If Mrs. Manafort had hit the intruders with her frying pan would the FBI agents have shot her?
I am so proud of these big strong heroes with their guns pointed at a woman in a nightgown.
Did they frisk her to make sure she didn't have a stiletto or derringer hidden in her lingerie?
Did they take her wedding ring away? It might really be a decoder of some sort.
2
I and my other lawyer friends are depending on Mueller--he's got a smart team and he is savvy and he's committed to upholding the rule of law and the Constitution. Trump's bullying may work with others but it won't with this smart, and I would say assertive, team. We need this at this time in history.
13
Smells like money laundering.
7
Picked the lock? Like that's supposed to be an aggressive tactic? If he were a mid-level dope dealer and police were serving a state-issued warrant, they'd have kicked his door in. So what's the fuss?
8
Please hurry Mr. Mueller!
14
I just heard that Manafort stated that those who revealed that he is under a FISA Court investigation have committed a "criminal" act.
Per Alan Dershiwtz (a friend of Trump), this Manafort guy has some Chutzpah!
2
It's Alan Dershowitz, a liberal constitutional expert, no friend of Trump but a great friend of the Constitution. The one with chutzpah is Robert Mueller.
4
The most important issue for this country is to find out if the Cli9nton machine aided and abetted the Russian nuclear power.
1
Very confused as to priorities?
10
Wonder why no one questions Mueller regarding his unreported earlier dealings with Saudi and Russia
5
Under the jail is where they belong
4
Mr. Mueller- Please hurry. Please impeach the insane man in WH before he nukes the nations away. You will do a great service to entire humanity. This bully is playing with nukes and rogues. It seems like apocalypse. Even mother nature is telling us.
6
Did you skip civics class and are you unaware of which party controls both houses of Congress?
6
Go get 'em, Bob!
8
Was Mueller the Director of the FBI when Rinat Akhmetshin was inexplicably allowed to enter the USA, granted asylum against all common sense, and then later granted dual USA/Russian citizenship? It seems to me that someone like Akhmetshin filing paperwork to come to the USA or obtain some kind of legal status would cause the intelligence agencies to sit up and take notice. NYT seems to be the only media site to report on Akhmetshin (great articles, too) so maybe you'd know about that or would like to look into it?
1
Imagine. All of this has occurred within the first year of Trumps administration. You can't make this up! The cast of characters longer than ones arm! A Tom Clancy novel in the making! It's got International intrigue (Russian interference in our elections) Crime ( money laundering) Traitors ( Moniforte, Flynn a former U.S. General aiding and abetting in the hacking of our greatest democratic institution, our election process; Trumps family member (Kushner, doing back door money deals with foreign operatives; the Donald's own son meeting with the Russians to get dirt on Clinton to up end the election in favor of his father; Obstruction of Justice; firing the FBI director after refusing to get off Flynn's trail of deceit and lies. The news networks on an never ending witch hunt to bring this President down giving fodder to the likes of Bill Mahr, SNL, John Oliver and the like. The special counsel, Robert Mueller former US Marine and Director of the FBI an Eliot Ness like figure circling and moving closer to the Trump wagon train picking off minor figures in the process eyeing the man in the inner circle, Trump himself. Imagine. I can't get enough!
5
It is totally crazy, and you couldn't make this stuff up. But you forgot to add that all anyone says anyone actually did is hack an email server which revealed a major political party actively conspiring against one of its own candidates. Which by the way the publisher of this intel emphatically insists was not the Russians. So as breathlessly exciting as this whole issue is.....what's the point again?
8
Manafort lawyers up--takes the 5th and if, a big if, he is convicted President Trump gives him a pardon. So if you disagree with this projected outcome include in your reply what you think the outcome will be. This is going nowhere. Look to the outcome for the Sheriff in Arizona--that is where this is heading.
4
Trump may not pardon Manafort. Arpaioa has a lot of support among Trump's base and has a bit of mythology (a story at least) with him standing up for Federal Laws and etc. Manafort is an impressive international criminal but I'm not sure that is impressing Trump's base any. If Trump wasn't involved in Manaforts money-laundering, meddling in the Ukraine, and etc he may not feel inclined to pardon him. So far, Trump hasn't been tied to any of that as a willing and knowledgeable partner. Manafort may have had his own schemes, though.
As soon as Manafort or more than more than a dozen other people tied to Trump and various aspects of the Russian scandals and cover ups are pardoned, they lose Fifth Amendment protections. Then, if they don't cooperate as witnesses, they can be held in contempt of court and jailed. Trump would need to pardon them again.
Pardoning Arpaio before he could be sentenced undermined the rule of law and the role of the courts, which was upsetting to many people. Just the same, Arpaio is old, powerless, and he was mainly a problem to immigrants and criminals in Maricopa County.
Continuing to pardon a string of people accused of major financial crimes, helping foreign governments influence a national election or control American foreign policy, and obstructing justice in multiple federal arenas would soon take its toll on public opinion. The fact that Trump was placing himself and his co-conspirators above the law in matters of importance to many more people would soon turn public opinion. By the time Trump got around to carrying out his threat to pardon himself, he would be such a political liability that many Republicans would vote to impeach and convict him. That task would be all the easier if Trump starts pardoning people before the 2018 election and flips a few more seats to his opponents who will use his evident corruption as a rallying point.
Trump, volatile as he is, knows this. Otherwise, he would pardon everyone now and try to stop the investigation immediately.
1
Witch hunt or thorough investigation, call it what you will. We will only know which after Mueller has revealed all the facts.
3
The Mueller investigation could last for years and President Trump will in all likelihood be serving his second term in office while this is still going on. This will prove to be a waste of time and money. They are trying to destroy President Trump and his family. They will come up empty handed and the Trumps will be vindicated. This does speak well of Mueller and is nothing more than a witch hunt.
5
It's only a matter of time until Trump starts a war to try to divert attention from this "nothing burger".
4
It is the Trump Team that set the tone by blatantly breaking laws and repeatedly lying about their actions under oath and on security clearance applications.
22
Manafort reminds me of a character out of "Goodfellas."
13
Mr. Mueller and his team who left multi million dollar salaries to protect this country and the constitution. These are serious people who love this country. Read the article in The Atlantic "Will American Democracy Recover".
29
I'm sure they won't be too inconvenienced over leaving those salaries. Why am I sure? Because I looked up the total bill for the Bill Clinton Impeachment and it took me a few hours to process that dollar amount.
2
Even though they had a legal warrant--they chose to break into the mans home in the middle of the night. They are lucky they didn't get shot. And if that had happened--would it have been his fault--or theirs? Imagine you hear someone breaking into your locked door in the middle of the night and then answer.
6
Manafort would have been the one who ended up dead in that situation.
6
Kind of the definition of a police state, don't you think? No warrant, a lock picked, heavily armed men burst in, a man defends himself and is gunned down? Anyone who agrees with this doesn't deserve this country.
I genuinely fear there is a second civil war coming very soon. It will be ignited by grossly oppressive federal overreach like this, and it will be ruinous beyond comprehension
2
Mr. Mueller, Please push harder and remove this megalomaniac from office prior to his inevitable blunder into WWIII. His mental health is of a highly questionable state.
23
No matter what he turns up, Inspector Javert..er, Mueller has no power to do that. Only the House of Representatives can impeach, and then only the Senate can convict of impeachment, the latter requiring a 2/3 vote to do so. Last time I checked, they are both controlled by the Republicans. Even were they to do so, you would have President Michael Pence, who would be a very popular choice with Congress. Somehow catch Pence up in the net, too? Then you would have President Paul Ryan, and you wouldn't have a ghost of a chance to remove him. Time to face reality...
2
My only comment: HURRY MUELLER, HURRY.
14
If Trump was not guilty criminal activity now, during the campaign, or before he ran for president, he would not mind Mueller's team investigating in whatever direction or area Mueller sees fit. Any reservations by Trump equals guilt & braking the law in some fashion, likely criminal activity which would mean prison.
Let's face, we likely have a felon sitting in the oval office.
15
Cost to date for the 2016-Aug 2017 period? Benefits thus far as in: indictments and actions at trial, if any?
1
I think he submits his budget some time in October and I'm sure it will be leaked to the press shortly afterwards.
Trump has no qualms in destroying a country of over 20 million and killing off its population - he said it in so many words just a few hour ago. This begs the question: What would Trump do to Mueller if the inquiry jeopardized his position as President?
If Mueller found something that imperils Trump`s presidency, Mueller would end up like any prosecutor ends up in the times of an immoral autocrat, be that the 1930`s in Germany, the 1950`s in the USSR, or today in North Korea. In other words, you wouldn`t want to be in Mueller`s shoes.
10
He literally said "we will destroy you"
1
What exactly do you think Trump can do? I hope you are not implying that our military would help him stage a coup and take over the country. The Military defends the Constitution so any order to do that would be an unlawful order which could, and I have no doubt would, be refused. At that point, yes, he would be Impeached, Article 25'd, locked in a padded room, and the whole 9 yards. Because of the structure of our government it would be fairly impossible for a President to forcibly take control and because a dictator.
For what it's worth to all the internet trolls, twitter bullies, shrieking fanatics and tin-pot politicians out there: this is what real power looks like. It's quiet and it's devastating. May justice out.
19
You are talking about Mueller I hope.
1
Power is not the same as justice but power can make its unjust actions look like justice or make people go along with it.
3
This inquiry is a waste of time for two reasons: (i) the GOP will not impeach their own president under any circumstances (they would never recover as a party from that). Most of them were well aware of Trump's connections prior to the election anyway and, for example, we all knew about Manafort already in 2016. (ii) Trump's supporters do not care that Trump colluded with the Russians even when it is proven. If you oppose Trump, forget this inquiry. The only way out are the elections in 2018. Law is a contract. It will only be upheld if everybody is willing to enforce it and that is not the case at the moment.
5
Impeachment?
Try widespread arrests.
8
if the evidence is there and warrants it, i'd wager that the GOP will never recover as a party if they DON'T do something about mr trump.
13
They recovered fine from Nixon....
3
Serving subpoenas and search warrants is hardly extreme "shock and awe" tactics except, perhaps in the minds of the Trump conspirators. This is routine criminal investigation.
21
Since the day after election night, we've had this vulgarian/showman/grifter/con artist/"businessman" to look forward to leading America. Most liberals were scared to death; the GOP were urging calm and cajoling Americans to give him a chance. OK, it's been 8 months since the election. In hindsight whose hunch of Trump's abilities was right?
I hope there are many well-oiled handcuffs ready and waiting. This is not a one- or two-person clip, methinks.
And, after all this is over, please give Robert Mueller a Presidential Medal of Freedom. He'll have saved our democracy and the sanity of more than a few people.
25
The shock and awe will not work with Mr. Manafort. The reason is, he was in my opinion, assured of presidential pardon. This goes to all the people caught in the Mueller's net. Still, it is worth investigating and exposing what really happened.
7
Or, because he might be facing international charges. Trump can't pardon him if the Ukraine decides to charge him for something. I'm not certain that Trump would pardon him, though.
Or if a States AG goes after him. Federal pardon won't get him off that hook.
1
Mueller appears to be trying to persuade people to adhere to Mark Twain's advice: "When in doubt, tell the truth."
18
Twain's advice had value then, and it still has.
2
I have teared up with gratitude toward Robert Mueller. I have a "crush" on him based on his intelligence, integrity, and doggedness.
Thank you, Mr. Mueller. I hope you have inkling of how much "we the (little) people" trust you and are counting on you. What is unlawful and able to be prosecuted we will believe. What is not, we will trust because it comes from you. Thank you for being the ballast in this insane nightmare that is the current administration.
In my opinion, Mueller will go down in history as one of the greats who saved our democracy -- because he saved us from ourselves.
25
I wouldn't count on finding anyone whose integrity was worth gushing over at the White House level. I know I'm probably a cynic but I don't think anyone with overwhelming integrity would survive in politics at that level and that's a bipartisan statement.
1
Criminals in power, lawbreakers making the rules.
18
republicans still haven't faced the fact that they were chasing fairy tales through 9 congressional investigations of Hillary Clinton and they are facing the destruction of their glorious right-wing idol through the rigorous legal process pursued by the Mueller investigation.
17
Democrats still haven't faced the fact the Hillary Clinton lost the election.
1
To folks in this comments section saying this now looks like a witch hunt, it's really important to point out that witches weren't real. Innocent people, however they behaved or worshipped, were burned at the stake for no reason. This is an investigation into real people, who may have committed real crimes, against a real country, violating a real Constitution, to falsely install a real menace, into a real office. Trump has no business being president; what's becoming increasingly clear is that he's either a Manchurian president -- or a knowing participant. I'm sure everyone around him did everything possible to keep the connections invisible -- but in the end, this particular truth will out. It's an investigation, foks, by one of the best in the business. Manafort is as dirty as they come -- and (shock though it may be to some) so is Trump.
56
You said it!
1
And all of this 'shock and awe' can come to a screeching halt at any time. Then what?
4
Wait a minute!
From the article:
"At least three witnesses have recently been subpoenaed to testify about Mr. Manafort: Jason Maloni, a spokesman who appeared before the grand jury for more than two hours on Friday, and the heads of two consulting firms — Mercury Public Affairs and the Podesta Group — who worked with Mr. Manafort on behalf of Viktor F. Yanukovych, the pro-Russia former president of Ukraine."
Does this mean that the head of the Podesta Group worked with Manafort on behalf of Victor Yanakuvich? If so, what then?
I hope many commenters have noted this.
11
The Podesta Group did less than $1 million of work for the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, based in Brussels. It is not clear who headed that project. CEO Kimberly Fitts has strong connections to Republicans, but there is no reason to believe she was directly involved in this relatively small project.
2
No , as I saw on the news tonight, the associate of Podesta was brought in to testify about Podesta 's email being hacked. Sorry man I know you will never end your quest to try to find dirt on the Clintons.
7
Once simply an embarrassment to our country, Trump is now set upon starting a thermonuclear world war. But before lighting the fuse, Herr Trump, you should read the history of our involvement in the Korean war. For three years, our country carpet-bombed North Korea without regard for civilian life. We burned down every town in North Korea and killed three million civilians. We have never apologized for such atrocities. We should. But instead, we have a madman in the oval office who simply wants to add to the numbers in the comic book knowledge that he has. Trump is unfit to be President of the United States. This is not news, but I have to increase the font size of that statement in my head every day and I am running out of room. Our cause may be nobler than some, but that doesn't make it noble. It isn't.
23
Nuts! NK invaded South Korea and the USA and other countries with UN approval pushed the North back and would have eliminated the menace for all time until China got involved. Truman chickened out and fired MacArthur to end any hope of winning a war. It has been that way ever since the pols get the US involved but will not allow the military to win.
2
This scary scenario is happening in our country with the backing of the NYT.
It is too late for a remedy. chalk it up as a lost cause.
2
? What are you claiming the NYT is responsible for?
5
Wonder who was colluding with KGB for techniques like picking locks?
5
This criminal syndicate, in the guise of a presidential administration, is about to get a taste of our constitution, the one they've been spitting on for the past year. Good.
25
I'm sensing a theme from the Republican response team:
1. Sheriff Joe is held in contempt of court for his illegal and discriminatory policies.
"He's a hero! Give him a pardon."
2. A man is shot by police for moving his hands the wrong way.
"He didn't follow the rules! Justifiable homicide!"
3. Paul Manafort, a man known to have taken millions of dollars from a hostile foreign power (Russia) to help them against an ally (Ukraine) is put under surveillance.
"He was Trump's manager! Liberals want a police state! Unfair!"
23
#2 wasn't Trump's call. #3 I haven't senses much sympathy for Manafort.
"Mr. Mueller’s team has used what some describe as shock-and-awe tactics to intimidate witnesses and potential targets of the inquiry."
Well, if that's what it takes to shake the Trump trees loose of deception and denial, then so be it. Thus far, nothing else has worked to get the truth, so perhaps "shock-and-awe tactics" is what is needed. I'm not a fan of having one's locks picked, but enough already with the delays, excuses and lies. Mr. Mueller is left with little other choices but to be tough and fearless, even to the President of the United States. How terribly sad, troubling and embarrassing this entire situation has become.
15
Last I looked, shock and awe involved bombing. This is just subpoenas. Mostly sunlight and disinfectant.
5
Is torture OK if ti gets a confession?
It's telling that the prosecutor's classic methods in investigating Organized Crime figures is being used here - tells us something about the kind of people that have moved into high office.
23
Mueller seems to be investigating all and anything out of the scope for which he was appointed. He is acting as part of the anti Trump resistance.
7
Here is the scope Mueller was assigned:
“. . . any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump” and “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation.”
What do you believe is being investigated that is not about working with the Russians or some other evidence of wrong doing turned up while looking into such matters?
7
Manafort was a known Russian agent. He took millions of dollars from Putin in order to help him in Ukraine.
People who do that get put under surveillance. That's how it works.
To all the people whining about it--blame your hero Trump.
He obviously didn't hire "the very best people" for his campaign.
42
It strikes me as possible that Manafort, and perhaps others, might be more scared of the Russians than doing time at "Club Fed."
19
I am wondering why this investigation is more "aggressive" than Hilary's emails?? Seems a bit one sided. Obviously they are searching really hard for something to impeach Trump.
13
What exactly do you hope for from HRC's emails?! The republican former FBI director said only three classified emails were compromised, nothing jeopardized national security and the root cause was carelessness, not conspiracy or criminality.
The evidence that trump is/was embroiled with Russia is orders of magnitude greater.
20
What makes you think that this investigation is more thorough than the investigation into Hillary's email? Are you thinking that the FBI didn't think they were under a national news microscope with the election at stake?
3
Hillary's emails weren't a deliberate attempt to collude with a hostile foreign power.
22
So Robert Mueller wants to strike terror in the "targets" of this farce of an investigation for what purpose? So they will lie on the stand? This guy sounds like a terrorist to me..
7
Pardon me, but even if Trump wasn't involved (that remains to be seen) there is ample public evidence that crimes were committed.
14
Look into Mueller's background.
He is an honorable man who has served our country with great distinction.
2
Don't you all feel that the slippery Orange Mussellini will get away with breaking the law? This is a problem where our president has so much power. Power to reverse EPA guidelines. Power to redirect funding for programs that accelerate science. This is a serious problem. It appears congress is now a rubber stamp committee. And the Senate is just old horses put out to pasture.
13
Why did Feds gently pick his lock instead of destroying his door with a battering ram? Vip treatment ?
11
Lock picking is much quieter than breaking down the door ... maintains element of surprise.
5
Perhaps they wanted to get in without alerting the target.
2
They were worried that Manafort would try to destroy evidence.
5
If all criminals of election collusions are pardoned by the president what is the use of going through the motion? So much money, so much time and so much newspaper columns will be just a waste. Mr. Trump is determined to destroy the country's fabric of democracy for his own interests of money and power with no moral integrity.
13
Does ANYONE still believe that Trump isn't trying to hide from this Russia investigation. Why fight what you know you're not guilty of doing.They likely have him recorded with Manafort. I'd be afraid if I were him. The only thing is, he doesn't remember anything he says anyway.
15
I don't believe he's hiding from this. And I don't believe that Trump was intentionally trying to obstruct the Flynn investigation.
I think he said it with an honest feeling for Flynn - who'd been an early advisor and supporter. Not aware that Comey was taking it as a direct order from someone ignorant of the law.
If Comey had simply said "Mr President, please don't ask my to stop the investigation of Mr Flynn. You may not be aware, but that would be obstructing justice and against the law." I am confidant Trump would have backed down.
The thing that got Trump elected and that will get him re-elected is that he is not a lawyer like the Clintons or Obama, who threaded their way around the law by using lackies or legal manipulations.
WithTrump, what you see is what you get. Raw, unfiltered, sometimes not so smart. But he is honest with his feelings and beliefs. Exactly the opposite of Obama and the Clintons (Use gay marriage for you proof)
4
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate."
We'll never forget his longing desire for the "good old days" of Mafia-terrorist run Las Vegas, with it murderers, torturers, leg-breakers, the police and the whole government owned by the gangsters or else, the bribes, extortion, racketeers, the money laundering, The helpless citizens who risked murder or at least financial ruin if they protested ("carried out on a stretcher").
Gangs, organized crime syndicates are terrorist organizations whose end is personal profit through control of the economy without the guise of lofty religious or patriotic ideals except as needed for public consumption.
People living in Mafia states are not living in democracies. They are living in terrorist states. Join, be silent, or be imprisoned, tortured or dead.
In the Washington Post, former Trump lawyer says he had nothing to do with Russians and the election. he was just doing his job.
"Nothing personal, it's just business," in the words of a late Mafia accountant.
Someone needs to make Trump a resignation offer he can't refuse.
14
I trust Mueller and his team are well aware of how closely their conduct is being watched and would do nothing legally or ethically improper. Investigators understand that they could find themselves at the receiving end.
14
That would be ironic to see Mueller indicted.
During the election there was, for me, an unmistakable commonality of hate comments against Hilary. They seemed to be written by the same hand, the same choice of words and the same style. I noticed this long before any hint of Russian interference. If a gullible mind hears the same drum beat, it's not a stretch to see them marching in step and voting based on "what they heard".
Commercials do it all the time.
20
" . . . and the truth shall set you free." But politicians don't know what truth is. They and the lobbiests and the pundits of Washington have been getting away with financial murder for decades, administration after administration . . . "Business as usual". This is no different. Rich getting richer while Joe Lunchbucket is promised that America will be made great "again" . . . The question is, "Which America"? Theirs or ours?
3
"On Monday, Mr. Flynn’s siblings announced the creation of a legal-defense fund to help cover their brother’s “enormous” legal fees." I wonder if the Koch brothers, the Mercers and the DeVos family will pitch in. Keep up the good work, Mr. Mueller, you apparently see the urgency to move this along as quickly as possible given the dangers we face to our democracy if Trump and his crime syndicate continue eroding our freedoms and stealing us blind.
26
Why is it so hard for us, as citizens, to objectively absorb information about an investigation like this? If the president and/or his people were involved in illegal activity then I hope they get caught. Simple as that. Does that mean I'd like to exonerate officials from previous administrations if they were to be investigated? No. Does that mean I think Bill Clinton is some shining beacon of morality? No. Do I completely trust the motivations of Hillary Clinton? No. Love him or hate him, this is about Trump and his crew. Not Hillary, not Obama, not Bill, not Monica. If we want to emerge on the other side of this as a nation full of thinking people who can still find common ground it's up to us to stop assuming a person's political loyalties based on their opinions of an ongoing investigation. Our elected officials are clearly incapable of this in many cases. Let's be better than that.
20
It seems that sensibilities these days tend to be very sensitive. Everyone feels mistreated, or at least treated unfairly. Times have been tough for many, and everyone is pointing out what "the other side" got.
3
When the evidence points to Trump's Treason, he has a choice of doing his
"You're Fired Mueller"
or
Starting a war.
4
Mueller is a threat to the rule of law.
6
That's a rather foreboding statement.
3
For God's sake! If Mueller is a threat to the rule of law, then what does that make Trump?
12
The greatest threat to the rule of law lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
2
Love ya' Mr. Mueller but please hurry or there might not be a country left under the draft dodging electoral president.
18
I don't see where this title is appropriate or reflects what is actually going on in reality and certainly not as it has been presented to date by the media.
Frankly, I see this article as belligerent, when it is practice and dedication that is required.
The media has made a mess of things for months and years now. Please, have some dignity and present the facts in a realistic way. Let's not have the materialization during the presentation of the news.
7
You clearly would not know a fact if it hit you in the head. You know who is truly "belligerent"? TRUMP.
5
I doubt anyone saw the depth of this investigation, although, I suspect many an investigator has tried to go after all this money laundering and maybe not had the teeth they have now.
I hope they are able to get to the bottom of this, be it a very low, low bottom and all who are guilty are prosecuted to the very fullest the law can and the means in which this occurred is eradicated.
5
I REALLY hope that there is some kind of resolution to this and that the principals involved are held accountable for their actions. If there was no conspiracy with the Russian government to interfere with our election for the highest political position then I will be the first to say I was wrong but that coin has two sides. If it is proven that this conspiracy DID occur and the people are punished with prison and fines and whatnot, then what? Is Trump going to be impeached? Is an impeachment even applicable in this case since if there was fraud then the election never really had a winner, right? We start back at the beginning and we have to suffer though all the campaigning again! Will Hillary win by default? I voted for her the first time but I'm not so sure if I would another time. I CERTAINLY wouldn't EVER vote for the Donald, NOT IN A MILLION YEARS! Or any other republican for that matter but the questions remain: what do we do when we find out we were duped in such grand and humiliating fashion?
8
Therein lies your problem- you don't realize you had it right the first time and would be right again. I voted for Hillary and I'd vote for her again against Trump INFINITY.
2
Russian interference in our free and fair election (which includes more than just changing the vote tallies) is an issue all Americans must concern themselves with. As at least a couple of Republican Senators have said on the record, this time the Russians favored us but next time they could favor the other side, neither should be okay with Americans.
Manafort has a long, long, long history of working on behalf of bad guys (Trump is just the latest) and he likely have been heavily involved in money laundering as evidenced by his strange real estate transactions. Even Manafort's own daughter said her dad had blood on his hands based on his work in Eastern Europe. Manafort, and to a lesser extent, Flynn, have a million skeletons in their closets so it makes sense that the investigation would put pressure on them.
