While witness testimony in Trump’s trial is significant and riveting, prosecutors are also quietly admitting some very damning documents. (See our thread on Trump executive notes showing Cohen was reimbursed for Stormy payments.)
Yesterday we saw documentary evidence of Trump’s connection to the Stormy payoff through reimbursements to Cohen.
1) Cohen Reimbursement Listed In Trump’s Signed White House Disclosure Statement
Prosecutors introduced a White House financial disclosure form yesterday that is destined to be featured in their closing argument:
“In 2016 expenses were incurred by one of Donald J. Trump’s attorneys, Michael Cohen,” Trump reported in a note at the bottom of Page 45 of the 92-page Personal Financial Disclosure report that he signed. “Mr. Cohen sought reimbursement of those expenses and Mr. Trump fully reimbursed Cohen in 2017. The category of value would be $100,001 to $250,000 and the interest rate would be zero.”
NOTE: In opening statement his lawyer told the jury the payment was not a reimbursement for expenses.
2) In Civil Case Filing Trump Admitted Cohen Reimbursement Was For Stormy Payment
Trump court filing acknowledging reimbursement to Cohen for paying Stormy:
Donald J. Trump
Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are .very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.
May 3, 2018
so much smoke from so many smoking pistols, something must be on fire — or fired.
speaking of fired, as of last night which ones of the many lawyers have already heard the infamous apprentice phrase “you’re fired!”
Jon joins in on the fun and other news
Jon Stewart tackles the media’s obsession with Trump’s hush money trial, while the GOP freaks out over Biden’s new energy efficiency standards and a name change for the Boy Scouts. Meanwhile, Biden slows the flow of weapons to Israel, and after Trump shames Jewish Biden supporters, the Best F**kin’ News Team stops by to give Jon a guilt trip.
so do Stephen
Stormy Daniels landed a few verbal punches during her testimony in Trump’s hush money trial, the former president hosted NFT buyers for a meal at Mar-a-Lago, CBS could be auctioned off if Paramount is sold, and there’s no end to the fascination around the worm that ate a portion of RFK Jr.’s brain.
and Jimmy Kimmel
Team Trump spent most of the day trying to paint Stormy Daniels as a sleazy, money-grubbing liar, there’s an amazing list of words and phrases that were used in court today, the sketch artist at the trial has been doing an incredible job, Trump’s lawyers are still going with the “he didn’t have sex with her” fairy tale, Ted Cruz took to Fox News to defend Trump, the judge warned Donald that if he violates the gag order again he could get jail time, Biden doesn’t believe that Trump will accept the results of the election, our in-house hip hop historian Gary Greenberg explains the Drake vs Kendrick Lamar drama, and once again some of our celebrity friends (Dave Burd, Nicholas Braun, Bebe Rexha, Jake Gyllenhaal, Quinta Brunson & Brett Goldstein) read real texts from their moms in honor of Mother’s Day.
and Seth Meyers
Stormy Calls Trump an “Orange Turd” in Wild Testimony; Greene Booed by Republicans: A Closer Look
Long ago if I missed something on tv I’d just have to wait for re-runs, so I’m happy with being able to see things later, after they’ve already aired. Things like Garbagery Trailer Greede being booed on the floor of the United States House of Representatives by her own party. I like seeing things like that. Again and again.
Now that’s progress.
And that dumbbell so dumb she ain’t even got enough sense to be ashamed.
Bad news is now Mike Johnson gonna have to screw himself into the ground to show the magas he’s still a great maga guy.
Michael Cohen will begin his testimony in the Trump hush money trial Monday, NBC News has learned through multiple sources. He is expected to be on the stand for several days.
And as far as the Mushroom Clod is concerned, giant crossing of fingers and knockings on wood. All it takes is one juror who decides he’d like a chance to get rich.
devil’s in the details
Spelling no longer matters even in legal matters.
Role Tide.
Hey Sturg…
one of John Updike’s sons is a fellow member of the League of NH Craftsmen. He’s does etchings on slate and is a very skilled craftsman. He never talks about his famous father. I’ve tried several times to have a conversation with him about it… and all he’ll say is that it was an interesting household to grow up in.
Appeals court rejects Bannon. Hope SCOTUS treats him same as Navarro on the same contempt charges. They turned him away three times.
Bannon should serve in Navarro’s Miami prison next to a zoo listening to lions roar (not a joke)
Poor Steve. Bwahahahahahah.
From WaPo on Bannon:
I really like the “this exact ‘advice of counsel’ defense is no defense at all.”
Bannon’s NY criminal felony fraud trial is set for September 23 before Judge Merchan (yes, same as in Trump’s current trial).
Wish sooner but nice it will be close to election because the case is all about how “Build The Wall” was a fundraising scam for him and Trump, who pardoned Bannon for the Federal charges, prompting Bragg to pick up the ball because presidential pardons don’t apply in state cases.
They’re so blatant about stealing from the people they get to vote for them.
Sold a bill of goods
Wool over eyes
Pig in a poke
Marks
Trump was asked about the news that his son Barron will be a RNC delegate: “He’s pretty young, I will say. He’s 17. But if they can do that, I’m all for it.”
