Tag: GOP now the party of corruption

‘Inside Job?’: Republican strategist explains how GOP’s vote against the Jan. 6 commission really looks

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Conservatives seem happy to lie about everything from election fraud to Sandy Hook, until it’s time to go to court.

One Republican strategist has a relatively different take on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. While an overwhelming number of Americans have blamed former President Donald Trump for inciting the insurrection, one strategist actually views the entire ordeal as an “inside job.” 

On Friday, May 28, Rick Wilson appeared on The Dean Obeidallah Show where he expressed frustration over House and Senate Republicans’ failure to support the establishment of the Jan. 6 commission. where he expressed frustration over House and Senate Republicans’ failure to support the establishment of the Jan. 6 commission.While the commission would have opened the door for a thorough investigation into the U.S. Capitol insurrection, Republican lawmakers managed to block the effort by way of the filibuster. 

According to the longtime Republican, the lawmakers’ efforts appear to be relative to an “inside job.” When asked how Democratic lawmakers should move forward politically, Wilson laid out his arguments. Continue reading.

Graham to start hearings on Russia probe, Flynn in June

The Hill logoSen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Thursday that the Senate Judiciary Committee will start hearings in June on the FBI’s investigation into Russian election interference and President Trump‘s campaign.

Graham said in a statement that the hearings will deal with the Justice Department’s decision to drop its case against former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn, the warrant applications against former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page and if former special counsel Robert Mueller should have been appointed.

“The Judiciary Committee will begin holding multiple, in-depth congressional hearings regarding all things related to Crossfire Hurricane starting in early June,” Graham said. Continue reading.

Mitch McConnell calls Trump ‘nuts’ behind his back — and even compares him to Roy Moore: report

AlterNet logoWhat Republicans say about President Donald Trump publicly and what they say in private can be two very different things — and according to The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer, a prime example is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Publicly, the Kentucky Republican paints himself as a staunch Trump ally. But Mayer, in an in-depth article, reports that privately, McConnell has described the president as “nuts” and expressed frustration with some of Trump’s antics.

Mayer’s piece, headlined “How Mitch McConnell Became Trump’s Enabler in Chief,” takes a close look at McConnell’s history — both before and after Trump became president. And she stresses that McConnell, publicly, has been a vigorous Trump defender. But in private, the Senate majority leader has, at times, cringed.

“Although the two men almost always support each other in public,” Mayer reports, “several members of McConnell’s innermost circle told me that in private, things are quite different. They say that behind Trump’s back, McConnell has called the president ‘nuts’ and made clear that he considers himself smarter than Trump — and that he ‘can’t stand him.’” Continue reading.

Sadism, crime and a love of lies: What 3,500 lawsuits reveal about Trump’s true nature

AlterNet logoAmerican presidents before Donald Trump had some record of public achievement in politics, government or the military before they were elected. Donald Trump lacked any of those credentials, but brought his astounding history of involvement in thousands of lawsuits to the nation’s highest office. This trove of cases from more than 45 years reflects Trump’s contempt for ethical standards and for the US Constitution and the rule of law, the foundation of American democracy.

As a perennial litigant, Trump weaponized the law to devastate perceived enemies, to consolidate power, to frustrate opposing parties, as former federal prosecutor and acclaimed author James D. Zirin illuminates in his compelling and disturbing history of Trump’s use and abuse of the law, Plaintiff in Chief: A Portrait of Trump in 3,500 Lawsuits (All Points Books).

Mr. Zirin is a distinguished veteran attorney who spent decades handling complex litigation. He is also a self-described “middle of the road Republican.” Plaintiff in Chief stands as his response to Trump’s disrespect for law and our legal system. He stresses that the book is a legal study, not a partisan takedown. Continue reading.

White House pulls nomination of Pentagon official who raised Ukraine aid concerns

Washington Post logoThe White House on Monday pulled the nomination of a Pentagon official who gained prominence because of concerns she raised about withholding military aid for Ukraine.

