The Trump Coup Plotters Are Starting To Turn On One Another

Long-time GOP ratfucker and dirty trickster Roger Stone, a long-time adviser to Traitor Trump who was pardoned and sprung from the hoosgow by Trump to assist him with plotting his coup d’etat on January 6, on Friday obstructed the January 6 Committee by “taking the Fifth.”

You remember what his co-conspirator Traitor Trump said about “taking the Fifth”:

Donald Trump suggested that doing so was on par with an admission of guilt.

“You see the mob takes the Fifth,” Trump said during a campaign stop in Iowa late last September. “If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”

Words that are going to come back to bite him in the ass next year (more about that later).

CNN reports, Trump ally Roger Stone pleads the Fifth in deposition with January 6 committee:

Roger Stone, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, met briefly Friday with the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot and asserted his Fifth Amendment rights to every question asked, he said.

Stone emerged from the deposition after only 90 minutes and told reporters he invoked the Fifth Amendment, which offers protection against self-incrimination, “not because I have done anything wrong, but because I am fully aware of the House Democrats’ long history of fabricating perjury charges.”

Says the felon who was convicted of witness tampering and perjury by a jury of his peers. Roger Stone guilty of witness tampering, lying to Congress. He had been getting away with this shit his entire life up to this point. Then his corrupt buddy Trump gave him a “get out of jail free” pardon.

This long-time GOP ratfucker and dirty trickster is definitely guilty, he has always been guilty of something nefarious. It is the essence of who he is. EXCLUSIVE: New Video of Roger Stone with Proud Boys Leaders Who May Have Planned for Capitol Attack; Video surfaces showing Trump ally Roger Stone flanked by Oath Keepers on morning of Jan. 6; Jan. 6 investigators subpoena Proud Boys, Oath Keepers as probe turns to domestic extremism.

Roger Stone is once again obstructing a congressional investigation, but he is throwing his co-conspirator coup plotter, Steve Bannon, under the bus. Salon reports, Roger Stone throws Steve Bannon under the bus with accusation he directed Capitol “breach”:

According to a report from The Daily Beast’s Zachary Petrizzo, former Donald Trump associate Roger Stone took to his Telegram account on Sunday morning to blame former White House adviser Steve Bannon of ordering the attack on the Capitol building on Jan 6th, reminiscent of the way he used to do “crazy things” in order to “curry favor” with the former president.

Writing that Stone appeared to be throwing Bannon “under the bus,” Petrizzo reported the conservative gadfly wrote, “It is highly likely that [Steve] Bannon really gave the order to breach the capital [sic] and maneuvered patriots into dangerous positions.”

He added, “A neophyte Steve Bannon was willing to try crazy things like this to curry favor with Trump who had a [sic] no interest in Bannon’s bullsh*t.”

You can read more here.

“Stop The Steal” organizer Ali Alexander, who previously implicated Arizona Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar along with Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks for January 6, A ‘Stop the Steal’ organizer, now banned by Twitter, said three GOP lawmakers helped plan his D.C. rally, testified to the January 6 Committee and turned over a trove of documents. But he is at the same time trying to obstruct the January 6 Committee with a frivolous lawsuit to try to block a subpoena for his phone records.

Rolling Stone reports, ‘Stop the Steal’ Founder Spilled to Jan. 6 Committee About Contact With Republican Lawmakers:

Reps. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) all interacted with Ali Alexander, the founder of the pro-Trump “Stop the Steal” movement, in the lead up to Jan. 6, Alexander’s attorney said in a suit filed late Friday.

Alexander shared this information with the House select committee investigating Jan. 6, his attorney wrote in the filing, which was reported by Politico. According to the suit, Alexander told the committee he participated in “a few phone conversations” with Gosar and spoke with Biggs in person “and never by phone, to the best of his recollection.” Alexander additionally said he texted with Brooks. Alexander’s attorney said in the filing that the text has been turned over to the committee. Alexander also spoke on the phone to Brooks’ staff “about a ‘Dear Colleague’ letter and how his activists could be helpful” in objecting to the election certification.

Alexander has previously bragged about his interactions with Brooks, Gosar, and Biggs. “I was the person who came up with the Jan. 6 idea with Congressman Gosar, Congressman Mo Brooks, and Congressman Andy Biggs,” Alexander said in a since-deleted video. “We four schemed up putting maximum pressure on Congress while they were voting, so that [representatives] who we couldn’t lobby, we could change the hearts and minds of Republicans who were in that body hearing our loud war from outside.”

On Jan. 6, the suit says, Alexander spoke with Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News anchor and current girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. who has bragged about raising money for the Stop the Steal rally that morphed into the Capitol attack.

Alexander filed the suit in order to stop the House Jan. 6 committee from obtaining his phone records from Verizon. Contained in those records, the suit contended, are Alexander’s interactions with people who would be protected by privilege.

