The Senate Judiciary Committee is questioning whether the Democratic National Committee violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by working with Ukrainian government officials to undermine Donald Trump’s presidential campaign last year.
In a letter sent to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley pointed to a report published by Politico in January laying out DNC official Alexandra Chalupa’s collaboration with Ukrainian politicians to compile research on Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman.
Chalupa, a Ukrainian-American activist who is no longer affiliated with the DNC, was paid $70,000 as a consultant for the party during the 2016 presidential cycle. She was paid $412,000 between 2004 and last year.
Republicans have recently latched onto the Politico expose as evidence of a double standard in the reporting about the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian attorney who allegedly promised to provide opposition research on Hillary Clinton.
Trump critics have responded by pointing out that Ukraine is not an adversary of the U.S., as is Russia. The Ukrainian effort also appears to be far less sophisticated than the Kremlin’s efforts to hack Democrats’ emails and disseminate them through several websites. The DNC-Ukraine collaboration also did not directly involve the Clinton campaign.
The DNC-Ukraine collaboration also did not directly involve the Clinton campaign. I wouldn't be so quick to retire this horse to the pasture.
Even some Democrats, including California Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, acknowledged earlier this month that DNC collusion with the Ukrainian government was "problematic."
Nevertheless, Grassley says that Chalupa’s and the DNC’s activities could be a violation of FARA, which requires agents of foreign governments to disclose their activities.
The anti-Trump effort "appear[s] to be exactly the type of activity Congress intended to reach with FARA," Grassley wrote to Rosenstein, who would be the point-man on the issue because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from all matters related to campaign meddling.
The Politico piece largely flew under the media radar when it was first reported, partially because it was published just after BuzzFeed News published a dossier of salacious and uncorroborated allegations about Trump campaign collusion with the Kremlin.
According to the report, the DNC encouraged Chalupa to meet with staffers at the Ukrainian embassy in order to "arrange an interview in which [Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko] might discuss Manafort’s ties" to Viktor Yanukovych, Poroshenko’s predecessor and an ally of Vladimir Putin’s.
In March, Chalupa met with Ukrainian Amb. Valeriy Chaly and one of his aides. The aide, Oksana Shulyar, reportedly shared her concerns regarding Manafort with Chalupa.
Politico also reported that a Ukrainian embassy official claimed that he was instructed by Shulyar to help Chalupa research Trump and Manafort.
In May, Chalupa contacted DNC communications director Luis Miranda, revealing that she had invited investigative reporter Michael Isikoff to an event at the Library of Congress. Two days earlier, Isikoff reported on a $26 million telecom deal between Manafort and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
It is unclear if Isikoff received the tip off for the investigation from Chalupa or the Ukrainians.
The DNC has attempted to distance the organization from Chalupa, saying that she was an events coordinator and undertook the research efforts on her own initiative. But Grassley is likely to bring up the arrangement on Wednesday, when the Judiciary Committee holds a hearing to discuss shortcomings in FARA.
Witnesses invited to the hearing include Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department’s inspector general, Adam Hickey, the DOJ official in charge of FARA, and Bill Priestap, assistant FBI director in charge of the Counterintelligence Division.
In his letter, Grassley is asking Rosenstein whether the DOJ has inquired with Chalupa about registering under FARA. He is also questioning whether DOJ is investigating what he says is the Ukrainian government’s "intervention in the 2016 presidential election on behalf of the Clinton campaign." Can the real investigation be started and the Democrat--MSM generated fake Trump collusion meme be put to rest?
#1
Trump critics have responded by pointing out that Ukraine is not an adversary of the U.S., as is Russia.
*Cough* Israel *Cough* J-Street *Cough* Remember the paranoid antisemitic whispers about Jewish Israeli contacts... It is only nefarious when the (R)'s do it, I guess.
[ZeroHedge] In the most vocal opposition to president Donald Trump yet, former CIA Director John Brennan said that if the White House tries to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, government officials should refuse to follow the president orders, as they would be - in his view - "inconsistent" with the duties of the executive branch.
"I think it's the obligation of some executive branch officials to refuse to carry that out. I would just hope that this is not going to be a partisan issue. That Republicans, Democrats are going to see that the future of this government is at stake and something needs to be done for the good of the future," Brennan told CNN's Wolf Blitzer at the Aspen Security Forum, effectively calling for a coup against the president should Trump give the order to fire Mueller.
