Thread) Over the Cliff Notes: New Emails
Here’s the email dump from Friday night:
assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6590…
The emails confirm testimony we already have, particularly Laura Cooper’s, and adds new details.
Much looks like this⤵️raising the question: Why all the redactions?
Here’s the email dump from Friday night:
assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6590…
The emails confirm testimony we already have, particularly Laura Cooper’s, and adds new details.
Much looks like this⤵️raising the question: Why all the redactions?
1/ Classified to protect national security?
Gimmea break.
Executive privilege?
Nope. Not permitted to cover wrongdoing.
Dear GOP leadership: You may think you can hide the evidence now, but it will come out.
Come clean now, or go down in history as enabling crooks.
Gimmea break.
Executive privilege?
Nope. Not permitted to cover wrongdoing.
Dear GOP leadership: You may think you can hide the evidence now, but it will come out.
Come clean now, or go down in history as enabling crooks.
2/ I'll fit the new emails into the existing timeline for the big picture.
June 18: DoD approved the Ukraine security assistance
Cooper testified that Trump saw an article and asked about security assistance.
Nobody could find the article she referenced.
It was in the packet.
June 18: DoD approved the Ukraine security assistance
Cooper testified that Trump saw an article and asked about security assistance.
Nobody could find the article she referenced.
It was in the packet.
3/ Cooper testified that a few days after the article appeared, she received a message “forwarded down the DoD” presented as a follow-up meeting with Trump.
The email she referred to is also in the packet, along with another follow up:
The email she referred to is also in the packet, along with another follow up:
4/ Cooper said the request was unusual.
Her staff responded quickly with a fact sheet.
Key people in the new emails:
Eric Chewning, chief of staff to DOD secretary
executivegov.com/2019/01/eric-c…
Elaine McCuster, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
defense.gov/Our-Story/Biog…
Her staff responded quickly with a fact sheet.
Key people in the new emails:
Eric Chewning, chief of staff to DOD secretary
executivegov.com/2019/01/eric-c…
Elaine McCuster, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
defense.gov/Our-Story/Biog…
5/ Here’s the email showing that 2 hours after Trump’s “perfect” July 25 call to Zelensky, the OMB (White House) ordered a hold on the funds.
Notice the part about “given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held . . .”
Notice the part about “given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held . . .”
6/ Cooper testified about a “footnote” to the security assistance apportionment added by the Office of Budget Management (headed by Mulvaney).
Here is where Cooper was questioned about the footnote:
The footnote was in the emails, here:
(So the House already had the footnote.)
Here is where Cooper was questioned about the footnote:
The footnote was in the emails, here:
(So the House already had the footnote.)
7/ First the footnote said not available until Aug. 5, then changed to Aug. 12, then Aug. 26.
Cooper’s “secondhand understanding” was that the way the OMB could carry out the president's order was through apportionments.
Cooper’s “secondhand understanding” was that the way the OMB could carry out the president's order was through apportionments.
8/ Aug 10: Note that the followup questions are entirely redacted⤵️
Cooper met with Volker on Aug 20. She expected to strategize about how to get the aid released. (Cooper testimony)
Instead Volker talked about his efforts to get a statement from the Ukrainian government. . .
Cooper met with Volker on Aug 20. She expected to strategize about how to get the aid released. (Cooper testimony)
Instead Volker talked about his efforts to get a statement from the Ukrainian government. . .
9/ Specifically, Volker talked about an effort "to see if there was a statement that the government of Ukraine could make that would disavow any interference in the US elections and would commit to the prosecution of any individuals involved in election interference.”
(Cooper)
(Cooper)
10/ Notice the need for an “announcement”
Volker also indicated to her that if his work was successful, he might get the hold lifted. Cooper Testimony.
Now for some more general timeline (to see how the new emails fit in)
Volker also indicated to her that if his work was successful, he might get the hold lifted. Cooper Testimony.
Now for some more general timeline (to see how the new emails fit in)
11/ Aug. 26: IG writes to Acting Director of National Intelligence Maguire that he reviewed the Whistleblower's Complaint and deemed it “urgent concern” that “appears credible.”
Late August: Trump learned of the Whistleblower complaint nytimes.com/2019/11/26/us/…
Late August: Trump learned of the Whistleblower complaint nytimes.com/2019/11/26/us/…
12/ White House Counsel Cipollone and Eisenberg tried to prevent Congress from getting the Whistleblower complaint based on “executive privilege.”
That obviously didn't work.
Aug. 29: Chewning tells McCusker about the Politico article:
All redacted.
That obviously didn't work.
Aug. 29: Chewning tells McCusker about the Politico article:
All redacted.
13/ Aug 29: Mark Paoletta to Edwin Castle, cc Duffey: Here at the TPs we agreed upon. (What the heck is TP? Talking Points?)
