We have processed the House Judiciary Committee’s document request and its attempt to hold Trump accountable, possibly for the first time, ever. To that end, Trump got a document request that, far from being a fishing expedition, was all-too-coldly calculated to get right at Trump’s pressure points. To wit: Russia, and Money.
You know Trump is nothing if not predictable, and in less time than it takes to dribble Big Mac sauce on a presidential tie, Trump screamed Harassment(!) and set about blocking the requests.
Poor guy, if you had just spent the better part of 50 years lying to and cheating people, later needing money so bad you used the “lender of last resort” the Russian mob, only to then, accidentally, and totally against the plan, actually won the presidency, you — too, would be feeling a little light-headed.
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Turns out, though, that maybe naming all those witnesses, and requesting all those documents is overkill.
Omarosa Manigault Newman, who has been fairly decent at pointing fingers and being “right enough” to be a real pain in Trump’s ass (god love her), says we need only talk to one person, and it’s not Allen Weisselberg. nope.
In fact, it is not someone you’ve even heard of. But, it will surprise not a single person who has ever worked in a law office, or any big business office.
Her name is Rhona Graff, Trump’s personal secretary.
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There is an old joke about law firms. A first year associate has heard of god. 4th Year associate has seen god around. Junior Partner has even spoken to god a couple times. Senior Partner: Talks policy with god, consults god on every decision. Legal Secretary = God.
Yes, a good legal secretary, or good secretary is near always every bit as smart as the attorney, or wouldn’t have that position in the first place, and always knows what’s up. Know what I mean?
Sounds like this woman knows what’s up. At least that’s what Omarosa tells us.
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According to Huffington Post, Chris Mathews had a chat with Omarosa yesterday:
“Who do you think Trump fears most will be brought in?” Matthews asked
“One name: Rhona Graff,” Manigault Newman replied without hesitation, referring to Trump’s longtime personal secretary.
“She knows everyone. She knows the role they play. She knows who said what and when. She set up the meetings,” Manigault Newman said. “If she is called to testify, that will be the end of Donald Trump.”
Oh.
You know the other thing great secretaries often are? All but invisible. You’re so used to having them around, so focused on how you’re going to get your sorry ass client out of this mess that … you forget who has been in every meeting, seen every pleading, taken everyone’s measure.
I bet Trump often “forgot” who was sitting right there.
I suppose the only real question is why it has taken so long for this name to rise to the surface such that ….
Wait, what?
Nadler’s on it?
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In a separate article, HuffPost breaks down the document requests, and to whom such requests were sent. There are categories such as:
1) Trump Tower Moscow (also known as the ‘Moscow Project’) or any other proposed or possible real estate development in the Russian Federation by Donald Trump or the Trump Organization from January 1, 2015 to the present.
And to whom the requests were sent, and look who happens to be on the list, the list is shortened:
Alan Garten | Allen Weisselberg | Anatoli Samochornov | Andrew Intrater | Columbus Nova | Corey Lewandowski | Department of Justice | Donald Trump Jr. | Eric Trump | FBI | Felix Sater | Flynn Intel Group | General Services Administration | George Nader | Hope Hicks | Irakly Kaveladze | Jared Kushner | Jason Maloni | Jeff Sessions | Matthew Calamari | Michael Cohen | Michael Flynn | Michael Flynn Jr. | Paul Manafort | Reince Preibus | Rhona Graff | Rinat Akhmetshin | Rob Goldstone | Roger Stone | Ronald Lieberman | Sam Nunberg | Sean Spicer …..
And, another document request:
Any loan, financing transaction or capital investment by the Russian Federation, any Russian national, any Russian business or any other Russian entity to the Trump Organization, Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner or any of their business interests. This request shall include the period from January 1, 2015 to the present and shall exclude documents relating to the purchase of individual condominium, cooperative, or apartment units.
And the list to whom it went out? Even longer one, shortened here to let our star shine brighter:
Alan Garten | Allen Weisselberg | Anatoli Samochornov | Andrew Intrater | Brad Parscale | Columbus Nova | Corey Lewandowski | Department of Justice | Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust | Donald Trump Jr. | Eric Trump | Erik Prince | FBI | Felix Sater | Flynn Intel Group | General Services Administration | George Nader | Hope Hicks | Irakly Kaveladze | Jared Kushner | Jason Maloni | Jeff Sessions | Matthew Calamari | Michael Cohen | Michael Flynn | Michael Flynn Jr. | Paul Erickson | Paul Manafort | Reince Preibus | Rhona Graff | Rinat Akhmetshin | Rob Goldstone | Roger Stone ….|
Now, as fascinating as I am sure it would be to hear the tale that Michael Flynn can tell, regarding Russia and all that went on?
I would just assume skip to the chase at this point, and hear it right from the desk outside the door, the one that typed up the letters and emails (since you know who doesn’t use any of that), I think I would like to hear from Ms. Graff, first.
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I do not believe I have ever committed a felony.
I am pretty sure I have done some things that I am not all that proud of, things that were at least embarrassing.
And I can tell you, that the individual on this Earth who could personally testify most completely on those little “embarrassments” is my former legal secretary.
God.
Actually, her name was Andi, but we made enough regular sacrifices, goats and gold, all to keep her happy, one mighta’ gotten a bit confused on ….
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We know Trump’s got a problem.
I would start with Ms. Graff as a primer, a road map.
Right now, she’s god in his world, and the fact that she’s likely going to have to hire an attorney to keep her on the bright side of the road, means that Ms. God, I mean, Graff, likely won’t be merciful, and will likely be looking for a book deal at some point.
After all, god’s last book has been a runaway best-seller.
I like her odds.
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Do the country a favor Mr. Nadler. Call this woman first, let’s at least get the best road map available before we set about this journey.
Peace, y’all. Love one another
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