Russia condemns “obstruction of legitimate professional activities of journalists.”

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.16.2024

Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it was treating (Russian reporter) Nikita Kozhin’s death as murder, as well as a case of obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists.”

The hypocrisy of Vladimir Putin is stunning. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been jailed in Moscow since March 2023. He was simply doing his job and now faces a sham trial for espionage.

Sadly, a Russian reporter was killed by a drone attack in Ukraine. Moscow is now describing Nikita Kozhin’s death as murder and “obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists.”

If Mr. Kozhin’s death can be described as “obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists” what is the false arrest, 15 months of imprisonment and upcoming sham trial of Evan Gershkovich?

Moscow Times 6.16.2024

A Russian journalist was killed in a drone attack in eastern Ukraine, his employer announced Sunday, coming just days after a cameraman from the pro-government NTV channel was killed near the front line.

“Our correspondent Nikita Tsitsagi was killed during an attack by Ukrainian army drones,NEWS.ru said in a statement on Telegram.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it was treating Kozhin’s death as murder, as well as a case of “obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists.”

President Vladimir Putin claimed earlier this month that “at least 30” Russian journalists had been killed since he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

Vladimir Putin complains “at least 30” Russian journalists had been killed since he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

The outlet said the attack happened around the Saint-Nicolas monastery near the town of Vugledar, which has been the scene of fierce fighting for the past three months.

Tsitsagi has done reporting for a number of Russian news publications, including Lenta.ru, Holod and Novaya Vkladka, the latter two of which operate in exile abroad.

On Thursday, an attack in eastern Ukraine killed a cameraman and injured a war correspondent working for the pro-government NTV television channel. Law enforcement authorities launched an investigation into the strike.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/06/16/russian-prison-standoff-ends-with-hostages-freed-suspects-liquidated-a85430

Top photo: Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich behind bars since March 2023

1962 Cuban Missile Crisis redux. Fake footage Russ warships in Cuba

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.15.2024

Those of us who were around back in the height of the Cold War will never forget the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Russian nuclear weapons in Cuba. The World on the brink of Armageddon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis

New York Times page one at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis – October 23, 1962
President Kennedy addresses the nation – October 22, 1962

Those grim and scary memories are being recast as Russian ships are visiting their ally Cuba. Just 90 miles from the American mainland in Florida. There are Fake videos exaggerating what has been a normal activity for decades. It is much ado about nothing. Just another opportunity for red baiting cold war fear mongers to blow off more hot air.

Deutsche Welle takes a deep dive in the sea of misinformation.

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 6.13.2024

Four Russian naval vessels, including a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate, have docked in Cuba ahead of planned military exercises in the Caribbean.

The fleet, featuring the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan submarine — both armed with advanced weaponry — entered Havana’s harbor on Wednesday morning.

With Havana situated roughly 145 kilometers (90 miles) from the southern state of Florida, Moscow’s deployment of these vessels so close to US shores has been seen as a provocative show of force.

It comes at a time when tensions seem to be rising between Moscow and Washington over Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine. US President Joe Biden recently gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use American weapons for strikes inside Russia.

In the days leading up to the arrival of the Russian warships, images and videos circulated online, purportedly showing the arrival of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in Havana’s port.

A separate video allegedly showed US troop deployments in response.

DW has investigated the footage.

A video allegedly shows the recent arrival of the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov in Cuba.

Outdated footage claimed as new

Claim: A video allegedly shows the recent arrival of the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov in Cuba.

In the footage, a gray frigate is seen approaching the harbor. Specific Havana landmarks are visible in the background, such as the San Carlos de la Cabana fortress and del Puerto Avenue. In recent days, the video has been shared across social media platforms in various languages, including SpanishGermanRussianArabic and English.

One version of the video, posted on June 10 on X, formerly Twitter, was captioned, “Zircon hypersonic missile carrier, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, arrived in the capital of Cuba today,” attracting about 166,000 views by the time this article was published.

A separate, German post on X captioned the video similarly and was viewed about 35,000 times. Multiple other posts containing the same video with similar claims have each gained tens of thousands of views.

DW fact check: False.

While the video does show the frigate Admiral Gorshkov at the port in Havana, it has nothing to do with the fleet’s visit on June 12.

A reverse image search of a screenshot from the video using TinEye reveals that the video refers to a visit to Havana by the same frigate in 2019. A longer version of the video is available on YouTube, published by The Associated Press news agency in June 2019.

