I have written, deleted, remained quiet and also absorbed frustration likely similar to many of you.  Now, perhaps, it is worth presenting the brutal truth of the matter; or, as was said in my family, it’s time to call the baby ugly.

Since the resignation of Joe diGenova as counsel to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche there have been many opinions shared. diGenova himself has given statements to some media outlets {NBC, non-paywall}. Other outlets have encapsulated with their customary spin {Citation}, and diGenova has also talked to others we might consider closer allied to a presentation of truth {source}.

As with all matters of significance, there are points missed, context missing, structural understandings that go beyond quick articles or soundbites. This is one of those examples.  It’s highly likely the White House and Main Justice had a strong opinion about the pace of the South Florida effort and the lack of substantive action; I mean, aren’t we all?  However, the root of the issue is one I am very familiar with, and with that in mind here’s the part that very few really understand.

If I had to give you the cliff notes version it would sound like this:  Yes, the slowness is the problem, but the context is not entirely accurate. One of diGenova (and anyone else’s) problems, is that they don’t know the background material well enough.  I have personally encountered this so much I no longer get frustrated; it just is what it is. 

The investigators, prosecutors, inquisitors et al, spend too much time trying to figure out the storyline, and it is the storyline that is critical.  Because, well, in brutal honesty, they don’t know it. They know it in a cursory fashion, at a high level; at a level of political talking points, media hits, clickbait headline discussion; but unfortunately, that’s not good enough for this case.

A granular level working knowledge of the specifics of Spygate and Russiagate are needed. That level of learning, understanding takes up so much time that it becomes almost impossible for them to act decisively and quickly. It is the complexity of the matter that becomes a self-fulfilling defense. Joseph diGenova was/is no exception. This is the central problem with all of these guys; they just don’t know the material well enough.

I’m not making excuses, I’m stating facts.  Facts that are based upon my personal experience after almost a decade deep inside this issue.

That’s the cliff notes.  If you want the full understanding, keep reading.

(more…)

Maduro’s bagman, Alex Saab, has reached a plea deal with the Dept of Justice paving the way for a cooperating key witness to provide evidence against the former Venezuela dictator.

Former Venezuela President Nicholas Maduro’s case just got a lot more complicated for his defense lawyers. Saab will cooperate with U.S. federal investigations, potentially aiding cases against four unnamed co-defendants, with prosecutors recommending a reduced sentence.

Alex Saab, left, and Nicholas Maduro, right

MIAMI (AP) — A close ally of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro long described by U.S. officials as the ousted leader’s frontman pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single count of money laundering tied to an alleged bribery conspiracy to win lucrative government contracts in the South American country.

As part of the plea deal, Alex Saab agreed to cooperate in continuing federal investigations, paving the way for his eventual cooperation against his former protector. He also agreed to forfeit $195 million in criminal proceeds from the corruption scheme.

Saab, 54, was deported in May by Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez to the U.S., which has been targeting the Colombian-born businessman for more than a decade.

The money laundering offense carries a maximum 20-year penalty but prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence at the low end of the recommended range and seek additional reductions should his cooperation prove substantial.

(more…)

Today there will be a Rose Garden white house press briefing with U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.  The anticipated start time for the briefing is 2:00pm ET with livestream links below:

.

(more…)

According to his attorney, former CIA Director John Brennan has been subpoenaed to appear Oct. 15 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as part of a Justice Department investigation into alleged conspiracies against Donald Trump.

Brennan’s involvement in the Trump-Russia collusion conspiracy is well documented. Brennan constructed the fraudulent Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) that sought to fabricate intelligence analysis (Ciaramella) and frame Russia for interfering in the 2016 election. The overall effort was to impede the Trump administration through a series of fraudulent and malicious investigations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former CIA Director John Brennan has been subpoenaed to testify next month before a Florida grand jury as part of a Justice Department investigation into whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired against President Donald Trump, one of his lawyers said Monday.

Ken Wainstein, an attorney for Brennan, disclosed in a court filing that prosecutors last Thursday presented him with a subpoena for Brennan to appear Oct. 15 before a grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida.

He said he was told that the subpoena relates to a “far-reaching” criminal probe examining a loosely defined theory that the government officials who have investigated Trump over the last decade, including over Russia election interference in 2016 and his more recent retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, conspired to deprive Trump of his civil rights. The subpoena to Brennan is among a flurry that have been issued in recent weeks.

[…] The member of the investigative team with whom Wainstein spoke was Kurt Olsen. (more)

You might note from the current reporting of the subpoena that after Brennan/Wainstein initially sought to challenge the 2025 subpoena, they inadvertently revealed information that CTH noted could lead to a withdrawal of the demand while the Florida investigators reviewed testimony from some of the names contained within the Brennan defense letter.  That is exactly what appears to have happened.

(more…)

Joseph diGenova confirmed to NBC, “it was an honor and a privilege to serve the president and the department.” He declined to elaborate on the reason he’s out. “I’m moving on,” diGenova said.

diGenova’s technical job description was “Counselor to the Attorney General.”

I would frame the matter in this context, ABC previously reported that Joseph diGenova abruptly quit the investigative taskforce following pressure from Main Justice to achieve actionable results and not endless process. In part because diGenova was aligned with the Special Government Employee John Solomon approach to investigative activity; which is to say, living a life inside the process as if the investigation itself was the ends, not the means.

From experience dealing with these folks, a Trumpian level of frustration is warranted.  Remember, the generally accepted DC rule is that no investigative outcome that touches on political considerations will be released within 90-days of an election.  diGenova was on a clock, the clock ran out, diGenova quit.  It’s as simple as that.  All very unfortunate.

