Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

A consequence of cucumbers

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

The GOP is a fucking disgrace.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

You are here: Home / Politics / America / George Papadopoulos Incriminates the President and Attorney General Sessions in His Defendant’s Sentencing Memorandum

George Papadopoulos Incriminates the President and Attorney General Sessions in His Defendant’s Sentencing Memorandum

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Almost lost in all the news yesterday, largely because it was filed very, very late last night, and despite the best efforts of his handler, George Papadopoulos’s attorneys submitted their Defendant’s Sentencing Memorandum to Judge Moss of the US District Court for the District of Columbia. In the memo, Papadopoulos, speaking through his attorneys, implicated both the President and Attorney General Sessions in approving his proposal to set up a meeting between the President and Putin during the election in 2016. Moreover, this same statement provides another assertion that Attorney General Sessions committed perjury during his testimony to Congress. Here’s the relevant passage (emphasis mine):

Returning to Washington D.C., twenty-eight-year-old George witnessed his career skyrocketing to unimaginable heights. On March 31, 2016, he joined Mr. Trump, Senator Jeff Sessions, and other campaign officials for a “National Security  Meeting” at the Trump Hotel. George’s photograph at this meeting flashed around the world via Twitter. Eager to show his value to the campaign, George announced at the meeting that he had connections that could facilitate a foreign policy meeting between Mr. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. While some in the room rebuffed George’s offer, Mr. Trump nodded with approval and deferred to Mr. Sessions who appeared to like the idea and stated that the campaign should look into it.

In their conclusion, Papadopoulos’s attorneys leave the following tantalizing statement (emphasis mine):

George Papadopoulos is now a convicted felon. When it came time to make a good decision he made a bad one. His arrest and prosecution served as notice to all involved that this was a serious investigation. He was the first domino, and many have fallen in behind. Despite the gravity of his offense, it is important to remember what Special Counsel said at George’s plea of guilty: he was just a small part of a large-scale investigation.

It is also important to remember that Papadopolous’s attorneys are struggling to dig their client out of a hole of his and his handler’s own making. Papadopolous didn’t really help the Special Counsel’s investigation. Rather, he lied to the FBI about the whereabouts of Joseph Misfud, which prevented the FBI from taking him into custody when he was in the US. As a result, Mifsud was able to successfully leave the US, was never questioned by the FBI or the Special Counsel’s investigators, and is now missing.

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

73Comments

  2. 2.

    Cermet

    So the chickens are starting to come home to roost; of course, chicken and republicans have a long history – they, the thugs, being spineless and chicken. No wonder the orange fart cloud is their newest leader and loved by the deplorables.

  3. 3.

    Amir Khalid

    In view of this new information, at what point in these proceeding does the Special Counsel ask a judge to issue an arrest warrant for the US Attorney General?
    Der Müller Gottes mahlt langsam, aber mahlt außerordentlich klein.

  4. 4.

    RandomMonster

    I suppose Misfud being “missing” could be anything from hiding from Interpol, escaped to Russia, or planted in the ground.

  5. 5.

    Adam L Silverman

    Also, this is what the Patten sentencing and cooperation agreement is really about:

  7. 7.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Amir Khalid: I have a theory, which I purposefully didn’t put on the front page. Earlier this week, Senator Graham told the Today show hosts that Sessions needed to be replaced for two reasons. He indicated he wouldn’t elaborate on the second one, but that it was a deep, significant personal breach by Sessions regarding the President. I think that Graham is alluding to the suspicion that Sessions cut a quick deal with the Special Counsel. He came clean, is cooperating, and as such gets to stay where he is.

  9. 9.

    Adam L Silverman

    @RandomMonster: The prevailing theory is he’s 1) made himself missing, basically gone to ground, so neither the US nor Putin can have him scarfed up or 2) Putin already scarfed him up and after being interrogated, he’s now dead and buried where he’ll never be found.

  10. 10.

    Yutsano

    As a result, Mifsud was able to successfully leave the US, was never questioned by the FBI or the Special Counsel’s investigators, and is now missing.

    $5 says he’ll never be found. Sounds like Russia tied up a loose end to me.

  11. 11.

    BD of MN

    So the latest squid-inking from my RWNJ family members on facebook is that Hillary is somehow responsible for dozens of our spies in China being rounded up. Seems to stem from Louie Gohmert questioning Peter Strozk about emails, and then the crazy just extrapolates from there…

  13. 13.

    The Dangerman

    Guilty, guilty, guilty.

    /slackmeyer

    I so look forward to the day when Trump’s carcass is nailed to the wall so well and hard that even Hannity shuts the fuck up.

  14. 14.

    The Dangerman

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Sessions cut a quick deal with the Special Counsel. He came clean, is cooperating, and as such gets to stay where he is.

