Russian oligarch bombshell would 'make impeachment proceedings absolutely inevitable': NBC analyst

[ffr]

See update. This background story was thinly sourced.

Link to tweet

Fast-tracked impeachment hearings will occur this fall if the bombshell report is true that President Donald Trump had loans with Deutsche Bank co-signed by Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin.
<snip>

“Got to stress ‘if true,’ but if true, the reporting that you have your source, it’s the skeleton key, right, that opens -— picks the lock on so many fundamental mysteries of the Trump era, the ones we thought Robert Mueller was going to answer and we now know the reason that Robert Mueller didn’t answer them, all the connections, the nexus with Russia on a million levels, political, financial, security, everything else, criminal potentially, was because he was basically told he couldn’t look at this stuff,” Heilemann explained. “This was the stuff he wasn’t allowed to go for. He couldn’t go looking for the skeleton key.”

“So now if we have the skeleton key, it picks a lot of locks and answers a lot of questions and also puts Trump in a very difficult place politically, partly because we’re barrelling towards a re-election campaign and we’re also on the clock for the impeachment hearings. We also know it’s almost Labor Day. We know decisions have to get made,” he continued.

“And in this narrative, this moment, if the skeleton key suddenly were to emerge, it would, I think, make impeachment proceedings absolutely inevitable starting this fall,” he added. - Raw Story

I bet phones are waking people out of bed tonight all over the world, in search of corroboration.

[dalton99a]

1. Kick

[RDANGELO]

2. It's an inexcusable conflict of interest.

The fact that he kept is a secret would make him susceptible to compromise, which would explain his bizarre behavior in Helsinki and other episodes.

[ffr]

26. Pretty much

Reddit is going off on tRump right now. What's unusual about that? No Russian trolls defending tRump. It's almost as though Putin's okay with tRump taking the fall.

https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/cwfam3/lawrence_odonnell_source_says_russian_oligarchs/

[lark]

57. PUtin does not love drumpf, he is just tool he is using to destroy America & the world.

I have always thought that he would turn on drumpf, once he had what he wanted in us buying millions (billions?) of dollars of (bad0 Deripaska steel. Don't think he is concerned about sanctions since Deripaska was removed and drumpf fired everyone who was to be doing this so far as I know no sanctions are being enforced at all.

Anyway, I am sure he will turn on drumpf and let it all hang out whenever he feels it's time to really fuck us over worse. I could see him stealing the election for his tool, then letting everyone know right before or right after the inauguration to sow max discord.

[CrispyQ]

61. And then we would have Pence for almost four years.

That would be frightening. I've stated that I don't think he could win the GOP primary, & I still think that, but if Trump wins or steals 2020 & then resigns, 3-4 years of Pence, with the judges they have on the bench, & the compromised DOJ & every other institution? Well, it could be terrifying.

[lark]

62. Hopefully they'll out McConnell and Pence at the same time.

I know that's unlikely. but, hey, a gal can dream can't she?

[CrispyQ]

65. I've said if they get rid of Trump but McConnell is left in place, we're still fucked.

But I like your dream!

[dawg day]

63. i can see that- above all, Putin wants to assert dominance over the US and NATO

So "sowing discord and chaos" is how he can do that. I think he'll probably very soon turn on Trump (if he hasn't already) with the intent of confusing things even more than before, and perhaps to mess with Trump's unstable brain.

[aggiesal]

42. What about the Russian connections with ...

Moscow Mitch
Devin Nunez
Dana Rohrbacher

All have been Russian apologists in the past 2 years to
give cover for Dolt45, IQ45, Squeezy McOrangePants, Racist-&-Chief, ...

All 4 should be in orange onesies!

[blue-wave]

45. Spot On!!

The list of republiCons involved in this scheme, I'm convinced, is long as I am tall, if not longer.

[dawg day]

66. And Rand Paul--

He brags about being a friend of Russia.

[montanacowboy]

3. Damn Straight

this is what we have been waiting for - he is owned lock stock and barrel by the Russians. All the questions are answered.
The bank will go down big time too. How many other republicans are compromised in this? McConnell?

