Barr Summary of Mueller Reports: No Collusion, No Obstruction Prosecution

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

I had a busy weekend so I only read the Barr summary of the Mueller investigation which came down yesterday at 5 pm. Let’s start with one truism: When prosecutors say that an investigation “did not establish” something, that doesn’t mean that they concluded it didn’t happen, or even that they don’t believe it happened. It means that the investigation … Read More

Why Is Trump Trying To Hide His Putin Conversations?

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Trump claims he has nothing to hide — so why is he going to such great lengths to make sure no one ever finds out what he discussed with Putin? The White House on Thursday rejected a request from House Democrats to turn over documents pertaining to Trump’s conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing that such communication is off-limits … Read More

The Mueller Report Is Highly Anticipated. Here’s What We Already Know: An Interactive Post

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

By LARRY BUCHANAN and KAREN YOURISH MARCH 20, 2019 The investigation has revealed a range of eventsrelated to Russian interference and the 2016 election. After more than two years of criminal indictments and steady revelations about contacts between associates of Donald J. Trump and Russia, we already know a lot about the work done by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russia’s … Read More

Trump Crimes Update

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

(1) This is interesting. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is extending his stay at the Department of Justice for at least “a little longer,” according to Tuesday NBC reporting. Slated to leave in mid-March, Rosenstein has reportedly spoken to Attorney General William Barr about staying for an indefinite amount of time. The hearings for his replacement are currently scheduled for … Read More

Trump Suddenly Against Public Release of Mueller Report

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

He was for it before it was against it: Up until now, Trump has pretty consistently insisted that he has nothing to fear from the Mueller report, saying that there’s “NO COLLUSION.” Just a few weeks ago, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: “We feel good about the fact that what we’ve said all along for last two years … Read More

Trump Scandals: No Historical Parallel

Ken AshfordCrime, L'Affaire Russe, Political Scandals, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Even without seeing Robert Mueller’s report, or knowing what prosecutors with the Southern District of New York have unearthed, or what congressional investigators will find, we already have witnessed the biggest political scandal in American history.  Historians tell Axios that the only two scandals that come close to Trump-Russia are Watergate, which led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974, and … Read More

Quinnipiac Poll Shows Most People Don’t Believe Trump And That He Committed Crimes Before Becoming President

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Political Scandals, Polls, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

President Donald Trump committed crimes before he became president, American voters say 64 – 24 percent in a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today. Republicans say 48 – 33 percent that President Trump did not commit crimes before he was president, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University National Poll finds. Every other listed party, gender, education, age and racial group says … Read More

To Add To The List Of Trump Crimes: Insurance Fraud

Ken AshfordCrime, Political Scandals, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

With any other administration, this would be impeachable if it turns out to be true: New York State regulators have issued an expansive subpoena to the Trump Organization’s longtime insurance broker, the first step in an investigation of insurance policies and claims involving President Trump’s family business, according to the company and a person briefed on the matter. The subpoena … Read More

He Just Couldn’t Help Himself, I Guess

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Roger Stone, 66, Donald Tump’s longtime friend under indictment and who is is barred from criticizing Mueller’s team of prosecutors under the gag imposed Feb. 21 after the longtime Republican operative posted an Instagram image of Jackson’s face next to a rifle scope’s crosshair, is in trouble. He posted an Instagram that could be in violation of the judge’s strict … Read More

House Judiciary Committee Gets Serious About Subpoenas To Trump Associates

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Here is the list of document requests the committee sent. Alan Garten (letter, document requests)  Alexander Nix (letter, document requests)  Allen Weisselberg (letter, document requests)  American Media Inc (letter, document requests) Anatoli Samochornov (letter, document requests) Andrew Intrater (letter, document requests) Annie Donaldson (letter, document requests) Brad Parscale (letter, document requests) Brittany Kaiser (letter, document requests) Cambridge Analytica (letter, document requests)  Carter Page (letter, document requests) Columbus Nova (letter, document requests) Concord Management and Consulting (letter, document requests) Corey Lewandowski (letter, document requests) David Pecker (letter, document requests) Department of … Read More

Investigations, Investigations, Investigations!

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

I can kind of see why Republicans want Mueller shut down. His outreach, like that of an octopus, is pretty far.  As I wrote back in February, there are some lingering question about where the money went for Trump’s very expensive but poorly attended inauguration. Now The Hill is breaking a story that Mueller is looking into donations to that event: … Read More

Cohen Hearing Summed Up

Ken AshfordCongress, L'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Cohen’s testimony includes accusations — relating to Trump’s racism, his lack of concern for the public weal and his attempts to conceal his academic record — that, if true, are simply embarrassing. But, as noted by Max Bergmann of the Moscow Project at the Center for American Progress, the president’s former lawyer also implicated him in at least four felonies: 1. Conspiracy to defraud … Read More

Cohen Open Testimony: Live Updates

Ken AshfordCongress, L'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

As Brian Williams said last night, and I am paraphrasing: “It is very possible that fifty year from now, we will still be looking at video clips from Cohen’s testimony.” Meaning, today is an historical day. Maybe. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and “fixer”, who was disbarred yesterday, and is scheduled to be imprisoned for lying to investigators, is testifying … Read More

Cohen Testimony Week: Day One

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Michael Cohen is testifying today to Congress, but behind closed doors. He will give pubic testimony tomorrow. The White House is playing like they are not scared. In a statement on this morning, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, denounced Mr. Cohen. “Disgraced felon Michael Cohen is going to prison for lying to Congress and making other false … Read More