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| credit: D. Granlund Wackydoodle sez: Bring in some Cokes, Walt! |
US Person bringing you up to speed: Walt Nauta, former Navy cook and Trump minion, was finally arraigned today after being granted two continuances. He claimed he was unable to find local counsel to stand next to him to plead to the six charges against him*. As expected, he pleaded not guilty to all charges on Thursday. The FBI affidavit supporting the search warrant is heavily redacted, but the magistrate judge ordered a few tidbits to be unsealed. The unsealed portions show Nauta and Trump playing hide and seek with his boxes containing highly classified material. Video tape reveals Nauta, allegedly at Trumpilini's direction, moving boxes out of the storage room just before Trump attorney Evan Corcoran examined the room and its contents. Cocoran then directed a junior attorney sign a certification to the DOJ that all classified material had been turned over. However, only fifteen boxes were returned, the rest were scattered in Trumpilini's personal residence and ballroom at his resort, which contained 100 classified documents. 18 of those are marked "Top Secret". It is very likely he showed some of this classified material to unauthorized persons, another violation of the Espionage Act. The grand jury investigation of the Mar-a-Lago Papers case continues; more indictments may follow. Informed observers point to the fact that the affidavit remains heavily redacted, apparently to protect sources and lines of inquiry.
In the January 6th Insurrection investigation, Mike Roman, the former Election Day director for the Trump campaign, and who was responsible for turning over fake elector certifications to Congress, has testified under a proffer agreement with the Special Prosecutor. He is the latest in a group of Trumpilini's closest co-conspirators in the plot to overthrow the government to testify. He received a subpoena months ago, but only recently reached an agreement to interview with investigators. Roman previously invoked the Fifth Amendment when questioned by the House Select Committee. Meanwhile™ his former boss and sociopath, Don "Legit" Trumpilini continues to pollute the nation with his outlandish exculpations and attacks against his political opponents. What is even more tragic than his bizarre sideshow is that the cult of personality that is now the Republican Party, is too weak to find a viable alternative to the Ochre Menace.
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| credit: Margulies BC Idonwanna sez: Tell that to Aileen! |
*Nauta's attorneys are paid for by one of Legit Don's PACs. He has raised a reported $35 million for his political and 'get out of jail' campaign. Some of that money is being used to pay his legal bills. Money is power, so Jack Smith knows he has his hands full. He must go big or go home.