NEW: ALAN DERSHOWITZ helped craft & push proposals for GEORGE NADER to be released from a 10-year sentence (for child pornography/sex trafficking) & returned to the U.A.E. (on an Emirate jet) so he could play a role in backchannel Middle East peace talks. nytimes.com/2021/02/08/us/…
GEORGE NADER's allies believed @AlanDersh was pushing for clemency from TRUMP.
DERSHOWITZ says that was a small part of his work for Nader, who didn't get out.
But the episode shows how DERSHOWITZ was sought after by people seeking relief from TRUMP. nytimes.com/2021/02/08/us/…
ALAN DERSHOWITZ used his access to lobby TRUMP for clemency for clients, & played a role in at least 12 clemency grants, including JONATHAN BRAUN.
ALAN DERSHOWITZ told me he donated the money he was paid to help JONATHAN BRAUN after our story because "I do not feel comfortable accepting a fee for getting a commutation for somebody who was accused of violent conduct.”
Here's a video of Braun threatening an apparent debtor.
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SHELDON ADELSON was portrayed as a master political manipulator.
But his giving was often feckless & driven by relationships.
When I asked why he was funding a @newtgingrich '12 super PAC, he said “I’m just a loyal guy," then compared NEWT's ill-fated campaign to a steak dinner
That interview (which was in my book) came after @maggieNYT & I wrote for @politico that ADELSON had committed to donating $20M to a super PAC supporting GINGRICH's 2012 campaign.
NEW: Allies of @WikiLeaks founder JULIAN ASSANGE have ramped up a push for a last-minute pardon from TRUMP, filing a clemency petition with the WH & enlisting a lobbyist with connections to the administration, ROBERT STRYK. nytimes.com/2021/01/10/us/…
The Australia-based press freedom group @BPFreeSpeech retained ROBERT STRYK to seek a pardon for JULIAN ASSANGE.
Stryk says he is working for free "in solidarity with Julian Assange" & will continue seeking a pardon under BIDEN, if TRUMP doesn't grant it. nytimes.com/2021/01/10/us/…
NEW DOCUMENT: The pardon petition filed by JULIAN ASSANGE’s lawyer.
It seems tailored for TRUMP, highlighting revelations in the @DNC hack & noting Assange's prosecution stems from publishing material related to "wars initiated by a prior administration." int.nyt.com/data/documentt…
NEW: BIDEN's inaugural is forgoing fossil fuel $, but liberal groups want the ban expanded to "all major corporate sectors" to prevent them "from wielding undue influence."
The BIDEN inaugural committee's "drive to raise so much $ without a clear use for it is perplexing & the appearance of doing so is disconcerting, as we must strive to stamp out the unfettered corruption that has defined the TRUMP era," wrote liberal groups s3.amazonaws.com/demandprogress…
➡️Venture capital executive (@RonaldKlain).
➡️Former pharmaceutical, insurance lobbyist (Steve Ricchetti).
➡️Top Dem recipient of Big Oil $ (@CedricRichmond).
➡️Co-founder of firm that represents pharma & private equity (@jomalleydillon).
MORE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PICKS:
➡️Co-founder of firm that represents big defense & tech companies (@ABlinken).
➡️Ex-consultant for data-miner @PalantirTech (Avril Haines).
➡️Senior VP (on leave) of firm that represented embattled Swiss-based mining giant Glencore (@LindaT_G).
BIDEN ECONOMIC TEAM PICKS:
➡️Managing director for massive NY financial firm (@BrianCDeese).
➡️ex-senior advisor for massive NY financial firm (@wallyadeyemo).
➡️CEO of DC think tank that has raised millions from Wall St, big banks, big tech & defense contractors (@neeratanden).
FIRST ANSWER: @KamalaHarris comes out, guns blazing, no acknowledgement of @Mike_Pence, calls the TRUMP administration's Covid response a failure.
PENCE, by contrast, thanks Susan Page & the debate commission, & acknowledges HARRIS, saying "it's a privilege to be on the stage with you."
Then pivots to calling out BIDEN for opposing Chinese travel suspension.
SHOTS FIRED: Pence says that the Biden Covid response plan "looks a little bit like plagiarism, which is something Joe Biden knows a little bit about." telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews…
NEW: On Fri. 9/25, TRUMP attended a funder at @TrumpDC hotel with RONNA McDANIEL, TOMMY HICKS, TODD RICKETTS & Trump family.
The next day, McDANIEL went home to Mich.
But others who attended the 9/29 funder (Hicks, Ricketts, DJT Jr) went to @TrumpDC on Tues. 9/28 for this event
.@GOPChairwoman RONNA McDANIEL had tested negative on Fri., 9/25, but began experiencing symptoms early this week & received a positive test result on Wed., 9/30.
The RNC says that @TommyHicksGOP tested negative yesterday, & is not experiencing symptoms, but is working from home
MEANWHILE: TRUMP VICTORY emailed donors who attended the Fri., 9/25 fundraiser at @TrumpDC hotel with @POTUS & McDANIEL, urging them to "contact your medical provider if you or any of your loved ones is ill or develops a fever, shortness of breath, or other respiratory symptoms."