12
unbridled surveillance of manafort's phone calls, a "no knock" search warrant? surely these are tactics we would see in Soviet Russia. there is no longer any need to investigate Russian collusion, for we have become them - or worse.
6
These were allowed by a judge which means DUE PROCESS was followed. That would not be true in Russia.
17
I think the police state has gotten pretty terrible at this late date, but still, they should be doing no knock warrants when investigating organized crime. This is law and order 101.
6
When Swiss authorities conducted pre-dawn raids of FIFA officials, they not only confiscated evidence, they took some of the suspected financial criminals into custody. The FBI helped Switzerland's government with those raids. I don't recall any suggestions that the Swiss or the FBI were wrong for using such tactics. As near as I can tell, Switzerland did not become a police state or banana republic as a result of their effective investigation into FIFA corruption. It seems unlikely that the raid on suspected financial criminal Manafort will result in the United States becoming a one party police state. To the contrary, effective investigation and prosecution of those beholden to foreign interests seeking to bend American policy to their favor are just what we need to protect our sovereignty.
5
It's imperative that Mr. Mueller conduct complete investigations because nothing of any import has been uncovered by the Congressional investigations since Comey testified. That may be due to deconfliction with Mueller's effort, but the three committees seem to be stalled at this point.
4
When there is nothing, there is nothing.
Sure, Manafort and Flynn will have some dirt due to past financial dealings. If you went back to many on Obama's team... never mind, they never really had real jobs, so that doesn't apply. Anyway, the entire Trump-is-evil meme is so made up, Mueller should be investigating the media
3
"Mueller should be investigating the media"
Perhaps the Governor of Arizona should be investigated ... Doug Ducey is said to be the "best governor money can buy" (shades of Spiro Agnew).
2
Not sure why you Trumpsterfires want state run media controlled by a unitary federal executive.
Doesn't sound very American to me.
2
If Trump and team are not guilty then Mueller will have nothing to find. There will have been no reason to hire experts in money laundering or any other specialty. POTUS Trump can rest easy if there has been no wrong doing. However, I do wonder why Trump and many, many people have lied about Russian connections IF indeed Trump had no wrongdoing.
11
Right after he was elected, Trump suggested we all just move on from this like it was big nothing. It didn't work apparently.
9
What is shocking and awesome to me is the LACK of shock and awe that many commenters express that Mueller's investigation may in fact find that there was serious wrongdoing on the part of the President of the United States and his campaign in the 2016 election. I'm not just referring to this particular comment board, but to what I've read over and over during the last several months. No matter how aggressively Mueller is acting or what crimes he might uncover, there seems to be a blanket pardon already given to the perpetrators. Setting aside those who aren't paying attention to any of this because the struggle for simple survival doesn't allow them to do so, there are plenty who simply have no concern for the character of those who are America's leadership.
The American obsession for winning, which is personified in Donald Trump, has blunted the respect for any moral fiber in the presidency, just as it doesn't matter if one's favorite sports figure is a drug addict, steroid user, drunk driver or spouse abuser, as long as the team wins.
Like some others, I anticipate that Mueller's work may reveal even worse things than we thought, but my greater fear is that far too many Americans will simply shrug their shoulders and say, "So what? He won the election. Let's get on with the rest of the winning."
13
I have to disagree. I'm waiting to see the outcome of the investigations. Russia/Trump is not normal--but all are innocent until proved guilty. Right now, I cannot judge. Well, not exactly true. I judge Mr. Trump for his bigotry, misogynism, lack of control. lack of intellectual curiosity, not reading--for many things. But I'm going to allow Mueller to assemble the facts and indict before I judge on this.
6
this reminds me of Germany in the late 30's or Russia during Stalin's rule, or communist china.
What evidence have they found, nothing, what law was broken for getting a wire tap. They lied when they said bo wan't wiretapping any americans. DHS lied when they said no americans were wiretapped. But the liberals are just fine with this since it affects a republican. Yet hillary, bill, bo, comey all broke the law and flaunted it and nothing. Sessions is a fool and useless DOJ head.
8
Manafort was being investigated by the F.B.I., including with a wire tap, in 2014. There was no Trump campaign in 2014. That was when Trump was playing head games with people who did not want to think that Obama was anything but a fraud perpetrated upon them by some insidious conspiracy and he was making a lot of these people joyous with the "birther" nonsense.
12
"this reminds me of Germany in the late 30's or Russia during Stalin's rule, or communist china."
I'm reasonably sure no one investigated the circumstances under which Hitler or Stalin came to power -- though I wish they had, seeing as it might've prevented the genocidal deaths of 20 million people.
Oh, and yes, I know that's not what you meant. I was just illustrating the ridiculousness of comparing an entirely legal FBI raid performed pursuant to a federal warrant to Nazi/Stalinist "fascism" -- well, that and the fact that a fascist nation's leader is the *perpetrator* of its acts, not its *victim*.
11
Isn't it incredible how--depending on which set of eyeglasses one looks through--you see different things. "You have all the emails." "Well, I thought you did except for 30,000." " Wiped 'em with a rag?" "By the way, all my peeps have immunity." So, you say, "That was then. This is now. Faget aboud it!" Who's in your wallet, NY Times?
6
Mueller is a partisan left wing pit bull with an agenda. In the end, he will find nothing and he will slink back to the Democrats who will reward him with a big bucks think tank job on J Street. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton goes on her merry way despite multiple proved crimes, but absolved by Comey who has been revealed to be a partisan hack and leaker for the Democrats. That's what passes for fairness and justice in Washington.
7
Sorry, Paul, there's lots of evidence and we will see it sooner rather than later. Indeed, Manafort and Flynn will likely spend time in jail, and probably other also, including Trump Jr.
17
Mueller has long been a registered Republican. George W. Bush appointed him to lead the FBI. Donald Trump interviewed him to replace Comey as the head of the FBI. Republicans and Democrats embraced him as a fair and capable investigator to lead the investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election.
When Mueller started digging into the the financial dealings of Manafort and others associated with Trump and Russian oligarchs, Sean Hannity and other propagandists tried to rewrite history and declare Mueller as a left wing hit man. A simple search of well established facts and endorsements puts the lie to these smear campaigns.
31
What proven crimes? Please list and reference. Thank you kindly.
5
Its minor...but closing sentence of paragraph 1 is indicative of the mindset of yet another NYT liberal biased reporter (cannot call them journalists as that implies honesty and balance). "They even photographed the expensive suits in the closet." How do these writers know they are expensive? Why is this sentence even germane to the subject matter. It is done as the writers believe recognizing "expensive suits' will automatically cast further negative light on Mr. Manafort. Where was this level of zeal at any time of the Clintons' litany of bad behaviors.
8
Seriously, do you not remember Ken Starr's endless, spiraling investigations of Bill Clinton that ultimately led to an impeachment proceeding?
The point, I believe, of mentioning the expensive suits is that one aspect of the Manafort investigation is money laundering.
And bringing up the Clinton's skeletons in the closet is just a diversionary tactic away from the issue at hand.
14
Hillary and the Clinton foundation is next right? No? Then this is all a joke.
7
Why all the references to the Clintons? They were both EXTENSIVELY investigated, for years! And nothing was found except that Bill is a dawg. Get over it! See what the investigations bring to light. AND ask yourself why Mr. Trump refused to show his income taxes, Nothing to hide? Then why hide them.
21
Donald Trump and his supporters keep bringing up Hillary Clinton as if she poses a danger to the government. Last month, while Donald Trump was holding a rally in Phoenix, Jordan Klepper found many of the president's supporters to be quite enthusiastic about impeaching the two-time loser of runs for the White House. Will they ever be willing to accept that Hillary Clinton lost the election?
4
Trump has self established he's a poor but proven serial liar. Believing anything the dolt says, for the rational, has been over for months. Now we're just marching in place until Mueller drops the hammer and we're rid of the naive, gullible, ignorant and Republican Party before country national mistake and world embarrassment.
20
Take this Tyrant and his administration Down.
20
Dang Bob. Allrighty then. Fantastic, but hurry up before this clown presses the Button.
13
Please don't kid yourself. This is a bad hombre. Manafort's daughters leaked texts:
In a series of texts reviewed by Business Insider that appear to have been sent by Andrea to her sister, Jessica, in March 2015, Andrea said their father had "no moral or legal compass."
"Don't fool yourself," Andrea wrote to her sister, according to the texts. "That money we have is blood money."
"You know he has killed people in Ukraine? Knowingly," she continued, according to the reviewed texts. "As a tactic to outrage the world and get focus on Ukraine. Remember when there were all those deaths taking place. A while back. About a year ago. Revolts and what not. Do you know whose strategy that was to cause that, to send those people out and get them slaughtered."
15
I feel for his daughters. Sounds like they have morals their father lacks.
3
As an Afro-American I applaud Mr. Mueller for deploying the powers to supeana & depose in order to financially destroy all these White Supremacist & Nazi sympathizers around Trump, even if there is really zero evidence of Russian collusion.
Mueller will also have million$ in fees paid to DC lawyers, most of who are Democrats & can make appropriate donations.
1
To Trump: Could be worse: he could be going through your sex life with a lice comb, like Kenneth Starr did with Bill Clinton.
To Democrats: Time to quietly ease those among your leadership ranks who have any hint of corruption into the background. Time to elevate a front bench that's up to Canadian standards of ethics.
9
We're suffering the effects of a crime syndicate occupying the White House. What's to discuss?
21
"Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime." Lavrentiy Beria, NKVD, circa 1938; Robert Mueller, Special Prosecutor, 2017.
5
These are police state tactics. Mueller is an obvious miscreant who should be removed and charged with crimes. These East Germany Stasi tactics are reprehensible and should never be allowed in the US.
2
Um, no. The East German Stasi routinely arrested (and oftentimes tortured and murdered) people guilty of no crime other than dissent. The FBI had an entirely valid warrant to search the house occupied by a man suspected -- with exceptionally good reason -- of committing treason by helping its biggest foe interfere in one of America's most sacred institutions: free elections. The fact that it was done at night was not particularly unusual, given that the whole *point* of such a raid is to catch a suspect off-guard before he has the chance to destroy any evidence.
While I understand how polarized America has become, I remain stunned by the number of partisans who refuse to acknowledge even the *possibility* of Russian meddling in last fall's election -- which, if true, means the Americans who aided and abetted the crime are guilty of TREASON.
16
In case you haven't noticed, this country is a police state. That's why they are allowed to execute people on the streets for minor infractions.
5
Yeah it's fine and dandy as long as they're the police.
Too many comments to check, but has anyone here mentioned that were Manafort not a big-time white muckety muck, the feds would have smashed down his door with a battering ram and shot his dog?
15
Trump, "I hire the best people to be fired." Hear our NEW POST-ELECTION Bob Dylan TRUMP PROTEST song on YouTube: Search – Trump: Robbing Us Barren – Post Election
2
"A spokesman for Mr. Mueller declined to comment. Lawyers and a spokesman for Mr. Manafort also declined to comment." The same spokesman or 2 different ones? sorry just not clear to me.
Robert Mueller is abundantly aware of the the criminal tendencies of the Trump organization and those he travels and deals with like the Russian oligarchs. Paul Manafort is a huge red flag not only to Mueller but the judge granting the wiretaps and search warrants. When this finally bursts into flames the orange one will be crisped by the raging fire.
12
I find it odd that the same people who defended Joe Arpaio's tactics against innocent people are attacking Robert Mueller's investigation into the sleaziest businessmen who laundered money and worked against the best interests of our democracy.
28
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
As it should be.
27
When Trump is forced from office, it's going to take an entire legion of deprogrammers to deal with his supporters.
Just like with other cults.
24
You're probably right, but what I fear is that when he is forced from office, whining and carrying on the entire way, some of his more unhinged supporters will get violent. Trump will not go quietly into that good night, and neither will the hardest core of his base.
1
so what? not afraid
1
What you see as a nightmare I call a great opportunity to better this country.
1
I feel the "swamp" is where all Mr. Trump's classless minions do reside along with him. But it seems even they are becoming appalled by the con man in charge. The biggest loser of all.
5
Our Democracy needs to be protected!
Mr. Mueller is the right person for this important mission!
In general, I don't trust politicians and foreign dictators so I am very interested in what Mr. Mueller has to share with all Americans once his investigation is complete!
6
Wire-tapping on the left or on the right is not acceptable; ite is ushering in fascism through the back door. Elites should voice their strong objections to this modality. If it becomes the norm, we can bid farewell to a once democratic system. we need not fool ourselves about which side of the fence this reflects. Neither party should welcome or accept this way of life.
2
These are the tactics that work when dealing with sophisticated organized criminals. Wire taps should be justified, not peremptory, sure. But politicians should be immune from investigations?
9
Imagine if the aggressiveness of criminal investigations was based on suspected amount stolen. White collar crimes would be tackled the way faulty tail lights on a Black man's car are acted on now. Imagine if stop and frisk was used on Wall Street and around bank's corporate headquarters. The quality and quantity of the drugs seized would skyrocket. Imagine if our politicians were investigated and prosecuted like drug cartels. We would see Muellers by the dozen.
11
It's unclear if Trump is involved with any of this, but I think Manafort is in deep trouble.
1
Thank you for your service and love of country, Mr. Mueller. If this country survives until 2021, I think the history books will say that Americans during the late part of this decade were one resilient people.
9
I still worry that no matter what Mueller turns up and no matter how many dots he connects for the whole world to see that we will still be stuck with Trump and his supporters, from the most rabid to the most forgiving, going, so what? what's the big deal? That this investigation is even being carried out at all seems like a minor miracle all by itself, given the state of Washington and the country's complaisance and cooperation in the face of it.
5
Where's the actual wrongdoing? If Manafort did something wrong, it's not immediately apparent. I don't see probable cause that Manafort's home was either the scene of a crime or contained evidence of a crime.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, on the other hand, was whitewashed when FBI director Comey overstepped his bounds and decided to act as judge, jury and defense counsel and declare Hillary Clinton innocent of the Federal statute making Disclosing Classified Information a crime punishable by ten years' imprisonment.
My respect for Robert Mueller has dropped precipitously.
4
"I don't see probable cause that Manafort's home was either the scene of a crime or contained evidence of a crime."
You may not (and likely would not absent an appropriate clearance). Whether you "see" probable cause or not is irrelevant. All that matters is that a judge reviewed the evidence and did find probable cause. That's how our legal system works.
6
The Special Counsel, Robert Mueller was granted authority to investigate the Russian connection, not to indict. How can the statement "His prosecutors told Mr. Manafort they planned to indict him" be accurate?
3
The letter appointing Mueller as special counsel states, "If the Special Counsel believes it is necessary and appropriate, the special counsel is authorized to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation of these matters."
10
Funny how people just make stuff up. Thanks for quoting, Todd. It helps clear up the made up false information.
9
In this country do we look at a man and then search for a crime? Where is the criminal act? It is not ,as so many on the left feel,a crime that Hillary lost the election. So, what are they investigating?
The F.B.I. began it's criminal investigation of Manafort in 2014 with court approves wire taps. That means Manafort was already considered to be under suspicion far earlier than any interference with the 2016 election was suspected. I think that we need to see what Mueller is investigating with respect to Manafort before we can anticipate how it pertains to Trump's campaign and the Russian interference investigations related to the election.
7
Has it been conclusively determined if a sitting president can or cannot be indicted? If not, and Mueller uncovers truly incriminating evidence against Trump, who does he report it to? Speaker Ryan?
You are correct that it an unsettled issue, although the Ken Starr during his tenure as Independent Counsel investigating into President Bill Clinton concluded that it is possible. However, whatever Mueller finds can be used in an impeachment proceeding if it turns out a sitting President cannot be indicted.
1
Mueller and the Democrats should be forced to repay the American people (and the defendants) when, at the end of this EXTREMELY expensive investigation, they find nothing. We all know this is a politically-motivated witch hunt that would NEVER have happened if Hillary were elected. And we also know that the goal is to smear the republicans with enough innuendo that they lose power. We are becoming a 3rd world country as corruption increases. Corruption occurs when a nation abandons Christian morality and instead lives by "every man doing right in his own eyes".
2
Yeah. If there is one thing that Trump represents it is "Christian morality."
9
Believe this investigation must be thorough and above reproach. However, 'shock and awe' is not what I, as a citizen of a country of laws where one is assumed innocent before being proved guilty, can abide by.
This must be legitimate - not a witch hunt!
Yes, I watched "Tricky Dick" Nixon sail away in a helicopter from the East Lawn. Some say he should have stuck to his guns. Others say that he merely left in disgust.
Nevertheless, I am more-than tired of watching this little side-show. If there was "meddling in an election," then the only issue of concern is making sure that our election processes are defended against tampering of any sort, by anyone. Especially, to ensure that the processes used are not "paperless."
The most critical problem in the last Presidential election was that, when "the wrong person won" and some people wanted to audit results, in some precincts that was impossible to do, because there was no corroborating paper. This should be forbidden, by Federal Law, in any and all elections throughout the country.
The State of Colorado has demonstrated how elementary statistical quality-control techniques can be used to provide confidence that the results are accurate, and to do so with great efficiency. But these measures are possible IF AND ONLY IF that corroborating record exists.
Hillary Clinton lost that election fair-and-square. I'm sure that nations around the world were very interested in the outcome and would have influenced it if they could. (And so would plenty of people at home: if a ballot box CAN be "stuffed," let's face it – it WILL be.)
Therefore, we need to "stop lawyering" and implement laws and procedures which will ensure that ALL election results are verifiably correct.
1
Thank you Mr. Mueller and staff. As they say .... "where there is smoke, there is fire". There has been plenty of smoke when Trump was a candidate and now that he is "president" .... I'm sure the fire will be discovered and legal actions initiated.
9
Terror??? If you tried these tactics on me I would take the 5th and say nothing. I thought they were investigating collusion, not Russian interference in the election. Every informed person would agree that someone in Russia attempted to influence the election, and what would they do to say Putin if they proved he was doing it?
1
The Special Prosecutor can investigate anything that comes up. Remember Whitewater? That turned into Monica Lewinsky.
12
According to the letter describing Mueller's appointment, he is authorized to investigate "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and...any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation." That last part means that Mueller should pursue any crimes he turns up when he reviews the many ties between Trump, his campaign staff, and the Russians.
5
I'm confused by your post. The collusion was to interfere, in the sense of influence, the elections. However, Russia is a mafia state with criminal reasons for hoping to avoid the terrifying prospect of uncooperative Hillary Clinton as president. No normal, untainted, US prosecutor is going to overlook money laundering , illegal deals, graft, extortion, witness threatening, false statements, or other organized crime crimes, especially when evidence fall in his lap out of the mouth or thumbs of the person of interest who gained the most from the collusion and who is in a position to pay back those criminals he owes it to.
9
If 20% of the resources presently spent by the SP were focused on HRC, Susan Wright or others in the former Administration, the obviousness of partiality so far exhibited would be lessened, or, doesn't lying to the American Public, mishandling of classified documents, feigned ignorance of the 'pledges' signed that allows for handling those documents and myriad other questionable acts rise to the level of the SP's gestapo like tactics? Swamp creatures!
1
Please. How many investigations have there been at the cost of how many millions of dollars with never any proof of illegal activity? And if you want to talk about lies, let's consider the buffoon in the White House and his entourage. If I had a nickel for every one of the whoppers they've told, I'd be retired on my own private island.
14
Hey Architect at least get the names right: Susan Rice not Wright. And btw HRC didn't collude with Russia and is not our President.
9
Why has Trump and his family/associates lied to the American public with such frequency??
11
Setting aside whether Trump is actually innocent or guilty, his actions are certainly that of a guilty man. To the conspiracy theorists who liken Clinton to Trump, the two situations could not be more different. The worst that can be said of Clinton is that she was stupid. In her desire to maintain her privacy, she made a foolish choice. She did not leave confidential information vulnerable. On the other hand, Trump actually disclosed Israeli state secrets to the Russians. Trump is a liar, a thief, and an embarrassment. At present, it is unclear whether his election is a survivable event. Mueller is our last hope since Republicans clearly remain uninterested in doing what is best for our nation, only what benefits them personally.
14
Hillary is just as much a criminal as Trump. She's just a tad bit smarter and able to act sane.
1
For heaven's sake, Donald Trump did not disclose Israeli state secrets to the Russians. He told the Russians (apparently) that the Islamic State had developed the skill to put workable bombs in electronic devices like laptops, which is why laptops were banned in the cabin on certain flights to the US. The Israelis had found that out from an informer, and they didn't want that source burned. A minor kerfuffle, as these things go. Quit making out like he did anything wrong.
2
One small caveat...She is not the President of the United States. Stop with the false equivalencies.
6
I can't wait till Trump gets his. I hope they throw the book at all of them for being traitors.
16
What's aggressive is the tone of this article. It reads like something on a Breitbart website.
4
Waste of money, if he hasn't found anything yet it probably means there is nothing to find. Put him on Hillary.
5
If he is threatening to indict Manafort, he has found something.
8
No, let's keep him exactly where he is. After all, why should we waste Mueller's time and the nation's money by "putt[ing] him on Hillary"? People have been trying to dig up dirt on that woman for about 20 years now and have come up with nothing useful. I guess it probably means there's nothing to find, now is there?
7
Neither you nor I have any idea what he has found so far.
5
With the world being run by crazies and a president who threatens people and engages in name calling- the only thing that keeps a lot of us sane is knowing Mueller is on the case.
20
Shock and Awe them ALL. Quickly. Please. We are begging you.
14
macho men complaining about being treated roughly? LOL
17
Except for tone, nothing is new in this story the raid on Manafort took place months ago.
2
Always worth following up major stories. Nobody likes when there's a big splashy headline and then a month later, silence.
This story was about the tactics and strategies of the lawyers.
In that sense, they have shared what they have discovered on those lines.
You may not be interested in it, but most readers are.
2
What scares me is the reaction from the volatile "deplorables", if/when the crimes of the Trump syndicate result in their removal from office. We are in one heck of a pickle. I wish there was an institutional route to quick new elections in this likely scenario, as exists in other democracies. We are learning our amazing founding principles and documents have some holes for dealing with this type of modern cyber-global-criminality oozing into the highest offices of the land.
7
No pickle. Term will play out with VP as P, even if unelected to that office, like Gerald Ford. Interim P will be done, politically. The Knuckleheads will go back to nursing their imagined grievances privately and no one will pay any attention when they blame everyone but themselves for their problems and try to victimize those who are truly disadvantaged.
Hammer congress about Americans demands for the truth to be revealed in public media and that this be a thorough job: www.USA.gov. Until all GOP members and their accomplices are investigated and removed, we will never have an election free of foreign controls/special interests from outside cash. Remember when we heard all those eager appeals for campaign finance reforms and Americans didn't bother with that unsexy issue? Now is why we were concerned back then. At this point, due to apathy and ignorance plus the usual malfeasance of the GOP and their buddies, we have a government being controlled by outside cash and crooked elections. Our healthcare, ie. our lives, are now at risk since we refused to bother with our own government. Healthcare access is in the hands of the worst influences in this country--congress. Remove healthcare or make it impossible to access and tens of thousands Americans will die asap. I will be one of the dead. We are still distracted by Trump & the GOP circus? Until the day we look in the mirror and know that we caused our own issues, we can't begin to govern ourselves. For those blithering idiots who claimed that Clinton was corrupt, this is for you. This series of events will cost the USA millions of lost taxpayer dollars and only achieve what we already know: the GOP should never have been allowed to run Trump or Romney or George Bush in the first place. These GOP specimens were unqualified for office. When do Americans wake up?
4
All this and millions wasted for nothing.
1
You're referring to Benghazi, right?
11
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.” Yes, and that is exactly what Trump association with the russian mafia has been for years.
20
You probably should tell all you know to Mueller! He has been trying to find some justification for a special prosecution for almost a year now, with little result.
Ken Starr was a Clinton stooge who dragged out the Clinton investigation because while he was doing it, no one else could.
His only so called victory to do with Monica Lewinsky was a result of Paula Jones.
He was forced to do something because of Paula Jones.
1
Mueller should raid McGahn's office and get the contents of the safe he is secreting for Trump before they get moved or destroyed.
4
Yes! Look what happened to 30,000 of Hillary's emails when they were ordered to surrender them! Bleach bit destroyed and lost forever!
Easy pickings for the likes of the Mueller team. They are up against a cabal of clueless thieves and traitors who would jump off a cliff if they suspected money below. Can't wait to see the Trump media shills' reactions as the heavy dirt is unloaded.
15
Putin has already destroyed 40 pereent of america. He has trump and his supporters in his pocket. He is now destroying the rest, through hacking equifax.
8
Truer words have never been spoken.
1
Mueller and his team smell the stench coming from Trump Tower and the White House. They are digging deep to locate the source(s). I suspect they have contempt for what they are finding. They know the magnitude of what is at stake. Yes, it deserves a organized crime approach with no quarter given. Mr. Clean has seen the face of Mr. Dirty and cannot let it go unanswered. Bravo!
11
This is far worse than Watergate.
Clinton and Obama colluded to spy on the Trump campaign for political advantage.
What did Obama know and when did he know it?
5
Nice try, but a failed effort.
3
So why isn't Sessions investigating your bogus theory? Believe me he would if they thought there is a case to be made. Or do Obama and Clinton still control the Justice Dept and the FBI?