A video shows US troop deployments in response to the Russian fleet’s visit to Havana.

Has US deployed troops due to Russian threat?

Claim: A video shows US troop deployments in response to the Russian fleet’s visit to Havana.

Another video spreading across multiple platforms claims to show US warplanes and helicopters flying over a beach in Miami, Florida.

One of the posts, which has so far garnered about 2 million views, captioned the video as follows: “US Navy has now been deployed in Miami due to Russian warship and nuclear-powered submarine threats!”

DW fact check: False.

Although US forces have reportedly deployed ships and drones to track and monitor the Russian fleet, the footage shown is from an older, unrelated operation. A reverse search of one of the scenes from the video leads to a video published on TikTok in May.

The footage appears to demonstrate a US Navy air show on this year’s Memorial Day in late May. Similar videos from the show are available online, captured by people present at the same location, and published shortly after the show.

https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-fake-footage-of-russian-warships-in-cuba/a-69350465

Top photo: ​​Russia and Cuba have been allies for decades, with Russian ships occasionally visiting Havana. Their recent military cooperation echoes Cold War tensions. The fleet, featuring the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan submarine — both armed with advanced weaponry — entered Havana’s harbor on Wednesday June 12, 2024.

Supremes rule. US must pay more Native American healthcare costs

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.13.2024

Native Americans have been treated brutally by the American government which stole, occupied and waged a war of genocide as it plundered their land in the 18th and 19 centuries.

Justice and restitution has been slow in coming. The Native Americans will never be fully compensated for the horrors they underwent at the hands and guns of their oppressors.

A Decision on June 6th by the United States Supreme Court provides a small measure of justice and relief.

Excerpted from Reuters 6.7.2024

THE GENOCIDE NEVER ENDED – HONOR TRIBAL TREATY RIGHTS

June 6 (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday held that the federal government has been under-funding Native American tribes that administer their own healthcare programs for 30 years and must pay potentially hundreds of millions more going forward.

In its 5-4 ruling, the court found that federal law requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to pay the overhead costs that tribes incur when spending money from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers. The ruling is a victory for the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona and the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming, which had each sued over the funding.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by the court’s three liberals and by conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, a consistent supporter of Native American rights. The ruling affirmed decisions by the 9th and 10th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Native Americans in consultation

Carter Phillips of Sidley Austin, who represents the San Carlos Apache tribe, called the decision “a huge win for Indian country and for the quality of health care provided on Indian reservations.”

Adam Unikowsky of Jenner & Block, who argued for the Northern Arapaho Tribe, said it “will promote tribal sovereignty and provide resources for health care in under-served communities.”

The IHS provides health care services directly to about 2.8 million Native Americans. Thursday’s decision centers on the Indian Self-Determination Act (ISDA), a 1975 law that allows Native American tribes to take over administration of their own healthcare programs under contracts with IHS.

Those contracts require IHS to provide the same amount of funding it would provide if it were running the program directly, and to cover administrative expenses incurred by the tribe.

Native American protestors rode into a construction site for the Dakota Access pipeline in 2016

Construction at the site had been halted before after over 1,000 people, most Native American, gathered at two prayer camps along the Cannonball River near its confluence with the Missouri in North Dakota to protest the Dakota Access pipeline. The pipeline is slated to extend from North Dakota to Illinois, carrying crude oil from the Bakken shale play. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe filed an injunction against the US Army Corps of Engineers in federal court in Washington DC, claiming that the Army Corps did not take tribal spiritual and heritage sites into consideration when it granted permits for the pipeline.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-must-pay-more-native-american-tribes-healthcare-costs-supreme-court-rules-2024-06-06/

What’s a Progressive gonna do when Chesa takes Reactionary $$

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.12.2024

It pains me to write this as a Progressive.

I am a long time supporter of Chesa Boudin.

The causes he espouses and fought for as San Francisco District Attorney. Before his political lynching, funded with 9M MAGA disinformation money on June 7, 2022.

Recall advocates, funded with nearly 9M in MAGA and deep pocket VC money ousted Chesa Boudin

Since his ouster Chesa has decamped to the UC Berkeley School of Law where he founded the Criminal Law & Justice Center. Recruiting law students to join the battle for Progressive justice in an increasingly law and order America.

To support this laudable endeavor Chesa has turned to someone whose positions on criminal justice are antithetical to the progressive justice movement.

