#eric herschmann

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) insisted Monday he never sought a blanket pardon from Donald Trump even though multiple former Trump administration officials testified under oath that he did.

Gaetz clashed with MSNBC’s Ari Melber on “The Beat” as the host repeatedly pressed him on the allegation. Gaetz said he had been involved in pardon negotiations for other people but never sought one for himself.

Melber noted that several witnesses close to the Trump White House had testified last year to the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that Gaetz was among several Republican lawmakers who sought pardons over their involvement in then-President Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election.

“Here’s some of the under-oath testimony from Trump insiders,” Melber said, bringing up video.

“We’ve got multiple people. The director of White House presidential personnel, [Johnny McEntee], who’s a Trump loyalist. Lawyer Eric Herschmann. Cassidy Hutchinson, famously. They all testified under oath that you specifically requested a pardon.”

After showing the footage, Melber continued: “So the question is, can you really say that all of them are committing perjury, lying on you? A. And B, if a pardon was requested, why not just tell us what were you worried about? What was it that you thought you or others might be indicted for?”

Gaetz responded by disparaging Hutchinson, who was a top aide to Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and saying that he recalled things differently than did Herschmann.

“Cassidy Hutchinson is a known liar,” Gaetz said.

“I do not remember it the same way Eric Herschmann does,” he added. “I did have conversations with Eric Herschmann about different groups of people that could potentially receive pardons ― even including some of the people who may have committed a technical violation of federal law, but they weren’t engaged in violence on Jan. 6.”

Asked if he advocated for pardons for other lawmakers, Gaetz was vague.

“No. There were discussions about pardons for President Trump, his family members, his allies, and presumably members of Congress could have fallen in that group,” he said.

The New York Times first reported in April 2021 that Gaetz had, in the final weeks of the Trump administration, privately asked the White House to pardon himself and others for any crimes they may have committed. Last June, the Jan. 6 committee aired testimony from Trump insiders that backed that reporting. According to The Washington Post in September, one Trump aide, McEntee, testified that Gaetz sought a preemptive pardon regarding a sex trafficking investigation in which he was a target.

Prosecutors have since recommended against charging Gaetz in the matter, reportedly in part due to credibility concerns with two central witnesses. His former associate Joel Greenberg has been sentenced to 11 years in prison in the investigation.

#us politics #news #huffington post #MSNBC #the beat #ari melber #rep. matt gaetz #conservatives #republicans #gop #florida #trump pardons #presidential pardons #house select committee #captiol riot investigation #Johnny McEntee #Eric Herschmann #cassidy hutchinson #youtube #videos #2023 #the new york times #the washington post #trump administration

[tomorrowusa]

The House January 6th committee has been relying largely on evidence from Trump White House staffers, Trump administration officials, Trump political cronies, Trump relatives, as well as various other Republicans and MAGA enthusiasts.

As much as Trump likes to call this a “witch hunt”, it’s his own people who have provided the most damaging evidence against him.

It was one of his own former staffers who used the word unhinged to refer to a bizarre and lengthy meeting which took place at the White House on December 18th/19th. 

Inside the 'unhinged' West Wing meeting on Dec. 18

The chaotic White House meeting took place four days after electors met across the country and made Joe Biden the president-elect, and lasted over six hours, beginning in the Oval Office and ending in Trump's private residence. 

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who co-led Tuesday's hearing, described how attorney Sidney Powell, former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne and former national security adviser Michael Flynn accessed the White House with the help of a junior staffer and spoke with Trump alone for 10-15 minutes before White House officials learned of the meeting and made their way to join. 

"I bet Pat Cipollone set a new land speed record," Powell said of the White House Counsel. 

For his part, Cipollone expressed frustration at the group assembled before the president, telling the committee he "was not happy to see the people in the Oval Office."

[ ... ]

Derek Lyons, former White House staff secretary, said the two camps were "shouting at each other, throwing insults at each other — it wasn't just sort of people sitting around a couch chit-chatting."

