“The president was really surprised to read all about the inauguration and who was trying to buy access and how, because the president doesn’t get any of that money,” a senior admin official told me. https://t.co/fIVEIRBQc3
— Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) August 19, 2019
For years they ran parallel grifts, and they got along nicely. Then Don (with a little help from his Russian buddies) got a big promotion, and Tom made the mistake of thinking he could draft in his old buddy’s wake. SAD!
If Trump had been able to grasp the concept of social reciprocity as well as your average kindergartner, he wouldn’t have managed to bankrupt more than one casino. Which is probably related to the fact that nobody in Trump’s circle can be trusted alone with more than fifteen cents in cash…
Trump was “really upset” to read reports about Barrack’s role in allegedly making it easy for some foreigners and others to try to spend money to get access to Trump and his inner circle and whether some of the inauguration money was misspent, according to a senior administration official…
… According to the Mueller report, Barrack recommended that Trump hire his old friend Paul Manafort, who was initially brought onto the campaign to smooth Trump’s path at the Republican convention. Manafort went on to assume a larger role in the campaign after the firing of Corey Lewandowski, only to be ousted himself amid media scrutiny of his business dealings in Ukraine — and later to be indicted for those activities.
And as other prosecutors have dug into Barrack’s handling of the inauguration fund, Trump has privately soured on his mentor…
All the money raised for the convention, a record $107 million, was for the specific purpose of covering inauguration costs, but it came from a number of people and companies Barrack couldn’t convince to give money to the campaign or to outside groups when he was raising money for Trump during the 2016 campaign, according to the senior administration official.
“Trump improbably wins and they’re like, ‘Holy crap, I better send a check.’ They send a check to the inauguration and are like, ‘Look at me, six- or seven-figure check, I’m involved, I support your presidency,’” this person said. “But you didn’t support his candidacy three days ago.”…
The harsh spotlight goes well beyond the inauguration as Barrack, a Lebanese-American who is friendly with several Middle East leaders, has been accused of promoting his own business interests in his dealings with the president.
A report recently released by Democrats on the House Oversight and Reform Committee showed that Barrack worked with well-connected UAE businessman Rashid Al-Malik to make suggestions for an energy speech Trump gave in 2016 to be more favorable toward the Middle East and urged Manafort to get Trump to mention Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed…
Federal prosecutors have probed whether Barrack or other people violated laws requiring public disclosure of efforts to influence national policy or public opinion on behalf of foreign governments or entities, strictures that Manafort, former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates have all said they violated. Public integrity prosecutors who work for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn interviewed Barrack in June as part of the investigation, albeit at Barrack’s request, according to the Times…Another point of friction in Trump’s relationship with Barrack is that he kept [Rick] Gates, who pleaded guilty to two charges and became a star witness for Mueller, on his company Colony NorthStar’s payroll — at a rate of $20,000 per month, according to the Times — up until the moment when Gates was indicted for money laundering and violating foreign lobbying and tax laws.
Early in Trump’s presidency, Barrack brought Gates to the White House several times and also kept paying him even after Trump urged his friend to fire Gates because he was “bad luck” and “a bad penny” who wouldn’t go away, according to the senior administration official. Gates admitted during Manafort’s trial last summer that he might have stolen money from the inaugural committee, which he helped manage. Gates and his lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
Several sources said Trump’s falling out with Barrack, who hasn’t yet donated to Trump’s re-election campaign, began even before the damaging reports about the inaugural committee.
“Barrack is the kind of guy who would tell him things he didn’t want to hear, so Trump stopped talking to him,” a former senior White House official said…
The Trump hotel in DC got more than $1 million from the inaugural committee. https://t.co/kTEcnyKUMf
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 19, 2019
Cheryl Rofer
I’m sure that he was surprised that it got out to a place where he could read it. He may have been surprised it was put in terms simple enough to understand.
But it’s clear that Tom and Don have been wrapped up in grift for some time. Don is dropping Tom because he got caught, no other reason.
debbie
Ha! He had done to him what he’s done to so many for so long! Kharma, baby!
Yarrow
Narcissists have no friends. Only people they use.
hells littlest angel
So Trump is mad because he didn’t get his beak wet.
