advocacy groups also applauded the Unity Task Forces for recommending the creation of a postal banking system, endorsing a ban on for-profit charter schools, ending the use of private prisons, and imposing a 100-day moratorium on deportations "while conducting a full-scale study on current practices to develop recommendations for transforming enforcement policies and practices at ICE and CBP."
Marisa Franco, director of immigrant rights group Mijente, said in a statement that "going into these task force negotiations, we knew we were going to have to push Biden past his comfort zone, both to reconcile with past offenses and to carve a new path forward."
"That is exactly what we did, unapologetically," said Franco, a member of the Immigration Task Force. "For years, Mijente, along with the broader immigrant rights movement, has fought to reshape the narrative around immigration towards racial justice and to focus these very demands. We expect Biden and the Democratic Party to implement them in their entirety."
"There is no going back," Franco added. "Not an inch, not a step. We must only move forward from here."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--Trump Has Epic Twitter Meltdown Over Supreme Court Ruling On His Tax Returns

[ Above , the Jimmy Kimmel deep fake never gets old .
-- eds . ]
Trump went ballistic after the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 he must release his tax returns .
And of course , he took some extra `` executive time '' to engage in a Twitter rant filled with pity , misspellings , paranoia and grievances .
We have a totally corrupt previous Administration , including a President and Vice President who spied on my campaign , AND GOT CAIGHT ... and nothing happens to them .
This crime was taking place even before my election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are frozen stiff with fear ... .
... .Won all against the Federal Government and the Democrats send everything to politically corrupt New York , which is falling apart with everyone leaving , to give it a second , third and fourth try .
Now the Supreme Court gives a delay ruling that they would never have given ... ... .for another President .
This is about PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT .
We catch the other side SPYING on my campaign , the biggest political crime and scandal in U.S. history , and NOTHING HAPPENS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done more than any President in history in first 3 1/2 years !
It 's not fair , witch hunt , political prosecution , corrupt SDNY , Obama spied on me , BUT NOT ME , GOP refuses to help , Comey , McCabe , and he ended with I 'm the greatest president .
This is not a U.S. leader , but a crybaby pretending to be a president .
He ca n't hide his toys under his bed anymore , because he knows he made a mess and broke them to @ @

[Above, the Jimmy Kimmel deep fake never gets old. -- eds.]
Trump went ballistic after the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 he must release his tax returns.
And of course, he took some extra "executive time" to engage in a Twitter rant filled with pity, misspellings, paranoia and grievances.
The Supreme Court sends case back to Lower Court, arguments to continue. This is all a political prosecution. I won the Mueller Witch Hunt, and others, and now I have to keep fighting in a politically corrupt New York. Not fair to this Presidency or Administration! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
Courts in the past have given “broad deference”. BUT NOT ME! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
We have a totally corrupt previous Administration, including a President and Vice President who spied on my campaign, AND GOT CAIGHT...and nothing happens to them. This crime was taking place even before my election, everyone knows it, and yet all are frozen stiff with fear.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
....No Republican Senate Judiciary response, NO “JUSTICE”, NO FBI, NO NOTHING. Major horror show REPORTS on Comey & McCabe, guilty as hell, nothing happens. Catch Obama & Biden cold, nothing. A 3 year, $45,000,000 Mueller HOAX, failed - investigated everything.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
....Won all against the Federal Government and the Democrats send everything to politically corrupt New York, which is falling apart with everyone leaving, to give it a second, third and fourth try. Now the Supreme Court gives a delay ruling that they would never have given... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
....for another President. This is about PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT. We catch the other side SPYING on my campaign, the biggest political crime and scandal in U.S. history, and NOTHING HAPPENS. But despite this, I have done more than any President in history in first 3 1/2 years! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
It's not fair, witch hunt, political prosecution, corrupt SDNY, Obama spied on me, BUT NOT ME, GOP refuses to help, Comey, McCabe, and he ended with I'm the greatest president.
This is not a U.S. leader, but a crybaby pretending to be a president.
He can't hide his toys under his bed anymore, because he knows he made a mess and broke them to pieces.


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--Neil Cavuto  Mocks Betsy DeVos: 'There Is This Little Thing Called The Coronavirus, Right?'

Trump 's Secretary of Education Betsy Devos joined Fox News ' Neil Cavuto on Wednesday .
He mocked her for gushing with enthusiasm while she implored schools to reopen or else face a backlash from Trump .
Trump and his minions are trying to force all schools to reopen regardless of the consequences .
And Trump is trying to find financial ways to compel schools to reopen , becuase he feels it will help his reelection campaign , period .
That 's also why Dr. Fauci is now on the sidelines .
DeVos kept rambling on about how important it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school even when we have no real treatments or vaccines for COVID19 .
Cavuto said the administration was `` doing more than just urging kids to go back to school . ''
`` The president is threatening aid to those that do n't , what do you think of that ? ''
he asked .
Betsy pushed a bunch of silly platitudes , that `` American investment in our education system is really a promise to students and their families '' blah blah .
She said , `` And if schools are n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stammered ) that 's a - breaking that promise and so why should they receive funds for something they 're not going to do ? ''
See , if schools do n't meet their promises then federal-aid promised would not be forthcoming .
Punishment will be met with those who defy Trump .
Cavuto replied , `` But there are extenuating circumstances right ?
I mean they do n't willy-nilly break a promise and we have n't seen a school system yet that 's defied that -- '' Devos attempted to interrupt him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` I mean there was this little thing called the coronavirus , right ? ''
She brushed off the coronavirus question and attacked a DC school district for being too wealthy and not opening up the way she 'd like them to .
She kept reciting Mike Pence 's mantra that kids have got to get back to school no matter the consequences .
She then applauded the new coronavirus hot spots of Texas and Florida claiming they have an excellent plan to reopen their schools .
To hell with infections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their eyes , let 's throw them together in classrooms , God will protect them .
Trump hires only Incompetents to run our country .

Trump's Secretary of Education Betsy Devos joined Fox News' Neil Cavuto on Wednesday. He mocked her for gushing with enthusiasm while she implored schools to reopen or else face a backlash from Trump.
Trump and his minions are trying to force all schools to reopen regardless of the consequences. And Trump is trying to find financial ways to compel schools to reopen, becuase he feels it will help his reelection campaign, period.
That's also why Dr. Fauci is now on the sidelines.
DeVos kept rambling on about how important it is for kids to get back to school even when we have no real treatments or vaccines for COVID19.
Cavuto said the administration was "doing more than just urging kids to go back to school."
"The president is threatening aid to those that don't, what do you think of that?" he asked.
Betsy pushed a bunch of silly platitudes, that "American investment in our education system is really a promise to students and their families" blah blah.
She said, "And if schools aren't going to reopen again -- (she stammered) that's a - breaking that promise and so why should they receive funds for something they're not going to do?"
See, if schools don't meet their promises then federal-aid promised would not be forthcoming. Punishment will be met with those who defy Trump.
Cavuto replied, "But there are extenuating circumstances right? I mean they don't willy-nilly break a promise and we haven't seen a school system yet that's defied that --"
Devos attempted to interrupt him and he continued.
Cavuto mockingly said, "I mean there was this little thing called the coronavirus, right?"
She brushed off the coronavirus question and attacked a DC school district for being too wealthy and not opening up the way she'd like them to.
She kept reciting Mike Pence's mantra that kids have got to get back to school no matter the consequences.
She then applauded the new coronavirus hot spots of Texas and Florida claiming they have an excellent plan to reopen their schools.
To hell with infections, since children don't suffer as much in their eyes, let's throw them together in classrooms, God will protect them.
Trump hires only Incompetents to run our country.


