Trump supporters and conspiracy theory - Part 2

[Rick Plant]

Raffensperger testifies in front of Trump election probe grand jury



ATLANTA - Thursday Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was the first subpoenaed witness to testify in front of a special purpose grand jury investigating whether anyone, including former President Donald Trump, should face charges for trying to influence the results of the 2020 election. 

Sec. Raffensperger did not take questions from reporters gathered outside the courthouse when he arrived shortly before 9:00 a.m., but did wave and smile.

Fulton County empaneled 23 jurors and 3 alternates for the grand jury last month. 

"So, the nature of the special grand jury in Georgia, it's very rare to be used and it's often to try to unearth evidence in very complex cases," explained Georgia State University law professor Anthony Kreis.  "And typically, these are public corruption cases, which this is akin to. And so, unlike a regular grand jury, where the question is really more of is there enough evidence for an indictment, what we want here is an investigation." 

Raffensperger's testimony likely centered around a phone call made by the then-President to Raffensperger in January 2021.  During that call, President Trump seemed to urge Sec. Raffensperger to change the results. 

"I just want to find 11,780 voters, which is one more than we have," Trump said in the recorded call. 

Trump lost Georgia to Joe Biden by 11,779 votes.

"I heard what the president said," Sec. Raffensperger told the FOX 5 I-Team Wednesday.  "And I understand that he has tremendous positional power, but also know that we all follow the constitution."

Sec. Raffensperger's wife, Tricia Raffensperger, also appeared at the Fulton County Courthouse Thursday.  Like her husband, Mrs. Raffensperger received death threats in the wake of the 2020 election. 

Kreis said using a special purpose grand jury is a way for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to avoid what he labeled a "political predicament."

"On the one hand, there are a lot of liberals in [Fulton County] who want to see Donald Trump and his associates prosecuted for what happened, particularly with his phone call with Brad Raffensperger in the aftermath of the election," said Kreis.  "And there are a lot of people who will also suggest that her investigation might be hyperpolitical and that might be a criticism that she wants to fend off from the right. So I think what this investigation is really about and the reason for the special grand jury is to ensure that that everything is followed by the book."

The special grand jury has up to a year to complete their investigation and make any recommendations. 

Raffensperger was subpoenaed to appear before the Fulton County special grand jury. Five other people in his office have received subpoenas to appear in early June and the office has received a subpoena for documents. State Attorney General Chris Carr has received a subpoena to appear June 21.

FOX 5 sat down with Raffensperger on Wednesday. When asked if he was nervous about testifying, Georgia's election chief said "not at all."

"We followed the law, and we followed the constitution," he said. "I heard what the President said, and I understand that he has tremendous positional power, but also I know that we followed the law, and we followed the constitution."

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her team had the opportunity Wednesday to sit down with the full special grand jury. A source told the FOX 5 I-Team's Dale Russell the team gave grand jurors an overview of what Willis' office has already learned from some 50 witnesses who volunteered information along with a blueprint of what is to come.

A number of Fulton County Sheriff's deputies were on hand, some with rifles, others with bomb sniffing dogs, outside the Fulton County Courthouse. Security was stepped up after the district attorney received threats after she announced the formation of the special grand jury.

Speaking to FOX 5 in May, Willis said, "I don't think this is a joke."

Twenty-three grand jurors and three alternates were chosen on May 2. Part of the session was shown live to the public. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who is overseeing the special grand jury, told grand jurors they will be investigating actions surrounding the 2020 general election.

The Fulton County special grand jury will examine whether anyone broke the law during the tumultuous days leading up to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capital.

Anyone, including former President Donald Trump.

On a recorded phone call following his election defeat, the then-President directly urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to throw out what Trump considered to be fraudulent votes which would give him the electoral victory.

"We are looking at the issues surrounding the 2020 election. That call is part of that investigation," Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told the I-Team.

The grand jury is also expected to hear testimony regarding Rudy Giuliani's claims before the Georgia legislature of stolen votes - claims that have been debunked.

Another topic for review, Sen. Lindsey Graham's call to Raffensperger when Graham asked Raffensperger if he could throw out all the absentee ballots in a county that had a high number of mismatched signatures on mail-in votes.

A spokesperson for Graham called it "a ridiculous accusation." While acknowledging the call, he said Graham "never asked the Secretary of State to disqualify a ballot cast by anyone."   

"The right to vote is very, very important. Making sure that that's not tainted or that it's not impacted in any way, it is a very serious thing," Willis said.

It's not clear what if any charges Willis could choose to pursue against Trump or anyone else. In a letter she sent to top-ranking state officials last year, she said she was looking into "potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting the solicitation of election fraud, the making of false statements to state and local government bodies, conspiracy, racketeering, violation of oath of office and any involvement in violence or threats related to the election's administration."

