Another possible reason for the GRU indictments today

[NewJeffCT]

pointed out on Rick Wilson's twitter feed (no link since it's blocked at my office)

Since the GRU is Russian MILITARY intelligence, the election hacks and attack would qualify under Article 5 of the NATO treaty as an act of war on a member. While this would allow other countries to help us, it might also be setting up Mueller charging some members of Team Trump with treason since it's an act of war.

[Pachamama]

1. Bingo....

[FakeNoose]

20. He has crossed all the T's and dotted all the I's

Don't ever question Mr. Mueller. Tick-tock Motherfuckers!

[CanonRay]

2. K & r

[AlexSFCA]

3. love it

this a great legal trail to have. Also, I beleive military related issues usually fall outside of US judicial system like SC and are handled by military tribunals.

[Achilleaze]

4. Most foul: republican treason against America

and they love to run around with their cheap little "make in a thailand sweatshop" American flag pins, pretending that they are patriotic. What utter horseshit.

[NewJeffCT]

8. I still remember that right after 9/11

the very large company that I worked for at the time gave all their employees little hand sized American flags.

However, I remember commenting sarcastically at the time that it didn't feel right that we just got American flags - made in China.

[Achilleaze]

12. Yup. The republican flag lapel pins are just another republican lie

[jrthin]

5. Bing...Bing...Bingo! nt

[lapfog_1]

6. but we also know now why congressional repukes lost any spine they may have had to resist

trump... even on fundamental republican values like free trade (the 97-2 vote was only symbolic, it didn't actually strip any power from trump to impose sanctions, only recommended that the Congress should think about it).

The indictments point to more than the Trump campaign as conspirators with the GRU on stealing emails for specific Democratic candidates for Congress... and possibly some state and local elections as well...

The entire GOP was in on it. They are all guilty of conspiring with a foreign government to receive stolen property and to use that stolen property to affect an election. They are all traitors.

This is the reason that the House and Senate "russia investigations" are not going anywhere. The shameful show yesterday. Everything.

[NewJeffCT]

9. I wonder what would happen

that some time after Democrats win the House in the fall that Mueller has his team go arrest several members of Congress for this conspiracy as well.

[Duppers]

30. +100

[herding cats]

7. I had this thought, too.

I'm not sure if treason can be a retroactive charge, but if nothing else I hope it makes some Republican Russian buddies sweat bullets!

[malaise]

10. KaBOOM! N/t

[H2O Man]

11. That won't happen.

But it is leading to a RICO charge involving several of the Trump people.

[NewJeffCT]

18. That would be good as well

RICO would make it look a whole lot worse to the general public

[H2O Man]

24. It will.

Those associated with the campaign, transition team, and Whit House that haven't been subpoenaed to testify in front of the grand jury are in deep trouble. Today's indictments built a strong foundation for this (following those for other internet crimes). If we look at those who communicated -- often in person -- with Russian intelligence during the campaign and transition, it further puts into focus the group that will be charged.

This was a good day, an important day.

[WhiteTara]

13. big stuff.

[JDC]

14. Man I would love if this was true. So love it.

[alwaysinasnit]

15. Is this a possible reason why tRump looks like he wants to withdraw from the NATO alliance?

[Sophia4]

16. Plus aiding and comforting an enemy.

Article III, Section 3, US Constitution

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleiii

Note that Trump has stated recently that he sees Russia not as an enemy but as a competitor.

Good luck on that one, Mr. "President." We shall see.

Because he is saying that, it is obvious that he is worried and trying to argue against a charge of treason just in case.

I'm not saying that he committed treason. I'm just quoting the definition of treason in the Constitution and pointing out that Trump appears to be attempting to avoid being accused of it.

https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-view-putin-competitor-not-enemy-provokes-ire-in-congress-mccain-corker-menendez/29360576.html

[TNNurse]

17. Not sure we can count on NATO after Trump offended them.

Not that I would blame them.

[NewJeffCT]

19. I think most world leaders know what happened

so, I'm sure NATO would have our backs

[leftieNanner]

21. If it meant getting rid of Dirty Donny

I bet they would be front and center.

[Cicada]

22. An act of war is different from war

Courts have held treason requires waging real war, physical violence, things which can kill or cause severe physical harm, or aiding those conducting real war, violence etc. An act of war can be something which justifies war even if the act of war is not real war, violence, itself. So I agree military intelligence interfering in an election is an act of war but I think it is a cause of war, not war itself. So I don’t agree that this could qualify as treason, as the crime of treason is defined in the US.

Julius Rosenberg stealing nuclear bomb technology for USSR might be an act of war but Rosenberg was not a traitor in a legal sense. He was not charged with treason.

Not that this matters. Conspiracy to hack in violation of cyber crime laws carries a long term.

[Squinch]

23. OOoooh. Nice!

[spanone]

25. K&R...

[lark]

27. Wow, I didn't think of that - brilliant!!

I love Mueller and knew this was laying the base for conspiracy against the US charges, but you are right, since it's military it's an act of war and so treason. My only concern is that the supine Russian repug SCOTUS will throw out the charges, but they'd have a much more difficult time doing that with charges of treason. I pray you are right!!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

28. We need to send pies to NATO members.

Or at least an SOS.

[Tucker08087]

29. Perfect. Thank you.,