Mark Meadows:Will plead guilty to several federal charges as part of a deal for which he has already

[hookaleft]

Snip>
Mr Meadows has already given evidence before the grand jury and is said to be cooperating with the investigation into his former boss. It is understood that the former North Carolina congressman will plead guilty to several federal charges as part of a deal for which he has already received limited immunity in exchange for his testimony.

Snip>

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-indictment-espionage-prosecution-charges-b2353397.html

[cilla4progress]

1. It's

ON???!!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. GOOD. nt

[spooky3]

3. Folks, the source is The Independent--we may want to wait for

a more reliable source.

[tritsofme]

4. To my knowledge, they are not a sketchy source.

[genxlib]

7. Trent Crimm is offended

But it is always best to wait for confirmation regardless of the source.

[Eliot Rosewater]

14. Good one!

[Carlitos Brigante]

16. "Woof, woof!!" nt

[hlthe2b]

8. Actually, the Independent is considered reliable. It is not a tabloid but considered neutral in bias

[spooky3]

15. Not among the top news outlets per

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/aug/13/the-guardian-is-most-trusted-by-its-readers-among-uk-newspapers-finds-ofcom#:~:text=2%20years%20old-,The%20Guardian%20is%20most%20trusted%20by,among%20UK%20newspapers%2C%20finds%20Ofcom&text=Research%20from%20media%20regulator%20Ofcom,the%20UK%20among%20regular%20readers.

[hlthe2b]

21. Reader opinion/perception polls are not the same as independent journalistic analysis

The latter state that the site is considered neutral in bias and reliable. Poynter.org is the hallmark group in this country. Here is what they have to say about a similar organization in UK/Europe and its reviews (and below their actual assessment of The Independent)

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/media-literacy/2021/should-you-trust-media-bias-charts/

The charts are only as good as their methodologies. Both McBride and Groeling shared praise for the stated methods for rating bias of AllSides and Ad Fontes, which can be found on their websites. Neither Ad Fontes nor AllSides explicitly rates editorial standards.

https://adfontesmedia.com/independent-bias-and-reliability/

Overview

Ad Fontes Media rates The Independent in the Skews Left category of bias and as Reliable, Analysis/Fact Reporting in terms of reliability. The Independent is a British online newspaper based in London. The print edition was founded in 1986 and ended publication in 2016.
Overall Score

The following are the overall bias and reliability scores for The Independent according to our Ad Fontes Media ratings methodology.

Reliability: 40.18

Bias: -8.09

Panels of analysts from Ad Fontes Media regularly review representative sample content to rate it for reliability and bias. Each panel of analysts comprises one left-leaning, one right-leaning, and one center-leaning analyst.

The team considers a variety of factors when rating content. To determine its reliability score, we consider the content’s veracity, expression, its title/headline, and graphics. We add each of these scores to the chart on a weighted scale, with the average of those creating the sample content’s overall reliability score.

To determine sample content’s bias score, we consider its language, its political position, and how it compares to other reporting or analysis from other sources on the same topic. We add each of these scores to the chart on a weighted scale, with the average of those creating the content’s overall bias score.

The bias rating, demonstrated on the Media Bias Chart®️ on the horizontal axis, ranges from most extreme left to middle to most extreme right. The reliability rating, demonstrated on the chart’s vertical axis, rates sources on a scale from original fact reporting to analysis, opinion, propaganda and inaccurate/fabricated information.

Reliability scores for articles and shows are on a scale of 0-64. Scores above 40 are generally good; scores below 24 are generally problematic. Scores between 24-40 indicate a range of possibilities, with some sources falling there because they are heavy in opinion and analysis, and some because they have a high variation in reliability between articles.

Bias scores for articles and shows are on a scale of -42 to +42, with higher negative scores being more left, higher positive scores being more right, and scores closer to zero being minimally biased, equally balanced, or exhibiting a centrist bias.

[spooky3]

22. Those analytics are also questionable.

Check out the Wikipedia entry for citations of criticisms.

Note that the source the Guardian cited was the UK’s media regulator.

No one is claiming that the report is false or that the Independent is terrible. And I personally will cheer if it’s confirmed. But until sources such as the WaPo or NYT report or the BBC report the same thing, I’m going to hold off on celebrating.

[hlthe2b]

24. Reader Perception polling is not at all reliable. That is the point And you should acquaint yourself

with Poynter.org. They really are exceptional for journalists in this country and their findings and assessment of other such groups do matter. Read the article I posted when you have time. I'm not pushing the Independent but they are not tabloid trash nor RW biased.

[spooky3]

25. Let's agree to disagree. I'm a retired social scientist

And don’t need to do more familiarizing.

[hlthe2b]

26. Good then you should know the limitations/bias of reader perception surveys.

As opposed to scientifically valid analysis based on multiple outputs.

[spooky3]

27. I am aware of the shortcomings of relying on a small panel

Of people who judge small samples of articles as well and the challenges of determining reliability and validity in many contexts.

Please find someone else to argue with.

[hlthe2b]

28. but apparently are okay with convenience sampling?

[Scrivener7]

5. .

[Chainfire]

6. If that is True, Trump will need to follow our old elementary school nuclear drills:

Get under your desk, bend over, place your head firmly between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.

[viva la]

9. Huzzaa!

If Meadows is going to testify against Trump, that's the ticket.

[captain queeg]

10. The noose is tightening.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. This will be fun to watch

Link to tweet

[PortTack]

30. Regarding the photo here that has become synonymous with the classified docs

The right angle ruler was placed around the document with the red border for a reason. that red border indicates those are top secret docs. But that’s not the worst of it. If those were the originals the red border would be all the way to the edge of the paper. It’s a security feature so that they cannot be copied and those in charge not be aware they are copies!