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--UPDATED: SCOTUS Rules On Trump Taxes: Trump's Taxes ARE Getting Released — Someday

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in May regarding cases involving requests for Trump 's taxes .
In one case , Congress was seeking them .
In the other , a New York prosecutor was seeking them .
From the outset , it appeared that we were destined for a split vote , with Congress being denied them due to the request being too broad , and with New York getting them because their request was narrow , making a clear case that these tax returns could assist in investigating possible crimes .
The first part of the day involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call did not go well , to say the least .
The House committees made a broad request for years of financial records from Mazars , the Trump organization 's accounting firm , and two banks that loaned money to various Trump businesses , Capital One and Deutsche Bank .
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform told the Court that it wanted access to documents from the accounting firm Mazars to evaluate governent ethics laws .
The House Committee on Financial Services and the House Permanent Committee on Intelligence wanted access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , banks which have lent money to Donald Trump , and his businesses , to aide an investigation into possible foreign influence in U.S. elections .
In essence , they want an answer to this one question : Is Donald Trump beholden to Russia due to loans or business entanglements that he failed to disclose ?
Trump 's attorney , Patrick Strawbridge , argued that the Congressional committees went too far and their request was too broad , saying : `` The power that they are seeking and the burden they will impose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reshape and transform the balance of the separation of powers . ''
A majority of the justices seemed to agree .
The second case presented a ridiculous argument from Trump 's attorney , Jay Sekulow , during which he stated that Trump was `` absolutely immune '' from being investigated or charged in any capacity , including responding a grand jury subpoena .
This would make him , by definition , above the law .
The Manhattan DA , Cy Vance , is seeking Trump 's tax records regarding an investigation into hush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had affairs with Trump .
Well , today we got our ruling .
But please know that just because the Supreme Court has ruled that New York can have access to Trump 's taxes , it does not mean the public will see them anytime soon - or ever .
The opinion on Trump v Vance is 7-2 .
Roberts wrote the opinion , sending the case back to the District lower court , but unanimously ruling that Trump is not above the law .
On Mazars , the split was 7-2 again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case back to the lower court , but unanimously agreeing that Trump does not have the ability to claim absolute immunity .
UPDATE : Deutsche Bank says it will comply with the Supreme 's Court decision .
That was fast .

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in May regarding cases involving requests for Trump's taxes. In one case, Congress was seeking them. In the other, a New York prosecutor was seeking them.
From the outset, it appeared that we were destined for a split vote, with Congress being denied them due to the request being too broad, and with New York getting them because their request was narrow, making a clear case that these tax returns could assist in investigating possible crimes.
The first part of the day involved arguments by the Congressional attorney. That call did not go well, to say the least. The House committees made a broad request for years of financial records from Mazars, the Trump organization's accounting firm, and two banks that loaned money to various Trump businesses, Capital One and Deutsche Bank.
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform told the Court that it wanted access to documents from the accounting firm Mazars to evaluate governent ethics laws. The House Committee on Financial Services and the House Permanent Committee on Intelligence wanted access to documents from Deutsche Bank and Capital One, banks which have lent money to Donald Trump, and his businesses, to aide an investigation into possible foreign influence in U.S. elections. In essence, they want an answer to this one question: Is Donald Trump beholden to Russia due to loans or business entanglements that he failed to disclose?
Trump's attorney, Patrick Strawbridge, argued that the Congressional committees went too far and their request was too broad, saying: "The power that they are seeking and the burden they will impose in the aggregate on the president will reshape and transform the balance of the separation of powers."
A majority of the justices seemed to agree.
The second case presented a ridiculous argument from Trump's attorney, Jay Sekulow, during which he stated that Trump was "absolutely immune" from being investigated or charged in any capacity, including responding a grand jury subpoena. This would make him, by definition, above the law.
The Manhattan DA, Cy Vance, is seeking Trump's tax records regarding an investigation into hush money payments made to two women who had affairs with Trump.
Well, today we got our ruling. But please know that just because the Supreme Court has ruled that New York can have access to Trump's taxes, it does not mean the public will see them anytime soon - or ever.
The opinion on Trump v Vance is 7-2. Roberts wrote the opinion, sending the case back to the District lower court, but unanimously ruling that Trump is not above the law.
On Mazars, the split was 7-2 again. Roberts wrote the opinion, sending the case back to the lower court, but unanimously agreeing that Trump does not have the ability to claim absolute immunity.
🚨In the congressional subpoena cases, by a 7–2 vote, the Supreme Court rules that Congress DOES have the power to subpoena Trump's financial records—but sends the cases down for the lower courts to more carefully assess "separation of powers concerns." https://t.co/FLpcA1m0Vz — Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) July 9, 2020
Trump lost 2-0.
UPDATE: Deutsche Bank says it will comply with the Supreme's Court decision. That was fast.


crooksandliars--2020-07-09--New Lincoln Project Ad Takes A Flame Thrower To Senate Republicans

At least for now , I think this new Lincoln Project ad settles the question of how sincere these never-Trumpers are .
They 're going for the jugular with this one , and I 'm happy to see it .
Via The Hill : The Lincoln Project , a Republican super PAC , in a new ad slammed some of President Trump ’ s top GOP allies in the Senate , accusing a slate of Republican lawmakers of “ cowardice ” and “ betrayal.
” The ad , released Wednesday , states , “ Someday soon , the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incompetence , corruption and cruelty will end .
When it does , the men and women in Trump ’ s Republican Party will come to you , telling you they can repair the damage he ’ s done .
They ’ ll beg you to forgive their votes to exonerate Trump from his crimes , ask you to forgive their silence , their cowardice and their betrayals as Trump wrecked this nation.
” The ad , titled “ Names , ” features the images and names of GOP Sens .
Mitch McConnell ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Thom Tillis “ Every time they had a choice between America and Trump , they chose Trump .
Every time they were called to the service of this nation and their sacred oath , they chose Trump , ” the ad states .

