@jaketapper's Threads
12 added
From Amb. Bill Taylor's opening statement:
In addition to normal policy-making, "there was an irregular, informal channel of U.S. policy-making with respect to Ukraine," that included Volker, Sondland, Perry and Giuliani. By August 'the channels diverged in their objectives."
1
In addition to normal policy-making, "there was an irregular, informal channel of U.S. policy-making with respect to Ukraine," that included Volker, Sondland, Perry and Giuliani. By August 'the channels diverged in their objectives."
1
2/ In June, Volker and Sondlad told Taylor that Trump "'wanted to hear from Zelenskyy' before scheduling the meeting in the Oval Office."
June 27: Sondland told him "Zelenskyy needed to make clear" that he "was not standing in the way of 'investigations.'"
June 27: Sondland told him "Zelenskyy needed to make clear" that he "was not standing in the way of 'investigations.'"
3/June 28: Sondland told Taylor he didn't want to include most of the normal participants in a phone call with Zelenskyy.
Volker, Sondland, Perry and Taylor joined the call. Before patching Zelenskyy in, Sondland made sure no one was transcribing or monitoring.
Volker, Sondland, Perry and Taylor joined the call. Before patching Zelenskyy in, Sondland made sure no one was transcribing or monitoring.
Scathing oped from former Special Ops Commander Admiral Bill McRaven: “Our Republic Is Under Attack From the President“ nytimes.com/2019/10/17/opi…
He asks: “If our promises are meaningless, how will our allies ever trust us? If we can’t have faith in our nation’s principles, why would the men and women of this nation join the military? And if they don’t join, who will protect us?...
“... If we are not the champions of the good and the right, then who will follow us? And if no one follows us — where will the world end up?”
Ranking GOPer on House Oversight @Jim_Jordan: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Elijah Cummings, a man of great consequence and significance on the Oversight Committee for the last twenty years. As Ranking Member and then as Chairman, he injected an unyielding passion...
2/“... and purpose into his work on the Committee. Our prayers are with his wife, Maya, his children, and all his loved ones. Our thoughts are also with his staff, who are among the hardest working people on Capitol Hill...
3/“... Their loyalty and affinity for him speaks volumes about his character."
Trump’s former Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert on this insanity:
“It's not only a conspiracy theory, it is completely debunked.... I am deeply frustrated with what he (GIULIANI) and the legal team is doing and repeating that debunked theory to the President...
“It's not only a conspiracy theory, it is completely debunked.... I am deeply frustrated with what he (GIULIANI) and the legal team is doing and repeating that debunked theory to the President...
2/ “... It sticks in his mind when he hears it over and over again.
"And for clarity here, George, let me just again repeat that it has no validity.
“United States government reached its conclusion on attributing to Russia the DNC hack in 2016...
"And for clarity here, George, let me just again repeat that it has no validity.
“United States government reached its conclusion on attributing to Russia the DNC hack in 2016...
3/ “... before it even communicated it to the FBI, long before the FBI ever knocked on the door at the DNC.
“So a server inside the DNC was not relevant to our determination to the attribution. It was made up front and beforehand...
“So a server inside the DNC was not relevant to our determination to the attribution. It was made up front and beforehand...
Asked GEN John Allen (Ret.), former special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, for comment about today's horrific news out of Syria.
"This unfolding humanitarian catastrophe was completely foreseeable," he emailed back. "The US green lighted it."
1/
"This unfolding humanitarian catastrophe was completely foreseeable," he emailed back. "The US green lighted it."
1/
2/ More Allen: "There was no chance Erdogan would keep his promise, and full blown ethnic cleansing is underway by Turkish-supported militias. This is what happens when Trump follows his instincts and because of his alignment with autocrats.
3/ More Allen: "I said there would be blood, but could not have imagined this outcome. There is blood on Trump’s hands for abandoning our Kurdish allies.
A source familiar with McAleenan's thinking tells CNN that the acting secretary felt he had accomplished all he could given the political realities of today -- specifically the unlikelihood that any legislative deal on immigration will happen in an election year.
2/ Acting figures in the department whose tone and tenor are more Trump-like -- acting commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection Mark Morgan and acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli -- have caused him difficulties, sources tell CNN.
The President appointing hardliners to leadership positions in his department hasn't made his job any easier. Morgan and Cuccinelli have seemingly openly campaigned to replace him and pushed rules that have seemed harsh to many in the public.
Doing what Erdogan wants in Northern Syria at the expense of US allies the Kurds?
Threatening but not imposing new sanctions today?
Why?
Trump has deferred to Erdogan an extraordinary number of times with no real explanation. 1/
Threatening but not imposing new sanctions today?
Why?
Trump has deferred to Erdogan an extraordinary number of times with no real explanation. 1/
2/ The weirdness begins with Michael Flynn, an unregistered lobbyist for Turkey when he was tapped as Nat Sec Adviser.
