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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRICO Suave
Last week surely ranks high among the worst ever for any presidential administration in modern times. Indeed, it marks one of the lowest points for a president in the nation's history. Much of the White House distress was a direct result of their corruption and incompetence
..yet, as Rachel Maddow documented so well during the week, the massive grass roots demonstrations against republican efforts to repeal Obama Care also played a huge role.
The humiliating defeat of the Ryan-Trump plan shows that not every republican is willing to suckle on Trump's appendage in the manner of Devon Nunes. It would be an error to believe that the republican refusal to support their president was due to the Ryan-Trump bill alone. Reports on how ignorant Trump was on the bill's details
Thus, they see a president who has been put in check by the federal courts on his Muslim immigration ban; a president leading an administration being investigated for serious charges by the FBI, in coordination with the rest of the intelligence community; a president who tweets outrageous lies about President Obama; and a president who is incapable of grasping the issues involving health care. It is therefore same to conclude that congressional republicans are confronted with two questions: How did this man get elected? And how closely do they have to associate themselves with his failing presidency?
Both questions lead directly to the FBI investigation. And as bad as it appears to the public, and as damaging as the media reports are, the talk in the offices in the House and Senate is far worse. That doesn't mean that the average republican is going to behave as if they know how bad it is for Trump et al right now. This is not an attempt to ascribe even a hint of patriotism or ethical standards to them, for their behaviors are entirely self-serving. They prefer the comfort of office more than they care about Trump and Steve Bannon.
It appears most likely that the intelligence shown to Nunes last Tuesday night was from Jerome Corsi. And that Corsi held this meeting upon the request of Steve Bannon. Think about that. On Wednesday morning, Nunes rushed to talk first to Paul Ryan. What he did after that was at very least given the okay by Ryan. And the entire operation fell flat: Nunes's behavior was the issue, and his ability to lead the House intelligence committee questioned.
The single best source on the televised reporting on the Trump-Russian scandal is Malcolm Nance. Between his book on the topic, and his on-going analysis, one could be forgiven for thinking that he is playing a role in the effort to remove Trump from office. There are two things that Mr. Nance said at the end of the week that are extremely important.
First, he made clear that the FBI is conducting an investigation based upon violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The prosecutions will not be for treason or espionage, except in the court of public opinion. Yet, looking at the definition of RICO shows why this is a better fit for the federal government's system to process:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act
One can argue about the Constitution's description of treason. Even the US Supreme Court's ruling in 1952 on Kawakita v United States was a 4-3 decision. But no one will be able to view the current administration as organized crime, and a group that dealt with Russian organized crime including to coordinate efforts in the 2016 presidential election.
As documented in the above link, RICO can involve both criminal and civil charges. While there is a history of not charging a sitting president with criminal charges, in the 1990s, the government shifted to make a sitting president face civil charges. This created grounds for the House republicans to move to impeachment, advocating a case that defied logic.
In the current administration, there is already more than enough evidence to indict and convict several of the Trump campaign's players. The current investigation is focused upon those two famous questions: What did the president know? And when did he know it?
To prosecute the higher levels, the FBI benefits from turning participants who will inform on others, in order to obtain a deal. There has been interesting speculation on which of the suspects would rat on the others, for they are all rats. But Mr. Nance has said that the first rat is none other than Flynn.
In an case of an investigation that started last summer, events have picked up momentum in recent weeks. In large part, that seems likely related to Flynn having ratted his buddies out. The attempt to discredit the House intelligence committee, Bannon, Corsi, Nunes, and Ryan engaged in last week's failed effort. More and more elected representatives in the House and Senate are advocating for a more thorough investigation, including a possible Senate Select Committee. Within a month, it's likely that there will be agreement that a special prosecutor be named.
I think we should begin lobbying for Preet Bharara be appointed to that position.
Peace,
H2O Man
NRaleighLiberal
(60,428 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)I think that the information from Mr. Nance is very helpful in understanding what is going with this case.
Horse with no Name
(34,007 posts)You are my favorite! Excellent work. But. I can't get that damn song out of my head now!
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)That's so nice of you!
mopinko
(71,549 posts)manafort, ross, the fertilizer king, the bank of cyprus.
dovetails w other investigations, imho, ie deutche bank.
i dont think the resident knows shit, to be honest. others worked this out and handed it to them via a trojan horse named manafort.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)In a sense, Trump may be like Nixon in that way -- he likes the support of gangsters, and approves of their tactics, but doesn't really know the details of the inner workings.
Manafort strikes me as a character from a cheesy C-grade mobster movie.
Sculpin Beauregard
(1,046 posts)If someone who twitters could find and tweet that RICO Suave video (by Gerardo) to the deplorables in chief, that would be awesome.
