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Omar Little
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 Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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| DaMuleRules wrote: | | Omar Little wrote: | | The administration is prepared to report-enter talks with Iran, something that will be the opposite of war. The Iranians have decided, as is their way, to test Biden a bit and see if he’s going to show weakness. He just let them know the US isn’t going to put up with attacking our troops through proxies. It’s the opening stages of negotiation. |
Iran is "negotiating" right back:
Rockets Hit Airbase In Iraq Hosting U.S. Troops, 2 Days Before Pope Visit |
They actually started the dance. They are seeing whether Biden will negotiate out of strength or desire to get something done. I suppose Joe should sit this one out too? What particular act of violence against US forces meets your threshold for response?
Btw, you know that obama went very hard with both sanctions and military actions to get Aidan to the table, right?
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FernieBee
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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The US should bomb Iran back to the Stone Age.
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ChefLinda
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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Adam was Harry Reid's chief of staff. This is how you approach it. Pick a specific piece of important legislation like voting rights act, then demonstrate how R's are blocking it, THEN put pressure to pass it on Manchin and Sinema. If they are so great at bipartisanship, assign them the task of working with R's to make the legislation work for both sides. hahahaha Let's see how they feel then.
| Quote: | Adam Jentleson @AJentleson
This. Where Manchin and Sinema ultimately fall is a third act question and we're still in the first act. The filibuster is not an abstract question, it's a practical one. Explaining why must-pass priorities deserve to fail is much harder than waxing poetic about Senate tradition.
| Quote: | Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan
Stop asking Sinema & Manchin if they support the filibuster.
Start asking them why they don’t want to pass the For the People Act, legislation on climate change, & the rest of the vital bills that can’t pass via budget reconciliation & also can’t pass because of the filibuster. |
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ChefLinda
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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Who's shocked? Raise your hand. Elaine Chao, aka MrsMoscowMitch.
NYT: Inspector General’s Report Cites Elaine Chao for Misuse of Office. The report said the Justice Department declined to investigate her promotion of her family’s shipbuilding business while serving as transportation secretary in the Trump administration.
| Quote: | The Transportation Department’s inspector general asked the Justice Department in December to consider a criminal investigation into what it said was Elaine Chao’s misuse of her office as transportation secretary in the Trump administration to help promote her family’s shipping business, which is run by her sister and has extensive business ties with China.
In a report made public on Wednesday, the inspector general said the Justice Department’s criminal and public integrity divisions both declined to take up the matter in the closing weeks of the Trump administration, even after the inspector general found repeated examples of Ms. Chao using her staff and her office to help benefit her family and their business operations and revealed that staff members at the agency had raised ethics concerns.
“A formal investigation into potential misuses of position was warranted,” Mitch Behm, the department’s deputy inspector general, said on Tuesday in a letter to House lawmakers, accompanying a 44-page report detailing the investigation and the findings of wrongdoing.
Ms. Chao, the wife of Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, announced her resignation on Jan. 7, the day after the Capitol riot. At the time of her departure, an aide to Ms. Chao said her resignation was unrelated to the forthcoming release of the investigation.
The investigation of Ms. Chao came after a 2019 report in The New York Times that detailed Ms. Chao’s interactions with her family while serving as transportation secretary, including a trip she had planned to take to China in 2017 with her father and sister. The inspector general’s report confirmed that planning for the trip, which was canceled, raised ethics concerns among other government officials.
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ChefLinda
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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And here's another edition of Crooks & Liars:
Jim Jordan Under Scrutiny for Nearly $3 Million in Unreported Campaign Funds
| Quote: | This week, the campaign committee for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), received ten notices from the Federal Election Commission flagging discrepancies on its books totaling nearly $3 million and dating back over two years. The campaign claims that the errors slipped through the cracks amid a record fundraising surge and that it actually has more money on the books now, but experts say that the dollar amount—errors totaling some $2.87 million—may trigger an FEC investigation.
