My bet is they have him and know what he was doing. Makes sense, as the orange one always accuses others of the very things he is doing. Questions are who are/were the recipients of the classified info and how long has it been going on?
It’s Three Days of the Condor at the presidential level.
Mark Leibovich, an award-winning author and current staff writer at The Atlantic, has written a fascinating account of the events of Donald Trump’s four-year reign as president and unprecedented behavior following his defeat in the 2020 election. Most of the newsworthy events mentioned are familiar to avid news junkies. Of course, the ongoing congressional Jan. 6 committee may yet uncover additional surprises as their work continues.
The greatest value of “Thank You For Your Servitude” is Leibovich’s ability to understand the startling motivations of members of the House and Senate and many White House advisers and aides. Leibovich helps answer the question of why their support and loyalty remained throughout the long list of the 45th president’s “misbehaviors” (to use perhaps the least damning categorization label) and even beyond his term. Why have so many elected officials and voters continued to defend him after the election and installation of a new president? …
Did not even think of this. I was still stuck in the “now.” You have an excellent point. Now, I wonder if trump has been selling us out over the last 4 years to the highest bidder. It kind of makes sense to his attempt to overthrow the government. How many others are involved?
I’m wondering if we are focusing on the wrong issue related to the documents. Sure, nuclear info was most likely in the pile. However, recall that they/he and even Bush/Cheney were giving the highest of classifications to stuff they were doing in order to cover it up. Classifications that would only be assigned to such things as nuclear information.
Trump is insisting there was no nuclear stuff in this pile of documents. Sure he could be lying but it’s too obvious a lie once the warrant and list are released.
Could it be that he took what he classified which was stuff related to his activity that would be found criminal, treasonous, etc and as those who helped him move this stuff and get around the protocols for the handling of this stuff happen to scoop up nuclear info too unknowingly? At least unknowingly at the time of grabbing and moving the documents?
If we know Trump et al, I’ll bet there is something more in these documents that specifically relates to his conduct while in office. That would be the documents he would want to hide. Being paranoid, he would only trust himself to keep them hidden and untouchable.
I think we may be missing part, a big part of this story.
The other question I have yet heard to be ask which is just as important: How did this happen? If there are such specific protocols for handling this type of classification then how was he able to get them out? Who helped? Who circumvented, manipulated the procedures/process such that he was able to move this stuff out? Where was the failure of the system?
There are more criminals here regarding the removal of the documents than Trump.
(As Trump pointed on a several occasions, as President he was empowered to de-classify documents as he saw fit, so – no doubt – any & all classified materials were ‘taken care of’ in that way before he left office.)
… there are certain materials that presidents cannot classify and declassify at will. One such category of material is the identity of spies.
Another is nuclear secrets. The Atomic Energy Acts of 1946 and 1954 produced an even stranger category of classified knowledge. Anything related to the production or use of nuclear weapons and nuclear power is inherently classified, and Trump could utter whatever words he pleased yet still be in possession of classified material. …
(Nuclear secrets stay classified no matter what, it seems.)
Some of the documents were marked as top secret and meant to be only available in special government facilities, the Journal reported.
The Journal said it had obtained a seven-page document that included the warrant to search the premises as well as a list of the items removed from the property.
The Journal reported that the list indicates FBI agents took around 20 boxes of items, binders of photos, a handwritten note, and the executive grant of clemency for Trump’s ally Roger Stone. Also included on the list was information about the “President of France.” …
The list includes one set of documents marked as “Various classified/TS/SCI documents,” an abbreviation that refers to top-secret/sensitive compartmented information, the Journal reported. It also indicates agents collected four sets of top secret documents, three sets of secret documents, and three sets of confidential documents.
The Journal’s revelation of what was in the documents came after Attorney General Merrick Garland, citing “substantial public interest,” said Thursday he would ask a judge to have them unsealed. Trump said hours later he backed the warrant’s release. A judge has not yet ruled on Garland’s motion to unseal.
Notice how silent his lawyers are. Notice they “agreed” at the last moment. Notice there appears to be no filing on behalf of their client. The silence is deafning.