1
So what would be the difference between the Trump team and a organized crime family? That would be nothing!
10
Trump is now proven correct once again. He was wire tapped by the Obama Administration. And so far Mueller investigation has NOTHING. It is just flailing about trying to invent a crime. This is a witch hunt.
5
Manafort was told to be expected be indicted, that is not nothing. And when Manafort starts singing like a canary about everyone else, Jared and Jr better start looking for drapes for their new 6x8 home.
7
No, Trump was not wire tapped, Manafort was. If Trump was communicating with Manafort after Manafort left the campaign, that is contrary to what Trump has claimed in public. Manafort has been under investigation since at least 2014, before there was a Trump campaign.
2
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”...exactly right.
7
"In an interview with The New York Times, Mr. Trump said Mr. Mueller would be overstepping his boundaries if he investigated his family’s finances unrelated to Russia."
This is where the investigation should in fact be pointed. Not only the fact that the DT has declared it out of bounds, but this is the quid pro quo which Russia used to leverage Mr. Trump. The irony is that DT's so dim that he ought he was taking advantage of Russian money--what a dupe--sadly that dupe was elected as our President--
10
Grateful for the steady and deliberate work of Robert Mueller and his brilliant group of attorneys! He has gathered around him people well versed in tax dodging, money laundering, etc. Facebook has turned over quite a lot of evidence, in regards to Russians putting fake news out on social media, as well as Bots to fool and lie to Americans! I'm willing to bet good money that the FBI's wiretapping of Manafort also caught conversations between him and #45!
We've got to be patient, i remember that the investigation into Watergate took almost two years, and that Nixon, his cronies and his supporters all believed it was a "witch hunt" too!!
Thank you, Mr. Mueller and team! We must get to the truth, truth always surfaces!
12
Yes, it will take time to find all the illegal unmasking Obama's team used on their political opposition but in the end, truth will out.
Notice how nobody outside the White House is criticizing Mueller's investigation.
8
let me quote trumpy on this:
“If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” Mr. Trump said.
This he said to the UN, but it is so appropriate here. look out 45, Mr Mueller is coming for you.....
7
When it is shown that Trump, himself, colluded with Russians to steal the election, the election must be vacated in favor of Hillary Clinton, and Trump must be made to repay all costs of his term, including salaries of his appointees. The penalty for treason is death. Perfectly fitting for everyone involved who is convicted.
5
I would hope the death penalty would be used. For what these traitors have put this country through and the damage they have done to all of us, that is an appropriate punishment and well deserved.
Unfortunately, those involved are rich, influential and well connected so I don't think they will end up on death row.
I think they should be stripped of their assets and citizenship and swiftly deported. Why should we pay to keep them in "club fed"?
I wonder which countries would have them?
The Russians are openly exulting in their successful manipulation of American democracy (as well as the British and Europe's with Brexit, btw). They’ve also exposed the inadequacy of the FBI and American intelligence services who were apparently unable to detect the co-opting of a high profile business and political figure who was turned into a Kremlin asset right under their noses before he squirmed into the Presidency. Now he’s threatening to destroy entire nations, the pathetic fool. It’s one for the history books, if there are any to be had in the future of this celebrity drunk nation.
4
Get that man a cape.
6
Those who disapprove of Mr Mueller should remember that he exists because of the hubris of Trump
6
That must come as a surprise to Mueller's mother.
3
Trump has a been recorded bragging about that sort of thing. Maybe he bought her some furniture. . . .
1
I fully support Robert Mueller's investigation - we must know the truth behind what happened with this election and Russia. I don't know about you but I do not trust this President and his associates, including his children. Thank goodness that Jeff Sessions recused himself and we finally have an unbiased team on the case. The truth must come out.
5
Thank God for the integrity of Mr. Mueller!
10
So why would Mueller play anything less than
Big Time Bad Boy in the world with Manafort, who clearly plays plays in the Big Boy games.
And therefore, by extension, Trump does too, though probably they
use Trump as a stooge. Like letting Manafort run his campaign for
awhile and use it as far as possible. In years to come we' may well find
how hard he used it. In ways that are irretrievable and horrid.
3
Why was the same level of aggression not used to investigate Clinton? That was a whitewash from the outset. Perhaps it should be reopened this time without Bill visiting the AG on the tarmac.
2
Actually is was by Comey, who was also investigating Trump at the time. Funny how Comey only told the public about Hillary and not Trump. He kept splashing that into the news all the time while quietly with no notice that Trump was being investigated for russian involvement.
3
Mueller, go get them as fast and as hard as you can.
Our democracy is at stake.
6
It's never to late to remember that politics is a white collar crime.
Tone: Opposition research on steroids.
Trump's only real weakness. Too nice.
2
I'd like to thank Donald Trump for producing and starring in the greatest reality show of all time. Never a dull moment! I truly can't wait to see what happens next. Also, the slightly increased likelihood that now voters will actually pay attention to who and what they're voting for is an added bonus.
Can you receive Emmy Awards in Leavenworth?
10
Start getting ready for President Pence or President Ryan. My guess is that President Pants On Fire will try to pardon everyone involved.
5
Perhaps ... but he cannot pardon state crimes, only federal ones. That's why the New York State AG (and some others) is involved.
1
When you are dealing with aggressive organized crime figures, one has to be aggressive with warrants.
7
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
Very insightful, Professor Gurule - that might be a remarkably accurate characterization of Donald Trump's organization and many of the people he surrounded himself with before he was president...
8
It's also an accurate characterization of he "legislative representatives" who comprise the Republican Party. It's fascinating that they know how to control the system in such a way that democracy is thwarted and America's great commonwealth diverted to private interests who feed back enormous funding to Republican political interests.
The party has become adept at manipulating our political system (gerrymandering, Citizen's United, voter suppression, etc, etc, etc) in support of their oligarchical backers. In the process, however, they've apparently forgotten anything they ever knew -- if indeed they ever actually knew anything -- about legislating in the public interest.
Frauds, hypocrites, liars, thieves... none of it good.
2
I would like some insight into the decision making process on this story.
2
"..take the Fifth Amendment and raise suspicions that they had something to hide. "
By law no inference toward the guilt or innocence of a party may be implied by his or her taking the Fifth Amendment.
But one suspects that it never got in the way of reporting designed to raise suspicions. Time will tell, but Mr. Manafort probably won't.
"By law no inference toward the guilt or innocence of a party may be implied by his or her taking the Fifth Amendment."
True enough ... but not applicable to public opinion or investigative direction.
1
So if an indictment occurs the next very big if is whether any conviction occurs that has a significant penalty. So, if any of those big ifs occur then we have a Presidential Pardon. The Democrats continuing to lose.
A presidential pardon makes sure that those indicted have to sing like canaries, you can't take the 5th anymore. Manafort and others would have to testify and if they refused, get contempt of court issued against them.
No Trump will be hurt if he pardons them.
2
So if Trump is including Paul Manafort's phone in his claim that his [Trump's] phones were tapped then by extension if Manafort is found guilty of a crime based on information gained from the wire tap then Trump should also be found guilty. After all Trump seems to think Manafort's phone is his phone. Trump should stay very quiet when it comes to anything about Manafort and his phone. Of course we all know he won't.
I imagine the scriptwriters of House of Cards thinking "Why didn't we come up with this?"... It is really hard to believe this is all truly happening to the entourage of the actual President of the United States.
I shudder to think how Donald the Magnificent, and his heavily armed, violence-enamored band of dispossessed will react once the investigation creeps closer.
5
Think mafia and it all makes sense.
This is unlike any situation America has faced in recent memory. A hostile financial attempted takeover of OUR United States government. Some say just for the criminals to tell the truth. Why would they? They are criminals.
At least Americans are being made aware, thanks to the stellar press/media coverage, of what is happening. Now the challenge is to get them out to vote to put socially conscious, America-and-democracy-loving people in office to protect us from anything like this happening in the future.
9
The only thing which is keeping the citizens of the United States from going over the edge and completely losing any belief in the notion of self-government as it was handed down to us all over 225 years ago, is Mueller's investgation.
Robert Mueller must uncover the source of the dry rot in this ship of state, expose it to sunlight, and do what is necessary to restore hope and confidence in our future as a democracy. If, by some horrible stroke, this investigation is quashed or otherwise neutralized, I sincerely believe we may be done for.
Our system of government is totally dependent on a citizenry which believes in it. Thus far, all we have seen is corruption, division, incivility, and the takeover of state and federal government by a few elected officials—aided by "malefactors of great wealth"—more interested in power than in serving the democracy. At the top of it all is an unfit, mendacious sociopath with a wallet filled with filthy lucre.
8
Good for Mueller. The very same Justice Dept pursues "illegal aliens" with similar ardor even though they represent far less of a threat than Trump.
7
It is a no brainer. Trust the man who has served in our military, in our government and with a stellar reputation in his career or the other guy, who has lied all of his life.
11
Finding nothing of substance the Democrats running this farce are doing their best to keep it in the news. The old adage about a prosecutor being able to indict a toaster is true. Time will tell if a conviction of anything of substance with occur.
3
What Democrats? The Senate intelligence committee is headed by a Republican and is bipartisan. Mueller is a Republican.
14
In their minds Mueller has become a Democrat.
3
While Mueller aims to be thorough, Donald is extending the thesis with new evidence of crimes and investigatory tracks every week. If we allow it, this investigation will merge into the 2020 presidential campaign.
Americans deserve some clarity. If Comey could give us an update on his investigation of Hillary, perhaps the FBI can let voters know where we stand before the 2018 election.
2
The speed and the toughness by which Mr. Mueller's team has been acting is fully justified. Mr. Mueller has to act quickly to counter not-so-subtle signals coming from the WH regarding pre-emptively pardoning those caught up in Mr. Murller's investigations. He knows well that, irrespective of the criminal and political implications of such pardons for the Presidnt, such pardons would be effective and would spare those pardoned from prosecution, thus removing any incentive for them to provide any damaging information.
a presidential decision to preemptively pardon any of those caught up in Mueller’s investigation, whether former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former national security adviser Michael Flynn or Donald Trump Jr.,
So Trump may be tempted to use this mechanism to extricate himself from what he calls derisively “the Russia thing.”
4
The underlying allegation of the hijacking of the 2016 American Presidential election by Vladimir Putin and Russia with or without the collusion, cooperation and conspiracy of Americans within and without the Trump campaign and White House is worthy of a decisive forceful uncompromising tone. By contrast the Nixon White House Watergate break-in cover-up, the Clinton White House Monica Lewinsky affair cover-up and the Bush White House cover-up of leaking a covert CIA agent's identity are minor matters.
4
The protection of our democracy deserves shock and awe tactics.
5
Why shouldn't Mueller be aggressive? If we are talking of Russian involvement, then it should be treated like one of FBI's high-priority counter-espionage operations. Or is "tough on crime" an attitude we reserve for poor people and minorities?
6
A pick the lock search warrant, WOW!
If anyone in this wide scenario has any dirty laundry, they better start worrying because they could, will, be next.
I wonder if Trump knew of this event?
Probably not. Separation of powers works well in these instances.
1
I do not think that either Trump or Jevanka knew when Jared advised Trump to fire Comey. We remember he told the Russians that "he fired nut job Comey" and the Russian pressure is off.
1
Fox News has begun to report the details. Trump may find out soon.
As a financial professional I read the WSJ every day. They simply do not run stories on the Mueller investigation. They are pretending it's not happening. When they do run a small piece, posters go wild with accusations of witch hunts and threats of subscription cancellations.
4
That's because the Wall Street Journal is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News. Need I say more?
5
If the FISA warrant to wiretap Manafort was based upon Steele's "dossier" , and if that "dossier" is proved to be false and fraudulent, then does all evidence gathered from and through that warrant fail as "fruit of a poisonous tree?"
And how happy is the FISA court going to be if it finds out it issued a warrant based on fraud?
1
The FISA warrant was based on intercepts of Russian operatives chatting with Manafort and others in the Trump campaign with the suspected intent of gaining foreign influence over the election. The Russians were already being surveiled. Manafort was having ongoing discussions with them while he was running Trump’s campaign.
3
Second guessing a situation like this only shows how naive or ignorant or willfully cynical you are or how you indulge in wishful thinking. Courts don't hand out warrants, let alone FISA, if there is any whiff of fraud.
2
Im so pleased to see how all agree on Mueller's need to do whatever it takes.
3
I'm not religious, but may God bless & keep Robert Mueller.
10
Muller inquiry will show if we are still a country of laws or country of Trump
4
Any comparison of Mr Mueller investigation with Kenneth Starr is shameful.
2
Right on, Mr. Mueller. "Follow the money" advised one sage person during Watergate. Investigate The Donald's finance links to Russia!
(Now, if we can just keep "Rocket Man" from pulling the trigger, thereby guaranteeing Trump another term!)
2
" To be allowed to pick the lock and enter the home unannounced, prosecutors had to persuade a federal judge that Mr. Manafort was likely to destroy evidence."
_______________
Manafort, Stone, Kissinger, Nixon. Probably not too tough a sell on the likelihood of shredding, deleting, and total Fraud and Conspiracy.
3
Don't forget Clinton!
1
He should go in with a Visigoth's or Assyrian's manic ferocity, a Roman's grim fortitude and determination, and wreak appropriate havoc!
He is, quite possibly, the last barrier between our Republic and a tyrannical one!
8
The only thing Robert Mueller has proven so far is that President Trump was right, Obama did illegally wiretap Trump Tower. Obama's the one who needs to get indicted. This Russian collusion delusion has got to end. Even if Trump met with Russians, no law has been broken. Campaign laws are clear. Only financial contributions from foreign entities are illegal. And Robert Mueller has zero credibility. He was the one in charge of the FBI during 9/11. His incompetence allowed the attacks to happen and his shady investigation allowed the criminals to get away with the crime.
2
Uh hold on kemosabe. There may have been a wiretap of Manafort but #1, he doesn't live in Trump Tower, and #2 in an age of cell phones, there is no there there where they do the tapping. Try again.
5
Russaphils = all Trump supporters
With such broad investigative powers, I wonder how long the Clinton empire would last under the same scrutiny...
1
To begin with, there would be no reason for the Clintons to not survive under such scrutiny. Surely, you remember Hillary's 13 hours of grilling that only made fools of those trying to find reasons to incriminate her in wrongdoing. Bill's sexual trysts, while dispicable, are nothing compared to trump's bragging on tape to Billy Bush of his sexual harrasment of not only adult women, but also young girls in the Miss Teenage America. Let's not leave out the rape charges against him.
12
Tough tactics can (and frequently do) back-fire. Keep in mind that if he fails to convict someone close to Trump of something relevant (i.e., not unrelated tax evasion), Trump will walk away with the next election stronger than he is now.
2
Like most things in life, the coverup is often the act that gets the person caught/convicted versus the original crime. Working with the Russians all these years for the financing of ones business has created a bubble (alternate reality) in the world of the Trump Empire. The family would have been smarter to stay out of the limelight, so that no one has reason for looking so closely at the creation of this financial empire. This house of cards will fall. It is not a question of if but when. Please sit back and watch this "Grand Daddy" of Reality Shows. True to form, typical and expected human behavior, greed for money and power, in this case, exceeds loyalty and patriotism to this great country. Narcissism at its zenith.
7
Nothing Mueller is doing will prevent Russia from continuing to interfere with our elections. His Gestapo tactics applied to Manafort and others are creating the foundation for justifying the shut down of this abuse of government power. If he does not conduct himself within ethical boundaries and limit his investigation to Russian activity, the closing his investigation would be the appropriate response.
3
Warrants of are signed by judges who rule on the merits of the risk. Manafort has worked for some of the biggest kleptocrats and killers on the planet. He's up to his neck in what his own daughter calls "blood money." The rest of Trump's crew and associates are no more savory. But, apologists and front-runners for Trump want to whine that Mueller's investigation should be 'shut down' for having the nerve to actually attempt to secure the evidence sought. LOL.
9
Why would it even matter if Mueller is biased because of Comey? It's not like he's the judge and jury. Every prosecutor is biased toward prosecution.
4
Right. Either Mueller presents evidence that a prosecutor believes is strong enough evidence to indict or he doesn't. That and the fact that there is no proved bias on Comey's part just because Trump doesn't like that he was conducting an investigation on Russian involvement in the election. Or that Trump liked him because he was conducting an investigation of Hillary Clinton.
3
Anyone who claims that Mueller's investigation is a waste of time and money and that he is simply grasping for straws really baffles me. I can only imagine that they are afraid of the outcome, which would mean they have also come to the conclusion that crimes have in fact been committed.
15
yep
Let's call the Mueller "investigation' what it is: A thinly-veiled attempt to create the *appearance* of a lot of smoke ("Oh, there must be a fire!) to discredit President Trump's associates, friends, and family, and by association the President, in the vain hope of overturning the results of the 2016 election. Ask yourself this: Given all the different "investigations" going on, and all the leaks, why has there been no leak of *any* evidence of collusion, etc.?
5
There are Russian born mob criminal Felix Sater's emails to Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, bragging that he was putting together a Trump Tower deal in Moscow with the express intent of converting that into Putin's support to put Donald Trump in the White House.
There was the June 2016 meeting with Russian operatives -- which Manafort attended -- advertised as a presentation of high level Russian government intelligence intended to bring down the Clinton campaign.
There were the FBI phone surveillances that found Manafort seemed to have been coordinating Russian help with the campaign while he was the campaign manager and afterwards.
And let us not forget that as soon as Donald Trump discovered Mueller was looking at his financial deals, Trump immediately began investigating his ability to pardon himself and his family before declaring he had the power to do so. Innocent people do not think that way. Even guilty, paranoid presidents like Richard Nixon do not go to such unethical extremes to undermine the rule of law.
9
Some people chose to be blind even while the ship is sinking. As I lay in bed the night of the election, horrified by the "outcome," some things came to mind....a few were collusion, Russian mafia, money laundering, TREASON. I was privy to Donald Trump's shady dealings having lived in New York for eight years in the 90's. I never watched his ridiculous tv show or fell for his shenanigans. He has never impressed me.
2
@ Wayne G. Fischer, PhD, University of Texas Medical Branch "Given all the different 'investigations' going on, and all the leaks, why has there been no leak of *any* evidence of collusion, etc.?"
Gee, I'd say, "nice try," except it clearly isn't.
Well, let's see now...
Could it be precisely because, unlike all the dozen or so "investigations" of Hillary (all of which came up with what results, exactly? Oh yeah, that's right -- NOTHING) and Bill Clinton (which ranged infinitely further beyond its original mission than anything Mr Mueller might even contemplate -- so I'm sure Dr Fischer and his ilk all complained much harder over that blatant malfeasance, didn't they? no? -- and came up with the astonishing, shocking news that men will lie about stepping out on their wives), this investigation ISN'T nothing more than a blatantly politically-motivated witch-hunt, with no legal brief beyond calumnifying its target, and thus ISN'T determined to leak its way to that end?
Or maybe it's that they know that if they did leak anything, the very same voices now howling over the lack of leaks would then be shrieking about the evil and illegality of leaking?
Seriously, is there even one so-called conservative left in the whole country who has anything even aping intellectual or moral consistency?
If the evidence of this thread (and every single one like it accompanying each report on the Mueller investigation) is any indication, the answer is a resounding, "WHAT ARE YOU, JOKING?"
9
Robert Mueller may have just discovered the largest, most complex international money laundering enterprise known to man. And if past behavior is any guide, Trump and his wonderful children are involved as well.
18
Is he investigating the Clinton Foundation?
No, but he, like the New York attorney general, may be investigating the Trump Foundation. That would be within the purview described when Mueller was appointed.
1
You realize of course who is trying to subvert our democratic process? It is all those who are trying by any means possible to get Trump out of office.
But, whether you like it or not, Trump is the legally elected president. He didn't cheat his way in. He won. While we want to guard against foreign states --- friendly or hostile -- interfering with our elections, Russia's actions did not sway a single vote.
But the actions of the New York Times, the mainstream media, the left and those on the right who are anti-Trump have only one purpose, to subvert Trump's presidency. The fondest wish, of course, is that evidence of an impeachable offense is found. But, undermining Trump and making his admin ineffective is an acceptable outcome. But this anti-Trump frenzy is in reality an attempt to disenfranchise those who voted for Trump. But that is OK with the left because they despise the people who supported Trump and don't think their votes should count any way.
So, Mueller should focus on the media and the left. That's who colluded and is still colluding to interfere with the 2016 election. Except he is part of the great anti-Trump conspiracy.
5
If Mueller is part of an anti-Trump conspiracy, why was Donald Trump interviewing him as a candidate to replace Comey as the FBI director?
6
I'd love to know what document was 'locked away in the safe' that Trump's lawyers were overheard discussing. I'm thinking it was the document that the Russian lawyer handed to Trump Jr. at the meeting - with the Russian "dirt" on HRC.
1
Lots of lawyers, lots of subpoenas, endless investigations, NO CHARGES of anything.
3
6-Actual "Lots of lawyers, lots of subpoenas, endless investigations, NO CHARGES of anything."
It's amazing how many people are trying to convince us that "there no charges yet in an investigation that's still ongoing" means "there will never be any charges, nothing to see here folks, move along."
Or maybe it's themselves that they're trying to convince.
8
Indictments come after evidence is presented to the Grand Jury. Trump supporters seem very confused on this subtle point.
12
One point seldom mentioned in all the Russia stories: The Trump people never expected to win in November 2016.
So OF COURSE they grabbed all they could from anyone offering during the campaign. They could hardly envision scrutiny by 2017.
God bless Rober Mueller.
17
Sort of like The Producers.
2
Trying to imagine what the Mueller & the Justice League theme song would sound like, because the only melody playing in my mind is the iconic 'law and order' opening theme.
Now, the walls really have begun closing in...and rapidly!
8
Now it is going to become very interesting when Trump starts to pardon all these people who potentially have incriminating evidence on him. But wouldn't that be obstruction of justice?
7
You mean like how he obstructed justice by pardoning Arpaio?
If that pardon is allowed to stand he has effectively created a way to destroy the 3 branch system by taking away the Justice branch ability to enforce the Constitution.
1
"But wouldn't that be obstruction of justice?"
It might be enhancement of justice. Once you're pardoned for a crime, you no longer have 5th Amendment protection against self-incrimination with regard to that crime. It's testify or go to prison.
Everything their electoral president does is obstruction of justice.
1
Another thing that scares me (so many!) is how we are collectively placing our faith in competence to expose the truth onto the shoulders of one man - Mueller. He is more than up to the task, by all accounts, but what if he wasn't there? We need some serious institutional remodeling to insert automatic checks and balances against this situation occurring again. Our margin for error is frighteningly small.
11
I truly hope that Mueller's investigation is broad, and includes Democrats as well as Republicans, and Mr. Comey. Hillary Clinton has stated that Comey usurped the position of Attorney General when he decided not to charge Clinton rather than deferring to Sally Yates who should have made that decision when Loretta Lynch recused herself. That and Comey's other questionable actions in investigating the Russian hacking deserve more scrutiny by the special counsel.
4
It seems appropriate to get aggressive about Russian interference in our elections. What else would be more important?
8
I disagree that "examining financial entanglements with Russians going back several years" means Mr. Mueller is "taking a broad view of his mandate." Exploring any potential motivation to commit a crime is a nut-and-bolt element in any criminal investigation where the target's actions could have plausible innocent explanations.
DT's longstanding practice of accepting real estate investment money from Russian oligarchs, probably all of whom gave Putin his cut and some of whom may have used Deutsche Bank as a money laundering mechanism, goes to the heart of DT's motivation to treat Russia with kid gloves and his unique opportunity to use Russian assistance during the presidential campaign.
11
IN hearings held by congress please and thank you was too much. This is a legitimate, serious investigation by Mr. Mueller. Too much old buddy feeling by GOP when questioning. Special investigation is "real world" He is actually doing his job. Let him do it. Take off the "kid gloves" get to work.
7
I applaud Mr. Mueller and his team. However, we should be focusing on the NYS investigations led by Eric Schneiderman. We in NY need to make sure we keep a Democratic governor so that our AG is not replaced by a Trump hack. The NYS charges are the only ones that have any chance of being brought to trial and a conviction with no pardon.
Trump will stick his nose into our state election. The freedom of his friends and family (and maybe his own) depends on it.
8
I hope and expect Mr. Mueller's team to investigate and then exonerate or charge the various subjects. However, IF he believes the president committed crimes, he had better put a little bird in Paul Ryan's ear that he is planning to charge the president with a crime and why, so that Mr. Ryan can impeach first. As long as Trump is president, he can pardon anyone for any crime, rightfully or not, preventing the American people from receiving justice. A president Pence would have political difficulty pardoning anyone who is involved in this scandal.
Certainly Mr. Mueller has an experienced team that is unlikely to back down, which is exactly what the American people need and want right now.
3
If it appears that Manafort and Flynn were acting like rogues by working for foreign interests, and against the foreign policy interests of the USA, then they should be held accountable for breaking any laws applicable to their conduct.
Right on Special Prosecutor, hold these rogue elements accountable, since they took the foreign money, were secretive about the matters, and blatantly worked against US interests.
5
I don't understand people complaining about Mueller's tactics. They were and are done in criminal investigations and are lawful. That Mueller chose to avail himself of routine or rare but lawful tactics, I don't see how they are subject to complaint.
