Not one but two juries handed down criminal convictions today of the "boots" of Donald Trump's insurrection. First, four more members of the Oath Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy for the attempted violent overthrow of our democracy. In a second courtroom, a jury convicted Robert Barnett, the yahoo who was photographed with his feet up on a desk in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office while the US Capitol was being attacked by the foot-soldiers of the Donald Trump-incited insurrection.
24 January 23
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Even when they're not supposed to! Even—allegedly—in the FBI!
The former official, Charles McGonigal, who had been the special agent in charge of the F.B.I.’s counterintelligence division in New York before he retired in 2018, had supervised and participated in investigations of Russian oligarchs, including Mr. Deripaska, the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan said. Federal prosecutors said Mr. McGonigal, 54, broke U.S. law by agreeing to help Mr. Deripaska, who himself was indicted last year on sanctions charges, attempt to get off the sanctions list and by investigating a rival oligarch. The charges are an extremely serious and rare accusation against an F.B.I. official, and they demonstrate that the reach of Russia’s oligarchs can extend into the heart of American law enforcement.
Deripaska is the Zelig of the Volga Bagmen. Whenever a shady business deal comes to light involving Russian money and American politics, Deripaska seems to be flitting around somewhere in the background. Now we find that he allegedly tied himself into the counterintelligence division in the New York office, which opens a sprawling vista of interesting speculation.
“Russian oligarchs like Oleg Deripaska perform global malign influence on behalf of the Kremlin and are associated with acts of bribery, extortion and violence,” Mr. Driscoll said. “There are no exceptions for anyone, including a former F.B.I. official like Mr. McGonigal.”[...] Mr. Deripaska, an aluminum magnate with ties to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, was a client of Paul Manafort, who for several months in 2016 served as Donald J. Trump’s campaign chairman and in 2018 was convicted of financial fraud and other crimes.
I've always thought that the question of who invested in the former president* and his operation, and how much, was deserving of some closer scrutiny.
But in the United States, members of the Russian elite have invested in Trump buildings. A Reuters review has found that at least 63 individuals with Russian passports or addresses have bought at least $98.4 million worth of property in seven Trump-branded luxury towers in southern Florida, according to public documents, interviews and corporate records.
The buyers include politically connected businessmen, such as a former executive in a Moscow-based state-run construction firm that works on military and intelligence facilities, the founder of a St. Petersburg investment bank and the co-founder of a conglomerate with interests in banking, property and electronics. People from the second and third tiers of Russian power have invested in the Trump buildings as well. One recently posted a photo of himself with the leader of a Russian motorcycle gang that was sanctioned by the United States for its alleged role in Moscow’s seizure of Crimea.
They sound nice.
One might assume McGonigal is acquainted with the counterintelligence investigations that were underway in New York before he left the bureau in 2018. Whether or not any of those might prove relevant to the present action, the pleadings and the discovery here should make for fascinating reading.
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At least 7 killed in massacre in Half Moon Bay, 2nd mass shooting in California in 3 days
Florida teachers ordered to remove books, cordon off libraries or face felony prosecution
Teachers in Manatee County, Florida, have been forced to cover their classroom libraries with paper or otherwise eliminate access to them to make sure they comply with Gov. DeSantis' draconian new law requiring all library books be approved by the state as part of his efforts to purge any mention of LGBTQ+ issues or our nation's appalling history of institutionalized white supremacy from school curriculums. It's almost as if Republican claims of being the party of limited government, for "free speech," and against "cancel culture" are nothing but bullshit.
Take Action: Demand school boards stop banning LGBTQ+ books from libraries!
VIDEO OF THE DAY: Marjorie Taylor Greene crushed on air as GOP colleague declines to defend her
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the newly minted chairman of the Homeland Security committee, was grilled over his party's decision to award 9/11 and Jewish space-laser enthusiast Marjorie Taylor Greene with plush committee assignments, and he all but threw her under the bus.
Take Action: Kick Marjorie Taylor Greene off the Homeland Security Committee!
President Biden can slash emissions 10% WITHOUT Congress
Evergreen Action: Last year, Democrats made historic progress in the fight for a cleaner future and a healthier planet with the Inflation Reduction Act. But EPA delays have kept us from Biden's crucial goal of cutting emissions in half. Good news! The Clean Air Act allows the president and EPA to address the toxic pollution from power plants and make the change we need without going through Big Oil’s Republican in the House or the filibuster-loving Senate — but time is running out! Please add your name to call on the Biden team to take immediate action to keep our communities and our children safe!
Kyrsten Sinema sees huge hedge fund payday thanks to tax loophole she demanded
The newly independent senator from Arizona held Democrats hostage last year during tax negotiations so she could kill legislation targeting the private equity industry's unreasonably low tax liabilities. We're sure it's just a total coincidence that donors from hedge funds and venture capital firms have flooded Sinema's super PAC with more than half a million dollars.
