Tom Nichols reports that it's likely Trump will be given clearance to access highly confidential information with national security implications.
But as Nichols notes, all indicators are that Trump's in terrible financial shape as he faces more than half billion dollars in court judgments. And that kind of debt has always been "a bright-red light in the clearance process" for anyone else.
The vote in favor was overwhelming, but doesn’t ensure the measure will become #law. It must still be considered by the #Senate, where Sen #RandPaul on Tues said he might block any swift consideration, something he did a year ago to a similar bill.
Wed’s vote marks the 1st time 1 of the houses of #Congress has approved #legislation that could effectively ban a major #socialmedia platform — one used by an estimated 170M people in the #UnitedStates monthly.
"Trump loyalists have been obstructing aid to Ukraine since President Joe Biden asked for it in October 2023. Their insistence that they would not address the national security needs of the U.S. in Ukraine until they were addressed at the border now sure looks like a smokescreen to help Russian president Vladimir Putin take Ukraine," (continued in /2)
"a plan that would explain why Trump urged Republicans to kill the national security supplemental bill even when it included a strong border component that favored Republican positions.
It appears as though Trump is deliberately undermining the national security of the United States."
"The 2024 election is not a contest between Democrats and traditional Republicans or between progressives and traditional conservatives.
Republicans in Congress, CPAC, and Tucker Carlson have made it abundantly clear that this election pits democracy and freedom against what is fast becoming a global anti-democracy movement, co-chaired by Trump and Putin."
"According to a service that monitors Russian media, Viktor Orbán has told Russia that Trump's plan to 'end the Russia-Ukraine war' is simple: Stop payments to Ukraine. …
If Trump made such a promise to Orbán, it is a further sign of Trump's plan to act as a dictator."
The top U.S. #intelligence ofcl on Mon warned that the #war in #Gaza could embolden #terrorist groups, which are aligned in their opposition to the #UnitedStates for its support of #Israel.
“The crisis has galvanized #violence by a range of actors around the world. And while it is too early to tell, it is likely that the Gaza conflict will have a generational impact on #terrorism,” #ODNI#AvrilHaines, told an annual hearing on #GlobalSecurity#threats.
The Oct 7 attack on #Israel by #Hamas has inspired fresh threats to the #UnitedStates by #alQaeda & #ISIS-affiliated groups, #AvrilHaines said, while #Iran-backed militant groups have used “the conflict as an opportunity to pursue their own agenda” against the United States. “And we have seen how it is inspiring individuals to conduct acts of #antisemitism & #Islamophobic#terror worldwide,” she added.
…#Republican Sen #TomCotton, a stalwart backer of #Israel, prodded #CIA Dir Burns & #ODNI Haines to refute allegations that Israel is “exterminating the #Palestinian people” w/its military campaign.
The officials declined to do so. Burns said that while the #Biden admin understands “Israel’s need” to respond to the brutal attack it suffered on Oct7, “I think we all also have to be mindful of the enormous toll that this has taken on innocent #civilians in #Gaza.”
“He views himself as a big guy,” #JohnBolton, who served as #NationalSecurity adviser under #Trump, told me. “He likes dealing w/other big guys, & big guys like #Erdogan …get to put people in jail & you don’t have to ask anybody’s permission. He kind of likes that.”
“He’s not a tough guy by any means, but in fact quite the opposite,” #JohnKelly said. “But that’s how he envisions himself.”
Trump allegedly reserved some of his most unnerving praise for #Hitler, who led #Nazi Germany during WWII.
Experts Said for Weeks That Trump Might Get Bonded By Kremlin Allies. Now It’s Happening— National Security Threat—So Why Is Media So Silent About the Greenberg Family?
The adjudicated rapist & adjudicated fraud somehow got a bond, and he is a significant national security risk, and we should know who he’s beholden to. Donald has no unencumbered assets, everything has debt and loans. And who owns the criminal?
New research into old business articles reveal that Evan Greenberg's ACE Insurance, which became #Chubb in 2016, "does business" with his onetime Russian-bank-owning father's Russia investment vehicle Starr International.
Greenberg's father-and longtime boss at AIG-Maurice Greenberg, is a Vladimir Putin business associate who has also associated, as discussed in detail below, with Russian spies, other Kremlin agents, and the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. If these entanglements continue to exist in 2024, it is highly likely that in fact, Evan Greenberg's company's business interests are entwined through his father, with Russian government-owned entities.
The entwined stories of the Trump family and the Greenberg family—i.e., Trump and his new $91.63 million lender—read like a spy novel because at many points it literally is a spy story. -sethabramson
My Elon Musk tracker app showed Musk flying into West Palm Beach the Friday Trump was informed he would be held accountable & was given a timeline for the entire $91.3x10*6. He flew out of WPB the next day. He flew in & out of WPB on an overnighted one more time since then.
Parse the known fraudster's words very carefully. He did say after the alleged meeting that he did not give any Money - but that is different from saying that he did not provide a guarantee.
On March 2nd:
Trump’s jet and Elon Musk’s jet have just both landed at West Palm Beach International Airport. Within 10 minutes of each other.
