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--- lnf:commonmisleadingclaims [2019/05/26 18:38] – [The Steele Dossier is debunked right?] atreyu
+++ lnf:commonmisleadingclaims [2022/01/22 16:25] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 Maxwell, Tani (2017-10-28). "Mueller's charges have Republicans freaking out over a report tying Hillary Clinton to a Russian uranium deal". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
-====== No collusion: ======
+====== No collusion?: ======
   - Trump was receptive to a Campaign national security adviser’s (George Papadopoulos) pursuit of a back channel to Putin.
   - Kremlin operatives provided the Campaign a preview of the Russian plan to distribute stolen emails.
@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
-====== No Obstruction ======
+====== No Obstruction? ======
 >“Our investigation found multiple acts by the President that were capable of exerting undue influence over law enforcement investigations, including the Russian-interference and obstruction investigations,” Mueller wrote. “The incidents were often carried out through one-on-one meetings in which the President sought to use his official power outside of usual channels. These actions ranged from efforts to remove the Special Counsel and to reverse the effect of the Attorney General’s recusal; to the attempted use of official power to limit the scope of the investigation; to direct and indirect contacts with witnesses with the potential to influence their testimony.”
-https://www.factcheck.org/2019/04/what-the-mueller-report-says-about-obstruction/
+[[https://www.factcheck.org/2019/04/what-the-mueller-report-says-about-obstruction/|What the Mueller report says about obstruction]]
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 >Each of us believes that the conduct of President Trump described in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report would, in the case of any other person not covered by the Office of Legal Counsel policy against indicting a sitting President, result in multiple felony charges for obstruction of justice.
-https://medium.com/@dojalumni/statement-by-former-federal-prosecutors-8ab7691c2aa1
+[[https://medium.com/@dojalumni/statement-by-former-federal-prosecutors-8ab7691c2aa1|Statement by former federal prosecutors]]
-====== The Steele Dossier started it all ======
+===== Mueller's conclusion =====
+From the Mueller Report, verbatim:
+IV. CONCLUSION
+>Because we determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment, we did not draw ultimate conclusions about the President 's conduct. The evidence we obtained about the President's actions and intent presents difficult issues that would need to be resolved if we were making a traditional prosecutorial judgment.
+>At the same time , if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgment.  Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.
+May 29th 2019
+>Mueller’s remarks, which lasted 10 minutes, reiterated the key conclusions of the special counsel’s report, including he and his team could not determine whether President Trump committed a crime. “If we had confidence that the president did not commit a crime, we would have said so,” he said.
+Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/mueller-if-we-had-confidence-that-the-president-did-not-commit-a-crime-we-would-have-said-so-841450/
+===== What does "No Collusion, No Obstruction look like? Source: Anon =====
+This is what “no collusion” looks like:
+Mueller Report Shows Depth of Connections Between Trump Campaign and Russians
+https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/26/us/politics/trump-contacts-russians-wikileaks.html
+“Donald J. Trump and 18 of his associates had at least 140 contacts with Russian nationals and WikiLeaks, or their intermediaries, during the 2016 campaign and presidential transition, according to a New York Times analysis.
+“The report of Robert S. Mueller III, released to the public on Thursday, revealed at least 30 more contacts beyond those previously known. However, the special counsel said, ‘the evidence was not sufficient to support criminal charges.’
+“Very few, if any, of these interactions were publicly known before Mr. Trump took office.”
+At least 36 contacts by Sr, Jr and Jared alone.
+"If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president did not obstruct justice, we would so state. We are unable to reach that judgment. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgment."
