“Fraud Guarantee?” How hilarious, ironic, and prescient!
Guess the “guarantee” may ultimately lead to a prison terms for all three of these charlatans - Giuliani, Parnas, and Fruman, the newest version of “The Three Amigos!”
6
I'd say Parnas should watch his back. Trump runs with mobsters, and we know Putin has a way of disappearing people.
3
Is anybody looking into a possible deal between Trump and Putin to not help Ukraine? That would explain why Trump did not want to give the Ukraine money or arms and weapons to fight off Russia.
4
Parnas and Fruman have to be in jail for long period of time without any doubts. They don't represent face of other immigrants who work honestly for our country and are not involved in dirty political games. They were thieves in their native countries and continued to do the same in US.
2
“Mr. Parnas was very upset by President Trump’s plainly false statement that he did not know him,” …
When Trump is gone, very soon, I too will say that I didn’t know him or even know that he was President.
2
Here's a little info on Mr. Parnas and Mr. Fruman. Just your run of the mill criminals.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article235501772.html
2
I am surprised when I hear “I’ve read the words ‘Biden, Burisma, corruption, failure to prosecute, and withheld funds,' all in the same story, and that must mean that the prosecutor was investigating the younger Biden, so the older Biden withheld money and got the prosecutor fired.”
These people seem to ignore the time line and what actually happened.
In the Biden case, the Ukrainian prosecutor wasn’t going after ANYONE. Indeed, he had already ENDED his Burisma investigation and the younger Biden was COMPLETELY IN THE CLEAR. Moreover, EVERY leader and diplomat, US and foreign, wanted the US aid conditioned on the prosecutor being fired. By getting him fired, Biden risked that a NEW prosecutor would REOPEN the Burisma investigation.
All of this is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what the Trump supporters are saying. Biden didn’t get the guy fired to end an investigation; he got the guy fired even though it presented the potential risk that the Burisma investigation would be RESTARTED and put his son at renewed risk.
On the other hand, Donald Trump wanted Ukraine to announce that it was investigating someone when it actually wasn't, just so it would make it into the American newspapers. And, somehow, all of the “corruption” that Trump claimed to be worried about involved only his political opponents, Joe Biden, and the DNC.
It is time for Trump supporters to wake up and smell the coffee -- this is just like Nixon authorizing the Watergate break-in, but on steroids!
9
The company you keep Individual 1...
The whole gangster plot fades into B movie category, and I'm being generous here.
4
This is really not news. The Human Stain is a traitor, liar,, misogynist, bigot and all around horrible, deplorable person. Were it not for Russian complicity and Collusion this would just be a nightmare scenario averted.
DJT will go to jail. He will be impeached and when the US electorate sees the evidence everyone knows exists, they will pressure their representatives in the Senate to remove this stain.
Tick, tock...justice is coming
8
who paid fruman and parnas to take trips to the Ukraine and to gather info for RG,
2
It appears that Mr. Parnas didn't do his homework regarding Trump's loyalty to those that work for him.
7
i almost had a moment of pity for this guy . . . he seemed genuinely surprised & hurt that trump disavowed knowing him.
4
Yes, the ambassador serves at the President’s pleasure. But the President is not a king (as much as he would like to be) and sweeping out competent diplomats in order to install factótums in pursuit of personal political advantages in advance of a presidential election is obviously crooked. Trump and his toads and thugs and enablers can spin it all they want. They can muddy the water and change the subject and howl about the process. But they know they are defending a corrupt administration, one that most of them don’t really respect. Why? Because Trump’s the leader of the cult that was once the GOP and these sad, grasping little men and women are clinging to the power that cult membership bestows upon them - while blithely throwing aside their consciences and their integrity. History is not going to be kind to them. I hope voters won’t either.
116
@J.B. Precisely because she serves at the president's pleasure makes this all the more serious. Trump could simply have removed her. But, instead she was first smeared by those (some US citizens even!) whose interests were not aligned with the US Government. And those interests won. That the President was at the top of this scheme is truly beyond the pale.
24
I wouldn't start the celebrations yet. Manafort, Cohen and the bunch have really provided little -- that we have seen -- that will seriously imperil DJT. I'm curious about the choice of lawyers representing this guy Parnas and the timing of it all. Is he not endangering his own criminal case by agreeing to speak go the House? It's a brilliant distraction possibly. And it could end up serving DJT. Meanwhile, Roger Stone's trial will be a welcome sideshow to the WH as they scramble to get their defensive strategy together (aka figure out which is going to be the most effective series of new lies).
PS -- To be fair, let's please say this is the House leading the impeachment. This is not a Democratic effort. It just happens that the Dems appear to be upholding the rule of law and honoring the Constitution. And it is not just the law DJT believes he is above. He believes he is above the Constitution and his GOP enablers must believe it, too.
78
@Desert Rat By pleading the Fifth, Parnas sets himself up nicely for a grant of immunity from prosecution. With that in hand, he'll happily spill the beans on what he and Fruman and Rudy were up to, and who *actually* paid Rudy a half-million dollars - and for what.