[VIA ABC] – A Trump loyalist who had been tapped to oversee a sprawling and controversial DOJ conspiracy investigation targeting political foes of President Donald Trump abruptly resigned Thursday, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Joe diGenova submitted his resignation to Attorney General Todd Blanche amid what sources described as growing frustrations from Trump and senior DOJ officials regarding his work on the so-called “grand conspiracy” investigation based out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida.

Sources said diGenova had pitched himself to the president as someone who could potentially ramp up the conspiracy investigation, which thus far has resulted in no criminal prosecutions despite dozens of subpoenas issued over the past year to various officials involved in past investigations of Trump.

(more…)

[UPDATE BELOW] In a rather terse statement [SEE HERE] Fox News has announced that Maria Bartiromo is no longer employed by the media network.

NEW YORK – September 3, 2026 — Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with FOX News Media.

In making the announcement, FOX News Media said, “We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 ½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.”

Maria Bartiromo became increasingly popular amid the MAGA base during the research and revelations surrounding the ‘Spygate’ and ‘Russiagate’ storyline. Bartiromo often had several guests on her Sunday Morning Futures program that highlighted evidence of the corruption in the DOJ, FBI and U.S Intelligence Community.  However, it also became more visible that Bartiromo was navigating between sensitive topics that often ran counter to the professional republican class interests in Washington DC.

Over the past few years Bartiromo softened her focus toward corrupt endeavors and began staying away from the most controversial aspects of how the structures of government operate. In a time when nearly all U.S. institutional credibility has crumbled, Bartiromo found herself in that awkward spot where you try to act like you’re not noticing the moment in the show when the marionette strings become visible.

(more…)

The Justice Department has issued an important ruling requiring states to follow the legislated rule of reporting illegal aliens who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  This rule can substantially alter the nature of financial support programs currently taking place with federal funds. [Full Press Release] [Full Opinion]

The Office of Legal Counsel has issued a legal opinion clarifying that when a state chooses to participate in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, all agencies within that state — not only those that administer TANF or SSI benefits — must report individuals known to be not lawfully present in the United States to The Dept of Homeland Security. {citation}

DOJ Press Release: […] “Congress wrote this requirement plainly,” said Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel. “When a state chooses to participate in TANF, it accepts the obligation to report illegal aliens in the United States. Tax dollars intended to help vulnerable Americans should not perversely encourage illegal entry into the United States, but rather should reinforce our laws and our borders.”

“Our clarification does not impose new obligations on states,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Craddock of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel and author of the opinion. “It simply restores the original meaning of the statute Congress enacted and ensures that DHS receives the information it is legally entitled to. States that accept TANF funding must abide by federal law, and failure to comply may lead to serious consequences, including loss of program funding.”

(more…)

This is a new report but builds on prior activity.  Former FBI Director James Comey leaked his memos about President Trump and the FBI’s fraudulent “Crossfire Hurricane” operation to his friend Daniel Richman, with the intent of Richman leaking those memos to the media. However, when the issue was discovered James Comey claimed Daniel Richman was his lawyer in an obvious attempt to shield Richman from forced testimony about the events.

SEE Richman article from 2018 – SEE Richman article from 2017 – See Richman article from 2019 

NOVEMBER 2025 – Former U.S Attorney Lindsey Halligan then took up the case and began reinvestigating in 2025. That’s why Halligan was targeted by Lawfare operatives’ intent on her removal. However, prior to her removal Mrs Halligan smartly filed a court response outlining all of the background evidence against James Comey so that prosecution could take place with/without her in place.

FOX News is now reporting that a grand jury is approving a subpoena for Daniel Richman so they can hear directly about his involvement in the activity.  The events surrounding the leaking of the ‘Comey memos’ is central to the matter of the FBI targeting President Trump after he took office in 2017.  The memos were being leaked in order to get support for a Special Counsel operation led by Andrew Weissmann.

[SOURCE]

(more…)

Two significant media reports on the topic of immigration today.

The first is an AP report showing the State Dept is planning to revoke 200,000 visas that were given after illegal entrants claimed asylum status.  The second is DHS requiring $100,000 payment for each H1B visa sought by companies to bring in foreign workers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. If it happens, the move would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history and would likely face legal challenges.

Unless challenged or revised, the State Department is expected to announce in the coming weeks the revocation of so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought asylum or are now seeking asylum, according to State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and two U.S. officials. The action will be taken in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.

“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott. (more)

(more…)

During the 2016 effort to weaponize the institutions of government against the outside candidacy of Donald Trump, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) was headed by Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein.  After the 2016 election Senator Feinstein abdicated her vice-chair position to Senator Mark Warner in January 2017.

While the SSCI was engaged in their part of the 2016 effort Vice-Chair Feinstein’s lead staffer was a man named Daniel Jones. Dan Jones was the contact point between the SSCI and Fusion-GPS.

After the election, and after Feinstein abdicated, Dan Jones left the committee to continue paying Fusion-GPS (Glenn Simpson) for ongoing efforts toward the impeachment insurance policy angle.

Feinstein appears to have left because she didn’t want to deal with the consequences of a President Trump, IF he discovered the SSCI involvement.

Dan Jones left because with a Trump presidency the SSCI, now co-chaired by Senator Mark Warner, needed arms-length plausible deniability amid their 2017 operations to continue the removal effort (soft coup).

The trail for this plausible deniability process and ongoing soft-coup effort first surfaces with Dan Jones appearing in the early 2017 text messages between Senator Warner and the liaison for Christopher Steele, lawyer and lobbyist Adam Waldman:

(more…)