The Government Blacklist You Don't Know
And why it matters in Donald Trump's upcoming New York trial
Happy Thursday, all. Hang in there — the weekend looms….
We’re doing videos today. But first, Chris starts us off with an outstanding insight on the upcoming Donald Trump trial here in New York. It’s yet another example of what a travesty “Bragg’s folly” is.
Let’s get right to it.
The Government Blacklist You Should Know
“Adverse credibility” is a term that makes active cops shudder. It should make you shudder, too.
Here’s how it works. In New York City – and increasingly, across the country – the district attorneys’ offices keep a list. It used to be a secret list, where not even the officers on it knew about it. All they knew is, their cases seemed to go nowhere.
The list is known as the “adverse credibility” list – which is legalese for, “the District Attorney’s office doesn’t trust this cop’s word.” For cops – especially active cops – it’s a career-ender.
Eventually, the existence of the lists leaked out. And what became clear is that cops get placed on the list purely at the discretion of the DA’s, or even sometimes judges.
And therein the problem. Because DA’s don’t want to go forward with cops they have decided they don’t trust – or whom they know the judge won’t trust – the case gets killed in the cradle. But a finding of adverse credibility can be highly subjective; a DA might not like your articulation, a judge may not like your testimony, an error may have been made on an affidavit.
Experienced cops will tell you that judges who don’t like cops sometimes even use it to take active cops out of the game, using the list as a sly bit of social engineering. More “decarceration,” you see.
Now, some cops on the list belong there – but many do not. But because no real proof is required, the cops get no due process. You will not be allowed to testify and any arrest you make will be dismissed prior to trial or hearings. Complaints fall on deaf ears. You have no recourse.
And so another cop – very often an active cop – off the street.
So how does this relate to Donald Trump’s case with Alvin Bragg?
Well, the Manhattan DA’s office is notorious for their “adverse credibility” list. Their list was secret, and at times seemed entirely arbitrary. They wouldn’t even let the NYPD know that their officer’s integrity was in question or what incident prompted it. And they stuck to it. You weren’t testifying if you were on that list. Career over.
Suddenly, however, the Manhattan DA’s Office seems less concerned about adverse credibility. Why? Because Donald Trump is the target.
See, Alvin Bragg’s key witness against Donald Trump is Michael Cohen, who has more than some “adverse credibility” issues. He is a convicted perjurer; he is, legally, a proven liar.
To recap: In August of 2018, Michael Cohen pled guilty in federal court to five counts of tax evasion, one count of making a false statement to a financial intuition, one count of willfully causing an unlawful corporate contribution, and one count of making an excessive campaign contribution.
Then in November of 2018, Cohen pled guilty in federal court to one count of making false statements to the U.S. Congress, for perjury committed to the Senate and House Intelligence Committees. He received a total of 39 months in prison for the crimes. He was released early but violated house arrest and was returned to prison.
And all this after due process and guilty pleas. You know, the kind of opportunities the DA’s Office doesn’t afford cops.
Michael Cohen is, literally, a walking, talking example of “adverse credibility.” At a level that, were this a police testifier, the DA’s office wouldn’t go within a mile of.
(Michael Cohen, perp, before he became the left’s newest hero)
Now, Bragg’s use of Cohen isn’t for a homicide or rape charge, where there is no other option but to go forward with what you have, so as to get a violent criminal off the street. This is for a nonsense charge, a sort of “add-on” charge that sometimes gets included in embezzlement and other financial cases. It would never, ever, happen were this not Donald Trump.
Never mind that the structure Bragg used here – adding a federal charge over which he has no jurisdiction in order to defeat the statute of limitations – is very likely to get any conviction eventually overturned.
It’s just another element of how, when it comes to Donald Trump, all norms go out the window.
When Donald Trump violates norms – and surely, he often does – it can be cringe-worthy. When the people out to get Trump violate norms, it feels far worse. It feels dangerous.
And if there is an adverse credibility list for DA’s somewhere, Alvin Bragg’s name should be at its top.
Video Shorts
Let’s do some videos.
Fox had reporting Wednesday about the Biden administration’s “CHNV” program — a special program to admit Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who have been “sponsored” into the country (the Fox video is here).
We actually reported on the program a few weeks ago — suggesting that this may in fact be how Laken Riley’s accused killer got into the country.
So what is Mayorkas hiding?
Also, here are some quick insights on the ongoing federal case involving Sean Combs — aka, “P. Diddy.” This one is going to get interesting, to say the least….
Notorious C.O.P.
And for those of you with podcast access, head here to get this week’s pod — an interview with Derek Parker, founder of the NYPD “Rap Intel” unit.
We’ll be doing more with Derek as the Diddy case develops. But for now, Detective Parker lays out the terrain, including what went down when Diddy and J. Lo got arrested together in midtown back in the day…. (Strangely, both Paul and Chris were working there that day).
And check out Derek’s book! To say he’s got some stories to tell…. (click the image for the link).
Will Someone Wake Chris Wray Up, Please?
If half the reporting on this woman is true — she’s currently dubbed “America’s Worst Mayor” — well then, we once again have to ask: WHERE ARE THE FEDS?
There are allegations of embezzlement, drive-by shootings, witness intimidation…. Can this administration investigate anyone not named Trump?
And finally….
Want a laugh? I mean, a real bent-over, “I-can’t-breathe, please stop!” howler?
Click here.
Yup — it’s real.
Told ya!
Boggles the mind Who would have thought we would ever be where we wound up?