Tulsi Gabbard sues Hillary Clinton for $50M, claims defamation over 'Russian asset' remark

[Koyaanisqatsi]

But I just wanted to clarify that HRC was referring to the republicans when she stated that Tulsi was being groomed to be a Russian asset (not agent).

Incorrect. The trouble comes primarily from the fact that someone transcribed her responses, but did not do a proper job, which is easily discerned by simply listening to her as opposed to reading it.

Here, allow me to take you through it:

They're [Trump's team] also going to do third party again. And I'm not making any predictions but I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third party candidate.

That's one thought and it's about Trump's team using--as a part of their strategy--a third party candidate to split off votes from the Democrat challenger.

Then she adds, evidently in reference to the person (Tulsi) that Trump's team is likely to target:

She's the favorite of the Russians. They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far

That's another thought. Iow, Tulsi is the "favorite of the Russians" as evidenced by the fact that "they" (the Russians) already have "a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far."

Since Trump's strategy is also going to be supported by the Russians, it's a given that they are in lock step as to who they will use as part of their strategy.

Then she adds, almost parenthetically:

and that's assuming Jill Stein will give it up. Which she might not

That punctuation is added and it makes a difference, because when you hear her speaking, it's actually:

and that's assuming Jill Stein will give it up, which she might not

See the distinction? It's one thought, not two separate ones:

And "give it up" refers to being a third party candidate again, NOT to her knowingly being a Russian asset or the like as was widely reported, again because of random punctuation in the next line:

'cause she's also a Russian asset.

The "'cause" is NOT connected to anything; it's a verbal pause, so the proper paraphrase based on hearing Clinton speak is:

That's assuming Jill Stein won't run again. She might not.
[additional thought]
She's also a Russian asset.

Iow, Clinton is simply stating--correctly--that:

1. Trump's strategy will involve supporting a third party candidate that can split votes away from the Democrat challenger;
2. The Russians will be involved in that support (and by "support" I mean clandestinely manipulate targeted demographics for that candidate using the same social media warfare as in 2014-2016);
3. The Russians have evidently chosen Tulsi to be that asset;
4. But that's assuming Jill Stein won't run again. If she does run again, the Russians may use her candidacy as a way to split votes away from the Democrat candidate instead (or in addition to), as they did in 2016.

 

[lpetrich]

Update:

Tulsi Gabbard drops defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton - CNNPolitics
Tulsi Gabbard drops defamation suit against Hillary Clinton

From CNN:

"Plaintiffs Tulsi Gabbard and Tulsi Now, Inc. dismiss this action," Gabbard's lawyers, Dan Terzian and Janice Roven, wrote in a court filing on Wednesday. "While they remain certain of the action's legal merit, they are just as certain that this new COVID and post-COVID world require them to focus their time and attention on other priorities, including defeating Donald Trump in 2020, rather than righting the wrongs here."

...
"This was a publicity stunt through and through, and this filing makes that clear," Nick Merrill, a spokesperson for Clinton, said in a written statement. He then included the phrase "good riddance" in Russian.

From NYPost:

In court papers filed in Manhattan federal court Wednesday, Gabbard wrote that, while her claims have merit, it’s better to “focus their time and attention on other priorities, including defeating Donald Trump in 2020, rather than righting the wrongs here.”

 

[Harry Bosch]

Update:

Tulsi Gabbard drops defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton - CNNPolitics
Tulsi Gabbard drops defamation suit against Hillary Clinton

From CNN:

"Plaintiffs Tulsi Gabbard and Tulsi Now, Inc. dismiss this action," Gabbard's lawyers, Dan Terzian and Janice Roven, wrote in a court filing on Wednesday. "While they remain certain of the action's legal merit, they are just as certain that this new COVID and post-COVID world require them to focus their time and attention on other priorities, including defeating Donald Trump in 2020, rather than righting the wrongs here."

...
"This was a publicity stunt through and through, and this filing makes that clear," Nick Merrill, a spokesperson for Clinton, said in a written statement. He then included the phrase "good riddance" in Russian.

From NYPost:

In court papers filed in Manhattan federal court Wednesday, Gabbard wrote that, while her claims have merit, it’s better to “focus their time and attention on other priorities, including defeating Donald Trump in 2020, rather than righting the wrongs here.”

Nick Merrill is pretty funny! Tulsi needs to grow up. She'll never progress in the democratic party if she continues with her wild conspiracy theories.

 

[fromderinside]

I'm thinking Tulsi's problem is more mental than political.

Or, perhaps it's our problem. Maybe its just she's not actually a democrat.

After all , not all self identified persons-of-color are persons-of-color

...and that's another problem ......

 

[Elixir]

I'm thinking Tulsi's problem is more mental than political.

Or maybe it's rhetorical. Being an asset to Russia is not the same as being a lackey.
You can't sue someone for saying they think that what you are doing benefits Russia.
Even if you WEREN'T fair game as a public figure.