[reACTIONary]

32. Not true....

... where I work our secret covers have a barber shop striped boarder, and do not go all the way to the edge. And copying classified documents isn't, in and of itself, a violation of any security regulations. In fact, since there isn't any distinction anymore between printers and copiers, there isn't any distinction between a copy and an original.

[PortTack]

38. There's more than one conclusion. not doubting your expertise, but here's what I'm referring to

Look at the Secret//SCI document bounded by the ruler. Why did they put a ruler there? That’s a good question. Everyone knows the size of a standard sheet of paper. You don’t need a ruler to measure it. If you look up towards the left, you will see there are at least two other cover sheets with a similar border. Notice anything different?

In case you missed it, look at the border around the document that is front and center. If that was an original document, there should be no white border. You see the cover sheets for these sort of documents are printed by the US government printing office. They are specifically designed to signal the status of the document they cover.

The point is, lots of folks who use the military.com website likely know what GSA Form SF703, the cover sheet on Top Secret documents, look like. The difference? The border on an official classified document cover sheet “bleeds to the edge” in printing parlance. Anyone who has ever used a copy machine knows the copy machine does not copy all the way to the border of the page. There is always that pesky white border.

More at the link

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/27/2171698/-I-have-been-waiting-for-someone-to-point-out-the-obvious-tell-in-this-photo

[reACTIONary]

40. I'm familiar with the Kos article ...

... from a previous OP.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217949927#post63
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217949927#post64

As for the L shaped scale, it is standard procedure to include a scale in evidence photography.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6080161/#:~:text=Photographing%20the%20evidence%3A%20Photographs%20should,show%20relationship%20with%20overall%20scene

[PortTack]

43. The kos article does make sound points.

[electric_blue68]

44. It looks like in that upper left batch 2 bleed to edge red docs, and 1 yellow from what I see

[PortTack]

47. Exactly!

[cally]

12. happy dance!

[RussBLib]

13. Yes! Who's next?

I'm not being greedy, we are just overdue for some real charges.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

20. Espionage and obstruction of espionage fed. investigation...would be real charges mate!

Real as in decades in prison. Real prison.

[FakeNoose]

17. I've noticed that Chump hasn't mentioned Mark Meadows' name in quite a while

Things are looking good!

[peppertree]

34. "God, how I hate flippahs!"

[BeckyDem]

19. Thugs, all of them.

K&R

[Fiendish Thingy]

23. A cautionary note on this report:

It uses a ton of passive language (“it is understood”), with absolutely no source attribution whatsoever , so proceed with caution.

[getagrip_already]

33. Yeah, not trusting it.....

The ground is ripe for news stories since there is an official firewall in place.

The doj will not leak, and will speak either through indictments or pressers.

Meadows camp could be the source, but why? He is likely under an nda until the doj makes its statements, and it could endanger his deal.

So chill. Rumors are fun, but how many times has someone said "this is the week...", only to it be nothing.

Nothing is going to happen until it does.

[Jarqui]

29. I've been searching for reliable corroboration - haven't found it yet. ... nt

[grantcart]

31. WOW

[honest.abe]

35. Sounds like Meadows is the key to the case against Trump.

I hope he has protection.

[Jarqui]

36. Article has been updated. Meadows lawyer denied guilty plea

but made no comment on an immunity deal.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-indictment-espionage-prosecution-charges-b2353397.html

A source who was briefed on the agreement claimed that the alleged agreement will involve the ex-chief of staff entering pleas of guilty to unspecified federal crimes but an attorney for Mr Meadows, George Terwilliger, denied that to The Independent. Mr Terwilliger said that the idea that his client would enter any guilty pleas was “complete bulls***” but did not address the matter of immunity in a brief telephone conversation with this reporter.

Immunity is not as good.

I've been discussing the case with a retired prosecutor friend. He said

"You confer immunity depending on how much you need the witness. You never do it blindly and tie it to some form of statement to hang over their head. But a witness can always recant their statement. The most persuasive case is made when they plead to serious charges and you give them some break on the sentence. You always have to guard against their loyalty to the accused when they ultimately hit the stand and the holes any cooperating witness offers to the defense, particularly in the absence of corroboration. A hostile cooperating witness is a double-edged sword. They can sink your case. So, yeah, a plea to something serious would have been gold."

[Hassin Bin Sober]

37. .

[RussBLib]

39. Yep, seems the bombshell is somewhat retracted.

New snip from the link in the OP

A source who was briefed on the agreement claimed that the alleged agreement will involve the ex-chief of staff entering pleas of guilty to unspecified federal crimes but an attorney for Mr Meadows, George Terwilliger, denied that to The Independent. Mr Terwilliger said that the idea that his client would enter any guilty pleas was “complete bulls***” but did not address the matter of immunity in a brief telephone conversation with this reporter

[Deminpenn]

45. Not surprising Terwilliger

would deny this information. He and Meadows likely want to keep whatever went or is ongoing under wraps for as long as possible.

[Faux pas]

41. Tsk tsk

Effing around and finding out...priceless

[Johonny]

42. Everyone around Trump is a criminal

But somehow Trump stays clean. The American legal system is amazing.

[Johnny2X2X]

46. Trump is facing an unending sh*tstorm from here to his death

He's been charged already with 24 felonies in New York. Being charged with 24 felonies already is hardly "staying clean." He's about to be charged with federal crimes that are certain to be felonies in Florida. He's going to be charged with felonies in Georgia next month. And shortly after that he'll be facing more felony charges for January 6th in DC. And those are just the 4 big cases we know he's going to be charged in. He still could face criminal charges for his fraud charity. Wisconsin and even Michigan could eventually bring charges for his fake electors scheme.