+-- Mueller report
+. Mueller found evidence Chump obstructed justice (p. 157 & 182).\\
+. Mueller listed that evidence in 10 areas (p. 15 -156)\\
+. Mueller said he would not indict Chump because of DOJ policy that prohibits criminal indictment and prosecution of a president (p. 1 & 15).\\
+. Mueller said he would not accuse Chump of committing federal crimes because that would place a burden on his capacity to govern and preempt constitutional processes for addressing presidential misconduct (p. 1).\\
+. Mueller said Congress may apply obstruction laws to the president's corrupt exercise of the powers of his office in accordance with the constitutional system of checks and balances and the principle that no person is above the law (p. 8).\\
+Page 182 (linear page 394), paragraph 1 (CONCLUSION)\\
+https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=5955997-Muellerreport
+areas where Mueller believes obstruction of justice took place
+Volume II, Pages 15 - 156
+. The Campaign's Response to Reports About Russian Support for Trump (Pages 15 - 23)\\
+. The President’s Conduct Concerning the Investigation of Michael Flynn (Pages 24 - 48)\\
+. The President's Reaction to Public Confirmation of the FBI's Russia Investigation (Pages 48 - 61)\\
+. Events Up to and Surrounding the Termination of FBI Director Comey (Pages 61 - 77)\\
+. The President’s Efforts to Remove the Special Counsel (Page 77 - 90)\\
+. The President's Efforts to Curtail the Special Counsel Investigation (Pages 90 - 98)\\
+. The President's Efforts to Prevent Disclosure of Emails About the June 9, 2016, Meeting Between Russians and Senior Campaign Officials (Pages 98 - 107)\\
+. The President's Further Efforts to Have the Attorney General Take Over the Investigation (Pages 107 - 120)\\
+. The President's Conduct Towards Manafort, Flynn, [READACTED] (Pages 120 - 133)\\
+. The President's Conduct Involving Michael Cohen (Page 134 - 156)
+Before longtime POSPOTUS confidant Roger Stone's arrest:
+"The Special Counsel has now secured guilty pleas from President Trump’s personal attorney, his campaign manager, his deputy campaign manager, a foreign policy advisor to his campaign, and his National Security Advisor. He has filed 191 charges against more than thirty individuals—almost all of whom are in President Trump’s orbit, Vladimir Putin’s orbit, or both. The President can pretend that this investigation has nothing to do with him and nothing to do with Russia, but these indictments speak for themselves."
+— Congressman Jerrold Nadler
+https://nadler.house.gov/press-release/nadler-statement-michael-cohen-guilty-plea
+Indictments of top aides:
+Nixon: 12 in 6 years
+Bill Clinton: 3 in 8 years
+Obama: 1 in 8 years (Petraeus’ misdemeanor)
+President* Trump: 6 in 2 years
+President* Trump's pace is worse than the worst POTUS, Nixon, and worse than any Dem.
+Finally, Barr, Rosenstein, Mueller, Senate Repugs, all of our intel agencies and even Pence ALL agree: POSPOTUS fanboys were and still are useful idiots for Russia. However, they will never admit it. If they had the smarts and spines for that, they never would have become Trumpettes.
+====== The Steele Dossier started it all? ======
 Democrats said at the time that the memo’s description of McCabe’s closed-door testimony was incorrect. In an interview with CNN, McCabe said his testimony had been “selectively quoted” and “mischaracterized” in the GOP memo.
@@ Line 56: / Line 123: @@
 ===== The Steele Dossier is debunked right? =====
-Dossier Claim: Russia Meddled
+**Dossier Claim**: Russia Meddled
-Revelation: The U.S. intelligence apparatus concluded that Russia interfered in 2016’s election in a report released in January 2017. Though Steele’s name is not mentioned in that report, it does back up his reporting that Russia was actively interfering in the election process.
+**Revelation:** The U.S. intelligence apparatus concluded that Russia interfered in 2016’s election in a report released in January 2017. Though Steele’s name is not mentioned in that report, it does back up his reporting that Russia was actively interfering in the election process.
-Dossier Claim: Russia Had Dirt on Clinton and DNC
+**Dossier Claim:** Russia Had Dirt on Clinton and DNC
-Revelation: Much of the dossier is devoted not only to Trump but to Russia’s—specifically Putin’s—distaste for former Secretary of State Clinton. “Putin motivated by fear and hatred of Hillary Clinton,” one line of the dossier reads. Another line said: “The two sides had a mutual interest in defeating Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whom President Putin apparently both hated and feared.”