Isn’t that what the Trump White House usually did anyway?

Former White House lawyer Eric Herschmann said the outside group suggested that Venezuela had meddled with the election and that Nest brand thermostats hooked up to the internet were changing votes.

Thermostats changing votes ranks up there with bleach curing COVID-19.

Cipollone recalled "pushing back" on the group of Trump's outside advisors by asking them to provide any evidence that the election was fraudulent.

He said the group showed a "general disregard for the importance of actually backing up what you say."

Didn’t Cipollone understand that very little of what the Trump administration had ever claimed was actually backed up by reality and logic?

Raskin displayed texts from Cassidy Hutchinson — who has already delivered bombshell testimony before the committee — describing the meeting to Tony Ornato, then-White House deputy chief of staff for operations, saying, "the West Wing is unhinged."

The committee also shared a photograph Hutchinson took of then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows escorting Giulinai off-campus "to make sure he didn't wander back into the mansion."

Yes, “Drunken Rudy” was escorted off the grounds of the White House. 🥴

While this meeting marked yet another low point in governance by Donald Trump, it does provide excellent material for a play.

#select committee to investigate the january 6th attack on the united states capitol #hearing #assault on the us capitol by pro-trump terrorists #unhinged #december 18th meeting #white house #attempted coup #michael flynn #rudy giuliani #sidney powell #patrick byrne #donald trump #pat cipollone #derek lyons #cassidy hutchinson #eric herschmann #lawrence o’donnell

[gwydionmisha]

#The Justice Department #Eric Herschmann #Jan. 6 #Donald Trump #News

[republicansaredomesticterrorists]

[nodynasty4us]

January 6 committee findings summarized by Murphy:

Trump urged supporters to travel to Washington for a protest.

Individuals and groups organized to come to the Capitol and use violence to disrupt the joint session.

Law enforcement had evidence of the risk of violence.

Trump refused advice to encourage protesters to be peaceful. (According to Hope Hicks text messages and testimony and Eric Herschmann testimony.)

Trump planned to go to Capitol on afternoon of January 6. Planned in the preceding days.

#insurrection #donald trump

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Howdy Horn Honkers.

As life in America trundles forward, so do the Jan. 6th House Committee hearings. Today was the seventh one, the Extremist Edition. The Loony Advisors Edition. The Treason Edition.

In opening comments, Liz Cheney talked about former President Trump’s culpability for what happened on Jan. 6th.

She spoke about White House staff repeatedly informing him he lost the election, so he sought out advisors with different views.

She said the president knew he lost but pretended otherwise and lied to millions. She chided this deception, saying he’s “a 76-year-old man, not a child.”

Well.

I believe we can prove with any working brain and an etch-a-sketch that’s not true. This is the biggest, diaper-iest, most self-involved oversized orange child I’ve ever seen. But let’s move on.

Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D - Florida) spoke of Trump’s many legal challenges to the election results and how the courts found them all baseless.

As the legal challenges failed one by one, his campaign staff and even his Labor Secretary and Attorney General encouraged Trump to end the charade. They told him fraud had not been established, revealed, or found. We saw White House counsel Pat Cipollone on tape saying he believed Trump should have conceded the election, and that Mark Meadows, the president’s chief of staff, shared the same view.

Well hello, Pat Cipollone.

This is the first we’ve heard directly from Trump’s White House lawyer. He managed previously to escape appearing before the committee, but that ended when Cassidy Hutchinson (top aide to Mark Meadows) testified in the last hearing.

Knock Knock.

Cipollone.: Who’s there?

Jan.

Cipollone: Jan who?

Jan. 6th committee. With some questions.

Cipollone testified for 7 hours last week. They played some clips today.

The hearing focused on what the former prez did between Dec. 14th and Jan. 6th in his attempt to ignore staff, ignore the courts, ignore the electoral college, and ignore the will of the American people, all to stay in an office he was voted out of.

