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BumRushDaShow

(129,608 posts)
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 07:35 PM Dec 2020

Justice Department investigating potential presidential pardon bribery scheme, court records reveal

Last edited Tue Dec 1, 2020, 08:10 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN

(CNN)The Justice Department is investigating a potential crime related to funneling money to the White House or related political committee in exchange for a presidential pardon, according to court records unsealed Tuesday in federal court. The case is the latest legal twist in the waning days of President Donald Trump's administration after several of his top advisers have been convicted of federal criminal charges and as the possibility rises of Trump giving pardons to those who've been loyal to him.

The disclosure is in 20 pages of partially redacted documents made public by the DC District Court on Tuesday afternoon. The records show Chief Judge Beryl Howell's review in August of a request from prosecutors to access documents obtained in a search as part of a bribery-for-pardon investigation. The filings don't reveal a timeline of the alleged scheme, or any names of people potentially involved, except that communications between people including at least one lawyer were seized from an office that was raided sometime before the end of this summer. No one appears to have been publicly charged with a related crime to date.

At the end of this summer, a filter team, used to make sure prosecutors don't receive tainted evidence that should have been kept from them because it was privileged, had more than 50 digital devices including iPhones, iPads, laptops, thumb drives and computer drives after investigators raided the unidentified offices. Prosecutors told the court they wanted permission to the filter team's holdings. The prosecutors believed the devices revealed emails that showed allegedly criminal activity, including a "secret lobbying scheme" and a bribery conspiracy that offered "a substantial political contribution in exchange for a presidential pardon or reprieve of sentence" for a convicted defendant whose name is redacted, according to the redacted documents.

Communications between attorneys and clients are typically privileged and kept from prosecutors as they build their cases, but in this situation, Howell allowed the prosecutors access. Attorney-client communications are not protected as privileged under the law when there is discussion of a crime, among other exceptions. "The political strategy to obtain a presidential pardon was 'parallel' to and distinct from [redacted]'s role as an attorney-advocate for [redacted name]," Howell wrote in her court order.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/01/politics/presidential-pardon-justice-department/index.html

47 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Justice Department investigating potential presidential pardon bribery scheme, court records reveal (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Dec 2020 OP
On Ari Melber right now wryter2000 Dec 2020 #1
Rush's MoF investigated as well? Brainfodder Dec 2020 #2
Thanks. I was juuuuuuuust about to.... mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2020 #3
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you Sedona Dec 2020 #4
Sedona, Arne Dec 2020 #11
It's one of the smilies but it is on an expanded row below the main set of smilies BumRushDaShow Dec 2020 #12
Thanx Arne Dec 2020 #13
you can also type.. :sarcasm: Cha Dec 2020 #39
Tap the three dots on the smilies Sedona Dec 2020 #15
I'm sure Barr/Trumps DOJ DENVERPOPS Dec 2020 #47
Roger Stone montanacowboy Dec 2020 #5
where's Bill Barr in all this? stillcool Dec 2020 #6
Yea i was wondering if lowbarr was angling for a pardon for himself onetexan Dec 2020 #41
Anyone care to share popcorn?? Docreed2003 Dec 2020 #7
Do we need to be all delicate BumRushDaShow Dec 2020 #14
I'm good with delicate for now Docreed2003 Dec 2020 #19
Heh BumRushDaShow Dec 2020 #21
... Wednesdays Dec 2020 #34
LOL BumRushDaShow Dec 2020 #44
Wonder if Barr told RUMP bluestarone Dec 2020 #8
The Trump Organized Crime Party strikes again....nt OAITW r.2.0 Dec 2020 #9
could it be a scam cooked up against Joe Biden? no names have come out yet nt msongs Dec 2020 #10
It felt like a "Squirrel!" moment to me BumRushDaShow Dec 2020 #16
Not likely Miguelito Loveless Dec 2020 #17
Investigation was in August... FarPoint Dec 2020 #18
Jo Jorgensen was offering pardons? brooklynite Dec 2020 #23
Quid Pro Quo deal number 40,962 IcyPeas Dec 2020 #20
I am told reports say Joe Exotic has been spending abundantly at tRump properties. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2020 #22
Interesting!!! Karma13612 Dec 2020 #38
This might be the tip of the iceberg or the first crack in the dam (indulging metaphors). . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2020 #24
Definitely! Redacted pages of that court document & redacted names mean many criminal schemers are ancianita Dec 2020 #26
A mixed metaphor, I believe. wnylib Dec 2020 #31
Probably just Trump bribing himself with legal defense fund..... Uben Dec 2020 #25
I'm sure Trump's fans will dismiss this as just another example of his great business sense. tclambert Dec 2020 #27
Here's a weird candidate for a federal pardon ? Backseat Driver Dec 2020 #28
In The Age Of Trump, Everything Is For Sale COL Mustard Dec 2020 #29
OMG bucolic_frolic Dec 2020 #30
Legal wrangling can sure seem dense, can't it ? BobTheSubgenius Dec 2020 #32
Wait a minute. This is not making sense. wnylib Dec 2020 #33
Does it seem to others that Barr has cooled off on Trump over the last couple of months? Chemisse Dec 2020 #36
Doesn't matter, IMO, if Barr HAS wnylib Dec 2020 #37
I assumed it was "someone" BumRushDaShow Dec 2020 #45
Oh he is scum alright. I'm just curious as to why he suddenly receded. Chemisse Dec 2020 #46
"Attorney-advocate"? Qutzupalotl Dec 2020 #35
No, DeminPennswoods Dec 2020 #42
This message was self-deleted by its author Qutzupalotl Dec 2020 #43
classic "selling of royal favors" - any damn questions? history has the keys, read up! bringthePaine Dec 2020 #40

