Trump supporters and conspiracy theory - Part 2

[Rick Plant]

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has already completed her criminal case against Donald Trump (and his associates) with her special grand jury, and probably only needs a day or two of regular grand jury time to go through the formality of bring those indictments. Yet Willis is now pointing to not bringing her indictments until at least mid July. The question is why.

Yes, some of the fake electors in Georgia are now doing immunity deals. But is that alone enough to explain why a probe that’s essentially been indictment-ready since February is going to wait until July?

When Mike Pence testified to Jack Smith’s DOJ grand jury on Thursday – potentially the final witness to testify in that case – it pointed to Smith potentially indicting Donald Trump rather soon. It made me wonder if this was why Fani Willis was holding off. If the Feds are this close to indicting Trump, perhaps Willis has decided to wait until after.

But now we’re getting another piece of the puzzle. On Friday, new reporting from the New York Times suggested that Jack Smith has Donald Trump and some of his associates nailed on wire fraud charges in addition to everything else. Specifically, they committed fraud when they raised a quarter billion dollars by claiming the 2020 election was stolen when they knew it wasn’t.

Legal expert Anna Bower of Lawfare sees this as a potential connection between the federal and state probes against Trump. She tweeted this: “Federal wire fraud can be a predicate act under Georgia’s RICO law.” What jumps off the page for me is that we’ve seen numerous media reports about Fani Willis looking to indict Trump under RICO.

In other words, Fani Willis could be waiting for Jack Smith to indict Donald Trump for federal wire fraud, so she can use that as a basis for bringing state level RICO charges. Of course this in turn would seemingly point to a level of coordination between Smith and Willis that hasn’t been reported. The bottom line is that the list of criminal charges against Trump is getting longer and more complex – which is the last thing he needs.

[Rick Plant]

Trump's embrace of Jan. 6 rioters could be 'very damaging' evidence against him: ex-prosecutor



Former president Donald Trump's decision to continue supporting convicted rioters is putting himself at additional risk of criminal liability for his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attempted insurrection, according to a former U.S. attorney.

In addition to facing 34 felony charges in connection with his alleged hush money scheme leading up to the 2016 election, Trump is facing investigations elsewhere that might lead to more criminal charges. One of those investigations is into Trump's actions surrounding the actions of Jan. 6, when rioters stormed the Capitol building.

Trump is giving prosecutors more evidence against him in that case by continuing to heap praise upon rioters who have been convicted of crimes, according to Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Most recently, Trump reportedly met with convicted January 6 Capitol rioter Micki Larson-Olson in New Hampshire, praising her and giving her a hug before signing her backpack.

McQuade, speaking on MSNBC on Friday night, said situations like that could be "very damaging as evidence against" Trump, should there be a trial on his conduct.

"It's the reason that prosecutors pay very close attention to everything people say, and it's the reason defense attorneys tell their clients to keep their mouths shut," McQuade said to host Ali Velshi. "But when your client is Donald Trump, it seems that he is physically incapable of that."

Watch:

Trump lawyer Tacopina fell 'into a trap' during E. Jean Carroll cross-examination: legal expert



Appearing on MSNBC's "The Katie Phang Show" on SaPersonay morning, former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance claimed that the E. Jean Carroll rape and defamation trial is not going well for Donald Trump and that his attorney, Joe Tacopina is not helping matters.

Speaking with the host, Vance said that the former president's attorney stepped into a familiar "trap" when questioning an assualt victim and it likely did not play well with the jury.

Asked by host Phang where the case is headed, Vance explained, "Well, the problem that defense lawyers have on cross-examination in a case like this, Katie, is that even though it's not a criminal rape prosecution, the civil case nears the same sorts of issues."

"The defense lawyer has to do two things: he's got to make the victim's story not credible in the eyes of the jury and there is got to be some effort to diminish the victim's credibility," she continued. "Frankly, from what we've been able to see, of course, there are no cameras in the courtroom, but we're reading the printouts of what's going on."

"He doesn't really seem to touch Carroll," she suggested. "She's a very determined, a very fierce witness. Her story is consistent, and there is no real inroads he makes there."

"He falls into this other trap that the defense lawyers have to be wary of in an assault case," she added. "By going on the attack against Carroll he runs the risk of making her credibility stronger, of putting the jury on her side and willing to listen to her testimony. That looks to be how the trial is going at this moment."

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[Rick Plant]

Trump's lawyers handed Jack Smith a 'roadmap' to their Mar-a-Lago defense strategy: legal expert



During an appearance on MSNBC's "The Katie Phang Show" a former prosecutor claimed Donald Trump's lawyers have inadvertently tipped off special counsel Jack Smith to their defense strategy should charges be filed over the stolen documents recovered by the FBI at Mar-a-Lago.

Reacting to a report that Trump attorneys sent a letter to House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) asking the GOP-led House take over the federal investigation into the document, Charles Coleman Jr. noted the letter included how they view their client's innocence which would give Smith's office a heads-up of how to present their case.