At least for now, I think this new Lincoln Project ad settles the question of how sincere these never-Trumpers are. They're going for the jugular with this one, and I'm happy to see it. Via The Hill:
The Lincoln Project, a Republican super PAC, in a new ad slammed some of President Trump’s top GOP allies in the Senate, accusing a slate of Republican lawmakers of “cowardice” and “betrayal.”
The ad, released Wednesday, states, “Someday soon, the time of Trump will pass. This circus of incompetence, corruption and cruelty will end. When it does, the men and women in Trump’s Republican Party will come to you, telling you they can repair the damage he’s done. They’ll beg you to forgive their votes to exonerate Trump from his crimes, ask you to forgive their silence, their cowardice and their betrayals as Trump wrecked this nation.”
The ad, titled “Names,” features the images and names of GOP Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Thom Tillis
(N.C.), Cory Gardner (Colo.), Martha McSally (Ariz.), Ted Cruz (Texas), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Susan Collins (Maine), John Cornyn (Texas), James Inhofe (Okla.), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Steve Daines (Mont.) and Tom Cotton (Ark.)
“Every time they had a choice between America and Trump, they chose Trump. Every time they were called to the service of this nation and their sacred oath, they chose Trump,” the ad states.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Texas GOP Sues Houston's Mayor Over Cancelling Their CoronaFest

This would be funny if it were n't so asinine .
If you really must , read the entire article for their rationale for endangering themselves and the entire city of Houston over their `` right '' to hold a convention .
Texas reported over 11,000 new cases on Thursday , with well over 1000 of those in Houston .
The Texas Republican Party on Thursday sued Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston First Corp. for canceling the party ’ s in-person convention scheduled for next week in downtown Houston .
The lawsuit , filed in Harris County state district court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invoked a “ force majeure ” clause of the contract between the Texas GOP and Houston First , the city ’ s public nonprofit that operates the George R. Brown Convention Center .
The suit also names the city and Houston First President Brenda Bazan .
Turner , who ordered Houston First to cancel the convention on Wednesday , said the clause allows one side to cancel over something out of its control , including “ epidemics in the City of Houston.
” In its petition filed Thursday , the GOP said Turner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convention and , therefore , fails to meet the force majeure standard .
`` Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner ’ s use of the force majeure clause is just a pretext to his intent to treat the Republican Party of Texas differently than other groups , such as those we have seen from recent protests in the city of Houston , ” the party said in a statement Thursday .
“ It should go without saying that a political viewpoint can not be the basis for unequal treatment.
” Texas Republicans do seem a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Which is sort of interesting from the Lt .
Governor , as he said the convention was `` not a good idea , '' and was n't going to attend in person , sending a video instead .
But that 's how these jackasses roll .

This would be funny if it weren't so asinine. If you really must, read the entire article for their rationale for endangering themselves and the entire city of Houston over their "right" to hold a convention. Texas reported over 11,000 new cases on Thursday, with well over 1000 of those were in Houston.
Source: Houston Chronicle
The Texas Republican Party on Thursday sued Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston First Corp. for canceling the party’s in-person convention scheduled for next week in downtown Houston.
The lawsuit, filed in Harris County state district court, alleges that Turner erred when he invoked a “force majeure” clause of the contract between the Texas GOP and Houston First, the city’s public nonprofit that operates the George R. Brown Convention Center. The suit also names the city and Houston First President Brenda Bazan.
Turner, who ordered Houston First to cancel the convention on Wednesday, said the clause allows one side to cancel over something out of its control, including “epidemics in the City of Houston.” In its petition filed Thursday, the GOP said Turner simply does not want to hold the convention and, therefore, fails to meet the force majeure standard.
"Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s use of the force majeure clause is just a pretext to his intent to treat the Republican Party of Texas differently than other groups, such as those we have seen from recent protests in the city of Houston,” the party said in a statement Thursday. “It should go without saying that a political viewpoint cannot be the basis for unequal treatment.”


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Bye, Roger! DOJ Tells Court Roger Stone Should Go To Prison

Roger Stone is one step closer to prison , unless Donald Trump comes in with a last minute presidential pardon .
The DOJ came out and filed a court filing on Thursday stating that they support Stone going to prison .
Stone has begged a federal appeals court for emergency help to hopefully delay his prison term a few months , claiming that the coronavirus pandemic .
But , the DOJ did n't agree to this request and said that at this point Stone 's only hope is a pardon .
In the court filing , the DOJ told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had not provided any legal reasons why he should be given special treatment .
Stone claims that his age , 67 , puts him at high risk .
But there are literally tens of thousands of inmates across the country that could also claim that their age puts them at high risk .
Why is he different ?
Because he is White ?
Rich ?
Connected ?
A friend of Donald Trump ?
Breaking with Trump , Attorney General Barr actaully called the prosecution a `` righteous '' prosecution .
Trump has always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mueller witchhunt .
Stone was set to report to prison 2 weeks ago , but the judge allowed him to remain on home confincement for two weeks in quarantine to ensure that he did not have COVID .
He probably thought he could continue to be a totally free man for those 2 weeks , but the judge was not having it .
Stone is set to report to prison on or before July 14th and unless Donald Trump pardons him at the 13th hour , it looks like that is where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone was sentenced to three years in prison for numerous offenses , including witness tampering and lying to investigators .
If Trump pardons Stone it will send shockwaves through DC and the Republican party , but at this point Trump seems more determined to burn the whole country down than anything .
Loyalty is the most valuable thing to him and Roger Stone has been one of his most loyal soldiers .

Roger Stone is one step closer to prison, unless Donald Trump comes in with a last minute presidential pardon. The DOJ came out and filed a court filing on Thursday stating that they support Stone going to prison.
Stone has begged a federal appeals court for emergency help to hopefully delay his prison term a few months, claiming that the coronavirus pandemic. But, the DOJ didn't agree to this request and said that at this point Stone's only hope is a pardon.
In the court filing, the DOJ told the DC Circuit Court of Appeals that Stone had not provided any legal reasons why he should be given special treatment. Stone claims that his age, 67, puts him at high risk. But there are literally tens of thousands of inmates across the country that could also claim that their age puts them at high risk. Why is he different? Because he is White? Rich? Connected? A friend of Donald Trump?
Breaking with Trump, Attorney General Barr actaully called the prosecution a "righteous" prosecution. Trump has always called Stone a "victim" of the Mueller witchhunt. Stone was set to report to prison 2 weeks ago, but the judge allowed him to remain on home confincement for two weeks in quarantine to ensure that he did not have COVID. He probably thought he could continue to be a totally free man for those 2 weeks, but the judge was not having it.
Stone is set to report to prison on or before July 14th and unless Donald Trump pardons him at the 13th hour, it looks like that is where he will be in 5 days. Stone was sentenced to three years in prison for numerous offenses, including witness tampering and lying to investigators.
If Trump pardons Stone it will send shockwaves through DC and the Republican party, but at this point Trump seems more determined to burn the whole country down than anything. Loyalty is the most valuable thing to him and Roger Stone has been one of his most loyal soldiers.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Matt Gaetz And Jim Jordan Are Trending On Twitter, But Not For Reasons They Wish

GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan were in fine *cough* form Thursday .
Gaetz was pissing vinegar about TikTok @ @ @ @ @ using it to destroy Donald Trump .
The call to ban the popular app in @ @ @ @ @ , as you can see below .
However , it was a picture of Gaetz @ @ @ @ @ apparently talked to the press after the closed-door hearing with ousted SDNY Attorney Geoffrey Berman @ @ @ @ @ talking .
Twitter was off to the races .
But there was one tweet that @ @ @ @ @ hate myself at the same time .
Because it was funny !
But it was @ @ @ @ @ .
GAH .
Yes , I 'm burying this confession and tweet at the bottom @ @ @ @ @ you do n't make it all the way down here .
If you do , @ @ @ @ @ still hate him with the the boundless capacity gifted to me by my conscience , @ @ @ @ @ cred .

GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan were in fine *cough* form Thursday. Gaetz was pissing vinegar about TikTok, because Gen Z are using it to destroy Donald Trump. The call to ban the popular app in the U.S. was widely mocked, as you can see below.
Matt Gaetz should not have a job in the United States.
Patriots should delete him. — martinarichards (@martierichards3) July 9, 2020
However, it was a picture of Gaetz and Jim Jordan, who apparently talked to the press after the closed-door hearing with ousted SDNY Attorney Geoffrey Berman, that really had people talking.
GOP members leave Berman interview with a different view
“It was a lot of nothing. He talked about his removal from the position as creating delays and disruptions yet he would not cite any delays or disruption,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, the ranking Republican on Judiciary pic.twitter.com/Bd7oizW4Zq — Ali Zaslav (@alizaslav) July 9, 2020
Twitter was off to the races.
Matt Gaetz is taking this “adoption” thing too far. First, he adopts Nestor, 19, now some 56-year-old guy named Jim. 😳 pic.twitter.com/HmD31ax55L — Linda Childers (@lindarchilders) July 9, 2020
Matt Gaetz looks like a stunt double for an extra in the movie Swingers, and Jim Jordan looks like an assistant wrestling coach who covered up a major sex abuse scandal pic.twitter.com/kxaxegG4dd — Frank Lesser (@sadmonsters) July 9, 2020
All I'm saying . . . Gaetz and Gym have never been seen at the same time as these two . . . . pic.twitter.com/AkFKLJ7Ayt — Dr. Implorable (@DocPGraham) July 9, 2020
Wiki bios list Matt Gaetz as 5’7” and Jim Jordan as 6’. Something seems off about that. pic.twitter.com/R53wicc3dk — Schooley (@Rschooley) July 9, 2020
Matt Gaetz looks like he’s about to testify against Fredo’s lost grandson in The Godfather Part 7. pic.twitter.com/DicJfuv6ck — Bryan Lee (@FamousBL3) July 9, 2020
Matt gaetz looks like an Undertaker who thinks he can become Godfather if he can just do one good job with the mafia. pic.twitter.com/hZIEC21103 — Dave Matt (@davematt88) July 9, 2020
Why doesn't @mattgaetz have an ivory handled cane? — bob clendenin (@bobclendenin) July 9, 2020
But there was one tweet that made me both laugh and hate myself at the same time. Because it was funny! But it was also by...Matt Gaetz. GAH. Yes, I'm burying this confession and tweet at the bottom in the hopes that maybe you don't make it all the way down here.
If you do, don't worry. I still hate him with the the boundless capacity gifted to me by my conscience, and need for liberal street cred.
Legitimately curious about whether Jim Jordan is paying Matt Gaetz to dress this way in order to make himself look stylish by comparison. pic.twitter.com/GU8F2g2ABS — Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) July 9, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-07-11--BREAKING: Donald 'Law And Order' Trump Commutes Roger Stone's Sentence

We all knew it was coming .
Donald Trump , the most vile , despicable , most corrupt person to @ @ @ @ @ the Presidency did it - he used the power of his office to reward a @ @ @ @ @ grotestque and reprehensible way possible .
At 8pm on Friday night Donald Trump officially commuted @ @ @ @ @ of Roger Stone , his long time friend and political ally .
Here is the @ @ @ @ @ clemency : Twitter BLEW UP , as did we all : Donald Trump is a @ @ @ @ @ his friend , another criminal , from prison .
Drain the swamp , my ass @

We all knew it was coming.
Donald Trump, the most vile, despicable, most corrupt person to ever hold the office of the Presidency did it - he used the power of his office to reward a political ally in the most grotestque and reprehensible way possible.
At 8pm on Friday night Donald Trump officially commuted the 40 month prison sentence of Roger Stone, his long time friend and political ally.
Here is the tweet with the grant of clemency:
BREAKING WH Press Sec: "Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Grant of Clemency commuting the unjust sentence of Roger Stone, Jr." pic.twitter.com/UCTMG5spKd — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) July 10, 2020
Twitter BLEW UP, as did we all:
Ask yourself why. It's important. Why did Trump commute Stone's sentence? What was Stone hiding? What has Barr buried? What have McConnell and company covered up? Think of what we know and how mind-blowing horrific & corrupt it is. This must be worse. Much, much worse. — David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) July 11, 2020
This is tantamount to Stone saying, ‘commute my sentence (to probation) or I will talk.’ If Trump now does so, it will be a corrupt exercise of the pardon/commutation power. Recall, Bannon testified at Stone’s trial that Roger was “the Trump campaign’s access point to Wikileaks.” https://t.co/Os7VxRwO4y — Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) July 10, 2020
Unfortunately for Roger Stone nobody can commute his eternity in hell. — Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) July 11, 2020
The President had the time to commute Roger Stone’s sentence today.
He still doesn’t have a COVID-19 strategy or a response to Putin putting bounties on American soldiers. — David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) July 10, 2020
Trump just commuted Roger Stone’s sentence.
Stone lied and intimidated witnesses to hide Trump’s exploitation of the Russian hack of his opponent’s campaign.
With Trump there are now two systems of justice in America:
One for Trump's criminal friends and one for everyone else. — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) July 11, 2020
So, in the past 48 hours, Cohen goes back to jail for refusing to say he won't publish the book he has already written.
Meanwhile, Stone gets a commutation for not turning evidence on Trump. — Janine Kube (@KubeJ9) July 11, 2020
Just had a long talk with #RogerStone. He says he doesn’t want a pardon (which implies guilt) but a commutation, and says he thinks #Trump will give it to him. “He knows I was under enormous pressure to turn on him. It would have eased my situation considerably. But I didn’t.” — howardfineman (@howardfineman) July 10, 2020
This is likely true: https://t.co/SLyhpkLCuB — Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) July 11, 2020
Donald Trump is a criminal and he just saved his friend, another criminal, from prison. Drain the swamp, my ass.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Alabama State Senator: I Want To See More People Get COVID-19

