Defense breaking down cash payments made to "Big Dan" the main informant.
FBI paid him for 17 weeks of "lost wages" for working full time as informant. (He was truck driver for USPS)
He was only paid in cash by FBI.
FBI paid Big Dan...
$7k related to an fednapping event in 8/20.
$10k for fednapping trip to "recon" Whitmer's cottage and meet new FBI undercover agent in 9/20
$6k in cash on 10/20 a week after arrests in case.
AND $23,540 IN CASH IN DECEMBER 2020 for job well done (my words)
All paid by FBI.
Recall that "Big Dan" is playacting that he's an officer in a fake militia created by FBI. He talked to Adam Fox daily, sometimes several times a day.
On several occasions, Big Dan offered credit cards with $5k to Fox and others to buy weapons, ammo, hotel rooms, etc.
Fox...
was destitute, unemployed (as were others due to pandemic) and trying to please Big Dan.
Big Dan's FBI handlers urged him to keep pushing the cards, provided by another FBI informant the alleged head of Wisconsin fake militia.
Fox and others never took them.
Big Dan's testimony is devastating for government. Not only is he unconvincing that Adam Fox, who lived in cellar of vaccum shop without running water, gave the orders but it's clear Big Dan, taking orders from FBI handlers for Detroit FBI field office, initiated most convos.
At 7/20 mtg in vac shack, Big Dan, with FBI handlers listening, suggested fire rounds into governor mansions in multiple states, firing 3 rounds into Whitmer's cottage that could look like a hunting accident and other "extreme subject matter," defense says.
At 8/20 mtg...
Big Dan, with handlers listening, suggests blowing up Whitmer's cottage or ambushing her on her way to remote cottage.
Big Dan prompts group to conduct surveillance of cottage, how to blow up bridge with access to Whitmer cottage.
BIg Dan confirms Fox gets high at every event.
Big Dan admitted he planned the "ruse" to get defendants to site of arrest on October 7, 2020.
The "ruse" was to buy military gear from another FBI undercover agent, Red.
Defense: "No one tried to give Red money for a bomb."
Dan: "No."
Big Dan and his FBI handler also...
attempted to entrap Frank, another man in Virginia (man in his 70s, disabled vet) to do same to Gov. Northam.
Big Dan and his FBI handler discuss giving Frank a recipe to make bombs.
Defense lawyer for Barry Croft is dressing down Big Dan about getting $ from FBI.
Big Dan claims he never did it for money but was paid as much for 7 months work as he made in an entire year as mail hauler for USPS.
Big Dan claims he bought a laptop to start college but then...
submitted receipt to FBI which reimbursed Big Dan for $4k computer.
Big Dan attended 4/30/20 rally at Lansing Capitol. He testified yesterday that FBI instructed Mich State Police to stand down and allow protesters into the building.
DING DING
Another rally at Lansing Capitol on June 18.
LOL defense showing photo of one of the properties raided by FBI--apparently the door was kicked in.
DOJ objects: "He's just trying to make the FBI look bad."
Croft defense atty going thru all chats, events Croft wasn't part of.
Big Dan again admits by August 2020 there wasn't a plan to kidnap Whitmer.
Defense: There was no plan to kidnap the governor?
Big Dan: No.
Claim the FBI infiltrated militia group to thwart kidnapping plan is a lie. This operation began in March 2020--no plan 5 months later.
Honestly waiting for Big Dan to crack. He sounds totally defeated and Josh Blanchard, Croft's attorney, is absolutely decimating the guy.
Big Dan is basically confessing Barry Croft had little involvement in the group.
What's amazing is jury only hearing a sliver of evidence
Defense gets Dan to admit he purchased laptop 3 days before he set up the arrest ruse in Oct 2020 which ended the mission.
Dan brought targets to arrest site where FBI Hostage Rescue Team, snipers were at the ready. Dan told men to go to back of his truck where he gave them...
the lower receiver of a rifle to hold as FBI descended. Agents also used flashbangs.
Dan told the targets they'd be buying military gear from Red, the undercover FBI agent.
Sounds like FBI also used MRAP a military tactical vehicle.
THIS IS WHY TOP FBI OFFICIALS MUST ANSWER Qs
Big Dan excused. That was horrible for government.
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NEW: A lawsuit filed yesterday by newly-formed Climate United--headed by former Obama aide Beth Bafford and stacked with Dem activists--that received $7 billion from Biden EPA's climate slush fund confirms Citibank has frozen disbursements to the fund:
Every time I dig into this scandal, it gets worse.
As @epaleezeldin disclosed last month, Biden's EPA "parked" $20 billion at Citi in November 2024--a first of its kind arrangement clearly intended to keep funds away from GOP Congress and potential Trump White House.
Climate United is seeking a temporary restraining order against EPA and Citi to force the bank to dole out the funds (our tax money, obviously).
Case is before Judge Tanya Chutkan.
Climate United claims it has already committed $392 to "qualified" projects.
