Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz responds to the Roger Stone indictment.  This is worth watching.
The key point to remember is nothing is happening in a vacuum. This is a political case utilizing the structure of the legal system. If you have followed CTH through the years (Zimmerman, Ferguson, Baltimore et al), you will notice the familiar process of weaponizing the judicial system for political benefit. This is the essence of Lawfare and is highly coordinated, planned and strategized [more later].

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People new to reviewing the process of political “lawfare”, have a tough time reconciling what is happening because the traditional perspectives of law, order and justice do not apply.
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Here’s the Roger Stone indictment (full pdf below) – (link to indictment).  Stone has been indicted on seven counts in connection with Rod Rosenstein and Robert  Mueller’s investigation.  The charges include obstruction of an official proceeding, witness tampering and five counts of false statements.
[scribd id=398235426 key=key-jWQBtzxlhZNOqpEGskns mode=scroll]
The prosecutors allege Mr. Stone made multiple false statements to the House Intelligence Committee about his interactions with “Organization 1″ [WikiLeaks].  Thus it appears this is the reason why the currently corrupt DOJ and FBI have kept the transcripts hidden from public review.
If the public had the opportunity to review congressional witness testimony it would be much harder for current DOJ and FBI officials to shape a prosecutorial opinion of those statements.  Thus, Robert Mueller’s team keeps the testimony hidden so they can weaponize innuendo, and legal differences of opinion, for maximum political damage.  This is the very essence of “Lawfare”; one valuable approach toward legal manipulation.
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The Rosenstein/Mueller investigation instructed the FBI to conduct a pre-dawn raid and arrest of Roger Stone at 6:00am this morning.  CNN was on the scene to broadcast the raid and capture live to their audience.  Interestingly as the CNN reporter shares in the video: …”we where here at 5am waiting for whatever was going to happen, it was dark. 6am Just after the hour”…  Obviously the broadcast theatrics were planned in advance.
Using the approach seen before with mass murderers and notorious criminals, the FBI generously permitted exclusive video footage from CNN showing dozens of heavily armed SWAT and FBI officials who surrounded the home of Mr. Stone for impact and value.  The CNN glee is, well, a blood lust on full display. WATCH:

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The scene provides quite a contrast from how the DOJ and FBI handled the Clinton team within prior investigatory events and inquiries. The DOJ could have easily made a phone call and coordinated Mr. Stone turning himself in to authorities as they have done in the past with their political allies. However, for maximum corrupt visibility – the raid gives a more favorable optic to the resistance.
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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

President Trump Twitter @POTUS / Vice President Pence Twitter @VP

Sarah H Sanders Twitter @SHSanders45

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

The U.S. Embassy is remaining open and staffed; however, the State Department has requested all non-emergency U.S. government employees to leave Venezuela.  Additionally, the U.S. embassy in Caracus is warning all American citizens to “strongly consider” departing the country while commercial flights are still available.
The security concerns surround a possibility an increasingly isolated dictator Nicolas Maduro may retaliate against Americans in Venezuela. National Security Adviser John Bolton discusses the current status.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department on Thursday ordered some U.S. government workers to leave Venezuela and said U.S. citizens should consider leaving the country, a day after Washington recognized an opposition politician as Venezuela’s president.
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President Donald Trump delivers remarks after the Senate failed to pass legislation to fund government and provide border security.  The president reiterates the need for the border wall/fence, and says Senate Leader Mitch McConnell is negotiating with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for an interim compromise.

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The diplomatic activity that took place in the lead-up to the events yesterday must have been exceptionally coordinated.  Literally within minutes of Venezuela’s legislature decreeing opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president  dozens of countries aligned with support and affirmation.
Earlier today Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered remarks about the U.S. support for Guaido and the people of Venezuela during a speech at the OAS:

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[Transcript] SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you very much. The United States is a friend of Venezuela and of the Venezuelan people. We have watched Venezuelans suffer for far too long. We know what they know, that the tyranny of the now defunct Maduro regime has far too long – for far too long choked the country and its citizens.
Yesterday, in solidarity with the Venezuelan people, and out of respect for Venezuelan democracy, the United States proudly recognized National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela. You’ve seen the statements from President Trump and from myself.
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Yes, the most corrupt Senate committee; at the epicenter of the legislative corruption within the ‘spygate’ fiasco; joins the resistance effort, and files a subpoena to compel testimony from Michael Cohen.

It must be remembered that SSCI Chairman Richard Burr and SSCI Vice-Chair Mark Warner, have previously admitted they are closely coordinating their efforts with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

(CNN) President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen was subpoenaed Thursday to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee in mid-February, a source close to Cohen told CNN.
It is not clear how Cohen will respond. The source said that Cohen has the same concerns regarding the safety of his family that led him to postpone his scheduled public appearance before the House Oversight Committee next month. Senate Intelligence traditionally does their interviews behind closed doors, not publicly.

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The McConnell (Republican) amendment to the appropriations bill which would have funded government, including funding for a border wall/fence, failed to pass the Senate.
One Democrat Senator (Joe Manchin) voted to support the republican plan.  Two Republicans (Mike Lee and Tom Cotton) voted against the Republican plan.
Next up…. The Chuck Schumer (Democrat) amendment to the appropriations bill, which would have funded government without including funding for a border wall/fence, also failed to pass the Senate.
However, six republican senators joined the Democrats: Lamar Alexander, Susan Collins, Corey Gardner, Lisa Murkowski, Johnny Isakson and Mitt Romney.
No Democrats voted against their plan.
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