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WASHINGTON — It became a regular litany of grievances from President Donald J. Trump and his supporters: The investigation into his 2016 campaign’s ties to Russia was a witch hunt, they maintained, that had been opened without any solid basis, went on too long and found no proof of collusion. Egged on by Mr. Trump, Attorney General William P. Barr set out in 2019 to dig into their shared theory that the Russia investigation likely stemmed from a conspiracy by intelligence or law enforcement agencies. To lead the inquiry, Mr. Barr turned to a hard-nosed prosecutor named John H. Durham, and later granted him special counsel status to carry on after Mr. Trump left office. But after almost four years — far longer than the Russia investigation itself — Mr. Durham’s work is coming to an end without uncovering anything like the deep state plot alleged by Mr. Trump and suspected by Mr. Barr. Moreover, a monthslong review by The New York Times found that the main thrust of the Durham inquiry was marked by some of the very same flaws — including a strained justification for opening it and its role in fueling partisan conspiracy theories that would never be charged in court — that Trump allies claim characterized the Russia investigation.

☆ California authorities want to disbar John Eastman for trying to help Trump overturn the 2020 election results
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

California legal authorities want to disbar John Eastman for trying to keep Donald Trump in power. Following Trump's loss in the 2020 election, Eastman, a former professor at the Chapman University School of Law, drafted legal memos that purported to offer avenues to keep him in office. The former law professor is one of many lawyers allied with Trump who has faced professional consequences for pursuing false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Giuliani has also been sued by election technology companies he implicated in false conspiracy theories about the election results, and has lost his ability to practice law in New York. Jeffrey Clark, a former Trump Administration Justice Department official who tried to overturn the election results, is also facing charges from the DC bar.

☆ The inquiry Trump launched to clear his name on Russia collusion ended up investigating him for potential financial crimes: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Special counsel John Durham's team reportedly opened up a criminal probe into Trump's financial dealings. It is not clear what happened to the probe, which started as a result of a tip by Italian officials. Instead, a tip from Italian officials led the Justice Department to quietly open a probe into shady financial deals linked to then-President Donald Trump. But, according to the Times, Italian officials responded by telling Durham's team about allegations of financial crimes that were serious enough that the DOJ opened a criminal investigation. At the time, vague reports about Durham's new criminal probe lit up conservative media.

☆ Prosecutor appointed by Trump Justice Department used claims from Russian intelligence to obtain emails from a George Soros aide: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

John Durham used Russian intelligence claims to obtain a US citizen's emails, per The New York Times. Durham was appointed by former Attorney General Bill Barr to examine the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation. But Durham pursued a dubious claim from Russia involving Hillary Clinton and an aide to George Soros. They "were said to make demonstrably inconsistent, inaccurate or exaggerated claims," the Times reported, "and some US analysts believed Russia may have deliberately seeded them with disinformation." As Russian intelligence analysts themselves had told it, Moscow had hacked Leonard Benardo, executive vice president of Soros' Open Society Foundations, and in doing so uncovered a plot at the highest level to sway the 2016 election.

☆ Trump advisors are shocked that they can't get Republicans to show up to his events, NYT reporter says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Aides to Donald Trump are surprised that few allies are coming to his events, Maggie Haberman said. Some former allies have turned against Trump, and his 2024 campaign has struggled to gain momentum. Trump is planning to gear up his campaign at an event in South Carolina this week. Speaking on CNN Tuesday, Haberman discussed how Trump's 2024 campaign has gotten off to a slow start, and his plans to gear it up at a campaign event in South Carolina on Saturday. Some former allies, including Bill Barr, the former Attorney General, have called on Trump to step aside and allow a new generation of Republicans to take power.

☆ Congress Must Halt Big Tech’s Power Grab
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( William P. Barr | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Big Tech has far too much power. Lawmakers from both parties agree, but for years Congress has been all talk and no action. Meanwhile, tech giants are threatening to use their control over digital platforms to gain unfair advantage in other markets where competing products depend on access to those platforms. Over the past 20 years, the scope of commercial and personal activities relying on access to digital platforms has mushroomed. A few giant companies—Google, Apple , Amazon , Facebook—have achieved monopoly or near-monopoly control over key platforms, among them online search and advertising, mobile operating systems, online marketplaces, maps and social media.

