The euphoric enchanted magical thicket is a place of pure wonder and joy. It is a hidden oasis, nestled deep within a mystical forest. As you enter the thicket, you are immediately enveloped in a sense of ethereal beauty. The air is filled with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that invigorates your senses. The vibrant colors of the flora and fauna create a kaleidoscope of beauty that is truly enchanting. The trees are tall and majestic, their branches reaching towards the sky in a graceful dance.
In 2018, before Mueller had released his famous report, then-Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance started his own investigation into Trump’s potential criminal activity in New York City. These investigations contained a few threads, including the hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in advance of the 2016 election. (Why Vance never brought charges at the time was a widely asked question that he’s tried to address in recent interviews.) This is the case that District Attorney Alvin Bragg picked back up and for which he brought a 34-count state indictment against Trump in April—the indictment focusing on Trump’s alleged role in falsifying business records as he was trying to pay Daniels for her silence. So far, commentators have been split on the strength of the case and whether it should have been brought at the state or federal level (or even at all).
Because of the more overtly political nature of the process, and because the impeachment came after Mueller s non-prosecution, Republicans found it easy to brand the impeachment investigation as just another attempt to get Trump. To prove that Sussmann and Joffe worked together to assemble the Trump-Alfa Bank information as part of opposition research for the Clinton campaign, the Justice Department tried to focus jurors attention on billing records that dating back to March 2016.
The trees are tall and majestic, their branches reaching towards the sky in a graceful dance. Flowers of every hue imaginable bloom in abundance, their petals glistening with dewdrops that glitter like diamonds in the sunlight. Every step you take in the thicket reveals new wonders.
Lawyer acquitted in case from Trump ‘witch hunt’ probe
Michael Sussmann was acquitted of lying to the FBI as it looked for evidence of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Emily Zantow / May 31, 2022Michael Sussmann, a cybersecurity lawyer who represented the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign in 2016, speaks to the media outside the federal courthouse in Washington, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Sussmann was acquitted Tuesday of lying to the FBI when he pushed information meant to cast suspicions on Donald Trump and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
WASHINGTON (CN) — A federal jury took less than a day to find a former Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer not guilty of making a false statement to the FBI’s general counsel in 2016.
The trial of 58-year-old Michael Sussmann began over two weeks ago and included nearly two dozen witnesses. A cybersecurity lawyer, Sussmann was indicted in September on a single count that said he was dishonest when he met with then-FBI general counsel James Baker in 2016 and provided data files containing purported evidence of secret communications between Russia’s Alfa Bank and Donald Trump who was running for president of the United States at the time.
After Trump won that election, his Justice Department would appoint John Durham as a special prosecutor to find wrongdoing in Crossfire Hurricane, the code name for the FBI’s two-year investigation of Trump-Russia collusion in the 2016 election.
The former president and his Republican allies have for years decried the Crossfire Hurricane investigation as a “witch hunt” and a political ploy to make him look bad. Durham said Sussmann went into the FBI meeting while representing Trump's Democratic political opponent, Hillary Clinton, as well as a technology expert now known to be Rodney Joffe, and that his statement in the meeting that he was not representing any clients was false.
While speaking with reporters outside the federal courthouse on Tuesday, Sussmann expressed relief about the jury's decision to acquit him.
“I told the truth to the FBI — and the jury clearly recognized that with their unanimous verdict today,” said Sussmann, who was wearing glasses and dressed in a dark suit with a blue tie.
“Despite being falsely accused, I am relieved that justice ultimately prevailed in my case," he continued, adding that it “has been a difficult year for my family and me.”
Sussmann had resigned from his position at Seattle law firm Perkins Coie after his indictment and faced up to five years in prison if convicted. His was the first case from Durham's probe to go to trial, and Tuesday's acquittal deals a heavy blow to it.
“While we are disappointed in the outcome, we respect the jury’s decision and thank them for their service,” Durham said in a statement on Tuesday.
Sussmann noted meanwhile that he is “looking forward to getting back to the work that I love.” After speaking for less than a minute, reading a statement from a piece of paper while glancing up occasionally at reporters, he left without answering any questions.
John Durham, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate potential government wrongdoing in the early days of the Trump-Russia probe, arrives to the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington on May 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
During closing arguments on Friday, Durham’s prosecutorial team described Sussmann as a “powerful” Washington attorney who used his privilege to “bypass normal channels” and expedite a meeting with Baker, his former colleague who was the FBI’s top lawyer at the time.
To prove that Sussmann and Joffe worked together to assemble the Trump-Alfa Bank information as part of opposition research for the Clinton campaign, the Justice Department tried to focus jurors’ attention on billing records that dating back to March 2016.
