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anaphoristand.bsky.social
brian pillion
@anaphoristand.bsky.social
970 followers 1.4K following 2.2K posts
writer | antiantiantifa | (mostly philly) sports fan | he/him
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anaphoristand.bsky.social
Until we get a straight answer from Acosta (who notably misremembered multiple times in his recent @oversightdemocrats.house.gov testimony) or someone else involved, this question remains critical.
Epstein’s name, I was told, had been raised by the Trump transition team when Alexander Acosta, the former U.S. attorney in Miami who’d infamously cut Epstein a non-prosecution plea deal back in 2007, was being interviewed for the job of labor secretary. The plea deal put a hard stop to a separate federal investigation of alleged sex crimes with minors and trafficking. “Is the Epstein case going to cause a problem [for confirmation hearings]?” Acosta had been asked. Acosta had explained, breezily, apparently, that back in the day he’d had just one meeting on the Epstein case. He’d cut the non-prosecution deal with one of Epstein’s attorneys because he had “been told” to back off, that Epstein was above his pay grade. “I was told Epstein ‘belonged to intelligence’ and to leave it alone,” he told his interviewers in the Trump transition, who evidently thought that was a sufficient answer and went ahead and hired Acosta. (The Labor Department had no comment when asked about this.).
November 13, 2025 at 5:41 AM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Yeah, there's just no way that Jeffrey Epstein was surviving all the way to trial in a BOP facility controlled by Donald Trump and William Barr.
J 5/30/19 9:34:38 PM Michael Wolff Re: maybe as a favor to trump. in exchange for yemen and iran support. smells doesnt it? Michael Wolff 5/30/19 5:33 PM So MBS was paying him off? Why? Ideas? J 5/30/19 5:29 PM is it a coincidence that the russian that bought the house in palm beach and knows all, is the same guy that sold a painting last year to mbs for 450 million dollars. that was only worth 1.5m? [HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031683].
November 12, 2025 at 9:14 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Jeffrey Epstein has met MBS, Putin, etc. Who's the WORST person he's ever met?
jeffrey E. 2/8/17 9:53:21 AM Larry Summers Re: recall ive told you..i have met some very bad people,, none as bad as trump. not one decent cell in his body.. so yes- dangerous Importance: High.
November 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Meanwhile, here's Sloppy Steve texting with Epstein:
Sender: e:jeeitunes@gmail.com Time: 06/03/19 04:32:47 AM (581254367) Flags: 1150981 Is Read: No Is Invitation: No GUID: 31B4A6C6-763F-4AFC-9C88-6D1A6971F50E Message: prince andrew and trump today. tooo funny. Sender: e:jeeitunes@gmail.com Time: 06/03/19 04:33:33 AM (581254413) Flags: 1085445 Is Read: No Is Invitation: No GUID: 598FFB31-BFD6-4596-978B-05757CCA4CC6 Message: recall prince andrews accuser came out of mara lago Sender: Steve Bannon Time: 06/03/19 04:33:38 AM (581254418) Flags: 1060865 Is Read: Yes Is Invitation: No GUID: FB3775EE-AF53-4FC2-A299-D3134D17ACDD Message: Can't believe nobody is making u the connective tissue.
November 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Me calling in to the sitroom conference:
A House of Dynamite. Lauren Boebert Beetlejuice grope.
November 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
His publicist like, "could you pretty please give me something remotely intelligible?"
Peggy Siegal 7/1/11 2:43 PM If you rewrite your last email in better grammar, (and so I have a better understanding) I can cut and paste and send it to Arianna Huffington from me..... Did you know why Prince Albert's Charlene fled to the airport with a one way ticket back to South Africa? Because she found out about a third illegitimate child that is 3 months old...the palace officials followed her to the airport and propably made her an offer she could not refuse...will get details from Jim Coleman when he comes home Sunday night. In Southampton now. Peg Jeffrey Epstein 7/1/11 07:18:25 Peggy Siegal should you point out to Ariana Huff, that the same type of person, same as strauss Kahn is Andrews accuser, long criminal record. total liar. Ariana should champion the dangers of false allegations, send a reporter or reporters to investigate... the palace would love it, the girl in the photo, was nothing more than a telephone answerer,, she was never 15, according to her version she worked for trump, first at that age, at MAralago. ITs ridiculous. but the press like strauss kahn is afraid to question women.
November 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Are you aware of who signed Andy's subpoena?
The official who signed at least some of the subpoenas is Executive Assistant United States Attorney Manolo Reboso, a source familiar with a number of the subpoenas issued so far told MSNBC. In doing so, the SDFL appears to have bypassed what multiple legal experts told MSNBC is standard protocol for its issuance of subpoenas, turning to a member of leadership to sign off on some of them, instead of a line prosecutor assigned to investigate the case. As Executive Assistant US Attorney, Reboso is the third-highest ranked official in SDFL, but typically, that role oversees office operations and human relations matters, coordinating with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
November 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
In a letter demanding answers from POTUS regarding his looming commutation of sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell's sentence, @raskin.house.gov pretty directly calls out the Trump criminal defense counsel currently moonlighting as DAG's likely, "serious and far-reaching violation of the criminal law."