No comment necessary, just send the video 🤣
cannabis_flower
(3,835 posts)Sculpin Beauregard
(1,046 posts)😂😂😂😂
Thank you!!!!
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)I can't decide if I should listen to this or not! But either way, thank you!
Pachamama
(16,996 posts)...the reference to "rich" (bigly) and to the most important reference of the RICO law...
And suave? They all think they are so suave....but let this song be the taunt...
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)I've never actually listened to that song. I knew it existed, and for whatever reason, while thinking of a title for this essay, it popped into my head.
CaliforniaPeggy
(151,743 posts)I am looking forward to this scenario unfolding.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)It brings back some memories, doesn't it?
CaliforniaPeggy
(151,743 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)I know my kids would view this as similar to my often-expressed belief that "our" music was superior to current things, but even our gangsters had a little more class. Though Nixon had violated the Constitution, and had no better option that resigning in total disgrace, he did express some respect for the Constitution. But these Trump creeps don't give a shit about this country, its history, its Constitution, or its people.
Bernardo de La Paz
(50,642 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)Very important. Thank you.
Sculpin Beauregard
(1,046 posts)Stripped of assets.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)be a good thing.
eppur_se_muova
(37,288 posts)... and I believe that would cause a whole house of cards to collapse. The Donhole has always disputed others' estimates of his wealth -- which are consistently lower than his own -- but all such estimates are uncertain because there are so many interlocking shell corporations under the Trump brand. No one should be surprised if his net worth turns out to be negative, because of unacknowledged debts to Russian oligarchs, which are, in effect, really debts to Putin. Only Putin wants payment in services rendered even more than he wants cash, which may be all that gives him a paper fortune.
voteearlyvoteoften
(1,716 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)Much appreciated!
longship
(40,416 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)I think this information is helpful for appreciating how this process is unfolding.
Ligyron
(7,835 posts)I'll second that.
Just the man for the job!
dchill
(40,127 posts)NBachers
(18,009 posts)The prosecutors can cast a wide net, like they do for criminal gangs and drug organizations.
We have to keep this alive so Nunes and the Republicans can not sweep it under the rug and make it go away. They are co-conspirators
And, I agree, Preet is best suited to be special prosecutor. I also have to give huge recognition Adam Schiff, and Liu.
Sculpin Beauregard
(1,046 posts)IthinkThereforeIAM
(3,112 posts)... I have called for RICO vs the GOP/RNC for over a decade. Those involved can lose everything and more when convicted. It may be the only type of justice they appreciate(fear).
We can go back to the days of Nixon as vice president, as an example of when their party became closely associated with organized crime at the highest levels.
SunSeeker
(53,445 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)And they are what is needed for impeachment.
blogslut
(38,596 posts)That directive overrides patriotism, policy and party. It is why they align with the principles of mega-donors because, above all, money assures electability. Politicians do not consider the desires of their constituency because they rarely encounter them. Americans are woefully uninvolved in civic affairs.
Except this year. This year, the people are showing up. Hundreds of thousands of people have flooded towns halls, made phone calls, sent letters and they have, collectively, scared the shit out of the politicians. It is a beautiful thing and I pray it continues well past this administration.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)Thank you for this. You hit the nail on the head.
"Now" is the time for a concentrated grass roots' lobbying effort with the House intelligence committee.
democrank
(11,230 posts)Because of his background and straightforward way of communicating, Malcolm Nance's reasoned deductions make me sit up and take notice. His RICO opinion makes a lot of sense.
Preset Bharara as Special Prosecutor would be perfect.
~PEACE~
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)I don't agree with him on the issue of why people are opposed to fracking, and would like the opportunity to talk with him for an hour about this. But in the context of what he knows about counter-intelligence, he is outstanding.
Raine1967
(11,600 posts)How does Jerome Corsi play into this?
I have been following this all very closely and had not seen his name raised (WRT this hot trump/Russia/Flynn/all the players) until now.
Why do you believe that Corsi gave info to Nunes?
Corsi's name hasn't been mentioned in the news yet. But some details about Nunes's little adventure have been. At first, people questioned who his source was. He began pretty early in the morning. Since then, at least one aide has confirmed that Tuesday evening, Nunes got a phone call, and disappeared without telling the aides where he was going. This enabled his early morning performance.
The part about Corsi being who he met with is something I was told was "most likely" this morning.
Raine1967
(11,600 posts)I read that Nunes took a call and bailed on his senior staffer. (the uber thing and whatnot)
I had not heard that Corsi might have been the person placing the call to Nunes.
As I am sure you know there is a lot of speculation that the Info Nunes got was from the WH.
The Corsi angle is very new and surprising to me. Will keep my eyes peeled to it.
