Assange’s lawyer: White House offered pardon if Russian hacks covered up

In London court, attorney claims that congressman's visits were to broker deal.



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[Fatesrider]

A statement from one defense attorney, on behalf of another, is evidence?

IN COURT?!?!?

Assange's lawyer for his extradition hearings (Edward Fitzgerald) offered into evidence a statement from another Assange lawyer (Jennifer Robinson) which showed, Fitzgerald said, “Mr. Rohrabacher going to see Mr Assange and saying, on instructions from the president, he was offering a pardon or some other way out, if Mr Assange... said Russia had nothing to do with the DNC leaks."

Yes.

That will probably trigger a subpoena to have that lawyer testify, and offer whatever testimony she has about it.

These statements are sworn affidavits, which means those who make them can be charged with perjury if they're lying.

So, again, yes, it's evidence - as much as any eyewitness testimony offered in written form.

 

[Fatesrider]

It is long leap from Rohrabacher trying to make up some deal that neither side has agreed to, to a real offer from the White House. Offering a pardon doesn't even make sense, that would mean that Assange would have to come back, stand trial, be found guilty and be sentenced, then he could be pardoned. Assange has no intentions of voluntarily returning for trial. I'm just not believing this story.

<cough>bullshit<cough>

Maybe you're not old enough to remember, but Nixon was never charged with any crimes, mostly because Ford pardoned him for any and all possible crimes prior to that.

Basically, no, you don't have to be convicted of anything to be pardoned and avoid prosecution altogether.

Your belief is irrelevant because it's apparently based on a complete lack of understanding of how pardons work in the U.S.

 

[Fatesrider]

The better question is:

Where are the hacked GOP emails that Russia also has?

source

I'm not sure The Daily Beast is the best source to cite, but the media had coverage about the RNC's hacking, too, and little was mentioned about that later.

My personal opinion was that the sudden turn of the worst of the GOP's supervillains toward blatant rejection of reality and embracing of evil is because they're being blackmailed by the Russians into supporting their campaign to destabilize the United States. But it's a carrot and stick approach, which benefits them if they comply and punishes them if they don't.

They have a lot to gain (personal power, wealth, etc) if they do as they're told, and a lot to lose (personal power, wealth, etc) if they don't.

No proof of that, of course, but it fits the pattern. I'd love to know what they have on Graham, because that asshole is the biggest Russian asset next to Trump.

 

[Fatesrider]

It is long leap from Rohrabacher trying to make up some deal that neither side has agreed to, to a real offer from the White House. Offering a pardon doesn't even make sense, that would mean that Assange would have to come back, stand trial, be found guilty and be sentenced, then he could be pardoned. Assange has no intentions of voluntarily returning for trial. I'm just not believing this story.

Litmus test here. Do you think that Trump pressured Zelenskey to open an investigation into his political rival? If so do you think that was wrong?

If both of those are yes I don't know how you cannot wrap your head around this being their next move...

The problem with associating this to Trump.....and correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall (when this was all happening), that Trump ever said that Russia was not the one that hacked the DNC? Pretty sure he actually said something along the lines, "I wished Russia would released the emails," which to me sounds like he believed they did it.

Why would he say that, and on the other hand, seek to have Assange say the emails didn't come from Russia? It just makes zero sense.

What reality do you live in that you're completely unaware of how blatantly Trump contradicts himself? And how can you be unaware that the GOP and all the Trumpies in ignorance-land blindly support him, and support his contradictory statements?

Have you been hibernating for three years? Are you truly unaware that, as far as Trump voters, the GOP, and Trump himself are concerned, logic, truth, and consistency are completely irrelevant?

Hyperbolic much? This is why I dislike talking politics with people. They always go to extremes. Claiming Trump contradicts himself - that's perfectly fine and valid. I would argue that while Trump does that - he always has the motivation of benefiting himself; this Assange thing would have given him like zero benefit that I can see.

The rest of your post is just hyperbolic nonsense that adds nothing to the argument, other than making sure people know you think very little of a large swathes of people, whom you have no actual facts on, other than what your personal self loathing. Frankly, maybe I'm old school in that I'll disagree with people, but I'm not going to outright reduce the whole bunch to a narrow definition just' cause.

You don't see much, then.

The contradictions and self-serving stands on the part of the Trump administration, and the willingness of his followers to ignore the blatant contradictions and self-serving stands, are blindingly obvious, and the subject of many discussions here on Ars, as well as virtually EVERY OTHER COMMENT BOARD IN EXISTENCE TODAY (except, possibly, those owned and operated by the GOP).

The facts speak for themselves. If those "large swaths of people" (AKA Trump followers) actually stood up and said, "Trump, you're a fucking liar, fraud, con-man and criminal!", then you'd have a point.

But they don't. They remain silent at BEST (which is always interpreted as agreement by others), but most are quite vocal in their support. That's a fact that can't be denied, nor hand-waved with insults and a BS "Frankly, maybe I'm old school in that I'll disagree with people, but I'm not going to outright reduce the whole bunch to a narrow definition just' cause.[sic]".

This isn't "just 'cause". It's based on consistent behaviors on the part of Trump supporters. One doesn't need more facts than that to draw a general conclusion about Trump supporters support of Trump. It has nothing to do with self loathing. It has everything to do with loathing what a criminal is doing to our nation.

Go back to that "old school" and learn how to think critically before you criticize others, please. You don't seem to have the knack for it.

Oh, and if Assange had gotten a pardon from Trump, it would have concealed what the trial will prove: That Assange conspired with the Russians to run Wikileaks as a Russian propaganda tool. Whether willingly or not (I'm willing to entertain the idea that it wasn't his intention at the start), in the end, Wikileaks was nothing less than part of a comprehensive Russian plan to destabilize the Western Alliance (which it has helped do very nicely).

Trump plays an important role in that as well, since his soul is essentially owned by the oligarchs of Russia who, in the 1980's saved him from complete ruin by laundering money through his businesses (which is why he had so many bankruptcies). The leaders of Russia own him, because they were the leaders of the Russian mob who stepped into the power vacuum after the fall of the Soviet Union.

You really need to keep up on the geopolitical state of the world today. Being well informed about how the world was, and is, helps one think logically, rationally and critically. And if you think any of this was irrational, remember, we live in a time where a six times bankrupt game show host loser got into the White House because our system of government isn't a direct democracy.

That's reality. And it's as irrational as anything I've ever seen in my lifetime.