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/fulton-county-grand-jury-investigating-trump-raffensperger-testimony

[Rick Plant]

Congress investigating if Jared Kushner's 'personal financial interests improperly influenced US foreign policy'



The House Committee on Oversight and Reform announced on Thursday that it is investigating Jared Kushner after his investment firm received $2 billion from Saudi Arabian wealth fund.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), the committee's chairwoman, wrote an 8-page letter to Kushner announcing the investigation.

"Your support for Saudi interests was unwavering, even as Congress and the rest of the world closely scrutinized the country’s human rights abuses in Yemen, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi assassins tied to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on political dissidents at home. After leaving your senior White House position, you formed an investment firm, A Fin Management, LLC (Affinity) and raised $2 billion from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, which is controlled by the Crown Prince,” wrote Maloney.

Kushner incorporated the firm the day leaving the White House, were he served as a senior advisor to Donald Trump.

“The Committee on Oversight and Reform is investigating whether you have improperly traded on your government position to obtain billions of dollars from the Saudi government and whether your personal financial interests improperly influenced U.S. foreign policy during the administration of your father-in-law, former President Trump. This investigation will inform the Committee about whether federal ethics laws should be strengthened to prevent senior public officials from taking advantage of their position within the federal government to reap a financial windfall—before, during, or after government employment,” Maloney explained.

The letter asks for documents to be produced by June 16.

Also on Thursday, The New York Times reported Biden will travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for an official state visit.

"During his stop in Riyadh, he will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was deemed responsible for the assassination, as well as the leaders of other Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates," the newspaper reported. "The visit represents the triumph of realpolitik over moral outrage, according to foreign policy experts."





https://oversight.house.gov

[Rick Plant]

Prosecutors are closing in on Steve Bannon as 'several' of his close allies get subpoenaed by grand jury



Prosecutors in New York are "moving closer" to slapping Trump ally Steve Bannon with criminal charges and have subpoenaed "several" members of his inner circle to testify before a grand jury, reports CNN.

According to CNN's sources, Bannon is facing scrutiny for allegedly defrauding investors in the "We Build the Wall" fundraising campaign.

Bannon had previously been indicted on federal charges for the scheme, but was subsequently given a last-minute pardon by former President Donald Trump right before he left office in January 2021.

While Trump's pardon wiped out Bannon's exposure to federal charges, they can't save him from charges leveled by state-level prosecutors.

"The subpoenas are the clearest indication that the Manhattan district attorney's criminal investigation into Bannon's fundraising efforts is intensifying and could lead to possible charges against former President Donald Trump's onetime adviser," CNN writes.

CNN's sources say that New York prosecutors have been quietly gathering evidence against Bannon for the last year by subpoenaing bank records related to the "We Build the Wall" scheme.

Bannon is also facing federal charges for being in criminal contempt of Congress for completely refusing to cooperate with the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riots.

Read more here:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/03/politics/steve-bannon-new-york-grand-jury-build-the-wall/index.html

[Rick Plant]

Trump adviser Peter Navarro gets indicted on two contempt of Congress charges



Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro has been indicted by the United States Department of Justice on two contempt of Congress charges.

Navarro, much like Trump ally Steve Bannon, had refused to cooperate with the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riots, and the House of Representatives voted to send over a criminal referral to him earlier this year.

"On Feb. 9, 2022, the Select Committee issued a subpoena to Navarro," the DOJ writes in its press release on the indictment. "The subpoena required him to appear and produce documents to the Select Committee on Feb. 23, 2022, and to appear for a deposition before the Select Committee on March 2, 2022. According to the indictment, Navarro refused to appear to give testimony as required by subpoena and refused to produce documents in compliance with a subpoena."

If convicted on both charges, Navarro will face a maximum sentence of two years in prison, as well as fines of up to $200,000.

Navarro is now the second person to be indicted for refusing to comply with the House Select Committee, as the aforementioned Bannon was slapped with criminal charges this past November.

https://www.rawstory.com/peter-navarro-indicted/

[Rick Plant]

Secret Service was alerted Pence was in danger from Trump on Jan 5th: report



According to a report from the New York Times' Maggie Haberman, former vice president Mike Pence's chief of staff sat down with the head of the VP's Secret Service detail on the day before the Jan 6th insurrection to warn them that his boss's life might be in danger.

The report states that Marc Short explained, "The president was going to turn publicly against the vice president, and there could be a security risk to Mr. Pence because of it."

Earlier this week it was reported that Trump had no problems with the crowd who stormed the Capitol chanting "Hang Mike Pence" and the new report indicates that the former vice president and his staff were already worried about what would follow the "Stop the Steal" rally.

According to Haberman's report, based upon her upcoming book due out in October, "Mr. Short did not know what form such a security risk might take, according to people familiar with the events. But after days of intensifying pressure from Mr. Trump on Mr. Pence to take the extraordinary step of intervening in the certification of the Electoral College count to forestall Mr. Trump’s defeat, Mr. Short seemed to have good reason for concern. The vice president’s refusal to go along was exploding into an open and bitter breach between the two men at a time when the president was stoking the fury of his supporters who were streaming into Washington."

Haberman adds that it is unclear what the Secret Service's Tim Giebels did with the information given to him by Short.