Thanks!
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)(and I think that's very likely), he would have gotten the information from the White House. ( I'm not serious here: but perhaps Judge Andrew Napolitano wasn't available. He's studying up, in case Trump appoints him to the Supreme Court.) But the WH would have used a cut-out, to get Nunes properly excited.
Raine1967
(11,600 posts)This is all so bizarre.
yes, they would need a cut-out, that clicks with a narrative I have been seeing.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)It appears Bannon picked Corsi. What a pair,
Something to think about: Bannon wants to destroy our present government, not reform it. Guys like him prefer Putin to President Obama, largely because Putin is white ....but also an authoritarian. Bannon resents Mr. Nance for related issues. Look at both of their time and service in the military.
mackdaddy
(1,570 posts)During the October surprise Weiner stuff I watched a few minutes of an Alex Jones Infowars on a Youtube. (a few minutes was all I could watch.) But Alex was claiming that he was getting leaks about the FBI email investigation from both Agents inside the NYC FBI office and from investigators inside the NYC PD that were all Trump supporters. Some of it did seem to track later, but was all crazy land stuff.
Infowarts are all buddy buddy with Brightbart and Bannon, and Corsi has had long ties with all of these people going back to the SwiftBoat crap he wrote to Corsi being one of the main Birthers to "pizzagate" to now a "WH Correspondent" for Infowarts.
So yes you may have something there with these connections.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)These squirrels do get some "information" from some right-wing fellows from a NYC office. And these "journalists" are all connected.
GP6971
(32,665 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)coeur_de_lion
(3,786 posts)"I think we should begin lobbying for Preet Bharara"
I love it.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)It's a funny idea, but also makes perfect sense.
coeur_de_lion
(3,786 posts)I'm going to say a couple Hail Marys tonight just to make it so.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)I'd consume a massive quantity of Guinness.
coeur_de_lion
(3,786 posts)Drinking Guinness is a requirement. When did you quit?
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)quit so much as stopped. Encountered a few health issues in recent times.
coeur_de_lion
(3,786 posts)Health comes first.
I have to admit I am a shame to my heritage when it comes to drinking. I am a light weight. When in Ireland I had an average of a Guinness a day if that.
I always think I should be able to drink whiskey like a champ but I can't drink it at all. We had a party at the office last year where whisky was served and I had to wait several hours to drive. I didn't drink that much at all -- maybe an 8th of a cup -- and I was plastered.
Its embarrassing.
Pachamama
(16,996 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)Pachamama
(16,996 posts)...smiling because you explained it well and it's all coming together and it's good to know smart people are all working behind the scenes on this. The only part of this story you mentioned that I didn't get is Corsi. But then again, it's as if all the scum collected, so then it does make sense.
All the dots are being connected...
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)are absolutely being connected. And the men and women working to connect them understand and appreciate that this isn't a Democrat vs republican issue. It's about organized crime, working with the "government" (also organized crime) of a hostile state.
Hekate
(94,207 posts)I find this very cheering indeed.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)Thank you.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)I think that people say "treason," because they know the Trump campaign was coordinating with agents of a hostile government. But in terms of the legal system, it would not be a good fit.
"Conspiracy" alone is not a criminal charge. People need to be involved in a conspiracy to commit a crime. Thus, charges identify what the nature of that crime is .....for example, "conspiracy to commit murder."
In this case, the conspiracy -- and the actions to promote it -- will be identified as RICO violations.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)was named an "unindicted co-conspirator"...
18 U.S. Code § 371 - Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/371
If, however, the offense, the commission of which is the object of the conspiracy, is a misdemeanor only, the punishment for such conspiracy shall not exceed the maximum punishment provided for such misdemeanor.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 701; Pub. L. 103322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)But that's only part of what they are investigating.
panader0
(25,816 posts)K and R.
H2O Man
(75,202 posts)Blue_Roses
(13,183 posts)I've wondered who called Nunes at such a late hour and caused his deer-in-the-headlights look since then.
Hmmm...so, Jerome Corsi. Haven't heard that name in a while. This thing has taken on a life of its own. I need a flow chart to keep up with it all!
Great read! Thank-you!
tclambert
(11,123 posts)pnwmom
(109,445 posts)I'd rather someone else be chosen, just in case.
murielm99
(31,378 posts)Now there's a blast from the past. Corsi, Roger Stone...
What other old villains are they going to recycle?
Oh! I know. Liddy. Where is G. Gordon Liddy?
Sensitive soul
(71 posts)A time ago reading about Trump's involvement with money laundering and was wondering why it seemed to go away (or maybe I just wasn't paying attention). Was glad to see it surface again because it seems so obvious to me. IMHO