I am convinced that Trump planned to sell some documents to the Russians or Chinese for $

[ashredux]

[BeyondGeography]

1. Or leverage for deals

[2naSalit]

11. Or maybe al ittle of both?

[PatSeg]

35. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing

What other benefit would he derive from holding on to them? He probably didn't even understand most of them.

[llmart]

63. The Russians and/or the Chinese...

probably had to tell him specifically which documents to squirrel away in his safe. Plus, he's probably been doing this since day one in the White House. In addition, this was probably what he promised them for their interference in the election.

[PatSeg]

66. Oh I agree

I am sure he left office with debts to pay and they would have told him what they wanted. I'd include the Saudis as well. I'm sure Trump didn't know or understand most of the documents. That would take reading and an attention span.

[Irish_Dem]

58. Yes Trump would steal docs that he can sell, or use for blackmail or revenge.

Leverage for deals yes.

Maybe his own get out of jail card free card.
Threaten to release embarrassing or damaging info if he is indicted.

[lark]

2. He definitely had some profit motives in mind to take stuff out of boxes & put it in his safe.

This was done deliberately to try and hide the information until he could use it again to help him steal the presidency again. Russia definitely is first to mind, but Saudi Arabia may have already paid for and been given documents? Pure speculation - but the 2 billion Jared got wasn't for nothing.

[msfiddlestix]

13. ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ n/t

but the 2 billion Jared got wasn't for nothing.

[2naSalit]

15. Which makes me wonder...

What's buried in that big, prominently placed grave for Ivana that doesn't need a casket sized hole since she was cremated?



Pure speculation but, he rarely disappoints in that category.

[Hekate]

61. She was cremated? I missed that. As to what you said: he always tells you what he's doing...

In plain sight — as we have learned, every accusation is a projection and often a confession.

I wonder… if the FBI could insist on an exhumation? Oopsie, lots of boxes of papers and one little cardboard box of ashes.

[70sEraVet]

22. I've been speculating about the Saudi golf tounament

Maybe a clandestine transfer at a sand-trap?

[PatSeg]

37. Oh yes, the Saudis

My first thought was Russia, but the Saudis have money to burn. Trump looks for a profit motive in every situation he encounters. Also, he probably was a little bitter about being evicted from the White House - "You're kicking me out? Okay fine, I'll take a few things on my way out the door." That's the way his twisted mind works.

[Meadowoak]

3. Absolutely!

[Effete Snob]

4. He sent his top people

[harumph]

44. Malkovich's performance was brilliant

in this underappreciated Coen Bros. film. One of my favorites.

In the Basic Laws of Human Stupidity, (Carlo) Cipolla divided people and their behaviour along a couple of lines: the benefits to others, and the benefit to themselves. From here you find four types of people:

Bandits: people who gain at others expense
Helpless: people who benefit others at their own expense
Intelligent: people who provide gains for both themselves and others
Stupid: people who cost others without gaining, or even losing, something themselves

[samnsara]

5. or blackmail someone

[Jarqui]

6. "planned"?

Or already did.

Some other ally may have reported to the US that the Russians or Saudis for example got the intelligence.
Why does Jared get $2 billion from the Saudis? Because he's a nice guy?

Trump is not a patient guy. He has tremendous needs for cash as his businesses took at big hit.
To be still in planning mode 18 months after leaving office? I don't think that is likely.

[2naSalit]

18. +1

[PatSeg]

38. Very possible

[MiniMe]

7. Biden has ruined his Putin love

He needs to find a way to get back into Vlad's good graces

[Demsrule86]

8. Or maybe he already has and it was discovered.

[Mr. Ected]

9. Recalling that the MAGAts wanted "A businessman in charge, not a politician"

You get what you wish for. Selling out America for personal profit. How absolutely foreseeable.

[OLDMDDEM]

10. I agree with you

This slime is a huuuuge detriment to our country. His idea of a good time is grifting money from his cult. Too bad they don't realize what a con he is.

[Scrivener7]

12. Or already did. The Saudis didn't give Jared $2 billion because of his scintillating personality.

Or the other billion he got earlier from Qatar.

[ashredux]

16. True, you don't get some kid $2 billion for nothing

[yardwork]

14. I'm convinced that he gave them documents to settle some of his debts.

A lot of evil things happened because of information Trump gave, sold, or lost to people who are no friends to the United States.