13
Trump's strategies just do not seem to be working very well these days. Patriots are coming forward and testifying, even after being threatened by Trump through his attorneys. Now, a guy who could take down Rudy and Trump, is willing to testify because Trump claims to not know him. That strategy is now blowing up in Trump's face.
Everyday it feels like another chunk of ground under the Trump Administration seems to break off and drop into the ocean. If enough chunks do fall away; all bets are off if Trump is put on trial in the Senate.
62
@Bryan
I'm not so sure I would call this guy a patriot. He appears to me to be more of an opportunist. I think he is trying to get a reduced sentence. That doesn't alter the fact that he is coming forward. I just question his motivations.
49
@ExPatMX i don't question motivations. It;s legit and it gets Trump out
2 of the most important factors here
9
@Bryan Yes. Truly amazing...It sounds like he's coming forward because his feelings are heart.
6
Serious question for Trump supporters: No matter who is in the White House, when did it become okay for a President's personal attorney to get as involved as Giuliani in setting policy and choosing diplomats?
206
@Tonic , Trump really does believe he is a king. He does believe that his own person and interests are those of America. He's spoken of "my generals", for example. When his idea of buying Greenland was mocked, he asserted that the United States was being mocked. His metaphor in this Ukraine quid pro quo for his own position was that when a businessman (i.e., Trump) is going to loan you (i.e., Ukraine) money, he will want you to pay your debt (i.e., dirt on Biden) to him first. The idea that foreign aid allocated by Congress belongs to Trump to give or not reflects his conflation of himself with America. His idea that he should be personally assisted in throwing dirt on political rivals as "payment" for allowing foreign aid, the same. His assertion that Ukraine somehow "owes him" something, the same. And I'm sure there are many, many cases of this kind of word and deed, all showing Trump as a would-be dictator. Or a real one, insofar as he is succeeding in wrecking or corrupting all he can of the offices and branches of our government--ours, not his. It must stop.
182
Quality comment, JB.
34
@jb
excellent well thought out reasoned analysis.
And spot on
30
“Mr. Parnas was very upset by President Trump’s plainly false statement that he did not know him”
How can people who associate with Trump not know that he's going to stab them in the back?
345
We’re going to need more buses.
82
@T I was going to cite the exact same passage. When you surround yourself with people even more desperate than you for approval/ recognition, do not be surprised when they turn on you when you damage their even more fragile egos.
27
Most of them probably blinded by greed and ambition, I’d say. Add a pinch of self-delusion - and viola: you’ve got a good chance of joining that not very exclusive club, “People the President Now Finds Inconvenient.”
39
It must be very unsettling to work in an administration where everyone you work with today could be someone you have to pretend you never heard of tomorrow.
354
@JH, Nah it’s easy, some of these politicians have practiced not knowing people they’ve been with most of their adult life. Ask their family members.
68
As is the formula for the taking down of a crime syndicate, it begins one by one starting with the street thugs, in this case the mouthpiece lawyers, corrupted military leaders, holders of bought and paid for ambassadorships, and the like. Thus, the Trump Syndicate is being turned against itself. Much of what comes next depends on whether which and how many Republican senators and perhaps a major funder or two flip.
If that happens the flood gates of recently discovered virtue will open and Trump could be gone overnight.
That's a hopeful scenario, however. We need to be prepared for the Syndicate's accelerated onslaught, with Republican toadying and Putin's psy-ops support, to further assure the imbedding of a Trump autocracy regardless of results of the 2020 elections . . . should, of course, the Trumps and their Syndicate not have found their way to preventing them altogether.
5
@Max What? Extortion from a foreign leader for Trump's own personal gain is not defined as US Diplomacy. Clearly, POTUS Trump was using his public office for personal gain. It was nothing more than a shake down using taxpayer dollars as leverage; another clear violation of his oath of office as well as the Constitution.
6
You've got got to hand it to the Trump and the Republicans, they always bring their team out onto the field highly motivated to win at all costs, doing whatever it takes. It's just that they bring the B team. They have no A team.
6
“I have discussed the issue of representation with the president. The president consents to allowing your representation of Mr. Parnas and Mr. Furman,” Jay Sekulow, another lawyer for Mr. Trump, wrote to Mr. Dowd, misspelling Mr. Fruman’s surname.
Yes, my personal lawyer often asks if its okay with me to allow his associate to work with people "I don't know" or "know about what they do." I'm sure thats common practice in the legal profession.
4
The day that DJT officially throws rudy overboard is fast approaching.
You can see it!
And that breakup will be much worse than what we saw with Michael Cohen.
If rudy’s world collapses he will not hesitate to take DJT with him.
Bet on it!
10
I love derisively how President Pathological jovially ignores the photographic evidence that he knows both Lev and Igor. Trump is a true and obvious mental case wreaking havoc upon our nation.
13
I guess being accused of being just a “coffe boy” is about the worst offense any associate of trump’s could suffer.
1
Gee, somebody suddenly realized how many of lying Don's minions end up in jail?
1
No honor among thieves. You could knock me over with a feather.
DT will wish he didn't know this guy...Ah, what tangled webs we weave when first we venture to deceive...