Trump pushed conspiracy theories about foreign (China, Iraq, Venezuela) interference in the election. He asked his AG if the DOJ could seize voting machines. He wanted to prosecute innocent people for nonexistent election crimes. He thought putting in his own batch of fraudulent electors in swing states might tip things in his favor.

Trump and his allies (Gen. Mike Flynn, Rudy Giuliani, wacko lawyer Sidney Powell) clashed with the more rational folks on his staff late on Dec. 18, 2020, in the West Wing. It was a meeting where voices were raised, and physical violence was threatened.

“Where is the evidence (of fraud)?” Cipollone asked the group. They offered none.

Sidney Powell then insisted the judges who ruled against Trump’s claims were corrupt.

Senior Trump advisor Eric Herschmann asked “Really? All of them? Even the ones we appointed?”

The meeting broke up after midnight and at 1:42 a.m. Trump send out a tweet saying it was statistically impossible for him to have lost the election.

He urged followers to be in DC on Jan. 6th: “It will be wild!”

They showed human dingleberry Alex Jones on his show also urging Trump’s supporters to go to DC, calling on “we the people” to show up on Jan. 6th.

“The time for action is now” he bleated through his face butt.

Another right-wing commentator urged listeners to “storm the Capitol.”

Yet another crowed, “Red wave, motherfuckers!”

They were all het up and ready to go. Exactly what Trump wanted.

Following Trump’s tweet, aggressive online exchanges among his supporters went wild with plans and openly violent threats against all non-believers, including any Capitol Police they might encounter who might “do the wrong thing” and try to protect the building and its occupants.

One supporter posted: “Join your local Proud Boys chapter.”

These folks heard a call to arms from their leader and responded. Militia groups, conspiracy believers and White Nationalist groups united (“We have decided to work together to shut this shit down.” one militia leader vowed.)

They were ready to contribute cash and physically fight for Trump’s fake cause. And kill the opposition if necessary, according to members, supporters, and leaders of the extremist groups.

I rather believe them. Witness the plethora of weaponry and explosives they brought to DC on Jan. 6th to “stop the steal.”

After a recess, the committee furthered evidence that Trump was encouraging his fan forces to, at the least, interrupt proceedings certifying election results on Jan. 6 — and at most to overthrow the American government for his own personal use. Mike Flynn and Roger Stone seconded this emotion in public speeches the night before. The “radical left Democrats” could not be allowed to win.

Of all the things Joe Biden is or isn’t, a radical leftie he ain’t. Just ask any radical leftie.

On the day of the violence, Brad Parscale, Trump’s senior campaign data advisor, texted Trump’s 2016 campaign spokesperson saying “An American President (is) calling for Civil War.” He was dumbfounded.

Well, Brad, you lie down with rabid dogs, you wake up with brain-damaged fleas.

What did you think was going to happen, sir?

The committee then called two witnesses to testify live.

Jason Van Tatenhove, an independent journalist formerly associated with the Oath Keepers (he even worked for them) spoke about the group. He called them “a violent militia” and “a very dangerous organization.”

He stated Oath Keeper members didn’t believe the Holocaust ever happened.

He also said, basically, that an “armed revolution” was planned for Jan. 6th and it could have started a civil war.

Tatenlove testified that he felt that President Trump, directly or indirectly, gave the Oath Keepers his nod of approval.

Stephen Ayres worked for a cabinet company in Ohio for 20 years. He was an avid Trump fan and was there on Jan. 6th to support his president.

He saw all the social media whip-up about “Stop the Steal” and decided he needed to help. He believed at the time, from everything he saw online, that the 2020 election was stolen. It upset and motivated him.

He said much later he did his own research and found out the election wasn’t stolen at all.

But he was at Trump’s rally that day, unknowing, angry and “worked up,” he said, hoping against hope that VP Pence wouldn’t certify the election.