3/ Per former CIA director James Woolsey, Flynn – while advising the Trump campaign – met with Turkish officials to discuss forcibly moving Erdogan foe/Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulan from Pennsylvania to Turkey.
wsj.com/articles/ex-ci…
wsj.com/articles/ex-ci…
New Q poll:
Should President Trump be impeached and removed from office
45% YES
49% NO
poll.qu.edu/national/relea…
Should President Trump be impeached and removed from office
45% YES
49% NO
poll.qu.edu/national/relea…
Some more findings in this poll.
Impeachment inquiry is:
Legitimate investigation 51%
Political witch hunt 43%
Impeachment inquiry is:
Legitimate investigation 51%
Political witch hunt 43%
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is responding to the impeachment inquiry?
Approve 34%
Disapprove 57%
Approve 34%
Disapprove 57%
An honor to speak at @TempleUniv today to talk to college students, support the Lew Klein Scholarships for journalism students, see old friends like @SteveCapus, and meet some amazing alumni like the great @jkbjournalist! #GoOwls #GoEagles 
I cannot stress enough how wonderful it was to meet @jkbjournalist. Were it not for her, Epstein would still be committing unimaginable crimes against children.
Back at the anchor desk today at 4 pm ET/ 1 pm Pacific with all the latest breaking news and analysis — The Lead: White House In Crisis
1/ TEXT MESSAGES show a WH and administration determined to push Ukraine to investigate the 2016 election and undermine the Mueller report, and to investigate the Bidens. It becomes a key point of negotiation as Ukrainian President Zelensky seeks a WH meeting and military aid:
2/July 25, 2019, 8:36 am US Special Rep Kurt Volker for Ukraine to Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak:
"Heard from White House -- assuming President Z convinces trump he will investigate/'get to the bottom of what happened' in 2016, we will nail down date for visit to Washington."
"Heard from White House -- assuming President Z convinces trump he will investigate/'get to the bottom of what happened' in 2016, we will nail down date for visit to Washington."
3/ Then comes much coordination between Volker, Yermak, US Ambassador to EU Gordon Sundland, and Rudy Giuliani about a statement the Trump Team wants Zelensky to make.
Breaking — A source familiar with the investigation prompted by the whistleblower tells me that the “indicia of bias of an arguable political bias on the part“ of the whistleblower referred to by the Intel Community IG, is that the whistleblower is a Registered Democrat.
2/ The attorney for the whistleblower declined to comment.
The IG said "such evidence did not change my determination that the complaint relating to the urgent concern 'appears credible' particularly given the other information the ICIG obtained during its preliminary review."
The IG said "such evidence did not change my determination that the complaint relating to the urgent concern 'appears credible' particularly given the other information the ICIG obtained during its preliminary review."
3/ An expert on whistleblowers tells me he suspects the IG included the “possible bias” language, before dismissing it, as “a CYA measure” since being of the other party (a party the president once belonged to) is not disqualifying in any way.
1/ Ten years ago today: the Battle of Combat Outpost Keating.
COP Keating was at the bottom of three steep mountains just 14 miles from the Pakistan border.
This terrain overview gives you an idea of how vulnerable it was:
COP Keating was at the bottom of three steep mountains just 14 miles from the Pakistan border.
This terrain overview gives you an idea of how vulnerable it was:
2/ COP Keating had been built in 2006 to work with the local populace, to convince them to reject the Taliban.
Here’s some early footage of the COP:
Here’s some early footage of the COP:
3/ There were constant firefights.
Thanks to @MichaelRWarren for shedding light on just why the State Department IG handed over to Congress a number of files described by Rep @jamie_raskin as “conspiracy theories” about various officials.
Rudy Giuliani says some of the documents originated with him.
Rudy Giuliani says some of the documents originated with him.
2/ Giuliani told @MichaelRWarren that in late March of 2019, he “routed” what he called an “outline” of allegations against Biden and former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch to the office of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
3/ Giuliani told @MichaelRWarren he also sent details of his interviews from earlier in the year with the incumbent and former top prosecutors in Ukraine, who helped provide him with the information in his outline.
Pompeo: “As for was I on the phone call, I was on the phone call. The phone call was in the context of now I guess I've been Secretary of State for coming on a year and a half. I know precisely what the American policy is with respect to Ukraine. It's been remarkably consistent..
2/”...and we will continue to try to drive those set of outcomes. It's what our team including Ambassador Volker were focused on... taking down the threat that Russia poses to the Ukraine. It was about helping the Ukrainians get graft out, corruption outside of their government..
3/“... and to help now this new government in the Ukraine build a sucessful thriving economy. It's what State Department officials that I've had the privilege to lead been engaged in and it’s what we will continue to do even while all this noise is going on."
- from press pool
- from press pool
Of this allegation in the Intel Community whistleblower complaint, a former director on the national security council tells me:
“There is no way to overstate what an egregious violation and misapplication of the codeword system this complaint highlights. ...