2
Regardless of this guy will sing or compose to get out of jail, I don't understand one thing:
How come the NYT and the mainstream media said that the claim that Biden got the former Ukrainian prosecutor had nothing to do with that prosecutor investigate Burisma (which hired Hunter Biden) and was all kosher, and yet there is a written affidavit and a video confession of that prosecutor who said that he did investigate Burisma for corruption. Besides that evidence, Johnathan Hill unearth a paper trail of emails between Burisma's US reps (then) and Obama's state department.
So how can the NYT claim that said "theory" was debunked in view of the new evidence?
And isn't the President of the US, Trump entitled to dig up the dirt is such dirt exists as opposed to let it cover up the corruption of the 2 Bidens?
@Idealist Alas, there are an amazing number of claims along the lines of “I’ve heard a story that mentioned the words ‘Biden, Burisma, corruption, and failure to prosecute,’ so that must mean that the prosecutor was investigating the younger Biden and the older Biden paid off Ukraine to get him fired.”
Surely you can handle the time line and the logic of what you (and other Trump loyalists) are saying. The Ukrainian prosecutor wasn’t going after ANYONE. Indeed, he had already ENDED the Burisma investigation. EVERY leader and diplomat, US and foreign, wanted the aid conditioned on the prosecutor being fired. By getting him fired, Biden risked that the NEW prosecutor would REOPEN the Burisma investigation.
All of this is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what you are saying. Biden didn’t get the guy fired to end an investigation; he got the guy fired even though it presented the potential for a new investigation of the company that his son was a director of.
On the other hand, Donald Trump wanted Ukraine to announce that it was investigating someone that it wasn’t investigating, just so it would make it into the newspapers. And, somehow, all of the “corruption” That Donald Trump claimed to be worried about mysteriously involved only his political opponents, Joe Biden, and the democratic national committee.
It really is time to wake up and smell the coffee, and realize that this is Nixon authorizing the Watergate break-in, on steroids!
5
Mr. Parnas is about as shady as they come.That our president has 1 degree of separation from this should raise a lot of red flags.
Big questions:
Who was paying Parnas?
Why was he trying to get a change in control of the the Ukraine gas company?
What role did he have with Firtash?
Has he been given questions that will be asked from anyone before the hearings?
3
In Trumpistan, only Trump speaks the truth.
If it is not Trump, it is not the truth.
Let all be Trump, and true, and orange.
2
He needs very good bodyguards now. There is an illness rampant in Trumpian world, called Epsteinite. 100 % lethal, better score than Ebola.
2
He used a former Trump lawyer? Is that how Trump is keeping people quiet? #not-my-president
2
In the Mob if you kept your mouth shut and did your time, your family would be taken care of while you were in prison and you would be taken care of when you got out. But Trump would sell his own mother up the river without a scintilla of remorse. Seems this guy figured that out. What have we come to? The President of the United States less honorable than a mobster
10
@ROK Probably why he couldn't get anything built in Russia; not even the mob would have him!
A cockroach! I hope he has not been granted immunity for the truth - unlike the other felon, Paul Manafort.
1
Any one who has watched Mr. Trump's public behavior over the past three years will know that Donald Trump expects "loyalty" from everyone who works for him. But loyalty is not a two-way street for Trump. He will hang anyone out to dry if he thinks it will help his own self-serving goals. Anyone who has vowed to 'take a bullet for Mr. Trump' will be shot in the middle of Fifth Avenue if Trump thinks it will enhance his self-imge.
8
Guess I was spoiled by boring Obama. I am forever shocked by how many crooks and shady people surround Trump. It is also apparent Trump is a cancer as people who were moral turn as soon as they go near him. Take Rudy, when he was mayor he seemed honest except with his then wife. Now he appears to be a shady sleeze.
10
I feel compelled to comment on the last line: "Marie L. Yovanovitch, whom Mr. Trump and Mr. Giuliani saw as hostile to the president." Trump and Giuliani found, in Ms. Yovanovitch a person of integrity, professionalism and strength - much in keeping with the tradition of Americans who daily serve in our Government and Military. I do not believe that "hostile" is the right word. Trump, Giuliani and their ilk may so characterize (hostile) those who are not subservient but rather adhere to truth, as well as, stand up to corruption, malfeasance and treason. It bears repeating that what Trump and Giuliani found, in Ms. Yovanovitch, was a heroic person standing for the principles that have made American Foreign Policy effective (relatively) pre-Trump, pre-Pompeo and pre-Barr. Our Constitution was constructed with consideration that someone like Trump might gain control of the Executive branch. What was not anticipated was that an entire party (Republican congressmen with support of constituents) would accede to an autocratic President. In the near term we may see whether the Supreme Court is compromised as well. Our Democracy is at stake. We need to heed the example of citizens like Ms. Yovanovitch.
15
In the end, Paul Manafort certainly kept omertà but Parnas may be less inclined. He seemed a little more insulted by the disavowal; all good henchmen expect to be shown the proper respect, even by the boss. As a naturalized citizen, he would be deported after serving a felony sentence and he may not fare too well given his circle of associates.
