Former President Trump News/Discussion....

[DTravel]

Jack Smith hands over 500 pages to Trump — and jabs Cannon for making him do it
Raw Story

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...1373445a&ei=65

Special counsel Jack Smith Thursday handed over nearly 500 pages of materials to Donald Trump after the former president's lawyers accused him "extraordinary" misconduct in the classified documents case, court records show.

In his letter to Florida federal court judge Aileen Cannon, Smith takes a stiff tone when he reports delivering 457 pages of discovery materials linked to Trump's accusations that the Justice department tampered with evidence.

"The Government’s position [is] that such production exceeds its current discovery obligations," Smith writes.

This measured remark stands in stark contrast to the letter from Trump's lead attorney Todd Blanche which spurred Thursday's massive document dump, court records show.

On May 4, Blanche accused Smith of "extraordinary breach of your constitutional and ethical obligations" regarding boxes of documents seized from Trump's social club Mar-a-Lago.

"We find your contentions to be self-serving and frivolous given your indefensible handling of the evidence at issue—you cannot seriously contend that your recent spoliation concession is irrelevant to President Trump’s pending pretrial motions," Blanche wrote.

In a further request for back-up from Cannon, dated May 6, Blanche sneered at Smith's "dismissive and condescending tone."

The subject of this tense legal battle is Smith's earlier admission that some documents were rearranged before they were scanned into the Justice department's system.

While Smith's team described the incident as an inconsistency, Blanche argued prosecutors were guilty of a "full-throated but now concededly false assertions of compliance with their discovery obligations."

This aligns with Trump's consistent messaging that the Justice Department is partaking in a political witch hunt to torpedo his 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

[DTravel]

Donald Trump Mocked with 'Psycho' Billboard in Own Backyard
Newsweek

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...373445a&ei=105

Former President Donald Trump is being derided as a "psycho" in a billboard that has recently been strategically placed near his Mar-a-Lago residence.

Conservative lawyer and Trump critic George Conway on Thursday touted the new billboard, which he paid for, in a series of posts to X, formerly Twitter. Conway said that the billboard had been placed on Interstate 95, which passes through Palm Beach, Florida, not far from Mar-a-Lago.

The blue billboard reads, in large white lettering, "Vote for Joe Not the Psycho." "Joe" clearly refers to President Joe Biden, who is expected to face off against Trump in a November rematch. The message "Paid for by George Conway" also appears on the billboard in smaller white lettering under the main message.

Trump 2024 campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung denounced Conway for erecting the billboard in an emailed response to Newsweek's request for comment on Thursday night, saying: "George Conway is a loser who clearly has some serious mental issues that he needs to address."

"So, just for kicks, I put up a billboard a few miles south of Palm Beach on I-95 South, perfect for anyone happening to travel from Mar-a-Lago to Doral to, say, play golf. Right around Exit 64, I believe," Conway wrote while sharing images of the billboard and a map in an X post on Thursday morning. "They're going to send me better photos later."

"Turn the sound up," he added while sharing a video of the billboard in a subsequent post. "I think the chirping birds add a nice touch, don't you?"

Conway, who was married to former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway for decades before the couple announced their divorce last year, explained during an interview with MSNBC's Chris Hayes on Thursday that he decided to pay for the billboard after speaking with the leader of the "Mad Dog" political action committee, which has placed similarly provocative anti-Trump billboards across the country.

"I'd been making some hats that say that [slogan], kind of like the MAGA hats, except blue and white," Conway said. "This was the perfect location. And I hope he sees it. And, you know, I hope it amuses him as much as it amuses me."

Conway also said that the Republican Party had become "a cult" filled with members who had "lost it" under Trump's leadership, while discussing former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's recent decision to announce that she will vote for Trump despite arguing that he was unfit for the presidency during her GOP presidential primary challenge.

"The person who has really lost it the most is Donald Trump, I mean he's the crazy one," Conway said. "As Nikki Haley pointed out when she was telling the truth for a couple of weeks in the spring ... he's mentally unstable and he's getting worse ... I mean this guy, he is cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs."

[Baxter49]

Welcome to New York (my home) we don't get easily fooled by Trump, and many of them were out of state cult members, and the tiny gathering started leaving long before he was done.