Barron turned 18 two months ago.
looks like dear old dad wants to get the kid’s hands dirty early
May 9, 2024 at 10:58 pm
https://apnews.com/article/election-president-republican-barron-trump-247bc0c794e262a0cc66904ce653b7ce
“Barron Trump, 18, to make political debut as Florida delegate to the Republican convention”
“Republican Party of Florida chairman Evan Power said the 18-year-old high school senior will serve as one of 41 at-large delegates from Florida to the national gathering, where the GOP is set to officially nominate his father as its presidential candidate for the November general election.”
Ummm, Barron turned 18 in March. A real hands-on dad. Well, just with Ivanka.
https://www.newsweek.com/list-trump-family-florida-delegates-1899078
“Full List of Trump Family Members Serving as Florida Delegates”
“All of Trump’s children except Ivanka Trump will serve as delegates at the mid-July GOP convention that formally nominates the Republican presidential candidate. Delegates have to be registered Republicans in Florida.”
Wow, Ivanka distancing herself or just registered in another state?
“Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle and Tiffany Trump’s husband Michael Boulos will also serve as delegates. Lara Trump, Eric Trump’s wife, is the co-chair of the Republican National Committee.”
Is this normal to have a lot of family members serve as delegates? Did the Kennedys do it?
🥁
Orange Adolf doesn’t know what ambidextrous means. Oh, and one of the hosts of The View was in the courtroom yesterday. She hadn’t seen him in person before. He’s a bright, burnt sienna…and that’s the only thing bright about him.
https://twitter.com/bidenhq/status/1788701834883878913/mediaviewer
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/10/business/tesla-protests-berlin-factory-police/index.html
“There are currently 800 activists on the Tesla Gigafactory site as part of the Disrupt Tesla Action Days,” Disrupt, a coalition of self-declared anti-capitalist groups that organized the protest, said in a statement on its website.”
“According to Reuters, some of the protesters attempted to storm the factory. At least one protester was detained, Reuters reported.”
“Disrupt argues that Musk’s plans to more than double the production capacity of Tesla’s only factory in Europe would damage the local environment.”
“The group says the expansion would require clearing swathes of the surrounding forest and would further strain local water supply. It has planned four days of protests, which started Wednesday.”
“In early March, Tesla was also forced to close the plant, that time for a week, after a high-voltage electricity pylon delivering power to the factory was set on fire. A group of far-left activists claimed responsibility for the arson attack.”
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/10/world/solar-flares-storms-cme-auroras-scn/index.html
“Northern lights may be visible across parts of the US this weekend.”
“The peak of the geomagnetic storm activity for Earth could occur between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. ET on Saturday, the center has forecasted.”
“Even if auroras aren’t visible in the sky, experts at the center recommend taking images of the sky with your phone because the images may capture what you can’t see with the naked eye.”
RR – You probably have the best chance if skies are clear.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article288424893.html
“Missouri bill to ban all child marriages runs into resistance from House Republicans”
“Van Schoiack said in an interview that he knows people who got married as minors, including a woman at roughly age 17.
“Why is the government getting involved in people’s lives like this?” Van Schoiak said.
SMH
“Rehder, who is running for lieutenant governor, pushed back in an interview.
“The government does tell people when they can get married because we do have an age limit right now,” she said. “The fact that he feels that it’s okay for a parent to make a decision for a child, that is a lifetime decision, is offensive.”
“The legislation is personal for Rehder, who was married at age 15 to her 21-year-old boyfriend in 1984. A year earlier, her sister, at age 16, married her 39-year-old drug dealer, she has said.
“As a child that did get married,” she said, “I would say I have a lot more insight to this issue than what he does.”
Bannon, the name rolls like a horse apple in the gutter. The guy blocked my in twit world almost as soon as he showed up in the WH. The subpoena gig is one thing. He does have something else on hold. His criminal trial for stealing money from the “build a wall” grift is in NYC. It is on hold because the judge is busy with another criminal trial, something to do with fraud in business, involving a Pecker and a porn actress testifying against a con man former guy. Bannon trial is scheduled for September.
https://www.politico.eu/article/steve-bannon-rome-right-wing-gladiator-school-populist-nationalists/
March, 2024
Steve Bannon’s man in Italy wins fight over right-wing ‘gladiator school’
“Italian courts have vindicated a scheme, sponsored by key allies of former U.S. President Donald Trump, to set up a “gladiator school” for right-wing wannabe politicians in an ancient monastery in the mountains of central Italy.”
“Benjamin Harnwell, a former British Conservative European Parliament staffer, rented out the 700-year-old Trisulti charterhouse east of Rome in 2017 with a view to establishing an “Academy for the Judeo-Christian West” with his longtime friend Steve Bannon…”
“The proposed academy’s curriculum — a cocktail of libertarianism and conservative Catholicism — had planned to include courses on “Cultural Marxism,” “The Church as an Early Business Enterprise” and Islam, and aimed to provide the world’s future populist politicians and influencers with the rhetorical skills needed to challenge liberal worldviews.
Funded by Bannon and a coterie of unnamed associates in right-wing circles…”
Bannon looks like a cocktail of every known disease has contracted a mild case of human being.