    Not doubting you, but how the fuck would that work?

  15. 15.

    Adam L Silverman

    @BD of MN: Actually, what has happened is the US has officially accused the PRC of using LinkedIn to recruit Americans to spy for them. There is no recent news reporting at all of the PRC rounding up American spies. There was reporting back in January that Jerry Chun Shing Lee, the CIA case officer accused of working for the PRC, may have given up 20 Chinese sources/informants that the CIA was running in the PRC.
    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/cia-china-turncoat-lee-may-have-compromised-u-s-spies-n839316

  17. 17.

    Fair Economist

    Sessions gets to stay because he’s not indicted. If Mueller indicted him, he’d be gone in a trice.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the deal were unspoken, given the risk of Russian spying. As long as Sessions lets Mueller continue and any replacement would stop him, Mueller has every reason to leave Sessions unindicted. Both men know that so there’s no need to make it explicit.

  18. 18.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Amir Khalid: I think that’s what they’re worried about. I have no reason to believe he did or did not cut a deal, but if I was the President and his rag tag band of attorneys, I’d be very, very, very worried.

    I do think that the selective leaks about Sessions early on where the IC warning him not to interfere. And the message seems to have been received.

  19. 19.

    Mandalay

    IANAL but that Sentencing Memorandum seems disastrous; it reads like it was written by the prosecution. It’s giving the judge umpteen written reasons to lock up Papadopolous and throw the key.

    Meanwhile, Mrs. Papadopolous is still grifiting for “financial support for lawyers and living”on gofundme.

  20. 20.

    Uncle Cosmo

    Qwik qweschun for the leagle egals amongst us: Once a sealed indictment is delivered to the appropriate court, can it be withdrawn by the indicting agency? Can it be left there never to be unsealed?

    I could envision a scenario in which Mueller has shown Sessions the first page (or maybe just the header) of a draft indictment featuring his name – & then dropping one or more sealed indictments in such a way that the KKKeebler Elf has no clue if it’s his. As a way of ramping up the pressure.

  23. 23.

    JPL

    @Adam L Silverman: Early on wasn’t there an indictment filed, but not executed yet?
    Of course, that could have been just one of the crazies rumor. I can’t remember where I saw it

  24. 24.

    Adam L Silverman

    @The Dangerman: If the deal/cooperation agreement was done secretly and sealed in order to provide cover for the investigation, they can’t very well do anything that would raise public questions. So if he’s been granted immunity of some sort and it is sealed, then he stays where he is. Basically they’re hiding him in plain sight.

    Again, I have no specific information that this is the case. There was RUMINT about this early on once the Special Counsel was appointed.

  25. 25.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Suzanne: I keep wondering the same thing about Rosenstein, who I think knows everything Mueller knows. How restricted is an ex-deputy AG, or whatever his title is, in what he can say to the public, or a House committee?

  30. 30.

    Adam L Silverman

    @JPL: If I’m recalling correctly there were a number of sealed indictments placed on the docket in the Eastern District of Virginia last year.

  34. 34.

    MattF

    I know nothing about any of this… but some of the theories being tossed around here are wild. I do agree that Graham and Sessions are behaving very oddly these days. Strange times.

  36. 36.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Cheryl Rofer: Geez, who was Director of Central Intelligence when this happened? Leon Pannetta for the use of the less than secure system and then David Petraeus when the PRC acted on the information.

    Anyone ever notice that somehow HRC, the Secretary of State, always seems to get blamed for screwups that occurred at the CIA when Petraeus was in charge?

  37. 37.

    Adam L Silverman

    @MattF: In Graham’s case all you have to understand is he is scared to death of what might have been in David Pecker’s safe, of whether Pecker shared it with the President, and the reality that Putin had far greater capabilities to collect whatever he’s afraid Pecker may have purchased about him.

  39. 39.

    Aleta

    Caught off-guard by an impromptu interrogation, Mr. Papadopoulos misled investigators to save his professional aspirations and preserve a perhaps misguided loyalty to his master.

    Professor Mifsud paid young George little attention until learning of his position as one of Trump’s foreign policy advisors.

    George met again with Professor Mifsud in London where he introduced George to a young woman named Olga.

    Returning to Washington D.C., twenty-eight-year-old George witnessed his career skyrocketing to unimaginable heights.

    George’s photograph at this meeting flashed around the world via Twitter.

    George’s giddiness over Mr. Trump’s recognition was prominent during the days that followed

    To say George was out of his depth would be a gross understatement.
    Despite being a young energy policy guru, he had no experience in dealing with Russian policy or its officials.

    In other words, Curious George Has an International Adventure

  40. 40.

    Mandalay

    @YetAnotherJay formerly (Jay S): I thought a more noteworthy quote from Graham on your link was “I’ve seen no evidence of collusion“.