ABC News clarifies: ‘Stop the Steal’ organizer Ali Alexander told Jan. 6 committee about contacts with Republican lawmakers:

Alexander disclosed his communications — and the relevant materials turned over to the Jan. 6 House select committee — in a new lawsuit challenging the panel from obtaining his phone records from Verizon.

“Alexander received a notice from Verizon that the Select Committee had subpoenaed Verizon for nine categories of information associated with Alexander’s personal cell phone number, including IP addresses, devices, billing addresses, account changes, a list of contacts, call session times, and dozens to hundreds of other data points or metadata from November 1, 2020 … to January 31, 2021,” according to a Friday complaint filed against lawmakers on the committee and Verizon.

Alexander had challenged the grounds for obtaining his cellphone communication, saying in the complaint the data is “not pertinent to the investigation and sweeps up privileged communications between Alexander and clergy, Alexander and people he spiritually counsels, and Alexander and his respective attorneys.”

So QAnon is a religion now? What a crock of shit. Is he claiming his attorneys were involved in the planning of January 6? The crime-fraud exception destroys that privilege. And if he is testifying about these matters to the January 6 Committee, he has already waived the privilege.

Rolling Stone continues:

None of the lawmakers named by Alexander have been called to testify [yet] before the committee. Responding to a Rolling Stone report that protest organizers said Republican lawmakers and White House staff participated in “dozens” of planning meetings for the event, Brooks denied his involvement but said that he’d be “proud” if he staff had helped. Brooks also spoke at the “Stop the Steal” rally. Clad in body armor, he encouraged the crowd to “start taking down names and kicking ass.” Gosar’s chief of staff told The New York Times earlier this month that Alexander was “a solid organizer” but denied helping plan the rally, telling the paper Gosar’s office only promoted the Jan. 6 rally but did not help plan it. Biggs has also denied that he helped organize the rally.

Former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi explained on Sunday that a recent statement by President Donald Trump led him to believe that the ex-Republican leader knows that something is about to happen in his ongoing legal problems. Former FBI official thinks Trump knows ‘something is coming’ — while the DOJ is investigating GOP officials:

Trump released a statement Saturday attacking attorneys general, law enforcement, and others he said are out of control. It tipped off Figliuzzi that something was going on.

“I don’t think the former president hides his emotions very well at all,” said Figliuzzi, responding to a statement from Trump. “And typically, historically, for him, when he sends out something like this it’s indicative that he’s learned something he didn’t know. His targeting of Democratic DA’s/District Attorneys, something is stirring. Word has gotten to him that something is happening, about to happen to him. He doesn’t like where the investigation is going. He’s lashing out. It’s the possibility that either the state of New York or Manhattan district attorney’s office and/or the DOJ is getting closer to him. Some word has gotten back to him that triggered that message.”

He went on to say that he doesn’t believe that the Justice Department and the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 are operating in a vacuum. They’re likely sharing information as it comes up.

“For those all over social media who are understandably frustrated with timing and wonder if DOJ and Merrick Garland and the FBI are doing absolutely nothing. I’m an evidence guy. I see glimpses that not only is DOJ not doing nothing, but rather that they understand the role of the select committee.”

He explained that the Justice Department and the White House waived executive privilege and people at a high level are cooperating with the committees and law enforcement. He specifically named Branden Straka, who stopped his prosecution because he began cooperating with the DOJ.

“He spoke at the rally. He’s been arrested, and he’s cooperating, enough cooperation for DOJ to stop what they’re doing with Straka,” said Figliuzzi. “Other Oath Keepers are cooperating. We know a high-ranking Oath Keeper was asked by FBI agents, ‘were you in contact with members of Congress or their staff.’ We’ve heard Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) tell reporters in the last two weeks who authored the texts being released by the committee. He said House members and staffers, the same language the FBI is using when they question Oath Keepers. I think things are happening.”

He also said that he believes Attorney General Merrick Garland understands domestic terrorism and that because of his work on the Oklahoma City bombing, he knows what he’s doing.

Figliuzzi closed by saying that he thinks it might already be that the Justice Department is investigating members of Congress.

“And again, I refer back to the little clues we’re getting,” he explained. “The fact that an FBI agent asked a senior Oath Keeper if he’s been in contact with Congress or staffers regarding the Jan. 6 breach. FBI agents don’t just come up with questions off the top of their heads in a nationwide investigation. The questions are drafted by intelligence analysts. There are collection requirements. They’re put out in templates to all agents. I think the FBI is looking at the involvement of Congress members and staff and I think that’s already happening.”

