Bush Ethics Lawyer Richard Painter Calls For Investigation If Kennedy Was Paid To Resign

[babylonsister]

https://www.politicususa.com/2018/07/02/bush-ethics-lawyer-richard-painter-calls-for-investigation-if-kennedy-was-paid-to-resign.html


Posted on Mon, Jul 2nd, 2018 by Leo Vidal
Bush Ethics Lawyer Richard Painter Calls For Investigation If Kennedy Was Paid To Resign


Richard Painter, the former White House Ethics Attorney for President George W. Bush, has come up with a way to delay hearings for a new Supreme Court justice to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. According to Painter, there should be no hearings on a replacement for Kennedy until there is a full and complete investigation into the circumstances surrounding Kennedy’s resignation.

In other words, if Kennedy was paid or bought off in some way by Trump or his family, then the American people need to know about it. After Kennedy’s unexpected retirement announcement several stories appeared in the media claiming financial ties between Kennedy and his two sons and Trump and his family. Some people speculated that Kennedy was bought off in some way due to these extensive and longstanding financial connections.

Late last week Painter tweeted his novel theory for why Senate hearings for Kennedy’s replacement should be delayed:

“The circumstances of Justice Kennedy’s resignation must be investigated by the Senate Judiciary Committee before any replacement is considered. The Constitution does not give Trump the power to use underhanded means to induce Supreme Court resignations.”

Link to tweet

As Painter points out it would be both unethical and unconstitutional for a president to “induce Supreme Court resignations” by using financial remuneration of some kind.

more...

https://www.politicususa.com/2018/07/02/bush-ethics-lawyer-richard-painter-calls-for-investigation-if-kennedy-was-paid-to-resign.html

[redstatebluegirl]

1. I bet it went through his son's bank so it can't be traced.

[lagomorph777]

5. Oops - that probably makes it more traceable.

First place the investigators will look! And I hope they do!

[mr_lebowski]

7. That would dumb actually it's first place people would look and big banks track

every cent.

I'd be thinking more like Cayman Islands ...

[mr_lebowski]

2. PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTT ... You know these are Republicans you're asking to 'do the right

thing', right Richard?

I mean, I agree whole-heartedly, but you ain't gonna shame the Pubbies into doing SHIT.

If journo's come up with more, and it has to be SOLID ... enough for the FBI to get involved despite the political danger to them doing so ... then MAAAAAYBE.

[lame54]

4. We speak out all the time on DU...

often it doesn't add up to anything - but it has to be said

Good for him

[FakeNoose]

3. The payoff might not be $

... it might be a promise to keep hands off the son, or something similar.

I don't have any insider's info, all I know is what I read on DU.

[lagomorph777]

6. might be Roubles.

[get the red out]

9. THAT makes sense

Working for a money laundering bank, Trump may well not be the only crook he has helped get "financing".

[Mr.Bill]

11. Hey, Anthony I was just looking

at my list of who needs pardons, and your kid's name is on it.

[Achilleaze]

8. Somebody better investigate soon

since we know republican "ethics" are both immoral and criminal.

[geardaddy]

10. He makes a good point.

I'm still not going to vote for him.

Tina Smith has my primary vote.

[mythology]

12. So the theory is the Kennedy's kid gave Trump's kid money

As a payoff to Kennedy? Isn't that backwards?

[SunSeeker]

17. No. Theories include Trump gave Justin Kennedy a kickback.

And promises to Kennedy that his son will be well taken care of.

Maybe Kennedy wants Trump to appoint a scumbag like Cavanaugh who will hold a President can pardon anyone, including himself. That way his son Justin, who works for a notorious money laundering bank and who personally resided over giving Trump $1 Billion, will be protected from going to jail with Trump. That way Kennedy does not get his own hands dirty. And Kennedy would most certainly have to recuse himself if his son had a case for him.

[Hoyt]

13. Agree with investigation, but doubt Kennedy's son dealing with trump before 2009 leads anywhere.

[Different Drummer]

14. "The Constitution does not give Trump the power to use underhanded means to induce...

Supreme Court resignations."

Why do I get the feeling Trump doesn't care what the Constitution doesn't give him the power to do?

[TalenaGor]

15. we're never going to be 'done' investigating this admin if they dont stop the corruption

[gibraltar72]

16. When you're 79 you probably do what your kid says,

except willingly give him the car keys. Doosh Bank pops up all too often in Trump world. I doubt cash involved. Favors I'm certain are involved.

[KT2000]

18. Novel idea? No - it should be done

The Judicial is separate from the Executive so why was trump meeting with Kennedy? What we know is that trump is dishonest, does not know the Constitution, and makes deals to serve himself. Whatever was involved, considering the close relationships, should be investigated.

[Marie Marie]

19. IF true... then we have another distinguished career taken down by association with Trump.

Why does anybody involve themselves with this criminal?

[matt819]

20. This has corruption written all over it

Also,

Investigate all of Kennedy's decisions since trump took office. Compare them to previous decisions over his tenure, especially during the time his son was trump's banker.

Investigate all money to Kennedy's son while he was trump's banker - not only salary but also bonuses and one-time payments.

Investigate all transfers from the son to the father, at least over the past 18 months, and probably before that as well.

Yeah, yeah, I know. He's 81 and it's time to retire. His wife has has issues, and he wants to spend time with her. That's fine as far as it goes, but it also provides wonderful cover for corruption.

This whole thing smells.

[triron]

21. Scream it Painter!

[madinmaryland]

22. Do you really think McConnell would allow that to happen?

[Uncle Joe]

23. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread babylonsister

[BlueJac]

24. Painter knows they are all crooks!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. An emolument doesn't have to be a financial payment. . . . nt

[lapucelle]

26. I've been wondering whether Trump et alia "persuaded" Kennedy

to retire because they have compromising information about some of his son's banking deals.

[Judi Lynn]

27. That definitely could happen, coersion, blackmail. It would be exactly what Trump would do. n/t

[dalton99a]

28. Kick

[Tatiana]

29. IF we were smart, we'd push this idea. Kinda like THEY did with Hillary's emails and Benghazi.

Only this supposition is probably true.

[babylonsister]

30. And it would have the added benefit

of wasting time so no hearings would take place. I don't see the Dems getting behind it though.

[Tatiana]

31. Exactly. I'm going to write Durbin's office to suggest this.

Sometimes the responses from his office offer an idea of what the 'official' leadership position will be.

[napi21]

32. I doubt there was any "PAYOFF". All the justices KNOW how bad that is.

But I heard (somewhere???) that the powers that be did have at least one meeting with Kennedy asking him to consider retiring soon to insure the SCOTUS remains it's majority Republicans for several decades. As soon as I heard that story I believed it!! I don't think there's any way to prove it though. Especially if the Kennedy & Trump families have been social friends in the past. Even stupid people would have kept everything verbal; no phone calls, no meetings in the WH, or anyone's office, thus no tapes, no papers, no record!