For context Bernie Sanders got around 28k in 2016 in Flatush, Brooklyn by turnstile count and lost handily to Clinton there.

Cyrus got a bigger crowd in 1979 in the Bronx for the Warriors movie, thanks to Trump enemy Ed Koch.

Can you dig it......Can you dig it....CAN YOU DIG IT.

[jillfan666]

Originally Posted by loadmaster011

Any further response I could make to you would justifyable get me removed from this forum, PERIOD.

Don't get mad - get even.

Present the facts that prove those men were murdered during the day of January 6h, EST, 2021. During that 24 hour period. I wrote that those men were not murdered on January 6th, 2011. That is what I wrote; it is a fact. Contrary to claims made by many, including President Biden multiple times in the past.

[DTravel]

Trump Pressures Republicans to Pass a Law to Keep Him Out of Jail Forever
Rolling Stone

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...96fc64f0&ei=18

Donald Trump likes to tell anyone who will listen that he's absolutely convinced he will win his 2024 rematch against President Joe Biden. And, according to people who've spoken to the ex-president about this, Trump also seems convinced that if he wins another four years in the White House, state prosecutors will still be waiting for him on the other side of his term - ready to put him on trial, or even in prison, just as they are now.

To avoid such risks, the former and perhaps future president of the United States wants Congress to create a very specific insurance policy that would help keep him out of prison forever, two sources familiar with the matter tell Rolling Stone. Trump vaguely alluded to this idea last week outside his New York criminal hush money trial, when he said he has urged Republican lawmakers to pass "laws to stop things like this."

In recent months, the sources say, Trump has spoken to several GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill, attorneys, and other associates about the possibility of Republicans passing legislation in a second Trump term that would shield former presidents (i.e. Trump) from non-federal prosecutions. In recent conversations with closely-aligned lawmakers, Trump has pressured them to do so, describing it as imperative that he signs such a bill into law, if he again ascends to the Oval Office.

This, of course, would require that Republicans keep the House, take back the Senate, and have enough votes and agreement on the wisdom of these ideas to get it done.

"Even after a second term, he doesn't think any of this is going to end," says one of the sources. "He doesn't think Democrats are going to quit coming after him."

If Trump retakes the presidency this November, a new MAGAfied attorney general can shut down Special Counsel Jack Smith's federal criminal cases against Trump, therefore killing the two planned federal trials, neither of which is expected to happen during this election year. But in a scenario where Trump defeats Biden in November, he would in theory still have criminal charges and a trial waiting for him in Georgia, where he would not be able to pardon himself or have his Justice Department quash the case.

The twice-impeached, repeatedly-indicted ex-president and presumptive 2024 GOP nominee would like to resolve that problem, for obvious self-interested reasons.

Different ideas have been kicked around, including in private discussions with Trump, about how to go about this. But more recently, Trump appears fixated on the idea of passing a law to give former American presidents the option of moving state or local prosecutions into a federal court instead, the two sources add.

The former president himself has hinted at a legislative push to limit his exposure to such criminal charges. In an improvised press conference outside the Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday, Trump said he's been telling the Republican lawmakers who want to attend his trial and show solidarity to focus on legislation instead.

"We have a lot of 'em. They want to come. I say, ‘Just stay back and pass lots of laws to stop things like this,'" Trump told reporters.

Some Trump supporters in the House have already backed legislation that would help fulfill the former president's wishes to place himself above the law - and did so well before the Manhattan criminal trial was underway.

Last year, Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) introduced the "No More Political Prosecutions Act of 2023." The bill, just a few lines long, would allow current and former presidents and vice presidents to remove any state or civil cases against them to federal court for any acts committed in the course of their official duties.

Given that Justice Department policy forbids the prosecution of a sitting president, the legislation would effectively freeze any pending state criminal or civil cases should Trump win a second term. Prosecutors in a Trump-appointed Justice Department could also effectively shut down the cases against him.

Among the bill's cosponsors is House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who recently told Politico, "I think it's common sense that you can't have the president sitting in the Oval Office worried about whether some lawyer or some local DA somewhere is going to go after him."

The legislation's sponsor replied on X: "I agree. It's time for a vote on H.R. 2553, the No More Political Prosecutions Act."