Related: New Manhattan DA plans to personally oversee Trump investigation — and may add more lawyers: Incoming Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated he will personally be overseeing the ongoing investigation of former president Donald Trump after Cyrus Vance Jr. steps down at the end of the year. Don’t expect the outgoing Vance to make any “charging decisions” before he leaves office. (Damn! That’s all I wanted for Christmas.)

This is what WATB Trump was foreshadowing with his unhinged statement. Trump sues New York attorney general in latest ploy to shut down investigation of his business: report:

On Monday, The New York Times reported that former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James, in his latest effort to try to shut down the state’s criminal probe into his finances and business practices.

“The suit, filed in federal court in upstate New York by Mr. Trump and his family real estate business, argues that Ms. James’s inquiry, which has lasted more than two years, has violated Mr. Trump’s constitutional rights,” reported Jonah Bromwich, Ben Protess, and William Rashbaum. “Mr. Trump and his lawyers have long argued that the investigation was politically motivated; the lawsuit asks a judge to agree, and to stop the investigation.”

Donald Trump epitomizes right-wing persecution complex. (Witch-hunt!“) This is like Al Capone complaining about Elliot Ness and The Untouchables pursuing him. What this is really all about: New York State attorney general Letitia James requested a Jan. 7 deposition of Donald Trump. Oh, he is going to be deposed under oath. Maybe not on January 7, but he is going to be deposed. Videotaped deposition please. The public needs to see him perjure himself.

This effort marks the latest in a years-long series of efforts by Trump and his allies to frustrate investigations into his business practices, which critics and insiders have suggested involve tax and bank fraud by keeping two sets of books and manipulating the valuation of his properties. The former president has fought in court to keep his tax returns and business records secret for years, which finally ended with state investigators in New York prevailing.

The Trump Organization has subsequently been indicted on state tax charges, a case that also implicates longtime Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg.

UPDATE: Trump’s lawsuit against New York AG panned by legal experts: ‘Sign of desperation’:

Attorney Terri Gerstein reflected on her time in this prosecutor’s office when analyzing Trump’s chances.

“As an alum of the [New York AG’s office], here’s my response to Trump’s lawsuit trying to stop an investigation: Fat chance,” she wrote.

“Just talk to Amazon which recently sued [New York AG’s office] to stop a workplace safety case. They lost in federal court and then lost again in state court,” she explained.

“Yes, [the United States Supreme Court] is a mess, but this lawsuit raises no novel issues of law and shouldn’t go there,” she argued.

She also said it is “hard to say it’s politically motivated when this kind of casework happens all the time.”

Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance also panned the suit’s potential chance of success.

“Targets try all sorts of tactics to disqualify prosecutors and terminate proper investigations. They’re a sign of desperation,” Vance said.

Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti said “Trump’s lawsuit against the New York AG won’t get very far.”

Attorney Ken White, who posts under the popular Popehat account on Twitter, panned Trump’s lawsuit.

“That’s …that’s not a thing,” he said.

Former federal prosecutor Richard Signorelli said he hopes Trump’s attorney’s are “sanctioned” for the lawsuit.

Maybe not by Christmas, but some optimism in the New Year. David Cay Johnston, an expert on Trump’s finances, has a New Year’s prediction: Trump is about to be indicted for racketeering in New York: David Cay Johnston:

Former president Donald Trump will soon be indicted for criminal racketeering under New York state law, according to Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist David Cay Johnston.

Johnston indicated Saturday afternoon that the charges will stem from Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance’s ongoing investigation into whether Trump’s company misled lenders or tax authorities about the value of its properties.

“I anticipate they’re going to bring a racketeering charge against Trump,” Johnston said. “Certainly Trump’s team, when he’s indicted, and I’m certain he will be indicted, is going to try to lay the blame on everybody else, and so what the prosecutors want to show that is if (Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer) Allen Weisselberg phonied up documents, it was at the direction of Donald Trump.”

MSNBC host Yasmin Vossoughian then pressed Johnston to confirm that he is certain about an impending indictment.

“Oh, yeah,” Johnston responded. “They would not have done all of this and know how much they know … if they weren’t going to do this. Yeah, they will indict him. Exactly when? I don’t know. I don’t expect it will be on a straight tax charge. I think there will be a tax charge, but the key charge will be racketeering.”

He added that the timing of the indictment will depend on how long it takes prosecutors to go through five million pages of documents that were handed over by the Trump Organization.

“Once he’s indicted, Trump will have to surrender himself to be booked. I’m sure he will be released on his own recognizance, and then we will see a campaign of trying to delay trial,” Johnston said. “You will see Donald say, ‘This is corrupt, the prosecutors are corrupt, the police are corrupt, the auditors are corrupt,’ because that’s what Roy Cohn taught him when he was a young man — accuse law enforcement, and then delay, delay, delay.”

I have been chilling a bottle of champaign in the fridge for years waiting for this one fine day to finally open it and celebrate.