There is no longer any question about impeachment. If this is true, it is the end of him.

[Celerity]

11. Deutsche Bank is the 15th largest bank in the world, 8th largest non Asian one, they are untouchable

They were one of the biggest, (if not THE biggest) systemic manipulators in the LIBOR (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate) global scandal (TRILLIONS looted and 99% of people have no clue what it even was) and got a token slap on the wrist. They are a fundamental underpinning component of the DAX stock market (the German main stock market) and are so far up the ECB's (European Central Bank) arse they can taste what the entire EU (and global) financial sphere had for its nightly snack when the ECB burps in its sleep.

This asset list below does NOT even begin to list the TRILLIONS of dollars in OTC (over the counter, ie. non-exchange traded) derivatives, swaps, and other esoteric financial instruments exposure they have on their deep balance sheets.

[stopdiggin]

32. thanks. very relevant.

and I'm sure a lot of the public has no idea of the scale here

[bdamomma]

51. interesting the top 4 are all

from China.

[Celerity]

56. ah,the joys of state authoritarian capital concentration with a plazzy veneer of so-called communism

[Lucky Luciano]

54. Trillions is notional - not value. Monumentally different concept.

On top of that, a lot of swaps net meaning they could have entered into a receiver swap on 100 million notional with one client and entered a payer also on 100 million with another client which nets to a rounding error in exposure if you exclude client credit risk which is real...but still, “trillions” is misleading. The 100 million notional on a 5 year swap would need to see a gigantic 1% move in rates to change in VALUE by about 4.5 million...a one year swap would need about a 4.5% change in rates for the same VALUE change.

LIBOR scandal was very real and VERY scandalous though indeed.

[Celerity]

55. yes, I should have added notional value for those exotic instruments, fair point, it was really late

[Lucky Luciano]

58. No worries! It is a frequent thing I see and feel compelled to say something because orders of magn

[Vdizzle]

46. I wouldn't count my chickens...

His faithful won’t care.

[uponit7771]

48. His faithful hasn't mattered since Mueller's testimony, they started impeachment process then ...

... and this is just one more motivation for it.

I still don't think it should be quick, that leaves too much room from Pence to pardon and the GOP to find another like Haley or something ... wait till its too late and the whole KGOP goose is cooked.

[mr_lebowski]

4. One would CERTAINLY F***ING HOPE (nt)

[Xtermin8 H8]

5. I've been hold out hope that Speaker Pelosi has held off on impeachment because she is clued in

much more thoroughly behind the scenes than has been made public. That hope is extended that much has happened behind the scenes during recess that will come flooding out in September.

Fngers crossed!

[LiberalOldBat]

30. She's one canny old lady

And i speak as one who should know! From the start i pictured her in her office, lining up all the reps who came into her office begging to impeach him, saying "ok, your turn to go!", enough every week to keep impeachment in the news and on everyone's mind, until the tidal wave is overwhelming. The timing would have to be exquisite. Build up enough momentum but keep the lid on until 1) the actual start of the campaign season, when the punches you can actually land will hurt the most and keep drumpf off-balance and on the defensive, 2) wait for an actual break in the case, which would be this (I sincerely pray), and 3) look like you're at least trying not to jump the gun, so as not to annoy any repubs you hope to bring over to vote for impeachment eventually. We need some repub votes if this is to work.

[yonder]

69. Nice outline. Welcome to DU

[elleng]

6. Thanks, but please

ditch the pic!

[ffr]

9. lol n/t

[Celerity]

25. my eyes, my eyes!

Rump looks like he is getting probed with a cattle prod. Come to think of it, I do believe that is an old Russian mob favourite warm-up act, before they start putting body parts into an industrial stamping press.

[smirkymonkey]

39. Ugh! I know. He is so hideous.

I cannot stand the sight of him. Makes me feel kind of stabby.

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. New toilets needed tomorrow.

People shittin’ solid gold bricks tonight.

Yikes!