35
People have objectives. They may seek to meet those objectives by hook or crook or by any means available. Would this be a surprise? Pro-Trump people or perhaps many or most Republicans would want the investigation to fail. That has nothing to do with law or legalities. It has to do with being on that team.
1
Moreover, Mueller's 'tactics' have to be run by and cleared by a federal judge approving a warrant. Unlike Trump, federal judges hold the law relevant and in high esteem.
7
Mueller's aggressive pursuit of evidence stands in stark contrast to the FBIs & DOJ's sham "investigation" of Hillary. It's a joke. We are the biggest banana republic in the world.
14
Remember that the Russia investigation was proceeding precisely as did the one of Hillary-- that is, until Trump fired Comey. This is Trump's doing.
28
The FBI and Treasury Department opened investigations into Manafort's suspected money laundering in 2014. The state of New York opened such an investigation this year. All have been stonewalled as they try to get to the bottom of a labyrinth of shell companies and contracts intended to obscure who is involved and where the money comes from. (The Trump Organization has used this technique for years and has made it the primary mode of structuring deals since Donald was elected.) Rather than use the slow and futile tactics that were not working, Mueller is using an approach that worked in the past to nail Felix Sater, one of the other targets of the investigation.
Sater is a Russian borne Trump business associate with Mafia ties. An unsealed court document shows he had engaged in a plethora of organized crime activities in the past. Two of the prosecutors on Mueller's team helped convict him in the past.
Most people want this investigation wrapped up as soon as possible. Using tactics that have worked with these suspects in the past instead of techniques that have failed for years is a prudent -- and legal -- way to achieve that.
6
I am wondering about how an "aggressive pursuit of evidence," makes this "a banana republic," inasmuch as I had somehow got the impression that aggressively pursuing the evidence was precisely what prosecutors were spozed to do.
7
As been said many times, a good prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich. They are so tricky that one better hire a good lawyer, no matter one's innocence.
The anger and hate in many comments give me pause. Given the FBI's past (Comey's actions in Clinton investigation) and J. Edgar Hoover's history, I do not want a "Secret Police" in our country.
Anger and hate clouds judgement.
14
True, anger and hate give reason to pause; but we are talking treason here--at the highest level of government. That doesn't exactly bring out warm and fuzzy feelings. We do need to check our reactions, stay calm and alert, and let Mueller finish his work. At the same time, it is obvious that the emoluments clause of the constitution was prescient of the founding fathers, but no longer enough to protect us from 21st century criminals and cartels both foreign and domestic. Congress should let Mueller do the investigating and get busy reinforcing our freedoms through amendments and other legal protections.
7
That isn't what they say about ham sandwiches. The quote is "a grand jury would 'indict a ham sandwich". A grand jury isn't a formal trial- it is just a presentation of evidence to a closed jury to get permission to move forward with a case. Now that your entire argument is blown to bits, I will move on.
2
John S, I call imploring a mob to chant to hang your opposing candidate for President, "anger and hate." I do not call presenting evidence to a federal judge that a suspect may dispose of evidence if confronted and convincing that judge - a federal judge in this instance, of consisting of "Secret Police."
Was anyone tortured here? No. Was anyone thrown in jail without due process? No. But the Trump defenders are acting as if a Federal Judge reviewing and approving a warrant based on histories of mobster and racketeer type behavior as unduly harsh. It wasn't harsh when it concerned Al Capone, and it's not harsh concerning the like of Paul Manafort. Even more to the point, a phone was seized along with records that prove that Trump and Manafort were in constant communication well past the time of the 2016 campaign and well into 2017 with Trump in the White House. The squawking and whining is loudest from bullies who know they're about to get their just comeuppance.
4
Crime is crime, there is no white collar or blue collar. Hiding behind a wall of money should not protect you and this special prosecutor should kick down all the doors he need to to find out the truth.
36
I hope Mueller's investigation does involve the Trump's family and Russian finances. I suspect it will reveal that Trump is a far bigger crook than Al Capone ever was. Trump is certainly acting as if this is the case.
42
Didn't anyone else think it was kind of weird that Manafort paid millions in CASH for a NYC condo ?
Who does that, besides Whitey Bulger or Tony Soprano ?
47
What was weird was when he turned around and mortgaged those properties for more than the amount of cash paid within days of purchasing them. That got the attention of the Treasury, FBI and State of New York, all of which are investigating Manafort for money laundering.
5
Actually , I mean who doesn't have millions in cash handy? And I heard he had to convert to dollars from rubles before purchasing.
1
Russians buying Trump condos almost always pay cash.
2
Manafort intends to stonewall all the way through his trial; Mueller's so-called intimidating tactics don't frighten him in the slightest. Not because he has nothing to hide or is innocent of any wrongdoing, but because Manafort knows he will be pardoned no matter what crime he is convicted of. That was his golden parachute when he was terminated as Trump's campaign chairman. A get out of jail free card is priceless.
12
Will be interesting to see how judge rules about the Arpaio pardon and conviction in upcoming hearing.
14
Remember New York State is also investigating and pardons don't apply to State crimes.
3
Not if Manafort gets nailed on New York state crimes. Presidential pardons extend only to federal crimes. And yes, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is working with Mueller. This was announced nearly three weeks ago.
2
To be fair the Times should point out that the the Starr investigation was never legitimate and obviously an abuse of the authority Congress has by the GOP and that it was intentionally run on for years to do harm to the president, his wife and anyone else they could ensnare as well as to prevent him from accomplishing any of his more liberal policies.
20
Honesty, forthrightness and truth will not be intimidated by Mr. Mueller's investigative efforts. Evasion, fraud and dishonesty have become the order of the day and accepted standard operating procedure with politicians and their close associates. What the Special Counsel is doing is a refreshing change.
25
It strikes me as strange that Grassley would want to preempt Mr. Mueller's investigation. Why would he want to do this? Unless Grassley's entire purpose is to interfere in any way he can with the special counsel's investigation, in order to protect our very corrupt president and White House administration, which in itself might be a serious crime. We know #45 places loyalty to himself above all moral or ethical standards. Grassley would seem to be adhering to #45's dictum.
20
Once someone testifies their testimony is public, thereby allowing everyone to get their story straight, thereby hindering Mueller's investigation.
1
You can't trust Grassley. He's to the Senate what Nunes is to the House.
2
There may even be reason to suspect that the RNC received Russian campaign contributions. This investigation could turn over a few stones right in their very own camp.
3
We need a full investigation of Donald "Russia if you're listening" Trump and his entire campaign, administration, and financial holdings. It appears this is what we're getting. If it is a house of cards, the strong winds of truth will ensure it falls. Moving forward from this, my hope is that those in power are held accountable and receive the justice they deserve. Had we cleaned house as we should have during the "too big to fail" moment we would not be where we are now. No one is immune from the rule of law. As Bob Dylan once wrote: "even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked." Campaign finance reform and term limits will do much to put us back on track. Being an elected official such as Congressperson or Senator is not a career opportunity. The current situation where lobbyists and corporate insiders oversee the industry they're supposed to regulate and monitor is part of what got us where we are currently. An Inconvenient Sequel paints a pretty clear picture of the choices we face as a planet; greed and destruction or measured and scalable solutions which still create vast profits but also provide a viable alternative to what we're facing now for our children and for the billion or more who don't even have safe water and clean air.
12
Yes to campaign finance reform to require federal funding for all federal campaigns with no outside money allowed. No to term limits. It is not an answer. It leaves us with a lot of people who can't find the restrooms and very few with a broad and deep overview of the issues. We need institutional memory. Without it, we are blind.
2
Common prosecution tactic in high dollar investigations -- threaten or indict underlings---offer deals for testimony and evidence against higher ups---it works sometimes, not always.
2
Kudos and thanks to Mueller for pursuing this most serious matter with the speed and vigor that it demands. It may well be the single most important criminal investigation ever undertaken. Godspeed.
27
You Go, Mr. Mueller and team! The article says, "“They seem to be pursuing this more aggressively, taking a much harder line, than you’d expect to see in a typical white-collar case,” said Jimmy Gurulé, a Notre Dame law professor and former federal prosecutor. “This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
Yes, they have to be aggressive because the International Mafia Top 1% Global Financial Elite Robber Baron/Radical religion Good Old Boys' Cabal operatives in OUR United States Senate and House - and OUR White House - are trying to stop the investigation so they can steal from us with even more abandon.
Thanks to Rachel Maddow (MSNBC 9 pm ET weeknights) for keeping us informed of every detail of the investigation and thanks to the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, New Yorker Magazine and every other media outlet that is reporting the truth of the hostile financial takeover of OUR government.
WE THE PEOPLE must keep informed and take action every single day to save the one thing we value most about OUR democracy. OUR very lives depend on it.
27
While I love your enthusiasm, the cynic in me feels it is closing the barn door after the horses have bolted. We ceased to be a true democracy over twenty odd years ago with the granting of a broadcast license to Murdoch coupled with Reagan's elimination of the Fairness Doctrine. Those two acts drove a stake in to the heart of democracy; and the Kochs, Mercers, Waltons, DeVos, and their friends in ALEC have proceeded unencumbered in undoing our legal and social protections ever since. Watch for the blizzard of faux "grassroots" organizations that will spring in to action to try to strangle the bill for Medicare for All in its cradle. One of those purports to be a group advocating for patient care in Medicare. It flies a false flag and will be one of many - all well financed with hundreds of millions.
5
I agree with you, Nora M, but we have no alternative to fight like hell to weed the people and programs responsible for the attempted destruction out of our government at every level and restore the kind of democracy the vast majority of Americans want.
They have the money but WE have the votes and can take the actions necessary to defeat them. I can't think of anything that is worth more time and effort right now than creating the America that works for ALL of us.
2
Yes, you cannot give up. I am a true believer in fighting the good fight for the long haul; however, we cannot believe the fight is solely against the GOP. They are just another front organization for the real enemies of the public and republic. Of course, they tell themselves that they are "saving" the country - from us, the riffraff.
1
Imagine is Obama moved like this to prosecute Wall St fraud after the 2008 debacle.
13
Sure the Republicans would have gone along with that. We all know they would not have filibustered anything he tried to do against Wall Steet!
Manafort's greatest crime was how he helped the Russians subvert the western leaning freedom loving Ukrainians. He helped to corrupt Ukrain, in favor for Putin. The lowest of the lows.
Putin; keep your grubby hands out of Ukrain AND The Baltics and our political process.
Putin, you LOST. No lifting of sanctions. Nothing. Nada. Your plan is kapoot.
5
Trump's motto: "Don't pester me with the facts!!!"
21
Go get them Muller!!!!
27
The media especially CNN “panels” with Trump surrogates continue to normalize 45. We desperately need Mueller to show how ABNORMAL this administration is.
After Trump’s re-tweet of a repulsive Trump fan boy showing a photoshopped GIF of Hillary Clinton being struck by a golf ball hit off a Trump driver...then her falling hard forward while boarding a plane I was horrified and nauseated. I think of the million plus miles she flew as Secretary of State working for diplomacy while THIS administration attempts to dissolve the State Department. Mrs. Clinton must have been exhausted. She should have been extolled NOT turned into a malicious cartoon character.
Yet CNN and Morning Joe on MSNBC had on PANELS to discuss the tweet. Instead we needed station presidents as strong as Mueller simply standing up on camera delivering strong rebukes to Trump.
Using terms such as “unpresidential” or watching male panel members smirk and laugh was so disheartening. I am tired of people such as Mark Halperin supporting 45 no matter how low he descends from simple humanity. The word is “complicit” Mr. Halperin and Fox & Friends!
34
Look, if there is one thing both Trump and Hillary have in common is that neither of them can let go of the election. Sanders let go and moved on to taking positive action while the other two are still hurling rocks at each other after the battlefield was cleared of the bodies.
@Nora
“battlefield cleared of bodies?”
Such as Heather Heyer the counter-protester killed and who did have a permit in Charlottesville?
The many minorities killed in Trump’s name from college campuses to small bars? Latin men beaten to death while men yelled “Trump, Trump, Trump.”
Cemeteries, mosques, temples burned or vandalized with swastikas and epithets?
The tens of thousands of refugees who will die now that Trump is refusing their entrance to the USA despite going through extreme vetting?
Bernie “let go?” He is currently on a 250 book store tour with his book “Our Revolution” and openly countering Clinton on talk shows. He introduced a possible Democratic party Presidential killer of “Medicare for all-single payer” into the Senate.
Is THAT “positive action?”
Hillary continues to be the victim of these two men’s onslaughts. And Bernie still refuses to apologize for his “Bernie Bros” who helped Trump win by withholding their votes for Clinton.
1
And that misogynist Ken Cuccinelli, I turn off CNN whenever he appears. They need to refresh their memory on what he tried to do to women when he was AG. It's deplorable that he is engaged now as some sort of wise political pundit.
2
Every true patriot wants to know what happened! Put aside party, we were attacked by Russia!
24
So the Obama regime was wiretapping the Trump campaign. Sounds like some other than Russians were trying to "hack our democracy". Perhaps that should be the next investigation.
5
I don't understand your comment. Please explain.
13
Did you not comprehend that this wiretapping was conducted pursuant to a court's order. Hence, it was a Legal wiretapping and one of the methods of evidence collecting available to investigators. Maybe you should watch "The Wire" to gain a better understanding of wiretapping.
11
@Paul,
Simple really. Manafort was wiretapped during the 2016 presidential election + Manifort part of Trump campaign => Trump campaign wiretapped. Someone high up in the Obama regime had to give the go-ahead.
If the President had any worries he would probably have fired Mueller and shut this down.If they had anything they would have had it by now.It is being allowed to continue because drawing it out is advantageous to the administration.The Dems better pack it in and get set for 2 administrations they don't understand or could control.
5
Hmm, so outside of the 35% POTUS Approval Rate is only Democrats "Not Understanding"?
But I admit, Nixon did manage to get re-elected.
5
Except he'd have to fire Sessions, Rosenstein, etc until he found the person to fire Mueller. He might have to hire someone to fire him. Take jaco to lunch and have a "truth" session with him.
No president can shut down an ongoing investigation. Separation of powers guarantees that.
2
This political drama playing out between Trump and Mueller is about the challenging dynamics of getting at the truth; dealing with high-roller political and economic cheaters endeavoring to rig the political system; the damage done to a society and political process by wrongdoing, lying and cover-up; and the essential need for personal character in political leaders and the necessity of political justice to preserve the integrity of a democratic society.
Not for a milli-second do I believe Donald J. Trump comprehends the importance of any of these things, especially for a President of the United States. He truly believes he is above the law--isn't that what you pay big lawyer fees for? His only sense of morality is the most primitive kind: completely self-centered, just don't get caught, and if caught disparage the investigators (witch hunts) and smear and defame the prosecutors and judges.
This Mueller investigation promises to provide real political theater with its cast of flawed characters, including the mendacious Big Daddy Trump and his cold, self-serving family and manipulative, unscrupulous political entourage, all reflecting various forms and gradations of immorality.
19
Most comments here are very partisan. I would hope that all readers do wish to see the rule of law here, and accept constitutional process.
What I find particularly disturbing is that almost all commenters assume that one of two outcomes will happen: Trump and all of his campaign team and administration will be cleared, or Trump will be impeached.
My guess is that this will end up like the mess of Iran Contra, or the even uglier (as I see it) malfeasance of the manipulated/distorted intelligence claims that led to the Iraq war.
Ronald Reagan was never touched by Iran Contra, though in fact it convicted more people from his administration than any other presidency.
And no one in the Bush administration was pursued at all, other than poor Scooter Libby, convicted for lying about the Valerie Plame stunt of Cheney's (and who else?)
Frankly, the odds are high that a few of Trump's more embarrassing underlings (Manafort, Flynn, possibly Kushner) will be convicted ... there's so much smoke about their dealings that I'd be very surprised if they survive unscathed.
But impeachment has a very high bar, and it will take a very serious "smoking gun" we don't see yet to do it.
Mueller is pursuing the classic means by which white-collar crime (particularly RICO) is prosecuted: indict the small fish on clearly-provable charges, squeeze them to rat out the higher ups.
Remember "bridgegate:" Kelly & Baroni went to jail -- Chris Christie walked away laughing.
18
The LAST Impeachment Hearing refutes your premise.
"But impeachment has a very high bar,..."
Now I do agree on the Contra like comparisons, except POTUS Trump doesn't/won't have Reagan's Teflon to fall back on.
10
Look I think for me, I have just been following every thread and it really seems like there is an OVERABUNDANCE of evidence that there is a conspiracy against our country that included getting Donald Trump elected.
There is just too much circumstantial evidence in the known sphere--and it's not a leap to imagine that the Mueller team has managed to fill in the blanks. I am not a particularly strong Democrat but I am a strong patriot. It offends me that this has happened and I want to see justice be done.
120
I think the outcome of this investigation will be very similar to the Iran Contra scandal. Trump himself, like Ronald Reagan, did not have the intellect to participate in a truly effective subversion of the electoral process. He can credibly play dumb. But the investigation will do damage to many in his inner circle, and expose the Trump family's sordid financial dealings as no release of tax returns could.
Good. This administration and the president deserve to be discredited and disgraced.
3
My fear is that as the noose tightens, Trump will involve us in a horrible and unnecessary war, betting that, in this circumstance, the nation will then forgive all sins and line up behind him. And he's probably right. And if this happens, it will give Trump time to "clean out" the FBI and other investigative agencies and to turn these agencies on his enemies, e.g., the Washington Post, the NY Times, and leading Democrats.
24
If there was more spoke, then Mueller has a right to seek evidence! Manafort's own daughter spoke about "no need for that much money" a while back, which makes me think the money was questionable. .Hopefully investigators questioning her as well, as to assets transferred or frozen. Might be an interesting path!
10
It's actually amazing Paul Manafort hasn't landed in jail a long time ago. We must not have enough resources in the FBI and Tax Fraud divisions of our government. Our next president should increase their budgets.
14
Money laundering....
Unsecured loans from shady foreign investors....
Choosing Manafort as his Campaign Manager was one of Trump's biggest blunders....and yes, Americans are correct to doubt Trump's judgement.
Manafort is likely to be indicted.
What will Trump do about it?
13
Not much, because the NY Attorney General is gonna bust him, too, and that is outside the purview of the presidential pardon.
"In an interview with The New York Times, Mr. Trump said Mr. Mueller would be overstepping his boundaries if he investigated his family’s finances unrelated to Russia."
Is that implicating that Trump definitely has finances related to Russia, a country whose government has it's hands in almost everything? If that is all Mueller can use against Trump, then it's up to see how deep this rabbit hole goes.
9
We should stand a monument to Mr. Mueller on the mall in DC. Thank you, Sir.
13
Lots of comments about Mueller saving our democracy, but isn't it up to us to save it? Isn't that complacency the very thing that got us into this mess? Whatever crimes Trump and his fellow sewer dwellers are trying to cover-up, it doesn't change the fact that HRC bungled the election by taking the electorate for granted. Why wouldn't she visit Wisconsin even once?
4
Mrs. Clinton won the popular vote by almost three million more than #45! If you pay attention you will learn that Russia did everything it could the interfere and thwart our democratic elections, including placing fake ads and fake bloggers (Bots) on Facebook they even paid for those ads with rubles!! You and all of us should be disgusted and alarmed by this!
14
I am disgusted and alarmed, but that doesn't change the fact that HRC blew an opportunity to connect with voters who could have sealed her victory. In spite of the bots and the Russian hacking and James Comey and the Trumpness of Trump, she almost won! But for 77,000 votes in three states!
The special prosecutor is Us doing something. He is an instrument of Our government not some white knight altruist stepping up to protect us on his own.
Nice try to make Trumps crimes Hilary's fault.
1
Let's get the subpoenas out for the documents in McGahn's safe described by Ty Cobb over lunch at BLT Steak.
That could be a scoop of the century for Vogel--and good for our nation.
7
A fabulous witch hunt - one of the greatest ever!
6
We are with you, Mr. Mueller. Using aggressive and broad-based tactics is the only way to go with this corrupt regime.
17
Let the chips fall where they may.
I can't wait for the tally. Godspeed,
Mr. Mueller.
24
The hue and cry from the apologists for this president would be laughable were the situation that he created not so dire. Not only are the tone and tactics of the special counsel’s investigation fully warranted, they are also commensurate with the challenges posed by a chief executive who declares himself inviolable and rarely wastes an opportunity to flaunt his contempt for open accountability, procedural restraints, and institutional decorum. Recall that on July 28th, during a trip to Long Island, it was Trump who decried “weak policing” and the perception that “rough people” were “not allowed” to do that type of work. It was Trump who whined that the laws were “totally made to protect the criminal.” And it was Trump who bragged that he had pleaded to those law enforcement officials with whom he had spoken “please don’t be too nice.” Trump and his trolls should be careful what they wish for. Should the Mueller investigation result in criminal charges and vengeful calls to “lock them up,” perhaps then they can take some bitter comfort in knowing that, sooner or later, what goes around comes around.
31
Chris, it's still Funny too.
"...,would be laughable were the situation that he created not so dire."
In the words of Justin Timberlake "what goes around, goes around, goes around comes all the way back around"
Reading some of the comments shows why we need Mueller to complete his task unhindered. Many of the same people who screamed "lock her up" now feel that this is a fishing expedition. Lets find out what did happen. Then a real test of President Trumps integrity will happen. I can wait to see.
20
Professor Gurule' makes the point that the legal profession clearly considers white collar criminals in a different class than other criminals, even when their acts bring far greater damage to the public. For the purposes of equal justice under law, what is the difference between Manafort's organization and an organized crime syndicate? Why should Manafort, and his like, be entitled to a wink, a nod, and VIP treatment?
13
There is a huge difference between searching a home and actually finding evidence. This investigation will go nowhere, if there were any real story here it would have been leaked already. Mueller is being thorough, no doubt, but that doesn't equate to proof, and being a "former" FBI director isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for competence (see James Comey and Louie Freeh for more details) and who was the FBI director when 911 happened? What was his name again?
4
You seem awfully confident that "this investigation will go nowhere." Or are you going to extraordinary lengths to try to convince us that there's "no there there." I think it's the latter. But I'll play it your way in addressing your first sentence and ask YOU this-Why would anyone search a house unless there was something(s) found in the warehouse (owned by the same person) that they had searched several months before? There must have been something found in the earlier search that was so compelling that a judge issued a second search warrant. OR, just read the last 3 paragraphs of the article.
2
Mueller and his team of investigators are second to none. You'll see soon enough.
2
The real story is that Russia did everything it could to help Donald become POTUS. Also, Russia's fingerprints are all over Donald!
The FBI had legally picked the lock at Manafort's home. A U.S. Court Judge gave them approval to do it.
The question is why the FBI didn't trust Manafort enough to hand over documents in his possession. That mistrust was based on Manafort's prior testimony.
It was obvious Manafort was doing precisely what Trump probably has already done: Destroyed key evidence Trump was warned by the Special Prosecutor not to destroy.
Men like Trump and Nixon, have warped minds of privilege and believe they are above the law.
How many decades did this government let Trump pay his way out of trouble. Now what? Let him hack into an election and pay his way out of that too? And what about the end result of him not winning fairly or squarely?
As for the Electoral College that handed him those votes at the last minute to bring him a "win," that has never been investigated. It is far easier to rig the Electoral College than the popular vote.
When southern and midwestern states began their campaign to be the permanent majority in government as Gingrich once stated, they knew the ONLY way they could do that was through gaming the Electoral College.
The purpose of the Electoral College was to ensure states with the smallest populations had a fair voice in elections. But, Republicans figured a way to abuse that by overlapping voting districts to increase electors and changing voting district maps to delete Dem districts, they knew they'd get the lion's share of Electoral College votes.
17
I have little hope and I think this article will unnecessarily raise people's hopes. I don't believe anything will happen to Trump. I do believe he will be re-elected at the end of 4 years. I believe the 2018 midterms will return a Republican majority to both houses. It's where we are in our history. It hasn't gotten bad enough yet, folks. People still support Trump and they still support the Republicans. No one is going anywhere.
I was reading to my daughter (she is 9) from a book called "Letters to President Obama" (it's letters from kids, and just an adorable book - she loves it, misspellings and goofy letters all). I read one hopeful, optimistic letter after another from little children who were so proud and happy and excited for the future, and proud that Obama had been elected, and finally was forced to stop reading to her because I began to cry. The sadness I experienced was a surprise. But I do believe this time, too, will pass.
8
Pessimism is fine Cate but that's not what's happening here. To obtain the FISA warrant and be able to crack the lock indicates that the evidence was strong enough.
10
But evidence of what? Could be Manafort activity completely unrelated to campaign that was discovered in course of investigating campaign.
Mueller was about to accept a job from Trump but then realized that you can be fired there in less than a day. So he accepted the job as Special Counsel. If he plays his cards carefully (not upsetting Trump too much) he'll be employed for at least 4 years, maybe 8. A bit too self indulging that Mueller.
3
trump can not fire Mueller. Separation of powers prohibits this. Any interference from the WH will be obstruction.
1
Robert Mueller, his team and the press are the only entities standing up for the future of our beloved democracy.
21
I worry that this existential threat that Trump (and friends) has presented to us from his black heart is given to just one man. And that one man (Mr. Mueller) is ultimately vulnerable to him. With Trump's outrageous behavior, who would say Mr. Mueller won't just be fired? Then the it is left to the Republicans to take Trump to task a - not bet I would make. What will happen to our cherished democracy?