Take Action: Stop the GOP's plan to keep the rich from paying their fair share!
GOP governor kills thousands of green energy jobs because communism, or something
With the stroke of a pen, Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia nixed plans for a $3.5 billion Ford electric vehicle battery factory, because apparently it is part of a secret Chinese Communist plot to...bring more than 2,500 high quality, green-tech jobs in a low-income area in his state. Those bastards! Youngkin justified his nose-cutting, face-spiting move by pointing to the fact that the batteries for said electric cars would come from a Chinese company. It is beyond comprehension to see a governor refuse a project that would materially benefit thousands of his own voters, but it appears Youngkin couldn't pass up a chance to be poor-hating, xenophobic, AND anti-green energy all at the same time — because culture war nonsense is all he has to cling to.
Take Action: Tell Congress to stop scam PACs!
Matt Gaetz floats new conspiracy behind Biden document revelations
The accused sex trafficker and congressional rabble-rouser popped up on an extreme right-wing news network and let loose his latest devoid-of-any-evidence assertion about what's really going on with President Biden and the revelation of classified documents in his personal possession. Spoiler alert: it's the "Deep State!" And they've turned on Joe!
Take Action: Expel the congressmen who tried to get Trump pardons for their role in Jan. 6th!
George Santos claims he survived assassination attempt
Santos, the habitual liar who fabricated basically his entire professional and personal background before somehow being elected to Congress, claimed last month during a podcast interview that he had been the target of an assassination attempt, that he was mugged in a brazen daytime robbery while walking down Fifth Avenue in New York City, and that his Florida home was vandalized because of his political affiliation. If this congressional thing doesn't work out, perhaps George should apply to be Dos Equis' next "Most Interesting Man in the World!" (NOTE: Santos has informed us that he has already played this role a record three times.)
House Republicans finally reveal HORRIFIC demands
No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: Disgusting
Mike Pompeo takes vile jab at murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi
In his new book, Trump's repugnant State Dept. chief called the public discontent following the abhorrent murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of Saudi secret police “faux outrage” and questioned whether the respected Washington Post columnist was a genuine journalist at all. There is no bottom for these people.
Hakeem Jeffries calls Kevin McCarthy out on committee appointment hypocrisy
McCarthy has threatened to boot Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell from their seats on the House intelligence committee in retaliation for Democrats justly removing Marjorie Taylor Greene for spewing wild, QAnon-laden conspiracies last congressional term. Jeffries nominated both Schiff and Swalwell anyway and warned McCarthy in a letter of the glaring “double standard" he would set by seating "serial fraudster" George Santos on literally any committee while denying Schiff and Swalwell their rightful spots on the intelligence committee.
Georgia judge to consider releasing Trump grand jury investigation report
While Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reviews the special grand jury's report and decides whether or not to indict a former US president for the first time in American history, a judge will hear arguments today about whether the public should see that report before Willis makes her final decision. Release the kraken!
Jury finds insurrectionist photographed with feet on Pelosi's desk guilty
62-year-old Richard "Bigo" Barnett was found guilty on eight federal crimes related to his participation in Trump's January 6 assault on the Capitol, including entering a restricted area with a deadly weapon and obstructing an official proceeding. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the obstruction charge alone. Good riddance, Bigo!
Seriously?
Yes. Seriously.
Hope...
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Union members at one of the largest publishing giants, HarperCollins, have been on strike since November for better pay, better family leave policy, stronger union protections, and corporate diversity commitments. The strike, which began on Nov. 11, has garnered plenty of attention, including a letter signed by 500 authors pledging to not publish with the industry giant until the issue is resolved. However, New York City-based HarperCollins has yet to come forward with an adequate offer for the striking workers, even though the base salary they’re asking for is a modest $50,000 per year — a more than reasonable request, especially when considering the median level pay for an editor in NYC is over $80,000.
The months-long strike has been impactful, as the company has reported a precipitous decline in sales, but HarperCollins still needs to address the workers’ reasonable demands before more serious damage takes root. Authors supporting the 250 striking workers stated in their letter that they “express deep concern about the long-term impact on our books and careers if the strike continues.” The authors reiterated that HarperCollins refusal to reach an adequate agreement “hurts [them], [the] creators."
If HarperCollins cares about their workers, their authors, and their industry, they’ll resolve the strike as soon as possible. No one should be underpaid in 2023, and nationwide support for unions will make sure of it.
Show your support for UAW Local 2110 striking workers at HarperCollins by spotlighting their reasonable demands, amplifying their message on social media, sending emails to corporate leadership demanding better treatment of their employees, and inviting your friends and family to join the fight!
PS — Please don't forget to sign the petition to tell Florida to reject DeSantis' disgusting "Don't Say Black" rule in schools, and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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This year, MAGA GOP activists in Georgia attempted to disenfranchise hundreds of students by trying to kick them off the voter rolls. De...