The errors also appear connected to newly developed, largely hidden payment systems in the murky world of Republican digital advertising, where vendors not only receive direct spending but take cuts from fundraising as well. |
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ChefLinda
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Now that Trump's lackeys are no longer inside government to cover-up GOP corruption, maybe we'll start getting some karmic justice for a few of these crooks. |
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Omar Little
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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| FernieBee wrote: | | The US should bomb Iran back to the Stone Age. |
That’s not the answer.
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“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel |
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C M B
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| FernieBee wrote: | | The US should bomb Iran back to the Stone Age. |
"back"?
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SweetP
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| FernieBee wrote: | | The US should bomb Iran back to the Stone Age. |
WTF dude? Kill a lot of innocent people and destroy their country because their government is bad? 
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ChefLinda
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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This is what we all assumed Mueller was doing. Better late than never.
Washington Post: In Trump probe, Manhattan district attorney puts pressure on his longtime chief financial officer
| Quote: | The Manhattan district attorney is delving deeply into the personal and financial affairs of the chief financial officer for former president Donald Trump’s company, probing the extent of Allen Weisselberg’s loyalty to Trump and scrutinizing a Trump-owned apartment once occupied by Weisselberg’s son, according to people familiar with the investigation.
This questioning is now led by a former mob prosecutor, and one person familiar with the investigation said it is aimed at “flipping” Weisselberg — attempting to turn one of Trump’s longest-serving and most important aides into a witness against him.
Cyrus R. Vance Jr. (D), Manhattan’s top prosecutor, has not formally accused anyone of wrongdoing, including Trump, Weisselberg or the latter’s family. But the focus on Weisselberg underscores the depth and ambition of Vance’s inquiry, a criminal investigation broader than any Trump’s company is known to have faced before.
Vance’s focus on Weisselberg has included questions related to two of his adult children, a tactic that could be an effort to increase pressure on the elder Weisselberg. One of Weisselberg’s sons also works for the Trump Organization, where he manages the company’s Central Park ice rinks. Another Weisselberg son works for a company that has extended loans to the Trump Organization. |
| Quote: | | People familiar with Vance’s inquiry say it has taken on new urgency since the recent hiring of Mark F. Pomerantz — an attorney who prosecuted Gambino crime family boss John Gotti’s son in the 1990s — on a special assignment. |
Mary Trump said Weisselberg originally worked for Trump's father before being sent to watch over the Donald. She said he knows where all the bodies are buried. |
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Halflife
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| ChefLinda wrote: | | Now that Trump's lackeys are no longer inside government to cover-up GOP corruption, maybe we'll start getting some karmic justice for a few of these crooks. |
McConnell wife is great leverage. Reason why story came out now after Mitch said they would fight Biden |
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DaMuleRules
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Omar Little wrote: | | DaMuleRules wrote: | | Omar Little wrote: | | The administration is prepared to report-enter talks with Iran, something that will be the opposite of war. The Iranians have decided, as is their way, to test Biden a bit and see if he’s going to show weakness. He just let them know the US isn’t going to put up with attacking our troops through proxies. It’s the opening stages of negotiation. |
Iran is "negotiating" right back:
Rockets Hit Airbase In Iraq Hosting U.S. Troops, 2 Days Before Pope Visit |
They actually started the dance. They are seeing whether Biden will negotiate out of strength or desire to get something done. I suppose Joe should sit this one out too? What particular act of violence against US forces meets your threshold for response?
Btw, you know that obama went very hard with both sanctions and military actions to get Aidan to the table, right? |
It was more of a play on your "negotiation" comment. But to get back to the original point. It's not the response that I take issue with as much as it is how it was handled by a man who ran on saying that he was going to try and reduce the patterns of military response around the world.
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goes up in flames
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Man, do those lyrics resonate right now |
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FernieBee
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Halflife wrote: | | ChefLinda wrote: | | Now that Trump's lackeys are no longer inside government to cover-up GOP corruption, maybe we'll start getting some karmic justice for a few of these crooks. |
McConnell wife is great leverage. Reason why story came out now after Mitch said they would fight Biden |
Let's see how much Moskow Mitch really cares for his wife.
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SweetP
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1
BREAKING: The House has just passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, 220-212. Just one Republican supported the bill. |
That one R later said his vote was an accident and he was changing it.