The good senator 's rationale for saying something so batshit is that with more cases of the virus the faster Alabama will build herd immunity .
Now , perhaps if he was just some crank in the Alabama Legislature you could ignore what he said .
But then you find out he 's also on the state 's coronavirus task force and you just want to tear your hair out .
Oh , and Alabama just set a new record for positive cases today , with 2,164 .
A Republican member of the Alabama state Senate serving as a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force says he ’ s not fazed by a recent surge in confirmed cases .
In fact , he would “ like to see more people ” contract the virus in order to build herd immunity .
Sen. Del Marsh made the remarks to local reporters on Thursday when asked if he was concerned about a spike in COVID-19 cases .
The state recorded 2,164 new cases on Thursday , setting a daily record .
Hospitalizations have also climbed , with the number of coronavirus-related hospital stays reportedly doubling over the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health has reported 11,000 new cases in just the first nine days of July .
“ I ’ m not as concerned as much as the number of cases—and in fact , quite honestly—I want to see more people , because we start reaching an immunity as more people have it and get through it , ” Marsh said .
“ I don ’ t want any deaths , as few as possible… so those people who are susceptible to the disease , those with pre-existing conditions , elderly population , those folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can to protect them .
But I ’ m not concerned.
” Checking Wikipedia to find out who this lunatic is , they list a slew of recent greatest hits .
And surely this latest bit of foolishness will soon be added .
In May 2019 , he voted to make abortion a crime at any stage in a pregnancy , with no exemptions for cases of rape or incest .
[ 2 ] In May 2019 , he co-sponsored a bill to change Alabama 's ethics laws to allow lobbyists to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill were measures to decriminalize bribery and to redefine key terms of the ethics laws in order to loosen their power to prevent corruption .
[ 3 ] In May 2020 , during the COVID-19 pandemic , Marsh proposed using $ 200 million of CARES Act relief for the building of a new state house .
$ 1.8 billion was given to the Alabama state government to be used for expenditures caused by the pandemic .
[ 4 ]

The good senator's rationale for saying something so batshit is that with more cases of the virus the faster Alabama will build herd immunity. Now, perhaps if he was just some crank in the Alabama Legislature you could ignore what he said. But then you find out he's also on the state's coronavirus task force and you just want to tear your hair out. Oh, and Alabama just set a new record for positive cases today, with 2,164.
Source: Daily Beast
A Republican member of the Alabama state Senate serving as a member of the state’s coronavirus task force says he’s not fazed by a recent surge in confirmed cases. In fact, he would “like to see more people” contract the virus in order to build herd immunity. Sen. Del Marsh made the remarks to local reporters on Thursday when asked if he was concerned about a spike in COVID-19 cases. The state recorded 2,164 new cases on Thursday, setting a daily record. Hospitalizations have also climbed, with the number of coronavirus-related hospital stays reportedly doubling over the past two weeks. The Alabama Department of Public Health has reported 11,000 new cases in just the first nine days of July. “I’m not as concerned as much as the number of cases—and in fact, quite honestly—I want to see more people, because we start reaching an immunity as more people have it and get through it,” Marsh said. “I don’t want any deaths, as few as possible… so those people who are susceptible to the disease, those with pre-existing conditions, elderly population, those folks, we need to do all we can to protect them. But I’m not concerned.”
Checking Wikipedia to find out who this lunatic is, they list a slew of recent greatest hits. And surely this latest bit of foolishness will soon be added.
In May 2019, he voted to make abortion a crime at any stage in a pregnancy, with no exemptions for cases of rape or incest.[2] In May 2019, he co-sponsored a bill to change Alabama's ethics laws to allow lobbyists to give unlimited gifts to lawmakers. Also on the bill were measures to decriminalize bribery and to redefine key terms of the ethics laws in order to loosen their power to prevent corruption.[3] In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marsh proposed using $200 million of CARES Act relief for the building of a new state house. $1.8 billion was given to the Alabama state government to be used for expenditures caused by the pandemic.[4]


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Clarence Thomas' Wife Melts Down Over Black Lives Matter Banner

The Washington Post has the story about fear and loathing the banner caused for some in the small , overwhelmingly white town of Clifton , Virginia : It was posted over the tiny Northern Virginia town ’ s Main Street , in a space mostly used to advertise community events , after residents proposed staging a protest like the ones that have swept the country since the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police .
The gesture — which Mayor William R. Hollaway called “ a first step ” to beginning discussions of racial equity — drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town clerk .
But it prompted outrage from some residents of Fairfax County and nearby towns .
Hollaway called the banner “ the biggest controversy we ’ ve seen in many years.
” One of those outraged is Ginni Thomas , wife of sitting Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas .
She wrote an email to the town suggesting that the banner is the first step toward an invasion of Black looters .
“ BLM is a bit of a dangerous Trojan Horse and they are catching well-meaning people into dangerous posturing that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ginni Thomas , who is white , wrote on June 24 .
“ Let ’ s not be tricked into joining cause with radical extremists seeking to foment a cultural revolution because they hate America.
” Sadly , Thomas was not the only one suggesting that the town had all but hung out a welcome sign for America-hating rioters .
But during a town council meeting this week , the feedback was almost entirely positive : Nearly all of the 16 people who spoke at the meeting said they supported it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overwhelmingly white town of about 300 residents had taken an anti-racist stance .
It sounds like Thomas and a band of right-wing agitators decided to make enough noise to give the appearance of an opposition greater than it really is .
I would not be surprised if she were the ringleader , just like she is a ringleader of her Trump loyalty operation known as Groundswell .
As The Post also noted , it just so happens that her anti-BLM rhetoric echoes Trump and his right-wing allies .
Meanwhile , Thomas will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future about radical Blacks swarming into her town and remaking it in their image because the council decided not to remove the banner .

The Washington Post has the story about fear and loathing the banner caused for some in the small, overwhelmingly white town of Clifton, Virginia:
It was posted over the tiny Northern Virginia town’s Main Street, in a space mostly used to advertise community events, after residents proposed staging a protest like the ones that have swept the country since the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police. The gesture — which Mayor William R. Hollaway called “a first step” to beginning discussions of racial equity — drew mostly positive responses, according to the town clerk. But it prompted outrage from some residents of Fairfax County and nearby towns. Hollaway called the banner “the biggest controversy we’ve seen in many years.”
One of those outraged is Ginni Thomas, wife of sitting Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. She wrote an email to the town suggesting that the banner is the first step toward an invasion of Black looters.
“BLM is a bit of a dangerous Trojan Horse and they are catching well-meaning people into dangerous posturing that can invite mob rule and property looting,” Ginni Thomas, who is white, wrote on June 24. “Let’s not be tricked into joining cause with radical extremists seeking to foment a cultural revolution because they hate America.”
Sadly, Thomas was not the only one suggesting that the town had all but hung out a welcome sign for America-hating rioters. But during a town council meeting this week, the feedback was almost entirely positive:
Nearly all of the 16 people who spoke at the meeting said they supported it. Several described their relief and thankfulness that the overwhelmingly white town of about 300 residents had taken an anti-racist stance.
It sounds like Thomas and a band of right-wing agitators decided to make enough noise to give the appearance of an opposition greater than it really is. I would not be surprised if she were the ringleader, just like she is a ringleader of her Trump loyalty operation known as Groundswell. As The Post also noted, it just so happens that her anti-BLM rhetoric echoes Trump and his right-wing allies.
Meanwhile, Thomas will no doubt be worrying for the foreseeable future about radical Blacks swarming into her town and remaking it in their image because the council decided not to remove the banner.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Michael Cohen Back In Prison After Violating Terms Of His Release To Home Detention

