Trump Faces Federal Investigation After Melania Speech, New Details Emerge

[KamaAina]

http://news.groopspeak.com/breaking-trump-faces-federal-investigation-after-melania-speech-new-details-emerge/

By now, the entire political world should already be aware of the Melania Trump plagiarism allegations. After all, entire portions of her speech were lifted from Michelle Obama, and the Trump organization even sent out a letter acknowledging that fact.

Now, things are getting even more serious. Not only is this bad for their public image, but a complaint has just been filed with the Federal Election Commission claiming that the Trump campaign violated federal election law.

Meredith Mclver, the woman who tried to take the blame for writing Melania’s speech, doesn’t work for the Trump campaign. She works for the Trump organization. There’s a difference – and it’s a big one (as far as the law is concerned). If she did, indeed, help Melania with her speech, as she admits by her very own writing, then she broke campaign finance laws, it’s as simple as that....

But – here’s what we know – she definitely is not a paid employee for Trump’s presidential campaign. No record exists of her receiving compensation in any form. And, if she is, the Trump campaign didn’t list it. That in itself would also be a violation since campaigns are supposed to list all in-kind contributions of goods and services on a regular basis.

Extra butter on mine, please.

[orwell]

1. Emails! Benghazi!

Where is our Fox News...

[L. Coyote]

9. I bet they had to delete a lot of email chains to hide the truth on these lies.

I was covering this news as it developed and we had the story here on DU first!
I recommend Donald take advantage of his right to remain silent.

Writer of Melania Trump's "First Lady" Speech Says Melania Lied.

L. Coyote Wed Jul 20, 2016, 10:16 AM
22. So, people in a Trump business are working on the campaign. Are they reporting this?

Or is this going to be a clear violation of campaign laws?

.....

50. There's no #MeredithMcIver in Trump's June payroll reported to the FEC. Lawyer up Donald!

[TonyPDX]

56. "Our Fox News" is on retainer to the 1%. We're on our own. n/t

[rurallib]

2. the cover up is always worse than the crime

[tallahasseedem]

40. ALWAYS!

You think that they would have gotten it right after three days. I can see if they spewed this crap three hours later, but not three days.

I think Manafort forgot he's not in the Ukraine anymore.

[Adrahil]

3. I have a sense the whole McIver story..

... Is bullshit. This shit is gonna blow up in Trump's face. I love it.

[Rstrstx]

10. Whaaaatttt?

She's been everywhere the whole campaign

[StrictlyRockers]

4. How many corners do you manage to cut before you trip and fall?

I posted a HuffPo article about this on Wednesday, and I've been following closely.

Great news! Oh yes, oh yes!

It did not take long for this one to blossom. I was speculating about whether the FEC still has enough teeth to make an impact here. I was worried that they may have suffered through big budget cuts like many important regulatory agencies have.

I am VERY curious to see what happens!



There are weird conspiratorial rumblings on Twitter about her being a fake person who was never on Drumpf's payroll? dunno

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512268538

[scscholar]

5. Does she even exist?

I haven't seen any proof yet.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. Co-writer of about 4 Trump books. Picture circulating (before being photoshopped to bizarro). . nt

[randome]

53. Anyone an put a name on the cover of a book. That proves nothing. A picture proves nothing.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]A 90% chance of rain means the same as a 10% chance:
It might rain and it might not.[/center][/font][hr]

[mucifer]

6. I think we need a better source than that.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

12. I agree

Previous news I've seen linked from there had pretty shoddy reporting.

And they can't even get it right about Edwards at the end of the article.

[mucifer]

14. It's the kind of thing thats in the news for a week or two

and then it's on to the next outrage new story of the week. It's not something I would think would cause an investigation.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

15. I did find articles at reputable sources

about the complaint filed against Trump, but it's a non-starter, IMO.

[SCantiGOP]

19. Afraid you are right

Minor campaign violation. A fine and that's it.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

31. If it's even a violation

If she did the work after the campaign last disclosed donations and before the next filing, it's not a violation.

[SCantiGOP]

34. There isn't a shortcut

We're going to have to beat this fascist bastard in the voting booth.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

35. Yep

And that's the way it should be.

[Major Nikon]

37. Not according to the WaPo story on the subject

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/20/did-the-trump-campaign-violate-federal-law-by-using-a-trump-organization-speechwriter/

[SickOfTheOnePct]

46. I read the story at the link

And it said if he used corporate resources knowingly and willingly, it's a violation. However, it goes on to say that he can pay for the corporate resources from campaign funds and then it's legal.

Until the Trump campaign's next filing is released, we'll really have no idea whether it was a violation or not. If the filing shows that the campaign paid for her services, then no violation.

[Major Nikon]

47. That's true, but it's not true that the Trump campaign can pay for the services after the fact

[NYC Liberal]

39. Death by a thousand cuts.

Every one of these "incidents" just goes toward proving the narrative the Trump is unfit to be president. There's unlikely to be a single one that torpedoes him, but taken altogether they are very damning.

[tallahasseedem]

41. Your signature pictures are amazing!

So inspirational!

[rjsquirrel]

33. What the hell is "groopspeak.com"?

Sorry but I don't really buy this is true when I've literally never heard of the source.