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Omar Little
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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| DaMuleRules wrote: | | Omar Little wrote: | | DaMuleRules wrote: | | Omar Little wrote: | | The administration is prepared to report-enter talks with Iran, something that will be the opposite of war. The Iranians have decided, as is their way, to test Biden a bit and see if he’s going to show weakness. He just let them know the US isn’t going to put up with attacking our troops through proxies. It’s the opening stages of negotiation. |
Iran is "negotiating" right back:
Rockets Hit Airbase In Iraq Hosting U.S. Troops, 2 Days Before Pope Visit |
They actually started the dance. They are seeing whether Biden will negotiate out of strength or desire to get something done. I suppose Joe should sit this one out too? What particular act of violence against US forces meets your threshold for response?
Btw, you know that obama went very hard with both sanctions and military actions to get Aidan to the table, right? |
It was more of a play on your "negotiation" comment. But to get back to the original point. It's not the response that I take issue with as much as it is how it was handled by a man who ran on saying that he was going to try and reduce the patterns of military response around the world. |
That’s not what he ran on. He ran on not starting or perpetuating wars. Defending your own troops is neither. And this is about the nuclear deal negotiations. Iran trying to figure out what it can get away with, especially with the us and saudis at odds. Seeing how bad Biden wants peace at the expense of a tough negotiation. Biden answering that.
Put it another way. If a mayor ran on reducing police shootings, it’s not a violation of that if the swat team gets sent in after a guy who shot police.
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“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel |
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kikanga
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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I'm surprised anybody gives 2 craps about foreign policy right now given the state of our domestic affairs.
But I guess I'll weigh in anyways.
I do think Omar is giving Biden a pass in a way that he probably wouldn't if the same exact thing was happening right now under a Republican President. Which sounds horrible/hypocritical. But in reality it isn't. Intention, rationality, forethought, planning all matter.
If this leads to a renewal of the Obama Iran deal and more stability in the region long term. Biden's making the right move.
Omar is justified in giving Biden the benefit of the doubt, and DMR is justified to be keeping an eye on it, in case Biden is purely reactionary and this isn't part of a greater, beneficial plan for all parties involved (compared to the present).
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kikanga
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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We are living with the repercussions of Trump not honoring our past foreign policy agreements. There's a decent chance a Republican wins the WH in 2024.
So what long term incentives does Iran have to adhere to current standards/agreements/behavior we champion in the meantime? "Our word" doesn't carry the same weight it used to. "Our word" may be less than a 4 year pact from the point of view of other countries (and they're right to think that based on precedent).
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Omar Little
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| kikanga wrote: | I'm surprised anybody gives 2 craps about foreign policy right now given the state of our domestic affairs.
But I guess I'll weigh in anyways.
I do think Omar is giving Biden a pass in a way that he probably wouldn't if the same exact thing was happening right now under a Republican President. Which sounds horrible/hypocritical. But in reality it isn't. Intention, rationality, forethought, planning all matter.
If this leads to a renewal of the Obama Iran deal and more stability in the region long term. Biden's making the right move.
Omar is justified in giving Biden the benefit of the doubt, and DMR is justified to be keeping an eye on it, in case Biden is purely reactionary and this isn't part of a greater, beneficial plan for all parties involved (compared to the present). |
I am 100% not giving Biden a partisan pass. The only partisan part of this is the last administration killing the nuclear deal and destabilizing the whole region and re-setting where things are. In that context, if Iranian backed rebels hit US troops or contractors it is precisely and proportional to hit them with an air strike. Theres no way to go into negotiations with these guys if they hit your troops and you do nothing. This isnt really all that complicated. There’s a reason there is no uproar anywhere except among some Dems.
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kikanga
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Omar Little wrote: | | I am 100% not giving Biden a partisan pass. The only partisan part of this is the last administration killing the nuclear deal and destabilizing the whole region and re-setting where things are. In that context, if Iranian backed rebels hit US troops or contractors it is precisely and proportional to hit them with an air strike. Theres no way to go into negotiations with these guys if they hit your troops and you do nothing. This isnt really all that complicated. There’s a reason there is no uproar anywhere except among some Dems. |
I think I agree with your point of view more than you realize.