Prosecutors also focused heavily on notes taken by FBI agents and other government officials in meetings about the bureau’s probe into the Trump-Alfa Bank information. The government said that any references to the word “client” in those notes amounted to proof that Sussmann was meeting with Baker on behalf of a client.
It was Durham's position Sussmann and Joffe first gave the information to New York Times reporter Eric Lichtblau, hoping he would publish a story on it. They say Sussmann only went to the FBI after the Pulitzer Prize-winning national security reporter held off on publishing, hoping that the bureau would launch an investigation that would prompt an “October surprise” story against Trump in the nation’s paper of record just weeks before the Nov. 8, 2016, election.
But Sussmann's defense team kept pointing jurors toward the witness stand, where a handful of he meeting attendees testified that, despite meeting notes, they recall being told that Sussmann was not representing a client when he provided the Trump-Alfa Bank information to Baker.
As Sussmann tells it, Joffe alerted him about the Trump-Alfa Bank information, and the campaign leaked it to Lichtblau. And since the information involved a potential national-security threat, Sussmann insists he wanted to let the FBI know that the Times had a pending story because it could affect the bureau’s investigation if it chose to open one. He also claimed that everything he did, he did out of respect for the bureau, noting his close work with that office during his past career serving as a federal prosecutor.
The Trump-Alfa Bank allegations were never substantiated, a point that Sussmann’s defense team did not shy away from, highlighting testimony from an FBI agent who told jurors the investigation was “incomplete.”
During opening and closing arguments, the defense told jurors to judge the bureau by “what they did — not by what they’re saying now.”
Over the 11 days of trial, jurors heard from 23 witnesses: 17 witnesses of whom were called by Durham’s team, including several current and former high-level government officials, as well as seven called by the defense. Sussmann opted not to testify.
After closing arguments on Friday, the jury deliberated for about three hours in the afternoon before being sent home for the holiday weekend. They came back on Tuesday and deliberated for about three more hours before returning with a unanimous not guilty verdict.
Defense attorneys asked U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper to dismiss the case in March, but the Obama appointee instead let it it to proceed to trial. Sussmann's acquittal came just after noon Tuesday.
Durham’s probe led to two other cases along with Sussmann's. The special prosecutor secured a guilty plea from former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith in 2020, and he to court this fall for a trial in his case against Russian analyst Igor Danchenko.
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Tiny fairies flit from blossom to blossom, their delicate wings shimmering as they go. The soft sound of trickling water draws you closer to a crystal-clear river that winds its way through the heart of the thicket. The water is so pure and inviting, you cannot resist dipping your hand into its cool embrace. As you explore further, you stumble upon a clearing bathed in golden light. In the center, a majestic unicorn stands, its coat shimmering like silver. Its eyes are filled with wisdom and kindness as it gazes at you, inviting you to join it in this magical realm. The euphoric enchanted magical thicket is a place where time seems to stand still. It is a haven of tranquility and serenity, where the worries of the world melt away. In this extraordinary place, the impossible becomes possible, and dreams become reality. But be warned, the thicket is a place that can easily enthrall and captivate. Once you enter, it may be hard to leave. Its allure is undeniable, and its magic is irresistible. So, if you ever come across the euphoric enchanted magical thicket, embrace the enchantment, but remember to take with you the memories of this extraordinary place, for they will stay with you long after you have left..
Reviews for "Finding Bliss in the Enchanted Thicket"
1. Jessica - 2/5
I was really excited to visit the Euphoric Enchanted Magical Thicket after hearing so many positive reviews, but I must say I was thoroughly disappointed. The thicket was extremely overcrowded, making it difficult to enjoy the supposed serenity and tranquility of the place. The staff seemed overwhelmed and uninterested in helping visitors. The attractions were lackluster and did not live up to the hype. Overall, it felt like a tourist trap rather than an enchanting nature experience. I would not recommend visiting if you're looking for an authentic magical adventure.
2. David - 1/5
The Euphoric Enchanted Magical Thicket was a complete waste of time and money for me. The whole place felt like a generic theme park rather than a mystical forest. The so-called magical creatures were clearly animatronics and the enchanting music playing in the background was more annoying than soothing. I expected to be transported to another world, but instead, I found myself surrounded by gimmicks and overpriced food stalls. Save your money and find a real forest if you want to experience nature's magic.
3. Sarah - 2/5
I had high hopes for the Euphoric Enchanted Magical Thicket, but it fell short on multiple levels. The ticket prices were exorbitant, especially considering the lack of quality attractions. The forest paths were poorly maintained, and there were no signs or guides to explain the supposed magical elements of the thicket. The whole experience felt hastily put together, with no attention to detail. I left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied, wishing I had chosen a different activity to spend my day on. Don't be fooled by the name, this place is far from euphoric or enchanted.