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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 09:51 AM Jan 2018

Trump Tower meeting with Russians 'treasonous', Bannon says in explosive book

Source: The Guardian




David Smith in Washington
@smithinamerica

Wed 3 Jan ‘18 08.07 EST

Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon has described the Trump Tower meeting between the president’s son and a group of Russians during the 2016 election campaign as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic”, according to an explosive new book seen by the Guardian.

Bannon, speaking to author Michael Wolff, warned that the investigation into alleged collusion with the Kremlin will focus on money laundering and predicted: “They’re going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV.”

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, reportedly based on more than 200 interviews with the president, his inner circle and players in and around the administration, is one of the most eagerly awaited political books of the year. In it, Wolff lifts the lid on a White House lurching from crisis to crisis amid internecine warfare, with even some of Trump’s closest allies expressing contempt for him.

Bannon, who was chief executive of the Trump campaign in its final three months, then White House chief strategist for seven months before returning to the rightwing Breitbart News, is a central figure in the nasty, cutthroat drama, quoted extensively, often in salty language.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/03/donald-trump-russia-steve-bannon-michael-wolff

64 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump Tower meeting with Russians 'treasonous', Bannon says in explosive book (Original Post) DonViejo Jan 2018 OP
you're right bannon woundedkarma Jan 2018 #1
A falling out among thieves and cutthroats. olegramps Jan 2018 #44
"He's not only crazy, he's stupid." Jim__ Jan 2018 #2
Oh, and btw, grass is green. InAbLuEsTaTe Jan 2018 #36
This monster zentrum Jan 2018 #3
Well he actually said Beietbart or some other more doc03 Jan 2018 #8
LOL. zentrum Jan 2018 #28
So Bannon is against Trump now? doc03 Jan 2018 #4
He always has been, ever since he was fired. colorado_ufo Jan 2018 #27
I agree PatSeg Jan 2018 #46
There is only one thing that would keep Ivanka from having tire treads on her colorado_ufo Jan 2018 #48
I wonder if she even realizes PatSeg Jan 2018 #51
I love it when they eat their own get the red out Jan 2018 #5
Put them all in the same cell block. Livestream it to the public they screwed over Wwcd Jan 2018 #52
What will Trump say - Laf.La.Dem. Jan 2018 #6
No, I don't think he'd deny knowing Bannon entirely... Pharlo Jan 2018 #47
Ooooh imagine Banon's mad face when Trump calls him his coffee boy Wwcd Jan 2018 #53
One possibility that occurred to me concreteblue Jan 2018 #7
I was just thinking about whether Mueller ever interviewed him (yet)? nt BumRushDaShow Jan 2018 #10
They're going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV. mobeau69 Jan 2018 #9
I'd pay to see that.. can't wait mountain grammy Jan 2018 #17
He's an asshole, but he does have a way with words EricMaundry Jan 2018 #32
He defenitely has a way with words Bradical79 Jan 2018 #41
Invest in popcorn. nycbos Jan 2018 #11
"They're going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV." Not on Fox. L. Coyote Jan 2018 #12
Yes this was treason Gothmog Jan 2018 #13
No it's not treason and I wish people would be more precise with language. The crime is conspiracy. bench scientist Jan 2018 #63
It's true. There is no honor WhiteTara Jan 2018 #14
As much as I detest Bannon, it was always clear he was the "smart one" n/t hlthe2b Jan 2018 #15
Family and crew just safeinOhio Jan 2018 #16
Kick dalton99a Jan 2018 #18
what is this shit. barbtries Jan 2018 #19
He can't fool us by agreeing with us. Mc Mike Jan 2018 #20
Fuck Bannon. mn9driver Jan 2018 #21
Steve Bannon does not need to "spill the beans" to us he better let Mueller know what he knows. UCmeNdc Jan 2018 #22
Whadda guy! spiderpig Jan 2018 #23
So what if it's Bannon saying this... Chakaconcarne Jan 2018 #24
Why didn't Bannon go to the FBI over the treasonous meeting at the time? Sancho Jan 2018 #25
Bannon also hates McConnell and Ryan so if he knows something, their eggs are cracked as well. Justice Jan 2018 #26
FWIW DeminPennswoods Jan 2018 #29
This could get nasty, and the real question is who has what power over the deplorables... GetRidOfThem Jan 2018 #37
Didn't take long to get nasty DeminPennswoods Jan 2018 #55
I thought there was investigation into co-ordination between breitbart, bircher jones, Mc Mike Jan 2018 #64
Bannon honestly thinks he can be Trump's HopeAgain Jan 2018 #30
LOLOLOL!!! It's like The Black Plague battling Cholera. nolabear Jan 2018 #31
The alt-right is getting ready to pull the plus on Trump EricMaundry Jan 2018 #33
They will all be turning on each other before this is through.. vkkv Jan 2018 #34
And Seoul has gone and fucked up Pvt. Bone Spurs' wag the dog strategy. mobeau69 Jan 2018 #43
There's no honor among traitors meow2u3 Jan 2018 #35
Bannon's motive is as clear as the hair on his face. mobeau69 Jan 2018 #38
Why is Bannon now exposing this? My guess is he has been Enoki33 Jan 2018 #39
Fuck this asshole, now he's trying to make a buck off of treason and conspiracy, hacking turbinetree Jan 2018 #40
It's not Bannon's book. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jan 2018 #50
Bannon is slime. Lying, racist slime. So is 45. I dont trust either of them. AllyCat Jan 2018 #42
Payback is a ....... Raven123 Jan 2018 #45
Nailed it. colorado_ufo Jan 2018 #49
Call me paranoid but I dont trust Bannon. BlueTsunami2018 Jan 2018 #54
pretty sure none of us trust bannon questionseverything Jan 2018 #56
Greenwald's comment was beyond predictable: Blue_Tires Jan 2018 #57
I love right wing infighting Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jan 2018 #58
Theyre going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV. Would love to see this riversedge Jan 2018 #59
Links to buy Michael Wolff's book: greyl Jan 2018 #60
K&R Scurrilous Jan 2018 #61
On MSNBC, various hosts reported DeminPennswoods Jan 2018 #62