“There is no way to overstate what an egregious violation and misapplication of the codeword system this complaint highlights. ...
2/“... This is a repository for our nation’s most closely-guarded intelligence. It is sacrosanct. ...
3/“... Choosing to place information there which typically should exist in, what is referred to as The Portal, clearly showcases an intent to use the close-hold and limited-access characteristics of the code word system to restrict access to this information without cause...
While the House Democratic Caucus was moving forward on an impeachment inquiry, the GOP-led Senate passed a resolution that the Intel Community whistleblower complaint be turned over asap to the House & Senate Intel Committees. 1/
2/ Sponsored by Minority Leader @SenSchumer the bill passed by "unanimous consent," meaning no one objected to it. Here's the link:
democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…
democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…
@SenSchumer 3/ "Expressing the sense of the Senate that the whistleblower
complaint received on August 12, 2019, by the Inspector
General of the Intelligence Community should be transmitted immediately ...
complaint received on August 12, 2019, by the Inspector
General of the Intelligence Community should be transmitted immediately ...
Afghan Security forces (@NDSAfghanistan) report: “Afghan Special Forces killed 6 Al-Qaeda terrorists embedded within a Taliban unit in their hideout in Musa Qala, Helmand.”
That’s pretty significant for those following the peace talks: AQ embedded with the Taliban.
That’s pretty significant for those following the peace talks: AQ embedded with the Taliban.
2/ As @barbarastarrcnn notes, this comes just 2 weeks after President Trump rescinded the Camp David invitation to the Taliban; under those now-terminated talks the Taliban had pledged to end their support for Al Qaeda.
3/ More Starr: “US and Afghan forces Sunday night engaged in an hours long battle against Al Qaeda forces in Helmand province that the US says were being sheltered and supported by the Taliban. Both US and Afghan ground forces were wounded in the battle.”
1/ Anatomy of a smear: progressive activist
@AdamGreen posts on Sept 13, at a reception for the Congressional Black Caucus annual legislative conference, video of @IlhanMN dancing:
@AdamGreen posts on Sept 13, at a reception for the Congressional Black Caucus annual legislative conference, video of @IlhanMN dancing:
@AdamGreen @IlhanMN 2/ The president of the United States RTs the lie to his 64.4 million followers that she was dancing on the anniversary of 9/11. It's completely false, it's a smear, and no doubt it raises security issues.
@AdamGreen @IlhanMN 3/ Is there really no one in the @WhiteHouse, no one in the
@GOP, who sees that this is indecent and unacceptable behavior?
@GOP, who sees that this is indecent and unacceptable behavior?
Statement from Cokie Roberts' family:
"Her loving family announces the passing of journalist and author Cokie Roberts, due to complications from breast cancer, on September 17.
"Her loving family announces the passing of journalist and author Cokie Roberts, due to complications from breast cancer, on September 17.
2/ "Born Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs on Dec. 27, 1943, Cokie was – first and foremost – a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin and friend.
Cokie’s career as a journalist at National Public Radio and ABC News took her to the heights of her profession,...
Cokie’s career as a journalist at National Public Radio and ABC News took her to the heights of her profession,...
3/"...and her success as an author on history and family put her on the best seller list.
But her values put family and relationships above all else.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, journalist, author and professor Steven V. Roberts,...
But her values put family and relationships above all else.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, journalist, author and professor Steven V. Roberts,...
Oh no ....
Cokie was a giant. She was smart and pithy and tough as nails. There wasn’t anyone else like her. What a loss. I’m so sorry for her family and close friends.
“Tough as nails” obviously intended as the highest of compliments for a DC journalist. Privately she was kind and supportive and mentored so many. So horrible.
.@VP Pence to me on @CNNSotu in June: "The president of the United States has made it clear we’re prepared to talk to Iran without preconditions."
@VP @CNNSotu Interview is here, quote comes at 8:40 --- "no preconditions" (although then he seems to set a precondition!)
cnn.com/videos/politic…
cnn.com/videos/politic…
3/ Beyond that, you have Secretary Mnuchin last week: "the President has made clear he is happy to take a meeting with no preconditions"
whitehouse.gov/briefings-stat…
whitehouse.gov/briefings-stat…
And now MORE from the continuing adventures of TOOTY-CUBE™️ by my 9-year-old!
When last we saw TOOTY-CUBE™️ he had been locked up in prison by CUBE CONTROL. Our adventures continues now...
panel 1:
panel 1:
Panel 2:
I asked @SecPompeo if he trusts the Taliban, given their July video proclaiming continued support for 9/11 and UN Security Council monitoring team reported that Al Qaeda “considers Afghanistan a continuing safe haven for its leadership.
POMPEO: “trust but verify.”
POMPEO: “trust but verify.”
Time for another episode of TOOTY-CUBE™️ by my 9-year-old!
Panel 1: Itchy, Circle and TOOTY-CUBE™️ at school
2: A. DISRUPTION ! They go through a TIME PORTAL!
