![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Don.png)
How Trump's SCOTUS Appeal Shows Why He's Got a Weaker Legal Argument than a [Former] Gitmo Detainee
In his efforts to dismiss DOJ's invocation of a DC Circuit precedent pertaining to a former Gitmo detainee, Trump lays out several reasons why he's worse situated than al Odah.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Grassley-495x400.png)
FBI Approved Igor Danchenko as a Source before It Stopped Doing Back-Door FISA Searches to Vet Informants
Until 2018, the FBI did back door searches, including on FISA material, before they made someone a Confidential Human Source. That likely included Igor Danchenko.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Cannon-495x400.webp)
Aileen Cannon Deliberately Harmed Trump To Create an Excuse to Help Him
For two weeks in September, Judge Cannon was personally responsible for inflicting the ongoing harm to Donald Trump that she then used to justify intervening to help him.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-04-at-12.30.33-PM-495x358.png)
What Happened with the Potentially Privileged Documents Seized from Mar-a-Lago
Among the things included in potentially privileged materials seized from Trump's beach resort are a phone message from Rudy and an email from the Air Force Academy baseball coach.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-6.40.53-AM-495x400.png)
NARA Asked for 24 Boxes ... Trump Gave Them 15
NARA emailed Trump's lawyers and told them he knew that there were 24 boxes that Trump's own White House Counsel had determined belonged to NARA. And after an extended fight, Trump returned just 15.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IG-Michael-Horowitz-495x400.jpg)
DOJ Inspector General Report on the Tensions Created by Parallel Construction
DOJ Inspector General did a report laying out the tension between FBI's National Security and Cyber Law Branch and DOJ's National Security Division. It might better be described as the tensions arising from DOJ's practice of parallel construction.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GreenTrashCan_ClaudioSchwarz-Unsplash_25SEP2022-495x400.jpg)
Trash Talk: Much Trash, Very Sport, So Talk
The resident golf widow once again drafted a Trash Talk post. This is an open thread.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Cannon-495x400.webp)
Aileen Cannon's Calvinball Special Master
The day after the 11th Circuit decision finding she had abused her authority even intervening in the Trump stolen documents case, Aileen Cannon effectively took over the Special Master process without clarifying the deadlines she was working under.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2017-04-07-at-10.07.28-AM-495x400.png)
Stop Magnifying the Former President's Incitement
The former President is attempting to reassert power over the Senate Minority Leader with the sole remaining sources of power he has: spectacle and fear.
![[Photo: National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, MD via Wikimedia]](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/NationalSecurityAgency_HQ-FortMeadeMD_Wikimedia-495x400.jpg)
FBI Seems to Be Collecting Offers to Spy for Russia
Jareh Dalke, who was arrested on accusations of attempted spying Wednesday, seems to have obtained an NSA job with the intent of stealing files he could use to fix his debt woes.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-6.40.53-AM-495x400.png)
"Somewhat Convoluted:" Debunking the Judge Cannon Claims
Judge Aileen Cannon continues to make stuff up and the press continues to leave that out of their reporting on her power grabs.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Cannon-495x400.webp)
Aileen Cannon Is Stiff-Arming the Press
Aileen Cannon is stiff-arming the same press outlets that are reporting so credulously about her latest intervention.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-6.40.53-AM-495x400.png)
Aileen Cannon Stomps on the Scales of Trumpy Injustice
Judge Cannon has once again made it clear she is Donald Trump's most enthusiastic defense attorney.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Milliam-Deripaska-495x400.jpg)
Oleg Deripaska Indicted for His Anchor Baby and Flowers for a TV Host
Oleg Deripaska was indicted, in part, for sanctions violations involved with his efforts to set his girlfriend up in the US while she gave birth to one of their two children.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-04-at-11.59.49-AM-495x400.png)
The Claimed 200,000 Pages Trump Stole Include Press Clippings
Trump is pointing to what must be a lot of press clippings to demand a delay in the Special Master review.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Don.png)
The Gaslighter's Psychiatrist: My Response to Dan Drezner
Dan Drezner's defense of Maggie Haberman makes a great case that endless stories of Trump's tantrums are one of the reasons we never held Trump politically accountable for his failures.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-6.40.53-AM-495x400.png)
Under Seal, Trump Accuses Hand-Picked Special Master of Not Following Orders
Trump filed objections to Raymond Dearie's Special Master plan to that attempt to dodge the obligations on him as a plaintiff to provide proof of his claims.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Pence-495x400.png)
Trump's Shaky Privilege to Hide His Pence Pressure
Since January, both investigations into January 6 have focused on the pressure Trump and the mob put on Mike Pence. And we know from public privilege invocations, that's what Trump is fighting to keep away from a grand jury with invocations of Executive Privilege.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Screen-Shot-2017-01-01_HeaderSize-1500pxw-495x400.jpg)
When Steven Engel and Ed O'Callaghan Said It Was Legal for Russia to Hack Hillary
The Barr memo drafted by Steven Engel and Ed O'Callaghan is so sloppy it even suggests it was legal for Russia to hack Hillary.
![](https://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GreenTrashCan_ClaudioSchwarz-Unsplash_25SEP2022-495x400.jpg)
Trash Talk: Not Exactly Favre-nügen
Notes from a golf widow on the third week of the NFL season. This is an open thread.