+**Revelation:** Much of the dossier is devoted not only to Trump but to Russia’s—specifically Putin’s—distaste for former Secretary of State Clinton. “Putin motivated by fear and hatred of Hillary Clinton,” one line of the dossier reads. Another line said: “The two sides had a mutual interest in defeating Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whom President Putin apparently both hated and feared.”
 Steele later cites one source as stating Russia that was behind the leak of hacked Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails to WikiLeaks.
@@ Line 68: / Line 135: @@
 The U.S. intelligence community confirmed not only that Russia had tried to meddle in the election but that it was the source of the hacked DNC emails released by WikiLeaks.
-Dossier Claim: Putin Was in Charge
+**Dossier Claim:** Putin Was in Charge
-Revelation: On the very first page of the dossier, Steele explains that the election meddling was “endorsed by Putin” and that the effort was “both supported and directed” by him. The U.S. intelligence report reached the same conclusion, writing that Putin “ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the presidential election.” According to Steele’s sources, Putin and Russia had been cultivating Trump for “at least 5 years.”
+**Revelation:** On the very first page of the dossier, Steele explains that the election meddling was “endorsed by Putin” and that the effort was “both supported and directed” by him. The U.S. intelligence report reached the same conclusion, writing that Putin “ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the presidential election.” According to Steele’s sources, Putin and Russia had been cultivating Trump for “at least 5 years.”
+See more here:
 [[https://www.newsweek.com/trump-russia-dossier-true-proven-929839|What’s True in Trump-Russia Dossier? Key Parts Proved Over Last Year]]
+[[https://twitter.com/mmfa/status/1029819870819627010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1029819870819627010&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fhillreporter.com%2Ffox-news-host-debunks-the-myth-that-the-steele-dossier-has-been-debunked-5868|Fox News clip]]
+====== Obstruction of Justice ======
+(Note the outcome of any particular case has no bearing on the definition of obstruction.)
+Whoever knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsified, or makes a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation or proper administration of any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States or any case filed under Title 11, or in relation to or contemplation of any such matter or case, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
+====== House Investigations ======
+https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/house-investigations-trump-his-administration-full-list-n1010131
+JUDICIARY: Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.
+    Oversight of the administration's family separation policy
+    Former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker’s appointment, his involvement in the Mueller investigation, and his conversations with Trump and involvement with World Patent Marketing
+    Voting rights and Department of Justice actions on voter ID, census cases
+    Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
+    Trump's national emergency declaration
+    The president's "threats to the rule of law," covering three main areas:
+    Obstruction of justice, including the possibility of interference by Trump and others in a number of criminal investigations and other official proceedings, as well as the alleged cover-up of violations of the law;
+    Public corruption, including potential violations of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, conspiracy to violate federal campaign and financial reporting laws, and other criminal misuses of official positions for personal gain;
+    Abuses of power, including attacks on the press, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies; misuse of the pardon power and other presidential authorities; and attempts to misuse the power of the office of the presidency.
+    Trump's interference in Time Warner merger
+    Threats to relocate migrants to sanctuary cities
+    Reports that the president said he would pardon acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan if he illegally closed the southern border to migrants
+    Firings of senior leadership at DHS
+    The administration's decision to stop defending the Affordable Care Act in court
+OVERSIGHT AND REFORM: Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md.