Jim__

(14,095 posts)
2. "He's not only crazy, he's stupid."
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 09:58 AM
Jan 2018

As we already knew:

Trump is not spared. Wolff writes that Thomas Barrack Jr, a billionaire who is one of the president’s oldest associates, allegedly told a friend: “He’s not only crazy, he’s stupid.”

zentrum

(9,866 posts)
3. This monster
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 09:59 AM
Jan 2018

…helped put him in office. He's Trump's Rove. Further, he says the Russian meeting info should have been given to "Brietbart"—a legitimate outlet. Good God. This is just the Devil calling Satan bad.

What the hell is he up to? Just hatred of Jared and Trump Jr.?

colorado_ufo

(5,743 posts)
27. He always has been, ever since he was fired.
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:36 AM
Jan 2018

He feels he lost the competition with Kushner and covered himself by saying how much he was going to work for Trump, now that he was free to do so. He was just setting things up to make his efforts have greater penetrance. This was all part of his plan to get back at Trump. He felt that he was betrayed, after having worked so hard to get Trump elected. He should have realized that in Trump's world only family is trusted. Family will always come first, after only Trump himself. Trump would even throw his family under the bus to save himself.

PatSeg

(47,750 posts)
46. I agree
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 12:37 PM
Jan 2018

And Bannon has always been about Bannon anyway. He does what serves him and his agenda, whatever that might be. I don't think he ever had any loyalty to Trump, he just wanted to be a king-maker.

Yes, I think Trump would put himself before any family, even his precious Ivanka. I can picture him becoming so paranoid, that he thinks even his family is conspiring against him.

colorado_ufo

(5,743 posts)
48. There is only one thing that would keep Ivanka from having tire treads on her
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 02:28 PM
Jan 2018

from having been thrown under the bus. I think she hinted at it when she said, concerning Roy Moore, that "there is a special place in hell for child molesters."

PatSeg

(47,750 posts)
51. I wonder if she even realizes
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 02:55 PM
Jan 2018

how perverted her father's attention appears. If it is all she has ever known, she might think it is normal or she might just be in denial.

get the red out

(13,468 posts)
5. I love it when they eat their own
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 10:03 AM
Jan 2018

I hope this group of cons is fighting each other all the way to Federal prison.