He said he thought the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers “were on our side.”

Ayres illegally entered the Capitol that day and decided to leave when, hours later, Trump released a video telling people to “go home” and “We love you.”

Ayres testified that looking back, his believing Trump’s lie made him “blind." Going to DC ruined his life. He was charged for being in the Capitol. He lost his job. He had to sell his home.

He said he’s mad at Trump for continuing the big lie.

So are we, Stephen. So are we.

[Therra Cat Jaramillo]

#January 6 Commission #political comedy #Therra Cat Jaramillo

[cultml]

[liberaleffects]

Trump WH attorney Eric Herschmann to Trump lawyer John Eastman, author of the memo Trump relied on to try and overturn the election: 

“Get a good f*cking criminal defense lawyer. You’re going need it.”

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Donald Trump edited his January 6 rally remarks and improvised violent lines to add pressure on then-Vice President Mike Pence in his efforts to get Mr. Pence to try to overturn the election, the House Select Committee investigating the insurrection has said.

“The President did go on stage and then he gave the speech that he wanted to give,” Florida Democrat Stephanie Murphy said during the hearing on Tuesday. “It included the formal changes he had requested the night before and on that morning, but also many important last-minute ad-libbed changes.”

“A single scripted reference in the speech to Mike Pence became eight. A single scripted reference to rallygoers marching to the Capitol became four, with President Trump ad-libbing that he would be joining the protesters at the Capitol,” she added. “Added throughout his speech were references to fighting and ... courage and to be strong. The word ‘peacefully’ was in the staff-written script and used only once.”

“You’re never going to take back our country with weakness, you have to show strength and you have to be strong,” Mr. Trump said in his ad-libbed remarks on January 6. “So I hope Mike has the courage to do what he has to do. And I hope he doesn’t listen to the RINOs and the stupid people that he’s listening to.”

“We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” he added. “But we’re going to try and give our Republicans, the weak ones – because the strong ones don’t need any of our help, we’re just going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.”

Trump speechwriter Stephen Miller said that White House lawyer Eric Herschmann told him that he wanted the lines singling out Mr. Pence removed from the speech. But after it was removed, the speechwriters were ordered to “reinsert the Pence lines.”

#us politics #news #donald trump #trump administration #capitol riot investigation #house select committee #the independent #mike pence #rep. Stephanie Murphy #Stephen Miller #Eric Herschmann #tweet #twitter #aaron rupar #2022

[yourreddancer]

[best2daynews]

Brett Favre's lawyer says Pat McAfee could go 'bankrupt,' will 'learn his lesson' after defamation lawsuit

After learning he was being sued by Brett Favre, Pat McAfee took it all on the chin, and even jawed back with his own words of confidence. One of the former quarterback’slawyers has entered the war of words. McAfee has claimed he’s never spoken about Favre’s fraud case as fact, saying he’s always said it’s all alleged.  However, Eric Herschmann says otherwise. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE…

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[davidblaska]

Heroes and zeroes of 2022 #2

Heroes and zeroes of 2022 #2

You mean there’s more? On the national and worldwide stage, we admire people like the American being held by Russia as a prisoner, Paul Whelan; Sens. Tim Scott, Ben Sasse, and (yes) Mitch McConnell; Richard Fierro (the man who disarmed the shooter in that Colorado Springs nightclub); truth-tellers Eric Herschmann and Cassidy Hutchinson; fearless comedians Dave Chappelle (and, occasionally) Bill…

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[awutar]

Trump Signed Inaccurate Voter Fraud Documents Despite Warning, Emails Reveal

Trump Signed Inaccurate Voter Fraud Documents Despite Warning, Emails Reveal

Personal attorneys for then-President Donald Trump were warned by Senior White House Counsel Eric Herschmann not to allow the tycoon to sign a court document under oath “verifying inaccurate evidence of voter fraud, according to emails from December 2020.” The report released by Axios, which had access to these emails, is the most recent scandal over Trump’s deliberate signing of inaccurate…