"New details from the weeks leading up to Jan. 6 help to flesh out how Mr. Trump and his allies sought to intimidate Mr. Pence into accepting their baseless theory that the vice president had the authority to block congressional certification of the Electoral College results — and how Mr. Pence’s refusal to do so would lead him to peril," she wrote. "A few weeks after Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020, aides to Mr. Pence learned that some in Mr. Trump’s loose network of advisers were discussing the possibility of Jan. 6, 2021 — set under statute as the day of the Electoral College certification — as a potentially critical date in Mr. Trump’s efforts to stay in power."

Haberman reports that neither a spokesperson for the Secret Service nor anyone representing Pence responded when asked to comment on the reported meeting.

https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-mike-pence-2657454773/

[Rick Plant]

Michael Cohen: Peter Navarro has made a terrible mistake — and will go to prison for it

On Friday's edition of MSNBC's "The Beat," former President Donald Trump's onetime personal attorney Michael Cohen told Ari Melber that former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, charged today with contempt of Congress, is needlessly bringing a world of legal trouble on himself.

Cohen, who himself served time in prison for a scheme to help fix hush payments for Trump, warned Navarro that he is effectively destroying his future for no reason.

"What do you think of the potential Trump defense, which we may hear about during these hearings as they start next week, that they tried everything, but when they got near a line, he backed off," said Melber. "He didn't, as you say, didn't really go to the military. Tried Pence. It sort of ended there. What about that defense?"

"Nonsense," said Cohen. "It's not real. It's not legitimate. It's a lie. Something that Donald is so good at doing. Blatantly lies right to your face and says same lie over and over and over again. For what purpose? Ultimately the lie becomes the truth. That's what he wants. Peter Navarro is making a terrible mistake. He'll end up in prison. He's foolish. One quarter of his life could be in prison. If you're watching, I hope you are, you don't want go there. It's terrible. Removed from your family and friends. They destroy your name, your reputation. All for who? All for what? For Donald Trump? For democracy? To be, the democracy in peril? Seriously. What are you thinking?"

Cohen also tore apart Navarro's accusations of misconduct against federal officials.

"What legacy do you want to leave to your children, grandchildren and god willing great-grandchildren?" said Cohen. "Not the legacy you're leaving now. Which he looks like a fool. Oh, my god. Went ahead, picked me up at the airport. It's unconstitutional. First of all, Peter Navarro is not a lawyer. I don't think he understands. He has a PhD in economics. Stick to what he knows. What he's saying now makes him look stupid."

Watch:

[Rick Plant]

Republicans do not care about gun violence or the safety of Americans. Their lack of actions on voting and their words prove it. Plus this leaked memo makes it official. Also remember, global inflation is due to the global pandemic thats happening all over the world. Right wingers lie pretending it's only happening in America. It's worse in Europe and in Asia. Inflation has nothing to do with Biden like right wingers lie about.

'Scare some gun nuts while you can': Leaked GOP memos instruct lawmakers how to blow off Uvalde massacre



Strategy memos obtained by Rolling Stone from a "variety of conservative candidates and organizations" urge changing the topic and letting the news cycle change following the latest string of mass shootings in America.

"Stay cool. Run out the clock. Scare some gun nuts while you can. But don’t worry: this moment will be over soon," is how the magazine summarized the guidance.

A memo for a top GOP Senate candidate urged them to "ignore guns, talk inflation."

"Other documents predictably decried liberal desires for 'gun-grabbing' and 'gun confiscation,' and made whataboutism-type references to gun violence in Chicago," the magazine reported.

The memos come as the National Rifle Association has not been leading the charge as it did following the Newtown school shooting massacre.

The Republican National Committee has also been taking a backseat in messaging guidance sent three days after the Uvalde mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.

"The email began with some pro-forma thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families, then went on to “thank…the members of law enforcement who responded to the scene and killed the shooter.” (That’s despite the fact that 19 such cops inside the school waited and waited while students begged for help — and the gunman continued to fire.) But the bulk of the memo, part of the series of RNC “Pundit Prep” that typically lists the party’s weekly political priorities, had a conspicuous omission. It did not include any actual talking points about the latest school massacre in the U.S. — a mass shooting that dominated American media and political conversation, only to be bookended by news of other mass murders carried out with firearms," the magazine reported.

GOP operative and former Trump aide Steven Chung shared the advice he was giving to his 2022 House and Senate candidates.

“My advice to any Republican candidate would be to not let the moment dictate any political action that may have unintended consequences that leads to widespread gun confiscation,” he said. “Defend the Second Amendment because that’s where the base is, but offer tangible solutions like hardening of schools and more funding for mental health.”

Another consultant told the magazine his advice was for Republicans to "just wait this out."

"The media will start chasing something else soon, and [Republicans] should stick to talking about the issues that affect voters’ lives most … and I’m sorry to say, guns aren’t topping the list," the consultant said.

Read more here: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/uvalde-gop-trump-guns-strategy-1362970/