Brennan appeared alongside his former colleague, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and both men who served in the Obama administration, told Blitzer they have total confidence in Mueller. "Absolutely. It was an inspired choice- they don't come any better, " Brennan said adding that "If Mueller is fired, I hope our elected reps will stand up and say enough is enough." Some have responded with questions where Brennan's devotion to the Constitution was in the aftermath of the events in Benghazi. More at link
Posted by: Seeking cure for ignorance ||
07/25/2017 12:33 ||
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government officials should refuse to follow the president orders
#2
Some have responded with questions where Brennan's devotion to the Constitution was in the aftermath of the events in Benghazi
Quite obviously a rhetorical question.
se·di·tion
səˈdiSH(ə)n/Submit
noun - conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
synonyms: rabble-rousing, incitement to rebel, subversion, troublemaking, provocation; rebellion, insurrection, mutiny, insurgence, civil disorder. "the on-campus protestors were charged with sedition"
[ZEROHEDGE] Forensic studies of "Russian hacking" into Democratic National Committee computers last year reveal that on July 5, 2016, data was leaked (not hacked) by a person with physical access to DNC computers, and then doctored to incriminate Russia.
After examining metadata from the "Guccifer 2.0" July 5, 2016 intrusion into the DNC server, independent cyber Sherlocks have concluded that an insider copied DNC data onto an external storage device, and that "telltale signs" implicating Russia were then inserted.
Key among the findings of the independent forensic investigations is the conclusion that the DNC data was copied onto a storage device at a speed that far exceeds an Internet capability for a remote hack. Of equal importance, the forensics show that the copying and doctoring were performed on the East coast of the U.S. Thus far, mainstream media have ignored the findings of these independent studies [see here and here].
Independent analyst Skip Folden, a retired IBM Program Manager for Information Technology US, who examined the recent forensic findings, is a co-author of this Memorandum. He has drafted a more detailed technical report titled "Cyber-Forensic Investigation of ’Russian Hack’ and Missing Intelligence Community Disclaimers," and sent it to the offices of the Special Counsel and the Attorney General. VIPS member William Binney, a former Technical Director at the National Security Agency, and other senior NSA "alumni" in VIPS attest to the professionalism of the independent forensic findings.
The recent forensic studies fill in a critical gap. Why the FBI neglected to perform any independent forensics on the original "Guccifer 2.0" material remains a mystery ‐ as does the lack of any sign that the "hand-picked analysts" from the FBI, CIA, and NSA, who wrote the "Intelligence Community Assessment" dated January 6, 2017, gave any attention to forensics.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/25/2017 00:00 ||
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After examining metadata from the "Guccifer 2.0" July 5, 2016 intrusion into the DNC server, independent cyber Sherlocks have concluded that an insider copied DNC data onto an external storage device, and that "telltale signs" implicating Russia were then inserted.
Further confirming an internal Intelligence Community and 'Deep State' deception campaign.
#4
It certainly would be to Russia's benefit to spread the idea that it wasn't them, and even more to their pleasure to watch the infighting that results when enough people believe it.
#7
Further confirming an internal Intelligence Community and 'Deep State' deception campaign.
Posted by Besoeker
Couple that with all the other agencies practicing deception that lean and vote left.
#4 It certainly would be to Russia's benefit to spread the idea that it wasn't them, and even more to their pleasure to watch the infighting that results when enough people believe it. Posted by: trailing wife.
Russia as well as China, Iran, NK and others who have an agenda counter to that of the U.S.. Being able to depend upon an intelligence community that is not playing internal political games and is doing its job is absolutely essential.
If you have the MSM on your side you don't have to be competent. Baraq proved that for us. Please note the source here is Zerohedge. If that's the only outlet that will run with this information the public at large will never see or hear of it.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
07/25/2017 10:03 Comments ||
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#10
independent cyber Sherlocks have concluded that an insider copied DNC data onto an external storage device, and that "telltale signs" implicating Russia were then inserted.
So why couldn't our governmental cyber sleuths come up with this?
#11
Could it be that the Hillary campaign and the DNC had no interest in having anyone really delve into this because of the huge can of worms that would be opened?
Yes they would, they've proven it times and times again!
From Besoeker in a comment yesterday:
CIA has historically a bad record of their support turning around to bit us in the ass. They think short term, rarely long term.
Well documented:
Support for Castro in Cuban Revolution, Bay of Pigs, Vietnam Tet Offensive, The Yom Kippur War, Iranian Revolution, Russian invasion of Afghanistan, Collapse of the Soviet Union, Indian Nuclear test, Pakistani Nuclear test, Iraqi invasion, 9/11 attacks, Hasenfus C-123 shoot down and Gun running in Nicaragua & El Salvador, Suicide attack by Dr. Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi at FOB Chapman, AFG. Obama documents clean up at State Department Passport Office, Betrayal of Jailed Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi in 'made for TeeVee' Bin Laden take down.