    My wild theory is that Trump wants to get rid of Mattis, and he’s told Graham that he can have the job, but first he has to show complete loyalty for a few months. Graham’s on that like white on rice, and figures that willful blindness over Trump’s cooperation with Russia can only help his cause.

  41. 41.

    The Dangerman

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Basically they’re hiding him in plain sight.

    Oh. my bad; probably decaf this morning (an evil product if there ever was one). They don’t announce the deal. OK, that makes sense.

    I heard a rumor that Mueller was set to drop the hammer this week but deferred for McCain. Damn, no more delays, Dude.

  44. 44.

    Baud

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Anyone ever notice that somehow HRC, the Secretary of State, always seems to get blamed for screwups that occurred at the CIA when Petraeus was in charge?

    You fail to appreciate the evil power of the personal server.

  49. 49.

    James E Powell

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Hell, from a lot of the rhetoric you’d guess Hillary Clinton was the President who invaded Iraq.

    But it’s common knowledge that it was Bill Clinton in this third term.

  52. 52.

    J R in WV

    I reported Little George Papadopolous’s GoFundMe campaign, which has raised $8K of his sought $75,000 for legal fees and living costs to GoFundMe, I have not understood that they make their fundraising platform available to convicted felons.

    And how is anything the government has done in the past 6 years got anything to do with Hillary Clinton, who hasn’t been a government official in at least 6 years now? These people are truly deranged with hate for a powerful woman, which is a good thing as deranged people do not think well, nor plan ahead at all.

  56. 56.

    Quinerly

    @Mandalay: and all those people listed who have donated a $100 a piece. Don’t you love Mrs. P’s post a month ago…. “Thanks to all the generous donors. All the hate’s messages are based on huge misunderstanding and soul’s poverty . As a christian i implement a rule in life:”why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye”?”

  57. 57.

    NotMax

    George Papadopolous

    George Papadopoulos. Please fix in headline and several places within the body.

    Also too,

    speaking through his attorney’s,

    attorneys

  59. 59.

    Doug R

    @Amir Khalid:

    So you think Sessions could be throwing Trump under Mueller’s bus? That would be delicious to see.

    This would explain Sessions digging in even with all the abuse heaped upon him by trump.

  61. 61.

    Yarrow

    @Amir Khalid:

    Thank you. So you think Sessions could be throwing Trump under Mueller’s bus? That would be delicious to see.

    This has been the case for ages. Adam has it right that Sessions is there to protect the Mueller investigation. They have so much dirt on lil’ traitor Jeffy and he knows it.

  62. 62.

    J R in WV

    @Mandalay:

    I can’t tell what you mean, by “Do you have a problem with that?” With what? With George trying to grift people? I hope GoFundMe stops the felon’s grift right now, and sends everyone’s money back to them is what I want to see.

    Convicted felons and people awaiting trial who claim to be innocent are two different populations. No one who pleads guilty should still be begging for money for their legal costs. Plus, screw him for working for the traitor!

  64. 64.

    Bobby Thomson

    @Ken:

    doesn’t that mean Graham’s saying that we need an Attorney General who will support the President’s efforts to obstruct justice?

    That’s what he’s always been saying.

  72. 72.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Jonny Scrum-half: Well he denied that this happened at the 17 FEB 2017 press conference he held:
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/us/politics/trump-jeff-sessions-russia.html

    After Mr. Trump was sworn in, he could not escape questions about Russia. At a Feb. 16, 2017, White House news conference, a reporter asked Mr. Trump, “Can you say whether you are aware that anyone who advised your campaign had contacts with Russia during the course of the election?”

    Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer dealing with matters related to Mr. Mueller’s investigation, said the White House stood behind the president’s comments.

    “The media’s willingness to inflate Papadopoulos, a young unpaid volunteer and supposed energy expert, into an important thought leader in the campaign or Russian operative is ludicrous,” Mr. Cobb said. “The evidence so far suggests he attended one meeting, said something about Russia and was immediately shut down by everyone in the room. It’s very important to remember that he is not a criminal now because of anything he did for the campaign — he is a criminal because he initially lied to the F.B.I.”

    This doesn’t count as perjury or anything – lying to everyone in the US through misleading answers at a press conference isn’t a crime. However, it goes to a pattern with the President of denying things that others have been able to confirm happened and that he was present for happening. Hence implicates. He’s implicated in the cover up.

  73. 73.

    Jonny Scrum-half

    @Adam L Silverman: Thanks. I figured that was the sort of thing you meant. I’m just anticipating “conservative” push-back at the next step, and I really want there to be more than this. If we’re going to have any chance to move forward as a country after this, Trump’s downfall has to be undeniable and obvious. That will still mean at least 27% of the populace will continue to support him, but we really need for the non-hard-core Trumpists to be persuaded that they f’d up.

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