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No narrative is more at the heart of the Democrats’ and media’s Trump-Russia collusion charges than reports that Paul Manafort regularly communicated with Moscow during the 2016 campaign.
Now, that narrative has all but collapsed, according to an examination of the year-old official public record.
The allegations:
Christopher Steele’s Democratic Party-financed dossier said Mr. Manafort worked with Russia to coordinate the hacking of Democratic Party computers.
In addition, a number of media reports last year claimed that Mr. Manafort, Mr. Trump’s erstwhile campaign manager, sought Russia’s help to bolster his candidate. U.S. surveillance captured the collusion in copious amounts of phone records, the stories said.
CNN declared in September: “Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, which is leading the investigation into Russia’s involvement in the election, has been provided details of these communications.”
But that and similar reports seemed to be dashed by Kevin Downing, Mr. Manafort’s attorney. He filed a brief in U.S. District Court subject to an accuracy review by a federal judge. In a cut-and-dried manner, he said Mr. Mueller has no evidence that Mr. Manafort communicated with Russian officials.
Mr. Downing is defending Mr. Manafort against federal charges that he laundered money paid by Ukrainian politicians and failed to pay income taxes.
In his filing, Mr. Downing said he specifically asked the Mueller team for any such surveillance evidence during mandatory evidence discovery. Mr. Mueller’s prosecutors answered that they had none. Prosecutors risk having charges dismissed if they fail to comply with discovery rules.
“The special counsel has not produced any materials to the defense — no tapes, notes, transcripts or any other material evidencing surveillance or intercepts of communications between Mr. Manafort and Russian intelligence officials, Russian government officials [or any other foreign officials],” Mr. Downing’s filing said. “The Office of Special Counsel has advised that there are no materials responsive to the request.”
Mr. Downing called the CNN report and others an “elaborate hoax.”
The CNN report said: “Some of the intelligence collected includes communications that sparked concerns among investigators that Manafort had encouraged the Russians to help with the campaign, according to three sources familiar with the investigation.”
originally posted by: 0311Warrior
On who’s team?
America’s?
That’s the only team I’m on.
If you’re not on my team then why are you even here?
It’s ok to be skeptical of things but don’t divide into teams.
Like my CO used to say:
You’re either for or against evil. There are no sidelines.
I’m not letting anything slide. I never do. If I thought something was offensive towards us grunts I’d certainly pull rank and say a line was crossed.
With that said we grunts aren’t offended easily because allowing someone else to get into your headspace gives them an advantage over you.
Weak minds breed failure.
Strong minds breed success.
originally posted by: daskakik
a reply to: AnkhMorpork
Anyone else think that meme is an insult to anyone who has actually set foot on a battlefield?
originally posted by: daskakik
originally posted by: butcherguy
If they choose to be insulted.
Pretty hard to do if they paid the ultimate price.
I guess keyboard warriors can claim the same honors if they have a heart attack while pounding away at the keys.