Robert Mueller investigation

[onejayhawk]

I remember the days when Republicans were tough on crime. Now they talk about crimes as being "ticky-tacky" things and people being provoked into committing felonies. Whatever happened to the party of law and order?

I remember when justice applied to both parties equally.

J

[Teenwolf]

Bump. Mueller report to be released next week. With the number of felonies on Trump's list of crimes, I hope he's removed from office to be criminally charged. Highly unlikely that either of these things happen, but I believe everyone is underestimating two things: Trump's level of stupidity, the scope and magnitude of his crimes.

Should be fun, so long as rule of law is followed. I have my doubts, but I still think there's a good chance hes ousted before the end of this year.

Mueller report coming out while Rosenstein is still acting AG, before Barr has passed his ethics review. No chance it gets buried. Gives me some hope. My fear is that the crimes we know about have been public knowledge for so long, people will believe they dont matter. Like cyanide, Trump base have slowly built up an immunity to negative Trump news. I hope this bombshell breaks the seal.

[swampdragon]

Bump. Mueller report to be released next week. With the number of felonies on Trump's list of crimes, I hope he's removed from office to be criminally charged. Highly unlikely that either of these things happen, but I believe everyone is underestimating two things: Trump's level of stupidity, the scope and magnitude of his crimes.

Should be fun, so long as rule of law is followed. I have my doubts, but I still think there's a good chance hes ousted before the end of this year.

Mueller report coming out while Rosenstein is still acting AG, before Barr has passed his ethics review. No chance it gets buried. Gives me some hope. My fear is that the crimes we know about have been public knowledge for so long, people will believe they dont matter. Like cyanide, Trump base have slowly built up an immunity to negative Trump news. I hope this bombshell breaks the seal.

I just dont see the GOP politicians coming to their senses and railing against Trump no matter what happens - there hasnt been enough outrage against them yet.

[B-Fly]

I just dont see the GOP politicians coming to their senses and railing against Trump no matter what happens - there hasnt been enough outrage against them yet.

I'm going to wait to see what Mueller's got. If he's got strong evidence of both pre-election (collusion to sway the election, campaign finance violations) and post-inauguration (obstruction of justice, emoluments) crimes by the President, I think we'll have an impeachment, and the public's reaction to the report and the impeachment investigation and articles of impeachment will ultimately drive the considerations of the 20-25 Senators whose vote to convict is most likely to be sway-able.

[Teenwolf]

Michael Cohen presently detailing Trump's criminal activities while in office, in front of the House Oversight Committee. Pretty juicy 20 page opening statement.

Anybody else watching C-SPAN with a bag of popcorn this afternoon? Man, I feel like such a dork.

PS - 10 mins in, Jim Jordan is a f-ing scumbag, re-iterated with every word of his mouth. None of these Republicans care about the alleged crimes of their leader (I hope I'm proven wrong and one or two break ranks). Pathetic, but not surprising. Dems create a circling firing squad consistently for those who step out of line. Meanwhile, a protector of a serial pedophile (Jim Jordan) gets to act indignant about these multiple federal crimes, brought forward with receipts.

[B-Fly]

House Republicans are ultimately irrelevant here. Watch for Senate Republican reactions.

[Teenwolf]

Best highlights so far are the various involvements of Don Jr.

Opening statement from Cohen, this paragraph is pure gold:

What struck me as I looked back and thought about that exchange between Don Jr. and his father was, first, that Mr. Trump had frequently told me and others that his son Don Jr. had the worst judgment of anyone in the world. And also, that Don Jr. would never set up any meeting of any significance alone – and certainly not without checking with his father.

Later on, Cohen claims that in his 2nd business interaction with Trump, he was specifically brought in because Don Jr. had "created a mess involving licensing fees" or something, and Cohen needed to fix the situation, leading to his hiring in the Trump Org.

The topper, I cannot believe this one. Don Jr. is so stupid, he re-tweeted this from Garrett M. Graff:

"Incredible to see all the hubris drained from Cohen. I've been personally screamed at by Cohen on the phone before and know how much bravado he once had. This is a man with nothing left, with no reason to lie or obfuscate at all. Humbling, in its way."