Michael Cohen , Donald Trump 's former lawyer and personal `` fixer '' is back in prison after being taken into custody following violations of the terms of his home confinement following his release due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Mind you , hundreds of thousands of other inmates , many who are older , facing long term health conditions or comorbitities and those that ca n't afford fancy lawyers , are stuck in prison .
But Michael Cohen managed to get himself a golden ticket out of lock up , citing the coronavirus as the issue .
Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messed up badly enough that the judge had him remanded back into custody .
Cohen had initially been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to lying to Congress , tax charges and campaign finance charges related to hush money payments made to two women who had affairs with Donald Trump .
On Thursday Cohen was back in court to finalize the conditions of his home confinement and it appears that neither he nor his attorney had any idea that he was going to be taken into custody .
The Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Cohen was taken into custody : It has been reported by ABC News that Cohen was presented with conditions of his home confinement , including a stipulation that he could have `` no engagement of any kind with the media , including print , TV , film , books , or other form of media/news '' and that he refrain from using social media .
Cohen reportedly did not like the language in that condition and was told to sit in a waiting room .
He was taken into custody immediately after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` BOP just did n't want to have anything to do with working any language out . ''
It has been widely reported that Cohen has a book deal and he probably did n't want to give that up as a condition of release .
There was also a report that Cohen was seen out at a restaurant and that may have been another violation of the conditions of his release , although that has been disputed as a reason for him being taken into custody .
Cohen has been reportedly been taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is the same facility that is housing Jeffrey Epstein pimp , Ghislaine Maxwell .

Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former lawyer and personal "fixer" is back in prison after being taken into custody following violations of the terms of his home confinement following his release due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mind you, hundreds of thousands of other inmates, many who are older, facing long term health conditions or comorbitities and those that can't afford fancy lawyers, are stuck in prison. But Michael Cohen managed to get himself a golden ticket out of lock up, citing the coronavirus as the issue.
Well, not 6 weeks later, he already messed up badly enough that the judge had him remanded back into custody.
Cohen had initially been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to lying to Congress, tax charges and campaign finance charges related to hush money payments made to two women who had affairs with Donald Trump. On Thursday Cohen was back in court to finalize the conditions of his home confinement and it appears that neither he nor his attorney had any idea that he was going to be taken into custody.
The Bureau of Prisons put out a statement shortly after Cohen was taken into custody:
"On May 21, 2020, Mr. Cohen was placed on furlough pending placement on home confinement. Today, Michael Cohen refused the conditions of his home confinement and as a result, has been returned to a BOP facility."
It has been reported by ABC News that Cohen was presented with conditions of his home confinement, including a stipulation that he could have "no engagement of any kind with the media, including print, TV, film, books, or other form of media/news" and that he refrain from using social media.
Cohen reportedly did not like the language in that condition and was told to sit in a waiting room. He was taken into custody immediately after. Cohen's attorney stated that the "BOP just didn't want to have anything to do with working any language out."
It has been widely reported that Cohen has a book deal and he probably didn't want to give that up as a condition of release.
There was also a report that Cohen was seen out at a restaurant and that may have been another violation of the conditions of his release, although that has been disputed as a reason for him being taken into custody.
Cohen has been reportedly been taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. This is the same facility that is housing Jeffrey Epstein pimp, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Michael Cohen is not a smart man.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--John Cornyn Still Claiming Children Don't Get COVID-19

Someone keeps voting for these human waste products and that should just stop right now .
If we 've learned anything at all from this COVID-19 pandemic , it 's that putting ignorant and incompetent people in positions of power and responsibility has dangerous consequences .
17-year-old Jameela Barber died in late April in a Dallas hospital emergency room before she could be admitted .
When asked about the safety of Texas students and teachers returning to classrooms , U.S. Sen. John Cornyn ( R-TX ) appeared to question whether children can catch and transmit the new coronavirus , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contradict his statement .
`` We still don ’ t know whether children can get it and transmit it to others , '' Cornyn said in an interview Thursday with NBC 5 .
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services , more than 1,700 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in people ages 0-19 statewide .
More than 500 of those patients are under the age of 10 .
The state has published age information on just over 10 % of total cases .
... Cornyn made the statement in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for in-person learning .
`` I think the most important thing is safety .
The schools can open , but if parents do n't feel comfortable sending their children back then they wo n't go .
So , I think we 've got a long way to go to regaining their confidence , ” he said .
“ The good news is if you look again at the numbers , no one under the age of 20 has died of the coronavirus .
We still do n't know whether children can get it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarified his comment on deaths in the under 20 age range was specific to Texas .
However , in late April , a 17-year-old Lancaster girl died of COVID-19 making her the youngest victim of the virus in Dallas County .
NBC 5 informed Cornyn ’ s office of her death following the interview and asked whether it changed his response on whether to reopen schools .
A spokeswoman did not answer that question , but called the senator ’ s statement “ an honest misunderstanding.
” She said Cornyn got his data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which shows no deaths in the under 20 age range .

Someone keeps voting for these human waste products and that should just stop right now. If we've learned anything at all from this COVID-19 pandemic, it's that putting ignorant and incompetent people in positions of power and responsibility has dangerous consequences.
17-year-old Jameela Barber died in late April in a Dallas hospital emergency room before she could be admitted.
Source: NBC 5
When asked about the safety of Texas students and teachers returning to classrooms, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) appeared to question whether children can catch and transmit the new coronavirus, but data provided by doctors and government websites contradict his statement.
"We still don’t know whether children can get it and transmit it to others," Cornyn said in an interview Thursday with NBC 5.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, more than 1,700 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in people ages 0-19 statewide. More than 500 of those patients are under the age of 10. The state has published age information on just over 10% of total cases.
...
Cornyn made the statement in response to a question about whether schools should open for in-person learning.
"I think the most important thing is safety. The schools can open, but if parents don't feel comfortable sending their children back then they won't go. So, I think we've got a long way to go to regaining their confidence,” he said. “The good news is if you look again at the numbers, no one under the age of 20 has died of the coronavirus. We still don't know whether children can get it and transmit it to others.”
Cornyn clarified his comment on deaths in the under 20 age range was specific to Texas.
However, in late April, a 17-year-old Lancaster girl died of COVID-19 making her the youngest victim of the virus in Dallas County.
NBC 5 informed Cornyn’s office of her death following the interview and asked whether it changed his response on whether to reopen schools.
A spokeswoman did not answer that question, but called the senator’s statement “an honest misunderstanding.” She said Cornyn got his data from this dashboard provided by Texas 2036, which shows no deaths in the under 20 age range.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Mississippi Legislature Has Mass COVID-19 Outbreak After Lawmakers Refuse To Wear Masks

Mississippi has kept its legislature open throughout the pandemic and has not mandated mask-wearing , or seemingly any social distancing .
And this is the result .
Rachel Maddow had a segment on Wednesday night about the outbreak .
Packed elevators and crowded committee rooms .
Legislators sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the House and Senate floor .
People standing close to each other and talking , sometimes leaning in to whisper , without a mask in sight .
Those were common scenes at the Mississippi Capitol in June — a month that saw a historic vote to remove the Confederate emblem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 26 lawmakers have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in the biggest known outbreak in any state legislature in the nation .
That works out to about 1 in 7 Mississippi legislators .
Among those testing positive in the heavily Republican body are the GOP presiding officers , House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov .
Delbert Hosemann .
None of the lawmakers has been hospitalized , according to state officials .
President Donald Trump has resisted wearing a mask , and many other Republicans around the country have cast face coverings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their freedom .
But around the Mississippi Capitol , not wearing a mask — or wearing one pushed below the chin — was a bipartisan activity in recent weeks .
At the same time , plenty of other lawmakers from both parties covered their faces and took other precautions .
Mississippi has seen a rapid rise in confirmed cases in the past two weeks , with the total hitting nearly 33,600 by Wednesday , including at least 1,200 deaths .