Trump's push for new legislation is just his latest idea for shielding himself from criminal accountability. As Rolling Stone previously reported, Trump and his allies also plan to have the Justice Department‘s Office of Legal Counsel issue a memo advising that the DOJ should prohibit the prosecution of presidents even after they leave office.

Such a memo would codify Trump's arguments in federal court, and now at the Supreme Court, that presidents have expansive presidential immunity, even after they leave office, and that impeachment is the only avenue available for holding a president accountable for crimes committed while in office.

His attorneys tried to use the pending Supreme Court case weighing those arguments as an excuse to delay the New York City hush money case, on the grounds that some of the evidence included in the trial dated to his time in office.

Judge Juan Merchan dismissed the attempt.

[FalunGonged]

Originally Posted by FalunGonged

Cant recall on which debate she raised her hand in supporting Drump but I do recall the way in which she did it which looked really cringey if somewhat pathetic. Embarrassing as it is but what did you expect, surprised how her 'back bone' lasted that long.

politico.com/news/magazine/2023/08/24/republican-debate-body-language-00112711

You can sense the vibe of: "I need/got to raise my hand here or else it I might look bad for those I eventually want to get support from".

How about standing up to your convictions? but the trouble is one needs strength of character to do that, what you got here was an another embarrassing demonstration of gutless assholes.

[loadmaster011]

"Even after a second term, he doesn't think any of this is going to end," says one of the sources. "He doesn't think Democrats are going to quit coming after him."

I hope he lives in constant fear that he'll be sought like a rabid dog for the remainder of his days on this earth.


Among the bill's cosponsors is House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who recently told Politico, "I think it's common sense that you can't have the president sitting in the Oval Office worried about whether some lawyer or some local DA somewhere is going to go after him."

Worry, worry 24/7 M-f*ck*r. In a srcond term even if if he wins there are plenty of Americans who have really more than had it with his horseshit.

[Baxter49]

https://thehill.com/regulation/court...-loaded-claim/

Jack Smith seeks gag order in classified docs case after Trump ‘locked & loaded’ claim

Special counsel Jack Smith in a Friday filing called on the judge overseeing former President Trump’s classified documents case to block Trump from speaking about the case in a way that could endanger law enforcement officials.

In his request, Smith asked the court to impose a condition that would bar Trump from making public statements that could “pose a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to the law enforcement agents participating in the investigation and prosecution of this case.”

“Whether a particular statement meets that test “must be determined by reference to the statement’s full context,” the filing reads. “But that condition would clearly prohibit further statements deceptively claiming that the agents involved in the execution of the search warrant were engaged in an effort to kill him, his family, or Secret Service agents.”

The move comes after the former president falsely claimed in an email Wednesday that President Biden was “locked & loaded and ready to take me out” — twisting language from the terms approved for law enforcement as they prepared to search his Mar-a-Lago residence for classified records in 2022.

In reality, the language only allows for deadly force “when necessary,” such as when someone “poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person.”

The prosecutors noted in the filing that the FBI’s search of the Palm Beach resort was done intentionally when Trump and his family were away. And, they added, it was coordinated with the Secret Service, without force.

In their argument, prosecutors said Trump’s false claims could expose law enforcement — some of whom they noted would be witnesses at his trial — to threats of violence or harassment.

“The Government’s request is necessary because of several intentionally false and inflammatory statements recently made by Trump that distort the circumstances under which the Federal Bureau of Investigation planned and executed the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago,” the court documents read.

“Those statements create a grossly misleading impression about the intentions and conduct of federal law enforcement agents — falsely suggesting that they were complicit in a plot to assassinate him — and expose those agents, some of whom will be witnesses at trial, to the risk of threats, violence, and harassment,” prosecutors added.

Attorney General Merrick Garland also pushed back on Trump’s accusations Thursday, calling them “extremely dangerous.”

“That allegation is false, and it is extremely dangerous,” Garland said. “The document that has been referred to in the allegation is the Justice Department standard policy, limiting the use of force.”

[DTravel]

Trump unleashes massive exaggeration in furious pre-Memorial Day weekend post
Raw Story

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...60cb85e3&ei=39

Former President Donald Trump repeated his oft-heard rant against his “sham” criminal trial Friday — but added an outrageously exaggerated claim.