The Russia and Ukraine stories are inextricably linked and Parnas may shed some light on both.
13
Will Mr. Parnas tell the truth, even under oath? Color me dubious. Will the documentation he produces be genuine? Square that. It would be perfectly in character for the Donald/Rudy axis to plant false evidence within this investigation to sow seeds of doubt in its legitimacy.
8
The Democrats should not trust this witness, his primary motive may be to derail the inquiry by introducing wild conspiracy theories.
Seriously, what is he going to do, implicate himself? Democrats, don't take the bait, this does not pass the smell test.
3
Michael Cohen didn't exaggerate when he testified about Trump turning on anyone who comes within his orbit, this behavior being a variation of the Midas story.
Some of the comments raise the issue of Parnas' credibility. I say that Trump's denial that he knows Parnas automatically vouches for his credibility. In fact, whatever Trump says, I conclude without any other proof, the opposite is probably true. Trump is a virtual human lie detector.
The sheer weight of Trump's mendacity has got to be taking its toll on at least 20 Republican Senators.
8
Trump, in spite of the worst possible legal advice, and the most public braggadocio of criminal behavior, and the efforts of nearly 3 years of investigations of both law enforcement and the press, still sits smiling upon the face of America.
That he still occupies this perch is the true indictment of what we self-flatteringly call the rule of law and the constitutional separation of powers.
Worse, all indications today are that he will survive all this, and may even be reelected.
The 'FAIL STATUS' light is flashing bright red with steam poring out the cracks.
8
It’s given by now that all who worked with Trump are ending in jail. The only one who will not go to jail is the one who is responsible for all this because of our great DOJ which says a President cannot be indicted.
Mr Parnas has realized his best chance is to come forth and reduce his jail time.
It’s funny Ukraine which was once a Russian issue has now become an American issue.
4
Yes, well Trump got elected by warning the nation about the criminal propensties of its immigrant population, and here we have a criminally-inclined immigrant seeking to line his own pockets while facilitating the re-election of his criminally-inclined patron/employer/co-conspirator.
Too bad the crackdown on legal immigration didn't happen before Fruman and Parnas were admitted. They do indeed pose a threat to our national security.
3
If this were Obama, Clinton, or Carter even contemplating such activities through surrogates like Guiliani and company, the impeachment trial would have already concluded with a convicted and ejected President.
We had a President under constant, unfettered investigation impeached over over a tertiary personal issue from the main one for lying under oath about a consensual act. No doubt, the perjury was bad (and I rather agree with the outcome), but Trump and his satellites are in a special class by themselves supported by the most vocal and eloquent persecutors of Clinton's lies.
I remain utterly dumbfounded by the cultist groupthink the GOP and its supporters are performing. I suppose I shouldn't be, just look at events in the previous century in Europe and Asia. I am legitimately afraid we'll have some sort of psychological pandemic of Trump's supporters becoming unhinged following Trump's dog whistle orders. Just look at history...
11
I’m not dumbfounded by Republicans. Money and power are their idols. It’s been that way for years. They are one with Trump and he with them.
4
I object to the journalists’ use of the Fox News term “Democrat led” impeachment proceedings.
The proceedings are being conducted by the House of Representatives, in full compliance with the US Constitution. Using the Fox News term perpetuates the falsity that a partisan, upstart, rogue, and probably un-Constitutional witch hunt is taking place.
Since the Democrats are in the majority in the House, anything done by the House is led by the Democratic (not “Democrat) Party. Every committee is chaired by a Democratic representative.
Who else would lead anything in the House?
The Times obfuscates here by using language that suggests that some kind of coup is taking place.
17
Does anyone know how these guys got notice they were about to be arrested? This story reads like a Robert Ludlum world-wide conspiracy tale - but instead of the lone hero with near superpower fighting skills to save the day, we have career prosecutors and a few Democratic members of Congress.
4
From the article "campaign contributions from a Russian businessman to other United States politicians to influence them" - Which US politicians?
1
Since, this guy is naturalized US Citizen, only option he has is to cooperate otherwise he will be deported back to Ukraine who will deport him to Putin.
4
I love the smell of fear in the morning....
It smells like victory.
7
Maybe when Trump said he didn't know them he was speaking in the biblical sense to his evangelical base.
2
If Mr. Parnas has damaging information to Trump/Putin, I hope he gets witness protection.
I read Putin and Yanukovych, Ukraine's previous president, have food tasters.
Thinking of previous Russian political assassinations, maybe a food taster and avoiding picking up perfume bottles from the trash would be wise precautions for Parnas.
1
This is "opposition research." Isn't there a way to do it from within the United States?
Sounds like they found something very interesting in that safe.
1
It appears the house of cards is collapsing around Trump. What a surprise.....not!
Donald is about to find out orange is the new black. I can hardly wait. We know Trump has such ego he will fight it all the way. This will not be pretty but in the end, Trump will be exposed for the world to see. His sycophants should be exposed as well; including Jordan, Gaetz, Meadows, Graham, and any other enablers.
8
There is no truth. There are no facts. None of that matters anymore.