[Firestorm49]

17. Regrettably, selling top secret info was my first thought. After all, we're dealing with Grifter #1.

[2naSalit]

23. I watched a lot of commentary...

Yesterday and someone, I apologize I can't recall who or which program, said that there was *possibly* false intel planted at some point during tfg's term that would indicate, when disbursed, be a dead giveaway that he was selling intel. Something juicy and obvious to the intel community. If so, the response has been triggered and that's why this has been ordered. Once again, speculation, I think, though it is something I suspected at one point a couple years ago. It's not like he walked into a DC run by clueless novices like him, there had to have been secret pacts in the SES to avoid letting him have access to sensitive info of any kind.

[ashredux]

28. Oh my, that's an interesting point, let's hope

[PatSeg]

39. Yes, that makes perfect sense

If true, it is a bit reassuring to know that some in our institutions were trying to protect us from Trump.

[2naSalit]

48. There are so many layers...

To the functioning of our governing body that most don't have a grasp of it. I was trained for SES when I got my advanced degree but morally objected to W's regime and chose another route but I understand the system beyond what the layperson might. If I had been in service in an agency with such sensitivity, I would damn sure be honoring my oath, being able to spot the threat, and do everything possible to thwart the efforts of a wayward/corrupt/criminal administration... think Lt. CL Alexander Vindman and Gen Milley.

It's only a speculation but a valid one that stayed with me when I heard it articulated yesterday. It sounded familiar somehow.

[PatSeg]

51. Thank you, that IS reassuring

During the Trump years, I really wanted to believe it, but minus outward evidence, I had to rely on faith that good people were working behind the scenes. I can imagine them silently watching in horror as Trump and his clowns tried to destroy everything they'd sworn an oath to protect. There will be no medals or awards for their courage and few will be acknowledged. Unlike politicians, they didn't sign up for the accolades.

[2naSalit]

53. Quite so.

The majority of ne'er do wells I encountered in my travels in government were low level and were ousted in a rather brief time. Low level enough that they lacked proper respect for the position. The others mostly had the ethic going on at all times, even off duty. Everyone looks for a "slide" on occasion but nothing serious that would jeopardize anything but the individual, that's just universal among our species.

These guys, as Bannon announced early on that they intended to destroy the country, its government and culture, made a pretty good go of it with lots of time to do lots of damage. Every one of them needs to be taken out of circulation with regard to access to government personnel or intel/comm or influence in any way.

For anyone through whose lips the oath to the Constitution has passed, this matters. I have uttered it so many times, I can't count them as I not only swore to it, I administered it to many as well. You either mean it or you should be in the private sector, preferably in some other country.

[PatSeg]

55. Okay, I am feeling much better now

That is how I thought it could be and should be, but it is easy to become cynical and jaded when it comes to anything government related.

It really does bother me that so many people have taken that oath without real thought or sincerity. It really should be sacred, we have to be able to trust those in positions of authority and power.

[2naSalit]

56. Agreed.

It helps to know that all that doom news about government employees only applies to a small %. The rest went there with purpose and sincerity toward public service and do their best, with lots of help and training in most cases, to do the People's work.

That's what keeps me from losing it, or has so far. I know it because I saw/see it... Still acquainted with former colleagues, we discuss this a lot. I suspect we are not the only ones.

[PatSeg]

57. I'm sure there are more

We just need periodic reminders that decent, honest people still exist. We've been inundated with the lowest of the low for so long, it is easy to believe they are in the majority. Of course, it is often just because they are the loudest and in-your-face all the time.

I remember after Watergate being amazed that the "system actually worked". It was quite a revelation at the time and I really want to feel that way again. It can be discouraging as today's republicans are very different from the 1970s republicans in DC. The Trumpization of the republican party is one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen. It certainly makes me look at people differently now.

Thanks!

[Hekate]

62. That sounds like a very interesting education & career path

Thanks for the insights

[2naSalit]

65. YW...

And that was after a 15 year career doing something completely different. I was motivated.

[Sanity Claws]

19. or Saudis

He would sell anything to anyone for $$$

[FalloutShelter]

20. Just sayin....

What's in the box Donnie?

[2naSalit]

50. +1

[kentuck]

21. How do we know he hasn't already?

What did Jared get $2 billion dollars for?

[Hekate]

64. Many people are asking...

[Bucky]

24. It's a reasonable thing to suspect. It's foolish to assume anything w/o evidence

[allegorical oracle]

25. He likely planned to have special ones, like Kim Jong Un's "love letter," duplicated and framed to

hang in his home and golf resorts. He ginned up a fake Time magazine cover that had his face on it to display at his Miami golf club. Wonder if he kept the gifts that foreign gov'ts gave him, too.