1
trump can't fire the special prosecutor investigating him. He has no authority in that area. Constitutional separation of powers protects this.
2
Effectively firing Mueller, however accomplished, is the signal to the People to march on Washington.
"Aggressive tactics" - not really, this is how prosecutors operate.
13
The people being investigated are not as bold as Hillary was in deleting tens of thousands of emails after receiving a subpoena.
They will end up with is a couple of tax evasion prosecutions of people only on the periphery.
Couple people charged, success.
They know there was no Russian conspiracy.
2
Weird that you have all this info to exonerate Trump and his gang for Russian collusion but the FBI doesn't. You, sir, need to give Mueller a call, stat!
2
Drip. Drip. Drip...
The affront to our democracy could not be more outrageous. But, what about blatant gerrymandering, voter suppression, and shadowy figures pouring millions into elections?
Yes, we must drain the swamp, and it's not just in DC.
14
I agree. The other thing that gives me pause & prevents me from cheering on the end of this presidency is that the Kochs & their cronies love Pence (and were never in favour of trump for president). There are probably many people on the far right who would love to see trump out & Pence become president. Then we'll really see the destruction of our environment and economic safety nets for the poor & middle class.
4
We are headed towards a Constitutional Crisis of epic proportions that will make "Watergate," and the "Monica Lewinsky" investigations look like child's play. Trump Campaign head Paul Manafort and Trump National Security Advisor will be under criminal indictment soon. Trump's son and son in law are likely to be indicted for criminal money laundering for the Russia mafia. This will likely lead to the criminal indictment of Trump himself for obstruction of justice as well as the likely perjury that will occur when Trump is called to testify before the grand jury on the obstruction of justice investigation.
28
Junior is going to flee to Mother Russia where he will live in exile, building towers for autocrats.
That's why they dumped the SS protection.
Thanks to a year of the FBI fumbling the ball, Mueller and his extensive and well qualified team plan to kick it over the goalpost soon, I hope. As far as guilty parties being forewarned and forearmed, they had an entire year to concoct stories, buy silence, destroy documents, etc. Getting rid of digital evidence is entirely another matter though as it is hard to next to impossible to do. Dozens of lies have already been exposed in the past 8 months thanks to bulldogging investigative reporting for which most Americans are grateful.
Just the fact that the Russian Probe expanded from Putin hackers attacking our democratic process in supported acts that were well-prepared and planned out, to investigating financial fraud, money laundering and organized crime fills me with disgust for any and all people involved, especially those found to have conspired against America and our election system. I hope charges of treason are brought against any American spectators to these Russian 'events' who had guilty, pleasurable knowledge and urged Russia on from the sidelines.
What we have found out so far on all the players is that they are amoral and greedy for wealth to buy power and influence, and will stop at nothing to attain their goals. I would not be surprised at any criminal charges lodged against any of them.
Today's news is that Don Jr. wants to rid himself of Secret Service protection because of lack of privacy. That ship has sailed and he is on the passenger list still.
8
I'm sure that Trump apologists will shriek to high heaven about this, but I for one am glad to see that the authorities are taking Russian interference in our election seriously. It has already been shown that Putin was involved. Why are we even debating this?
225
But somehow you were also glad that the authorities did not take seriously Hillary deleting 30,000 emails on her personal server after she was served with a subpoena for them. Okay.
And what are we going to do about it? Declare war on Russia? Refuse to take their help where we can get it? Just what???
I hope Mueller shines a bright spotlight on all the Republican "leaders" that cheered for Putin rather their own President Obama. Closet racism is the only explanation that I can find to explain their despicable treatment of President Obama.
" On Monday, Mr. Flynn’s siblings announced the creation of a legal-defense fund to help cover their brother’s 'enormous' legal fees.".... would anyone actually donate to such a thing?
9
They might if they had reason to fear that Flynn's testimony would cause them harm.
3
In case you don't remember it Rod Blagojevich's wife swallowed a tarantula to raise money for his legal defense fund. Are the Flynn's going to top that one?
Sadly, because of some well-researched pieces showing propaganda agitators from Russia are on social media during elections in Western democracies, I have to assume naysayers to Mueller's investigation are possibly Russian operatives. Or simply Trump voters. Both aren't very credible comment witnesses.
19
@David: That's the sad thing about this whole mess, for certain. The fact that we do not know who is behind comments posted here or anywhere else online is very unsettling. It is also probably a state of affairs that the Russians are chortling over right now, and precisely why we should all be very eager to see those responsible for this confusion caught and exposed to the world.
Sunshine is bad for those preying on our election system -- they can do far more damage if we allow them to continue operating in the shadows.
3
I vote Russian agitators. Trump die hards are typically less educated and don't read the NYT. Their grammar is not bad enough to actually be Trump supporters.
2
Is it me or does any other regular reader of the NYTimes see an inordinate amount of odd comments that seem to question even the need for a Special Prosecutor?
25
Close Lin D.
What you consider "an inordinate" I consider "a desperate", "disingenuous", or "naive".
9
Bots or people who want to be bots.
13
Bots.
9
Who in the world thinks treason is a "white-collar" crime? To be sure Benedict donald received money from Russia, but disrupting your country's institutions to benefit a foreign country is an act of war.
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
16
Hurry up Mueller.
16
Treason requires aggressive prosecution, so every vestige is rooted out.
Benedict donald and his lot are in serious peril. Over 60 criminals went down in Watergate, Russiagate will make that number bupkis!
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
13
Hurry up Mr Mueller!
12
The comparison between the Mueller investigation which will undoubtedly remain in the realm of political and financial malfeasance to the Kenneth Starr investigation of Bill Clinton's personal financial dealings of "Whitewater" which never produced any evidence of wrongdoing but became an investigation of fellatio in the White house is interesting to contemplate. What these guys never seem to understand is that what goes around comes back around.
10
Picking the lock and breaking into a home, was he with his family ?
This reads like something happening in China or Russia.
Instead of going after the swamp, Mueller is going after those draining the swamp.
The victims will plead the 5th. People will see through this farce, ensuring Trump 2020.
4
Actually, it happens thousands of times a year in this country. It's just that you aren't getting all up in arms about it when it happens to poor and black people, right?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/18/us/forced-entry-warrant-d...
6
@Bhaskar: "Mueller is going after those draining the swamp". That is so ridiculous, I can't believe it. Trump and his minions ARE the swamp. The federal agents had a search warrant which a judge issued. Paul Manafort would appear to have broken quite a few laws.
2
Oh good, here comes the Russian collusion again. I was getting board with all the racism stuff.
3
So many reasons to detest the deplorable president you voted for. Too bad you will never see him for what he is because then you will have to take a long, hard look at what YOU are.
1
Ain't that the truth.
Let's hope Mueller keeps up his hard-nosed tactics. This might be the only way to "turn" witnesses and those whose malfeasance and criminal activities subject them to prosecution. Since drumf shows no loyalty to anyone outside himself and his family, these potential felons might think twice about protecting him.
7
When you use pitbull tactics, you drive those you're seeking further under ground. I guarantee you, anyone with evidence is hiding/destroying it at a furious pace. Besides, this HAS turned into a partisan witch Hunt. Mueller is digging for ANY dirt that can be used by the Dems later.
1
McCain and Wasserman actually did what Trump Jr is accused of. When will they be investigated? That's your hint as to how this investigation will turn out.
1
There is not one line of new information in this article.
2
Sure there is. I don't think we knew that the FBI had a "no knock" warrant and picked the front door lock to gain entry. This is extremely unusual in these cases and speaks to how worried they were that Manafort was lying to investigators and concealing evidence with a real possibility of destroying evidence.
Also we didn't know that the Feds told him to "expect to be indicted".
7
"US investigators wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort under secret court orders before and after the election",, So,, Trump was right. Obama was wiretapping him. Where's the story there?
4
@ Cjinx: No, they were wiretapping Manafort, and basically anyone who was paying attention last summer knew that. After the Times printed the information provided by the Ukraine investigators, Manafort was toast, and anyone who was reading the papers at the time would have seen this was coming a mile away.
Trump claimed they were tapping him personally, in Trump Tower, which they were not. They were tapping Manafort.
Yet why, if Trump is so innocent, is he worried about any of this? If he has nothing to hide, why isn't he eager to cooperate with an investigation into the possible corruption of a presidential election in the United States? As the president, he is sworn to uphold the law. You would think he would have some interest in cooperating with law enforcement as they do the job they are supposed to do: protect the country from criminals trying to corrupt it.
Why are you worried about it? If your guy is as clean as you think he is, then there's nothing to worry about, is there?
7
The FBI was wire tapping a long time suspected international crook. It was Trump's stupidity to call him. Imagine what they said to each other. We'll soon know.
4
Manafort talking to his BFFs, Trump, Kushner, Don Jr., Flynn.
Too bad "Justice" didn't go after the financial criminals that brought down the worlds economy with such zeal. Instead an embarrassing moment on national t.v. a slap on the wrist and millions in fines paid for by the shareholders. "Justice",what a farce, the push for deregulation continues and the perps continue to amass more millions.
10
Finally, someone is fighting back.
8
The whole issue of Russian interference in our elections needs to be put to bed quickly. Mueller should be working like a whirlwind, and politicians wanting coddling from the prosecutor via their lawyers looks like the worst kind of elitist entitlement.
6
I can't wait until the movie comes out.....
5
I have already started an ever-evolving list of who will portray who!
3
This IS like a crime sydicate.
9
Go get 'em Bob. We are all counting on you to do the right thing. The future of our country hangs in the balance.
11
Given Manafort's ties to the Ukraine, and recent NYT reporting about Ukraine's supply of missile technology to North Korea, I wonder if there is a Trump / Kim Jong Un thread in all this? After all, our "president" refers to the DPRK dictator as "Rocket Man" -- a term of endearment.
7
The Times' adoption of a source's "shock and awe" phrase as its own in the headline is troubling. It implies insight into Mueller's motive. Perhaps a real and immediate threat of destruction of evidence motivated his approach rather than simply a plan to create fear.
Hopefully the evidence will emerge in time. And hopefully the extraordinary tactics won't be adopted as a matter of course in ordinary investigations to underscore the power of the state.
3
His anthrax investigation shows his lack of empathy and concern for justice. Even after the FBI settled out of court for almost $6,000,000 Mueller was unrepentant of his smearing of an innocent citizen.
4
I am reminded here of the famous quote, "where the law ends, tyranny begins". A very timely and appropriate thought for the matter at hand.
9
What a waste of time and money.
23
Nothing compared to the cost of climate-change denial.
6
Yeah right, Andrew. Why investigate Russian interference in our democratic process, obstruction of justice, subversion of our constitution and possible money laundering at the top levels of our government, viewed in our present culture as simply business as usual?
Or perhaps Mr. Mueller has a pretty good idea of what he's up against. While Clinton's dalliances amounted to sleazeball behavior, Trump's could be borderline treason. The very thought of that being even a remote possibly should be troubling.
10
if you're sweating wasting time and money - look at how much the Secret Service and Coast Guard have spent to Trump can coast in his various hotels - the amount wasted there is staggering.
9
When Trump complained about wiretapping he was ridiculed. It turns out he was right.
Trump says Mueller is engaged in a witch hunt. he may be right about that as well.
14
When you find that trump was indeed wiretapped please post a link here.
Right from the start everyone realized that trump could have been talking with a potential Russian spy who was being monitored and got picked up on that kind of call.
Same if trump was talking to someone from a mafia family about a loan or some pictures trump wanted back and got picked up that way.
My policy is to never talk to mafia members or Russian spy's for that very reason.
A lesson learned the hard way for trump.
11
Well wait a minute. Trump was not wiretapped. Paul Manafort was----and for cause.
Actions do have consequences, you know. They didn't wiretap Sean Spicer or Kelly Conway--jsut the guy with the Russia connection. Trump should have stayed away from him!
10
He said specifically that Obama wire tapped him in Trump tower. That was not true and it has been confirmed by his own AG. Conflating things seems to be the go-to tactic of the Trump camp.
13
Excellent!
10
It will be interesting to see if Trump tries to issue preemptive pardons for his co-conspirators.
12
Of course he will. That is why Flynn and Manafort aren't cooperating. I just hope AG Schneiderman in NY can get them on State charges. I'd rather see these guys festering in a creepy state department of corrections than some nice federal country club where they can yuck it up with Bernie Madoff.
8
It would also be extremely foolish of him, but when has that ever stopped him?
5
Cannot pardon someone who hasn't been found guilty of a crime.
4
Mueller is aware that Trump will not hesitate to use his presidential powers of immunity particularly if anyone in Trump's family is indicted.
Mueller has also been in conversations with the NYS prosecutor Eric Schneiderman. Trump will not be able to grant immunity if NYS brings charges.
There is a sentence in this article that should be a warning to those who think that they can evade, lie and obfuscate. You want people saying to themselves, ‘Man, I had better tell these guys the truth.’”
10
Mueller is "investigating" a "crime" that doesn't exist. "Collusion" was a term used during the McKinley Administration to refer to monopolistic practices by corporations. Seymour Hersh and Julian Assange both indicate that Seth Rich was the source of the "leaks" of the fact that Hillary Clinton, John Podesta, Nancy Wasserman-Schultz and the DNC conspired to cheat Bernie Sanders out of the nomination--not the Russians--and Seth Rich is dead, "coincidentally" shot in the back.
3
Liberals are now pro wiretapping. Conversations involving candidate, President Elect and President Trump now quite possible as per Trump's claim.
7
I'm not, but Obama had nothing to do with it.
5
For the record, liberals have ALWAYS been in favor of wire tapping organized crime leaders.
8
I think most people are just pro-criminal justice and law enforcement. I've never had an issue with legal wire tapping. Has anyone???
6
It is a huge waste of time and tax payer money. Mueller's investigation. He's grasping at any straw and using police state tactics. Only inveterate anti-Trumpers could applaud his "investigation."
If there is evidence of actual collusion -- then produce it. So far the FBI has been on the case for over a year and produced nothing. There may be a reason for that. There is nothing to find.
Mueller's efforts --- well, not Mueller's but the money paid to him and his anti-Trump staffers -- would be better spent looking at our vulnerability to hackers. We've already imposed sanctions on Russia. Throw on some more. That would solve the problem if the only hackers were Russia. But hackers are everywhere and a lot of them would like to disrupt the US. Look at Equifax. Who hacked them?
10
"If there is evidence of actual collusion -- then produce it. So far the FBI has been on the case for over a year and produced nothing. There may be a reason for that. There is nothing to find."
This is Robert Mueller's gig, not the FBI's. Be patient.
1
Prosecutors don't show the public the evidence they've gathered until they are done with their investigations. Demanding that he do this is childish, as is the conclusion that they don't have a case before knowing what the evidence shows. But my prediction is that people will be going to jail.
8
Given that there is strong evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and a hostile foreign government that is even now militarily threatening about allies, I would have said that investigations were in order, wouldn't you? Have you forgotten that Putin is carrying out an illegal war against his neighbor Ukraine, and that reporters who cross the Russian government get killed! A sobering thought. How can you be so partisan about this matter?
7
Paul Manafort has been under FBI wiretap surveillance this past year and has been told he will be indicted.
Rachel Maddow — Last night.
Maddow named the NYTs as her source for the wire tap info which she called a bombshell revelation. I'd have to agree with her.
I take exception to the tone of this article where it portrays the investigation as being over zealous. Team Trump has lied at every bend in the road and the president conspired with his son to concoct lies regarding the now famous meeting that went from "just the three of us" to six or more people attending and all lying.
21
Iconoclast, please cite the section of the U.S. Code that describes "collusion" as a criminal offense. There isn't any, and Robert Mueller is conducting an "investigation" of an "offense" that doesn't exist. If the information that Clinton, Podesta, Wasserman-Schultz, and the DNC conspired to deny Bernie Sanders the Democratic nomination was leaked to Wikileaks by the Russians, then the Russians should be lauded for their efforts at revealing the corruption of the DNC. Instead, MSM and the Democrats are convolutedly stating that the revelation of the DNC's corruption is itself a "crime." Meanwhile, Julian Assange and Seymour Hersh indicate that Seth Rich was the source of the leaks, and Seth Rich is dead, "coincidentally" shot in the back. It is quite clear that MSM, the DNC, and the previous administration have fabricated a scenario for attempting to overturn the election results, while concealing their own "collusion" to throwing the election in Clinton's favor. If their are "lies" demonstrated here, they are all on the part of the DNC.
2
Eventually, Democrats will realize that Russia didn't write those Podesta emails, and that was the extent of the meddling, if at all.
11
Hillary's emails are neither here nor there. Someday, eventually, you might stop talking about them as a deflection from the President's ethical (and potentially legal) violations. Trump employed that tactic to great effect during the campaign: "Look, the US Secretary of State has tens of thousands of emails! Don't look behind this curtain though!"
7
How very obtuse of you to focus on the teeny content of Podesta's boring emails when you are presented with the BUCKETS of evidence implicating Trump and his campaign of colluding with Russia to win an election. Do you even hear yourself?
One can only hope that Cambridge Analytica and the Mercers will also be swept up into this investigation.
16
And, Bigsister, why do you not include the De Vos and Prince families?
2
Just doing his job of "Draining The Swamp".
5
He could have had friends of Manafort dupe him into coming to a hotel room and then held him hostage while he grilled him for hours and hours and hours without a lawyer. Just imagine how much worse that would have been.
1
What is it called when an outgoing president, his administration, and the state 'secret police' COLLUDE with wiretaps in an attempt to dig up dirt on a political opponent, and to benefit that outgoing president's heir apparent?
Trump was correct AGAIN.
Wake up hypocrites, you're sleeping and blinded by your own hatred.
8
Please read the facts. Paul Manafort had been under investigation for several years - well before he was involved in the Trump campaign. That investigation continued under President Trump. And the warrants to wiretap Manafort were issued by the secret national security court set up by Bush. The Obama whitehouse was not involved in those proceedings.
5
No, he wasn't correct.
3
The evidence is clear that the last government did not reveal damaging information that they had on the Trump campaign... You may want to invest in an alarm clock.
4
Mr. Mueller brings his own personal baggage to this investigation from his Solyndra days as FBI Director under Mr. Obama. There is the matter of the evidence that Mr.Mueller's FBI collected in connection with Solyndra's bankruptcy and his failure to complete due diligence in conducting an FBI investigation into the loss of $80 Billion in taxpayer funds. The American People are owed an investigation into the loss of their money and and explanation as to why no investigation was conducted by Mr.Mueller in his capacity as FBI Director.
5
Sorry, Ted, but Mr. Mueller has zero baggage. He was appointed the director of the FBI under Republican George W. Bush, and served a ten year term, which carried him into the beginning of the Obama Administration. He was then given a two year extension with vast approval from the Republican Party. Mr. Mueller is chasing criminals, stop apologizing for them.
7
If Obama or Hillary had undergone this kind of scrutiny they would both be in jail now. But they are both a part of the protected political swamp.
6
Hillary Clinton was the target of Congressional investigations for two years in a GOP witch hunt. They finally had to drop the investigations after finding no evidence of wrong doing. She was then under further investigation by the FBI after maintaining a private email server to conduct government business (much like Donald Trump currently used a private unsecure phone for government business), and was again cleared of wrong doing. Sorry, Trump apologists, but your guy is just flat-out guilty guilty guilty.
6
Don't you think Starr spent long enough trying to do so for Hillary? Was that appropriate? Personally, I would have said that it was appropriate at first. The same is true now.
2
They actually DID undergo this kind of scrutiny. Repeatedly. They just aren't the criminals that Trump is. He thinks he is an exception to the law and most of his life, he has been given many get out of jail free cards due to his money and power. Looks like his lawlessness might finally be catching up to him.
6
They are investigating as if it were an organized crime syndicate, because it is. The president and his cronies conduct business on the very edge of the law and you can be sure Trumps muddled mess of a life is corrupted. Just ask Felix Sater, the Russian criminal. You can find him in his apartment downstairs from the president in the very gaudy trump Tower. Lock them up.
23
While they cry "fake news" and "nothing burger", Mueller is saying there's a very meaty burger here and it's going to taste like he paid a thousand rubles for it. He's not dealing in the "alternate facts". And he's treating the Trump Mafia like every other Mafia gets treated.
21
Here's a few tidbits for you Trump enablers to think about .. the Watergate investigation took 2 years to come to light, and most of the time it was quiet & under the radar. Mueller is not looking for publicity, just doing the job. Trump is very frightened of what he will find. That seems obvious to me... Why did Trump pick Manafort to be his campaign mgr.? A shady Russian lobbiest with ties to Putin, gangsters & the Kremlin. Trump could have hired any number of qualified politicos from here. Why did he bring in Flynn? He was warned by the Obama admin. about all the problems with this man. He was hired in spite of it. His specialty is ties to Russia & Turkey. How come Sessions lied about meeting the Russian Amb. several times? How come the Russian Amb. plane was seen at least 5 times at campaign events? The story of the meeting at Trump Tower with the son has changed 4 times now. 1st they never met. Then it was about adoption. Then Junior was curious, & then he was gung ho. Trump had the famous little get together in the oval office with 2 Russians (spies) and asked everyone else to leave.
Trump won't release his taxes and he won't show who's coming & going at his resort. Why? Well the main reason is when Trump couldn't borrow any more money from legitimate banks anywhere, because they all realized he's a flake & phony, he borrowed from Russian gangsters tied to Putin. They helped get him elected & now he works for them. He's a traitor & he doesn't care.
Orange, NJ
45
undefined, here are a few tidbits for you Clinton enablers to think about: Hillary has been far more than treated fairly, as she should in fact be in prison. The Americans that voted for Trump did not do so because of information given to them by the "Russians," and in spite of the massive concealment of her litany of wrongdoings by mainstream media. The American people knew, without the help of the Russians, and despite media efforts to ignore her crimes , that Hillary Clinton was totally corrupt, that she was running an offshore graft scheme, that she and the DNC had cheated Bernie Sanders out of the Democratic nomination--which he rightfully won, that she had been involved in incredibly criminal enterprises throughout her career, including Rose Law Firm, AFDA, Mena cocaine smuggling operation, Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate, Uranium One, the theft of money earmarked for Haiti and re-routing it to people who are in fact in federal prison today, deleting 33,000 public records in violation of federal law, lying to the families of the Benghazi victims, using a private server as Secretary of State after swearing an oath not to do so, and more and more, ad nauseum. The American voter did not under any circumstances need any help from the Russians to know these facts, and certainly the media made every effort to ignore Hillary's misdeeds.
2
Reginald *** Most of this is been gone over & over again, and the rest like cocaine smuggling and Haiti is absolute nonsense ... and what does it have to do with Trump anyway ...
1
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
As well they should. A look at the top levels of Trump's campaign reveals a possible degree of corruption that makes the Teapot Dome scandal look like a Sunday school picnic. And when one tosses in the Russian additive, yikes!
We are foolish to think that completion of Mr. Mueller's investigation will cleanse the body politic of corrupting influences; it won't. However, the current effort at least will enable us to reveal how and why the level of stench emanating out of the Trump administration came to be, giving us a better chance to avoid repeating these tragic misjudgments in the future.
20
Is it just coincidence that Jared Kushner reminds me of Don Corleone's son, Michael, who was polished and attended an unnamed Ivy university? Probably.
3
And CNN is reporting that the Obama administration wiretapped Manafort and that these wiretaps included conversations with Trump before and after the election. If this is true, Trump was right about Obama wiretapping. And if it's true, it does not look good for the Obama administration. Were they trying to gather information to swing the election to Hillary? Unbelievable.
27
Wrong. The Obama Administration did not wiretap trump or manafort. I believe it was the CIA on overhears of foreigners heard Manafort conversations. Manafort was wiretapped by a federal agency. The agency does not take its order from the president. That is like saying the governor of a state can order local police to wiretap people. Absurd. The law enforcement agency needs a court order allowing the tap and apparently with the FISA tap, it is a very stringent bar to cross over with the court that will grant the wiretap.
8
Catching Trump as the person on the other end of a conversation from a wiretap of Manafort during an investigation into the latter's possible financial lawbreaking in Ukraine most decidedly does NOT constitute wiretapping Trump Tower.
8
Or were they investigating criminal activity? I'll take the latter. Also, Trump claimed that Obama wiretapped Trump Tower.
You can speculate all you want, but I'll stick with the facts.
6
If Mueller's raid of Manafort's home and promise of indictment were meant as a message to anyone in Washington, it should be a clear message to Donald Trump Sr. that Mueller is going after Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner next.
13
Interesting that DJT Jr. just gave up Secret Service protection, "seeking privacy." LOL. Too little too late, Jr.
Maybe he can protect himself with his elephant-killing guns. But not in prison....
5
I never expected to feel a scintilla of nostalgia for the Nixon administration. But at least he and his henchmen didn't try to sell our country to Russia.
23
Another distinction: Nixon knew he wasn't an Emperor but rather just President.
4
It's Mueller time! The champagne of bottled tears of joy for the Republic.
14
I'm still laughing at Trump will be elected in a landslide, when he has a 35% approval rating
5
The most amazing and refreshing thing so far is there have been no leaks from Mueller's team. They are, in fact, a dedicated group of professionals with a goal in mind: the truth.
19
Who do you think gave info for this story? The Tooth Fairy? An alternative reading would be that they don't have goods on anyone yet.
Poor little rich man who is under investigation because he likely broke the law has his house searched. They pick the lock-- when they could've broken down the door. Cry cry cry
9
If Manaford or anyone else associated with the Trump campaign encouraged or otherwise "assisted" the Russians in any way to interdict and interfere with the American elections..this is a Federal indictable offense. The word "conspiracy" comes to light if one had knowledge of the ongoing felony and would also be subject to an indictment. This may include Trump, Jr., Flynn and Kushner.
So, you say...well, Trump will just pardon them. No so, because these offenses are also jurisdictional in the States..and they can bring action since the false Russian Facebook fraud/conspiracy venue was within all States.
In fact, States could bring action against Trump. This means the attorney general in California or New York could bring action against Trump. This is perhaps the most interesting "reality" show since Watergate.
8
Finally, an egalitarian investigator / prosecutor who treats wealthy, white collar suspects comparably to penny ante street arrestees... except, the rich still get the benefit of a warrant, probable cause, and lack of brutality.
I've long argued that criminal suspects should be prosecuted and sentenced proportionately to the harm they cause. Therefore, white collar criminals who steal $ billions or worse -- our democracy -- should face penalties thousands of times greater than house burglars.
Next step towards egality: stop and frisk for multinational execs.
6
Thank you, for all you are doing to save our country from those without any moral integrity.It still appalls me that there are so many in this
Administration.Thank you again.
8
"Shock and awe" is it?
Obviously you guys don't watch Cops. This is run of the mill stuff.
The only unusal thing going on here is that its the rich and well-connected now looking over their shoulders.
9
Mueller and his team are exactly what is needed to counterbalance the disrespect Trump shows for our judiciary and legal system.
10
All three parts of the government are compromised. Finally some sanity in D.C.
3
Wow! Trump thought he was doing what was best for himself when he fired Comey because of the "Russia investigation". But Trump never considered the consequences of his act. How Sad! When Trump fired Comey it was so obvious that he was incapable of thinking strategically. He may have lucked out in the world of 2016 politics. But he will not luck out in his future dealings and America will be diminished by having this clueless nearsighted real estate developer as our so-called "Dealmaker". Trump doesn't understand the first thing about deal making in the real world. He exchanged Comey for Mueller. What will he do out there when dealing with real world leaders?????We elected him. Now we must replace him with a more intelligent clear-sighted president.
6
Normally, I don't like these tough tactics.
But Trump and his people have been blatantly lying and violating laws and ethical norms since Day One. Clearly they think they're untouchable because they're rich and powerful.
Does anyone seriously believe that the people who would not even report that they met with Russians—not a crime, after all—would simply tell the truth if given the chance?
Our experience with them thus far says, "Nope."
9
Two high powered lawyers from the White House in an outdoor café discussing documents locked in a safe in the Oval Office and their fears of those in Trump's orbit wearing a wire. Sounds like a meeting of Mafia Godfathers at night under the Brooklyn bridge. Trump's lawyers having to hire lawyers. Almost all of Trump's campaign people in touch with Russians during and after the campaign and then found to have lied about those interactions. Jeff Sessions forgetting to mention several meetings with Russians during Senate confirmation hearings. Jared Kushner forgetting his meetings with Russians on his application for a Security Clearance. Don Jr. lying about the purpose of the meeting in June with Russians wherein Manafort and Jared were present. Trump firing Comey while making unfounded accusations about the former administration wiretapping Trump Tower. Obstruction by Republicans who seem to be okay with the country's democratic institutions having been attacked by a hostile entity. Trump and his minions claiming the entire matter is fake news and half of the nation walking around like it's business as usual having no understanding of the gravity of the situation.
I'd suggest this couldn't get any worse, but it can and it will. I'm not certain how long it will take to recapture democratic integrity when the Republican Party continues to look the other way in spite of events that have NEVER taken place in this country before.
Thank you Trump voters. Good job.
12
more than ever, we need to update our campaign finance and national election laws, as this sorry mess so clearly demonstrates.
basically selling the country to foreign gangsters while raping and pillaging everything they can reach... how is this not the very definition of treason?
2
One more point you left out: Dismantling of the Department of State. It is clear that Tillerson is set on tearing it apart, so that diplomacy is left out, and appointees with private agendas are in charge of determining foreign policy favorable to private interests and not the common good.
1
Manafort was hooked into Ukraine, arguably the most corrupt nation in Europe. Mueller is likely on to something here. If Lewis Libby can be guiltified, then this guy likely is going up the river.
4
Many of the commenters indicate that Mueller's approach is (appropriately or inappropriately) aggressive. I would argue that in pursuing hard facts on which to base any accusations or legal actions against the Trump team, it can be considered just the opposite. The approach that Trump and his team have used in the run-up to the election (and thus far in this administration), is to publicly indict anybody who disagrees with them, with essentially NO factual basis. The endless string of early-morning tweets from Trumps bathroom, are most often based on erroneous material he heard overnight on Fox. Remember "Obama bugged Trump Tower"?
I see no reason for anybody to be incensed with an investigation that is being run according to standard procedure, where actual facts are sought out, and each step of the investigation (and any subsequent charges) are based on the facts that are revealed. There are not leaks or insinuation coming from the Mueller team. There is no incrimination of anybody on the Trump team through gossip or innuendo. Mueller has called nobody in the Whitehouse "sad", or "a loser". Mueller is proceeding with prudence and dignity; a level of fairness and respect that we would never expect from Trump or many of his advisers.
13
This 'dramatic' event in July was covered extensively and breathlessly.
Now we are nearing the end of September and still no beef.
2
The sooner he lays out the case for impeaching trump and pence the better. And if he can show that Russians actually hacked the vote, better still.
Some of us remember Watergate. The crimes here make Watergate look like a Sunday School picnic and make Nixon look like and honest and upstanding guy.
11
Finally! Someone who will challenge Trump and his cronies without fear! Up to now Mr. Trump had little regard for the rule of law, the Constitution, the separation of powers as well as the limitation of his own executive powers. He better be a fast learner. America is not about tyrants and bullies. We have a Democratic Republic. No foreign power should have been involved at any level in the presidential election. Mr. Trump felt that his wealth exempted him, his family, and his associates from scrutiny and accountability.
I truly hope that Mr. Mueller continues his investigation and determines who was involved and what they did. Mr. Putin and his cronies should not have had any influence on an American election. If that is found to be the case then we must call for new elections and for Mr. Trump, Mr. Pence and all the appointees of Trump to step down immediately. Mr. Ryan and other Republicans in line for the presidency should also step aside due to their support of Mr. Trump.
The American election process has been corrupted. Let's get it fixed. And let's punish those who participated in the corruption. That includes Mr. Trump and his family members.
9
Trump has been the head of a mafia of one type or another his whole life. His aides, appointments and most of the people he surrounds himself with fit in well.
Hope Mueller brings them all down for the sake of our nation, and its survival.
8
US has been manipulating elections in other countries for decades, how does it feel to be a puppet for a change?
2
am i wrong or didn't trump get panned and ridiculed about saying the obama administration had wire tapped him during the election? jake tapper mocked him for even suggesting such a thing. if it happened to manafort it could happen to anyone. you me and even someone running for president. trump was right again.
3
One theme seems to permeate these comments - Guilty until proven innocent.
2
As long as none of those commenting are not chosen as jurors in any potential future trial of the people who may be involved in a criminal case they have every right to express their opinion. First amendment rights are as important as those in the second amendment.
3
Special prosecutors can be a dangerous thing. Too many times we have seen diligent prosecutors only outcome be some sort of charges for not being completely up front with the investigators, or misleading them. Intentionally or inadvertently.
They are rarely apolitical, and often expensive fishing expeditions. That goes for both sides of the aisle.
This particular expedition, thus far, has been one nothing burger after another. If I were to place a bet, I would lay it on the side of minor charges involving some legal misstep made during the investigation.
That said, should I be wrong, guys like Manafort should be buried....deep.
1
One can be as innocent as the driven snow of committing any intentional crime and a Special Prosecutor can, by investigation alone, ruin you financially and professionally. We have, in some ways, become Stalinist in our legal system where Felix Dzerzhinsky famously said "Show me the man and I'll show you the crime"! We live in a topsy turvy world "through the looking glass" where a person ensnared in a political investigation will always be able to be found guilty of some crime. The multiplicity and incomprehensible complexity of our legal system now, effectively, gives a "Special" Prosecutor the power of prosecutor, judge and jury. Presumption of innocence and due process have become merely nice sounding phrases on no consequence.
Our political betters have "shown us the men" and the Star Chamber we have all allowed to be constructed will now do it's work.
2
Really. this must have been the perfect crime. "I will not believe anything unless someone can show me actual vote tampering." How about the people who changed their vote because of intentional untrue mis-information? How about the people who didn't vote because they didn't like either candidate as a result of mis-information? Shoot the victim, no witness, so no crime I guess?
The truth is that we will now never know. We will always have our domestic political lies. We can deal with those lies. What we do not need are other countries adding to or reinforcing the lies we already have. This is our sovereignty not theirs.
2
Gangster is how I've come to view Trump so I am glad the Prosecutor has people on his team experienced with how to get info on and charge organized crime syndicates. If the cruel crazy guy again tries to fire the official seeking the truth, even those head in their sand Republican apologists will have to go with Impeachment or 25th Amendment processes.
Then, unless Pence is implicated, we'll have a functioning President, but with a hard right, theocratic ideology.
2
Our founding fathers could never have foreseen the possibility of both House and Senate colluding to foil a criminal investigation of the Executive.
It is up to the Special Prosecutor to defend our Constitution.
7
And although this is somewhat off the subject, it is not lost on me that Donald, Jr. no longer wants Secret Service protection. Hmmmm....if you have nothing to hide in your business or personal life then Secret Service protection should not be a problem. I am unaware of anyone in prior Administrations who refused Secret Service protection.
8
Good health and long life to Mr. Mueller!
7
For those gloating over this, believing our government is working to enforce laws without prejudice, you really need to see this as one more example of how our government has been usurped for the personal vendettas of those in power. Manafort stepped on the wrong person's toes. That's it. For those thinking the law is working, I suggest you try to get crimes against you investigated. Laws are to punish little people, and on occasion used to punish powerful people that upset someone higher-up on the food-chain.
2
Respect for our democracy, the Constitution and the rule of law are clearly lacking in the Trump administration. Mueller and his team are totally justified in taking the toughest tactics possible to bring Trump and his thugs to justice. That is what will make America great again!
2
Better to leave no stone unturned then to have one come back and hit you in the head later.
Mueller will either prove that there was something going on with Russia or not and that is the job he was tasked with.
It's a shame that the President and the Congress don't take their work as solemn as he does.
3
Trump and all of his Administration are behaving like a criminal enterprise, and must be investigated as such.
Comey, we learn, was complicit in undermining Clinton and must be held accountable. Comey is not stupid? Was the FBI investigating Manafort before, during the campaign? How can Comey escape his responsibility for failing to protect our election from criminal interference by omitting this investigation while raising flags against Clinton? Was Comey a dupe of the pro Trump conspirators? What would the election outcome have been if Comey made public the Manafort investigation? Why were the raids of Manafort's home and office not carried out under Comey before the election?
Does Manafort or the failure of the FBI to protect the election de-legitimize Trump's Presidency? Did Comey's Clinton revelations change votes? The answer we hear from pundits and politicians is: "we will never know" is absurd. Did Russia's extensive propaganda war and cyber attacks change votes? Again we hear: "We will never know". Is the United States President an unqualified TV personality who is measurably more dangerous than North Korea illegitimate? Is the answer: "We will never know"? We may know conclusively very soon unless the anti-democratic forces within the GOP and WH concoct a crisis that legitimizes the "leader".
3
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
I wouldn't be surprised in the least if that's ultimately what Trump's business empire turns out to be.
3
Mr Mueller is clearly ( and thankfully) a dog which simply won't give up its bone...
3
So Trump Tower was wiretapped prior to and after the election by the FBI and Comey said he knew of no surveillance of Trump Tower. What if that info was given to Hillary's campaign? That would be a felony.,
2
The aggressive tactics of Trump and those behind him deserve nothing less than an honest and aggressive form of justice.
Let the truth come out and the wrongdoers be punished, or as is more likely, pardoned by the Crook-in-Chief.
2
Shock and awe? Really? Apparently the level of analysis here is now down to the level of comic-book writing.
Why repeat a discredited phrase from a discredited SECDEF? What's wrong with "sound law-enforcement techniques?" I know; it doesn't sound like comic-book writing aimed at children.
Grow up, NYT; we've a long ways to go here. An investigation is not a conviction, and proof of wrongdoing is what Mueller and his team are looking for. Aren't we all.
3
Treason is treason, regardless of the position one might hold in the government.
Collusion with the Russians to influence our electoral process, money laundering, obstructionists behavior and lying with every breath does not say 'innocent' to me. So, good luck, Mr. Mueller, this citizen is depending on you and your team to ferret out the truth.....aye or nay....guilty or not guilty.....I believe the very future of this country will depend on those answers.
5
"This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.” Which it is.
5
I am cynical when it comes to the Mueller probe and wrongdoing by Manafort, Flynn, Kushner, Trump and the whole cabal. With the power to pardon resting at the tip of Donald Trump' s fingers, the prospect that justice will be served is nil. With the backing of a republican senate, house and Supreme Court, the idea that someone will be held accountable is just not credible. Sure we may find out that wrongdoing occurred, and that would be nice to know. But with enough money to pay lawyers for years, and with the political backing that these people have, they are bound to get away with just about anything (up to and including shooting someone in the middle of 5th avenue in New York). Being held accountable for committing a crime in this country seems to be reserved for the little people, the poor and the powerless, the naive citizen. Money, money, money.......
5
Bottom line. The obama cabal ordered political spying on Trump and team and came up with nothing, have been caught and are now trying to justify it. They now need to see hard time.
3
You got it, Lee, it really is as simple as that.
Obama was/is the most vile criminal ever to hold public office.
Fact.
What's the news here? Sounds like the same old, same old. I appreciate the Times wanting to keep the story alive, but when one of your commenters is the guy who worked on the misguided Clinton impeachment, let's face it: you're reaching. So the news hook is the "shock and awe" tactics? We've already been told about the FBI raiding Manafort's home -- many times in these pages. Big deal. So what did they find? That's the news. You surmise the special prosecutor is setting a tone, big deal. You're hoping for another Watergate, another book, another Pulitzer, but so far you've come up with... nothing.
2
If they used similar tactics against Hillary and the Clinton Foundation, she would be sitting in jail now rather than touring around blaming everyone under the sun for her loss.
1
Follow the money and lock them all up! Only Mueller can save this country from itself.
4
Let's see- starting at the bottom, Ivanka & Jared have disappeared, followed by Jr. & his whiny brother Eric, Melania chooses to live quietly & keep Barron out of the spotlight, Kellyanne has crawled under the divan she was relaxing on, Sarah has been unusually quiet in defending her boss, and the boss himself has finally been corralled (for the time being) by General Kelly. It's a good news day here.
5
"This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...
4
This isn't some plodding white collar criminal investigation: it's an investigation into how extensive Russian involvement in our electoral process was and who else might have been involved. One would think that an Administration willing to launch a taxpayer-funded phony inquiry into voter fraud would be interested in getting to the bottom of something far more sinister, but that's apparently not the case. Unlike the voter fraud inquiry, the Mueller investigation is not a witch hunt.
362
Fine. If the crime is allowing the Russians to influence our government unduly, then Mr Mueller clearly needs to revisit Hillary Rodham Clinton and William Jefferson Clinton's acceptance of millions of dollars from Russian firms such as Rosatom and investors who stood to profit immensely when the Canadian mining firm Uranium One (which controls over 20% of proven US uranium reserves). Hillary Clinton had the ability and the duty to intervene with Canadian authorities to prevent the sale, and did not. Now, Russia is rebuilding its nuclear arsenal (uranium supplies up to eighty per cent of the energy budget of a thermonuclear weapon by fast fission after the fusion reaction occurs). Those weapons are pointed at us.
If the Obama Justice Department connived to not prosecute this evident corruption on the part of the then-US Secretary of State favoring Russia, their nuclear energy monopoly, and their Strategic Rocket Forces, that's actionable, too. Just not what the un-elected aristocracy of the nation wants.
JHC . . . I basically agree with you, with one small nuance . . . This is not "an investigation into how extensive Russian involvement in our electoral process . ." it is an investigation regarding dishonest and corrupt AMERICANS who allied themselves with willing Russians to undermine the electoral process. It is they and not the Russians who will be prosecuted.
Mr. Mueller and his team need to be aggressive. He is going up against the Bully President. The President himself holds no fear of the law. The law has always been manipulated by Trump's lawyers and money to shield the beast from any accountability. And add in the GOP individuals who seem more than willing to do Trump's bidding and disrupt any proceedings they possibly can and you have a Trump cabal doing their best to evade justice.
If Trump was so darned innocent, why all the shenanigans? We the people need to know if Team Trump helped the Russian hacking of the election. We know Trump lies so why would we or Mueller believe anything he says regarding the investigations? Mueller needs to take all the time he needs to build whatever cases he may have without a doubt. Our country needs solid answers not innuendo, we are too polarized.
272
Before Trump and Co can be prosecuted for any imaginary crimes they're trying to put on him, the Clinton cartel and cronies needs to be prosecuted first. That way we have this thing called equal justice. A concept the democrats don't reall understand. Starting with hillary at the top of the list.
The U.S. government routinely influences the elections in many other third world nations and banana republics. When we do it — and it often includes government hacking — you think it is funny and cool. But when your candidate loses, all of a sudden it is some huge criminal matter and affront to decency that requires aggressive justice. LOL.
I hope Mr. Mueller sends you a "thank you" note for telling him how to do his job.
Will something come out of these? Obviously, it is quite a bit premature to hazard a guess, but Mueller's muted belligerence has begun to unfold some havoc, which might or might not have happened at the connivance of Trump. Meanwhile a mendacious Manafort's name seems to be meandering thru the press circles and one feels he does not savor it.
Besides all these, Ty Cobb and Don McGahn are apparently contending for top honors to grab the media attention in their own mundane manners, and their notoriety is targeted by the news anchors at various points in their broadcasts. As the plot thickens, Trump's skin will get thinner, and as a consequence, Trump Jr. will start flapping his wings like a chicken. The Jr. will unleash another volley of pointless drivel abut his feigned innocence.
And yet, Trump will continue to call it a ''game of chicken'', leading nobody nowhere useful. Once all the damning evidence is collected in an exhaustive way, Trump, ipso facto, will face the music and start becoming answerable to his former retinues' reckless behaviors.
1
Best hope not 10% of the effort to find a crime is not task for Hillary. This investigation has absolutely nothing to do with the election.
Will there be pictures of Mr Manafort caavorting in Viktor Yanukovych's Mezhyhirya palace? The taint of opulence layered over corruption and racketeering makes this a FCPA $ RICO sandwich with Manafort i between.
5
I am relieved that Mr. Mueller and his team are being aggressive in their investigations.
BTW- I assume the authors intended to write "pursuing" rather than "pursing" in paragraph eighteen. Cute mistake, though!
8
I forgive every NYTimes (and Washington Post) investigative journalist ANY spelling or grammar mistake. Without the hard and persistent work they have done, I don't know where we would be but it wouldn't be a good place. They really ARE the Fourth Estate.
"secret offshore bank accounts" has nothing to do with Russia. Methods used by Mueller reminds me Stalinist KGB. Pick the man and then try to find something to indict him for.
4
Follow the money... what is the underlying impetus for Putin and Trump...$$$. Would you not like to know how Russia is laundering their money with the help of Manafort, Kushner, et.al?
2
Mueller and his posse are running a race against time before Trump tries to fire him as he closes in on indictments ... God bless America and God bless "Bobby 3 Sticks"
9
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
If the shoe fits . . .
15
yep, End justifies the means, no?
"and the heads of two consulting firms — Mercury Public Affairs and the Podesta Group — who worked with Mr. Manafort on behalf of Viktor F. Yanukovych, the pro-Russia former president of Ukraine."
That's too rich....the Podesta Group had Manafort as a client while he was being the loyal lackey Russian stooge Yanukovych.
Perhaps John Podesta really was abducted by aliens and they short circuited sections of his brain...He already owes us for mismanaging the Clinton campaign and helping to elect Trump.
3
“You want people saying to themselves, ‘Man, I had better tell these guys the truth.’”
how "aggressive," "intimidat[ing]," "peremptory, "relentless" and "uncompromising" it is for a special prosecutor -- appointed because a disgraced Attorney General could not legally investigate his own bosses in the Kremlin and White House -- to adopt tactics which just might encourage the accomplices of the malefactors to tell the truth.
1
SC Robert Mueller has methodically been pruning the Trump Tree of Corruption and it looks like Foreign Agent Manafort is to be the first of the low-hanging fruit. Up we go, with many more ripe plucking coming, until we finally reach into that despicably arrogant Trump family circle: Donny Jr., Jared, Ivanka, till finally he reaches for Big Daddy Warbucks himself. This is going to be a painfully long slow slog, but considering Trump's entire career of corruption, it couldn't happen to a more worthy slug.
DD
Manhattan
18
Imagine… the absolute madness of it all, when federal agents aren’t trying to protect the antics of the former director of the F.B.I. or Hillary Clinton and her pals. They seem to be acting out the seamy angst, personal whims and liberal vendetta of Robert S. Mueller, III.
Imagine… if you didn’t know any better, you might even think the early morning raids and obtuse tactics used by Herr. Mueller were remnants of Hakenkreuz. Ooh-well; that can’t be possible can it! I mean think about it for a moment or two; as opposed to Hillary’s pay for play scams, there is nothing in Paul’s closet aside rumors and innuendo.
Imagine… Herr. Muellers’ decision to order the early morning sleuthing and the adroit fingering of a lock by an esteemed federal lock-picker, as opposed to a burglar! Was based on democratic angst and anger over the loss of the Presidential race, rumors and innuendo. Has anyone given any thought to term limits!
5
Or, Herr Wolfgang, imagine Occam's Razor. There, I fixed it for you.
1
I am sure Obama's wire taps helps this along.
1
They're not Obama's wiretaps and by all accounts except the most extreme partisans they were legal. Are you trying to imply that the wiretaps were worse than colluding with a hostile foreign power to influence our election?
2
Finally, the special counsel, Robert Mueller is using aggressive tactics against our 45th President and his pack of enablers re the `Russian Connection`. Though the Republicans have tried to stomp out the smoky fire of their obstruction of justice, the embers will burst into flame to burn Washington, as Mrs. O`Leary`s cow burnt down Chicago in the Year Dot.
6
Imagine if a so-called "Special Posecutor" put as much effort "Investigating" the Clintons and all the people around them, alive and dead?
7
One did. He found Monica Lewinsky and a big pile of nothing else.
4
They did, remember? And found nothing. Just as the eight Republican Congress-controlled Benghazi investigations found nothing.
7
You do not have enough fingers to count how many times Hillary Clinton has been investigated and how many millions without one single charge. Come back to reality. There is no there there, it is all in Trump's mattress.
1
Methinks trump's confederacy of dunces is more of a disorganized crime syndicate (see: loud mouthed lawyers at restaurants) - but a crime syndicate nonetheless. The gang that couldn't shoot straight...
go get them Mr. Mueller.
12
"...prosecutors told Mr. Manafort they planned to indict him, said two people close to the investigation"
NYT:Nice story. But you left out the Who What Where When How. Or is this one of those Fox News stories that begins with "some people are saying ..."?
1
Go, Mueller, GO !!!! We the People are 100% behind you!
14
Find the truth, Mueller!
8
It's funny, the FBI picked his lock, raided his home, took his stuff etc. When the FBI went to Mrs' Clinton's house they rang the doorbell and took nothing. They didn't search her house and gave her plenty of time to wipe her servers and smash her SIM cards.
6
I was going to vote for Clinton but then I had a White Russian and remembered that Ivanka had a Russian sounding name and so I went Trump. Election stolen !
1
Mueller is going after an organized crime syndicate.
9
Manafort is a criminal ... has been for decades. His work with dictators and scoundrels no matter who it hurt got him millions of dollars but he lost his soul. Pathetic. So thankful we have a person like mueller to do the investigation.
9
He comes from Connecticut, which New Yorkers think of as Greenwich, but which has a long history of pols and crooks in cahoots: mayors., police chiefs, governors -- a world of grifters.
1
"It’s important early on to strike terror in the hearts of people in Washington, or else you will be rolled,” said Solomon L. Wisenberg."
That's very sweet, Mr. Wisenberg.
But will that technique with with sociopaths? I have my doubts.
1
"..Cash flowed to Clinton Foundation as Russians gained U.S. uranium assets ..".
http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundati...
4
I never get this line of deflection. Do you think its LESS horrific that our CURRENT government is in cahoots with the Russians because of a presumed HRC connect?
How do you continue to see HER as worse than our CURRENT president? How does that work? You do know, she's NOT the president right? Do you even read these articles or kneejerk react "But Hillary!" "But Obama"? Can you even respond to these stories without referring to people not even in office? I almost guarantee: you can't. You can't discuss this story without mention of people not even in office.