Meanwhile, any inmate or staff who questions or blows the whistle on the institution’s grotesque pampering of a serial sexual abuser and human trafficker at taxpayer expense is being punished and retaliated against by Warden Hall. Within FPC Bryan, the deference and servility to Ms. Maxwell have reached such preposterous levels that one of the top officials at the facility has complained that he is “sick of having to be Maxwell’s bitch.”[2] // In light of these shocking revelations, I write to demand that you make your former personal attorney and now Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, available for a public hearing immediately with our Committee to answer for this corrupt misuse of law enforcement resources and potential exchange of favors for false testimony exonerating you and other Epstein accomplices. The time has come to cease any coy or sly answers about granting clemency to a convicted child sex predator. I am demanding answers to these three questions. // First, have you discussed a potential commutation—or any form of presidential clemency—for Ms. Maxwell with Mr. Blanche, his underlings or anyone else in your Administration? // Second, have you directed Mr. Blanche or anyone else in your Administration to provide Ms. Maxwell with the transfer to the prison camp, favorable and preferential treatment in prison, or special accommodations for her communications and interaction with her family and the outside world? // Third, what has Ms. Maxwell, her attorneys, family or representatives promised you or your attorneys? // I request that you provide responses to the above questions by November 24, 2025, and that you ensure Mr. Blanche reaches out to my staff to arrange time and place for his hearing by November 17, 2025. As I am sure you can appreciate, given the clear false statements of Ms. Maxwell in her interview with Mr. Blanche, the subsequent and repeated favorable treatment afforded to her, and her planned testimony before a congressional committee,[21] Mr. Blanche’s actions may constitute a serious and far-reaching violation of the criminal law.[22].
November 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Has Smirnov been spotted out clubbing in Vegas with Kash and Sigal Chattah yet?
Tweet screenshot: brian pillion @anaphoristand - 4:18 PM · Mar 1, 2024: I maintain that it's incredibly difficult to understand the last decade in GOP politics without a moderately sophisticated understanding of the muddled overlaps btw Russian (often ethnically Ukrainian) and Israeli organized crime and both state's intelligence services.
November 7, 2025 at 6:52 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
I mean, are we sure he wasn't just calling to make a pass at her, while her husband was laid up?
“Trump liked to say that one of the things that made life worth living was getting your friends’ wives into bed. In pursuing a friend’s wife, he would try to persuade the wife that her husband was perhaps not what she thought. Then he’d have his secretary ask the friend into his office; once the friend arrived, Trump would engage in what was, for him, more or less constant sexual banter. Do you still like having sex with your wife? How often? You must have had a better fuck than your wife? Tell me about it. I have girls coming in from Los Angeles at three o’clock. We can go upstairs and have a great time. I promise … And all the while, Trump would have his friend’s wife on the speakerphone, listening in.” ― Michael Wolff, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.
November 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Fun fact: ALL Nazis are miserable. That's what led them to being fucking Nazis.
Sad Elon.
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Judge Walker with a fairly quick turn around on, "cool it with your drama."
47 Nov 4, 2025 The Court has received the government's filing regarding discovery on the issue of vindictive and/or selective prosecution (ECF No. 40). The Order on the parties' jointly recommended discovery plan (ECF No. 32) governs discovery in this case. To the extent any discovery dispute arises, the parties may address it in a motion. Signed by District Judge Jamar K. Walker on 11/4/2025. (Walker, Jamar) (Entered: 11/04/2025) Main Doc­ument.
November 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Sure, but only one has "touch of death"-ed a Pope?
JD Vance grimly prepares to reap Pope Francis.
November 4, 2025 at 7:50 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Leni Riefenstahl.
November 4, 2025 at 4:56 AM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
It's almost like Alex Acosta was precisely counting on his OPR whitewash's having successfully covered up the financial investigation his sweetheart deal thwarted, and @oversightdemocrats.house.gov having no documentary evidence to substantiate that.
