A comedian says he prank-called Trump and Jared Kushner patched him through

[enhanced_deficit]

Why would anyone prank a sitting POTUS's son in law? This crosses the line.

A comedian says he prank-called Trump and Jared Kushner patched him through — here is the full transcript of that call

David Choi
2m

https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/5b36ce4344e98825008b4843-750-375.jpgPresident Donald Trump.White House

President Donald Trump appears to have been on the receiving end of a prank phone call while aboard Air Force One.
Comedian John Melendez, host of "The Stuttering John Podcast" and a frequent guest on Howard Stern's radio show, impersonated Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey during the call.
Despite the senator's chief of staff telling the legislative office that Menendez was not trying to call Trump, the call was reportedly routed by Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kusher.


President Donald Trump appears to have been on the receiving end of a prank phone call from comedian John Melendez, while aboard Air Force One.
Melendez, host of "The Stuttering John Podcast" and a frequent guest on Howard Stern's radio show, impersonated Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey on the call, which wound up going through the White House's switchboard.
Melendez was eventually transferred to the president's line aboard Air Force One by Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kusher, according to Politico. (https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/29/white-house-prank-call-bob-menendez-687897) The call was patched through to Trump, despite Sen. Menendez's chief of staff telling the legislative office that the real Menendez was not trying to call Trump.


http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-prank-phone-call-transcript-john-melendez-bob-menendez-air-force-one-2018-6



Related

Caution Graphic Language: Bill Maher crossed the line, called Kushner "a ****ing idiot"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahpp27WAT2M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahpp27WAT2M


Pranking Neocon Nikki (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?517971-Pranking-Neocon-Nikki&)


https://youtu.be/9RgXL7byTF0

[enhanced_deficit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTlNW6SNQ8c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTlNW6SNQ8c

[Schifference]

If nothing else it shows that Trump is willing to take a call from a democratic senator.

[RonZeplin]

///

[aGameOfThrones]

Willing to talk to anyone

[enhanced_deficit]

If nothing else it shows that Trump is willing to take a call from a democratic senator.

Not only that, apaprently he's also proud of him and Kushner offered to pull POTUS out of meeting to take call from this democrat senator. Doesn't get any more 'anti-swamp' than that.




Trump tells prankster posing as Sen. Bob Menendez, 'We're proud of you' and 'Great job' (https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2018/06/29/president-donald-trump-tells-prankster-posing-nj-sen-bob-menendez-were-proud-you/746058002/?from=new-cookie)

Melendez said he then got a call from the president.

"Hi Bob, how are you?" Trump said at the start of the conversation as posted on the podcast. "How are you? Congratulations on everything, we're proud of you. Congratulations, great job. You went through a tough, tough situation and I don’t think a very fair situation, but congratulations."


"Bob, let me just tell you, I want to be able to take care of the situation, every bit as much as anybody else," Trump says. "I think we can do the whole thing. You know, I have a good relationship with the party, you have a good relationship with the party. And I think we can do a real immigration bill."


Menendez indictment: 3 girlfriends, 7 lavish trips, more than $750,000

By Alexandra Jaffe, CNN
Fri April 3, 2015


https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150402082823-getty-bob-menendez-press-conference-indictment-exlarge-169.jpg

Washington (CNN)
The 68-page indictment (http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2015/images/04/02/menendez_melgen_indictment.pdf) outlines in colorful detail those duties as a senator — which include allegedly intervening on behalf of Melgen's three girlfriends' visa applications, among other things — and his friendship — which includes nearly $1 million in trips, political contributions and other perks.


https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150402192036-menendez-melgen-girlfriends-exlarge-169.png


Girlfriend 1: A Brazilian national who worked as an actress, model and lawyer

Girlfriend 2: A Dominican national who worked as a model


Girlfriend 3: A Ukrainian national who worked as a model and actress

THE TRAVEL

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150402191452-menendez-vacation-illustration-exlarge-169.png

From Punta Cana to Paris
The indictment outlines travel for seven trips Menendez took that Melgen paid for, typically on Melgen's private jet but at one point on a chartered private jet on which Menendez was the only passenger. The flights largely brought Menendez from New Jersey and Washington down to the Dominican Republic, where Melgen owned a Caribbean Villa (as it's described in the indictment).
One time, Melgen paid for a flight to Punta Cana for a wedding, where he also set Menendez and a guest up in a two-bedroom suite shared with Melgen and his wife, free of charge.