Venture capitalist “crypto billionaire” Chris Larsen just donated 1M to the San Francisco Police Department. It will be divvied up between the City’s 10 police stations to use as they see fit.

Chris Larsen’s latest 1M contribution to the San Francisco Police Dept. – SF Chronicle 6.12.2024

Chris Larsen donated to the recently voter approved Prop E in March 2024 which gives SFPD cops more power while truncating the oversight authority of the Police Commission.

Chris Larsen is also a contributor to the election campaign of the current San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins. Who worked for Chesa Boudin as an assistant DA. She Quit and worked on the political coup d’etat which drove him from office. Jenkins was rewarded for her treachery by Mayor London Breed, leader of the Recall. She appointed Jenkins DA.

But, wait a minute.

Chris Larsen 1M contribution to SFPD in May 2022 – at the same time he was giving money opposing Chesa’s Recall. A Recall supported by the SF Police Officers Association

This is the same Chris Larsen who donated at least 100K in opposition to Chesa’s Recall in June 2022.

This is the same Chris Larsen who is contributing to Chesa’s Criminal Law and Justice Center.

I realize politics makes for strange bedfellows. Nonetheless, I find it perplexing that Chesa Boudin, the fighter for progressive justice, is taking money from a man who espouses and funds causes and candidates antithetical to what Chesa is all about.

Top photo: Chesa Boudin on the night of the Recall – June 7, 2022 – San Francisco Chronicle

EU far right vote omen for USA? Return of convict Trump to power?

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.9.2024

The European Parliament election is a bad omen for Americans who fear a return of convicted felon Donald Trump to the White House next January.

Trump leads the attempted Coup d’etat to overthrow the election – January 6, 2021 Washington, DC

When people are fearful they turn increasingly Conservative.

People are inherently Conservative by nature. When a feeling of economic deprivation, and two ongoing wars are leading the news Voters find the safest harbor to vent their fears.

Throw their support to Reactionary politicians who offer easy solutions without substance.

In today’s European Parliament elections the Right wing parties have reaped a harvest of votes and seats in the European legislative body.

In Germany the Green Party, a member of the current governing coalition took a beating at the polls. Projected to finish with 11.9 percent, an 8.6 percentage point drop in support compared to the 2019 European election, making the party the biggest loser of the election.

In France Emanuel Macron, devastated by the far right vote, dissolved the French legislative Assembly and called for a new election later this month.

New York Times 6.9.2024

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 6.9.2024

The center-right EPP is on track to win the most seats in the European Parliament, projections show. Meanwhile, far-right parties in France, Germany and Austria have made big gains. 

https://www.dw.com/en/german-greens-suffer-major-loss-of-votes-in-eu-elections-nina-haase-reports/video-69316755

German Greens leader disappointed at EU election result

Green party losses in EU elections raise concerns – The Guardian 6.9.2024

The co-leader of Germany’s environmentally friendly Green Party, Ricarda Lang, has reacted with disappointment at her party’s loss of votes in the European elections.

“This is not the standard we set ourselves when we went into this election, and we will work through this together,” Lang told public broadcaster ARD.

According to exit polls, the Greens are on track to receive around 12% of the vote.

In 2019, they achieved their best result ever in a European election with 20.5%.

https://www.dw.com/en/despite-scandals-afd-makes-significant-gains-in-votes-matthew-moore-reports/video-69316834

AfD (Alternative for Deutschland) makes gains in Germany

https://www.dw.com/en/eu-elections-far-right-makes-gains-in-germany-france/live-69312194

Excerpted from Politico 6.9.2024

Alternative for Germany beats Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, who had their worst result in a national election in the party’s history.

The conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union finished first in Sunday’s European election in Germany, winning 30.2 percent of the vote according to a projection for German public television.

While the conservative victory was expected, the real race in Germany was for runner-up.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was projected to finish second with 16 percent, a gain of 5 percentage points compared to the 2019 EU election.

If the result holds, it will be seen as a big success for a party that has been beset by scandals in recent months.

The party’s top two candidates for EU election were implicated in a series of sensational allegations of misconduct involving suspected espionage and potential Russian influence. Most recently, the party’s lead candidate, Maximilian Krah, was forced to stop campaigning after he defended members of Hitler’s Waffen-SS as not “automatically” criminals.

One of the party’s national leaders, Tino Chrupalla, called it a “historic result.” Across Europe, far-right, nationalist and populist parties are projected to make sizeable gains.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is projected to finish third with 13.9 percent, its worst result in a national election since the party was founded well over a century ago.

