Is Mark Meadows cooperating with the DOJ ?

[kentuck]

We haven't heard much from Mr Meadows in the last few weeks?

We did read that Trump's closest advisers told him that he should not be associating with Mr Meadows. How should we read that?

A corollary to the Meadows story is that Trump's lawyers are now negotiating with the DOJ. And that they are negotiating over the claim of "executive privilege"?

If one were to put all these stories together, one might assume that the "executive privilege" claim is about Mark Meadows and what he might be telling the prosecutors of the DOJ?

Also, another story that has been making the rounds is that Trump expects to be "indicted".

Could it be that there is a big story that is getting ready to fall?

[WheelWalker]

1. Someone in a skill position should be updating "Downfall",

the parody. Or is it yet too soon?

[Stinky The Clown]

2. I stood in the middle of the highway and looked thataway. I saw *something* . . . . . .

. . . . . coming down the pike.

Probably wishful thinking.

Or maybe not . . . . . .

[Effete Snob]

3. Trump won't quit talking to him

So if Meadows is cooperating, they’re getting an earful regularly.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-disregarding-advice-stop-talking-jan-6-targets

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly ignoring advice from some of his allies to refrain from communicating with current and former aides such as Mark Meadows who are in the crosshairs of the House Jan. 6 committee.

[Ohio Joe]

4. IMO... He is not cooperating yet...

My thoughts on how things are going to happen have not changed much:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216824291

The time for sentencing of the flippers approaches and with it I expect the next level of indictments. The big question right now is will DOJ need to delay sentencing in order to validate everything given up to them or are they good to go.

Also… The executive privilege debate will include Cipollone… Maybe others… But it’s really already been decided, even by TFG’s Supreme Court. Biden is President now… He has the final say on executive privilege.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. Hmm. Heard fg lawyers "discussing" exec privilege

Negotiating? Implies something completely different to my non- legal brain. Do explain further? Thanks!

[kentuck]

6. I think I heard the word "negotiating" specifically used?

But "discussing" would have an entirely different meaning, I suppose?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. Interesting... From CNN...

CNN senior legal analyst Preet Bharara said that the fact that Trump's lawyers are already in communication with the investigation suggests they believe he may have some significant exposure down the line.

"Actively engaging suggests to me that the lawyers think that there is some jeopardy here and they should engage sooner rather than later," Bharara, a former US attorney for the Southern District of New York, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. Bharara cautioned that the investigation could last a long time and that a decision "about whether or not to charge Donald Trump" could occur many months from now.

Learning what Trump was saying and thinking as his mob smashed its way into the US Capitol and during his prior schemes designed to overturn his election loss could help establish whether the ex-President acted with corrupt intent and could be at risk of being criminally charged.

More immediately, the dialogue with Trump's lawyers could also be the curtain raiser to what may well be a critical legal fight over the extent to which Trump -- as an ex-President -- can assert executive privilege over conversations and advice he received while in office. Such a case could go all the way to the Supreme Court and in itself break new legal ground since there is little litigation on the issue concerning out-of-office presidents. Executive privilege is the custom under which private conversations and advice given to a president can remain private, especially from Congress, under the doctrine of separation of powers.

A long legal duel

[Ohio Joe]

7. The 'negotiating' term came from...

Cipollone talking to the 1/6 committee. The question there was did the 1/6 committee want to spend three or four months winning in court or get what they could out of him right now.

There will be no such negotiation with the DOJ, they will win it in court.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. But sounds like trump et al will drag out the legal question

about privilege all the way to the friendly SC.

[Ohio Joe]

10. It's already been decided by the friendly SC...

Back in Jan, tfg tried to block the 1/6 committee from getting White House records. Tfg claimed privilege and President Biden said nope, hand them over, and the friendly SC said privilege belongs to the current President.

Yes… tfg will try again but he will also lose again.

[former9thward]

15. Legally, documents and conversations are two different animals.

The SC has not decided the argument about conversations.

[Ohio Joe]

17. The result will be the same...

Not even this Supreme Court is going to decide we have Presidents for life. It would allow former Presidents to have a say in anything. Won’t happen. It’s why he lost 8-1.

[former9thward]

18. If you read the decision that is not why he lost.

He lost because the documents are federal properly and covered by the federal records act. Conversations do not belong to the federal government. They are different.

[Ohio Joe]

21. That was there as well but...

The basis was the incumbent president, not a former president, is master of the privilege.

[Fiendish Thingy]

20. I disagree - I guess we'll find out. Nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. What's your feel on subject? Do you think his claimed

Privilege will be upheld? If there's an illegal act, privilege doesn't apply, right. So how do you prove illegality if you can't get testimony? Chicken and egg thing?

[former9thward]

25. The court could hear the testimony in chambers.

No media or other witnesses. And then make a decision. If no criminality then I think the privilege argument is upheld. Decision makers have the right to have confidential advice.

[kentuck]

26. But what are the odds of "no criminality" in the request for executive privilege?

Slim to none?

[former9thward]

27. Maybe.

We will see.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

28. Agree. But just talking odds... There has to be a time

when a person who is an expert at skirting the law, will get caught, right? Just a matter of time. You know he has to have a team of legal eagles to research and track and counterattack. Yikes, who are these people?

[2naSalit]

12. It could be a few things that I can think of...

Last edited Sun Aug 7, 2022, 11:27 PM - Edit history (1)

It could be bullshit.

It could be that they have discovered that Meadows is likely cooperating with DoJ and any contact could cause problems like witness tampering charges.

There is no privilege for any of those clowns. Only if Biden allows executive privilege for -45 only, it does not extend to others. And there is no privilege if you are trying to not be held accountable for crimes.

[PJMcK]

11. Watch this

https://m.

[2naSalit]

16. Thanks.

Makes me feel better already.

[tinrobot]

13. Possibly the reason why he didn't get the Bannon treatment on his J6 subpoena

I suspect he's at least in discussions with the DOJ. If he is, then they may not pursue the subpoena as part of the deal.

There's also the possibility that the DOJ wants to keep his info secret. Testifying to the J6 committee could compromise that.

[DFW]

14. I consulted with the one person with the biggest stake in what he says. His response:

Couched in (moon-)shadowy terms, of course.

[Fiendish Thingy]

19. No need to negotiate privilege issues re: Meadows

SCOTUS resolved that issue back in January- Trump no longer holds any executive privilege, Biden does, and has waived it.

The only relevant privilege discussions would be attorney/client privilege regarding Grand jury testimony by Giuliani, or Eastman, perhaps Ellis.

[fightforfreedom]

22. From day one I believed Meadows would sing like a canary.

He is a coward who would turn on his own mother in order to save his dumb corrupt ass. Trump is talking to him for a reason. He knows Meadows knows everything. Hopefully the FBI has been recording the conversations between Meadows and Trump.

Trumps lawyers are telling Trump to stop communicating with people who are under investigation for a reason. They may be cooperating with the DOJ.

[malaise]

23. All I know is that Garland is going to

[eleny]

29. You know I do. He's been so quiet. Even today!