☆ Fed directs big banks to disclose how they are preparing for climate change risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The Fed has narrow, but important, responsibilities regarding climate-related financial risks – to ensure that banks understand and manage their material risks, including the financial risks from climate change," Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael S. Barr said. "The exercise we are launching today will advance the ability of supervisors and banks to analyze and manage emerging climate-related financial risks." A financial stability report in late 2020 first discussed the possibility of the Fed examining how prepared the institutions it oversees are for economic impacts from climate change. In addition, banks are being asked to "consider the impact of additional physical risk shocks for their real estate portfolios in another region of the country." The final report will focus on aggregate information provided by the banks about how they are incorporating climate risks into their financial plans.

The White House said some material was found in a locked garage at Biden's home and an adjacent room, and pledged to cooperate. "People know I take classified documents and classified material seriously," he added. Biden's attorneys said they have found fewer than a dozen classified documents and turned over the relevant papers after finding them. Trump resisted doing so until an August FBI search turned up about 100 classified documents, raising questions about whether Trump or his staff obstructed the investigation. "People know I take classified documents, classified material seriously," Biden told reporters on Thursday.

"We are confident that a thorough review will show that these documents were inadvertently misplaced," White House lawyer Richard Sauber said in a statement. The White House on Monday disclosed that classified documents from Biden's vice presidential days were discovered in November at a think tank in Washington. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst 1 2 3 4 5"The fact that they called for special counsel for Trump's handling of classified documents, I don't see how they cannot appoint a special counsel with respect to Biden," said Representative James Comer, who will head the House Oversight Committee. Garland named a special counsel, Jack Smith, in November to oversee Justice Department investigations related to Trump, including the Republican former president's handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. "As I said earlier this week, people know I take classified documents, classified material seriously.

The White House on Monday disclosed that classified documents from his vice presidential days were discovered in November at a think tank in Washington. Garland said Robert Hur, a former U.S. attorney in Maryland, would serve as special counsel. Garland in November named a special counsel, Jack Smith, to oversee Justice Department investigations related to Donald Trump including the Republican former president's handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. "As I said earlier this week, people know I take classified documents, classified material seriously. Biden in September called his predecessor's handling of classified documents "totally irresponsible."

☆ Banks’ profit picnic will attract ant invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

JPMorgan (JPM.N), Bank of America (BAC.N), Wells Fargo (WFC.N) and Citigroup (C.N) all report fourth-quarter earnings on Friday. The good news is that for the year ahead, rising interest rates twinned with growing loan books should more than make up for sliding investment banking fees. The CFPB squeezed a $3.7 billion settlement from serial miscreant Wells Fargo in December for wrongly levying charges on customers. CONTEXT NEWSJPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo will report fourth-quarter 2022 earnings on Jan. 13. The CFPB said that Wells Fargo will also allocate over $2 billion in redress to customers.

☆ Senate Intel chair calls for a briefing on classified docs found in Biden office
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner, D-Va., is calling for his committee to receive a briefing on the classified documents discovered in an office used by President Joe Biden. Warner has voiced frustration that a briefing for congressional leaders about the classified documents found in Trump’s possession at Mar-a-Lago never materialized. He told NBC News in December, "it’s a bit embarrassing" that a group of eight top congressional leaders was never looped in on the scope of the classified material found at the resort. "Unlike former President Donald Trump, who allegedly obstructed efforts to recover hundreds of classified documents, the handful of classified documents reportedly found at the Biden Center were immediately sent to the National Archives and President Biden is allowing the Justice Department to operate free of political interference," Durbin said. This comes as Jack Smith, a special counsel appointed by the Department of Justice, is investigating Trump for his possession of classified material.

☆ Wells Fargo labors under $100 bln sin discount
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Wells Fargo shows what happens when misbehavior becomes a feature rather than a bug. TRAGIC NUMBERSerial mischief has cost Wells Fargo investors in three ways. Second, there are the expenses Wells Fargo has incurred from its internal deep clean. A little more than seven years ago, Wells Fargo, Bank of America (BAC.N) and JPMorgan (JPM.N) were roughly the same size in terms of market cap. At $161 billion, Wells Fargo now sits $110 billion short of Bank of America and a whopping $243 billion below JPMorgan.

☆ Trump tried to fight E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit in court on Tuesday. Here's a rundown of where all the litigation stands.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Ashley Collman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

E. Jean Carroll, who alleges Trump raped her, sued him for defamation more than three years ago. Carroll filed a second lawsuit in November, adding a defamation claim and accusing him of battery. Five months later, Carroll sued Trump for defamation, alleging he attacked her reputation by claiming she made the story up. Trump won't be able to invoke the Westfall Act in Carroll's second lawsuit, which means at least one of her defamation claims will likely move forward. If the DC Circuit allows Carroll's first lawsuit to proceed, a trial could happen in the next few months.

☆ Republican representatives say they are not worried McCarthy conceded too much
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Following a chaotic week in the U.S. House of Representatives over Kevin McCarthy's bid for speaker, Republican representatives said Sunday they are not worried that he gave up too much in order to secure the gavel. Republican Rep. Scott Perry, who was among the most outspoken opponents of McCarthy's speaker bid, flipped his vote for McCarthy on the 12th ballot. "This is never about Kevin McCarthy. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., said Sunday he's not worried that Kevin McCarthy conceded too much to get the speakership. But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said if McCarthy is willing to try and find common ground, he will find willing partners among House Democrats.

☆ GOP lawmakers reject critics, say there were 'positives' in chaotic House Speaker vote: 'We accomplished an enormous amount'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Texas Republican argued on CNN Sunday morning that "a little temporary conflict is necessary in this town." "Some of the tensions you saw on display when we saw some of the interactions there between Mike Rogers and Matt Gaetz, you know some of that is, we need a little of that. Kentucky Republican Rep. Andy Barr told ABC's "This Week" that the process "was quite healthy from the standpoint of getting all of these issues resolved now." "I understand the American people's frustration with the delay in electing a speaker," Barr said. "Not only did the framers of our Constitution expect us to debate the operations of the House and the House rules and how we're going to function, that's what a healthy democracy actually requires."

☆ Melania Trump distrusted her husband's advisors, including his own son, Donald Trump Jr, Stephanie Grisham told the Jan. 6 committee
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Melania Trump mistrusted many of her husband's closest advisors, Jan. 6 committee transcripts show. These included his son, Donald Trump Jr, former Trump aide Stephanie Grisham told the committee. Stephanie Grisham, who served as White House press secretary and as a senior aide to Melania Trump, told the committee in her testimony that the former first lady was skeptical of the intentions of some of the president's children. Grisham claimed in her 2021 memoir that the first lady also didn't get along with Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump. Former Attorney General Bill Barr described staff members President Donald Trump brought on after the November election as the "clown car."

☆ Ginni Thomas told the Jan. 6 committee she 'regret' texting Mark Meadows about a 'coup' and pushing Sidney Powell's 'Kraken' plan
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Virginia "Ginni" Thomas she regrets her text messages and posts sent in the wake of the 2020 election. "I regret all of these texts," Thomas, who goes by Ginni, told the panel during a closed-door deposition in September. The closest Ginni Thomas came to acknowledging any political conversation with Justice Thomas was a reference to her "best friend" bucking her up on November 24th. "I wish I could remember, but I have no memory of the specifics," Thomas told the panel of the conversation with her husband. The Washington Post and CBS' publication of Ginni Thomas' texts with Meadows in March caused a public firestorm, especially among Democrats.

☆ Trump once again stirs rumors that he could run as a third-party candidate and split the Republican vote if party turns on him
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump shared an article calling on him to abandon Republican Party if it doesn't back him in 2024. The article said Trump could run as a third-party candidate, a move that would split the GOP vote. Trump is facing rising opposition to his 2024 bid from some quarters of the Republican Party. It is a move that would split the Republican Party vote and likely doom the party's 2024 ambitions. He said that a Trump third-party candidacy could have a similar result, but that a Republican loss would teach the "corrupt gravy-train" a lesson.

