Cyrus Toulabi Profile picture
Aug 6, 2018 9 tweets 5 min read Read on X
#TRUTHBOMB: You've heard it a million times.

"There was No Collusion except with the Democrats and Russia!"

It's an often-repeated right-wing counter-narrative pointing to the FusionGPS commissioned #SteeleDossier.

Here's why they're full of it and how to counter it.

[THREAD]
#FLAG: Trump defenders say if it's illegal to get "opposition research" from a foreign national...

...then the Democrats are guilty of it, because they commissioned Christopher Steele, a former British spy and UK national, to gather intel that became the #SteeleDossier.

[2/7]
#FLAG: Let's look at the specific law...

52 USC 30121 - It's illegal to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution (opposition research) or donation of money or other thing of value from a foreign national in connection with an election.

But the fact is. STEELE WAS PAID.

[3/7]
#BOTTOMLINE: It's LEGAL to pay a foreign nation in exchange for a service.

The DNC/Clinton Campaign hired FusionGPS for opposition research into Trump and Russia, after the primaries.

They commissioned Steele. NOT a donation or contribution.

[4/7]
#FYI: Steele DID NOT PAY RUSSIAN SOURCES for the raw intel.

Republicans have tried to connect the money trail from Democrats to Russia — to make it appear more shady AND to discredit Steele and the info. They claim sources lied b/c they were paid.

[5/7]
#FTR: On the other hand, the Trump Tower Meeting DIRECTLY VIOLATED the law.

At a minimum, Don Jr. and the Trump Campaign solicited a contribution from a foreign government — in the form of "dirt," a thing of value (they call opposition research).

[6/7]
#FTR: Don Jr. solicited free "dirt" — a donation or contribution. If called opposition research, it's certainly a thing of value that campaigns pay for.

P.S. - It's in the context of a Quid Pro Quo. Dirt in exchange for lifted Magnitsky Sanctions.

[7/7]
#RELATED: Glad to see I'm not the only one trying to counter the Right Wing talking point...

**Foreign NATIONAL

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More from @CyrusToulabi

Aug 22, 2018
With all due respect to the hosts on @MSNBC...but move over.

@BarbMcQuade, @JoyceWhiteVance and @JillWineBanks need their own show together, right now!

Love them so much! Could listen to the three of them forever.
There could even be a quick #JillsPin segment each day, like @AllInWithChris's #Thing1Thing2. 😜
With the addition of @MimiRocah1, why has this show not yet been #Greenlit?

Maybe it needs a little @MayaWiley to seal the deal!

Read 4 tweets
Aug 19, 2018
#FTR: Nixon WH Counsel, John Dean, is pretty much universally considered a hero in the Watergate scandal.

While he wasn't an angel, his cooperation ultimately led to Nixon's impeachment and resignation.

Hmm, I wonder why Trump would call him a "RAT" and view him negatively...?
#FLAG: Trump invokes McCarthyism, while hurling unfounded accusations at Democrats and the Special Counsel.

He claims he demands transparency, while his White House lies at every turn.

When he says "many lives have been ruined," he's setting up pardons.
#FLAG: Trump and the Right Wing often say "No Collusion...except by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats."

It's a repeated counter-narrative about the FusionGPS commissioned #SteeleDossier, claiming it's collusion.

It's been debunked. But truth isn't truth.
Read 12 tweets
Aug 18, 2018
We all saw this coming when Trump bragged about his multi-hundred billion dollar arms deal with the Saudis, shortly after taking office.

I hate to say it, but the U.S. has sadly been complicit in what has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
In May, Trump signs a "tremendous" $110B arms deal with Saudi Arabia. #YEMEN

abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump…
Read 7 tweets
Aug 18, 2018
#BREAKING: THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL, DON MCGAHN, HAS COOPERATED EXTENSIVELY W/ MUELLER'S OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION.

He has detailed the most damning episodes in at least 3 voluntary interviews that have totaled 30 hours over the past 9 months.
nytimes.com/2018/08/18/us/…
#FLAG: McGahn has disclosed details surrounding...

- The firing of former FBI Director James Comey.
- Trump's obsession with putting a loyalist in charge.
- Trump's repeated urging of Sessions to claim oversight of the investigation.
- Trump's attempts to fire Mueller himself.
#FLAG: MCGAHN AND HIS LAWYER COOPERATED...BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT TRUMP WAS GOING TO SET HIM UP AS "THE FALL GUY."

They were suspicious when Trump didn't protest letting him be interviewed...

So McGahn cooperated extensively to cover to demonstrate that McGahn did nothing wrong.
Read 12 tweets
Aug 16, 2018
#FLAG: I don't want to read too far into it, but for the jury in the Manafort trial to be asking for the definition of "reasonable doubt," after one day of deliberation, is concerning, at least for me...
#TBH: I hate to say this, but I've been skeptical of this jury from the beginning.

How are there 12 individuals in the Alexandria, Virginia area (just outside of D.C.) who had never heard of Paul Manafort?

Either they are particularly ignorant individuals, or someone's lying...
#FTR: If Justice is not served at the conclusion of this trial...

No one is more to blame than Judge Ellis.
Read 5 tweets
Aug 16, 2018
Meanwhile, JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES with our allies in South Korea were "too expensive."

They act as a deterrent to North Korea, China and Russia, and are essential to ensure preparedness with our allies should Kim Jong Un launch an attack.

They would cost $14M...
#REMINDER: The Trump Administration's position on the suspension of joint military exercises with South Korea was CONDITIONAL.

The annual August exercises were suspended...AS LONG AS North Korea acted in "GOOD FAITH" in working towards denuclearization.
washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-ca…
#FLAG: U.S. Officials, from the Military Intelligence Agency in the Pentagon to the Secretary of State, have ACKNOWLEDGED...

North Korea is ACCELERATING their nuclear program, continuing missiles production, and hiding assets from the U.S..

Good faith?
Read 5 tweets

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