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'He's a tough guy': Actor Paul Giamatti says 'hardass' John Durham helped inspire Billions character
Washington Examiner ^ | May 4, 2020 | Carlin Becker

Posted on 05/05/2020 5:10:56 AM PDT by gattaca

Actor Paul Giamatti gave U.S. Attorney John Durham some credit for informing his character on Showtime's Billions.

The Hollywood star plays fictional U.S. Attorney-turned-New York Attorney General Chuck Rhoades, who is loosely based on former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, on the show, but Bharara isn't the only inspiration for the role. Speaking with GQ last week, Giamatti revealed that Durham influenced the portrayal of his character too.

"There was a guy that was interesting to me early on, and his name is John Durham," he said. "And he’s actually the guy who William Barr tagged to do the investigation of the Russia investigation. He used to be the federal attorney for the state of Connecticut, and he’s a pretty intense guy."

"He’s one of the guys who brought down Whitey Bulger, but he also took down the FBI guys who were colluding with Whitey Bulger," he continued. "I thought there were a lot of things about him that were interesting. The way he looks, too, is interesting. If you look him up, you can see."

Giamatti added, "You see him? He doesn’t look like what you normally think these guys are gonna look like, and he’s a tough guy, too. He’s a hardass."

Durham, the top federal prosecutor in Connecticut, was handpicked by Attorney General William Barr last year to lead an investigation into the origins of the Russia investigation and the actions taken by law enforcement and the intelligence community during it. The effort has since turned into a criminal investigation, and at least one former FBI lawyer is under criminal investigation after it was uncovered that he altered a document related to the surveillance of a Trump campaign adviser.

Last week, it was reported that Durham is focused on the Justice Department’s handling of its case against retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn after recently released FBI notes showed that agents discussed Flynn's possible prosecution before they interviewed him. He is also putting scrutiny on CIA Director John Brennan and any undue influence he may have had during 2017’s intelligence community assessment of Russian interference.

Durham's review is expected to wrap up this summer.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS: billbarr; chuckrhoades; connecticut; fbi; johnbrennan; johndurham; michaelflynn; mikeflynn; paulgiamatti; preetbharara; whiteybulger; williambarr
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1 posted on 05/05/2020 5:10:56 AM PDT by gattaca
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To: gattaca

“Durham’s review is expected to wrap up this summer.”

Blah, blah. I waited for the Horowitz report; the “secret” investigation by somebody in Utah; AG Barr, who was going to save the republic; and so on ad naseum.

Wake me when they start televising the arrests...


2 posted on 05/05/2020 5:15:53 AM PDT by CondorFlight
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To: CondorFlight

Right there with you. I followed the Q Anon whatever crap for months... The “just wait” “it’s coming” crowd. Thousands of arrests soon... And what has happened?


3 posted on 05/05/2020 5:20:08 AM PDT by Trinity5
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To: All

.
He hired all Democrats as Prosecutors - and they’ve made one indictment-
someone on the Internet that threatened Adam Schiff.

If they want you, they kick down doors and peeps around you are indicted within six weeks.

This is for show.


4 posted on 05/05/2020 5:22:26 AM PDT by AnthonySoprano
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To: gattaca
If Durham doesn't produce significant results BEFORE the election and the Dems steal it, everything gets shut down, immediately.

Think the Dems reclaiming the House was a disaster? (it was!) Their defeating a Trump reelection would steer be truly catastrophic and deadly to what's left of the rule-of-law.

5 posted on 05/05/2020 5:22:41 AM PDT by DJ Frisat ( (optional, printed after my name on post))
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To: DJ Frisat

Ignore the inclusion of the word ‘steer’ in my comment. Don’t know where that came from...


6 posted on 05/05/2020 5:24:28 AM PDT by DJ Frisat ( (optional, printed after my name on post))
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To: gattaca
Well, this IS a badass picture.

Wish he'd actually DO something.
7 posted on 05/05/2020 5:32:13 AM PDT by real saxophonist (If you don't have a gun, sell some toilet paper, and go buy a gun. - Colion Noir)
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To: gattaca

yeah, but I don’t believe Durham inspired Chuck Rhodes to wear nipple clips and be on the receiving end of S&M.


8 posted on 05/05/2020 5:50:01 AM PDT by GotMojo
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To: GotMojo

You have to admit that Giamatti plays the part of a psychopath really well.


9 posted on 05/05/2020 6:04:09 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: CondorFlight

One thing is certain. None of the networks will cover ANY arrests as they happen, when they do.

My patience is wearing thin, but I still believe that there are some good Americans who do give a damn about this country.


10 posted on 05/05/2020 6:10:35 AM PDT by Howie66 ("...Against All Enemies, Foreign and Democrat.....")
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To: gattaca
Similar facial hair and severity, but the character seemed to come more out of Eliot Spitzer: a crusading prosecutor with a billionaire father, a memorable wife, and lots of sexual kinks.

I googled his character, "Chuck Rhoades," and this quote from Chuck's father, Chuck Sr. came up "Monogamy is a form of Socialism. It's testosterone redistribution, so a few bucks don't keep all the does to themselves".

11 posted on 05/05/2020 6:11:39 AM PDT by x
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To: gattaca
but Bharara isn't the only inspiration for the role

That's good, because the story line would b flipped and the law man would be the corrupt person in the story. Kinda like real life.

12 posted on 05/05/2020 6:14:17 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (#openupstateny)
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To: gattaca

Billions is a good show to avoid...IMHO.


13 posted on 05/05/2020 6:21:15 AM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: GSWarrior

It is cancer. From the writing to the final product, pure cancer.


14 posted on 05/05/2020 10:22:38 AM PDT by proust (Justice delayed is injustice.)
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To: gattaca

Does the character whimper out in the face of Treason and do nothing?


15 posted on 05/05/2020 10:50:28 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: GSWarrior

“Billions is a good show to avoid...IMHO.”

thanks. i was gonna ask if it’s just a big steaming pile of leftist claptrap ...


16 posted on 05/05/2020 11:17:09 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: GotMojo

No, but you’ve got to admit Chuck’s goatee is spot on.


17 posted on 05/05/2020 11:24:08 AM PDT by Quilla
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To: catnipman

When it first premiered, I was looking forward to it because of Giamatti.

Then I turned it on, and guess what the opening scene was ? Giamatti’s character going to an S&M prostitute where she was pissing on him to satisfy his sexual appetite. It was so disgusting, I had to switch the channel.


18 posted on 05/05/2020 1:05:14 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Dear Mr. Kotter, #Epsteindidntkillhimself - Signed, Epstein's Mother)
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To: CondorFlight

I agree. I think this is going to go no-where. I don’t even click on the story links, I stopped months ago.

Until and unless, I see perps houses being raided and people being put in cuffs I am not going to believe it.


19 posted on 05/05/2020 6:13:21 PM PDT by JoeRender
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To: gattaca

I LOVE Paul Giamatti’s acting.


20 posted on 05/05/2020 6:16:09 PM PDT by Yaelle
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