Mississippi has kept its legislature open throughout the pandemic and has not mandated mask-wearing, or seemingly any social distancing. And this is the result.
Rachel Maddow had a segment on Wednesday night about the outbreak.
Source: Associated Press
Packed elevators and crowded committee rooms. Legislators sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the House and Senate floor. People standing close to each other and talking, sometimes leaning in to whisper, without a mask in sight.
Those were common scenes at the Mississippi Capitol in June — a month that saw a historic vote to remove the Confederate emblem from the state flag — and now at least 26 lawmakers have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in the biggest known outbreak in any state legislature in the nation.
That works out to about 1 in 7 Mississippi legislators.
Among those testing positive in the heavily Republican body are the GOP presiding officers, House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.
None of the lawmakers has been hospitalized, according to state officials.
President Donald Trump has resisted wearing a mask, and many other Republicans around the country have cast face coverings and social distancing as an infringement on their freedom.
But around the Mississippi Capitol, not wearing a mask — or wearing one pushed below the chin — was a bipartisan activity in recent weeks. At the same time, plenty of other lawmakers from both parties covered their faces and took other precautions.
Mississippi has seen a rapid rise in confirmed cases in the past two weeks, with the total hitting nearly 33,600 by Wednesday, including at least 1,200 deaths.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Trump Campaign Spokesman Uses Unthinkable Attack On Biden

Hogan Gidley 's latest attack on Joe Biden was so disgusting that the Fox News host cut him off .
Are you ready for another # Pizzagate QAnon conspiracy ?
It 's not a shock that pedophile rings populated the QAnon message boards : they 're all psychos .
Eventually a man who believed their nonsense shot up a pizza parlor .
Would you be shocked if we found out that it was the Russians who is the mysterious `` Q '' lunatic ?
But when it 's a presidential campaign spokesperson trying to intimate that their main political rival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that 's unconscionable .
On Thursday , America 's Newsroom Hogan Gidley joined co-host , Sandra Smith , directly after the Supreme Court issued their two rulings against Donald Trump .
Smith began discussing Tom Friedman 's article in the New York Times in which he told Joe Biden not to debate Trump unless he meets certain conditions .
Smith outlined the two conditions that Friedman put forth : Trump must release his tax returns and they must have a real-time fact-checker on hand .
Then Fox News played a clip of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floor with Trump in a debate , especially after his performances during the Democratic primary debates .
Smith turned to Gidley and said , `` Weigh in on this , Hogan . ''
Trump 's campaign spokesman attacked Biden 's performances and intimated that he has a diminished capacity , but then he turned evil when he went off on a QAnon tangent .
Like a slimy mollusk , Gidley said , `` You 're going to hear interesting comments from Joe Biden about how children love his leg hair and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the porch with ice cream during quarantines ... '' The Fox News host was audibly shocked and cut in , `` Whoa , '' as he continued with more desperate lies .
Smith interrupted saying , '' Hold on , hold on .
We 're talking about whether or not the president wants to debate Joe Biden , '' she said .
The Trump campaign is scum .
Gidley was using a CNN interview with Jake Tapper that he turned into a Pizzagate lie .
Biden told CNN 's Jake Tapper that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mile as the crow flies from us '' and that they would walk over to see their grandparents on the porch .
`` Every day they walk over through the woods and through a neighborhood , and they sit out in the backyard , and we sit out on the porch , and I bribe them with ice cream , '' Biden said in the interview .
This is as low as it gets , but we are still 4 months out of the election .
We still have n't seen the @ @ @ @ @ @

Hogan Gidley's latest attack on Joe Biden was so disgusting that the Fox News host cut him off.
Are you ready for another #Pizzagate QAnon conspiracy?
It's not a shock that pedophile rings populated the QAnon message boards: they're all psychos. Eventually a man who believed their nonsense shot up a pizza parlor. Would you be shocked if we found out that it was the Russians who is the mysterious "Q" lunatic?
But when it's a presidential campaign spokesperson trying to intimate that their main political rival uses ice cream to somehow lure children, that's unconscionable.
On Thursday, America's Newsroom Hogan Gidley joined co-host, Sandra Smith, directly after the Supreme Court issued their two rulings against Donald Trump.
Smith began discussing Tom Friedman's article in the New York Times in which he told Joe Biden not to debate Trump unless he meets certain conditions.
Smith outlined the two conditions that Friedman put forth: Trump must release his tax returns and they must have a real-time fact-checker on hand.
Then Fox News played a clip of James Carville saying that Biden would wipe the floor with Trump in a debate, especially after his performances during the Democratic primary debates.
Smith turned to Gidley and said, "Weigh in on this, Hogan."
Trump's campaign spokesman attacked Biden's performances and intimated that he has a diminished capacity, but then he turned evil when he went off on a QAnon tangent.
Like a slimy mollusk, Gidley said, "You're going to hear interesting comments from Joe Biden about how children love his leg hair and how he used to coax children up onto the porch with ice cream during quarantines..."
The Fox News host was audibly shocked and cut in, "Whoa," as he continued with more desperate lies.
Smith interrupted saying,"Hold on, hold on. We're talking about whether or not the president wants to debate Joe Biden," she said.
The Trump campaign is scum.
Gidley was using a CNN interview with Jake Tapper that he turned into a Pizzagate lie.
Biden told CNN's Jake Tapper that his son Beau's kids "live about a mile as the crow flies from us" and that they would walk over to see their grandparents on the porch. "Every day they walk over through the woods and through a neighborhood, and they sit out in the backyard, and we sit out on the porch, and I bribe them with ice cream," Biden said in the interview.
This is as low as it gets, but we are still 4 months out of the election.
We still haven't seen the bottom of their noxious campaign.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Kayleigh McEnany Claims Trump Has 'Absolute Immunity' Right After SCOTUS Rules He Doesn't