On Feb 16:
Landed near West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. Stayed in WPB for 24 hours+
Trump has numerous mortgages coming due and has to somehow obtain a bond for his $464 million NY fraud verdict by the end of the month. That raises the possibility that the structure of the bond could make Trump financially reliant on other people or entities, including those with a vested interest in the policies of the next president.
"The issue is: is [Trump] going to be beholden to somebody," former US Attorney and General Counsel of the FBI Andrew Weissmann said. "We already know that somehow he got a bond from Chubb. I'm interested in knowing, for instance, did somebody have to co-sign? Who co-signed?
Who put up cash or collateral?
NEW: E. Jean Carroll’s lawyers have notified Judge Kaplan that they don’t oppose Trump’s proposed $91.63 million bond because Trump & his insurer have modified a provision that suggested Carroll could wait 60 days or more after an appellate victory to get paid.
America's five-alarm #nationalsecurity crisis: presumptive #GOP nominee for president looks to be compromised by a hostile foreign power via foreign entanglements
Breaking: #91Felonies rapist has posted a bond of nearly $92 million in E. Jean Carroll defamation case. The posted bond is exactly $91,630,000.00, which includes a district’s courts common practice of requiring a bond of 110% of the judgement.
Insurance company Chubb underwrote the $91.63 million bond for Donald Trump, which the former president signed on Tuesday, March 5.
Under the terms of the bond, Chubb will only secure the appeal of the $83.3 million judgment, not any future appeals.
#91Felonies Rapist got someone to give him almost exactly that amount. America has no idea who that is or who he is now beholden to, and that is unacceptable as a counterintelligence matter.
The whole world wants to know where the money to purchase the bond came from.
And U.S. intelligence needs to know.
A billionaire shouldn’t need an agency to post his $90M bond. That should be chump change to a billionaire. Where’s Mr. I’m so rich when it comes to paying his bills?
UPDATE: Judge Kaplan is giving E Jean Carroll’s team time to object. The case is not stayed, it is unknown what was presented as a bond. If he paid cash into the clerk’s custody there should be proof. What are the odds that it’s a scam?❗️
"I wonder if they issued it without collateral…normally a surety will not issue an appeal bond without cash collateral of some amount. Plus he has a premium to pay which is likely large given the bond limit. Typically one has to sign an indemnity agreement to reimburse the surety from any payout… I was told his history with the surety industry is bad (defaults on prior #bonds due to BK filings) so I’m surprised any surety would take this on. Likely lots of pressure by bullies" -sharonrusconi
Purpose: It serves as security while Trump appeals the defamation judgment.
Backing: The bond is backed by The Chubb Corporation, an insurance company.
Background: Notably, in 2018, Trump nominated Evan Greenberg, Chubb’s CEO, to serve as a member of his administration’s advisory committee for trade policy and negotiations.
In New York, a person must pay a court a cash bond that amounts to 110 percent of the judgment to appeal the ruling of a civil case. This means that Trump had to pay more than $91 million to challenge the defamation penalty.
Keep in mind that the bond is a financial guarantee that ensures the judgment amount will be available if the appeal is unsuccessful. It provides assurance to the court that the defendant will comply with the judgment even during the appeal process.
🧵 6️⃣ https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/16/trump-civil-judgments-what-to-know-00142034
Ms.Carroll's "NY judgment was filed on February 8, 2024. The 30 day stay of enforcement under FRCP 62 expires on Saturday. Monday is the first day that the judgment creditor can likely perfect a judgement lien on Trump assets.
If I were doing this, I would have lawyers ready to perfect the lien usually by recording it on Monday in NY as soon as the recording bureau opens. Also be ready to move in federal court to domesticate the judgment in Florida, Virginia and New Jersey.
When Judge Kaplan denied Trump's last ditch effort to obtain a stay it told me Monday could be Trump bankruptcy day though he can file Friday to make certain no lien will attach by filing before Saturday, 30 days from entry of the judgment." -t.h.
What Idiot Backed Trump’s Bond in E. Jean Carroll Trial? This One.
#91Felonies rapist posted a $91.6 million bond, which covers the $83.3 million he was ordered to pay in damages for defaming Ms. Carroll, after he sexual assaulted her and interest for putting off payment for so long. He had repeatedly tried to get the deadline to pay delayed or get the total ruling amount reduced, but the presiding judge struck him down every time.
Why are no news organizations reporting on the #91Felonoies charged against the criminal defendant. Americans deserve to know the depravity and total lawlessness of the Republican candidate.
If it seems alarmist to anticipate the horrifying aftermath of a #nuclear attack, consider this: The #UnitedStates & #Ukraine govts have been planning for this scenario for at least 2 yrs.
In the fall of ‘22, a US #intelligence assessment put the odds at 50-50 that #Russia would launch a nuclear strike to halt Ukrainian forces if they breached its defense of #Crimea.
And millions of potassium iodide tablets, which protect the thyroid from picking up radioactive material linked w/cancer, are stockpiled around the country.
But well before that — just 4 days after #Russia launched its invasion of #Ukraine, in fact — the #Biden admin had directed a small group of experts & strategists, a “Tiger Team,” to devise a new #nuclear “playbook” of contingency plans & responses.