[Skittles]

8. tweeting shitstorm ahead, for sure

[diane in sf]

10. Totally off topic, tRump is showing some seriously diseased, receded gums. And that's just his top,

front teeth. I imagine the rest of his mouth is even more of a dental disaster. Haven’t seen into his mouth from this close before.

[912gdm]

20. bad caps

and bad hygiene. I worked in a dental lab and made gold crowns and inlays when they were a thing, but we had a ceramic area and the owner educated me enough as if he was trying to transition me into that.


First, there is no human way a man of that age will have teeth that white. Those are caps. And any decent dentist would tell a 70 year old that Snow White as a color will look fake as fuck

the one side of his smile looks a bit gummy, but the other you can't see any gums.. his hygiene is probably nasty like he is.





Disclosure, I have caps cause I had bad teeth growing up, and bad practices that necessitated them. BUT. I also know a tiny bit of the industry to know that potits went to a shitty cosmetic dentist who fleeced him and allowed him to choose bright white as a color

[Ilsa]

38. It isn't a bleach job on his own teeth?

Yes, his gums look receded and have poor color. You're sure those are caps? What about whole tooth replacement?

[RainCaster]

70. You know how much DFT loves white...

I'll leave right there.

[912gdm]

74. whole tooth replacement, as in implants?

could be I guess. but im guessing caps since I dealt with very few implants. If you look at the pics, there is a tiny dark area between the gum and the tooth that almost looks like a thin line of tarnish.. When the gums do that its a a normal biological reaction to the mix of metals that were used as the base of the crown that the porcelain covers. As far as a bleach job, im sure he does, but those are not natural teeth. Dude's had a shitton of work

[Ilsa]

75. Okay, got it. Yeah, I see what you mean. nt

[brewens]

12. Trump is probably asking if he can nuke Deutsche Bank. n/t

[elleng]

14. But that's where he gets his $$$$$!

[mopinko]

36. meh. that's also where he owes money.

i think he would risk it.

[elleng]

13. Wondering when this will make it into the 'press.'

I don't mind Raw Story, but checked NYT a few minutes ago, and didn't see it.

[Grasswire2]

16. Let's hope that Lawrence's source has some protection and doesn't go in tall buildings.

Kinda scary stuff.

[elleng]

17. Right, DAMN,

the russkies don't play!

[Grasswire2]

21. David Cay Johnson's idea is good -- he says judge should review those papers in chamber...

....and immediately enter them into the record.

[elleng]

22. Yes

[hack89]

67. When it can be collaborated.

Through additional sources or actual documents.

[ecstatic]

15. The thought of him leaving office without (at least) an official impeachment inquiry

on his record is really upsetting to me. There will NEVER be another person so deserving of impeachment again. The thought of him (and the rethugs who support and enable him) leaving office with out an impeachment vote on record is outright disgusting and should anger everybody.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

71. Not to mention the precedent it sets for future presidents.

[912gdm]

18. not trying to be a Debbie downer,

but I think he will skirt this. Every couple weeks there is a big bombshell that SHOLD get this guy out, but nothing ever happens. The speaker will give a presser that isn't covered, there will be strongly worded letters, committee heads will appear on Rachel, but nothing will be done.

[ffr]

19. Maybe, but Deutche Bank's ties to a compromised United States President

will be their downfall.

This story only gets uglier.

Consider this. If tRump wants to clear this whole thing up, he should release his returns and show the loan documents to prove this is a nothing-burger. Oh that's right, he's been fighting, kicking, suing, and screaming to do everything but that since he became a candidate.

Link to tweet

[Rollo]

23. This may be the end of Trump. Good.

[Lock him up.]

24. Sandi Bachom followed the case, was in the courtroom & took notes (TWITTER THREAD)

Link to tweet

?s=20
(What Judge Ramos told Trump's lawyers...)

[ffr]

27. She followed up tonight with this

Link to tweet

Sandi Bachom
‏ @sandibachom
4h4 hours ago

Sandi Bachom Retweeted Sandi Bachom

.@Lawrence Russian's co signing Trump's loans is pretty much what they said in the Deutsche Bank hearings in May. 'Why did you give a $2 billion unsecured loan to Trump when no bank would touch him?'