The Greens, who rule in a federal coalition with the SPD and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), are projected to finish with 11.9 percent, an 8.6 percentage point drop in support compared to the 2019 European election, making the party the biggest loser of the election.

https://www.politico.eu/article/conservatives-finish-first-germany-eu-election-early-projection-cdu-csu/

Power of the Flower-Bouquets to Art-40 blooming years in The Park

De Young Museum – Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Liz Heidhues 6.7.2024

Pass through the doors of the De Young Museum during its annual flower show, “Bouquets to Art”, https://www.famsf.org/exhibitions/bouquets-to-art-2024 You enter an enchanting garden of fantastic creations, fashioned from freshly cut flowers, tantalizing to the eye, and pleasing to the olfactory senses.

Liz with the “Hat Lady” owner of Hats on Post

At a time when we are causing much harm to our natural environment through our actions, the exhibit brings our attention to the fragility of our planet. The floral arrangements stress sustainability. The use of cacti, succulents, and native plants heightens our awareness of the need to conserve and preserve.

White flower arrangement cascades like Niagara Falls

The pleasures of the garden beckon from every floor, gallery, nook and cranny. Chrysanthemums hover like small spaceships. Statuesque birds of paradise stab the air. Waxy red anthuriums show off erotically long stamens. And coquettish roses and orchids drape the displays taking hold of your imagination and making you think wild thoughts.

Cacti, garden roses and rosary beads reflect historic Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmel

Your mood will be lightened by all the riotous colors.

Riotous Colors of a Tropical Sunset

Flowers are very seductive. They seduce us through attraction, not coercion. Their intense colors, delightful fragrances, and associations with happiness or joy trigger good vibrations.

The serene blue hues of ‘We all need water’

At the “Bouquets to Art” exhibit, you will find a special place to muse. Conversation starters which may have you turning to other museum goers asking them, “What’s THAT?” It is how I met the Hat Lady who once owned the chic boutique “Hats on Post” on trendy Post Street in downtown San Francisco.

Brilliant colors of tulips and golden spray painted leaves

“Bouquets to Art” is a show about the creativity of the florist and the gifts of nature. You may linger longer here than planned because it is so beautiful.    

Marry me. Green leaves wedding dress by Floristry students at City College of San Francisco
Cacti Orchards and feathery seduction. The beautiful symbiosis of plants
Don’t ruffle your chic petals
A throne suitable for a Green Queen
Deep Purple in the art house
An old-fashioned coffee urn of pearls and petals
A hip parade of Flower Children, including heron and bird nest
A fertile imagination. Using a vibrantly colored flower to send a message
Erect stamens for erotic art
The felicity of flowers. Our friend Rosalie surrounds herself with blooms
Celebrating 40 years of “Bouquets to Art” June 4-9, 2024

Top photo: Flowers awaiting your amorous gaze

Editorial assistance provided by Lee Heidhues

Trump Chicken – nesting in the Dock on the Bay – for the Felon

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.5.2024

Convicted felon Donald Trump will be greeted by the three story Trump Chicken, now adorned in appropriate prison garb, when he dines at the mansion of billionaire David Sacks (2845 Broadway) in the uber wealthy San Francisco Pacific Heights neighborhood on June 6, 2024.

The large crowd which protested VP Kamala Harris during her visit to San Francisco on Wednesday need to turn their attention on Trump. The political soulmate of war criminal Bibi Netanyahu. Anyone who thinks for a second that Trump is a friend of the Palestinian people is engaging in complete self delusion.

Soul brothers: convicted felon and war criminal

TRUMP CHICKEN NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE

Excerpted from SFist 6.5.2024

Yes, the three-story-tall inflatable Trump chicken has been dusted off and will be re-inflated Thursday in San Francisco, wearing a black-and-white prison uniform, in an act of protest of Trump appearing in SF to collect some money from some Silicon Valley billionaires who have lost the thread of reality.

Tech mogul David Sacks has reportedly paid $34.5 million for 2845 Broadway Street in San Francisco in 2012, making it the most expensive home ever sold in San Francisco. Sources close to the deal, which is currently in escrow, say that Sacks and his wife Jacqueline are the proud new owners of the partially-completed home on ‘Billionaire’s Row.’ December, 2012 SocketSite. ACCORDING TO ZILLOW THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY VALUED AT $43,650,000

Felon Trump gets his ring kissed by billionaire bagman David Sacks

Local writer Danelle Morton didn’t think she’d ever have to haul out her 33-foot-tall Trump-as-chicken balloon again when she laid it to rest in a mock funeral in 2021. But haul it out she will today, and the sublimely hideous balloon will take a sail on the Bay to protest the fundraising event tonight at the home of amoral billionaire David Sacks.

