Category: Justice Department

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Crime Donald Trump Justice Department

Former Prosecutor Says Trump Aide Walt Nauta Only Has Two Choices: Flip On Donnie Or Go To Prison

Appearing today in a Miami federal court, failed former president Donald Trump’s personal aide, Walt Nauta, entered a plea of not guilty to charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice, concealing a document, and trying to conceal a material fact in a federal investigation. He was also charged with lying to the FBI.

Nauta now has a decision to make, according to former U.S. attorney Joyce Vance: Cooperate with prosecutors or go to prison for a very long time.

Appearing on MSNBC Thursday afternoon, Vance noted, “There will be an enormous amount of pressure on Walt Nauta to cooperate with the government. If he does not, it’s almost a certainty he will go to prison for years, he is part of the obstruction of justice in this case and those penalties are very significant.”

Vance also pointed to just unsealed video evidence showing Nauta moving boxes of classified documents just days before the FBI found some of the ones that hadn’t been hidden when a search warrant was served at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago golf resort.

“That means Walter Nauta and Donald Trump tried to conceal them from the government,” Vance added. “This new evidence only adds to the pressure that will mount on Walt Nauta at some point in these proceedings.”

Others are also expected to face the same choice Nauta will be confronted with. Among them are Mar-a-Lago employees, club members, and even members of the Trump family who may have had knowledge that classified information was being kept by the ex-president in direct violation of federal law.

 

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Crime Donald Trump Justice Department WTF?!

Trump Suggests ‘Crackhead’ Jack Smith Is Responsible For Cocaine Being Found At The White House

According to failed one-term, twice-indicted former president Donald Trump, the most likely suspect who placed cocaine in a room of the White House is none other than Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, who the disgraced ex-head of state claims “looks like a crackhead.”

You likely heard that a “powdery substance” was found at the White House on Sunday, with CBS News reporting it has been confirmed as cocaine.

Subsequent testing confirmed that a powdery substance discovered by the Secret Service at the White House on Sunday was cocaine, a law enforcement official said Wednesday, as questions linger about how the drug got into the building.

The discovery of the substance caused a brief shutdown of the White House after it was found by Secret Service officers in a common storage area on the ground floor of the West Wing, which houses the Oval Office and offices of some of the president’s top aides and support staff. It was found in a zip-close bag near an entrance where visitors taking tours are directed to leave their phones, the official said. 

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden has been briefed on the incident and noted the area where the cocaine was discovered is “heavily traveled” by visitors.

That led Trump to post a series of fact-free accusations on his failing Truth Social site.

“Does anybody really believe that the COCAINE found in the West Wing of the White House, very close to the Oval Office, is for the use of anyone other than Hunter & Joe Biden.”

Trump then impugned the integrity of Smith.

“But watch, the Fake News Media will soon start saying that the amount found was ‘very small,’ & it wasn’t really COCAINE, but rather common ground up Aspirin, & the story will vanish. Has Deranged Jack Smith, the crazy, Trump hating Special Prosecutor, been seen in the area of the COCAINE? He looks like a crackhead to me!”

He added:

“Where are the White House SECURITY TAPES, like the ones I openly and happily gave to Deranged Jack Smith, which will quickly show where the Cocaine in the White House came from??? They already know the answer, but probably don’t like it!”

Of course, the irony of Trump accusing anyone of taking drugs cannot be overstated. After all, this is the man who has been accused of using stimulants (including Adderall, cocaine, and even methamphetamine) for much of his life. He has also resolutely refused to release medical records that would reveal whether or not such substances have ever been found in his bloodstream or been prescribed for him by physicians.

If Donnie thinks this sort of third-grade bullying is going to intimidate Smith, then he clearly doesn’t know the first damn thing about what sort of bulldog the special counsel has been over his career in the legal profession.

Keep posting lies, Donald. Jack Smith is going to get the last laugh very soon.

 

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Crime Donald Trump Justice Department

This Legal ‘Red Flag’ May Wind Up Getting Judge Aileen Cannon Removed From The Trump Case

With a trial date set for December, the clock is quite literally ticking on failed one-term, twice-impeached former president Donald Trump, but the judge in the case — Trump appointee Aileen Cannon — hasn’t yet revealed if she will allow the ex-president to delay the beginning of the proceedings, which is his usual way of avoiding actually facing legal consequences for his actions.

Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance says Cannon had best not agree to such a move by Trump and his legal team or she’ll likely face removal from the trial.

Writing on her Civil Discourse page on Substack, Vance notes that a speedy trial could be both good and bad for Trump.