2
Wait a minute. The Podesta Group worked with Manafort's lobbying companies on behalf of "pro-Russian" Ukraine president? Would that be the same "Podesta Group" headed by Hilary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta's brother? The same brother who was paid hundreds of thousands to lobby for a Putin-connected Russian bank in 2016? Wow! This Russia collusion thing is super serious now. Both parties colluded with the Russians to influence the 2016 election!!
This is a complete joke. Of course the Russians try to "influence" elections around the world - just like we do. The fact that this time they blundered into the Clinton cesspool is the only notable aspect of this "story." Of course any presidential candidate would listen to and recieve damaging information about their opponent - from anyone.
This investigation willl end up wasting tens of millions and huge amounts of time to find only technical violations of election/lobbying law - of which both sides are guilty every day. P.S. How about the NYT showing a little integrity and doing a piece on Podesta's brother and his "collusion" with the Russians during the 2016 election cycle?
8
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
Or a spy or a traitor.
5
Sorry -- this should never have seen print. Besides poor reporting -- what's the point?
3
Thank you Mr Muellar.
3
Why do I get the feeling half the country and 85% of the NYT readership (dems) want all this to be true? If Mueller comes up with goose-eggs, he will have damaged the agency, and help contribute to a 2nd Trump term. That would be ironic to say the least
2
What agency? He's a Trump DOJ appointee. He will have damaged Jeff Sessions?
2
We need other investigations in parallel into money laundering by casinos. Sheldon Adelson's support of Trump and Trump's past mob ties should have been under investigation long ago. For that matter, it seems the whole GOP is a criminal organization bent on destroying the Constitution, Rule of Law and its citizenry. Lobbying firms with no voting standing seem to be running the country via the GOP and running the country into the ditch. Start with Trump's tax returns, now.
6
If he hadn't been so partial in his search for a place to launch his zealous anti-Trump witch hunt perhaps this would have revealed something. Rhetoric will be held up rather than the truth.
3
Hopefully Trump and his legion of well paid lawyers have met their match. Decades of Trump deals (i.e., lying, cheating, bribing, bullying) wherein he used his ultimate ace in the hole, bankruptcy, won't prove successful against Mueller's tenacity. But Trump, like a caged animal, will hold more rallies to appeal to his twisted base and attempt to distract, deflect and abdicate his malfeasance. Ultimately he will probably attempt to fire Mueller and, unable to pull this off, he will then pardon the complicit slime that reside in the swamp of the Trump domain.
9
The support for the Mueller inquiry is entirely disingenuous. If Mueller exonerates Trump, 99% of the commentators would say Mueller was crooked.
8
New Yorkers have know trump was a crook for decades. Our indifferent and (more importantly) ignorant middle America didn't see what we all saw over the past 30 years. I sure saw it. How long can people go on denying mr. trump's complicity in these events?
You know it would be highly, highly improbable for all highly criminal, truly treasonous acts to occur without his consent. I don't care whether it is carved in stone, or a wink and a nod. He was a crook, is a crook, and always will be a crook: A true scheister in every sense of the word.
I came of age during the era of JFK, RFK, MLK, etc. I became an adult in 1972. This was during VietNam, Nixon and Watergate. As much as it pains me to write it, Nixon would be a huge step up from trump: a small child playing in the world's largest sandbox. jeez.
11
Meuller is going to need to find ways to bring charges at the state levelagainst all of the conspirators, so that Trump can't pardon them.
5
This is how our country ends. Hoping that the rule of law actually works, when we know the law only applies to the poor and unconnected. I would like nothing less than that whole clan be led off in chains but it ain't gonna happen. Tax cuts for the rich are more important than the rule of law.
2
Clearly a cover up of immense proportions is being perpetrated by trump himself and his henchmen. It's obvious that Putin won trump the election and expects pay back. It's also obvious that trump isn't forthcoming on what he knows and when he knew it. Trump's next move will be to dissolve the Obama imposed sanctions and disembowel the FBI itself, the same way the EPA is being gutted, removing all remnants of its investigation into his Russian connections. Expect funding cuts, resignations and dismissals. Doubtless this cleansing is already afoot with the deliberate sabotaging of all related records throughout the entire administration. Of course this shouldn't come as a surprise ... it's right out of senior advisor Bannon's so-called de-institutionalization playbook. And as for the 2118 elections, the GOP is undoubtedly using its newly bestowed wide powers to shove their voter suppression and gerrymandering scheming into high gear to keep it that way in the 2018 mid terms and beyond. Deliberately demagoguing the supreme court will also entrench this
skulduggery for generations.
6
Friendly reminder: If anyone in the U.S. Congress has received -- in private, not by way of the investigations in Congress -- any factual information as to criminal acts by Manafort, Flynn, Trump Jr., or others, they make themselves complicit by failing to inform the FBI.
3
'You want people saying to themselves, 'Man I had better tell these guys the truth.'" This would be a totally new experience for everyone connected with the Trump administration.
3
For Commenters: Does a search warrant allow you to pick a lock to gain entry into Manafort's house? Before searching a home does the search warrant have to be presented to the owner/residents first in person?
2
Yes and no.
Probably didn't answer the door.
1
Nope, not if you have the warrant for "forced entry" and a judge has to sign off on it.
3
"Clearly they didn't trust him."
"Him" was Trumps first campaign manager.
1
Playing out like a Grisham novel. Clearly Mueller needs to get to 'them' first, before any chance of coordinating massive cover-ups, deflections, deceptions, and (false) alibis.
3
While I despise Trump and his presidency, I find the tone and content of this article hardly newsworthy. The implicit message here is "Mueller will save us from Trump". If the NYT wants to side with law enforcement before the end of an investigation, it should do so in an editorial, not through "news".
5
How much money are we wasting on this? At least it gives some incompetents a paycheck for a while.
4
For Paul Manafort:
When Trump pardons you, the State charges will stick.
A few years in a NY State Prison should change your outlook.
"So long, it's been good to knowya"
6
Its Mueller Time!!
I love it! The entire administration is lawyered up! Of course Jared, but did Ivanka hire one too?!
Hopefully, Manafort can be flipped to did deeper into Trump's Kleptocracy.
Personally, I see Donald mobbed-up in Russia.
Go Robert!
5
Trump was correct then when he said that the White House tapped his campaign before and after the election.
4
Not the White House--the FBI/CIA.
2
.......and still no evidence that the Trump campaign "colluded" with Putin to influence the election.
5
A man who helped install a Kremlin puppet in the Ukraine was running Trump's election campaign. What more is there to say.
5
Mueller's report shoul be out soon ... before Halloween, I'm guessing. It wil be pure dynamite. But DJT will issue presidential pardons to all the perps. And then it will be a free for all in Congress, the White House, and the federal courts -- which DJT is racing to pack with "conservative " judges who will rule in the president 's favor. All that, plus AG Jeff "The Worm" Sessions repeatedly stepping before microphones and cameras to deliver another installment of his George Wallace routines.
Pass the wine.
2
Mueller has to work fast before his collusion with Comey and Secret Police style tactics explode in his face and doom his team of ideologues. There is not and never was any evidence of collusion and everybody knows it. There isn't even a CRIME that is being investigated! Mueller is playing a cynical political game dancing to the swamp's tune. He and his fanatical lackies should be drained with the rest of the snakes. We need the money wasted on them for the wall.
3
THE GOPPERS Are used to prosecuting matters by shooting fish in a barrel. They routinely attacked Obama's Executive Orders openly, flagrantly and exhibitionalistically. Given their lack of competence in governance and legislation it's hardly surprising that they took aim at easy targets. I have no patience for the crocodile tears of those accused of wrongdoing by Mueller's team. What reason is there to compromise? Has Trump shown any deference, respect or (perish the thought) good will toward Mueller's operation? I believe that Mueller is doing what he believes best to preserve the survival of our democracy, lest it be violated and killed off by the Trumpenstein Monsters and his deadly team of Trumplets.
2
Sounds like a witch hunt, starting with Comey leaking classified information to the press with the intention and hope of triggering a Special Prosecutor-----who by the way is one of his best buddies.
4
OKAY, so WHAT classified information did Comey leak?
1
Private conversations with the President of the United States! Leaking to the press? And with the admitted reason hat he hoped it would trigger a special Prosecutor. His notes of the conversations were not recordings--for all we know he put his spin on it. Even Hillary didn't trust Comey--so why would anybody else? I think he was very upset he got fired and it was done as payback and revenge.
It looks like Mr. Putin did not understand, and hence underestimated, our separation of powers. Yay democracy!!
3
Ronald Reagan must be spinning in his grave on the thought of American colluding with Putin's Russia in electing Trump and undermining our democracy.
4
I know. Remember the days when arch-conservatives here were all against "Commies" -- now they're in bed with them. Go figure.
4
But who is going to play Mueller in the movie?
de Niro?
2
Paul Giamatti.
1
taller
1
How about Robert Duvall ...
1
If Manafort gets indicted Flynn, Kushner and the bully with bad orange hair
can't be far behind. They all did a great disservice to the country by serving
themselves first. These "public servants" are all venal, corrupt and totally mercenary. So much for "making America great again". So much for "draining the swamp". They only cared about themselves. I hope they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
That would be the best thing for America and the rest of the world.
1
Given this ridiculous behavior, is there any doubt that Mueller will need some scalps? Contrast this with the Hillary email so called investigation.
1
Wow! " they picked lock, bursting into the home in the wee hours of the morning…" Better than a TV drama. Leaks, leaks, leaks. Mueller is losing respect for many people every day for the aggressive tactics he and his Hillary donor prosecuters are using to get anything on Donald trump. Meanwhile where is the story and out rage on Susan Rice Who has lied to just about everybody on her role in Benghazi, and her FISA requests? And what about Samantha powers? Looks to me like Mueller, his prosecutors, are as credible as James Comey, which is not saying much. Feel sorry for the honest FBI, and CIA employees who are being dragged into the mud by their "former" bosses including our ex-president.
3
All the whinging wingers here, howling about the ostensibly inordinate time and cost of this investigation, and the lack of leaks specifying all the as-yet-unproven accusations (but if there were leaks, a la the Ken Starr approach, would, like their Orange Julius Caesar, be shrieking about all the illegality and unfairness of same) -- of course, if you were speaking from a base of consistent principles, you would have had numerous comments decrying the many multi-year investigations of Hillary Clinton (every one of which came to exactly... nothing), and the insane, utterly open-ended, multi-million-dollar Starr investigation (which brought us the shocking news that men will lie about getting a bit ahead in the office).
Especially those of you making the completely risible assertion that the Mueller investigation is "political" -- conveniently ignoring the obvious fact that Mueller (just like Ken Starr! and just like all the Congressional investigators over nearly a dozen "investigations" of Hillary) is well-known as a Publican.
Please, each of you, link to just one of the many comments you would have posted at those times, so we'll know you're actually arguing from consistent principles.
Because -- and here's a hint -- if you have to check whether there's a (D) or an (R) after someone's name before you know whether to attack or defend their commentary or their actions, you are not arguing from principles.
You are instead an unprincipled, partisan hack, and a hypocrite.
3
Funny how they treated Hillary the exact opposite to the point where Comey was drafting his "non prosecution" speech well before the investigation had interviewed everyone and before they even questioned Hillary (NOT under oath and NOT recorded).
Just goes to show that the 'rule of law' was suspended under Obama's reign
4
Manafort has a world of hurt. His only play has been to flip
IMHO the "raid" was staged to send message to others
in Trumpville.
AS in "coming attractions."
2
Trump was RIGHT!
He WAS wiretapped - not just overheard on other people's conversations on NSA searches, but actually bugged in his own Tower by the FBI.
If the Trump administration was bugging a Democratic Party challenger in 2020, we'd never hear the ends of it. But because demigods of progressivism, Barack Obama and his two lackey-Attorneys General were doing these things, it may never be mentioned again if the coastal media outlets conducting a war on this President and his voters.
OBTW, the local Young Democrats were actively involved in the rioting in St. Louis that saw eleven policemen treated for wounds.
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/09/breaking-st-louis-young-democrat...
1
The noose tightens. Now let's see what Trump tweets to distract us.
6
Whom do you trust?
1) Robert Mueller, a Marine decorated with the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam
or
2) The party boy whose bone spurs didn't prevent him from boogie-ing the night away at Studio 54?
9
There's a much bigger scandal here: We have a prior administration – Barack Obama and his surrogates – who are supporting Hillary Clinton and her party, the Democratic Party. Who were using intelligence activities to surveil members of the Trump campaign, and to put that information out in the public. Those are police state tactics.
2
The FBI is not the White House! Nor is it beholden to a party. The FBI is non-partisan. Lazy conflation will truly be our demise...when voters don't understand the very institutions and separation of powers that define our democracy.
“They seem to be pursuing this more aggressively, taking a much harder line, than you’d expect to see in a typical white-collar case,” said Jimmy Gurulé, a Notre Dame law professor.
The FBI’s white-collar crime work covers public corruption, money laundering, corporate fraud, securities and commodities fraud, financial institution fraud, bank fraud and embezzlement, fraud against the government and election law violations.
Add treason to the blizzard of high crimes and misdemeanors and a harder line is due and just.
1
As full well this investigation should be "more consistent with how you go after a crime syndicate". After all, Felix Sater, a "former" business associate of Trumpty Dumpty, who helped him to try to build one of his towers in Moscow, is, and I quote, a "mob-linked felon".
1
There is another and simpler explanation.
The Obama administration colluded with the Clinton campaign and used the FISA warrant process as a ruse to spy on Manafort and ultimately on the Trump campaign, for political advantage.
In other words, "Obama wiretapped Trump Tower."
3
Except that's not true.
3
It will be true for their brains. Separate realities.
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.” That's about right. Don Trump and his capos and soldiers. Right on target, Mr. Mueller. Godspeed to you.
3
Mmmm, the broth thickens as the aroma permeates the air with the sweet smell of justice . We eagerly await with fervent anticipation the heaping serving of obvious truth so many Trumpflakes have lived in denial of.
Get your bowls ready, because the 'swamp soup' with a side of 'we told yo so' is almost ready.
3
Mr. Mueller,
Thank you, your country is behind you, as well as the FBI and the CIA
At the appropriate time, may we expect a book from you??
Mr. Muller...A Good American
4
Rough them up a little bit and don't bother about protecting their heads when you put them in the back of the "Escort vehicle"
2
Crooked Hillary? Maybe. Thieving trump? For sure. Trump and family seem to have been getting away with everything short of murder for sometime now. The privileged elite. Indeed. How about those tax returns? Not paying taxes but insisting everybody tighten their belts! Thankfully mr mueller is doing what the republicans did to both Clintons. Investigate. Only the republicans made it into a frat house sporting event complete with propaganda ministers.
2
Those consorting with the Russians have no shame, no loyalty to our country and is democratic traditions. From Trump on down, these are opportunists and possibly traitors to make some money and sell our 200 years of American exceptionalism, our core democratic values. A plague on them
3
Muller is no investigator. Good investigators follow specific lines of inquiry, their approach is surgical, and they work within a well defined scope. Maybe he is auditioning for Wicked Tuna or some other fishing program... just so long as the show features an enormous ocean and an enormous net... he's out for a drive in our boat, trailing a net, and hoping he catches something. Complete waste of public money, many of us have been saying this since the beginning.
Picked locks? dawn raids when the target is asleep? OK, so what have you got? show us, lest your credibility is dead. End this jaunt, it's time for us to investigate the investigators.
Trump and Trumpees and Putin, quite a miserable collection, all of whom have worked as hard as they can to foul the processes of our democracy for their personal gain. Given the cowardice and hypocrisy of a majority of the Republican legislators, Mueller and his team are the last, best, hope of disinfecting our system.
2
Shock and awe should be followed by convict them all. Only the special prosecutor can effectively drain the swamp.
1
Manafort, and probably Flynn, have engaged in activities on behalf of foreign governments that merit an investigation.
This would be so even if they were not affiliated with Trump.
Mueller is doing his job.
Congress needs to do their job and look at money laundering and foreign influence peddling laws to see if they need to be more restrictive.
For those who think that Russia didn't interfere in our election because there is no evidence that vote tallies were changed, get a clue. The scope of Russian interference was much broader. And more insidious. And if we don't ferret their activities out, the next time, they will mess around with vote tallies.
248
Or perhaps more to the point, they don't NEED to mess around with vote tallies. That's a crude instrument, compare to the capabilities they posted.
Even if they (and the Republican secretaries of state) did not alter any votes, voters may have stayed home as a result of the disinformation campaigns.
Republicans are in charge. We cannot depend on them to do the right thing unless things get so bad the only option is to throw the worst of their colleagues under the bus.
It is ironic that the rule of law is being applied to people who laugh at the law and idolize Putin and Duterte.
16
Be still my beating heart
Could it really come to pass?
It's not time to be open just yet
But it's healthy to run at this pace
With apologies to Sting...
5
I am eager for the day these heroes announce their indictments. I have no doubt they will include Trump as a conspirator and liar. My fear is that he will escape indictment, that our GOP Congress will be unmoved to impeach.
17
We are talking Treason. We are talking about the destruction of the entire USA system as we know it if facts are not uncovered and people punished.
Yep All out and more to get to the bottom of what happened.
18
This has been going on since May of this year and still Mueller has nothing substantial in his effort to destroy the Trump presidency. The hiring of Clinton donors as lawyers for the special counsel speaks of a coup attempt and an effort to overthrow the will of the people. Muellers close friendship with Director Comey is sufficient for him to step aside because of an obvious conflict of interest. A new special counsel needs to be appointed and Mueller should be relieved of command.
4
The balloons of Trump supporters never land.
4
Sure uh-huh, they plan to install Hillary in a coup.
1
How can you or anyone possibly know what Mueller has or doesn't have...he might have very little or he may have evidence that shows Trump and his associate's are traitors.
7
"Aggressive tactics used by Mr. Mueller and his team of prosecutors..."? There is nothing aggressive about this. It is simply standard operating procedure against suspected criminals.
13
So the news about a "threatened indictment" arrives the same day we find out that The Obama Administration was indeed tapping the Trump campaign?
Gee, what a coincidence.
2
Members of the Trump campaign were in communication with Russian agents. That's why there is a coincidence.
1
Why aren't the true enemies of the state, Hillary and company treated like this?
2
Because they are not the enemy of the state. Hillary Clinton was raked over he coals and was found not guilty of criminal activity.
7
Doc, perhaps it was already covered in one of the (MANY) Benghazi Hearings?
if not, whose fault is it?
3
Nobody has been investigated more than the Clintons. Personally I think they should both be in jail, but probably for things you would like.
But it's beyond hypocrisy, how you right wing extremists constantly whine about small fry Clinton stuff, when Dubbya, Cheney, Rumsfeld etc. started a trillion dollar war based on lies, killing or wounding 50,000 American troops and probably half a million Iraqis, with their contractors stealing pallets of hundred dollar bills, and creating Al Qaida in Iraq, which morphed into ISIS.
Read the Downing Street Memo written nine months before the beginning of the war. British intelligence came back from DC and said the decision to go to war was already made, and "the intelligence is being fixed around that decision."
Obama should have arrested Bush for this.
1
Keep dreaming Trump haters. Trump won the election fairly and there has been zero evidence to the contrary. Maybe Manifort committed some menial process crime years ago but that has nothing to do with Trump. Sorry.
So go ahead and read Hillary's book while you watch Maddow's Area 51 conspiracy theories. In the mean time Trump will continue with great federal and supreme court appointments, while implementing his agenda.
My advice to the left is to attempt to win some elections. And guess what, Trump hatin' at silly narcissistic awards shows only helps Trump and the Republicans.
1
i think there is a misunderstanding here: Mr.Mueller is NOT a special prosecutor for the democrats or ex-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. He works indeed for all of us - regardless on which side of the political spectrum you are. I want him to either prove a collusion in order to prevent that from happening again or to clear the names of all involved and the country can move on. The point is that we all have to trust the justice system to work as intended - and i hope Mr.Mueller is going to reassure us that it actually does.
2
What "agenda" is Trump implementing, exactly? Nine months and we still don't have that Wall he promised, still don't have that repeal of Obamacare he promised, still don't have that overhaul of the nation's infrastructure he promised, and still no tax reform that he promised. Please do explain what Trump's agenda is and how he is "implementing" it.
1
Lol. Ignore science and ignore history and ignore nature and ignore the rule of law, ignore the law of gravity if you want.
But they are unforgiving and will follow you around for ever.
In every column comment I plead: "Mueller, hurry up!" I think he hears me..
Many in the Trump administration - who have lied, recklessly attacked our laws, used power for personal gain - cannot hide from the darkness hovering lower and lower over their misdeeds.It is getting pretty stuffy in the White House, I bet.
Trump and his people have made a personal playground of the USA's Rule of Law and its abiding Truths. Mueller has now put a padlock on it. Those indicted may find Mueller's Prosecutorial Park a little less inviting..
6
Robert Mueller, my hero!
7
WoW! Finally some real law enforcement in Washington! Thank you Mr. Mueller. Perhaps we are on a path towards some vestige of honesty in politics. It seems to me we have been slip-sliding into a high rent version of banana republic politics. And, this has to cast the widest net possible and include those members of Congress whose net worth on a government salary has expanded to such an extent that all "Secret Off-Shore" bank accounts associated with politicians will be examined and made public. The future of this country more depends on Mueller's work than on defeating ISIS for profit.
8
First and last time I agree with Steve Bannon: It was the biggest mistake in modern political history.
Trump, being clueless to modern political history was ignorant of the power of the FBI. Many presidents were stymied by J E Hoover because of this. Of course, Hoover abused it and I don't condone that. But even dialing it back, what you have to recognize is that the FBI has real power that is to a substantial degree not controlled by the President. If the President shafts them, he would be a clueless bumpkin to think there will not be repercussions.
6
Robert Mueller must be "firm, but fair". That is exactly what he is doing. All the Congressional Committees involved, so far, seem to have been more of a partisan fight than a genuine effort to go where evidence leads them on all fronts.
For those calling for impeachment now, hold off. Wait until Mr. Mueller has finished his work. The fact that Trump's legal team appears to be composed of lawyers hiring more lawyers to defend themselves only deepens the suspicion that not only was our election hacked, but a lot of other questionable activity occurred as well. In the end, to retain our democracy, we must continue to be a nation of laws properly enforced with appropriate action taken with those who violate them.
4
I sleep better at night knowing Robert Mueller and his team are on the case. I trust that he will uncover whatever wrongdoing occurred and indict those who are guilty, of which there may be many. Maybe this is what draining the swamp means.
11
For the vast majority of Americans, the Mueller investigation is going to feel like a Trojan Horse. They suspect there's something to it, but they are going to be truly "shocked and awed" when the results come out.
I am not talking about just Trump supporters either.....
In my daily life, I come across a number of people who have disenfranchised themselves from the news. They're so fatigued they just want to believe that things in this administration can be "normal". That this too shall pass. That this investigation is not going anywhere.
But just like with Lewinsky, I envision a day in which we will all be glued to our screens. The indictments. The perp walks. The vastness of it all. The depth of the deceipt....and the implications to our democracy.
Democrats would do well to brace themselves for that moment. They will need to show moral clarity instead of opportunism. They will need to rely on the Joe Bidens of this world to restore faith in the system.
Republicans should do well to brace for that, too. Not only will a vast number get caught in the web, but the other half will be branded "bystanders" and "enablers". If the deceit is as large as I suspect, the GOP will take a vast hit.
When the stench from the carnage begins to spread, many things will feel decayed. Many parts of our institutions will feel compromised. The best thing the Democratic Party an do today is to ensure that the leaders we all know are beyond reproach are visible and ready to step in to lead.
365
The GOP will take no such hit. Trump supporters will simply paint Mueller as a witch-hunter and his results as "fake news." These people steadfastly refuse to believe facts, truth, and science. Why would this be any different?
2
Thank you. This is a very astute prediction, and is what happened during the Watergate era. We must sit tight and wait for the sickening revelations, and we must be ready to help restore order with integrity, knowing decency will prevail.
Above all, we must be clear about what where our values lie. Trump has called everything into question and tried to disorient us. We have had ample time to finally examine what it is that we hold precious.
2
The difference between Lewinsky and this is enormous. Huge. Stupendous. Outrageous. Clinton lied about consensual sex. It was nasty and unpleasant and I held it against him. But actually understandable in an attempt to protect his relationship. Makes sense.
Trump may well have attempted or participated or enabled the undermining of our democratic processes with a foreign government that is an enemy of our most basic institutions.
2
Trump has little to fear for any crimes he committed before he was inaugurated, though after impeachment and removal from office he will be pursued by law enforcement. In terms of impeachment, Trump should remember that just a little obstruction of justice goes a long way.
5
There is no immunity for crimes committed before taking office.
2
It would be helpful if the investigation could encompass the people who took advantage of and benefited from the hacking of our government, namely the republicans who jumped on the Trump bandwagon with absolutely no compunctions.
Mr. Sessions, the laughable, venal, and wildly inappropriate choice for attorney general, Mr. Devin Nunes, who attempted to undermine the house investigation into the Russian hacking from his position as chairman of the committee. Ryan, McConnell, Cruz, any number of republicans. Selling their office, no matter the fact that they were aided by the Supreme Court, who got it absolutely, tragically, wrong with Citizens United.