In 2013, after word of the federal investigation became public, Menendez paid back Melgen $58,000 for the 2010 plane trips calling his failure to properly disclose the flights an "oversight."

THE FUNDRAISING

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150402191717-menendez-melgen-fundraising-exlarge-169.png

"Don't worry. We will take care of it."

That was the response from a Melgen associate to a request from a Menendez aide for contributions to support the senator.

In an email sent in April 2012 to a Melgen aide, a Menendez staffer outlined requests for at least $60,000 in donations to entities benefitting Menendez. The staffer said he "humbly wanted to put a big ask" before Melgen, requesting the doctor and his family members contribute a total of $40,000 to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Victory Federal Account, which would support Menendez and other New Jersey Democrats locked in re-election fights.

Melgen's personal assistant, identified in the indictment only as "Person A" responded: "Regarding your request ... don't worry. We will take care of it. Dr. Melgen will be calling you tomorrow to speak further."

On May 16, 2012, Melgen and his wife contributed $20,000 each to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Victory Fund and the legal fund for Menendez, and Melgen's daughter and her husband contributed another $20,000 to the N.J. Democratic Party fund. Melgen appeared to reimburse his daughter with a $20,000 check issued from his ophthalmology practice that same day.

More than $750,000

That's the amount, according to the indictment, that Melgen gave — through his family and business — to entities supporting Menendez's re-election effort in 2012.

Of that, $143,500 went to New Jersey State and County Democratic Party entities. Melgen also contributed approximately $600,000 to Majority PAC, a super PAC backing Democratic Senate candidates and incumbents, in two contributions of $300,000. Both of which were earmarked for the New Jersey Senate race — in which Menendez was the only Democratic contender.

THE BUSINESSES

"Who has the best juice at CMS and Dept of Health"?

That was something Menendez tried to determine when intervening on Melgen's behalf in a Medicare reimbursement dispute, according to an email he sent to a staffer that was included in the indictment — and the senator ended up speaking to the top officials at both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services about the issue.

The indictment outlines a multi-year battle between Melgen and federal health officials over $8.98 million he was alleged to have over-billed Medicare for a drug he used in his ophthalmology practice.

https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/politics/menendez-indictment-takeaways/index.html



Despite media innuendos, there is also no confirmed proof that Kushner-Trump team pulled strings behind the scene to get one of AIPAC's favorite senators out of corruption trial because Kushner, Trump's largest donor and this senator all have special ties to Israeli PM Netanyahu.





https://theintercept.imgix.net/wp-uploads/sites/1/2018/06/men-1528115098.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&q=90


http://image.nj.com/home/njo-media/width600/img/politics_impact/photo/menendez-aipac-f9e0795ad2492ec8.jpghttps://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmMnKkZiuG2zWIgBjj11dyFVZHSMrOh otsNqFCbpBoIW2DA47O


http://njjewishnews.com/images/made/images/uploads/DinnerMenendezAdelsonAE_600_400_90.jpg
Sen. Robert Menendez, left, poses for a pre-dinner photograph with billionaire philanthropist Sheldon Adelson (Trump's largest donor), center, and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach (sometimes known as Michael Jackson's Rabbi)



Judge dismisses all charges against Sen. Menendez following request from prosecutors

The Justice Department on Jan. 31, 2018 asked a judge to drop bribery charges against Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-departments-seeks-to-toss-out-charges-against-sen-menendez/2018/01/31/19a3094c-06a8-11e8-b48c-b07fea957bd5_story.html



Could Menendez Trial Tip Senate To Trump — Or Cost AIPAC A Pro-Israel Vote?

The political future of one of Israel’s staunchest supporters is on the line in a New Jersey courtroom — along with the political power balance in the U.S. Senate.
https://forward.com/news/national/380968/could-menendez-trial-tip-senate-to-trump-or-cost-aipac-a-pro-israel-vote/






Un-Related

Trump says "drain the swamp" was cute but no longer needed (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?505636-Trump-says-quot-drain-the-swamp-quot-was-cute-but-no-longer-needed&)

[enhanced_deficit]

Willing to talk to anyone

Pretty much and nothing wrong with dialog. Much better than communicating through dropping MOABs or threats of stealing oil in case of unavoidable invasions.

