Russiagate Today

So what's new? The Russians arrested an American ex-marine, Paul Whelan, who was visiting Russia for a friend's wedding, on charges of espionage. Reasonable people, and people at CNN have suggested that this is Putin's payback for the arrest and detention of Maria Butina for acting as a Russian agent (lobbyist). NPR: U.S. Ambassador Visits American Who Was Arrested In Russia On Suspicion Of Spying. Fox: As US ambassador meets with American accused of Moscow spying, specifics on his arrest are sought . Vox: Russia detained an American for espionage. Here’s what we know.

Whelan’s detainment comes about two weeks after 30-year-old Russian national Maria Butina, who was arrested on charges of conspiracy and acting as an agent of a foreign government in July 2018, admitted to participating in a campaign backed by Russian officials to secretly influence US politics, including trying to sway the Republican Party to be more receptive to Russia. Some experts have speculated that Whelan’s arrest may be an attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to retaliate.

Whelan could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted for spying. But the details of his arrest, and Russia’s motivations or justification for detaining him, are still unclear. Here’s what we know so far.

The Peacock, Former CIA officers doubt American arrested in Russia was a spy. And we know former CIA officers never lie.

Is this a brush back pitch by Putin? It seems likely to me. The arrest and prosecution of Butina always seemed like a stretch; accused of lobbying, not American politicians particularly, but American lobbyists (the NRA). It would be easy for the Kremlin to find some American who, by talking to some official, could be could be accused of a similar "crime". In my somewhat libertarian world, there would be no restrictions on lobbying on first amendment grounds, even by legally admitted foreign nationals. Talk is cheap and should be.

One amusing thing that came out of Whelan's arrest was how CNN Asks Brother Of Detained American About His Anti-CNN Posts On Social Media:

Camerota asked Whelan about posts his brother made on a Russian social media platform, where he called CNN “fake news.”

“There are some strange elements of your brother’s story,” Camerota said, describing a social media post where Paul Whelan was drinking coffee and watching CNN with the caption, “Just drinking coffee and watching fake news.”

Camerota continued, “Now, I’m not taking this personally that he’s pictured with CNN, but I just am wondering is this a statement on his part somehow?”

A bewildered David Whelan responded that he does not care about his brother’s social media and he just wants his brother home safe. “I don’t know what’s on his page,” Whelan said, “I don’t follow him on social media other than Twitter, which is where I am. I don’t know what he was intending by those photos.”

Thought crime. Speaking of fake news, Glenn Greenwald at the Intercept reminds us Five Weeks After The Guardian’s Viral Blockbuster Assange-Manafort Scoop, No Evidence Has Emerged — Just Stonewalling

The U.S media has become very adept at outrage rituals whenever they are denounced as “fake news.” They should spend some time trying to become as skilled in figuring out why such attacks resonate for so many.

Lee Smith at Da Federalist: New Documents Suggest The Steele Dossier Was A Deliberate Setup For Trump. I think that's understating it.

For a man expecting himself to be indicted, he seems to be handling it very well. From Page 6, Roger Stone finds time for best- and worst-dressed list amid scandal

Stone — known as much for his Richard Nixon tattoo as his expensive bespoke suits — took over for the dearly departed, acid-penned Richard Blackwell 13 years ago. Mr. Blackwell, as he was known, a fashion designer and critic, was famous for such annual lists.

Stone’s list on the conservative Daily Caller website gives “best” marks to Melania Trump, “the most chic and well-dressed first lady since Jackie Kennedy,” Kit Harington, David Beckham, Jeanine Pirro, Kaia Gerber, Van Jones, Dr. Keith Ablow, Steve Carell and Harry Styles.

But Stone seems more inspired as he excoriates the worst dressed.

On Lena Dunham: “The homeless bag lady you avoid on the streets of NYC has a better eye for style.”

Steve Bannon: “How many ways can you say slovenly? Bannon looks like he chases down hobos for their clothes.”

Mark Zuckerberg: “How can a guy this rich look this bad? He clearly spends all his time figuring out how to censor non-liberals on Facebook and no time thinking about his fashion choices. The hoodies and T-shirts are from hunger.”

Beto O’Rourke: “America’s progressive boy wonder . . . Dweeby, washed-out and always swimming in whatever he lands on.”

Michael Cohen: “The [former] Trump Organization lawyer dresses like the outer-[borough] gangster he talks like. The good news: He won’t need civilian clothes after pleading guilty to multiple counts.”