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[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Bill Day, Florida Politics  ::  [Scott Horton]

* * * *

Trump’s lawyers talk of indictment. ::  September 20, 2022

Robert B. Hubbell

         For those who hope that the DOJ will defend the rule of law by indicting Trump, Monday brought several developments that suggest an indictment is increasingly likely in the near term. First, Maggie Haberman of the NYTimes is reporting that a White House attorney, Eric Herschmann, warned Trump that he “could face legal liability if he did not return government materials he had taken with him when he left office.” See NYTimes, Trump Was Warned Late Last Year of Potential Legal Peril Over Documents - The New York Times.

         If true, Herschmann’s testimony will help establish that Trump willfully violated the law in retaining classified materials and defense secrets after he left the presidency. Willfulness is an element of at least one of the crimes that the DOJ is investigating—and intent is traditionally the most difficult element of espionage to prove. On the publicly known facts, the other elements will be easy to prove. Trump’s lawyers should be thinking about how to shape Trump’s defense to an impending indictment. As we learned on Monday, Trump’s lawyers are clearly worried that Trump will be indicted. Read on!

Judge Cannon’s fine mess—and Trump’s lawyers’ public reference to a possible indictment.

         In a bizarre series of events on Monday, the mess created by Judge Cannon’s appointment of a special master resulted in a public statement by Trump’s attorneys that they are “holding back” evidence to defend Trump in the event of a “subsequent indictment.” The fact that Trump’s lawyers raised the need to prepare for an indictment is a breathtaking statement by Trump’s lawyers. What do they know that we don’t know? Answer: Something that Trump has told them about the documents he stole.

         The remarkable statement by Trump’s lawyers emerged from the mess created by Judge Cannon’s nonsensical order. She appointed a special master (in part) to review seized documents to determine which are truly “classified.” In his court filings, Trump argued that he is entitled to return of the classified documents because he (theoretically) could have declassified them. Understandably, the special master’s first order of business was to ask Trump’s lawyers to specify which documents he declassified. Trump’s lawyers are now refusing to state whether (or which) documents he declassified. See CNN, Trump team says it doesn't want to immediately disclose certain 'declassification' information in special master review.

         In a letter to the special master, Trump’s lawyers complained that the request requires Trump to “disclose specific information regarding declassification to the Court and to the Government.” Uh, yes, that is what the special master that Trump requested needs to perform the review ordered by Judge Cannon! Trump argued that he should not be forced to identify which documents have been declassified unless and until he files a motion for their return (a so-called “Rule 41 motion”). Trump’s lawyers wrote:

We respectfully submit that the time and place for affidavits or declarations would be in connection with a Rule 41 motion that specifically alleges declassification as a component of its argument for return of property. . . Otherwise, the Special Master process will have forced the [Trump]to fully and specifically disclose a defense to the merits of any subsequent indictment. . . .

         In other words, having successfully snookered Judge Cannon with the ridiculous argument that Trump “could have” declassified documents, Trump does not want to declare under penalty of perjury before the special master whether he actually did so. Instead, Trump wants to save that evidence for his defense to an indictment. Statements made by Trump to the special master could constitute admissions that can be used against Trump in a criminal trial. See Washington Post, Trump lawyers acknowledge Mar-a-Lago probe could lead to indictment.

         The audacious move by Trump’s lawyers indicates that any statement by Trump would be worse than the legal drubbing he is about to receive at the hands of the special master. In the absence of any evidence by Trump that he declassified the documents, the special master must conclude that the “classified” markings on the documents establishes their status as classified documents.

         Trump has clearly revealed something to his new lawyers that has them worried about an indictment. Chances are good that if Trump told his lawyers about a harmful fact, the FBI is already aware of that evidence.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

#TFG #Indictment #Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter #Robert B. Hubbell #Bill Day