Andrea Bernstein
@AndreaBNYC
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New Podcast: WE DON'T TALK ABOUT LEONARD from @ProPublica @onthemedia Co-host WILL BE WILD. Report for @npr on Trump legal. Previously, I co-hosted TRUMP, INC.
New York, NY
Joined February 2009
1/ Today’s the day!. Our podcast “We Don’t Talk About Leonard” is out!. It’s about Leonard Leo, who's responsible for the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority. But he's much more powerful than that. w/ @ilyamarritz @andykroll @eisingerJ & @katyaotm.
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That is 5 NY trials in the books. Trump Corp : Guilty of 17 felonies. EJCarroll; Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation 2x for a total of $89 million. Civil Fraud: $355 million ruling . Trump himself: a felon, 34x over.
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FLASHBACK: The night before the Dobbs decision, 2 years ago today, some 2 dozen conservative judges attended a party on the coast of Maine, drinking champagne kept cold in a boat full of ice. It was at the home of Leonard Leo. Our story from Oct: .
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BREAKING: Donald Trump's longtime CFO, Allen Weisselberg has pleaded guilty to a 15-year scheme to defraud, as described in count one of the indictment. His allocution continues.
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He is pleading guilty to all 15 counts of the indictment. In exchange, he is agreeing to be sentenced to 5 months in jail, 5 years probation, and agrees to testify in the upcoming trial against the Trump organization.
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Judge Juan Merchan tells Weisselberg if he violates his plea deal, for example if he fails to testify truthfully or fails to repay taxes, he can be sentenced up to 5-15 yrs.
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This adds to the list of Trump allies who have pled guilty or been convicted at trial of felonies. - Michael Cohen, former Trump Org. VP, for campaign finance & tax fraud.- Paul Manfort, former campaign chief, for tax fraud, money laundering, &conspiracy against the US. (more).
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- Gen. Michael Flynn, former National Security advisor, for lying to the FBI.- Roger Stone, political advisor convicted at trial of obstructing a congressional investigation, lying under oath, witness tampering.-- Steve Bannon, former White House advisor, for contempt of Congress.
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Whoa. Trump's accountants, Mazars USA tell Trump org that to "no longer rely" on statements of financial condition from 2011-2020. 1/.
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As @maggieNYT notes of Ivanka & Jared in the final months. "Neither made much of an effort to pull Mr. Trump away from his obsession with staying in power. Instead, they left that task to the paid staff. ". The people who couldn't be fired left the job to those who could be.
The key: As Kushner and Ivanka left the work of talking to Trump about his power grab to paid staff, those staff tried to avoid the Oval Office, fearful of Trump's temper or, worse, being given an order that would ensare them in an investigation
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"Yes your honor," Weisselberg says for the fifteenth time. Here's count 15, falsifying business records with intent to defraud, as described in the indictment.
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Trump hasn't said WHY he took classified documents to his resort. But from decades of covering Trump, I've been told over and over:. He knows the value of hoarding secret information and wielding it for his own ends. I write about how for @propublica .
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Yep, this -->. From @ilyamarritz . Let’s Recall What Exactly Paul Manafort and Rudy Giuliani Were Doing in Ukraine
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I wrote a story for @NewYorker about why the People of the State of New York v. The Trump Corporation is much more serious than most people think. Thanks to @RohdeD for the great editing.
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This letter, in a new filing, covers a period in which Trump used the financial statements to get loans from Deutsche Bank & Ladder Capitol, for among other things. *Trump DC Hotel.*Doral Golf Course.*Trump Tower NY.*40 Wall Street. 2/.
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"The people call Allen Weisselberg.".
Hours before Trump is set to re-announce for President, his former CFO is getting ready to take the stand in a Manhattan courtroom in the criminal trial of Trump's company.
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1/ A thread about my reporting road to my being, yesterday afternoon, literally on the front row of history.
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Hours before Trump is set to re-announce for President, his former CFO is getting ready to take the stand in a Manhattan courtroom in the criminal trial of Trump's company.
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BREAKING: . Trump Corporation GUILTY on all nine counts.
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2/ We start at a private party at Leo’s house in Maine on the eve of SCOTUS’ repeal of Roe v Wade. Some 2 dozen federal & state judges are there, including some of the most influential, and controversial, in the country.
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His accountants also say they have a "non-waivable conflict of interest" with the Trump Organization. 3?.
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4/ The dinner is a symbol of Leo’s power, and of the machine he’s quietly built over the decades. It’s not just the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s state judges, attorneys general, and more.