That said, he did draw the line once and refused to talk to founding father of ISIS.

[Swordsmyth]

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2F3ivvDRE GaQRVu%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1

[Aratus]

TWO WORDs

Stuttering John...

Trump punk'd

[Swordsmyth]

TWO WORDs

Stuttering John...

Trump punk'd

Trump revels in these distractions and you guys keep falling for them.

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2F3ivvDRE GaQRVu%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1

[Aratus]

Trump revels in these distractions and you guys keep falling for them.


Worse... If Stuttering John has the same level of dignity and gravitas
as a sitting senator, I'd be almost tempted to run him for either the
Senate or the House. He might be the idea person the nation needs!

[Aratus]

Donnie J. Trump & son-in-law Jared got badly punk'd,
at least Jesse Benton is no longer the golden standard.

[dannno]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_cPir6MwLM

[enhanced_deficit]

Trump revels in these distractions and you guys keep falling for them.

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2F3ivvDRE GaQRVu%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1


It appears he has managed to distract Senator Menendez too.



N.J. Sen. Bob Menendez demands 'dramatic' White House security overhaul after comedian's prank call to President Trump

By Chris Sommerfeldt
Jul 03, 2018

Bob Menendez doesn’t want the White House to get fooled again.

The longtime New Jersey Democrat, in his first public comments since comedian John Melendez prank called President Trump posing as him, said Tuesday he hopes the White House will “dramatically change” its security protocols in response to the snafu.

“It’s concerning to me that the most powerful man in the world, the President of the United States, could have a shock-jock comedian get through to him and speak to him on Air Force One,” Sen. Menendez told CNN’s Erica Hill (https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/03/politics/bob-menendez-donald-trump-prank-call/index.html).

Melendez, best known for his “Stuttering John” alter-ego and appearances on Howard Stern’s radio show, got Trump on the phone on Friday after calling the White House switchboard pretending to be Menendez. After getting transferred to several administration officials — including Jared Kushner — Melendez finally got Trump on the line while he was onboard Air Force One en route back to Washington from a rally in North Dakota.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-news-menendez-white-house-comedian-prank-trump-20180703-story.html

[enhanced_deficit]

Trump tells prankster posing as liberal Dem Sen. Bob Menendez, 'We're proud of you' and 'Great job' (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?523756-A-comedian-says-he-prank-called-Trump-and-Jared-Kushner-patched-him-through&p=6646636&viewfull=1#post6646636)


This was Foxnews 2016 coverage, be interesting to see how Foxnews 2018 respons to this pride report:


Reports: N.J. Sen. Menendez Linked on Tape to Government Contract Scheme

Published September 28, 2006 Associated Press
In court papers filed in New Jersey in March, Oscar Sandoval said he was pressured in 1999 to hire a doctor Menendez preferred or he would risk losing $1 million in government contracts. Sandoval taped the 20-minute telephone call with Donald Scarinci, a longtime friend of Menendez who is also a powerful lawyer and has been a fundraiser for Menendez's campaign. Scarinci allegedly told Sandoval that Menendez would consider it "a favor" if the doctor, Vicente Ruiz, was hired, adding that Ruiz would offer him "protection." If not, Sandoval would risk losing psychiatric-services contracts at various facilities, including the Hudson County Jail.

If he did not hire Ruiz, Scarinci allegedly said "the law of the jungle" would be put into effect. Sandoval hired Ruiz.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/09/28/reports-nj-sen-menendez-linked-on-tape-to-government-contract-scheme.html





Un-related

Although Trump has history of supporting/financing Dem progs/libs and is a protectionist himself, there is no evidence that Trump actively supported election of NY Dem prog Cortez or financed Dem prog Bob Menendez's election campaign.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x-3wiRa58d8/maxresdefault.jpg


On Senate Floor, Bob Menendez Plays Audio Of Immigrant Children Crying At Detention Center
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/abc24fbd7747a50af62bd39601855788dddef857/c=5-0-4027-3024&r=x408&c=540x405/local/-/media/2018/06/22/Bergen/NorthJersey/636652722966072118-Rally-2.jpg