SFAW
Over at TPM, they’re reporting that Rep. Rich Neal got a letter from “an anonymous tipster” who said there had been an “inappropriate attempt to influence” the IRS audit of the Tax-Cheat-in-Chief. So, of course, Mnuchin will have the IG track down who the tipster is, and have said tipster get paid a visit by an FSB “acquaintance,” the infamous Irish-Russian expat Paul O’Nium.
kimp
I seem to remember Chris Christie being castigated for not giving inaugural funds directly to Trump, Trump seemed confused about the process and that he didn’t get to personally keep the money, accusing Christie of trying to cheat him. The chances that he was unaware of Barrack’s money-grubbing is slim to none. Distancing himself before indictments come down seem much more likely.
MattF
One should not assume that con artists are all friends.
TenguPhule
Trump mouthpiece Kathrine Gorka is departing CBP.
And there was moderate rejoicing.
misterpuff
@hells littlest angel: If you take care of your big producers, they will take care of you./Sopranos
This is why Drumpfy would be a crappy mob boss (and probably would have been taken out by his own crew).
MattF
@TenguPhule: Name rings a bell. And sets off a siren with flashing red lights.
Patricia Kayden
@hells littlest angel: Yep, because like a true thief, Trump wanted his cut of the loot. #notnormal.
SiubhanDuinne
According to the article, Barrack was responsible for bringing his good friend Paul Manafort into the Trump campaign. Don’t think I was aware of that.
Only the best people. Huh. I can’t think of one single person in Trump’s orbit — literally, not one*— who isn’t in the grift.
*Okay, maybe Barron. But not for more than a few years.
TenguPhule
@MattF: Yes, she’s married to that Gorka.
JoyceH
@SiubhanDuinne: Speaking of Barron, have you seen that clip of the family returning to the White House? Dang, if Trump is six three, Barron must be six five, because he’s definitely taller than dad.
SiubhanDuinne
@JoyceH:
No, haven’t seen that. Can’t remember the last time I saw a picture of Barron, but even months ago it was clear he was going to be tall.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@SiubhanDuinne: I don’t know, those Trumps start early in the family business.
OT: You may all remember that a few months back I drove out to Zzyzx* with Madame for a Milky Way shoot. I ran across a series on the local PBS station that had a episode on “Ghost Towns” that included a segment on Zzyzx.
*Also a valued Balloon Juice commenter.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@JoyceH:
He’s obviously signed on to the Baud!2020! platform.
Amir Khalid
@JoyceH:
Tump claims to be an inch taller than Obama. Somehow I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
SiubhanDuinne
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
True enough. I just prefer to observe the tradition of not going after the minor children of prominent people.
That said, @JoyceH, I had a look at a still photo of the three of them getting off the copter. All holding hands on the tarmac, but JFC, I have never seen such an angry and distressed-looking family. They all look utterly miserable. With good reason, probably.
Brachiator
The Trump caravan of grift is endless.
And corporate donors are eagerly signing up for more.
NotMax
Repeating, but relevant.
“We become strong, I feel, when we have no friends upon whom to lean, or to look to for moral guidance.”
– Benito Mussolini
Cacti
@JoyceH:
About that 6’3″ thing.
Here’s a photo of Trump standing across from Gavin Newsom, who actually is 6’3″.
Link
Don the Con is 6’1″ at best.
Baud
@NotMax:
I am strong!
Baud
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Baud! 2020!: Stand tall(er).
PsiFighter37
Tom Barrack is another one who needs to be sent to prison once we clean house next year. I hope Democrats get over the inevitable ‘political witch hint’ BS the media will push – so many people from this administration, including Cheeto, need to go to prison for what is effectively the rest of their lives.
NotMax
@Amir Khalid
What you fail to grasp is that Dolt 45 is the epitome of humanity in every respect. //
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: Platform shoes do the trick.
NotMax
@Baud
Can almost see the documentary now: Running Tall.
:)
SRW1
Sheez, there is no honour among grifters? Unpossible!
JDM
@TenguPhule:
Well, with that shit-hot 4-cylinder Mustang he’s got he’s a babe magnet.