Republicans can claim that the Democrats are holding secret star chambers, even though Republicans are in the room and are given equal time to ask questions. And the only "truth" that's heard is "secret proceedings."
No quid pro quo, maybe quid pro quo, quid pro quo doesn't matter, all comes down to what Nixon told David Frost, "Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal."
The very documents in which our nation's foundational principles are outlined are in tatters, garbled beyond recognition. We are in the old Star Trek episode where Kirk finishes the Preamble started in a nearly unintelligible dialect by one of the warring "Yangs."
May God have mercy on our Republic.
28
@Kevin Brock very sad for just how true your remarks are. But I especially appreciated the Iplebnesta (Star Trek) reference!
10
@Kevin Brock However, unlike Trump, the Congs and Yangs respected the basic intent of the Constitution!
3
Biden made a statement. Trump held a conversation. Biden made a statement in a public forum. Trump held a diplomatic conversation as head of state with another head of state. One is protected under the Constitution.
Biden openly admitted to a crime. Biden admitted his guilt in an open public forum to engaging at a minimum in the obstruction of justice in demanding the firing of a Ukrainian prosecutor.
Calling for, requesting, or encouraging that a foreign nation pursue the investigation of a crime is not a criminal act especially in the context of diplomacy. Especially, when that crime has already been openly admitted to in a public forum. Especially, when that statement of guilt has been previously declared and is in the public domain.
Biden's statement is known, public, previously occurring, and clearly the appearance of blatant public corruption. It is a prior fact. It is a known fact. It is a public fact.
Biden being a potential future political rival of Trump does not confer an immunity upon Biden. Biden is not actually a current political rival of any but the others in his party running for the office Biden seeks. Simply running for public office does not create an immunity. Claiming a political rivalry does not convey an immunity.
Whether Biden actually committed a crime is unclear but he certainly made it sound as if he did and created the appearance of blatant public corruption and possible obstruction of justice.
@max you omitted the context. Biden was speaking on behalf of the US government, addressing stated US policy, not pursuing a personal political agenda. Trump’s conversation was in contrast to stated US policy, unilaterally withholding Congressionally appropriated funds all for his personal benefit, not for the benefit of the United States.
39
@Max
Biden was delaying a loan from the IMF to Ukraine until the prosecutor started prosecuting. Nothing was hidden and he had international backing.
39
@Max "Biden openly admitted to a crime. Biden admitted his guilt in an open public forum to engaging at a minimum in the obstruction of justice in demanding the firing of a Ukrainian prosecutor." This is absolutely not correct and the public record shows that Biden was serving in the capacity of representing this country. Above board and with a consensus. Shame on you for contaminating these pages with spurious nonsense.
10
Even if Trump were to lose the vote 100-0 in the US Senate he could still contest removal in the courts since it's public monies and within his diplomatic powers and responsibilities to conduct the diplomacy of the nation and since history is replete with examples of such as both common practice and precedent of Presidents using public monies per foreign aid within their diplomat.
Further, Biden was a US official at the time of the incident in question which Trump apparently seeks an inquiry into whether there as wrong doing. Trump can act to protect the image of US diplomacy since Biden's statements could be perceived to make the US appear to be practicing corrupt banana republic style tactics in diplomacy.
In re sum: If it's a situation of public monies then Trump did nothing wrong even if there's a quid pro quo.
2
@Max - I don't think you are correct. Impeachment and removal is a function of Congress alone (according to the Constitution which, I believe, is still in existence). The Constitution does not provide for jurisdiction of impeachment proceedings in the courts. Certain specific issues that arise during impeachment proceedings may be subject to federal court review but the proceeding itself, and the subsequent determination, I don't believe would be.
32
@Max he cannot appeal an impeachment conviction, as it is constitutally reserved to the House and Senate; the Senate has the "sole power to try all impeachments" per the Supreme Court.
6
@Marc Article 2: Section 3; clause 2
[Diplomatic duties defined]
"He shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers."
It gives him exclusive authority over foreign policy and diplomacy with the exception of passage of a treaty by the US Senate. He can recognize or refuse to recognize foreign nations. He can receive or refuse to receive foreign Ambassadors and consuls. He can end or begin diplomatic relations as he sees fit. It is his exclusive domain and oft burden. One of the rare and few areas where a President has complete prerogative and authority.
Like it or not, that's how the founding fathers defined the diplomatic powers of the state and defined the diplomatic duties of the President.
The President has kingly power only when it comes to the conduct of foreign policy and diplomacy. If you don't like it then propose a change to the Constitution of the United States of America. If not then one has to accept that he's the President and it's his exclusive domain where he is infallible in law and conduct of diplomacy.
1
A rat fleeing a sinking ship is still a rat. I would not be too encouraged until we know for sure this is not just another aspect of the disinformation campaign.
56
@Douglas Evans That's what they called John Dean too, but it turned out that John Dean was doing a public service because Nixon was the rat!
I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that here, too, it'll be the president who is the rat.
1
Parnas can go the way of Manafort and spend his life in prison or he can go the way of Gates and avoid a long prison sentence.