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I'm in the criminal courthouse in Lower Manhattan, covering the court appearance in the People of New York v. The Trump Corporation. watch this space for updates.
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Interesting new line of questioning: @RonWyden presses former Trump accountants on WHY ten years of financial statements should not be relied on: . "Does Mazars believe the Trump Organization or any of its affiliates provided false or.inaccurate information?".
Breaking—. "Senate Finance Committee Chair @RonWyden Scrutinizes Donald Trump’s Former Accounting Firm Mazars Over Renounced Tax Filings". Letter inside, @lawcrimenews .
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7/ We call the series “We Don’t Talk About Leonard” after the many, many people who would only speak to us confidentially for fear of the consequences if we used their names.
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3/ Security everywhere: U.S. Marshals with earpieces, a coast guard boat just outside the mansion. There’s a lavish menu.
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NEW from me & @andykroll How Leonard Leo’s project to reshape US judiciary got its start in Wisconsin
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Nine ayes. Zero no's. Trump is subpeonaed by J 6 Committee.
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Here are the notes. Beginning on p 128.
Watch for this in today's Select Committee hearing: . Richard Donoghue's notes, taken during a 12/27/20 call with Trump. "Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me + the R. Congressmen"
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1/ Episode 2 of “We Don’t Talk About Leonard” is out!. It’s about Leonard Leo, the man who has done so much to shape the Supreme Court. But if that’s “all” he did, he wouldn’t be as powerful as he is today…. From @ilyamarritz & @andykroll & me.
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5/ We trace Leo’s life from high school in Central New Jersey…
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8/ I’ve reported on a lot of people that sources didn’t want to discuss on the record. Even in that class, Leo stood out.
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Don't sleep on this, fr. @hugolowell. The DHS IG suppressed a memo that said:. “Secret Service has resisted OIG’s oversight activities and continued to significantly delay OIG’s access to records, impeding the progress of OIG’s January 6, 2021 review.".
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1/ Our story about Leonard Leo tells the full arc of the life of one of the most powerful, and little-known, conservatives in America. You’ll want to savor every detail, like the fact that he was “Most Likely To Succeed” in high school.
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And then the chaser:. asking for a pardon. pleading fifth a hundred times.
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Manhattan prosecutor, in closing arguments.
@Jonesieman @swin24 Steinglass: “It wasn’t that they didn't know it was illegal. They didn’t care.". He says the main question for jurors is:. “Are corporations liable for the conduct of its employees?".
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12/ Do you know something newsworthy about Leonard Leo? Email me at andrea.bernstein@propublica.org or Andy Kroll at andy.kroll@propublica.org or on Signal at 202-215-6203.
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6/ The next summer, Leo hosted a fundraiser for Sen. Susan Collins, who had cast one of the deciding pro-Kavanaugh votes, at his home in Maine.
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11/ Listen to Episode 1, “Most Likely to Succeed,” on the radio, or for free on the On The Media feed, wherever you get your podcasts:.
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The code between Manafort and the suspected Russian asset was "Black Caviar." You can read all about it in the chapter of the same name in my book, American Oligarchs.
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and here's a really great episode of Trump Inc on the accountants: .
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This comments from Herschmann to Eastman about needed "a great effing criminal defense attorney," have a whole new meaning. now we know, per EH, that Eastman seemed to brush off the potential for "violence in the streets.".
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Jared Kushner clip "I was focussed on pardons.". One of the people pardoned at the end of the December, 2020 was Jared Kushner's dad, Charles Kushner, convicted of campaign finance violations, tax fraud, and witness tampering.
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This witness intimidation stuff. It's such a through line. "Sleep well tonight," a Trump-allied lawyer told Michael Cohen "you have friends in high places.". -- from the Mueller report.
We commonly ask witnesses connected to Trump whether they have been contacted by anyone attempting to impact testimony. Below are examples of answers we have received to this question.
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9/ Leo told us: “I would assume many people didn’t want to speak because they surmised, rightly or wrongly, that you would not be producing a balanced and objective story.”.
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3:42 pm "We the jury have reached a verdict." the note says.
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What a loss to NPR. @timkmak is a formidable reporter. I'll be subscribing to Tim's newsletter, and hope you do, too.
Good morning to readers. Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. Please RT this thread. It’s an important one. Some news: I’m leaving NPR as part of the layoffs that dramatically cut the org's workforce. I’ve decided to go back into Ukraine to keep reporting. But this time, alone.