+    Oversight of the Trump administration’s family separation policy
+    Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's involvement with World Patent Marketing
+    Reports that the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman was failing failing to carry out statutory duties to help those applying for legal immigration programs
+    White House security clearances
+    Inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 census
+    Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
+    Delayed back pay for federal workers impacted by the government shutdown
+    Michael Cohen hush-money payments
+    Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' efforts to replace her agency's acting inspector general
+    Transfer of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia
+    Child separation actions at DOJ, DHS and Health and Human Services
+    Communications between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump
+    Michael Cohen's claims that Trump was improperly inflating financial statements
+    Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's schedules
+    Trump's threats to relocate migrants to sanctuary cities
+    Use of private email accounts by Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and other White House officials, and use of messaging apps like WhatsApp
+    Gag orders on White House staff
+    Title X gag rule regulatory review process
+    Potential lobbying conflicts of interest involving Environmental Protection Agency head Andrew Wheeler
+    Interior Department's handling of FOIA requests
+    Abandoning plan to move FBI HQ building from Washington to suburban location
+    Firings of senior leadership at DHS
+    Trump Administration’s response to hurricanes in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
+    Trump Administration’s decision to stop defending ACA
+INTELLIGENCE: Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
+    Russia investigation, including the scope and scale of the Russian government's operations to influence the U.S. political process, and the U.S. government's response, the extent of any links and/or coordination between the Russian government, or related foreign actors, and individuals associated with Trump's campaign, transition, administration or business interests, whether any foreign actor has sought to compromise or holds leverage, financial or otherwise, over Trump, his family, his business, or his associates; whether Trump, his family, or his associates are or were at any time at heightened risk of, or vulnerable to, foreign exploitation; and whether any actors — foreign or domestic — sought or are seeking to impede, obstruct, and/or mislead authorized investigations into these matters
+    Whether lawyers for Trump and his family obstructed committee's Russia probe
+    Trump's personal finances, including loans from Deutsche Bank
+    Use of intelligence to justify building a wall at the southern border
+    Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
+    Communications between Putin and Trump
+WAYS AND MEANS: Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass.
+    Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
+    Trump administration's use of user fees generated by the Affordable Care Act
+    Rule on short-term insurance plans
+    Trump administration’s decision to stop defending ACA
+    The president's personal and business tax returns
+ENERGY & COMMERCE: Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J.
+    Short-term insurance plans
+    How the administration is spending user fees generated by the ACA
+    How HHS is caring for children impacted by the Trump family separation policy
+    EPA clean air rollbacks
+    EPA political appointees blocking release of a chemical study
+    EPA rollback of policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change
+    EPA political appointee steering litigation to benefit former client
+    EPA Officials ties to Utility Air Regulator Group
+    Trump Administration’s decision to stop defending ACA
+FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.
+    Communications between Putin and Trump
+    Trump administration's failure to produce Russian sanctions report
+FINANCIAL SERVICES: Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif.
+    Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
+    Trump's personal finances, including loans from Deutsche Bank
+    Trump administration's failure to produce Russian sanctions report
+    Reported ransom demand from North Korean government related to Otto Warmbier
+HOMELAND SECURITY: Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
+    Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
+    Administration's border security policies
+    Investigation into Trump threats to relocate migrants to sanctuary cities
+    HUD disbursement of Puerto Rico disaster relief funds
+    Firings of senior leadership at DHS
+    Reports of ICE tracking Trump protesters
+NATURAL RESOURCES: Chairman Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.
+    HUD disbursement of Puerto Rico disaster relief funds
+    Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's schedules
+    Agriculture/Interior Department decisions to further construction of a copper sulfite mine in Minnesota
+VETERANS' AFFAIRS: Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif.
+    Travel expenses of a political appointee in the Department of Veterans Affairs
+    Potential influence of several Mar-a-Lago members on VA decisions
+EDUCATION AND LABOR: Chairman Bobby Scott, D-Va.
+    DeVos's efforts to replace the acting inspector general
+    Administration's decision to rescind Obama-era guidance on school discipline
+    Trump administration’s use of user fees generated by the Affordable Care Act
+    Trump administration’s decision to stop defending ACA
+TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.
+    Trump Hotel lease of Old Post Office building
+    Abandoning plan to move FBI headquarters from Washington to suburban location
+APPROPRIATIONS: Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.
+    Use of Pentagon funds for border wall
+    National emergency declaration and border wall funds
+BUDGET: Chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky.
+    National emergency declaration and border wall funds
+====== What is a coup? ======
+A sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.