65 Comments

This has the kind of zing that the Watergate Tapes did when they mesmerized the nation. For once Trump is not controlling the political daily news cycle. The news cycle is controlling Trump instead.

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Trump is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. I’m not sure he even knows how bad this week is going to be for him.

We are finally going to see this stupid fucking bozo in prison.

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Hillary was never investigated for violating the Espionage Act. Life is so unfair to Trump. 😭

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Correction—boo fucking hoo

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Love the correction

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MAGAT land is melting down in a paroxysmal episode that can be heard in outer space and I for on couldn’t be happier. I literally could not be happier. At least for now. We’ll see if Garland does anything.

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Garland already has.

He personally approved the search. He personally approved the release of the warrant and the inventory list.

I'm sure he's fully engaged in prosecuting Trump when times comes. He's fearless.

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Consider the possibility that "MAGAT land" isn't "melting down" at all -- at least not in the uncontrolled, irreversible way that the phrase suggests. Consider that the GOP officeholders are acting crazy (by our standards) because crazy *pays*. It fires up the base and it brings in lots of money, both of which are very important with midterms fast approaching. The loose cannons are rolling -- will there be more like the guy who invaded the Cincinnati FBI office, or all the anonymous creeps threatening Judge Reinhart? Almost certainly.

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I was just listening to CNN's expert on federal law (they have a few)and each count can be up to 10 or 20 years.

Each count. I 'm gonna guess that there's at least one document for each law broken.

Donald Trump might want to reconsider his political future as being over, as of right now.

Thank god for the FBI, Merrick Garland and that person who informed the feds about where to find this stuff.

It's all going down.

Donald Trump is done.

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I want to see the Dumpster do a perp walk all the way down 5th Avenue.

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How about out the front of Trump Tower?

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I want to see him in prison. Federal prison. For a long, long time.

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🙏🙏

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With what looks like clear evidence of a crime, how long will we have to wait until there is an indictment??

Also, there has to be a catch; if the information is so damning, why did he and his lawyers seemingly just roll over and allow it to be made public. This makes me very nervous.

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I think they really fucked up, Cathy. When the answer finally comes out, it’ll be something like, “Chump was arrogant and overconfident. He just underestimated the DoJ and assumed they have no teeth, after all the hugely egregious crimes that he’s been getting away with.“

Al Capone: tax evasion

Donald Trump: illegal removal of top secret files

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I fully expect him to claim that he didn’t know the boxes were there, much the same way he claims not to know people who step up and say negative things about him.

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As to how long, it looks like (from what I've read) until after the midterms because the DOJ has the habit of not prosecuting or charging so close to any election. Mostly because Trump could (and would) use it as a ploy for pity from followers.

Once the midterms are over, watch out. Trump will have to start making plans-and while we're waiting, the feds will be going through the evidence sorting out what they can or can't use against him in a case-plus filtering out what is privileged or not.

It's going to be a wait, no doubt about that-but it will be worth it to see it happen.

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Thank you. I wonder who alerted the feds to where the boxes were located?

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The Lincoln Project's latest ad wonders exactly that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcVSC-BgTww

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Love it.

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My first thought was Melanoma, but now I think Jared—trying to save his own sorry ass

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I vote for Mark Meadows. It was he who tfg appointed head of the crew responsible for packing up WH records for transfer to the National Archives. Who else would know as much?

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Thanks for the welcome update.

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Can’t wait for the perp walk

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Actually, that's a very interesting question. In recent years they've devised less embarrassing spectacles for certain favored high-profile perps—jackets draped over handcuffs, obscure back entrances not famous front steps, etc. (Rudy particularly relished rubbing in perp walks.) Given the rage on both sides, how will they decide which standard to apply?

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Again thank you! Today I hope marks the end of the trumpian dreams of ruling the world.

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Thank you! Great reporting. Bravo!!

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🔍🎇 thank you

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Thank you!!

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"You read the words “Espionage Act” here first." No I didn't. But close enough for government work.

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This is from my column, "What was the FBI looking for in Mar a Lago, published on August 10:

"It’s possible the DOJ may be investigating Trump not only for violating the Presidential Records Act, but for violating the Espionage Act. "

Gee, I think I see the words, "Espionage Act." Do you?

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Easy there Lucian. We love you. 💕 You’re doing excellent work, and we love it.

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O.K. Lucian. No need to get defensive. You are my favorite columnist, bar none.

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Greg Olear and Lucian, my top 2 favorites. This is an emotionally vulnerable week of developments, no surprise that someone might be getting a little worked up. It’s been a long time coming.

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Well, then you haven't been reading my column over the last few days.

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All hail Master Truscott!

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Past: Informed speculation. This afternoon: reportage.

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Yes. I knew they had to have a really REALLY good reason for a search warrant of a former president's residence. I figured the Espionage Act was it. It was a guess, but I knew I was right.

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Well. I have. And I concede the point. I was just thinking about this one column.

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Lucian, take a breath, stretch your fingers, have a martini--or whatever, and come back with words ablazing.

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Thanks Lucian, well worth the subscription!

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Oh yes it is!

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