In a statement, the White House said it had withdrawn the nomination of Elaine McCusker as Pentagon comptroller, a position she has held on an acting basis. It provided no reason why McCusker, a career civil servant who was nominated to be confirmed in the job in November, would no longer be considered.

The decision is likely to deepen concerns about whether the Trump administration is singling out officials seen as playing a role unfavorable to the president in matters related to his impeachment. It follows the departure last month of John Rood, a top policy official who likewise was a leading figure in the Pentagon’s response to the delay of security aid to Ukraine, an issue that became central to the impeachment proceedings against President Trump. Continue reading.

Beyond the Partisan Fight, a Wealth of Evidence About Trump and Ukraine

New York Times logoRegardless of the Senate’s verdict, the impeachment inquiry, President Trump’s own words and other revelations yield a narrative establishing his involvement in the pressure campaign.

As the Senate moved toward acquitting President Trump on Wednesday, even some Republicans stopped trying to defend his actions or dispute the evidence, focusing instead on the idea that his conduct did not deserve removal from office, especially in an election year.

Mr. Trump’s “behavior was shameful and wrong,” and “his personal interests do not take precedence over those of this great nation,” Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, said on Monday. She went on to declare that she would nonetheless vote to acquit. Continue reading.

DOJ: Congress must meet high bar for Trump tax information

Cases set for March 31 oral argument

The Justice Department on Monday night backed President Donald Trump in the Supreme Court fight over congressional subpoenas for his financial documents, telling the justices that lawmakers must meet a higher bar when seeking a sitting president’s personal records.

The cases, set for March 31 oral argument, center on subpoenas from three House committees to accounting firm Mazars USA, Deutsche Bank and Capital One Financial Corp. House Democrats are seeking eight years of Trump’s financial and tax records.

Trump filed lawsuits to challenge the subpoenas in his personal capacity, and a Supreme Court decision expected by the end of the term at the end of June could reshape the limits for impeachment and other oversight investigations into a sitting president. Continue reading.

Stunning new report details how Deutsche Bank’s ‘very long’ and ‘complicated’ relationship with Trump cemented its role ‘as a reckless institution’

AlterNet logoWhether President Donald Trump was being investigated by Democrat-led committees in the U.S. House of Representatives or by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office, a name that has often come up in connection with the president is Deutsche Bank — an institution known for dealing with businesses that other large banks shy away from. And Trump’s extensive dealings with Deutsche Bank are the focus of an in-depth article by journalist David Enrich for the New York Times.

Trump’s relationship with Deutsche Bank, Enrich explains, is a “very long, very complicated” one that goes back to 1998.

“Over the course of two decades, the bank lent him more than $2 billion — so much that by the time he was elected, ­Deutsche Bank was by far his biggest creditor,” Enrich reports. “Against all odds, Trump paid back most of what he owed the bank.” Continue reading.

Here Are the Facts Behind President Trump’s 2020 State of the Union Claims

During his 2020 State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Trump touched on a wide variety of issues, from the economy and health care to immigration and the military.

Trump also took the opportunity to highlight what he considers his biggest accomplishments so far, including overseeing a period of economic growth, the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and more, giving his address the air of a campaign rally — especially as this year’s campaign season is just getting underway.

But over the course of his speech, President Trump made several claims that were exaggerated or factually incorrect. Here are the facts you need to know about Trump’s claims.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Trump spoke about an “affordable” and “high-quality” health care system and said that “we will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions.” But health experts say the President has long supported efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and subsequently strip away consumer protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.

Statement on the Acquittal of President Donald Trump

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, DFL Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement in response to the acquittal of President Donald Trump:

“This is a deeply tragic day for our country, our Constitution and our Republic. Senate Republicans have chosen corruption over justice, party over country, and the shameless pursuit of power over their oaths to protect and defend our Constitution.

“Today, Republicans have emblazoned their names into a disgraceful chapter of our history books. Through their acquittal votes, Republicans normalized foreign intervention in our elections and set a precedent that politicians can lie to the American people, abuse the power of their offices, obstruct justice, and get away with it.”