A list of documents removed from former President Donald J. Trump’s Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, includes materials marked as top secret and meant to be viewed only in secure government facilities, according to a copy of the warrant obtained by The New York Times.
Federal agents who executed the warrant did so to investigate potential crimes associated with violations of the Espionage Act, which outlaws the unauthorized retention of national security information that could harm the United States or aid a foreign adversary; a federal law that makes it a crime to destroy or conceal a document to obstruct a government investigation; and another statute associated with unlawful removal of government materials. …
Of the three criminal laws cited in the search warrant, one stood out as raising new questions: Section 1519 of Title 18 of the United States Code. While the other two laws clearly apply to a basic situation where someone has taken or retained certain government documents that do not belong to him, Section 1519 is an obstruction law. It applies to document crimes undertaken “with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation or proper administration of any matter” within the jurisdiction of federal departments or agencies. That raises the question: What do investigators suspect that Trump, by hoarding the documents, was trying to impede? …
The lawyer signed a statement in June that all documents marked as classified and held in boxes in storage at Mar-a-Lago had been given back. The search at the former president’s home on Monday turned up more. …
After further consideration my bet is on Jared and he’ll frame the lot of them including his wife. Who knows what or who he is or who he’s working for; sort of a triple saukau double lutz spy.
Sorry I wasn’t clear. Meant Jared’s $2 billion haul from the Saudis might be connected to the document stash. As far as the mole my bet his his former secret service guys. One thing to be loyal another to discover you’re a participant in traitorous activities. Anyone with a brain knows Trump never read anything; so there are others who made the determination of what to take. Then others decided what to turn over voluntarily and pursuant to the grand jury subpoena and what documents Not to turn over thereby obstructing justice and those documents are the key to whatever espionage has occurred. Interesting about the Stone clemency docs.
Whoever they are Trump felt safe with them and he thought he was using them.
Gotcha, this time. I believe you are correct on both counts. trump is oblivious to what a jail cell is. He believes he is safe. Jared understands the danger. The question would be, would he risk being caught for $2 billion. The Gov. would confiscate it if illegally obtained.
Secret Service guys understand the danger of committing a crime. I think you are right in your assumption there also. trump will always have one around him, keeping an eye on him if he never goes to jail.
And there’s the issue of the NSA who no doubt has a direct feed into the Margo security system as it would have had when Trump was president. There’s just too much stupid around Trump and way more affiliated types. The housekeepers, the lawn guy, the pool guy, the cooks etc. It’s like
So my money is on Ivanka and her takedown of dad. That would make a great novel. She’s smart, beautiful, barbie doll beautiful, immutable and most probably has suffered abuse I don’t want to think about. Like to think she’s the mastermind of his demise. Just having fun!
I think it may be over. 48 hours and not one top tier lawyer has signed on as they could not given the absolute disaster that the orange one has made with no side routes out. The silence is eerie.
My bet is they have him and know what he was doing. Makes sense, as the orange one always accuses others of the very things he is doing. Questions are who are/were the recipients of the classified info and how long has it been going on?
It’s Three Days of the Condor at the presidential level.
dd
Similar conclusion except I would take it a step further.
Obviously, not from him. He will be taking the fifth.
Review: Book explores Trump’s continuing hold on politicians and voters
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – August 2
Why Do So Many Republicans Tolerate Donald Trump?
NY Times review – July 13
Ken:
Did not even think of this. I was still stuck in the “now.” You have an excellent point. Now, I wonder if trump has been selling us out over the last 4 years to the highest bidder. It kind of makes sense to his attempt to overthrow the government. How many others are involved?
I’m wondering if we are focusing on the wrong issue related to the documents. Sure, nuclear info was most likely in the pile. However, recall that they/he and even Bush/Cheney were giving the highest of classifications to stuff they were doing in order to cover it up. Classifications that would only be assigned to such things as nuclear information.
Trump is insisting there was no nuclear stuff in this pile of documents. Sure he could be lying but it’s too obvious a lie once the warrant and list are released.