BumRushDaShow

(129,608 posts)
12. It's one of the smilies but it is on an expanded row below the main set of smilies
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 07:58 PM
Dec 2020

where you have to click on the "..." button at the end of the bottom row.

Or you can just type "sarcasm" and surround it with colons (without the quotes).

DENVERPOPS

(8,847 posts)
47. I'm sure Barr/Trumps DOJ
Wed Dec 2, 2020, 01:26 PM
Dec 2020

will find Hunter and his dad at the roots of the bribery scandal.......LOL

BumRushDaShow

(129,608 posts)
16. It felt like a "Squirrel!" moment to me
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 08:07 PM
Dec 2020

although it could be someone being thrown under the bus like Cohen or maybe Manafort?

I don't think it would be someone on our side begging after 45 for a pardon. Maybe Ghouliani's buddies Lev and/or Igor (who were in the news the past week pleading "not guilty" )?

Miguelito Loveless

(4,475 posts)
17. Not likely
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 08:07 PM
Dec 2020

They are talking about how presidential pardons were being sold and sleezy lawyers, that Trump.

ancianita

(36,146 posts)
26. Definitely! Redacted pages of that court document & redacted names mean many criminal schemers are
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 09:26 PM
Dec 2020

going down.

Uben

(7,719 posts)
25. Probably just Trump bribing himself with legal defense fund.....
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 09:12 PM
Dec 2020

...I'm sure he's scheming someway to get those funds in his pocket!

tclambert

(11,087 posts)
27. I'm sure Trump's fans will dismiss this as just another example of his great business sense.
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 09:33 PM
Dec 2020

Why just look at how many millions he's making off pretending to fight the election results.

Backseat Driver

(4,399 posts)
28. Here's a weird candidate for a federal pardon ?
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 09:40 PM
Dec 2020

The public knew he was crooked in 2009. Big banks helped him stash millions until 2017.

Despite a long record of fraud, a New Jersey con man was able to swindle hundreds of victims around the world who were promised cheap used cars.

https://www.icij.org/investigations/fincen-files/the-public-knew-he-was-crooked-in-2009-big-banks-helped-him-stash-millions-until-2017/?utm_source=ICIJ&utm_campaign=51660c6a7a-20201201_WeeklyEmail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_992ecfdbb2-5166
0c6a7a-83351998

Long investigative piece...so go to the link!

"The best people..."?

"All roads..."?





wnylib

(21,645 posts)
33. Wait a minute. This is not making sense.
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 10:31 PM
Dec 2020

If DOJ is investigating a bribery scheme for presidential pardons, Trump would be part of the investigation. How would Barr allow it? Unless the investigation focus is only on an attorney attempting to bribe Trump. Or trying to bribe someone in the Trump circle to influence Trump for pardons.

I can't imagine Trump turning down a money-making scam, though. So how is it that Barr's DOJ is investigating this?

Chemisse

(30,817 posts)
36. Does it seem to others that Barr has cooled off on Trump over the last couple of months?
Tue Dec 1, 2020, 11:52 PM
Dec 2020

I can't wait to read whatever book that comes out that explains all of this.

wnylib

(21,645 posts)
37. Doesn't matter, IMO, if Barr HAS
Wed Dec 2, 2020, 12:03 AM
Dec 2020

cooled on Trump, though I'm not sure that he has. Barr is still a piece of scum who backed and protected Trump. If he's cooling now, it must be that he's getting pressure from somewhere or someone to do it.

BumRushDaShow

(129,608 posts)
45. I assumed it was "someone"
Wed Dec 2, 2020, 05:44 AM
Dec 2020

or "someones" who they planned to throw under the bus, because that is how they roll.

Chemisse

(30,817 posts)
46. Oh he is scum alright. I'm just curious as to why he suddenly receded.
Wed Dec 2, 2020, 07:38 AM
Dec 2020

Maybe he saw that Trump was going to lose and is trying to salvage his career. It just seems odd after he did so many abhorrent acts on Trump's behalf.

DeminPennswoods

(15,290 posts)
42. No,
Wed Dec 2, 2020, 12:54 AM
Dec 2020

this is referring to the attorney whose offices were raided. DoJ/FBI was allowed to see some of the filtered information because it did not relate to whatever criminal activity was the basis for the original search warrant. It didn't involve any attorney-client privlege of any clients of the "attorney-advocate". IOW, it was a potential crime that was uncovered by the original search, but unrelated to it.

Response to DeminPennswoods (Reply #42)

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