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday said that President Donald Trump continues to believe that he has “ absolute immunity ” from prosecution despite a Supreme Court ruling that said otherwise .
At a White House briefing , McEnany argued that a high court ruling which gives prosecutors the right to subpoena Trump ’ s financial records is actually a “ win for the president.
” “ The president was making general point about deference and on the principal of absolute immunity , ” she explained .
“ He believes there should have been more deference [ to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ On the ruling today , the Supreme Court is rejecting this assertion from the president that he is immune to investigation while in office , ” CNN ’ s Kaitlan Collins noted .
“ Does he agree that he is not immune ?
” “ He still maintains his initial position , ” McEnany replied .
“ He takes issue with the point that with the majority made on absolute immunity but , nevertheless , I would underscore the victory here.
” “ If the president still believes he has absolute immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he thinks he ’ s above the law while he is president of the United States , at least , ” another reporter pointed out .
“ It ’ s almost as if folks don ’ t understand a legal term , ” the press secretary complained .
“ Absolute immunity is a legal term of art .
”

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday said that President Donald Trump continues to believe that he has “absolute immunity” from prosecution despite a Supreme Court ruling that said otherwise.
At a White House briefing, McEnany argued that a high court ruling which gives prosecutors the right to subpoena Trump’s financial records is actually a “win for the president.”
“The president was making general point about deference and on the principal of absolute immunity,” she explained. “He believes there should have been more deference [to him by the court].”
“On the ruling today, the Supreme Court is rejecting this assertion from the president that he is immune to investigation while in office,” CNN’s Kaitlan Collins noted. “Does he agree that he is not immune?”
“He still maintains his initial position,” McEnany replied. “He takes issue with the point that with the majority made on absolute immunity but, nevertheless, I would underscore the victory here.”
“If the president still believes he has absolute immunity, it makes it sound as though he thinks he’s above the law while he is president of the United States, at least,” another reporter pointed out.
“It’s almost as if folks don’t understand a legal term,” the press secretary complained. “Absolute immunity is a legal term of art.”


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--Friday News Dump: David Duke Urges Trump To Make Tucker His VP,  And Other News

*Chefs kiss* Under normal circumstances an endorsement like this would end a presidency but this is so on-brand for both @ @ @ @ @ that I ca n't see this as anything but an absolute win .
Please , @ @ @ @ @ coming .

Can you help us out?
For 18 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.


crooksandliars--2020-07-10--When Trump's In Trouble, Conspiracy Theories Pop Up. This One's A Real Doozy

Here we go again .
Trump loses control of his tax returns , his polling numbers are in the tank , and suddenly , a new sex-trafficking conspiracy comes to light .
Look at this # Wayfair insanity , being pushed on TikTok and Twitter : so someone on twt noticed that there were 19 different closet/cabinets being sold for extraordinarily high prices ( considering its a cabinet ) on wayfair and each of them were titled a different girls name .
other ppl have noticed the same thing w other items on the website too + Some sane people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very suspicious for not including the search field and for lying about the SKU number .
( Literally says that it is the Manufacturer Part Number . )
Oddly enough , I had this same claim from an account that deleted themselves.https : //t.co/WLAu6CQp26 Your second images also does not seem to include a SKU number .
Additionally , the fourth listed image claims to come from Yandex itself , not to mention the clear mention of Pizzagate in the search results .
I do n't get the point of manipulating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brownwith is a longtime journalist and she tried to show the Russian connection to this crazy story .
The folks pushing this # Wayfair narrative from a Russian reddit account are all # MAGA and red pill folks now swarming my mentions .
That really answers all the questions .
Trump is being investigated in NY : so his peeps are deflecting , just like # Pizzagate .
Deplorable .
This is just implacably ridiculous .
No one is delivering huge boxes of live children to you from China .
( 97 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
Find better hobbies , folks .
If you are worried about child trafficking , the Trump admin has been doing it at the border since 2017 .
Pretty sure there is a Venn diagram of people who believed Hillary Clinton was trafficking kids out of the basement of a pizza place in DC in 2016 and the folks who invented this # Wayfair conspiracy .
And in 2016 even 27 % of Democrats polled believed # Pizzagate .
Snap out of it !

Here we go again. Trump loses control of his tax returns, his polling numbers are in the tank, and suddenly, a new sex-trafficking conspiracy comes to light.
Look at this #Wayfair insanity, being pushed on TikTok and Twitter:
This Wayfair child trafficking has me in a DEEP black hole pic.twitter.com/xzT5wdOv2j — priscilla (@prizzkilla) July 10, 2020
Guess who owns 40m in wayfair stock?
Soros Fund Management LLC — Victoria (@VictoriaKropf) July 10, 2020
so someone on twt noticed that there were 19 different closet/cabinets being sold for extraordinarily high prices (considering its a cabinet) on wayfair and each of them were titled a different girls name. other ppl have noticed the same thing w other items on the website too + — whoops (@voyageyikes) July 10, 2020
alsooo when you search the item code on a search engine other than google it takes you to photos of little girls and links w pedophilia in the name. it's really fucked up honestly — whoops (@voyageyikes) July 10, 2020
Some sane people try to intervene:
That screenshot was faked. Searching the model numbers doesn’t do that at all — Who Needs A Reason Show (@Whoneedsareason) July 10, 2020
Don’t you dare ruin their fantastical journey to stop the evils of the world, that are run though cabinet sales... on wayfair... you know, the dark corners of the inter-webs. That doesn’t sound insane does it? — Jason Sperry (@TheJasonSperry) July 10, 2020
That first image is very suspicious for not including the search field and for lying about the SKU number. (Literally says that it is the Manufacturer Part Number.)
Oddly enough, I had this same claim from an account that deleted themselves.https://t.co/WLAu6CQp26 — Tyler Hyliard (@TylerHyliard) July 10, 2020
Your second images also does not seem to include a SKU number. Additionally, the fourth listed image claims to come from Yandex itself, not to mention the clear mention of Pizzagate in the search results. I don't get the point of manipulating the results, but cease it. — Tyler Hyliard (@TylerHyliard) July 10, 2020
But no:
honey ..i just searched these and those two are the SKU numbers i found on two items from wayfair myself from the WFX collection. you willingly chose to be blinded by the media pic.twitter.com/IfyQVGlt0a — 𝓛𝔲𝔰𝔦𝔣𝔢𝔯 ✪ (@xo_Ecstasy) July 10, 2020
Victoria Brownwith is a longtime journalist and she tried to show the Russian connection to this crazy story.
Shocker that the source of the #Wayfair conspiracy is Russia. Again. https://t.co/LYET6UyyES — Victoria Brownworth #MasksSaveLives (@VABVOX) July 10, 2020
The folks pushing this #Wayfair narrative from a Russian reddit account are all #MAGA and red pill folks now swarming my mentions. That really answers all the questions. Trump is being investigated in NY: so his peeps are deflecting, just like #Pizzagate. Deplorable. — Victoria Brownworth #MasksSaveLives (@VABVOX) July 10, 2020
This is just implacably ridiculous. No one is delivering huge boxes of live children to you from China. (97% of #Wayfair products come from China.) Find better hobbies, folks. If you are worried about child trafficking, the Trump admin has been doing it at the border since 2017. — Victoria Brownworth #MasksSaveLives (@VABVOX) July 10, 2020