THREAD - #ManafortTrial
More from witness Melinda James -
James says Manafort lied about whether he had a mortgage on a property in Brooklyn. (Union Street)
Info she gets from Manafort and Gates - and what she digs up on insurance records - reveal there's a mortgage...
on the house. Gates tells her its not finalized and wouldn't be until March in an email. Manafort CC'd on the email.
During cross, def atty Jay Nanavati shifts blame back to Gates, noting a Feb 2016 email (a month earlier than the loan was allegedly finalized)
from Manafort to Melinda James. In it, Manafort says the mortgage had only been "approved" but the deal was still not closed.
Some confusion in ct around what James said and what FBI reported her saying about the Union St mortgage though.
FBI said Gates told her the Union St mortg. was paid off, James said today she remembered things differently. James said Gates sent more insurance docs but didn't list a mortgage on the prop....one snag - the docs Gates sent over were older than what she had reviewed before.
This may be a little chestnut to question credibility of FBI stmts later. We'll see.
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THREAD - Some observations I recorded while at the protest this afternoon:
- There were several federal employees (recognized by their badges) who had some very, very nasty things to say about people exercising their 1A.
- Protestors were very calm, very respectful but emotional
- The crowd was incredibly diverse. Every color, creed, orientation, age, from infants to the elderly, + the heat stopped no one
- Every time a rape survivor or assault survivor would get on a mic or bullhorn, and share their story, the crowd replied: "I believe you."
- Each person I talked to, of which there were several, expressed their concern over the gravity of Kavanaugh's appointment and how it would impact future generations
- Above anger or outrage, there was a palpable sadness in ppl's voice when they considered my questions
THREAD - It is time to head to @Scotus. On deck: Madison v. Alabama. Is it a violation of the Constitution to execute a man who can't remember his crime? Well into his 60s & w/dementia, Vernon Madison argues executing someone who doesn't understand why he is being punished...1/4
implicitly fails to serve the purposes of the death penalty. The execution would not deter future crimes nor would it punish him for his conduct. The state, Alabama, doubts his claims of incapacity, suggesting he knows when to decline certain meds etc. Also even if he doesn't...
recall killing the officer, a court appointed psychologist says he has a "rational" understanding as to why he'll be executed, state argues. Alabama hinges their position on 8A, which they say, does not prevent them from executing him because he claims he can't remember. 3/4
THREAD I suppose I need to state my belief on this for the record because it will save me time. Folks, I want to believe Kavanaugh wont be confirmed because even if you dont #BelieveHer, the man is not fit for the bench. #sorrynotsorry (Evidenced by his own behavior yesterday)
But I have zero trust that the people in Congress who need to do the right thing, will.
I often see people shocked! at the injustice of it all. For me, I am just totally too close to the situation to be shocked. About any of it.
I operate from doubt most of the time tho I am...
optimistic. Because I believe in the power of good people and progress. But I also have a good idea of how power works & I have watched congresspeople throw away their own voters interests time and time and time again. It isnt specific to one party, either.
THREAD - In October, I'll cover several arguments at @Scotus:
Weyerhaeuser Co. v. Fish and Wildlife Service, which challenges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designation of 1,544 acres of land in Louisiana as critical habit for the dusky gopher frog. 1/4 @CourthouseNews
Weyerhauser operates a logging business on the land and maintains the frog cannot live there without "radical change in land use."
2/4
Then, I'll cover Madison v. Alabama, which is about a death penalty challenge brought by a man who has dementia and says he can no longer remember committing the crime.
3/4
THREAD - Some reactions from Democratic Senators at a press conference this a.m. during the lunch break:
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. “It is striking how many survivors of sexual assault are watching and choosing this moment to come forward with their accounts." 1/4 @CourthouseNews
Coons cont.: "It speaks to what a public service is being done here by having a measured and respectful hearing of Dr. Ford’s allegations.”
2/4
Sen Patrick Leahy's, D-Vt., take on questioning from the Republican prosecutor:
“She’s very professional and you have to ask the question, why don’t they ask their own questions?”
Then told reporters: "Maybe someone should ask why they’re hiding their other witnesses."
3/4
AGs from the Commonwealths of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania plus states of California, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia signed off.
2/5