"Is this Trump setting up his legal defense for an imminent indictment from Jack Smith?" host Phang prompted.

"I would think so," Coleman replied. "I think they are trying to basically stave off the notion of an indictment with a last-ditch effort to try and make a homerun, if you will, to avoid Jack Smith moving forward in front of a grand jury and indicting him."

"I think it is very interesting though from a lawyer's perspective to see them lay out their entire defense basically before this is even happened," he added. "It is right there. So if you are looking at that, and you are thinking about how you are going to prosecute this case, you have just given Jack Smith a roadmap into what you do need to cover during the grand jury presentation to make sure, not only that you are able to get an indictment, but then how you are going to structure your prosecution."

"It will be interesting to see, moving forward, if he is indicted for this, which I do believe he will be, how that impacts Jack Smith's presentation of the case and, ultimately, their theory of how they move forward," he added.

Watch:

[Rick Plant]

World leaders can't stand Criminal Donald.


'Great to be home': Trump shunned by nation's leader after arriving in Scotland



A senior Scottish official has made it clear he has no plans to involve himself with former President Donald Trump's visit to the nation this week, reported The Independent.

"Asked last week if he will meet Mr. Trump, who has made controversial statements about Muslims in the past, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: 'I would find it difficult, I have to say, to meet with him without raising the significance of concerns I have of the remarks that he’s made in the past,'" the newspaper reported.

The First Minister is the head of the Scottish government.

Trump arrived in Scotland Monday to golf resorts he owns in Turnberry and Aberdeen in Scotland, and at Doonbeg in Ireland.

"It's great to be home," he said on arrival, the Independent reported.

The Turnberry resort was a source of controversy during his presidency after it was revealed the U.S. Air Force paid Trump's business to lodge crews on the property dozens of times. The Air Force investigated these payments and concluded they were legal.

According to BBC News, "Mr Trump, who is running for the White House again in 2024, is visiting Scotland as a private individual. It is understood there is no requirement on the Scottish or UK governments to pay for special security."

All of this comes as Trump faces a series of legal fights at home, including criminal charges in Manhattan over business fraud surrounding his alleged $130,000 hush payment to an adult film star, and the civil rape case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, which began last week.

Read More Here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trump-scotland-golf-lawsuits-aberdeen-b2330090.html



Trump loses it in tense exchange with NBC reporter amid press gaggle on ex-president's plane: report



Former President Donald Trump during a press gaggle aboard his plane after his Waco, Texas rally in March blew up at NBC News reporter Vaughn Hillyard, according audio obtained by Vanity Fair.

Hillyard reportedly asked Trump if he was “frustrated” about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation over alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.

The probe led to a 34-count felony indictment days later.

Hillyard was questioning Trump over his Truth Social posts in which the former president had warned of “potential death and destruction” if he was indicted, and when Hillyard asked Trump for his version of events the former president said. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

In response to another question from Hillyard Trump replied: “Do you hear me? You’re not a nice guy,” Trump said.

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Hillyard tried to ask another question. “Do you hear me? You’re not a nice guy,” Trump said, turning to take a question from another reporter.

Trump lost it after Hillyard tried to ask another question.

“Alright, let’s go, get him out of here,” Trump said. “Outta here. Outta here.”

According to Vanity Fair’s reporting: “Trump then picked up one of the phones recording the gaggle and asked, ‘Whose is this?’ Hillyard replied that it was his. Trump picked up another phone and asked the same question. “That one’s mine too,” Hillyard said. The former president tossed both phones out of his sight, onto the seat next to him; the thud of one of the phones hitting a surface can be heard in the recording.”

Listen Here: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/05/trump-2024-gaggle

[Rick Plant]

Donald Trump seems to go through stages of grief when it comes to the criminal investigations into him.

First he ignores them.

Then he downplayed them.

Then he tries to claim that the prosecutor is going to drop the case.

Then he launches personal attacks on the prosecutor and the prosecutor’s family.

And finally, he claims that the prosecutor is going to illegal lengths in order to make the case against him.

That last part always amounts to a confession from Trump. If a criminal probe reaches a point where the only argument Trump has left is it the prove itself is somehow unfair or illegal, and Trump is no longer even trying to claim that he’s going to beat it, then he’s tacitly, admitting that he’s nailed.

That’s where Donald Trump now is with DOJ special counsel Jack Smith’s criminal probe. Trump is now whining on his social media site that Smith is somehow violating his first amendment rights by targeting him for wire fraud. This is almost hilarious. Trump is admitting that Jack Smith has him nailed, and all that Trump can do at this point is whine about it.

[Rick Plant]

As special counsel nears decision in Trump cases, who are the lawyers working with him
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lawyers-working-special-counsel-jack-smith-trump-jan/story?id=98893019

[Rick Plant]

Dominion wants ‘accountability’ over Fox News election lies, co-founder says

Company that won $787.5m settlement pursuing defamation lawsuits against two Fox competitors and four Trump allies



Dominion Voting Systems, which last month reached a $787.5m settlement of its $1.6bn defamation case against Fox News, is seeking wider accountability for the broadcast of Donald Trump’s election fraud lies and will “not … stop until we get it”, a co-founder said.

redacted in court filings but reportedly linked to the dramatic firing of Tucker Carlson would soon be revealed.

