It's Worse Than It Appears
A few more semi-quick thoughts about the Comrade Trump indictments. First, I'm a criminal defense guy. I spent several years as a private investigator specializing in criminal defense work. So I'm in the habit of looking at criminal cases brought by the State and trying to find weaknesses. This may be the most solid indictment I've ever seen, largely because Trump is such a reckless, unthinking criminal.
Second, there's a discrepancy between the number of classified documents seized during the search of Mar-a-Lago and the number of documents listed in the indictment. There are at least a dozen documents identified as top secret that were seized but not included in the indictment. The assumption is that the information in those documents was too sensitive to even be mentioned in passing in a public trial. That suggests Trump's crimes were even worse than those included in the indictment.
Third, what isn't being discussed (or at least isn't being discussed enough) is the actual harm brought by Trump's crimes. This isn't just a matter of Trump taking classified documents he had no right to take, and lying about them, and hiding them from the FBI. It's an actual matter of national security AND of human lives.
Having seen how cavalier Trump was with highly sensitive information provided to the US by the intelligence agencies of our allies, those allies have NO reason to ever trust us with sensitive information again. That's especially true if Trump isn't held accountable for this. Our credibility in the international intelligence community has turned to shit.
Beyond that, there's the very real risk to the intelligence agents and/or assets who have risked their liberty, safety, and lives to gather and collect the information contained in those documents. We KNOW that some of the Mar-a-Lago material was classified as HCS (HUMINT Control Systems). We're talking clandestine human intelligence, serious spy stuff–the activities, capabilities, techniques, processes, and procedures spies use. If our enemies know WHAT information we have, they can start figuring out WHERE that information came from, and WHO provided it.
We also KNOW that a few months after Trump took that material to Mar-a-Lago, there was a 'covcom' breach. Covcom refers to the classified covert communications systems used by the CIA. The breach exposed a number of agency assets, especially in China and Iran. A number of informants had to be extracted; others were reportedly captured and executed. US counterintelligence officials warned every CIA station about the breach. Back in October of 2021, the London Times reported the suspicion that there was a 'super mole' in the US government betraying CIA assets. We have no way of knowing if that 'covcom' breach was a result of Trump's egregiously lackadaisical treatment of classified material. But it's possible.
The thing is, this scandal is far worse than it appears in news coverage. The actual harm to our intelligence community is severe and will be long-lasting. The damage will be even worse if Trump isn't held accountable.
Also? Why is there a fucking chandelier in that bathroom? I mean…why?
Fingers Crossed
Remember Kids…
And Also a Trumper
The Choice is Obvious
Fuck Ted Cruz
I'd Like to Solve the Puzzle
A Reminder for When Things Seem Hopeless
But They Are, Blanche! They Are In That Chair!
Dear Ma & Pa MAGA…
The Streisand Effect in Action
I've Gotta Admit…
Not 100% Effective, But Close to It
Be Careful What You Ask For, Frankie.
Indicted!
And the country isn't burning. At least not yet.
First true criminal elected.
Republicans could have avoided the embarrassment of Trump but they could not resist someone who fights for white collar criminals, wimpy misogynists/incels, insecure townies, sex predators, conspiracy bigots, idiots who say 'Democtrat Party', antisemites with uses 'globalists'/Soros in place of 'I dont understand this issue', and your basic unabashed racist.
[It's not that this slipped past me yesterday; we were hip-deep in moving and I only saw it when I briefly went online.]
Let's See the Slimebucket Try to Slither Out of This
Judge Weighs Whether or Not to Compel Pence's Testimony
A federal judge heard arguments today in a dispute between former Vice President Mike Pence, attorneys for former President Donald Trump and special counsel Jack Smith over whether Pence can be compelled to testify in Smith's probe of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol
Lawyers for Trump & Pence were in Federal court arguing for executive privilege today
Pence is a subsidiary of the Trump Crime Syndicate.