[Doodley]

7. I don't wish to alarm anyone, but it seems to me that Trump has is a schizophrenic

with multiple personalities. Some we already know about, but Meredith McIver is one who we do not know as well. .

[Cracklin Charlie]

8. Just how many ways is he making money campaigning?

May be that all the vendors being paid by the campaign are really Trump.

Crooked Hillary, indeed.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

23. Perhaps tRump is TRANS-gender in his double life. . . nt

[RapSoDee]

11. Republicans should be ashamed of cashing in Family Values for Casino Values

No honor, no integrity.

[safeinOhio]

13. Lock him up,

Lock him up,Lock him up,Lock him up,Lock him up.

[George II]

16. In the big picture this is a very minor infraction, but listening to the garbage coming out...

....of his mouth, it should be made a HUUUUGE issue. Lyin' Donald, Crooked Donald....wonder where the blood is coming out of, his eyes or "whatever"?

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. ...

[Photographer]

18. K&R

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. Too quick. It may show on July statement. If they'd waited til that came out, Trump amateurs might

I think they may have filed the complaint too quickly.

The Rump campaign can say the work was done in July the two weeks before the convention and billed then. So they can put it on the July statement where the company bills the campaign for services.

If the complainants had waited, the Trump amateur clown show campaign could easily have omitted it.

But more knowledgeable minds filing the complaint may have already accounted for the "list on a regular basis" issue.

[spanone]

21. i bet violations go deep in that disorganized organization...go get 'em

[mckara]

24. Unfortunately, the FEC is the Most Feckless Government Entity that Exists

I'm not sure if they can do anything more than cast shame upon guilty parties.

[benld74]

25. Agreed but what if anything will occur

With the finding.
The worse that can happen??

[Tikki]

30. Hi quartz43...Welcome to DU...

So much goes on in during this time of an election cycle...it will be an amazing ride, for sure.

Tikki

[red dog 1]

27. K&R

[Tal Vez]

28. Trump has been claiming to be under federal investigation (tax audits) for a long time.

[Squinch]

29. If he weren't so scary, this election would be fun. He's such a perfect fuckup!

[Initech]

32. But it's the best speech! It was written by the best speech writers!

[Kathy M]

36. Trump concerns me cause he seems to really enjoy being

combative I mean really really enjoys . Then who knows whats going behind the scenes ... complete diversion . I think he is using a lot of " Science of persuasion " Hopefully this is okay to post ......

http://blog.dilbert.com/post/145668188291/trump-man-of-science

very interesting take on science persuasion , blog is by Scott Adam ... he was guest on Bill Maher month and half to two months ago .

Then the combination of Manafort and Roger Stone added to the mix .... google names if not familiar .. man what a combo .. and not in a good way . Roger Stone is known for dirty tricks , they worked on some nasty campaigns

Wish the news would not show his tweets etc all free advertising and getting his message out ... the wiki leak is that even true ? thought I read the address from where it was sent from looked off

As far as Melania 's speech I will believe until proven for a fact otherwise it was plagiarized on purpose . I am starting to believe some to most of the convention was a controlled kaos on purpose for his show ..... I am starting to believe no reaction is better that reacting , whether that means turning tv off if he is on or not going to any sites he may possibly be attached to .

Kathy

[AgadorSparticus]

38. Oooooo. Pass the popcorn. Easy on the butter, please.

[Cha]

42. Wow.. i heard mention of this the other day but now

as you say.. it's getting more serious.

Serious enough to pass the popcorn, please.

Mahalo, KamaAina

[Craig234]

43. See notes

I don't think trump has much respect for rules, and it'd be great to see him held accountable here.

Two things that might prevent it:

1. The election commission is dysfunctional last I heard, lacking a quorum thanks to Republican obstructionism, so there's no enforcement. Or maybe I'm mixing it up with the Labor commission unable to protect workers.

2. There might be a question about whether she was paid to do this speech. Can they prove payment, or can she say it was just a personal favor to help, as a volunteer?

[Skittles]

44. LOL

and these idiots want to run the country

[Cosmocat]

45. Example 3,813

of something that is a democrat did, would be a MAJOR SCANDAL that an R candidate, especially Trump, won't have to answer for.

[SummerSnow]

48. Melania plagiarized it herself . She told Donald this. He had to come up with something to absolve h

of any responsibility. So he came up with damage control McIver. Melania was put on punishment by her husband after this fiasco and wasn't allowed to come back to the convention until the last day. He was really mad at her.

[MrModerate]

49. The Campaign That Couldn't Shoot Straight . . . n /t

[AllyCat]

50. Where's the tax returns???

[randome]

51. I honestly don't think Meredith McIver exists.

Maybe there was (or is) a person with that name but the McIver we 'know' from Trump is not her.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A 90% chance of rain means the same as a 10% chance:
It might rain and it might not.[/center][/font][hr]

[Crowman1979]

52. But, but, but.....SAUL ALINSKY!!!!

That's the rethuglican, alt-right, teabagger default response to everything.

[catbyte]

54. Dumbasses can't even be bothered to know election law. What arrogance.

[lark]

55. I'll have mine air-popped please

with no butter.

[Chakab]

57. I wouldn't get too excited. The FEC is deadlocked

with an equal number of Republican and Democratic appointees and hence doesn't actually do anything.