24
@kay
rock....hard spot....
1
No honor among thieves.
20
Another Ukrainian-born American citizen who has more respect for Congress than everyone in the Trump White House and all congressional Republicans.
47
" ... pushed for the ouster of the United States ambassador to Ukraine, Marie L. Yovanovitch, whom Mr. Trump and Mr. Giuliani saw as hostile to the president." Not to the country, to Mr. Trump. " ... Trump, who referred to her in his July 25 phone call with Ukraine’s president as 'bad news' and someone who was 'going to go through some things' ... ” (Wahsington Post, 4Nov2019) So she's doing her job as she's done for years as a competent US ambassador, but not joining the Trump attack dogs (Giuliani, etc.) So Trump plans on "making her an offer she can't refuse". Chilling.
48
Rats deserting the sinking ship?
8
@Anne First rat off the ship are always the ones who can swim. I wonder if we are soon to see any of the non-swimmers?
@Anne
I prefer to frame it as "ships deserting a sinking rat" but the point is the same.
NOT my president
Mr. Parnas hired Mr. Giuliani in 2018 to help with a venture called Fraud Guarantee.
You CANNOT make this stuff up.
51
@JWB That is actually backwards. Lev Parnas was paying Giuliani, not the other way ‘round. remember that Giuliani is saying that Trump is paying him nothing. It would be very interesting to see where Parnas was getting the money that he spent on Giuliani and all of those GOP campaigns.
2
@JWB LOL, I believe he delivered on that guarantee.
1
I'm betting that good looking woman who is always with Parnas, though she may be officially a wife, is actually a minder, a Russian operative. I hope our guys, who are 'minding' Parnas, can keep him alive (long enough).
23
Paul Manafort agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
Turned out he was lying and double-dealing.
Is Lev Parnas pulling a "Paul Manafort" on prosecutors?
It does sound too good to be true. You know what they say about something that seems too good to be true.
It turns out not to be true.
That's the biggest lesson that Trump followers should be learning from their experience since they decided to support Trump.
I don't think they've learned that lesson.
I doubt that they will ever learn that lesson.
There really is something wrong with Trump supporters.
27
Someone should remove that American flag from his jacket.
19
Remove the flag; no, leave it right there, as these days its symbolizes only one thing, which of course is absolute corruption.
W H E N will these criminals be brought to justice?
10
This photo, of Parnas and, on his arm, a young woman: I can't remember. Is Parnas the Trump Giuliani associate who is a swindler or is he the Trump Giuliani associate who is connected to Russian organized crime? Is this the Parnas who was not by Trump or Giuliani but rather by a Russian organized crime boss who has ties to Putin? The photo looks like Baden-Baden in November, when the town is filled with Russian oligarchs and crime bosses, each with a pretty young woman on their arm.
11
Interesting background on Parnas' new attorney:
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/nyregion/a-man-fond-of-snakes-and-accepting-of-mobsters.html
6
You always go for the weakest link in the corrupt, criminal food chain. All it takes is just one rat...
12
https://www.rggllc.com/ Will someone now get Rudy's LLC closed down.
4
Sounds like a ploy to bolster trumps defense.
If I were a prosecutor involved in this I would move to get new defense attorney's with no connections to Trump or the GOP for the defendants.
12
It seems that trump should have applied the advice he’s given to the California Governor about how to manage out of control brush fires to himself.
29
No doubt trump and his cronies/supplicants will portray anything Mr. Parnas states that is adverse to trump as lies so Mr. Parnas' criminal case will turn out more favorable.
Thus it would be nice to have some written evidence of trump's wrongs come from Mr. Parnas.
Time will tell.
20
Why didn't the FBI execute a search warrant on Parnas and Fruman to obtain and protect documents and evidence related to their crimes. I think I know the reason why; the connection of Barr to Giuliani to Trump. You can bet any incriminating evidence relating these 2 individuals to Giuliani and Trump are long gone by now.
54
If you were Mr. Putin, looking to de-legitimize American Democracy and power, what would you do?
I'd back an utterly unqualified, loose cannon for President, so he could do my dirty work. All the while making sure to muddy as much water as possible that would show my involvement. And while maintaining the ability to throw a "hand grenade" into the works and take down my preferred candidate, to finish the job.
All roads do lead to Putin.
92
I’m waiting for Trump to call him a left wing never Trumper. I don’t think It will be a long wait.
41
"Mr. Parnas hired Mr. Giuliani in 2018 to help with a venture called Fraud Guarantee."
Sometimes you have to go right to the experts.
90
Not much to get from but players apart from reiterating that DJT has populated the WH and his administration with liars.
13
Trump's days are numbered. If the republicons were smart they would be negotiating with him for his AND Pence's resignations, lest they both end up in prison.
32
@Baruch I rather think Trump could kill someone and still be reelected, he is being supported by the Republicans no matter what!
3
@Nina Jacobs
I suspect you may be right, and I hope you're not.
Have to wonder how may henchmen, flunkies, and shady characters in the Trump orb have to go down before our stable genius POTUS at the top of this gang of miscreants is finally brought to real account?