Could it be that he took what he classified which was stuff related to his activity that would be found criminal, treasonous, etc and as those who helped him move this stuff and get around the protocols for the handling of this stuff happen to scoop up nuclear info too unknowingly? At least unknowingly at the time of grabbing and moving the documents?
If we know Trump et al, I’ll bet there is something more in these documents that specifically relates to his conduct while in office. That would be the documents he would want to hide. Being paranoid, he would only trust himself to keep them hidden and untouchable.
I think we may be missing part, a big part of this story.
The other question I have yet heard to be ask which is just as important: How did this happen? If there are such specific protocols for handling this type of classification then how was he able to get them out? Who helped? Who circumvented, manipulated the procedures/process such that he was able to move this stuff out? Where was the failure of the system?
There are more criminals here regarding the removal of the documents than Trump.
Trump allies say he declassified the documents…
NBC – Aug 11
(As Trump pointed on a several occasions, as President he was empowered to de-classify documents as he saw fit, so – no doubt – any & all classified materials were ‘taken care of’ in that way before he left office.)
However …
Not Even the President Can Declassify Nuclear Secrets
The Atlantic – August 2022
… there are certain materials that presidents cannot classify and declassify at will. One such category of material is the identity of spies.
Another is nuclear secrets. The Atomic Energy Acts of 1946 and 1954 produced an even stranger category of classified knowledge. Anything related to the production or use of nuclear weapons and nuclear power is inherently classified, and Trump could utter whatever words he pleased yet still be in possession of classified material. …
(Nuclear secrets stay classified no matter what, it seems.)
FBI search at Mar-a-Lago recovered top secret documents, according to report11 sets of
Boston Globe – August 12
Notice how silent his lawyers are. Notice they “agreed” at the last moment. Notice there appears to be no filing on behalf of their client. The silence is deafning.
The seized documents were part of an inquiry into violation of the Espionage Act and two other laws
NY Times – Aug 12
Trump Lawyer Told Justice Dept. That Classified Material Had Been Returned
The lawyer signed a statement in June that all documents marked as classified and held in boxes in storage at Mar-a-Lago had been given back. The search at the former president’s home on Monday turned up more. …
NY Times – Aug 13
After further consideration my bet is on Jared and he’ll frame the lot of them including his wife. Who knows what or who he is or who he’s working for; sort of a triple saukau double lutz spy.
dd
Done that jump already. Working on a quad. I think it is Melania. She despises him. It is not the look of love she gives him.
Sorry I wasn’t clear. Meant Jared’s $2 billion haul from the Saudis might be connected to the document stash. As far as the mole my bet his his former secret service guys. One thing to be loyal another to discover you’re a participant in traitorous activities. Anyone with a brain knows Trump never read anything; so there are others who made the determination of what to take. Then others decided what to turn over voluntarily and pursuant to the grand jury subpoena and what documents Not to turn over thereby obstructing justice and those documents are the key to whatever espionage has occurred. Interesting about the Stone clemency docs.
Whoever they are Trump felt safe with them and he thought he was using them.
Gotcha, this time. I believe you are correct on both counts. trump is oblivious to what a jail cell is. He believes he is safe. Jared understands the danger. The question would be, would he risk being caught for $2 billion. The Gov. would confiscate it if illegally obtained.
Secret Service guys understand the danger of committing a crime. I think you are right in your assumption there also. trump will always have one around him, keeping an eye on him if he never goes to jail.
We shall see . . . maybe
And there’s the issue of the NSA who no doubt has a direct feed into the Margo security system as it would have had when Trump was president. There’s just too much stupid around Trump and way more affiliated types. The housekeepers, the lawn guy, the pool guy, the cooks etc. It’s like
It’s like Hunt for the Red October. The cook! It’s got be like a convention of international intelligence.
So my money is on Ivanka and her takedown of dad. That would make a great novel. She’s smart, beautiful, barbie doll beautiful, immutable and most probably has suffered abuse I don’t want to think about. Like to think she’s the mastermind of his demise. Just having fun!
I think it may be over. 48 hours and not one top tier lawyer has signed on as they could not given the absolute disaster that the orange one has made with no side routes out. The silence is eerie.