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Billionaire Harlan Crow picked up the tab for Justice Clarence Thomas' pricey vacations. Then used those trips to lower his tax bill. New @paulkiel @propublica .
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3/ Leo brought a group of wealthy donors into the Supreme Court to meet Thomas. Singer had organized them. The Court didn’t respond to questions but it’s highly unusual for political donors to get access to Justices in that way.
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9/ A SCOOP from Episode 2: Leo took a secretive group of donors organized by Singer to meet with Justice Clarence Thomas AT the Supreme Court….
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Former Asst. Secretary of Counterterror in DHS, under Trump ->.
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Weisselberg attorney: "We have strong reason to believe there could be other indictments coming. We are shooting at a moving target.".
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10/ Leo to us: “To the extent that I have been successful at raising funds, it has been because the ideas I have tried to advance are compelling and because I have always placed a premium on driving results through highly effective talent pipelines and infrastructure.”.
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I'll be covering Trump's criminal trial in New York for NPR, beginning today. Here's a listening and reading list while we're waiting for the jury to be selected. 1/.
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NEW: You can now binge listen all 3 episodes of ."We Don't Talk about Leonard.". The richest investigative profile of arguably the most important conservative of the last 25 years. {PRO-TIP: Find all 3 eps here, or wherever you get your pods: ..
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Today, I will finally get to hear Bill Stepien testify. I covered the Bridgegate scandal, and the ensuing trial. Bill Stepien was never charged, and never testified at trial. but his name was mentioned every day at trial. 351 times in all. (I counted).
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Talking to @NPRinskeep @UpFirst outside the criminal courthouse, waiting for the former president’s arraignment
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3/ Then the Manhattan D.A. at the time, Cyrus Vance, Jr. overruled his staff after a visit from a top donor: Trump attorney Marc Kasowitz. Here’s the story with @eisingerj @justinelliott @ilyamarritz.
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"He personally asked for us to come." . member of the mob, of Trump.
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2/ In 2017, an investigation into the Trump SoHo led me to a strangely familiar place…the New York State Board of Elections website, examining contributions. Turns out New York prosecutors were, around 2010, preparing a case against Don Jr. and Ivanka Trump. .
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Scooplet: Republican Rep. Jim Jordan Issues Sweeping Information Requests to Universities Researching Disinformation
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As we go into today's hearings, I highly recommend you read this ruling by Fed. Judge David Carter. He says as early as Dec. 7, Trump & Eastman's "plan to disrupt the Joint Session was fully formed and actionable. ". 1/
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So proud to have worked with the phenomenal team @propublica on this. w/ @AndyKroll @ilyamarritz @eisingerj . @HannahCrinan @andreaa_marks . Read. Every. Word. We Don’t Talk About Leonard: The Man Behind the Right’s Supreme Court Supermajority
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4/ That was in March of 2017. 18 months later, Kavanaugh’s nomination was in trouble. Leo turned to the group of donors, looking to raise $10M to block the negative press generated by Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations.
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2/. But one of the most startling details is this previously unreported incident, involving Clarence Thomas and hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer, who you might recall from Alito’s Alaska fishing trip (
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10/ A year and a half later, when Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination was in trouble, Leo called on this group to contribute to an ad campaign his dark money group, JCN, ran to bolster Kavanaugh.
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Smart, from @peterbakernyt. Trump's embrace of extremism, he lays out, is a feature, not a bug.
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2/ Leo, as we found, took particular interest in state solicitors general, part of many state attorneys general offices. Because they have the power to get really important cases to the U.S. Supreme Court, really fast.
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BREAKING; The Trumps have agreed to testify in the New York Attorney General's investigation.
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Wondering who Moss is?. An election worker so mercilessly threatened after a false story about "suitcases under the table" that her co-worker called 911 . "Lord Jesus, where’s the police?” she said. @jasonszep & @LindaSoReports had the story in Dec.
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12/ Produced by @mollyfication with help from @shaanmerchant1. Technical direction: @munsonmuth @Jaredjaredaul wrote and recorded all the original music. Fact checking @andreaa_marks @hannah_crinan.
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Trump had already replaced Rosen, in his mind.
White House Call Log: . "Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Clark"
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"DeSantis law' is making us more ignorant in this generation and generations to come." . A searing looking into the erosion of academic freedom from @danlgolden .