Trump had his mind on the resumption of the hush money case as he took to Truth Social as he prepared for the Memorial Day Weekend.

He unleashed an attack on the case and Judge Juan Merchan, who he called a Democrat-appointed justice who is biased against him.

But, among the usual complaints that he’s voiced many times, was a claim that every legal scholar agrees that Merchan must be stopped.

“The Judge CANNOT be allowed to do further damage to Justice in New York and our Nation, and every Legal Scholar and Expert agrees with this,” he raged.

Though Trump frequently quotes legal experts who claim the trial is flawed, many others believe it is sound — and in fact will result in a conviction.

Trump is facing 34 charges of business fraud in relation to hush money payments allegedly made to an adult movie star to keep quiet about a sexual relationship the pair had.

On Tuesday, closing statements are expected to start before the jury begins its deliberations.

Trump’s Friday post claimed that the nearly five-week hearing had been rigged.

“Corrupt, Deeply Conflicted, Democrat Appointed Acting Judge Juan Merchan is doing all he can to even further RIG the Manhattan Sham ‘Trial,’ he wrote.

“He is denying me the opportunity to put on a Highly Respected Election Law Expert who will say, once again, that THERE WAS NO CRIME. This Judge, whose conflicts are completely disqualifying, isn’t even requiring a unanimous decision by the jury on key portions of this Criminal Hoax, which is UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNAMERICAN.

“The whole Case should be ENDED IMMEDIATELY, and all the charges THROWN OUT, because everything was done right, with Legal Expenses being reported as Legal Expenses! The Judge CANNOT be allowed to do further damage to Justice in New York and our Nation, and every Legal Scholar and Expert agrees with this. The whole Sham is a disgusting Political Witch Hunt by Crooked Joe Biden’s White House. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!"

[DTravel]

This article wasn't labeled as an Opinion piece but it reads a lot like one to me.

Jack Smith put Cannon 'on the spot' for potential removal: conservative George Conway
Raw Story

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-canno...emoval-conway/

The Donald Trump-appointed judge's seat is sizzling.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who has been accused of bias and incompetence for failing to get to trial after lengthy delays in the former president's criminal classified documents Espionage Act case, must act to protect law enforcement involved in the high-profile case.

If she falters, she could be yanked from the case.

"I think the special counsel may use this as the opportunity to try to get the 11th Circuit to get rid of her," said conservative lawyer George Conway during an appearance on CNN. "So she's really on the spot here."

The 11th Circuit has already overruled Cannon embarrassingly twice.

A judge can be removed in the 11th Circuit if their conduct creates “the appearance of impropriety or a lack of impartiality in the mind of a reasonable member of the public.”

"She's actually going to have to do something... [and] she better because this is just this is just completely outrageous," Conway noted.

On Friday, Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed a motion asking U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to "modify" the teams of former President Donald Trump's release in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case where he was indicted along with his valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira.

Specifically, Smith wants Cannon to stop the former president from espousing rhetoric that would endanger the lives of law enforcement officials involved in the case — which would be similar to the gag orders imposed on Trump in the federal January 6 case and the Manhattan hush money business falsifying documents case.

The request appears to be primarily a response to Trump promoting conspiracy theories that the FBI was authorized by President Joe Biden to assassinate him.

“BIDEN’S DOJ WAS AUTHORIZED TO SHOOT ME," reads the language posted by Trump on Truth Social. "Joe Biden was locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger.”

But it's been proven to be pure hysteria.

That's because the search warrant document executed at Mar-a-Lago was using boilerplate language that outlined the conditions under which they were authorized to use deadly force while executing the search.

Conway was gobsmacked by Trump's cry wolf tone.

"I mean, it is really an attempt to incite violence against government agents based on the complete pathological lie," he said. "It's a misreading and gross, just absolutely obscene misreading, of a standard document that limits the use of force."

The co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project also condemned the former president's campaign email that doubled down on the assassination threat even after it was disproven.

Conway said: "It just shows you the level of just moral depravity that Trump emanates and that surrounds him; I can't find the words to describe that level of depravity to send this message out."