Robert Mueller, Former F.B.I. Director, Is Named Special Counsel for Russia Investigation

Things have taken a turn for the surreal...

 

Trump should be impeached. Gross incompetence and being a complete idiot is a high crime if you are President. If he fires Mueller, that should be it for him.

 

I am with you, bro. Not happening.

 

I think it will happen. Trump must have something big to hide if he is considering this. Plus he is already getting the right wing propaganda machine going to smear Mueller - one of the most renowned and trusted FBI men in the country. They are smearing him so the right-wing sheep like bigtexx and RL will follow with their talking points and post the crap on here.

As disgusting as their lies are, you have to marvel at how much they own the peons like commodore and RL

 

/4 Raise taxes.

 

It won't be. He won't get impeached by a big GOP house majority without a smoking gun. He would need to be caught saying something on a wire while talking to any of the Russians under watch.

 

Hilarious

I love Law and Order

What about the Law and Order and Homicide Life On the Street episodes

 

It won't be anything like Watergate cause Trump had nothing to do with Russian meddling

Nixon actually did that crime

 

I hope the media gets into Trumps ear and give him the idea that he can't fire Mueller.

If there's one thing Trump hates is people getting more attention than him and him not having the loyalty of people like Mueller.

Let's hope he feels threatened and fires the guy.

 

You do not know that. I do not know that. The entire point of an independent investigation is to investigate that and present evidence that either implicates or exonerates President Trump. Don't you want that?

If anybody doubted what Trump's lackeys are saying in public is genuine, here's a reminder of what ol' Newt had to say back when President Clinton was being investigated:

 

Really. We don't know what Trump personally did or didn't do. What we do know is that he desperately doesn't want to be investigated. Likely, he is behaving like a guilty person because of what forensic accounting may uncover (related to Russia or not) and his warped idea of dominance politics.

Either way, this is worse than Watergate. The sitting president is compromised with regard to a hostile adversary taking active measures to influence and undermine our elections. Proving collusion is a tall order, but establishing the nature of Trump's weakness and the nature of his disposition toward Russia is important. With the Trump's t all likely boils down to money, but we won't know until real investigations have occurred.

The most likely scenario is that Trump is a useful idiot. Even that is enough to take steps to remove him from office.

 

Same here. It would totally be a Trump move to force a firing of Mueller. And why wouldn't he take his chances with Congress? Congressional republicans have shown zero interest in their oversight responsibilities. Everything so far is like a long, comedic, tumbling fall into authoritarianism.

At this point, I am amazed at the total win Putin has gotten (outside of getting sanctions lifted) in undermining the credibility and authority of the United States and democracy. However, I am really curious as to what, if anything, the Russians found when they hacked the RNC. The DNC info was weaponized but there was no public release of the RNC data. Either Ryan, McConnell, et. al are just that craven for power or their nuts are in a Russian vice... or both.

 

Just a reminder that Mueller was appointed special counsel to oversee the investigation into ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russian officials -- NOT to directly investigate President Trump.

The point of the investigation is NOT to "present evidence that either implicates or exonerates President Trump." The Trump CAMPAIGN is being investigated, not Mr. Trump personally.

 

True. But Mueller can also investigate any other matters connected that initial mandate as he sees necessary. And that includes obstruction of justice. It could also come to include investigating Trump's finances if Mueller suspects possible pay for play or that the campaign, of which Trump was the candidate, was acting in such a way as to benefit candidate Trump financially. It isn't just coordination/collusion with but also "links" to Russia. And links can be financial.

Specifically:

(b) The Special Counsel is authorized to conduct the investigation con nned by then-FBI Director James 8. Co ey in testimony be re the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 20, 2017, including:

1. (i) any links an or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and
2. (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and
3. (iii) any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a).

Whitewater started as a failed real estate deal and ended up being about lying under oath about a blow job. Mueller's investigation can similarly spin any number of directions. And I suspect that is what worries Trump and RNC leadership most.

Trump should probably let things play out and try to get Rosenstein to limit the scope as much as possible. But by actively trying to end the investigations, Trump expands their scope and makes himself more of interest beyond just being the candidate of the campaign being investigated.

Any other concerns (like the Russian hack of the RNC) fall in the purview of other FBI counter intelligence investigations, though, as long as those concerns are not linked to Trump campaign activity.

 

Pgabs must have been put on the payroll recently.

 

Russian payroll?

 

Y'all remember that thing where Trump said Comey was lying and Trump said he would "100%" testify under oath?...

Well that's not a thing anymore.

White House: When Trump Said He’d Testify, He Didn’t Mean to Congress
http://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-when-trump-said-hed-testify-he-didnt-mean-to-congress

President Trump will not testify before Congress under oath, a development that legal experts say was expected but that illustrates the pitfalls of the president’s tendency to shoot from the hip in public remarks. Trump said at a Friday press conference that he would “100%” agree to give sworn testimony in response to former FBI director James Comey’s allegations last week. On Monday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the president was “specifically asked whether or not he would talk to Director Mueller,” the special counsel investigating alleged Russian election meddling, under oath. In fact, Trump was asked generally about giving sworn testimony rebutting Comey’s allegations that the president asked him to pledge loyalty and to ease up on the FBI’s investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Asked a follow-up about Mueller specifically, the president said he would speak with him as well. Congressional Democrats were giddy at the prospect of grilling Trump under oath, but experts say that testimony was probably never going to happen. “I think that was expected,” said national security attorney Bradley Moss. “Having the President testify before Congress raises significant separation of powers concerns. The last to do it was Gerald Ford and all others since have adamantly refused.” But Moss and his law partner Mark Zaid say the president didn’t seem aware of that fact during his remarks on Friday. “This Presidency is marked like none other by a White House tendency to reinterpret the specific words of the President. Every time that happens its credibility suffers,” Zaid said in an email.

 

It's crazy how many lies come out of his mouth.

 

Duh, Trump being Trump, what is new.

 

When do the training wheels come off? Seriously , when?