In Which Brooklyn's AUSAs "Straighten Out" Mr. Barrack's Lawyers -- On What Felony Trials Are About...

Here's another lil' update, on our good friend, and secret UAE lobbyist / billionaire, Thomas Barrack. His lawyers argued (preposterously so -- as it misses the whole point!) a day or so ago, that he could not be charged with any crime for speaking favorably about the UAE -- or flattering himself, for that matter.

Of course, this ignores the fact that the putative offense is not the speaking, but the KEEPING SILENT, in the face of a federal felonies-infused duty to SPEAK -- to disclose (in sworn writings, no less) on government forms, when one is acting as a paid lobbyist for a foreign power -- all while serving as a close advisor to the then-incoming occupant of 1600 Penn. [And it happens that Barrack's favored language (favoring UAE positions, on oil policies) became part of the GOP's official written planks, after Barrack's meetings with Tangerine.]

But no one on the planet, let alone the long-suffering US voters, were aware that he was being paid by UAE to whisper in Tangerine's oafish ears. [This is especially relevant today, as the GOP favored the US government having to buy Arabian oil (at higher prices, too!) in these planks -- as opposed to domestic (Texas) oil. Stunning.]

His lawyers go on to claim that the AUSAs are mis-characterizing the evidence, in the DoJ indictment. ["See, how this works boys, is the government gets to go to trial, to let a jury and judge decide whether the evidence supports inferences of criminal activity. . . ." sheesh.]

In any event, the additional offense, as alleged, is lying about those relationships -- specifically denying they existed at all, and that he had no burner phone, and in a formal FBI interview, with his then counsel present, of all things.

So the AUSAs said so last night -- in writing.

P E R F E C T.

He's going down, if he doesn't plea. Onward, grinning. . . .

नमस्ते