Trump inauguration spending under criminal investigation by federal prosecutors: Dow Jones

[Seedersandleechers]

Source: CNBC

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/13/trump-inauguration-spending-under-criminal-investigation-by-federal-prosecutors-dow-jones.html

[underpants]

1. That's long overdue

It's pretty obvious they skimmed off the top and way overpaid friends.

[PatSeg]

9. That was my thought as well

For so long, it appeared that they were not being held accountable for much of anything. Now all their blatant misdeeds and criminal acts are finally catching up with them.

[SkyDaddy7]

28. To be honest...

The investigation into Trump’s highly suspect inauguration spending may have started 6-12 months or longer...Just because the media is now reporting the existence of a Federal Investigation this doesn’t mean the investigation just started.

If I had to bet I would guess it’s at least 6-12 months.

[PatSeg]

29. I think you're right

I'm sure there have been quite a few investigations going on that the general public was unaware of. Some things are better no advertised, at least in the early stages.

[marylandblue]

2. Michael Cohen, the gift that keeps on giving.

[dewsgirl]

12. +1000000!!!

[LisaM]

3. Well, of course. He had to accommodate those record crowds...

How else could he do it, without misusing a few funds?

[machoneman]

4. Does anyone have links to stories about this, like soon after the inauguration?

I don't remember seeing anything....until now.

[greyl]

5. Rachel Maddow has focused on it several times over the months.

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/new-light-shines-on-blatantly-shady-trump-inauguration-finances-1311010883566

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/gates-may-have-answers-to-trump-inauguration-money-mystery-1299163203649

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/excess-trump-inauguration-money-could-go-to-legal-defense-fund-1155352131936

[StarryNite]

18. Thank you for posting these links.

[iluvtennis]

6. And recall that the Inaugural committee paid Melanie's event planning form $26 Mil

Trump’s Inaugural Committee Paid $26 Million to Firm of First Lady’s Adviser

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/trumps-inaugural-committee-paid-26-million-to-first-ladys-friend.html

[beachbum bob]

14. hope she can afford a good lawyer

[Doodley]

7. What we are seeing is just the tip of the iceberg.

[Leghorn21]

8. Oh goodie, Tom Barrack was Inauguration Chairman

Been waitin to hear from him!!



(Some background:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210984477)

[brooklynite]

10. I can't be sure, but I'm sensing a trend...

[Kurt V.]

24. right. when is enough, enough?

[SunSeeker]

11. I was wondering when that particular piece of shit was going to hit the fan.

This has got to be the most corrupt administration in the history of the United States.

[RVN VET71]

27. Yeah, but what about Obama?

Just kidding. The GOP developed scrotal hernias looking for crap on Obama and, not finding it, just made sh*t up -- which is what they do all the time -- but they couldn't find or even make up anything plausible enough to be worthy of an investigation.

So, yeah, Trump and his mob comprise the most corrupt administration ever -- and many of that mob will be spending considerable time in Federal prison. Trump will be there with them when he loses re-election by what should be a record landslide and, as ex-president, stands trial for crimes committed during his presidency, his campaign, and earlier.

[nitpicker]

30. There were other scandal-ridden administrations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_administration_scandals

https://www.quora.com/What-scandals-plagued-the-Harding-administration

But what we know about the current misadministration is rivaling Grant's.

[RVN VET71]

33. Yep, but as bad as they were, they were minor leaguers compared to Orange Head

Grant may have been ill and not paying sufficient attention to what was going on in his administration. That's not exculpatory, of course. But his case saddens me because it permanently tarnished his place in American history.

Harding, on the other hand, was a piss-ant who should never have been allowed within a thousand miles of the WH, who seemed to enjoy the opportunities for corruption his position as president gave him, and who died a disgraced, sickly, POS. Many at the time believed his death was caused by poison administered to him by his wife. The notion may not be true, but it is a fact that his many infidelities and sexual assignations -- including one, supposedly, in the wardrobe of the Lincoln bedroom! -- certainly provided motive.