 

Wwcd

(6,288 posts)
52. Put them all in the same cell block. Livestream it to the public they screwed over
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 03:00 PM
Jan 2018

I'm out of swear words to describe them.
They have normalized "fuckers"

Pharlo

(1,818 posts)
47. No, I don't think he'd deny knowing Bannon entirely...
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 01:03 PM
Jan 2018

more along the lines of "Bannon? You mean that volunteer who worked for the campaign for a month or two? Very limited role. Very. He stocked water. I remember him well, always standing around holding water. His first name was Mario... Mario Bannon. "

concreteblue

(626 posts)
7. One possibility that occurred to me
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 10:04 AM
Jan 2018

One possibility that occurred to me is that he is getting ahead of breaking news. Somebody close to him was called by Mueller's team, or he was. He is working on deflecting the focus on his backers and his organization, regardless of their part(s) or not.

 

Bradical79

(4,490 posts)
41. He defenitely has a way with words
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 12:29 PM
Jan 2018

It's no wonder he's near the top of the white supremecist food chain. Looking forward to the day his liver quits on him.

bench scientist

(1,107 posts)
63. No it's not treason and I wish people would be more precise with language. The crime is conspiracy.
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 05:45 AM
Jan 2018

Treason is a VERY narrowly defined crime. It simply is not the case here. One can be a traitor without committing the crime of treason.

Article III section 3 of The Constitution defines treason as :

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.
The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted

The punishment for treason has been codified in 18 U.S.C. § 2381 states:

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.


We are not at war with Russia. Moreover, Trump and his band of idiots did not take up weapons against the U.S and attack it.
What they did was engage in a conspiracy: the agreement by 2 or more people to commit a crime or illegal act.

Trump and his thugs have committed several crimes as well as conspiracy.
8 U.S.C. § 371 - Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States :If two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Conspiracy can be brought along with many, many other charges and that is likely what will happen.

The reason I bring this up is every time we accuse Trump of treason (not only is it not legally correct) when it does not happen his moronic supporters will believe Trump must be innocent. Mueller will not charge Trump with Treason.

barbtries

(28,821 posts)
19. what is this shit.
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:09 AM
Jan 2018

Bannon? why is anyone listening to this fucking Nazi?

having said that i hope he's right. but i would bet everything that he's in it up to his eyeballs. i just don't get what his function is at this point. is he of such ego and damage that he thinks he'll take over when the trumps go down so he can finish the demolition of democracy and replay the holocaust?

Bannon is fringe. I would rather eat lye than buy or read his book and every time i see his name in the news i just want to scream it. He's fringe. unhinged. Sexist, racist, Nazi. Not invested in the democratic process. pond scum.

mn9driver

(4,430 posts)
21. Fuck Bannon.
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:20 AM
Jan 2018

Nothing that comes out of his pie hole means jack. He’s as loony as his former boss Donnie the orange shitmonster. Although for entertainment purposes only, this is amusing.

For the purposes of reality, I’ll wait to see what Mueller has to say.

UCmeNdc

(9,601 posts)
22. Steve Bannon does not need to "spill the beans" to us he better let Mueller know what he knows.
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:22 AM
Jan 2018

Why try to convince us that he is innocent?

spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
23. Whadda guy!
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:23 AM
Jan 2018

Remember the Stephanie Miller segment - "and now it's time for... Republicans Eating Their Own!"?

Chakaconcarne

(2,482 posts)
24. So what if it's Bannon saying this...
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:29 AM
Jan 2018

What are his followers going to do with this information?

It validates everything they've pretended isn't going on.

This is totally bizarre.

Sancho

(9,072 posts)
25. Why didn't Bannon go to the FBI over the treasonous meeting at the time?
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:35 AM
Jan 2018

He's trying to blame tRump Jr - and deflect blame from tRump...calculated.

Justice

(7,188 posts)
26. Bannon also hates McConnell and Ryan so if he knows something, their eggs are cracked as well.
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:35 AM
Jan 2018

Bannon wants to create chaos so he is not particularly honorable here but I agree with him that just hearing the Russians are trying to peddle dirt on your opponent should have caused Don Jr. and Jared to call FBI.

DeminPennswoods

(15,295 posts)
29. FWIW
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:38 AM
Jan 2018

Bannon has not been touched by the Russia investigation while everyone else (Pence included) associated with Trump has been in one way or another. Reportedly, Bannon also advised Trump against firing Comey. Bannon's a scummy human, but that doesn't mean he's stupid or has no powers of observation.

GetRidOfThem

(869 posts)
37. This could get nasty, and the real question is who has what power over the deplorables...
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 12:26 PM
Jan 2018

Bannon brought Agent Orange the Deplorables, and now he is saying "see, treat me incorrectly, I can remove them too by calling you a traitor". Donald is saying "I can shoot someone on 5th Avenue and the Deplorables would still support me".