Of course, he’s not a Christian. He thinks they are just suckers he can manipulate…and he’s not wrong, for the most part.
https://www.newsweek.com/missouri-republican-moves-loosen-child-labor-laws-calls-children-lazy-1899195
Missouri Republican Moves to Loosen Child Labor Laws, Calls Children ‘Lazy’
“This week, Missouri state Representative Cheri Toalson Reisch, speaking in favor of a bill that would change a requirement for children under 16 to get a certificate from their school before getting a work permit, said: “At what point are people going to be self-responsible? Some people seem to think the government is the answer to everything.”
“These young kids need to be taught self-responsibility,” she continued. “And I can tell you my personal story. I started working at age 9. And I continued to work throughout high school when I was 14, 15.”
“Reisch said having a job did not affect her education and that she graduated from high school early. She added: “You know what these kids of today are? Majority of them are lazy. They don’t know what work ethic is. But they know how to play video games all night. They know how to join gangs.”
What in the Mr. Bumble is going on in Missouri?
Think Don jr and Eric are feeling a bit threatened by the New Kid in town?
News Flush: New Kid in Town says, , “Nope.” and turns down offer to be Republican whatever-it-was.
Now that’s a puzzlement.
Lara Trump’s staff, all 25 of them at the RNC just resigned. I guess they have a conscience and don’t want to be criminals.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/10/politics/barron-trump-declines-rnc-delegate/index.html
“While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, he regretfully declines due to prior commitments,” the statement from the former first lady’s office said.
Kind of like his dad has a prior commitment and can’t attend his HS graduation. Melania is smart enough to keep the kid out of the fray, because all of those videos and pics would follow him around forever.
Mom stepped in. She has bigger plans for her pride and joy.
Hey…..Dog savers.
Stop showing me videos of pitiful dogs and start showing me some detailed charts showing WHERE THE MONEY’S GOING.
Looks like a lot of dissension among the rank.
Authorer of the Day
The Best Ever
Ross Thomas (February 19, 1926, in Oklahoma City – December 18, 1995, in Santa Monica, California) was an American writer of crime fiction. He is best known for his witty thrillers that expose the mechanisms of professional politics. He also wrote five novels under the pseudonym Oliver Bleeck about professional go-between Philip St. Ives
The Cold War Swap (1966)
The Seersucker Whipsaw (1967)
Cast a Yellow Shadow (1967)
Singapore Wink (1969)
The Fools in Town Are on Our Side (1970)
The Backup Men (1971)
The Porkchoppers (1972)
If You Can’t Be Good (1973)
The Money Harvest (1975)
Yellow-Dog Contract (1976)
Chinaman’s Chance (1978)
The Eighth Dwarf (1979)
The Mordida Man (1981)
Missionary Stew (1983)
Briarpatch (1984)
Out on the Rim (1987)
The Fourth Durango (1989)
Twilight at Mac’s Place (1990)
Voodoo, Ltd (1992)
Ah, Treachery! (1994)
Non-fiction
Warriors for the Poor: The Story of VISTA, Volunteers In Service to America (with William H. Crook, 1969)
Spies, Thumbsuckers, Etc. (1989
Hey Renee that’s cool about the Updike. I’ve not looked much into his dad’s life, I just kind of tripped over Rabbit Angstrom along the way after first hearing about it in high school, where I somehow got the impression that it was some kind of “high-brow crap” and so put off reading it
Updike Pere was a good writer and Rabbit is a great American tale.
Another by Updike:
COUPLES
The novel depicts the lives of a promiscuous circle of ten couples in the small Massachusetts town of Tarbox. (When he composed the book, the author was living in Ipswich, Massachusetts.)
Much of the plot of Couples (which opens on the evening of March 24, 1962, and integrates historical events like the loss of the USS Thresher on April 10, 1963, the Profumo affair, and the Kennedy assassination in November 1963) concerns the efforts of its characters to balance the pressures of Protestant sexual mores against increasingly flexible American attitudes toward sex in the 1960s.[citation needed] The book suggests that this relaxation may have been driven by the development of birth control and the opportunity to enjoy what one character refers to as “the post-pill paradise”.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/loretta-lynn-best-lyrics-songwriting-175002/
“This old maternity dress I’ve got is going in the garbage/The clothes I’m wearing from now on won’t take up so much yardage/Miniskirts, hot pants and a few little fancy frills/Yeah, I’m making up for all those years since I’ve got the pill”
“I’m tearin’ down your brooder house’Cause now I’ve got the pill”
“You’ve set this chicken your last time’Cause now I’ve got the pill”
Doubtful that this song of Loretta Lynn’s is on the SCOTUS playlist.
Folks are seeing the northern lights all the way in SC, so take a pic and see if the camera picks up more than your eyeballs.
“Though forecasters are working with operators to minimize the impact, the storm could affect the power grid as well as satellite and high-frequency radio communications. The Biden administration is monitoring the possibility of impacts, a White House official said.” -CNN
i’d queue up some space-music but i’m in a classic rock mood, and y’all know how to find that 🤷♂️
NEW THREAD