John Poulos, chief executive of Dominion, Hootan Yaghoobzadeh, an investor from Staple Street Capital, and Stephen Shackelford, a partner at Susman Godfrey, the law firm representing Dominion, spoke to Axios in an interview published on Monday.

Fox still faces a $2.7bn suit from Smartmatic, another election machine company targeted by Trump and his allies in their lies about voter fraud in his 2020 defeat by Joe Biden.

Axios noted that Dominion is pursuing defamation lawsuits against two Fox competitors, One America News and NewsMax, and four Trump allies: Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Lindell and Patrick Byrne.

Poulos said: “As we said from the beginning, we’re seeking accountability and we’re not going to stop until we get it. We have six more cases and we are completely aligned as we have been from the beginning.”

The settlement in Dominion’s Fox case came as the two sides waited in court in Delaware for trial to begin.

Shackelford said the suit and settlement “should send a big signal to the other defendants that we are serious about exposing the truth, and we are serious about accomplishing full compensation and justice for Dominion”.

Fox was not required to issue an on-air apology but the case uncovered a mine of internal messages which showed executives and hosts acknowledged that Trump and allies were lying but gave them airtime anyway.

Last week, Fox fired the prime-time host Tucker Carlson. The extent to which the decision was linked to Dominion remains unknown, if subject to extensive reporting.

Yaghoobzadeh said: “I think the consequences of the entire strategy that we pursued are starting to reflect themselves.”

Shackelford said Dominion “did not insist on them firing Tucker Carlson as part of the settlement. But the very fact that that’s what resulted out of all of this, and it’s traceable from the work that Dominion and Staple Street set in motion, that’s the sort of stuff Hootan is talking about.”

It has been reported that messages redacted in court filings contain instances of Carlson using “highly offensive” language about Fox executives.

Shackelford said: “Of course I know what’s in the redacted stuff and I can’t say anything about it … I hope that it all gets un-redacted at some point.”

He added: “We expected [Fox] to fight tooth and nail and to pull out all the stops, and they did. The scariest part of what they did trying to rewrite first amendment law just to save Fox’s hide in a way that was completely, in my view, disingenuous and dangerous.”

Yaghoobzadeh pointed to the continuing careers of other anchors who spread Trump’s lies, prominently including Maria Bartiromo.

“I just don’t know how informed every Fortune 500 CEO is to the lack of journalistic standards that were used in that initial broadcast,” Yaghoobzadeh said, about Bartiromo’s business-oriented show.

And if they’re deciding to go on that show after understanding all that information, I’m not one to judge these things but I certainly wouldn’t go on that show.”

Asked for comment, Fox News pointed to a previous statement in which it said it was “pleased to have reached a settlement”, acknowledged rulings “finding certain claims about Dominion to be false”, and claimed the deal “reflects Fox’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/01/fox-news-dominion-lawsuits-trump-election-lies

[Rick Plant]

Judge may release full texts exposing Tucker Carlson: legal analyst

A group of media outlets are continuing the lawsuit to obtain the full discovery exhibits in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News and Fox Corp. Over the past week, more information has been revealed about comments former host Tucker Carlson made. But in the documents themselves, there were many redactions.

According to a recent report, the comments were so bad Fox felt they were "unsurvivable."

Dominion lawyer Davida Brook outlined some things they hoped to discuss in the trial, but she left out the details that many reporters are hungry for.

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace asked what she called the "$787.5 million question," a play off of the gameshow and the settlement Fox agreed to with Dominion. Speaking to former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner, she asked if those redactions would expose what Carlson did that was so bad and whether it's within the public's interest to know.

"I think The New York Times and the public's interest in having this material unredacted and disclosed publicly would involve, if the judge used any of this information that he was privy to, what's behind those black bar redactions, in resolving all of the pretrial issues he had to resolve. I think then those matters have to be disclosed publicly because it really bears on the quality and the performance of the judge in his rulings up until the day of trial when it's settled."

He went on to also cite the First Amendment piece of the trial and the "public's right to know" is also on the side of the media outlets fighting the case.

"I don't think we can let this go without commenting on the hypocrisy of Fox 'News.' I'm going to go with the air quotes — a 'news organization' fighting against the First Amendment, freedom of the press and public's right to know," Kirschner continued. "I do think where Fox's interest would be strongest at its zenith is if there was really proprietary business information somehow behind the redactions. I find that unlikely, but, you know, it is a little bit of a gray area when it comes to a case having settled, not going to trial."

He explained that in criminal cases, there would be a request to seal some things for witness protection and security matters, but once the trial is over, everything was then unsealed. So, it doesn't matter to the case now that Dominion has settled with Fox.

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