The People confronting VP Kamala Harris in The Mission district need to next turn their attention on convicted felon Donald Trump. The criminal soulmate of Israeli war criminal Bibi NetanyahuSF Chronicle photo 6.5.2024

The lookalike balloon was a $450 purchase Morton made off the internet in 2017, originally manufactured in China around the time of Trump’s inauguration and Lunar New Year celebrations that year (it was the Year of the Rooster, and a Chinese balloon maker seized on the similarities with an existing rooster balloon they had). She later added a black-and-white-striped prison shirt — for a 2018 cruise across the Bay to Alcatraz, six years before Trump was actually convicted of 34 felonies.

TRUMP CHICKEN- INMATE 00045 – ON THE ALCATRAZ TRANSPORT

Now, a group of millionaires and billionaires who either don’t remember or don’t care that Trump tried to destroy the country for his own ego three short years ago are gathering in Pacific Heights to pay $50,000 per person to greet the man, and help fund his attempt to return to the White House. Why? Because they are rich and trying to protect their riches, and anything else they say about it is gaslighting.

The fundraiser is being co-hosted by Sacks and his wife, Jacqueline Sacks, and Sacks’s co-host on the “All-In” podcast, Chamath Palihapitiya.

https://sfist.com/2024/06/05/inflatable-trump-chicken-comes-out-of-storage-to-protest-fundraiser-in-sf/

Cartoon of Trump and David Sacks – SF Standard

SF DA “made public safety a battleground for political gain.”

SAN FRANCISCO

Liz and Lee Heidhues 6.2.2024

THE MAYOR’S HANDPICKED DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS MADE PUBLIC SAFETY A BATTLEGROUND FOR POLITICAL GAIN – RYAN KOJASTEH

Former San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Ryan Kojasteh, summarily fired by Mayor London Breed’s handpicked DA Brooke Jenkins, kicked off his quest to oust the woman who fired him. He opened his campaign headquarters in the City’s Richmond District Sunday afternoon.

Ryan (pronounced) KHO JA STEH

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_San_Francisco_District_Attorney_election

In his brief remarks Kojasteh, currently an Assistant District Attorney in Alameda County, called himself an “Insider” who works as a Prosecutor. He knows how Prosecutors work and think. He is one of them. He knows Brooke Jenkins well, having worked in the office when both of them were under the employ of Chesa Boudin.

The difference between the two is stark. Brooke Jenkins turned her back on Chesa and earned over 150K as a main political functionary in the political coup d’etat of June 7, 2022.

Former San Francisco Supervisor Sandy Fewer talks to the crowd as DA candidate Kojasteh looks on

Ryan Kojatesh paid a price for staying true to his principles about what an ethical prosecutor and public servant should be. It cost him his job in San Francisco.

RYAN KHOJASTEH (fired by Brooke Jenkins) ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Surrounded by supporters and close knit family members candidate Kojasteh touted his experience as an Assistant DA in Chesa Boudin’s administration. Following Chesa’s recall two years ago, Kojasteh was summarily fired by Brooke Jenkins. The firing occurred as Kojasteh was en route to a wedding. Jenkins called and fired him with no explanation.

Ryan and San Francisco Berniecrats co-chair Zoe Kelman

Jenkins cleaned house and Kojasteh was on the Boudin staff swept away in the post Recall purge.

In his own words Kojasteh has spent his career, “prosecuting violent crimes, supporting victims and getting justice-involved youth back on track as a prosecutor … to combat anti-AAPI hate crimes as a longtime San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commissioner.”

Participating in the campaign kickoff were commissioners from the Board of Education and Community College Board; former State Senator and Supervisor Mark Leno; along with former Richmond District (D1) Supervisors Sandy Fewer and Jake McGoldrick. Also there to support Ryan’s candidacy was David Heller, longtime President of the Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants and Property Owners Association.

Liz and Lee enjoy the camaraderie with Ryan

TOP PHOTO: Ryan Kojasteh submitting papers for his District Attorney candidacy at City Hall

San Francisco on a sunny day in May. Car free Market Street

SAN FRANCISCO – MARKET STREET

Lee Heidhues 5.29.2024

On a sunny day in late May I took a walk from Macy’s down Powell Street past the cable car turn around. Continuing up car free Market Street to Civic Center and San Francisco City Hall.