☆ Donald Trump Jr. blamed his own cynicism for his initial belief that January 6 rioters weren't Trump supporters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump Jr. gave the Jan. 6 committee little new information, but spoke about his own thinking. He spoke of the "Russia, Russia, Russia stuff for the last few years," an apparent reference to investigations into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign. Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian agent during the campaign, though a final report issued by Special Counsel Robert Mueller found insufficient evidence for a broader criminal conspiracy. Even as he told Meadows that his father had to "condemn this shit ASAP," Trump also texted Meadows that he was "not convinced these were Trump supporters either," referring to the rioters. I was there," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy reportedly told Trump in a phone call days after the attack.

☆ Republicans went after BlackRock and sustainable investing in 2022. Meet 12 officials crusading against 'woke capitalism.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

A group of vocal conservative officials are criticizing aspects of ESG investing. Players in the ESG ecosystem, like S&P Global and BlackRock, the world's largest money manager and an influential proponent of ESG investing, are often the subject of their critiques. Instead, officials often paint large financial firms' ESG strategies as functions of left-leaning agendas. Here are key GOP players who are taking aim at ESG investing. Abbott, who is seeking reelection in November, was early to denouncing ESG investing.

☆ Jan. 6 committee releases nearly 50 more witness transcripts — including Ivanka Trump, Bill Barr, and Mike Pompeo — to little fanfare
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The January 6 committee released a new trove of nearly 50 witness transcripts on Friday. Testimony from Ivanka Trump, Mike Pompeo, and Bill Bar was included in the release. Testimony from several high-profile witnesses were included in the Friday release, including Ivanka Trump, former Attorney General Bill Bar, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The committee released testimony transcripts from 46 witnesses in total on Friday, having already published several transcripts earlier in the week. Testimony from Trump-aligned attorney Sidney Powell, former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, and former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was also released Friday.

Ali Alexander said he believed White House wanted him to lead rallygoers to Capitol "Stop The Steal" organizer Ali Alexander believed the White House wanted him to lead attendees of Trump's Jan. 6 rally to the Capitol, the report said. Alex Jones, who has claimed the White House told him to lead the march, texted Wren at 12:27 p.m. Finally one of the staffers told Trump they thought he should focus on his speech. Trump told Jan. 6 demonstrators at the Capitol in a Twitter video that he loved them but that they should go home. The information was expected to be available as soon as Thursday — the day the House Jan. 6 committee is set to issue its final report on the riot.

☆ Jan. 6 committee highlights: Panel votes on criminal referrals for Trump and others
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Rebecca Shabad | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan-Allen-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +48 min

“By the time President Trump was preparing to give his speech, he and his advisors knew enough to cancel the rally. “Some have suggested that President Trump gave an order to have 10,000 troops ready for January 6th. On far-right groups drawing inspiration from Trump: Trump has not denied that he helped inspire far-right groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, to violently attempt to obstruct the official certification proceedings on Jan. 6. "There is no question from all the evidence assembled that President Trump did have that intent." Share this -Link copiedInside the final Jan. 6 committee meeting The Jan. 6 committee met for what’s likely its final public meeting, with many of the usual faces present.

☆ The Jan. 6 committee took a parting shot at Ivanka Trump, saying she was not 'entirely frank or forthcoming' with them
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Jan. committee said Ivanka Trump was not "entirely frank or forthcoming" in her testimony. Ivanka Trump testified to the committee in April, angering her father. It said that Ivanka had notable gaps in her memory, writing that often "Ivanka Trump's Chief of Staff Julie Radford had a more specific recollection of Ivanka Trump's actions and statements." Trump then hit back at her on his Truth Social platform, saying: "Ivanka Trump was not involved in looking at, or studying, Election results. Ivanka Trump has distanced herself from her father since his presidency ended.

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