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@eisingerj @JustinElliott @ilyamarritz 5/ Months later, Cohen pleaded guilty to eight felonies. My report for NPR:
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Trump NY Trial WILL GO FORWARD on March 25. Judge denies motion to dismiss. Trump's lawyer is making a record to argue against it. But the Judge Juan Merchan has made up his mind.
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17) If you want to read about Trump and campaign donations, going back to the 1970s. its all in my book. END. .
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12/There is soo, soo much more in this episode, including what Leo did when Congress passed a law Singer hated…and what Leo did for Lawrence Van Dyke. To find out, listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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@eisingerj @JustinElliott @ilyamarritz 4) Not long after that, we all began working together on the Trump, Inc. podcast. Soon, we were investigating Michael Cohen,. While we were working on the story, the FBI searched Cohen’s home, office, and hotel suite.
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NEW EPISODE OF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT LEONARD. In which we reveal that Leonard Leo did a whole lot more than just pick SCOTUS. He'd call AGs to get specific people hired . And those people brought cases he wanted. to SCOTUS. w/ @ilyamarritz @AndyKroll .
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I wrote a book on Trump and have done two podcasts on him. I can't think of a single case where this has happened before.
BREAKING.NY State Judge Arthur Engoron finds Donald Trump in contempt of court, orders $10k/day penalty for every day he does not comply with subpoena from New York AG for documents.
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@eisingerj @JustinElliott @ilyamarritz 9) Trump lost this time, too. And appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump lost there, too, 7-2, with Roberts writing the decision and Thomas and Alito dissenting.
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@eisingerj @JustinElliott @ilyamarritz 6/ I didn’t know it at the time, but the Manhattan DA launched its own investigation at that time. No one knew it, until a year later, when Trump sued then-D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr. to prevent him from obtaining Trump’s tax returns.
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@eisingerj @JustinElliott @ilyamarritz 11) In 2022, the new D.A., Alvin Bragg, indicted Trump’s former Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg on fraud charges.
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@eisingerj @JustinElliott @ilyamarritz 8) I was there, then too, when Trump’s lawyer, William Consovoy argued that “nothing could be done” by local authorities while Trump was President if Trump shot someone on Fifth Avenue ( about 47 minutes in).
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14) 13 months later, the key to Trump’s crimes lay in violating New York’s campaign finance laws. “The defendant. is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election,” Bragg said.
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@eisingerj @JustinElliott @ilyamarritz 7) Iwas there the very first day Trump v. Vance was argued in open court, in the Southern District of New York. Trump lost, and appealed to the second circuit.
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🎤 ‼️ Hello Everyone Today’s the Day! . Our podcast WILL BE WILD is in wide release! .From me & @ilyamarritz and the crack team @pineapplemedia. 1/.
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@eisingerj @JustinElliott @ilyamarritz 10) But Trump did not give up his records, even then. The DA had to go back to the U.S. Supreme Court again for that to happen. By then, it was January 2021, the height of the pandemic. Grand juries in New York were not working. Vance was in his last year in office.
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15) The jury had to find that Trump falsified business records to cover up…yes…a violation of New York election law.
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SECOND REFERENCE TODAY that Eastmann was warned of violence in the streets. Greg Jacob: . "I told him, If the courts did not step in there was no one else to resolve it,, That might well be resolved through violence in the streets. ".
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6/ Leo called around to AGs to get his favored people hired in their offices. We were told: He won’t say, Hire this person, in a bossy way. He’ll say, this is a good guy. You should check him out.
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Jared Kushner was interning at the Manhattan D.A.s office when he heard the news that his own father, Charles Kushner, was being indicted for fraud and witness tampering. Charles Kushner pleaded guilty, but was pardoned by Trump.
Jared #Kushner on Trump #indictment: "It's been hard to watch the opponents of him politically continue to break every norm. I lived by him during a lot of these instances and its only made him stronger. " #FIIPRIORITY.
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Amazing persistence by @BrandyZadrozny. Tiffany Dover is not dead.
Tiffany Dover was always alive. She just wasn’t ready to speak. She tells @BrandyZadrozny about the conspiracy that unraveled her life.
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"These pay increases and other benefits often came at delicate moments in the legal proceedings against Trump. One aide who was given a plum position on the board of Trump’s social media company, for example, got the seat after he was subpoenaed but before he testified.".
New: Multiple witnesses in Trump's criminal cases have received financial benefits from his business and campaign . . w/ @RobertFaturechi @Amierjeski.
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Folks, I think we've arrived at that point in NYC when cocktails to go seem very, very necessary once again. .
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