The question is who has more power over the Deplorables: Agent Orange or Bannon The Hutt.

This is all speculation, but if I am right, this could get very dirty (and entertaining) quickly. Just wait until Agent Orange does a Category 5 Twitter Hurricane against Bannon. Just wait...

...And Bannon will not take it lying down....


DeminPennswoods

(15,295 posts)
55. Didn't take long to get nasty
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 04:11 PM
Jan 2018

and hilarious. I LOL'd when Craig Melvin read the WH response in full on MSNBC.

HopeAgain

(4,407 posts)
30. Bannon honestly thinks he can be Trump's
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:42 AM
Jan 2018

only guy, even to the exclusion of Don Junior. This is a power play. Nothing more, nothing less.

nolabear

(42,004 posts)
31. LOLOLOL!!! It's like The Black Plague battling Cholera.
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:51 AM
Jan 2018

I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it while Mueller keeps going and going and going.

 

EricMaundry

(1,619 posts)
33. The alt-right is getting ready to pull the plus on Trump
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 12:05 PM
Jan 2018

They got what they wanted, now they want to build further, and on top of Trump's political corpse.

meow2u3

(24,776 posts)
35. There's no honor among traitors
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 12:15 PM
Jan 2018

Bannon's proof positive--because he was also involved in the subversion!

Question is, is Bannon also under investigation?

Enoki33

(1,589 posts)
39. Why is Bannon now exposing this? My guess is he has been
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 12:28 PM
Jan 2018

reading the writing on the wall since the firing of Comey, and knows the day of reckoning is fast approaching. Time to protect numero uno while prepping for the aftermath. This is a Nazi that will not easily let go his destructive vision of his perception of what America should be and do. He poses a continuing threat to democracy.

AllyCat

(16,263 posts)
42. Bannon is slime. Lying, racist slime. So is 45. I dont trust either of them.
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 12:29 PM
Jan 2018

I suppose crooks like to tattle on each other when they are down on their luck, but I put little stock in anything Bannon has to say.

BlueTsunami2018

(3,510 posts)
54. Call me paranoid but I dont trust Bannon.
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 03:32 PM
Jan 2018

He’s a media manipulator and a ratfucker to the extreme. This smells like a setup of some kind. I hope I’m wrong but I’m not running too far with anything this bastard says.

questionseverything

(9,666 posts)
56. pretty sure none of us trust bannon
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 05:07 PM
Jan 2018

for me the simple joy of watching repubs splinter themselves is enough for now

riversedge

(70,445 posts)
59. Theyre going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV. Would love to see this
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 10:53 PM
Jan 2018

happen to smarty pants JR!!

greyl

(22,990 posts)
60. Links to buy Michael Wolff's book:
Wed Jan 3, 2018, 11:25 PM
Jan 2018
Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House Kindle Edition
by Michael Wolff (Author)
http://amzn.to/2E2j8pq


Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House Hardcover
by Michael Wolff (Author)
http://amzn.to/2CP6ISy

With extraordinary access to the Trump White House, Michael Wolff tells the inside story
of the most controversial presidency of our time

The first nine months of Donald Trump’s term were stormy, outrageous—and absolutely mesmerizing. Now, thanks to his deep access to the West Wing, bestselling author Michael Wolff tells the riveting story of how Trump launched a tenure as volatile and fiery as the man himself.

In this explosive book, Wolff provides a wealth of new details about the chaos in the Oval Office. Among the revelations:
-- What President Trump’s staff really thinks of him
-- What inspired Trump to claim he was wire-tapped by President Obama
-- Why FBI director James Comey was really fired
-- Why chief strategist Steve Bannon and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner couldn’t be in the same room
-- Who is really directing the Trump administration’s strategy in the wake of Bannon’s firing
-- What the secret to communicating with Trump is
-- What the Trump administration has in common with the movie The Producers

DeminPennswoods

(15,295 posts)
62. On MSNBC, various hosts reported
Thu Jan 4, 2018, 02:03 AM
Jan 2018

Wolff had unfettered access to the west wing. He evidently set up a table in the hallway so all the people who wanted to talk to him knew where he was. He dropped in offices to chit chat. Reportedly Trump knew about and approved the book project and even talked to Wolff, who previously had written about him.

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