A photographic view of the walk follows.

Women’s fashions at Macy’s
Iconic cable cars lined up on Powell Street
A man and his dog on Market Street
San Francisco Sister Cities at the cable car turn around on Market Street
Construction crew at work
Three guys enjoying the sun at Hallidie Plaza on Market Street
Cycling up Market Street
Waiting to cross at 6th Street and Market
Street life on Market Street
Pedestrian friendly car free Market Street
An artistic trash can
Public transit and cyclists co-exist on Market Street
The people on car free Market Street
A walk in the shade.
Classic Odd Fellows Temple at Seventh and Market streets
Neighborhood residents on Market Street.
WORLD PEACE CANNOT BE THE WORK OF ONE MAN, OR ONE PARTY, OR ONE NATION. PEACE WHICH RESTS ON THE COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF THE WHOLE WORLD – President Franklin Delano Roosevelt – 1945
Hanging out in the sun at UN Plaza
50 United Nations Plaza
Heart of the City – Farmer’s Market
Shoppers at the always busy popular Farmer’s Market
The view at The Farmer’s Market.
San Francisco City Hall
Market near Seventh Street
The bird gives the photographer the Eye.

WSJ got the Trump ‘Hush Money’ train rolling toward his conviction

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 5.31.2024

My head is spinning as I read the story in today’s Wall Street Journal, ‘How a Mysterious Tip Led to Trump’s Conviction’ after reading the editorial excoriating his conviction by a New York Jury.

The Wall Street Journal began running this story of Trump’s “Hush Money” payoff to porn actress Stormy Daniels even before the 2016 election.

How the WSJ can condemn Trump’s conviction when its reporters are responsible for this case going to trial is mind numbing.

The WSJ should be taking a victory lap and the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism,

Trump sits as defendant in New York criminal court as Michael Cohen testifies – May 2024
FRONTLINE: Trump’s Showdown 10.19.2021 – segment on Michael Cohen

Excerpted from The Wall Street Journal 5.31.2024

In October 2018, during an interview with the Journal, Donald Trump was holding forth on everything from the Federal Reserve to the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia. When he got a question about Michael Cohen, he clammed up.

“I’ve discussed that (The “Hush Money”) so much,” he snapped. “Nobody cares about that.” He sidestepped a question about whether he had ever discussed hush-money payments with Cohen during the campaign.

Weeks later, the Journal reported that Trump had not only discussed the payments with Cohen, but had directly intervened on multiple occasions to suppress stories about his alleged sexual encounters with women. Both the White House and his outside lawyers had declined to comment or to substantively weigh in on the Journal’s reporting. 

The reporters braced themselves for the Trump playbook: decrying a story as “fake news” on Twitter, then following up with intense—and often personal—attacks on the journalists who wrote it.

But the tweet never came. Instead, Trump spent the afternoon attacking the former mayor of Tallahassee, badgering the president of France over military spending and threatening to withhold federal funds from forest management in California.

His aides, privately, were less bullish. One described the story at the time as an “absolute killer.” 

That December, a federal judge sentenced Cohen to three years in prison. Prosecutors in court filings provided new details alleging that Trump—identified as “Individual-1”—had directed and coordinated both hush payments, indicating they had evidence corroborating Cohen’s implication of the president. 

Trump, a day after the sentencing, said in a tweet: “I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law.” 

The former Trump attorney reported to a minimum-security prison camp in Otisville, N.Y., in May 2019 to begin serving his sentence. 

By July of that year, it seemed like Trump might be off the hook. The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office said it had completed its investigation into Cohen’s campaign-finance violations without indicting others in Trump’s orbit. A longstanding opinion by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel said sitting presidents couldn’t be prosecuted. Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump, said that day: “We are pleased that the investigation surrounding these ridiculous campaign finance allegations is now closed. We have maintained from the outset that the President never engaged in any campaign finance violation.”

The headlines after Trump “Hush Money” Indictment – April 2023

But the matter was far from closed. The following month, Cohen received some visitors in Otisville—prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office, according to “People vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account,” a book by Mark Pomerantz, who worked in the office on a special assignment. 

They wanted to talk about hush money.

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-hush-money-stormy-daniels-707fa959

Email received from The Wall Street Journal – 5.31.2024