51
Amazing how indictments start opening mouths
Now the truth better come out of his mouth or he'll have added charges
19
How come that there are so many criminals among the immigrants from the former Soviet Union? As if some if Isaak Babel’s stories came alive.
15
“Mr. Parnas hired Mr. Giuliani in 2018 to help with a venture called Fraud Guarantee.”
I’m presuming they forgot the “d” after “Guarantee.” Really you couldn’t make this stuff up!!
33
Flock of a feather ...
Did you think for second this guy wasn’t in chin deep with Rudy AND Trump? It appears the FBI/CIA will have its rightful revenge on Trump by rounding up the Trump stooges and squeezing them until they sing.
36
Wouldn't it be nice- like-in-the-movies, the dramatic music plays while scores of F.B.I. agents go city-by-city knocking on doors and rounding up the Trumpian Criminals...at the same time- our foreign counterparts doing the same?
Too bad,nothing of the sort will happen.
12
President Trump has produced so many lies that he forgets which he has told in the moment and starts tripping over them. This all would be laughable if it were not sad and scary to have a president so flawed. It is hard to understand how any person of good conscience can continue to defend him. I hope all independent voters such as myself will support his removal from office before he does more damage to our democracy and national interests. And those who do support him still, ask yourself, are there not others in the Republican Party that can fulfill your policy priorities and yet is decent, forthright and honorable.
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@James Kerby
there needs to be a new party
The Party of Trump has destroyed the brand. Starting with Reagan ,cover was given for all sorts of bad behavior. This is just the culmination of the crimianlity.
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@James Kerby "It is hard to understand how any person of good conscience can continue to defend him."
I think herein lies the answer. DJT simply surrounds himself with people without conscience. Or principles, for that matter.
11
Let’s take this with a high degree of measured uncertainty. He is a rascal and this could be a ploy for God only knows...
22
@Ed Latimer Yes, this guy has been involved in numerous money laundering schemes. Trusting him is akin to trusting a rattlesnake.
15
I look forward to the day when this drama becomes an Academy Award winning movie. If we were not living through this horror we would not believe that this B movie script is based on real life. The good, the bad, the ugly are one by one joining forces either through heroism or cowardly fear to inform the public that its president is a fraud, a corrupt and debauched man. And yet Trump’s MAGA supporters and his weak Party in the Senate and the House accept and abet their Criminal and Chief.
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@Kathy Lollock Nobody would believe a far fetched story like this
15
@Kathy Lollock
More like a d movie script.
4
While I get the reasoning, I have to say that I object to your consistent insistence in this article that this House of Representatives investigation is Democrat-led. This is the Congress of the United States of America & there are Republicans in that room. Implying otherwise misses the point & simply isn’t true.
135
So Parnas didn't work for Trump. Trump says he didn't know the man. So how is there any way at all for executive privilege to be invoked?
248
@jb
Executive quantum entanglement (action at a distance.)
46
I like it!
13
@jb
just like the stonewalling by trump and his crooked cronies, there's reverse stonewalling-
meaning taking that phony executive privelege and shoving it aside, disregarding it for the value it doesn't bring to the table.
5
Flynn, Manafort, Giuliani et al, and the man to whom they lend their fealty, Donald Trump, are all traitors. It's plain as day. The evidence is abundant, and becomes more so with each passing week. Why are people so afraid to say so? We can't right the ship if we pretend there isn't a huge hole in the hull, with the vessel taking on water at an alarming rate.
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@RSF I could not agree more.
3
@RSF:
Thanks for mentioning Flynn. He appointed John Eisenberg, the current WH counsel who made the decision to stash the full transcript of the Trump-Zelensky phone conversation on a code protected computer server.
9
@RSF
"T"is doing just what a large slice of his followers want himto do: shake things up. I don't think any of them have a clue as to how fragile things are. Meanwhile the Party of Nixon got to get rid of some "Librul" laws.
1
The more people involved in a dirty operation like this one, the less likely they'll all remain quiet. And if they're not ALL quiet, eventually Game Over.
It takes just one person to start singing, but the music grows prettier when more voices join in. I hope more volunteer for this criminal choir...
172
How can any great country have a president that doesn't know, and rarely tells the truth?
Are U.S. citizens that easy to deceive?
Trump's attempted fraud' that is, misrepresentation of the facts in an intentions to deceive, where there is a basis for reliance because after all, he still holds the office of president, and the damages he has inflicted go on.....this is absolute and simple fraud.
48
@W Raff we are no longer considered a great country in the eyes of the world. A great country is not run by a dictator who doesn't know the difference between lies and truth. We have truly become a 2nd rate power.
54
@W Raff
How does it go?
"You can fool some of the people all the time,
all of the people some of the time,
but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."
9
“Are US citizens easy to deceive?”
Is that a trick question?
It’s not for nothing that trump “loves the uneducateds”.
13
I would like it if investigators revealed which GOP members of Congress received foreign contributions to their campaigns. Follow the money!
146
@James and get them off the committees investigating this mess.