It’s a bit of a double-edged sword for Trump. He could agree to the December date, which he won’t do, at least not without the intention of asking for a continuance as that date gets closer. If Trump objects to a December trial and asks for a date after the first of the year, the government will undoubtedly demand a ruling that he cannot use rallies, campaign events, and primary dates as an excuse for further delay. Since it would be entirely reasonable, under the government’s proposed schedule, to try the case in December, if Trump asks for additional leeway and the Court grants it, there is no reason it shouldn’t come with conditions that ensure the people get their right to a speedy trial.

Additionally, prosecutors have already made it clear that the case isn’t complex at all and features only only two defendants and is based on well-established case law. So a delay would clearly be just a stalling tactic on Trump’s behalf.

Unless Trump can identify one, it would be a red flag if the judge gave Trump preferential treatment, in terms of continuing to delay proceedings while campaigning, that other defendants can’t receive.

If Judge Cannon does grant a delay that reaches into 2024, it will soon become clear that she has a vested interested and may be trying to protect the man who appointed her to the bench. And that, Vance concludes, would lead to the judge being booted from the case.

There’s no legitimate reason for an extended delay before trial and certainly no reason to delay it until after the 2024 election, more than a year off. A ruling to that effect from Judge Cannon would likely provoke renewed concern about her ability to handle the case in a fair and unbiased way. Expect Trump to make the motion, but a decision by the judge to move the trial that far off would be unprecedented.

 

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Capitol Insurrection Crime January 6 Justice Department

J6 Rioter Facing Quadrupled Prison Sentence After Calling Prosecutors A ‘Clown Show’

A New York man convicted for taking part in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol could soon be facing a long time in prison as the result of an angry tirade he directed at federal prosecutors after he was convicted.

Frank Giustino was originally sentenced to three weeks incarceration for actions, but is now likely to get four months because he couldn’t keep his big mouth shut.

Scott MacFarlane of CBS News reports that Giustino showed “no remorse for his conduct on January 6” and instead presented “himself as the victim,” all the while referring to “the prosecution as a ‘clown show’ and a ‘nuisance.'”

“Giustino’s behavior in Court further evinces his belief that the attack on the Capitol was righteous… necessitating a sentence that will deter him from similar conduct,” prosecutors argue.

While it’s rare for prosecutors to call for an increase in a sentence, Giustino appears to have given then exactly the proof they need that an enhancement is justified.

Giustino previously proved his complete lack of respect for the law by firing his attorney and demanding that he be allowed to represent himself even though the judge in the case informed him that a lawyer could help him negotiate a lower sentence.

 

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Capitol Insurrection Crime Donald Trump Elections GOP January 6 Justice Department

Giuliani’s ‘Voluntary’ Testimony To DOJ Means He’s ‘Trying To Make A Deal’ With Jack Smith: Legal Expert

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and personal attorney to failed ex-president Donald Trump, gave “voluntary” testimony to federal investigators who are working for Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith and looking into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

NBC News reports that a spokesperson for Giuliani confirmed the former mayor did indeed agreed to talk with prosecutors working for Smith.

“The appearance was entirely voluntary and conducted in a professional manner,” the spokesman, Ted Goodman, said in a statement after CNN first reported on Giuliani’s meeting with investigators.

But why would Giuliani be so cooperative and agree to speak with the special counsel’s office? According to former U.S. attorney and legal expert Harry Litman, it’s a sign that Rudy is ready to roll over on the Donald.

During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House” today, Litman was asked by host Nicolle Wallace, “What does it mean that his folks are saying he went in ‘entirely voluntarily.'”

Litman replied:

“I think it’s dissembling at best.”

He added, “Giuliani is waist deep in everything after the election, but he is neck deep in the false electors.”

“He and Trump together badger (former Arizona House Speaker) Rusty Bowers. He goes down to Georgia and tells a whole pack of lies and he is exactly where Smith is otherwise in the investigation, talking to (Georgia Secretary of State Brad) Raffensperger and the like,” Litman noted.

“Here’s what it means,” Litman said. “(Giuliani) has gone in with a proffer. That means he has given information but under circumstances where they won’t hold it against him. They’ll just evaluate whether they want him, want him for what, and give him immunity or an easy deal.”

“And then what he is giving in exchange has to be information about Donald Trump.”

As for the “voluntarily” part, Litman noted, “So this proffer, yes, he didn’t doesn’t have to do it. You could call it voluntary in that way, but don’t think that he’s like a good citizen just finally getting this off his chest. He’s trying to cut a deal and he knows the time is very short.”

Sounds like Rudy is ready to toss Donnie under the bus to save his own hide.

Here’s the video from MSNBC: