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BigBearJohn

(11,410 posts)
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 04:59 PM Sep 2016

WaPo: Why isn’t Trump facing a bribery investigation? By Jennifer Rubin September 7 at 12:15 PM

Donald Trump has demanded that Hillary Clinton be investigated, tried and convicted of bribery in connection with meetings she held as secretary of state with those who gave to her foundation. There are plenty of reasons this is silly, including the lack of evidence that Clinton met with these ex-donors — who include a Nobel Prize winner and many public figures with whom one would assume a secretary of state should meet — because of the donations. Simply taking a meeting with a donor, moreover, is not in the Supreme Court’s parlance an official act that violates bribery statutes.

The same lack of legal liability cannot be said of Trump. He broke federal law in connection with his foundation’s gift to to a campaign group connected to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Post reports, “Trump and his team also failed to disclose the gift to the Internal Revenue Service, instead reporting that the donation was given to an unrelated group with a similar name — effectively obscuring the contribution.”

One cannot miss the giant red flag. Why is a charity giving money to aid a pol with whom the foundation’s head has pending legal business? Recall that after the gift was received an official act occurred, the very act Trump had been seeking, namely the decision not to proceed with the case against Trump University. Right there you have a prima facie case of bribery– a payment (an illegal one at that) and a quid pro quo. Trump’s claim that “I never even spoke to [Bondi] about it at all” is irrelevant; his check spoke for him. Moreover, there seems to be evidence that Trump and Bondi did speak. (“Marc Reichelderfer — who worked as a consultant on Bondi’s reelection effort — told the Associated Press in June that Bondi spoke with Trump and solicited the donation herself. It was unclear on Monday whether Trump meant that he had never discussed the donation with Bondi — effectively contradicting Reichelderfer — or if he had simply never mentioned the Trump University case.”) This is a stronger case than was the case against former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell. And what’s more, it is now reported that Trump held a lavish fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort for Bondi after she decided not to proceed with the case. It did not stop there. The Huffington Post reports: “In addition to the $25,000 donation from his foundation and the star-studded Mar-a-Lago event, Trump and his daughter Ivanka each gave $500 to Bondi’s campaign in the fall of 2013. The following spring, Ivanka and her father donated another $125,000 to the Republican Party of Florida ― Bondi’s single biggest source of campaign funds.”

Clinton pounced. She told the press on her plane, “Of course, as we know, there was a phone conversation between them. They contradict each other.” She continued, “The American people deserve to know what was said, because clearly the attorney general did not proceed with the investigation.” She didn’t stop there: “The list goes on and on: the scams, the frauds, the questionable relationships, the business activities that have stiffed workers.” The Bondi incident gives Clinton one more excuse to bring up Trump’s tax returns. “What is he hiding?” is the question of the day.


SOURCE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/09/07/why-isnt-trump-facing-a-bribery-investigation/?utm_term=.224aa96250f0
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WaPo: Why isn’t Trump facing a bribery investigation? By Jennifer Rubin September 7 at 12:15 PM (Original Post) BigBearJohn Sep 2016 OP
Well, we know why Florida isn't investigating this. RDANGELO Sep 2016 #1
Federal bribery statutes are what (wrongly) got Don Siegelman. trof Sep 2016 #13
What is he hiding madokie Sep 2016 #2
Trump’s claim that “I never even spoke to about it at all” is irrelevant; his check spoke for him. Botany Sep 2016 #3
very fing good question patsimp Sep 2016 #4
k and r. Stuart G Sep 2016 #5
Good question! ffr Sep 2016 #6
Yes! "One cannot miss the giant red flag." ffr Sep 2016 #7
Good, that's from the Washington Post's resident RW diehard muriel_volestrangler Sep 2016 #8
Jamil Smith lays it all out ... napkinz Sep 2016 #9
LOCK HIM UP! napkinz Sep 2016 #10
Pam Bondi reminds me of another high offical in Florida..... martin mike Sep 2016 #20
BRIBERY! napkinz Sep 2016 #11
If Hillary ... she'd be in front of Congress by now. ancianita Sep 2016 #12
so why not rico? getagrip_already Sep 2016 #14
JENNIFER RUBIN???? DFW Sep 2016 #15
My first thought too Tempest Sep 2016 #16
Bush family orders, no doubt. forest444 Sep 2016 #17
If Trump were to win, the only Bush anyone would be talking about from here on in DFW Sep 2016 #21
Bluegrass bliss! forest444 Sep 2016 #22
That was my reaction Ruby the Liberal Sep 2016 #18
Three words: Rich, White, Male Roland99 Sep 2016 #19

