James Comey seems to be offering the Senate today a series of shrugs over troubling evidence of false evidence and possible Russian disinformation in the Russian investigation. Despite his signing off on secret surveillance, Comey is dismissing questions ...
...on the basis that he never knew of any of the memos indicating that the information in the investigation was false or even Russian misinformation. He was under a duty to confirm such facts. As someone who has billed himself as a strong leader, he is now portraying himself...
...as a passive player in these decisions. However, while he would not answer questions on the new evidence of possible Russian misinformation used by the FBI, he had no problem discussing new evidence on Trump's debt that might suggest Russian control over him.
After saying that he could not comment on the new evidence on possible Russian misinformation used by the FBI, Comey just had no problem is saying that he has read material on the Flynn case and give his conclusions on their meaning.
Comey did say that, knowing what he knows today, that he would not have signed off on the Page surveillance. That makes it unanimous with Yates and Rosenstein. Nobody now supports the surveillance request but no one takes real responsibility.
Comey just said that he was wrong to previously call the abuse of the FISA process as "nonsense." He said that he should not have had confidence in the process. However, he had no problem dismissing these concerns repeatedly and publicly until confronted with the evidence.
...Comey bizarrely just said that he was not sure if it was relevant that he should have been told that the subsource used for the Steele material was a suspected Russian agent even when he was briefed on the Steele material. He just signed the application.
...Comey previously in his book on "ethical leadership" criticized Trump and said “a leader needs the truth, but an emperor does not consistently hear it from his underlings.” That apparently does not apply to being informed that secret surveillance ...
...targeting aides of the opposing presidential candidate might be Russian intelligence disinformation. Even when being briefed on the Steele information, Comey said that he was not sure that he had to be informed of that fact before signing off on the FISA application.
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The denial of the Supreme Court on the Trump stay played out as expected. Nothing in the effort would have appealed to Chief Justice Roberts. He is the ultimate institutionalist who not only prefers regular order but a minimal role of the Court in political matters...
......There is an overriding preference among appellate judges for the finalizing of cases with sentencing so that the entire case can be reviewed. Justice Amy Coney Barrett also joined the liberal justices in the 5-4 decision...
...The sentencing will now go forward. However, in handing down this sentence, Judge Merchan will give Trump an even greater mandate. The New York case is the rawest form of lawfare and Alvin Bragg is its happiest warrior...
Judge Merchan just set Trump for a sentencing shortly before his inauguration. As some of us predicted, he is indicating that he will impose an unconditional discharge without jail or probation...
...The sentence will finalize the case and allow for an appeal. However, it would also label the President-elect a convicted felon just before he is sworn into office. It is the final cathartic act for lawfare warriors...
...Merchan will supply the talking point for the inauguration coverage as reporters repeat the mantra of the historic status of Trump being sworn in as a convicted felon. Yet,...
President Biden is offering lessons on what presidents could learn from the late President Carter. He is certainly right about setting the standard for civility and decency, but here is one that Biden missed: Carter did not pardon his brother Billy in a corruption scandal...
...While criminal charges were not brought, there were lingering questions about the $200,000 "loan" from Libya and allegations that he paid back only $1000. There were also allegations of other payments in influence-peddling allegations. Sound familiar?...
...Unlike President Biden who lied repeatedly to the voters in denying that (1) Hunter had any dealings with the Chinese, (2) he ever met his son's clients, and (3) knew of any of these dealings, Carter told the truth to the American people...
The media is still struggling to ignore the corruption of the Biden scandal by insisting that there is no evidence Joe Biden directly received money: ABBY PHILLIP: “I’m still waiting to see the proof of Joe Biden enriching himself. I take his brother and his son, perhaps.”...
...It is not only factually wrong but legally irrelevant. As I stated in my testimony in the Biden impeachment hearing, enriching your family is treated the same under corruption statutes...jonathanturley.org/2023/12/15/the…
...Phillip appears willing to accept that Hunter and his uncle enriched themselves with influence peddling but somehow believes that that does not implicate the subject of the influence peddling, Joe Biden...
Fani Willis was just disqualified by the Georgia Court of Appeals. Trump appears to be running the table in these lawfare cases. It will now be up to another prosecutor as to whether to continue the case...
...The Georgia case did have some viable criminal charges against other defendants for offenses like unlawful access to restricted areas. However, in attempting to bag Trump, she created an absurdly attenuated RICO theory that should not be embraced by the new prosecutor.
...While this disqualification is due to the conduct of Willis and not the underlying claims, any new prosecutor will have to make an independent judgment on whether and what to prosecute...
As predicted, Judge Merchan has rejected the challenge to the Bragg charges under the recent immunity decision of the Supreme Court. He tossed the challenge entirely but also found that any possible violations would be harmless error. Here is the opinion: nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFs/pre…
...Merchan created layers of findings to ironplate the case for appeal. He ruled that (1) this was entirely unofficial conduct, (2) if it was official conduct, and (3) if it was official and within the protections of the Constitution, it was harmless error ...
...He still has to rule on the general challenge over errors committed at trial. Some of us view the case as replete with layers of reversible error. However, Merchan was never viewed as likely to second guess his prior rulings...jonathanturley.org/2024/06/03/buz…