Ms. Stansbury. Going back to the Federal nexus. It's our understanding that there were financial records collected as a part of the investigation that included an investigation into international wire transfers. Are you aware of that? Mr. Acosta. I don't recall a financial aspect of this. We were focused on the inappropriate acts that took place in Palm Beach. Ms. Stansbury. Was it ever discussed as a part of the Federal investigation? Mr. Acosta. This was 20 years ago. I don't remember -- Ms. Stansbury. You don't recall whether or not in the most high-profile cases of your life that led to your resignation from the administration whether or not financial transactions were investigated --. Mr. Acosta. With -- Ms. Stansbury. -- as a part of the investigation? Mr. Acosta. With respect -- with respect, at the time it was high profile, it was not the most high-profile case of my life at the time. Ms. Stansbury. Uh-huh. That's fine. Mr. Acosta. And -- but the focus -- Ms. Stansbury. But in any case - Mr. Acosta. Right. Ms. Stansbury. -- it's an established fact. Okay. You know, we've been working with the majority to get copies of the financial records. Why -- Mr. Acosta. Could I ask a question? Ms. Stansbury. Yes. Mr. Acosta. Are there communications about a financial aspect to the case? Are there -- you know, we've got a full OPR report here of 300 pages. I don't believe that there's references to a financial aspect to this case in this OPR report. Ms. Stansbury. I'm asking you -- Mr. Acosta. But-- Ms. Stansbury. --if-- Mr. Acosta. But -- but you said it was an established fact, and I'm just -- Ms. Stansbury. Well, let me -- Mr. Acosta. -- gently -- gently questioning how much of an established fact. Ms. Stansbury. You were the prosecutor, not me. I'm asking you questions to understand what you investigated. So what I am trying to understand is, did you look at potential financial crimes and discuss that as art of the decision as to whethe or not to pursue Federal charges? Mr. Acosta. To my recollection, the discussion was focused on the sex crimes. Ms. Stansbury. And why not on the financial crimes? Mr. Acosta. Again, this was 20 years ago, I can't speak to that. Ms. Stansbury. Was that not a part of what was recommended through the line prosecutor? Mr. Acosta. Again, I can't speak to that. I do not recall a discussion over financial -- if there had been, you know, a Federal nexus on financial crimes, again, we wouldn't have had these long discussions about a Federal nexus.
October 31, 2025 at 8:50 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Wet Hot American Summer, Michael Showalter as Alan Shemper: "Day bidet".
October 31, 2025 at 6:57 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
And if delaying a plainclothes officer in an unmarked car's arrival at work can credibly be framed as a conspiracy to impede, how far afield of the Broadview facility might such conspiring conceivably extend? Cutting him off in traffic? Holding up the drive through line?
3. On or about September 26, 2025, at Broadview, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, MICHAEL RABBITT, KATHERINE MARIE ABUGHAZALEH, ANDRE MARTIN, CATHERINE SHARP, BRIAN STRAW, and JOSELYN WALSH, defendants herein, conspired with one another and others, known and unknown, to prevent by force, intimidation, and threat, Agent A, a United States law enforcement officer, from discharging the duties of his office, and to injure him in his person or property on account of his lawful discharge of the duties of his office, and while engaged in the lawful discharge thereof, and to injure his property so as to interrupt, hinder, and impede him in the discharge of his official duties.
October 30, 2025 at 11:45 AM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Not to quibble with the estimable professor, but his substitution of the [United States] for 14.3's "the same" misconstrues the target of the barred insurrection/rebellion. It's not the United States itself, but against the Constitution.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
October 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
A still from Martin Scorsese's classic, "Lenape Manaháhtaan":
Daniel Day Lewis, in "Gangs of New York".
October 29, 2025 at 4:41 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Et tu, Batman?
DL: Um, I also heard that, you know, he got through security in your building and, this is from some sources, and that he, you know, he basically like, you know, went outside your apartment, at around 11:30 p.m. one night or around that time, and you said ‘what are you doing here?’ and he said, “I’m batman.” W: Well, he's been to my building in general before as a friend but I was never like uncomfortable or mad that he showed up. DL: Okay, do you remember that batman thing? W: No, I don't ever remember him saying that he’s batman. DL: Did he show up one night in the last few months that like was late at night? W: He's never shown up where I've been uncomfortable or mad.
October 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
A play in two acts:
Josh Hawley fisting the Constitution. Josh Hawley flees from his recently fisted friends.
October 28, 2025 at 9:42 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Curious for more seasoned legal reads, but as a layperson, I'm not sure I've ever seen such a direct call for en banc reversal in an appellate dissent before.
We have come to expect a dose of political theater in the political branches, drama designed to rally the base or to rile or intimidate political opponents. We also may expect there a measure of bending—sometimes breaking—the truth. By design of the Founders, the judicial branch stands apart. We rule on facts, not on supposition or conjecture, and certainly not on fabrication or propaganda. I urge my colleagues on this court to act swiftly to vacate the majority’s order before the illegal deployment of troops under false pretenses can occur. Above all, I ask those who are watching this case unfold to retain faith in our judicial system for just a little longer.
October 20, 2025 at 7:31 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
#GoBirds #FuckICE #FreePalestine #NoKings
October 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Me seeing who wrote this piece:
Ethan Hawke's John Brown from 'The Good Lord Bird'.
October 15, 2025 at 9:17 PM
anaphoristand.bsky.social
Chef's kiss kisses chef:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
11. Also, in a case involving some sensitive national security issues including Iran and nuclear weapons, Michael Murphy’s associate showed up in court the day before trial for hearing on pre-trial rulings, wearing old muddy tennis shoes, but on her jacket a large “Free Palestine” pin. Her positioning in the courtroom would have had her facing the jury. Also, news media was present because it was the eve of trial. All of this would show to the jury a negative impression of Byrne’s case, by showing that Bryne’s legal team did not believe in his own case. The combination of lack of readiness and appearance of associate counsel with a “Free Palestine” pin seemed to possibly cross the line into deliberate sabotage. Her pantsuit was covered in cat hair. This is not compatible with taking a case in Federal Court seriously especially involving national security issues and high profile media attention.
October 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM