kpete
kpete's JournalNew legal problem for Bannon as feds call him a "co-conspirator" in a massive federal fraud case.
DOJ Filing: Steve Bannon Is a “Co-Conspirator” in a $1 Billion Fraud CaseProsecutors identified the former Trump adviser as part of a massive criminal conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui.
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FBI agents in March 2023 arrested Guo Wengui, a self-styled anti-Chinese government activist Bannon once advised, charging him and two associates with using a series of fraudulent investment opportunities to defraud thousands of Guo’s supporters in the Chinese diaspora of more than $1 billion.
Guo used the proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle for himself and his family, including a $3.5 million Ferrari, a $26 million mansion, a $140,000 piano, and two $36,000 mattresses, the Justice Department alleges. Guo, who also goes by the names Miles Guo and Ho Wan Kwok, has pleaded not guilty. He has claimed his prosecution was the result of Chinese government pressure on the Justice Department. Deemed a flight risk, Guo has been denied bail and jailed since his arrest.
Bannon worked as an adviser for Guo from 2017 until at least 2020, helping Guo launch a series of media companies, nonprofits, and other ventures. In June 2020, Guo and Bannon founded a group dubbed the New Federal State of China, which they claimed was a government in waiting preparing to replace the Chinese Communist Party.
Guo paid Bannon at least $1 million and also gave Bannon use of a private plane, a Connecticut home, and a $30 million yacht, where Bannon was living when he was arrested on unrelated federal fraud charges in 2020.
more:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/doj-filing-steve-bannon-is-a-co-conspirator-in-a-1-billion-fraud-case-guo-wengui/
"Watch carefully and you can see the Republican party forming a circular firing squad"
The trigger was last weekend’s much delayed vote for $61 billion in Ukraine aid. Republicans were divided almost evenly. The difference between a yes and a no vote on Ukraine was far bigger than Ukraine; it represents irreconcilable world views.”
“Not even Donald Trump, who is sitting distractedly, day after day, in a dingy New York courtroom, can bridge the gulf between globalist and anti-globalist Republicans.”
https://politicalwire.com/2024/04/24/while-donald-trump-sleeps/
Romney slaps Trump
Romney: I think everybody has made their own assessment of President Trump's character, and so far as I know you don't pay someone $130,000 not to have sex with you.
https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1782860000148238521
It's impossible to exaggerate just how badly the gag order hearing went for both Trump and lead attorney Todd Blanche.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024 · 8:01:50 AM PDT · Mark Sumner
In just a few minutes, Blanche was forced to admit he had no case law to support his position, that he was speculating on the motivation of witnesses, needled the judge with a statement about “two systems of justice in this courtroom,” and got a warning that he was losing all credibility with the court. And this is the guy Trump is counting on to lead this case over weeks of testimony.
In a lot of ways, any fine resulting from this morning is going to be the very least of the damage. This. Was. Brutal.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/4/23/2236789/-Live-coverage-Trump-s-first-criminal-trial-continues-with-testimony-and-gag-order-hearing?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_2&pm_medium=web#update-1713884510000
https://www.meidastouch.com/news/recap-of-trump-contempt-hearing
?w=1238&quality=80&ssl=1
https://digbysblog.net/2024/04/23/is-common-sense-prevailing/
https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1782781163678879914
https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1782780521711534166
https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1782778183240081722
https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1782776008564944908
In Trump's world, everyone but Trump is a liar. In Trump's world, everyone is out to get him, except the MAGA faithful.
Joan Vennochi of The Boston Globe wonders if people are finally getting tired of the shoe salesman’s incessant whining.
In Trump’s world, everyone but Trump is a liar. In Trump’s world, everyone is out to get him, except the MAGA faithful. Call me a crazy optimist, but in the end, his deep persecution complex may be more damaging to his reelection chances than any conviction might be. Face it, how many voters will really care if Trump is found guilty of falsifying records to cover up payments to Daniels as a way to keep damaging news out of the media?
I am not minimizing the consequences of law-breaking or saying he should not be held accountable for it. It’s just that with Trump, the boast that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and still retain his hold on MAGA hearts and minds continues to ring true. If some polling is to be believed, his social media rantings and divisive political style have not stopped voters, generally, from positive thoughts about his term in office.
But what might be taking its toll is the endless whining, coupled with a presence that shrinks with every court appearance. He seems smaller, and not necessarily from weight loss. The candidate who calls Biden “Sleepy Joe” looks tired. In statements before he enters the courtroom and after he leaves it, this always petty man sounds ever pettier.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/4/23/2236588/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Roundup-Contempt-in-court#read-more
Mr.Watters, I don't think Trump is going to like this
Watters: Trump needs exercise. He’s usually golfing and you’re going to put a man who’s almost 80 sitting in a room like this on his butt for all that time? It’s not healthy. He needs sunlight. He needs activity. It’s really cruel and unusual punishment
https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1782523259990225342
PUBLIC SERVICE: NY state court system will publish a daily transcript of each day of Trump's "hush money" criminal tria
https://ww2.nycourts.gov/press/index.shtml
"Stormy Daniel tried to take advantage of Trump by extorting him after he simply had an innocent conversation with her"
Trump's lawyer: "Stormy Daniel tried to take advantage of Trump by extorting him after he simply had an innocent conversation with her" 🤔Hmmm... well that's an extremely creative way to describe paying for sex with a Pornstar while poor Melania was pregnant of Barron😂, I guess Melania's following this trial very closely and Trump and his lawyer want to spare her the humiliation and all the juicy details.
https://twitter.com/Jurgen80048425/status/1782439084763357668
DA's Opening Statement: "This case is about a criminal conspiracy. Donald Trump corrupted the 2016 election"
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The first line of Colangelo's opening was, "This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up - Donald Trump corrupted the 2016 election." He said that it all began when Trump and Michael Cohen met with National Enquirer publisher David Pecker In August 2015 to suppress negative stories about Trump. He said that Trump gave Cohen $130,000 to pay Stormy Daniels to silence her. He covered up the payments by falsifying his business records.
Colangelo said that Trump's claim that the payments to Cohen were for legal services was a lie, and he falsified 34 separate invoices to cover up the fact that it was being done for election purposes. He said that Pecker served as the "eyes and ears" of the Trump campaign, keeping his eye out for stories that could hurt Trump so he could make him aware of them. This is what they called their "catch and kill" strategy. At the same time, Pecker was publishing positive stories about Trump is several different publications and running stories attacking his opponents.
Colangelo then gave several examples of stories they ran such as accusing Ted Cruz's father of being involved in the JFK assassination and Ben Carson of committing medical malpractice.
He then said that they carried out three separate "catch and kills":
1. A doorman for Trump was trying to sell a story that he had information that Trump fathered children with women. He was paid $30,000 and Pecker suppressed the story.
2. Former Playboy model Karen McDougal was shopping her story through her attorney that she had a year-long affair with Trump. Pecker paid her $150,000 and suppressed the story. However, Pecker later became upset about his because Trump wouldn't reimburse him.
3. The Stormy Daniels payment through Michael Cohen for $130,000 to cover up Trump's sexual encounter with the porn star.
Cohen then recorded a conversation with Trump about this and Colangelo said that tape will be played in court. He said Trump is on the tape saying they should pay in cash and label the payment "advisory services." However, Pecker's lawyer advised against taking the payment so it was never made. He said that they would present evidence in the form of a "flurry of text messages" and a "barrage of phone calls" to suppress the story.
MORE:
https://www.meidastouch.com/news/das-opening-statement-in-trump-trial
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