[Lock him up.]

28. K&R

A $2 Billion laund/komp/romat

[LiberalOldBat]

29. McConnell has to be involved

Let's not forget- Mitch McConnell has made a huge deal with Oleg Deripaska to get that brand new aluminum plant in Kentucky. What do you want to bet Deripaska's signature is on one of Trump's loans? The fact that Kennedy's son worked for Deutsche Bank makes me wonder about Kennedy's sudden departure from the supreme court, which created an opportune opening. The selection of Kavanaugh by McConnell has always seemed a weird choice from a multitude of more qualified candidates. I wonder what Kavanaugh had to promise to get the nomination?

[DeminPennswoods]

33. Justice Kennedy's son works for Deutche Bank

in its private banking section. We know he worked with Trump in that capacity. Kennedy supposedly stepped down because he wanted Kavanaugh named as his replacement. Did Justice Kennedy think )or expect) Kavanaugh would help protect his son in some way?

[Mike Niendorff]

34. K&R

(* Not only for the OP, but for this reply as well)


MDN

[underpants]

35. Welcome to DU. I'd say this will go well into the whole GOP and the NRA

It's been pretty obvious for a while that their money was coming from Russia.

[mopinko]

37. he had to stay bribed.

that's what he had to do- as he is told.

[gopiscrap]

76. welcome to DU

[UCmeNdc]

31. Wow!

Kick!

[dchill]

40. Love the skeleton key analogy.

[karin_sj]

41. I hope Lawrence isn't being set up

... like Dan Rather was. It concerns me that all of the mentions of loans and Russian oligarchs when I do a Google search contain O’Donnell’s name & it doesn’t seem like it’s a mainstream story yet. Keeping my fingers cross that it develops further SOON!

[bucolic_frolic]

44. Very good point

Hoping it doesn't get hushed up too. Too big to fail means too disruptive to release.

Imagine what was going on in 1913 that the public knew NOTHING about. Today we have information, or at least more than we had before.

[Catherine Vincent]

43. Gawd, that pic.

[DavidDvorkin]

47. This time, he's finally gone too far!

Or so it will seem until the outrage dies down in a week or less and everything continues as it has. That's the way it always seems to go with this POS.

[UTUSN]

49. K&R

[flying_wahini]

50. And part of the deal IMHO was SCOTUS replacement seat.

[Mike Nelson]

52. How many Bombshells have there been?

... everyone knows he gets money from Russia.

[Celerity]

59. another BOMBSHELL

What was the explosive true story that inspired Oscar-tipped Bombshell?

We break down the events that led to the fall of Fox News’ Roger Ailes, a media storm set for dramatisation in a star-studded new film

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a28794398/bombshell-movie-explained/

[Runningdawg]

53. If by some miracle the GOP would vote to impeach you can bet they won't remove him

[bitterross]

60. Why would this finally do it? It's not like conflicts have been an issue so far?

The news makes total sense. That the Russians were co-signing. I always wondered why D-Bank was still loaning him money. Now we know.

But I fail to see how this is any more earth-shattering than all the rest we already know.

[jalan48]

64. And the Mueller Report would be so damaging Trump

would have to resign or he would be impeached. The media needs viewership and these kinds of bombshells make it happen.

[Buckeyeblue]

68. I bet this is really about money laundering

I want to know if Trump defaulted on this loan and his co-signer had to come in and pay it off.

If so, we know the real business Trump is in.

[Kablooie]

72. Sounds hopeful, sounds promising, but ...

Many, many scandals have sounded the same when they emerge but every single one have been disappeared by Trump and his lawyers. I have no reason to believe that this will be any different.

So I would advise you, not to get your hopes up.
Trump's legal team are masters at preventing any of Trump's scandals from hitting the fan.
This will just be be one more.

[Beartracks]

73. Yep, Moscow Mitch and the Republicans will get right on that. n/t