This was re-tweeted hours ago and still up on Don Jr's page. Too damn funny.

[B-Fly]

Well said by Perry Bacon Jr in the 538.com live blog:



Perry Bacon Jr.2:12 PM


This has been the GOP strategy for two years. Don’t rebut what Comey said about Trump; attack Comey’s character. Don’t rebut what McCabe said about Trump; attack McMcabe. This hearing is like much of the last two years. Cohen will be painted on Fox as a liar, without necessarily addressing the question of whether he is lying about Trump.

[Teenwolf]

Well said by Perry Bacon Jr in the 538.com live blog:



Perry Bacon Jr.2:12 PM


This has been the GOP strategy for two years. Don’t rebut what Comey said about Trump; attack Comey’s character. Don’t rebut what McCabe said about Trump; attack McMcabe. This hearing is like much of the last two years. Cohen will be painted on Fox as a liar, without necessarily addressing the question of whether he is lying about Trump.

These are merely appetizers before the Mueller report. When the entirety of evidence is dropped all at once, there will be voluminous evidence of many serious crimes, and he'll broker a deal to vacate the presidency in exchange for immunity to his many crimes. Gov't saves face, everyone is happy.

The thing that I wish they would ask more directly is: "Mr. Cohen, would you say that Donald Trump influenced any of the unsavory or possibly illegal activities that you engaged in as Mr. Trump's lawyer? Furthermore, would you agree that your willingness to commit these illegal acts was part of your appeal as a "fixer" for Mr. Trump?"

They should get to the point. Cohen's criminality isn't the bug for Trump, it's the feature.

[Mithrandir]

Vacate the Presidency? I believe that Trump will come out of all of this unscathed

[revo]

Well said by Perry Bacon Jr in the 538.com live blog:



Perry Bacon Jr.2:12 PM


This has been the GOP strategy for two years. Don’t rebut what Comey said about Trump; attack Comey’s character. Don’t rebut what McCabe said about Trump; attack McMcabe. This hearing is like much of the last two years. Cohen will be painted on Fox as a liar, without necessarily addressing the question of whether he is lying about Trump.

Standard GOP M.O.

[Judge Jude]

"a little bit nutty, a little bit slutty"

wait, that wasn't an attack on Cohen. it was on somebody who was painted as a liar (in that case falsely, which is far worse), without necessarily addressing the question of whether that person was lying about another President (wasn't).

"drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you might find."

that's the kind of dispassionate, objective analysis that is needed in these cases, right?

at least you got the "standard M.O." part right!


how so many people can't see the big picture continues to mystify me, for some reason.

Trump is plenty corrupt already - wild overreaching and virtue-signaling just clouds the picture.

Cohen is telling the truth about things that one side likes, and lying about the rest. ask almost anybody. it's the one thing they agree on. and down the rabbit hole we go.

[Kevin Seitzer]

"a little bit nutty, a little bit slutty"

wait, that wasn't an attack on Cohen. it was on somebody who was (in that calse falsely, which is far worse) painted as a liar, without necessarily addressing the question of whether that person was lying about another President.

"drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you might find."

that's the kind of dispassionate, objective analysis that is needed in these cases, right?

at least you got the "standard M.O." part right!


how so many people can't see the big picture continues to mystify me, for some reason.

Trump is plenty corrupt already - wild overreaching and virtue-signaling just clouds the picture.

What is the big picture, in your opinion?

[heyelander]

Vacate the Presidency? I believe that Trump will come out of all of this unscathed

+1

...

[Mithrandir]

"a little bit nutty, a little bit slutty"

wait, that wasn't an attack on Cohen. it was on somebody who was painted as a liar (in that case falsely, which is far worse), without necessarily addressing the question of whether that person was lying about another President (wasn't).

"drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you might find."

that's the kind of dispassionate, objective analysis that is needed in these cases, right?

at least you got the "standard M.O." part right!


how so many people can't see the big picture continues to mystify me, for some reason.

Trump is plenty corrupt already - wild overreaching and virtue-signaling just clouds the picture.

Cohen is telling the truth about things that one side likes, and lying about the rest. ask almost anybody. it's the one thing they agree on. and down the rabbit hole we go.

Nully?