Like Hillary Clinton or not, she had it right. She, and the people who voted for her, were robbed. It was not "politics as usual" like it's some kind of game. Our election was broken into by a foreign government with the help of the republican party. The enormity of this can not be overlooked or understated. The Supreme Court needs to do It's job, in an even handed non partisan way, and correct this situation. Mueller's investigation is setting an appropriate tone for what must follow.
7
I would never consider voting for Trump or for any Republican, but picking locks and the rest of that stuff seems way over the top. Manafort probably thought he was back in Russia. We need to be careful that the civil rights of all people are respected at all times.
8
His civil rights were respected by the FBI following proper procedure to get a warrant to pick those locks.
You can't give people notice of a search when they could readily destroy what you are searching for. Especially if they are smug Russian-tied operatives who for some crazy reason volunteered their services free of charge to a neophyte, clueless and ignorant presidential candidate.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/08/us/to-charm-trump-paul-manafort-sold-...
2
They had a warrant which makes it not like russia.
3
The no knock rule is bad. It has been used against suspected dieg dealers, in a far more violent way, for decades.
This honestly looks like an out of control prosecutor desperately looking for a crime that he can use to cover a politically motivated wiretap into a presidential election.
Everyone involved in that second wiretap after Manafort was cleared needs to be prosecuted and sent to prison and the FISA court needs to be abolished.
To be clear , by everyone I include the former President and any other person who knew or was given information from the second wiretap.
This is no longer the country I spent my life defending.
4
The author said multiple times that Mueller is going at this harder than most white collar crimes.
First investigations of white collar crimes should not be softer than other crimes. The fact that a N.Y. Times Reporter assumes that white collar investigations should be less aggressive than other investigations gives a hint as to why so many banksters get slaps on the wrist for stealing billions from millions. The assumption that law enforcement should defer to the owners and managers of capital is something you find way too often reading between the lines of the NY Times.
Second, this is not a white collar crime. They are investigating whether a presidential campaign colluded with a foreign government to steal an election. That's treason.
There is plenty of circumstantial evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians. Numerous members of his campaign and staff had meetings with Russians, then forgot to put them on forms where leaving out such information is a felony. Trump's soon meet with Russian representatives for the express purpose of getting dirt on Clinton, and forgot to report it, then lied about the meeting many times.
Numerous Trump business associates work with corporations controlled by the Russian government, and of course Trump called for the Russians to intervene in the election on the campaign stump.
Then he fires the head of the FBI.over the "Russia thing."
7
Although it seems the opposing political forces are applauding these tactics by the FBI and a powerful government, all I could say is: Wait till they come for you.
5
I am -- patiently -- awaiting to hear the prison doors clang.
Enough of the small fry; when is our illustrious leader going to tell the grand jury he never asked Comey to stop the investigation?
2
Has Mr. Comey said that President Trump asked him to stop the investigation?
Obliquely. He had ''hopes''.
Is America becoming a banana republic where the losing side simply won't accept the results of an election and will go to any lengths to over turn it? With half the journalists in America looking for evidence of Russian interference that affected the results and finding nothing the effort by Mueller sounds like a giant witch hunt wasting untold amounts of money while slandering too many people's reputations.
Maybe the Democrats (and I am a life-long Democrat) should concentrate their efforts on a message that appeals to ALL citizens and back better candidates. The bottom line is that Mrs. Clinton lost the election because of her own failings and not some Russian meddling.
5
The Special Counsel is a Trump DOJ appointee.
I don't like the guys on the wrong end of the subpoenas, but I don't like the government's tactics even more. t's not like these guys are Russian mobsters. Oh, wait.
Meanwhile the only story being reported in right-wing media is that the Trump campaign was wire-tapped.
1
"The moves against Mr. Manafort are just a glimpse of the aggressive tactics..."
If Manafort is guilty of something illegal, sick him/ But there are many ways to prove or disprove guilt.
Mr. Mueller's tactics remind me of his German ancestors historical tactics. When I was in Franco's Spain it was similar. I used to hear exactly those methods described in communist Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and Yugoslavia, Sounded like fascism in those places. What should we call it here? Just "aggressive"?
4
It's called "investigating in compliance with existing law." Warrants, subpoenas, judicial approval.
Just because you anticipate not liking the results does not make the methods of getting to them incorrect.
All very nice but in the end will anyone go to jail?? or will this be just like the Wall Street investigations or were there any? wrong doing, slap on wrist, too big to fail, pardons for the likes of Marc Rich... The American Way... persuading one judge does not a summer make...
When you want sure and swift results, send in the Marines. Trump will not be able to bluster or lawyer his way out of this.
1
Fishing expedition? Witch hunt? Whatever you want to call it, this is an abuse of the law. I'm ashamed to see it happen in this country where the law is not supposed to be political.
Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn don't deserve to be bankrupted for political crimes. Special prosecutors should focus only on blatant wrongdoing. These men have been through enough.
I thought we would have learned from the foolish and hurtful investigations into Hillary Clinton's emails and her actions after the Benghazi attack. They were a waste of resources and a politically partisan ploy. Something you see in banana republics. We are better than that.
I had high hopes for Robert Mueller. I thought he would do the right thing. I thought he was above abusing his power. I was wrong.
It makes me feel like I felt when the O. J. Simpson jury came back with their verdict many years ago. Disillusioned. Stunned, even, to find that the America I had grown up in was not the country I thought it was.
Freedom? Liberty? Justice? We say the words. They are too often hollow.
3
I wonder how these comments will look after two (2) or three (3) years when Mueller will close this investigation? Citing a couple of minor low level staffers convictions on unrelated matters? Does the name Tom Delay ring a bell? How about Ken Star? Just how much time effort and money were expended to achieve what? Besides a failed impeachment trial and a lot of media advertising money made the is NADA. ZIPPO, NOTHING. Kinda like the nation building going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lots done nothing accomplished yet after 16 - SIXTEEN years. Not that any president in the last three (3) has even tried.
2
Go, Mueller and team!
1
Mr. Mueller: our democratic system was hacked by a foreign adversary, Russia and Putin to elect Trump. We have faith in you and your investigation.
1
Another story has it that Trump is considering a major military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue as a show of force. He should be wary that it might surround the White House and defend the Constitution by putting him under house arrest at Camp David to ensure against flight to Belarus or Moscow.
The same false narrative that duped the left into believing that Hillary would win has now taken root in the Mueller investigation.
3
That's what happens when you hire a bunch of lawyers who donated heavily to Hillary.
This nation is full of lawyers. Surely there are extremely competent, relatively non-partisan men and women of the law who could have served admirably in this investigation.
Everything about Trump is tainted and corrupt. Arrest, detain and eliminate this pathology. The country depends on it.
1
The only new information in this story - aka news - is that they now know from leaks that they picked Manfort's lock instead of busting down the door.
Otherwise, it is the same "we raided his house" story that nobody cared about or paid attention to when it happened in early July.
1
I imagine Trump & his entourage realize that the least damaging outcome of Mueller's investigation is that Trump's utter unfitness for the presidency will be laid bare for any and all to see.
However, that least-bad-case scenario will have no effect whatsoever on the "Fifth-avenue crowd" -- those to whom he was referring when he said he would not lose voters if he shot someone on 5th Avenue. Sadly, that outrageous statement is probably not a bad assessment. Demonstrable incompetence of their Dear Leader will have as much effect as water on the back of a duck to that crowd.
1
While I am always interested to hear facts and judge based upon them, so far this is naught but conjecture.
I do hope they get to the bottom of this investigation and bring charges against any that have them due, with that said aquiring a warrant or a subpoena to appear in front of a grand jury don't really mean anything. In this partisan climate that we have all been accustomed too where even judges often take sides (and let's be honest there are plenty of times police/fbi have gotten warrents they never should have too) it's too far of a stretch for reaching articles like this to make anything out of it.
I do look forward to seeing what comes of this investigation and what facts we will be privy to as it wraps up. Until then however I'll gladly ignore both sides pleas of "why this shows XXX is/isn't guilty" and smirk each time another partisan hit piece is dropped and crowds (from both sides) start with their "gotchas."
2
What has necessitated this tough approach? Congress Republicans have betrayed their duty to their country and the people they represent. They know the person in the White House has, at best, a serious personality disorder, at worst, is a sociopath with the inability to tell the truth. In any case, they know he is grossly unfit for the office. But until the filth splatters sufficiently on them, they'll do nothing.
So we have to have a fearless, aggressive special counsel to do what they are too cowardly to do. Mueller is facing the worst corruption and malfeasance ever to reach the WH. After the months of Congressional failure to address this crisis, he has to make up for lost time. This is reason to cheer him on and hope that the results will soon be forthcoming -- we can't afford much more time with this administration in office.
1
With all this investigating going on for month, and yet nothing prosecutable shows up, but Hillary gets a pass repeatedly on multiple indictable offenses. What on Earth is going on in the DoJ... Does it have anything to do with the rule of law anymore?
1
Are the A.G.s in Democraticly controlled states which have Trump gang ties also doing investigations?
Will someone from the WH please leak it, because Muller's crew are not about to, until after the next warrant is served, and the lock is picked.
I hope they look carefully at the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister of Montenegro. I strongly suspect that Manafort or someone else associated with him had advance knowledge of this and gave a wink and a nod--- which would be straight out treason.
1
Under this administration the rule of law has been lost .
Thank you Mr. Mueller for trying so hard to bring back faith in our institutions so brutally vandalized by a bunch of corrupted , hypocritical , immoral and money hungry men .
1
Trump's angry, empty bluster won't help him here. Mueller clearly knows what he's doing, sin't about to be cowed, and seems two steps ahead of Trump and crew. He's blocked them in at every turn, it seems, leaving some of the cast cornered before they even knew they were under suspicion.
It also looks like there's a possible informant in Trump's inner circle. I wonder who the next Deep Throat will be? Manafort? DJT Jr.? Ivanka?
Go Mueller-go!! YOU make America great again--we need our country back from this craziness of the last 8 months!
Exception to the attorney client privilege etc etc etc. The kangaroo courts of Brezhnev's Russia were less corrupt.
The American bolsheviks will stop at nothing to invent a crime.
If the picked lock and the raid and photograph of suits are proof of someone's guilt, think how excited we'd all be if the FBI just barged into everyone's home, read everyone's mail and made sure we all stayed on the straight and narrow, especially those US citizens who are unwise enough to be 'Russian-born' -- apparently a mark of Cain and sure evidence of treason.
We all aren't on the line making deals with oligarchs in Ukraine and Russia, and failing to report the same when required to do so. We're talking millions or maybe billions of dollars exchanged for services.. Kinda/sorta interesting.
Nothing like acting like a bully to shift sympathy to the bad guy.
Not going to wonder if these antics mean they have nothing but beware loosing righteousness and by doing so becoming easy to fire.
Leave it to Chuck Grassley to attempt to undermine Mueller's investigation. Mueller is using Trump's tactics why telegraph his strategy. As for Manafort, has anyone really questioned why he was removed as the Gatekeeper for Trump's campaign. It was only a matter of time before his shenanigans with Foreign and hostile governments would come to light. As for Flynn, he is a disgrace to the uniform. Greed is not only not good, it will kill your career. You can't outrace time.
It's like an Atlantic hurricane. You don't know what's coming next. It's coming, and it's gonna be big. For those of us convinced there's a Russian connection, this is karma.
Tapes of what Manafort talked about with the president. Wiretapped. The president could be exposed here. As others said. Trump has been obsessed with Trump-Russia. Now it turns.
June 9th meeting. Don Junior.
Feels like the last word. In breaking news, the plan to indict him is solid. Organized crime syndicate. Big time. Wow, and Big Wow. Wiretapped as far back as 2014. After the Trump Tower meeting with Don Jr. and Manafort, this investigation went into overdrive.
1
It's good to see that someone in Washington isn't taking the Trump administration's malarkey lying down.
1
Beria, the infamous sidekick of Stalin, said, “Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime.” “Show me the man,” says any federal prosecutor, “and I can show you the crime.”
I'm not a Trump supporter and have, in fact, never voted for a Republican in my life and never will. But as a lawyer, I am concerned where this goes. If prosecutors and the FBI and the DOJ are not directly tied to an elected executive, who can be voted out of office or impeached by the Legislative Branch, then where are the checks and balances?
I am not a fan of secret subpoenas or secret warrants. A transparent investigation process might let a few criminals go (or get them to stop illegal practices before a prosecution case can be made) but it would be a real check on unelected federal prosecutors and police (FBI). We ought to be thinking this through.
2
This is the biggest waste of tax payers dollars in recent history. If our "leaders" were concerned with justice, they'd be investigating Obama for not informing the American people that the Russians were interfering with the elections before they occurred. They'd demand the investigations of Rice, Powers, Winners, etc. for the unlawful gathering and unmasking of information associated with Trump and his campaign and distributing it to Obama operatives in the deep state. They'd be investigating the unending leaks of classified information associated with the Trump administration to the press. Comey would be investigated for his plan to exonerate Clinton before all of the data was in related to her email scandal and also the FBIs involvement in the "Russian dossier". The DNC would be investigated for hiring Fusion GPS and their related involvement with the Russians to obtain damaging information from them on Trump. Why isn't Mueller investigating these egregious examples of maleficence and corruption? I'll tell you why, the "Swamp" (including the NY Times) wants Trump out of there by any means possible and so do many of you. So does the press. They don't consider any of what I previously mentioned newsworthy. Rule of law is irrelevant. Just get him out of there right???? If this is what's called "justice" in the US, heaven help us all.
Well, with all this, Mueller will have a probable choir of singing canaries. Who will give up whom first?
1
If only Mueller had shown this much gumption for investigating the Saudis' involvement in 9/11 instead of shilling for the Bush Administration as they lead us down a fraudulent path towards the Iraq War.
1
Maybe because it was mostly CIA involvement. Internecine war anyone?
I noticed some readers were taken aback by the "lawlessness" of Mueller's unannounced raid/search. There were references to the old Soviet Union.
If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear. Unannounced raids and seizures are absolutely necessary when dealing with criminals of this level. They have things to hide, and they will do illegal things because of their fear.
Fortunately, the President Ringleader, though crafty he may be (and I'm thinking these days we should give him more credit for being intentionally manipulative), has surrounded himself with novice white-collar criminals, not Mafia-level by any means. Aside from the Russians, these novices, like Manafort or Felix Sater or Trump's family members, will all go down in flames easily, one after the next. Unlike seasoned swamp politicians, corrupt white-collar business criminals forget to delete emails (clearly).
When all the outliers have been destroyed by Mueller and his attorneys (by the way, I really liked the team description NYT; it read like a comic book narration of each of the Avengers), the connections will be very clear.
...I mean, I hope so. Alternatively, Trump & Circus dodge every single volley, pardon a whole bunch of people, and we build the wall and embrace white supremacy. Either way, I still have the pay rent and 1/3 of my income!
1
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.”
Let the investigation fit the crime.
1
“This is more consistent with how you’d go after an organized crime syndicate.” (cit. Jimmy Gurulé ). It sure sounds appropriate to me, given Trump's well documented mob-like approach to business, not to mention his connections. He and his family are basically a crime family that have been smart (and priviledged) enough to stay away from the ugly practices that can really land you in jail (drugs, prostitution, . They function like the back office of a crime syndicate, with the money coming in from fraudulent business practices, money laundering through real estate, and not to mention government rent subsidies. Oh, and where would a mob be without at least one stint in the casino business ? Go to it Bobby !
1
The "aggressive" nature of Mueller's investigation matches what I hope the best and the brightest of our nation's legal experts would undertake when faced with alarming evidence of treasonous interference in our democratic presidential election. If we can't and don't respond with clarity and resolve to guarantee absolutely no foreign manipulation of our honest one person/one vote democracy, we will have lost the core of all our nation has stood for and many have fought and died for.
This is not partisan, this is investigating Treason!
1
The sword of Damocles, in the personage of Robert Swan Mueller III, is hanging by a horse hair over the orange comb-over every second of every day like a hidden and hungry tiger in wait, creeping ever closer. Sleep well, Mr. President.
1
I remember when Trump complained that the Obama justice department had wiretapped his campaign. Comey, former Obama administration officials, and the media all denied it. Now it turns out that the Obama justice department wiretapped Trump's campaign.
1
My concern is whether Mueller was the right choice. He worked with Comey so at a minimum there is the appearance of having bias. How close of friends they were I do not know. He will need very strong evidence of a clear crime to prevent this from being called a political witch hunt.
9
Let's see: Mueller and Comey were both Trump appointees, yes? So where does the bias here lie?
And let's not forget that Comey basically threw the election to Trump in the first place.
1
Funny that you don't seem concerned with bias from the Attorney General who had to recuse himself after being caught lying to Congress about his role with the Russian government, much less the Trump administration which is soaking in Russian money laundering sewage.
2
All the Trump talking points floating in here, but why the NY Times thinks they need to be weighted as 'picks' when they introduce no new facts and reek of Trump is questionable. Mueller was affirmed by a 100% bi-partisan vote. "Appearance" is only of concern since Trump became concerned that for the first time in his lie riddled life he might be held accountable to the law.
Michael Flynn’s siblings are said to be setting up "a legal-defense fund to help cover their brother’s 'enormous' legal fees. Paul Manafort may still have the means to pay his lawyers, but the legal fees will leave certainly leave him poorer.
Their examples show the risks of political opportunism. They are already paying a high price for being injudicious - rallying behind Trump's controversial campaign and resorting to crooked schemes and dirty tricks to help him win.
3
There better be irrefutable proof of wrongdoing and a boatload of evidence to prove it and it better come out before the 2018 election or it's over for the democrats. Trump will continue unchecked and be elected in a landslide in 2020.
5
These are investigations by the FBI and committees of Congress, not of the Democratic Party.
1
The only way a landslide for Trump will happen in another term is that people will not have learned their lesson. It's time for a true progressive, and that's Bernie.
1
So his lack of: leadership, compassion, governance, command of the English Language, ability to build alliances,...has convinced you of what?
This is probably the first time in months in which I have not lived with the fear that the truth will never be known. I probably speak for many Americans, Republicans as well as Democrats, when I say - hope - that the rule of law and justice are still strong and that there are still individuals in high places who are ethical and are relentless in seeking that very justice....people who defend the Constitution and not just the "right to bear arms."
If Mr. Mueller, God help him (truly), is able to connect the dots which seem to be revealing an image that I for one have long suspected, I hope that we as a country learn a lesson, many lessons. Even more to the point, it is our Republican-led Congress that needs to be shaken up, that needs to grow a conscience, if that is humanly possible. And, as one last thought, maybe our electorate needs to be more discerning and less reactive. When a flashy, rich misogynist with shady business practices, who has a penchant for lying as well as regularly spewing vitriol and hate, runs for president, that should be a clue, actually an omen, of what would lie ahead if elected.
30
I wonder how the Supreme Court might step in -- for example ruling on the acceptability of mass pardons by the President for his cronies? Or for sure if the President pardons himself.
12
First step could come with overthrowing Trump's pardon of his faithful supporter, convicted law-breaker Joe Arpaio - see Wash Post 09/18/17 Opinion column by Lawrence H. Tribe and Ronald Fein: TRUMP'S PARDON CAN - AND SHOULD BE - OVERTURNED.
The Supreme Court can't just "step in." It's a long and winding road before a case appears to them.
Fortunately, presidential pardons don't protect one from state prosecutions and convictions. Attorney Generals in multiple states will be prepared to charge criminal acts that occurred in their states when Mueller is finished.
How can Comey justify his actions regarding Clinton's emails, making his "investigation" public, twice, and probably throwing the election while in fact Trump's campaign manager was not only under investigation but, with a warrant, actually wiretapped? Certainly Comes never said a word about this publicly, so no wonder he said in his testimony before the Senate that he now felt "nauseous" about his possible influence on the election. Wow.
15
Mueller's authority is broader than many understand. He is to investigate not only campaign coordination with Russia but "any links . . . between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign." "Any links" goes a long way and could include money flow, however circuitous, into the Trump Organization. In addition, Mueller's authority "shall also include the authority to investigate and prosecute federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, the Special Counsel's investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses." (28 CFR 600.4(a)). [Of course, Trump's lawyers will argue that the firing of Comey occurred before Mueller was appointed and so was not interference with "the Special Counsel's investigation".]
10
Donald Trump fired the FBI director on recommendation of his son-in law, Kushner. If Trump et al are innocent, then why worry about this investigation, rather Trump should be happy that the assault on our democracy by Putin and his toadies will not happen again.
8
This has been the worst year of my 60 on this planet. But now, I feel as if I can breathe.
10
Good. Holding powerful & rich accountable for once would be great. A deeper understanding of how our electoral process might be hacked by foreigners working with citizens would be great. If today's or tomorrow's Congress were to pass laws to prevent this in the future it would be great.
7
Let keeps this out of the hands of Congress, too many times mistrials are declared or a reversed decisions by the courts because of congressional interference.
7
Really? Give us, the unaware, some examples.
I gotta ask. Just how would a sitting President be tried, much less arrested, by a branch of government that that same president is in charge of by authority of the constitution? That's like a lawyer in a legal department firing the Chairman of the board in the same corporation. Then the Secret Service and the military may take exception to armed FBI agents storming the White House in a perceived coup attempt. Sarcasm aside, for good or ill impeachment is the only way. And the congress is the only one that can do an impeachment of a president.
Oliver North among many others. Rick Perry another
1
It's all going to come down to money laundering and Russia's having propped up the Trump Organization for years. It's going to be as interesting as Watergate. If Trump pardons anyone, the ones pardoned won't have the Fifth Amendment to fall back on and will have to testify truthfully or face either contempt citations or perjury charges.
10
NYT: I do appreciate this update on the Mueller investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, and to Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential campaigns and election. Our nation really needs the truth to come out. That truth needs to be honestly reported and acted on if crimes were committed.
This Mueller investigation is just about the only bright spot for responsible federal governance I see at the moment. That this bright spot is a criminal investigation, and not some form of positive governance, speaks volumes to where our country is at and where it is headed.
Michael Bain
Glorieta, New Mexico
14
Mueller's behavior shows him for what he is: a showman with very, very little real substance. An investigation that was supposed to be about Russian influence in the election has now degenerated into breaking into people's homes to take tax returns. What's that line about people becoming their enemies?
4
Here's something else to remember: this investigation is the result of a bipartisan (that means the Republicans wanted it, too) desire to look into Trump campaign activities, buttressed by a second bipartisan vote to protect the Mueller investigation from White House interference.
It appears there are people on both sides worried about our President's conduct.
Clearly, this is the first time you have ever encountered a special prosecutor. Mr. Mueller's behavior is textbook; not unusual in any way.
You cannot equate the Clinton investigation, mainly about his extra-marital affairs, with the Mueller investigations. These investigations are much more serious. Allegations of collusion with Russia, fraud, tax evasion seem to me to warrant the aggressiveness of Mueller's team. Under ordinary circumstances I would be horrified by these tatics , but under the circumstances these are warranted. I only hope that Trump does not try to interfere, as he did with Comey. Where there is smoke there is fire. Give immunity to Flynn as he is the one who can bring down this house of cards. Including Pence.
10
... 'if [perceived injustice] had happened to [similar character from opposing party], the outrage could have been heard from the Moon'.
The thematics in some of these comments are just not productive. I think the great majority of Americans in both parties desire lawful investigation when the legality of a candidate's or an administrations' actions are called into question, within their party AND across the aisle. I speak for myself in saying I would have been fine with a special counsel appointment in regard to the private server investigation and would than and now support the outcome if announced to the public with appropriate transparency in regard to the supporting evidence by which the verdict was cast, as I expect from this current special counsel investigation into Russia ties (though I surely would have found myself similarly and completely fatigued by the ensuing news cycle).
You are holding your straw man to the fire. Pull him away and wait for the evidence to settle.
1
So, at the end of this very aggressive investigation Mueller presents his findings to Congress along with a very powerful recommendation to impeach the president. What then? Does anyone honestly think DT will resign, or that his backers in Congress or in the general public will acquiesce?
Not sure which is more terrifying: the threat of Mueller's investigation being shut down, or the threat of it reaching its logical conclusion.
7
We heard Monday from live CNN TV that Miss Hillary has not yet given up the idea of challenging the results of the 2016 election. Ah, we sighed. Some things have to happen before such can happen, like Mr. Mueller getting all his ducks together and have Trump convicted of whatever. Before passing on to my reward, I'm 80, I would die in peace if I could hear President Hillary Clinton say: "Lock him up."
6
I have toiled in the vineyards of criminal defense law for more than 45 years, and have banged heads at trial with some of this city's best and brightest AUSAs. I am personally familiar with some of Mr. Mueller's team and I can say they are uniformly excellent. They can think critically, they can write, they can debate a point, they can schmooze a jury and they can flip a tottering witness type like a ground round burger. In fact the best description of them would be a baseball term; they are five star players.
I am not in the words of John Gotti "a lay down Sally defense lawyer". Over my career I have tried to verdict possibly 80-85 high profile felony cases in either the SDNY or EDNY I am guessing here but over the years beginning with the Watergate cases up to todays cases my client was found not guilty in maybe 17-19 cases, possibly another 15 resulted in a hung jury. more than 50% ended in convictions and life sentences, Any lawyer who tells you he never lost a federal criminal case either never tried one or is an unabashed liar.
How deep is the Kushner family involved? In my mind therein lies the lie.
9