But neither Grant nor Harding were actively involved with an enemy power, actively seeking to feather their own nests and increase their fortunes at the expense of the very country that elected them as its leader. Come to think of, both men were, in fact, elected to the office which, alone, sets them apart from the current illegitimate resident of the house he called, as I remember, "a real dump."

[BigmanPigman]

13. This is 1/1,000 of all his crimes

financial and otherwise. If he isn't impeached he will be going to jail after he is POTUS. Jail, huge legal fees and fines, public image destroyed, possible bankruptcy, etc are his future!

[Botany]

15. Just because some Russian thugs/oligarchs gave lots of $$ for his inauguration and the Saudie ....

.... rented out his hotel is no reason to have doubts about Trump grifting because that
is what he does and did.

[iluvtennis]

17. And he continues to do it. you can bet money that he is still running the trump org.

[Botany]

19. I had a friend of friend who was good looking and she met Trump in the early 1990s and ...

... believe or not he was an asshole. Funny Trump has been a mobbed up
grifter for years but all we heard about was Hillary's emails. And his military
prep school was reform school for rich kids too.

[iluvtennis]

20. Exactly. Ppl accepted this grifter all to keep a woman from being President of the US. Very sad.

[Botany]

21. They have been fed hate for years ... besides they already had to put up w/a n**** as POTUS.

Did you know that HRC had somebody killed to cover up Bill's cocaine ring?

[iluvtennis]

22. Agree. And the child pornography ring at the pizza parlor.

[FrankBooth]

16. The big con

Trump and cronies were on the grift from the first second of the administration. Disgusting.

[ffr]

23. I'm guessing, the "Rump brand" will be worth about $0 in 6 months.

Last edited Thu Dec 13, 2018, 08:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Nobody, not even Putin will want anything with his name on it in their country, state, or otherwise.

His entire family will be in prison or worse and synonymous with big government swamp corruption.

[Kurt V.]

25. putin is already distancing himself thru that NRA spy women. that work is done.

[duforsure]

26. Each day we'll be learning more corruption

Trump and his family are deeply involved in, and as we learn more, their crimes continue to get worse. The gop are already abandoning them, and will easily help get him put out , because they are hated so much, especially trump. The longer the gop do nothing to pust him , the more gets exposed, and will help elect even more Democrats come 2020.

[mpcamb]

31. An aside: Why the tepid language? ""Giving money in exchange for political favors COULD run afoul

of federal corruption laws," the newspaper explained. "Diverting funds from the organization, which was registered as a nonprofit, COULD also violate federal law." (emphasis mine)

No, it WOULD run afoul. It WOULD violate. It Does run afoul. It Violates
It pretty much DEFINES statues in federal corruption laws.

Come on WSJ, get a tiny bit bolder with the vocab!

[Eugene]

32. Trump Inaugural Fund and Super PAC Said to Be Scrutinized for Illegal Foreign Donations

Source: New York Times

Trump Inaugural Fund and Super PAC Said to Be Scrutinized for Illegal Foreign Donations

By Sharon LaFraniere, Maggie Haberman and Adam Goldman
Dec. 13, 2018

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors are examining whether foreigners illegally funneled donations to President Trump’s inaugural committee and a pro-Trump super PAC in hopes of buying influence over American policy, according to people familiar with the inquiry.

The inquiry focuses on whether people from Middle Eastern nations — including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — used straw donors to disguise their donations to the two funds. Federal law prohibits foreign contributions to federal campaigns, political action committees and inaugural funds.

The line of questioning underscores the growing scope of criminal inquiries that pose a threat to Mr. Trump’s presidency. The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, is focusing on whether anyone in the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to tip the 2016 presidential election in Mr. Trump’s favor, while prosecutors in New York are pursuing evidence he secretly authorized illegal payments of hush money to silence accusations of extramarital affairs that threatened his campaign.

The inquiry into potential foreign donations to the inaugural fund and the super PAC is yet another front being pursued by multiple teams of prosecutors. Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a billionaire financier and one of Mr. Trump’s closest friends, raised money for both funds.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/13/us/politics/trump-inauguration-investigation.html