What are they, you might ask? More from lawsuit:
"The first is a $31.8 million pre-construction loan to support solar power projects across rural communities in Arkansas, which was announced in October 2024. Through this project, Climate United is financing pre-construction costs for 18 solar projects comprising the largest commercial and industrial solar deployment in Arkansas history, which is projected to save more than $120 million in energy costs over the project’s life and create hundreds of jobs.
The second is a program to offer affordable leasing options for battery electric heavy-duty trucks to small fleets and independent operators. Climate United issued a request for proposals in October 2024 from qualified U.S. auto manufacturers to deliver up to 500 electric drayage trucks, which Climate United intends to begin leasing at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. When completed, these orders will represent some of the largest-ever purchases of domestically manufactured battery electric trucks in U.S. history. Climate United intends to expand this program nationally. This program will not only reduce the cost per mile of operating drayage trucks for small businesses, but it will also reduce air pollution in port communities and create demand for U.S. manufacturing in factories across the country.
The third is $63 million in committed pre-construction financing for projects to design and develop solar power plants in partnership with Tribal governments and communities. These projects bring access to affordable energy to rural communities and Indigenous people in addition to quality jobs and local economic development. Initial projects will be located in Eastern Oregon and Idaho."
Hearing about to get underway in Judge Tanya Chutkan's courtroom related to blue state lawsuit against Elon Musk/DOGE seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting Musk from:
(1) Accessing or continuing to access any data systems and the information and code contained within those systems, including but not limited to systems containing sensitive or confidential agency and personnel data at the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce, or any components of any of those agencies, or copying, transferring, or in any way disseminating any data from any of the agencies identified in this paragraph.
(2) Terminating, furloughing, or otherwise placing on involuntary leave—whether paid or unpaid—any officers or employees of the federal government working within any of the Departments and agencies identified above.
Apparently lots of tech difficulties but Chutkan notes the urgent nature of the matter (LOL) so she set this remote hearing on a federal holiday.
"TROs are extraordinary remedies," Chutkan notes. She says harm must be imminent to justify a TRO pending a preliminary injunction. She asks states' lawyer why they said they needed to collect more discovery and doesn't it undercut their argument for a TRO?
Lawyer points to news reports justifying the "imminent harm" claims--Chutkan pushes back, says lots of reporting and she can't rely on news reports as evidence.
"Our concerns is how the defendants are using the data," state lawyer says.
Chutkan wants more clarity on harms to the states by Musk's work--lawyers says Musk is using data to determine cuts such as Dept. of Education which would harm the states. Lawyer says they rely on Dept of Ed money for education programs.
Chutkan asks if program has been cut? Lawyer says they are waiting for confirmation. "What is the irreparable harm here," Chutkan asks again. Notes that if a program is cut and she issues a prelim injunction, program funding can be restored at that point.
Chutkan says harm has to be "so serious" to justify a TRO--says their claims are "serious" but doesn't demonstrate imminent harm.
Chutkan says DOGE is not proceeding in an "orderly and deliberate fashion" but a "general fear" this is going to happen is not enough for a TRO. "I am not seeing it so far."
She notes that several of her colleagues have issued TROs--"this case is not the same as those," Chutkan tells states lawyer.
"If I deny TRO and put this on prelim injunction schedule, why can't you come back in a few days when these things actually start happening. This is a prophylactic TRO and that's not allowed," Chutkan says.
Lawyer points to tweets and memos as proof of imminent harm and that cuts to federal programs that will impact states are coming soon.
Hearing now before Judge Jia Cobb on 2 lawsuits filed by anonymous FBI employees and agents.
Plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump DOJ from collecting and sharing names of those involved in Jan 6 investigation/prosecution.
Mark Zaid, Brad Moss, and Norm Eisen among the lawyers in court representing FBI.
Judge Cobb explaining why she wants to consolidate the 2 lawsuits--one filed by FBI agents association and one filed by 9 anonymous FBI employees.
Initial argument is related to a temp restraining order then a briefing on a preliminary injunction related to releasing the names of survey respondents. DOJ appears to say they don't plan to make names public.
Important to note that Chief Judge Boasberg has allowed the filing of the anonymous lawsuits even after admitting that is not the normal process.
FBI attorney now suggesting "quasi-governmental" officer" (Musk?) could access "confidential information" about the FBI employees
NEW: More evidence of doctored FBI pipe bomb video?
Here is the side by side of two different cameras from DNC security system.
One clip is at a glacial pace while the other camera appears to work at semi-normal frame rate.
THREAD:
But in a similar side by side posted by the FBI last night in its clean-up press release, the faster camera is intentionally SLOWED DOWN to make it appear both cameras are in sync. (Note the cheesy music and voice over.)
Even more suspicious--in 2021, the FBI posted this clip, which is from the very same camera as the new clip the FBI posted last night attempting to show the "pipe bomber" set down the device.
This is at 7:43pm. The time stamp of new clip is 7:52.
But why did the FBI wait YEARS to post a clip from roughly 10 minutes later on the SAME CAMERA?
Especially a clip that is supposed to debunk suspicions that the device was not planted at the DNC on Jan 5?