[bottomofthehill]

26. If nothing else it was easy availability for foreign intelligence

To show up at Mara-lardo as a guest, a member, a caterer, landscaping contractor, Russian tennis pro, whatever, look for improperly secured, easily accessible state secrets. Since day one with his hackable phone, big mouth, profit motive, non caring attitude has simply been nightmare when it comes to intelligence that could harm our nation.

The FBI had no choice but to secure state secrets to protect overseas assets, practices and procedures.

[bottomofthehill]

27. More simply put, he is a danger to national security.

[2naSalit]

31. Yup.

[Beakybird]

29. I think he already sold it. Jared as well.

Another thing, why look at only paper? What about hard drives and such?

[ashredux]

32. I'm pretty sure the search warrant included all kinds of devices, such as thumb drives etc.

[2naSalit]

33. They only...

Told us about paper. Anything else in sight that pertains to any case is fair game. If they needed to look for docs in the safe and found other incriminating evidence for any other investigation, they can take that too, paper or not.

As vengeful as he is, it's a pretty good guess that he was selling intel. As mentioned above, it isn't a stretch to imagine that contacts would float freely through the resort to exchange goods. I can imagine that pooty himself may have floated in on a yacht at some point.

[OAITW r.2.0]

34. I wonder how much of that $2BB Saudi fund investment

in Jared's company was actually payment for services provided?

[niyad]

36. Probably already has.

[ecstatic]

40. I can't wait to find out what happened

Although I don't think it was something that blatant. Based on his track record, I think he is an unwitting asset for multiple foreign countries. I think it's just another situation where he's blabbing his mouth simultaneous to a deal of some kind being made (or planned). Due to his willful ignorance and malignant narcissism, he's easily manipulated into providing more and more information. Either way, it's illegal to steal and/or share classified information so I hope they throw the book at him.

[CrispyQ]

41. Jared & the $2 billion Saudi "investment" comes to mind.

Before Giving Billions to Jared Kushner, Saudi Investment Fund Had Big Doubts
Before committing $2 billion to Mr. Kushner’s fledgling firm, officials at a fund led by the Saudi crown prince questioned taking such a big risk.

By David D. Kirkpatrick and Kate Kelly
April 10, 2022

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/10/us/jared-kushner-saudi-investment-fund.html

snip...

Six months after leaving the White House, Jared Kushner secured a $2 billion investment from a fund led by the Saudi crown prince, a close ally during the Trump administration, despite objections from the fund’s advisers about the merits of the deal.

snip...

Those objections included: “the inexperience of the Affinity Fund management”; the possibility that the kingdom would be responsible for “the bulk of the investment and risk”; due diligence on the fledgling firm’s operations that found them “unsatisfactory in all aspects”; a proposed asset management fee that “seems excessive”; and “public relations risks” from Mr. Kushner’s prior role as a senior adviser to his father-in-law, former President Donald J. Trump, according to minutes of the panel’s meeting last June 30.

But days later the full board of the $620 billion Public Investment Fund — led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler and a beneficiary of Mr. Kushner’s support when he worked as a White House adviser — overruled the panel.

Ethics experts say that such a deal creates the appearance of potential payback for Mr. Kushner’s actions in the White House — or of a bid for future favor if Mr. Trump seeks and wins another presidential term in 2024.

[mackdaddy]

46. The Saudis were said to be offering 800 million to Tiger Woods.

to be part of their little Golf venture.

What do you thing that paid a Former Potus with a network of Golf courses and access to secrets?

[Wounded Bear]

42. Pretty safe bet. Everything he was about involved him making a profit...nt

[ashredux]

43. I have seen it posted, and I keep my fingers crossed, but there may have been a sting operation

[LetMyPeopleVote]

45. You may well be right on this

[ashredux]

47. One more thing....

One more thing, a man who will bury his ex-wife, and the mother of two of his children, on his golf course behind some bushes, to get a tax break, will do anything to make a buck.

[inthewind21]

49. Well

He's had them for over a year now. Planned? Or already did?

[ashredux]

54. Hard to say it's a flip of the coin between real stupid and cunning

[PortTack]

52. Said that myself several times...FOLLOW THE MONEY

[Hekate]

59. Russia, China, Saudi Arabia -- anybody with money, plus the promise of erecting a Trump Tower

[sarcasmo]

60. The Saudis and N. Korea.