For the record, I currently think Biden has done nothing wrong. I'm just leaving the door open for maybe this being the wrong decision in the long run (if he is being purely reactionary with no bigger and better picture in mind). But I don't think that's the case.
I think the common thread in all this is precedent. Precedent shows, Democrat Presidents and VP's (Biden included) aren't in the business of foreign war for profit.
At the same time, precedent shows that when a Republican takes office they won't honor international agreements for the betterment of the world.
I don't blame Biden for the posturing. In fact, I prefer it to when Trump gave away ground to dictators (like in N. Korea) for nothing. But at the same time I don't blame Iran. And heck if other, even European nations "act up" I sympathize with that as well. "Our word" is (bleep) nowadays. Any step forward by a Dem President can easily be 2, 3, 4 steps back whenever a Republican takes office again.
Whether we are talking about nations or just individuals. People act poorly, when they feel good behavior (adhering to the Iran Nuclear Agreement) isn't rewarded. And I factor that into my opinion.
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ribeye
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 8:56 am Post subject: |
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| Omar Little wrote: | | FernieBee wrote: | | The US should bomb Iran back to the Stone Age. |
That’s not the answer. |
Not even close to one. What happened when we tried to bomb the rookie-ball team, Iraq, into whatever? Iraq, a much weaker country, is/was an easy target and victory. But Iraq, besides lacking a sophisticated military, as has Iran, was without all the terrorist entanglements and associations throughout so many of the countries in the region (despite the Bush administration lies), as has Iran. And the snowball effects of us bombing them back to whatever continue to plague us and the region. That war and its effect is estimated by the CBO to have cost us $1.9 TRILLION-or one thousand times the very costly covid relief bill.
It has been said many, many times but I guess it must be said once again: War should always be the last resort.
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Omar Little
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:26 am Post subject: |
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Fwiw, 1.9 trillion is not 1000 times 1.9 trillion.
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“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel |
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ribeye
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:31 am Post subject: |
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| Omar Little wrote: | | Fwiw, 1.9 trillion is not 1000 times 1.9 trillion. |
Oops. I did it again. Damn those zeros. But, you gotta admit, that sounded impressive.
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non-player zealot
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| C M B wrote: | | FernieBee wrote: | | The US should bomb Iran back to the Stone Age. |
"back"? |
When you were born, there was a hit song about Iran by A Flock Of Seagulls. It was all over the place. Iran was in the title, the guy kept saying it over and over. Singer had a bizarre hairstyle (Mule iirc once posted that he had that same cut back then, said it was rad). The video showed him playing the synthesizer part w/ only one finger. I think the message of the song Iran was the nuke race among Muslim nations. "And Iran, Iran (is) so far away (from attaining a bomb, but they would eventually get there)."
These lyrics here pertain to a nuclear blast:
A cloud appears above your head
A beam of light comes shining down on you
Shining down on you
The cloud is moving nearer still
Aurora Borealis comes in view
Aurora comes in view
And Iran, Iran so far away
I-just-ran, Iran all night and day
I couldn't get away
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Buck32
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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| SweetP wrote: | | Quote: | Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1
BREAKING: The House has just passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, 220-212. Just one Republican supported the bill. |
That one R later said his vote was an accident and he was changing it. |
Always just one question to anyone joining the GOP: "Are you a horrible and evil person?"
"Yes".
"OK, you're in."
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Baron Von Humongous
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Federal investigators are examining communications between US lawmakers and Capitol rioters |
| Quote: | (CNN) -- Federal investigators are examining records of communications between members of Congress and the pro-Trump mob that attacked the US Capitol, as the investigation moves closer to exploring whether lawmakers wittingly or unwittingly helped the insurrectionists, according to a US official briefed on the matter.
The data gathered so far includes indications of contact with lawmakers in the days around January 6, as well as communications between alleged rioters discussing their associations with members of Congress, the official said. |
Link: CNN
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