RDANGELO

(3,433 posts)
1. Well, we know why Florida isn't investigating this.
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 05:05 PM
Sep 2016

Isn't it possible that the Federal DOJ could be investigating this. As a practice they don't announce investigations. Is bribery a federal crime, or does it have to involve the government.

Ok. According to what I just read it's any public official. The feds could absolutely be investigating this.

Botany

(70,508 posts)
3. Trump’s claim that “I never even spoke to about it at all” is irrelevant; his check spoke for him.
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 05:27 PM
Sep 2016

ffr

(22,670 posts)
6. Good question!
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 06:15 PM
Sep 2016

Now that some polls are showing the race tightening, the Press can go back to doing their jobs! Thank you!

Finally! A news outlet is calling Bondi-gate a SCANDAL!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028149874

Trump's pay for play scandal intensifies
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512401892

For Florida AG Pam Bondi, 'pay-to-look-away' was about more than Donald Trump
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512401857

Donald Gave Huge Discount for Florida AG Fundraiser After She Dropped Trump U Case
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512401805

Krugman is right: Let's not call the Bondi scandal "pay for play"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=2401845

Enjoy as Drumpf & Ivanka and Pam step in it.

ffr

(22,670 posts)
7. Yes! "One cannot miss the giant red flag."
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 06:18 PM
Sep 2016
One cannot miss the giant red flag. Why is a charity giving money to aid a pol with whom the foundation’s head has pending legal business? Recall that after the gift was received an official act occurred, the very act Trump had been seeking, namely the decision not to proceed with the case against Trump University. Right there you have a prima facie case of bribery– a payment (an illegal one at that) and a quid pro quo.


People are catching on alright!

muriel_volestrangler

(101,319 posts)
8. Good, that's from the Washington Post's resident RW diehard
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 06:19 PM
Sep 2016

If she's pushing on this, there should be a good Republican anti-Trump movement still alive.

getagrip_already

(14,752 posts)
14. so why not rico?
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 06:43 PM
Sep 2016

When you look at the totality of his corrupt businesses, he and his family should be in court on racketeering charges.

I know the justice department likes to keep a low profile on candidates before an election, but come on, how big a mountain of manure do they need to smell it?

DFW

(54,387 posts)
15. JENNIFER RUBIN????
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 06:59 PM
Sep 2016

Having Jennifer Rubin turn on a Republican candidate, even when it is as deserved as this time, is equivalent to Fox "News" firing O'Reilly, Hannity, Doocey and Kelly, and hiring Keith Olbermann to be their News editor instead. Never thought I'd see the day.

forest444

(5,902 posts)
17. Bush family orders, no doubt.
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 07:12 PM
Sep 2016

They need Trump to lose if they are to have any hope of coming back in 2020.

DFW

(54,387 posts)
21. If Trump were to win, the only Bush anyone would be talking about from here on in
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 07:37 PM
Sep 2016

...would be Sam Bush:

forest444

(5,902 posts)
22. Bluegrass bliss!
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 07:44 PM
Sep 2016

Proof that for every bad Bush, there's a good Bush.

Thank you for that, DFW. Enjoy the debate tonite!

Ruby the Liberal

(26,219 posts)
18. That was my reaction
Wed Sep 7, 2016, 07:28 PM
Sep 2016

Is she a #NeverTrump person this year? I haven't seen her blather in years. Guessing she backed Bush?

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