34
@RDJ The fact is the GOP in general has received campaign finance from Russian oligarchs. The Dallas Times reported on this, and of course, there is more to the story than those reporters were able to get. There needs to be an investigation of Nunes especially since he made that midnight run to the White House and shared classified information. And Moscow Mitch is in really deep as a recipient of oligarchs' campaign finance support.
In any case, it seems a little far-fetched that Parnas is going to testify to the House committees because he is angry that Trump lied about knowing him; I think he has been counseled that he might get a friendlier reception at the NY Southern District prosecutors office if he shows a cooperative spirit, even though he has said he will be pleading the 5th when asked questions that incriminate him in criminal acts.
32
@Chuck -- Not only that, but isn't it possible that Parnas' US citizenship could be revoked if convicted of a crime. And then he could really be in trouble if he had to return to Ukraine (and be that close to retaliation from Putin).
19
Yes indeed, so let's hear more from Mr. Parnas.
The threat of prison time has a clarifying effect on
one's memories.
78
When Parnas’ relationship with Giuliani “shifted” so that Parnas became an investigative agent for Rudy to find dirt on the Bidens, the attorney-client privilege becomes a stretch. Of course, Paras could waive that privilege and reveal all. Motive for his willingness to cooperate with the House? Maybe he realized Trump was throwing him under the bus and/or a wounded ego from Trump denying he knew him. Who cares. A door to more proof of impeachable offenses has just opened.
101
@Barbara More like a gateway than a mere door.
11
Are we really supposed to trust this guy?
He is doing Russia's work.
19
@Jess Darby
You are right. No one can trust any of these people close to Trump. As with any grand jury type investigation, you can be sure that the House committees will corroborate any info from Lev (and hopefully Igor and others later). The more witnesses the better.
34
@Jess Darby -- When he starts singing, he will be subject to laws that impose severe penalties for lying, as we saw with many of those prosecuted by Mueller. Certainly that doesn't ensure any witness will tell the truth, but if he and/or his lawyers have been paying attention it almost certainly will push him toward the truthy end of the scale. After all, presumably his motivation to cooperate is to avoid prison time and fines.
22
@Jess Darby which is the point, correct?
If Trump surrounds himself with layer upon layer of people “doing Russia’s work”, either he is also doing Russia’s work, or he’s too oblivious to it, despite all the evidence.
Either way, he’s unfit for office.
23
Yet another rat leaving a sinking ship.
Anyone who operates a business known as Fraud Guarantee is not someone you want spilling the beans, but it appears that Trump has hurt his feelings and he is now willing to talk.
Seems like no matter who it is that works for him digging up dirt on the Democrats around the world, or looking for that "missing" server, Trump can't remember them when asked. Strange when you think about it. Better ask Rudy as the president suggests.
62
No honor among thieves, but apparently enormous egos. These men with their fragile pride, emotional immaturity and nonstop oneupmanship perfectly exemplify toxic masculinity. That one of them is going to help bring down Trump is the most delicious irony, but not at all surprising. Trump, his circle of sycophants, his cohorts in the halls of power and finance, they all wound so easily, then lash out so predictably. It’s time for a changing of the guard methinks.
180
@Keef In cucamonga
Egad, Keef in cucamonga, very well said. You have studied men and how they are put together.
24
@Keef In cucamonga
Excellently and insightfully said.
It gives one a little hope that they will destroy each other first before we need to defeat them.
6
He is just doing what Manefort did before.
Feed the prosecution with a lot of self serving lies and then tell Rudy what the prosecution has in their case before it is released in open court.
24
@Richard Pontone
But do they want to do hard time like Manefort?
11
One by one they fall. A lot of brush to be cleared before we get to take the big tree down. Oh, the big tree knows nothing of all the little trees surrounding it.
52
There is an old saying in the criminal defense community:"A snitch in time saves mine."
156
A snitch in time saves NINE.
3
I have some skepticism about the offer to cooperate, after the Manafort experience.
71
@NSK
Yes, but you had to know ONE of Trump's
Three Stooges would be willing to fold.
Who's next? Giuliani or Fruman?
Vegas is taking odds.
51
I feel like in normal times their initial hiring of Dowd would have set off a slew of alarm bells for so many reasons, least of which is that Trump approved of the hiring. We're so worn down at this point and so accustomed to this sort of ethical rot that now seeing that just elicits a "more of the same" shrug/head shake. We really are in a downward spiral.
255
@DennisMcG : Dennis: This is exactly what Trump and followers want -endlessly wearing down thinking, responsible, hard working people who believe in the Rule of Law, who are not grifters and scammers who think they are brighter, sharper and cleverer than those who play by the rules. There are days where this endless stream of insanity in the news begins to feel like "the new normal" - but don't be lulled into their distorted "fun-house" lair! Watergate took time, too, but the Rule of Law prevailed. And, as a country, we, will prevail in this instance, too. One thing I do which may be helpful - is limiting the amount of time on a daily basis I will listen to the news cycle. If I don't put limits on all of the news- it will become completely consuming.
34
@kkm
Thank you. We must not become so disillusioned we are defeated, but must always continue to fight, and urge everyone else to never give up.
24