Aug 29: McCuster to Duffey “Just got out of another long session [ ] things evolved again . . .
Aug 29: Their “talking points” are entirely redacted.
Aug 29: McCuster to Duffey “Just got out of another long session [ ] things evolved again . . .
Aug 29: Their “talking points” are entirely redacted.
13/ Aug 30 email: Subject heading: Ukraine. Everything redacted.
Sept. 1: Subject heading: Ukraine: “I spoke to the boss” the rest is redacted.
Undated letter: David Norquist to Vought (OMB Acting Director)
Entirely redacted.
Sept. 1: Subject heading: Ukraine: “I spoke to the boss” the rest is redacted.
Undated letter: David Norquist to Vought (OMB Acting Director)
Entirely redacted.
14/ Sept. 5: Elaine “Normally I would not send you this level of detail, but given the situation . . " ⤵️
Doesn't it seem like once the Complaint became public, the redacts take over? I wonder why🤔
Doesn't it seem like once the Complaint became public, the redacts take over? I wonder why🤔
15/ Sept. 9: the Inspector General informed the Intelligence Committee that the Whistleblower's Complaint had made its way to the White House. That same day, the House Intel committee announced an investigation into the Ukraine scandal.
From emails:
From emails:
16/ Sept. 10: Bolton resigned
Sept. 11: Edna Falk says: “Still no rationale for the hold”
Sept. 11: McCuster to Chewning: “Funds will be released tomorrow. No additional intel yet. Will advise.”
Sept. 11: Duffey to McCusker: “Glad to have this behind us”
Sept. 11: Edna Falk says: “Still no rationale for the hold”
Sept. 11: McCuster to Chewning: “Funds will be released tomorrow. No additional intel yet. Will advise.”
Sept. 11: Duffey to McCusker: “Glad to have this behind us”
17/ Sept. 12: McCusker to Norquist “FYI— we are getting a lot of interest and questions from the Hill (both House and Senate) . . .
What evidently went wrong for Trump is that what seemed like a simple idea required too many levers of government to pull off.
What evidently went wrong for Trump is that what seemed like a simple idea required too many levers of government to pull off.
18/ We know from the timeline that Operation Ukrainian Shakedown started in late 2018.
The operation hit a snag when Zelensky (campaigning on an anti-corruption platform)was elected instead of their guy, Poroshenko.
impeachment-trump.com
The operation hit a snag when Zelensky (campaigning on an anti-corruption platform)was elected instead of their guy, Poroshenko.
impeachment-trump.com
19/ By late Spring, it looked like it might not be so easy as they thought.
Trump saw the article about aid to Ukraine and got what he thought was a bright idea.💡
Zelensky cleverly managed not to embroil himself in a corrupt scheme.
Meanwhile . . .
Trump saw the article about aid to Ukraine and got what he thought was a bright idea.💡
Zelensky cleverly managed not to embroil himself in a corrupt scheme.
Meanwhile . . .
20/ Too many government employees and people with integrity caught on to what was going on, and blew the whistle.
I know from my experience in criminal defense that people tend to get caught when they get cocky and push their luck.
end/ (I may add questions or comments)
I know from my experience in criminal defense that people tend to get caught when they get cocky and push their luck.
end/ (I may add questions or comments)
It's definitely a violation of the Impound Control Act.
In the Clinton trial, the Democrats acknowledged that lying under oath about an affair was morally wrong, but they argued that it was not impeachable because it didn't endanger national security . . .
In the Clinton trial, the Democrats acknowledged that lying under oath about an affair was morally wrong, but they argued that it was not impeachable because it didn't endanger national security . . .
Republicans argue, among other things, the following:
💠Trump did nothing wrong (see Trump's own letter)
💠There wasn't enough evidence to prove Trump did something wrong
💠Trump's actions were justified.
Any of these work only if Up is Down, and if we ignore the evidence.
💠Trump did nothing wrong (see Trump's own letter)
💠There wasn't enough evidence to prove Trump did something wrong
💠Trump's actions were justified.
Any of these work only if Up is Down, and if we ignore the evidence.
Good point. It’s hard to argue that information exchanged in this manner is classified
Judith also pointed out the hilarious irony in the email, “Glad to have this behind us.” Dearies, it was only just beginning.
Judith also pointed out the hilarious irony in the email, “Glad to have this behind us.” Dearies, it was only just beginning.
My threads are also blog posts. this one is here:
terikanefield-blog.com/new-emails-ove…
A lot of questions I'm getting I've answered recently. There's a search function on my blog.
I'm in a beautiful place in the mountains watching my son snowboard. I hope you're all somewhere nice this week.
terikanefield-blog.com/new-emails-ove…
A lot of questions I'm getting I've answered recently. There's a search function on my blog.
I'm in a beautiful place in the mountains watching my son snowboard. I hope you're all somewhere nice this week.