Probables:
Benghazi, The Nidal Hassan and Anwar al-Awlaki caper, The traveling Tsarnaev brothers, GITMO Catch and Release program, Sergeant Bergdahl prisoner exchange, pallets of USD and Swiss Frncs to Iran via unmarked planes, Access of Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya.
#13
So why couldn't our governmental cyber sleuths come up with this?
It's possible. It's also possible that the adulteration occurred after the data breach had been discovered (and dealt with) and the external storage device recovered.
#14
Pappy, the recovery of the external storage device from whom? This does tie into the Seth Rich story and the curious details of the hospital treatment, crime scene omissions (lack of witness interviews at the bar, video tape search) and the odd lack of further investigation enthusiasm, almost as if someone thought it was a rock no one wanted turned over and the enormous mess under it demanding actions of great consequence?
#18
What I mean Seeking: CIA may be a bunch of frat boys playing I spy (with real peoples lives), but they do have access to best programming talent in USA.
#19
What I mean Seeking: CIA may be a bunch of frat boys playing I spy (with real peoples lives), but they do have access to best programming talent in USA.
Really, I'm thinking it's NSA, NASA, Various non-spy agencies that has the best programming expertise. Oh wait, you said "have access". yes if you have or throw enough money you can get access to the best. Right now I get the impression that the CIA has some of the best kiddie script users around.
Mossad OTOH do have some of the best, Heck, even the CIA go to them from what I understand when they need something that works!
The U.S. intelligence community—which includes the CIA—failed to predict in advance the Egyptian-Syrian attack on Israel. A U.S. intelligence report as late as October 4 still stated that "We continue to believe that an outbreak of major Arab–Israeli hostilities remains unlikely for the immediate future".[290] However, one U.S. government source that was able to predict the approaching war was Roger Merrick, an analyst working for the INR (Intelligence and Research section in the State Department), but his conclusions were ignored at the time, and the report he had written to that effect was only rediscovered by U.S. government archive officials in 2013.
[MCCLATCHYDC] He/She/It/They/Xie/Shplk's a transgender woman and an experienced journalist who sings in a metal band in her spare time.
He has sponsored some of the most socially conservative legislation in Virginia in the past 25 years, including a measure this year that would have restricted the bathrooms transgender people can use.
Democrat Danica Roem is challenging Republican Bob Marshall for his northern Virginia seat in the state House of Delegates. With such stark differences between the candidates, the race is expected to draw in big money and is seen by some as a referendum on rights for gay and transgender people.
Roem would be the first openly transgender candidate to win and serve in a state legislature, according to the Victory Fund, a political action committee that supports him/her/it/them/xneg/shplnk and calls Marshall "the most anti-LGBTQ member of the Virginia state legislature."
"Danica Roem is a leader in a national movement of trans candidates who are determined to become a voice for their community in the halls of power," said Aisha Moodie-Mills, president and CEO of the organization.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/25/2017 00:00 ||
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Yeah, so a Nancy-boy or a Butch-girl got elected by a sympathetic peer group. If I gotta go I'm gonna use what's available.
[NYPOST] Rudy Giuliani said Monday afternoon he’s not trying to get Jeff Sessions’ job -- and that the attorney general made the right decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.
"I thought it was the correct decision under the Justice Department regulations," the former mayor told The Post. "I thought he consulted with the ethics counsel and he made the right decision. I have told the president that."
Giuliani’s comments contradict fake news a report Monday morning claiming President Trump is considering dumping Sessions and replacing him with the former Big Apple mayor -- and depart from Trump’s own condemnation of Sessions’ recusal.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/25/2017 00:00 ||
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Rudi has represented a bunch of corporate and foreign interests in the past few years. Some of them are pretty sketchy. It is not illegal but it wouldn't look good in a confirmation hearing.
Posted by: lord garth ||
07/25/2017 1:24 Comments ||
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#2
What is needed is a junkyard dog for AG; someone with good experience but not with tentacles from the swamp dragging them down. Someone with no ties to the Clintons and Obama, i.e. someone who is clean.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[ZeroHedge] In the most vocal opposition to president Donald Trump yet, former CIA Director John Brennan said that if the White House tries to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, government officials should refuse to follow the president orders, as they would be - in his view - "inconsistent" with the duties of the executive branch.
[ZEROHEDGE] Forensic studies of "Russian hacking" into Democratic National Committee computers last year reveal that on July 5, 2016, data was leaked (not hacked) by a person with physical access to DNC computers, and then doctored to incriminate Russia.
I think we know what to do to help Mr. Awan gain his freedom. 