Baud
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
I believe
health careshoes are a human right.?BillinGlendaleCA
@PsiFighter37: Generally I’d be against doing that, not prosecuting the previous administration is a good norm for the peaceful transition of power in a democracy. However, since Trump has taken pretty much every other norm attached to our government and thrown it into a landfill and set it on fire, I’m OK with your statement.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: I guess you’ve seen my shoes.
NotMax
@Baud
“Shoes for industry! Shoes for the dead! Shoes for industry!”
– Firesign Theater
Baud
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Your shoes are my shoes. Solidarity!
NotMax
@Baud
Sole-idarity?
Ken
Does anyone else think that the original reaction was more like “Where the hell was my cut!”
Baud
@NotMax:
Oh, that’s good.
OzarkHillbilly
We’re having Tumbet tonight, just the way Abuelita made it. Sucks to be you.
SRW1
So, Tom Barrack did to Donald Trump what Barrack’s disciple Rick Gates did to Paul Manafort?
These guys seem to be really nice.
Amir Khalid
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Typically, presidential administrations don’t engage in wholesale lawbreaking. Trump’s has done far too much to let slide. I think an incoming Democratic administration in 2021 needs to investigate and prosecute the most heinous deeds of the preceding lot, at least. It would go some way toward reinstating the rule of law.
Steve in the ATL
@Amir Khalid: so Reagan, Bush the Dauphin, and Trump are atypical? Sounds like a pattern at this point!
And you’re way overdue for a new guitar.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Amir Khalid: As I concluded, I agree with PSI and you on that.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Steve in the ATL: Don’t be an enabler.
Steve in the ATL
@?BillinGlendaleCA: sorry. Maybe just an effects pedal? Perhaps a Tube Screamer or a digital delay….
zhena gogolia
@NotMax:
visions of meathooks dance in my head
Citizen_X
@Steve in the ATL: Pedals are another habit that can get out of hand. Believe me, I KNOW.
Amir Khalid
@Steve in the ATL:
Sigh. I know. I’m thinking of getting a Squier Standard Tele for standard tuning, with The Girl on Keef tuning. And a Standard Strat in CA red with maple fretboard. An an Epiphone Dot. An an G-400 (SG) in wrn brown. And a Chinese copy of the double-neck 1275 … Somebody stop me!
Amir Khalid
@Citizen_X:
Oddly enough, I am very content with my Mooer GE100 multiFX unit and feel no urge to get discrete pedals. Honest.
Edmund dantes
@Steve in the ATL: I wouldn’t leave Bush the elder off that list.
Barr was sort of his team too. Helped set off the whitewater investigation.
Steve in the ATL
@Amir Khalid: you left out “Rickenbacker 360/12”
@Edmund dantes: not surprised, but I just don’t know. He spent his four years setting scores from his CIA days but not sure about grift. Thought he had inherited enough Nazi cash from Prescott to avoid such déclassé money grubbing.
PaulWartenberg
Okay so as of 9:10 PM EDT, I tweeted this out:
So today, trump:
1) insulted Somali/Palestinian congresswomen
2) called American Jews “disloyal” or “ignorant” for voting Democrat
3) threatened war with Denmark
…
to every single person who refused to vote for Hillary, please punch yourself in the groin until you pass out.
SFAW
@Baud:
“I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no class.”
SFAW
@PaulWartenberg:
Can I have dibs on the groin-punching thing? In case the purity assholes get tired and quit before they pass out. And does it have to be a punch, or can I used steel-toes?
Gin & Tonic
@Amir Khalid: Wasn’t there some dope on here a while back who said four was the absolute limit?
Steve in the ATL
@Gin & Tonic: sure as wasn’t me! For the record.
catclub
@kimp: Chris Christie was named head of the transition team – that is required from each candidate.
Trump said he thought Christie was stealing his money when they paid the employees of the transition team.
The transition team was disbanded in the summer of 2016, I think.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: You just got my ex’s vote.
Omnes Omnibus
@?BillinGlendaleCA: There is no “do no harm” clause when people are sworn in to the bar.
Amir Khalid
@Gin & Tonic:
I wonder who that silly person was.
kimp
Thank you, Catclub.