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CORRUPTION

‘Could Lead to the End of the Trump Organization’: Former Prosecutor Discusses Parallels to Watergate

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Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg being granted immunity could lead to the end of the company, former federal prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks explained on MSNBC.

Wine-Banks, who was a Watergate prosecutor, explained the news of Weisselberg’s immunity in light of the other breaking news, including the investigation by the state of New York into the Trump Organization.

“Obviously the state has gotten the information from the investigation in the Southern District of New York and they are pursuing it,” Wine-Banks told MSNBC’s Ali Velshi. “And you are correct, it is something that Donald Trump cannot pardon anyone for, so it’s significant.

Wine-Banks said that she believes, “there’s something really significant in the fact that they grossed up the amount — that shows that they knew that they were paying a sham invoice. If they had been actually reimbursing him, he wouldn’t have to pay taxes on it.”

“So that’s pretty clear proof that the Trump organization is guilty,” she concluded. “And, it also … make the crime at the state level a felony because they’re concealing another crime.”

“So I would say there’s a couple of Watergate analogies, which is ‘What did the president know and when did he know it?’” she noted.

“If he’s smart and has a good immunity deal, he ought to get it all out now while he has immunity and that could really lead to the downfall of the Trump Organization,” Wine-Banks concluded.

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Image by Disney | ABC Television Group via Flickr and a CC license

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CORRUPTION

Facing Subpoena and Calls for Impeachment Embattled AG Barr Agrees to Testify Before Congress – In 5 Weeks

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June 24, 2020

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Attorney General Bill Barr has agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee rather than risk a likely subpoena and court fight. His testimony will not be until July 28, nearly five weeks from today.

Barr’s spokesperson made the announcement, framing it as a casual appearance.

Barr is facing growing calls for his impeachment or for him to resign over what many – including two DOJ whistleblowers testifying before the House Wednesday – are calling his extreme politicization of the Justice Dept.

This will be the first time Barr has appeared before Congress to testify in more than a year. Barr was supposed to appear before the House on March 31 but did not. On June 1 he told House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler that “he would not appear at a hearing that the committee wanted to hold on June 9,” Roll Call reported.

Barr testified before the Senate on May 1 of last year. Also last year Barr testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee on April 9 and a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on April 10.

 

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CORRUPTION

‘Barr Lied’: AG Tried to Fire US Attorney for SDNY – Berman Says ‘I Have Not Resigned’ and He’s Not Leaving: Reports

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June 19, 2020

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The US Attorney for the powerful Southern District of New York did not resign and is not “stepping down.” Attorney General Bill Barr declared in a late Friday night press release that Geoffrey Berman “is stepping down after two-and-a-half years of service.”

That was a false claim.

Katherine Faulders, an investigative reporter covering the White House and Capitol Hill for ABC News reports Berman was “fired.”

Berman says not only did he not resign, he learned of Barr’s intentions only after the press release had been published. And he says he has no intention of resigning – he will stay in his job until the Sensate confirms his replacement.

“I learned in a press release from the Attorney General tonight that I was ‘stepping down’ as United States Attorney,” Berman said in a statement, ABC News reports. “I have not resigned, and have no intention of resigning, my position, to which I was appointed by the Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate.”

“Until then, our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption,” he continued. “I cherish every day that I work with the men and women of this Office to pursue justice without fear or favor – and intend to ensure that this Office’s important cases continue unimpeded.”

Former SDNY prosecutor Mimi Rocah says Barr “lied.”

The New York Times adds the stand off sets “up a crisis within the Justice Department over one of its most prestigious jobs.”

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CORRUPTION

Barr Blasted for Wrongly Suggesting Obama and Biden Abused Their Power, Had ‘Level of Involvement’ in Russia Probe

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May 18, 2020

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Attorney General Bill Barr is under fire for wrongly suggesting former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden abused their power and had some “level of involvement” in the FBI’s investigation of now-President Donald Trump.

On Monday Barr announced that he does not “expect” the federal prosecutor he appointed to lead that investigation “will lead to a criminal prosecution of either man.”

But Barr also suggested both men had engaged in an abuse of power, without offering any proof, in what some see as a clear attempt to disparage them.

“We have to bear in mind what the Supreme Court recently reminded us of in the ‘Bridgegate’ case. As the court said there, there’s a difference between an abuse of power and a federal crime. Not every abuse of power, no matter how outrageous, is necessarily a federal crime,” Barr declared.

“Now, as to President Obama and Vice President Biden – whatever their level of involvement – based on the information I have today, I don’t expect Mr. Durham’s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man.”

Barr is known to choose his words very carefully, to paint the picture he wants Americans to see. A federal judge has already chastised him for his four-page Mueller investigation letter, calling it “distorted” and “misleading.”

And by declaring there won’t be a “criminal investigation,” he gets the words “criminal” and “investigation” or “prosecution” tied to both Democrats in the press.

His remarks immediately led to headlines like these:

“Barr says he does not expect criminal investigation of Obama or Biden as result of Durham probe”

“Barr Says Probe Won’t Likely Lead to Prosecution of Obama, Biden”

“Barr Says He Doesn’t Expect Criminal Probe Into Obama or Biden”

On social media many saw through Barr’s tactics:

 

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