Someday there will be a TV miniseries about this administration. Whether comedy (downfall via stupid president) or tragedy (downfall through widespread hubris) remains to be seen. Let's hope for "downfall," at least.
6
No collusion? Believe facts over denials. No matter how many times the denial is repeated, it is still just an assertion contradicted by fact.
8
Was it not Obama who told Romney in 2012 when he made the assertion that Russia was our greatest threat that the "1980's are calling and want their foreign policy back"-mocking Romney's concern about Putin? Did not the NY Times agree with Obama? And the Amen choir of Max Boot and the other neo-cons?
1
What does a President Obama's 2012 comment have to do with Trump's collusion with a foreign adversary in 2018?
11
Apparently the Trump administration is being played by Putin. Trump appears to be following Bannon’s ideas in super agreesively deconstructing our country. The one picture of Trump grinning with the two Russians is worth a lot of words search on “trump picture two russian” to see it and others.
Any normal president would want to try to clear their name but not Trump. While I can empathize that Trump had a traumatic childhood it doesn’t mean that we should let Trump, Jared and many others get rich by breaking up our country’s government..
4
How many people in the Trump WH or campaign have established ties to Russia? More than the rational mind could attribute to coincidence or innocent diplomatic explanations.
10
Hilary lost. She was a terrible candidate.
1
So important to depose and impeach The lying unscrupulous President And his cabal.
9
This is another case of American stupidity meets Russian intelligence.
14
Still pretending the Trump/Russian collusion nonsense is real?
What the Democrats have been missing in their fairy tale of collusion is an actual colluder.
It was Brennan's bright idea to finger Carter Page as the dirty conduit as there literally was nobody else with even plausible Russian connections. Mannafort had ties to Ukraine, but not Russia. The spying on Page was to make him that patsy.
With the evidence of what happened staring you in the face, you still prefer to pretend.
I heard Pence ate a bowl of borscht once. Better investigate.
5
Go back to Fox for your news. What a stupid thing to post
4
Oh let's see.....19 indictments so far and any number of them have plead guilty. Trump's corruption is coming home to roost.
14
Um, actually the name, "Rick Gates," comes immediately to mind. But perhaps you can explain better than I exactly what Paul Manafort was doing on the board of that Cyprus bank sitting next to Putin's main money-guy?
7
OMG, the more we learn about all the underhanded machinists who make politics run these days, don't you want to build them a Yuge swamp and make them live in it? I hear Florida would like to revitalize a big one.
3
Everything and everyone involved in this 'Russian Collusion' saga and investigation points towards - only Trump! So I wonder what more evidence is required to fulfill the definition of 'Obstruction of Justice'?
11
Every morning the media screams: "Russia, Russia, Russia." It never ends, and yet, his supporter see nothing abnormal about a campaign and administration who have Russian diplomats, KGB agents on speed dial. I have to believe that no one in the Trump campaign thought Trump would win---so, why not, take a few hail Putin passes. Who knew he would win and now, those who drew up the plays are being hauled into court.
9
Ironically so many of Trump's supporters accuse the opposition of being "commies." I guess it's okay to cozy up to Russians in underhanded and deceitful ways, but it's a disgrace to have ideas and values, generous and idealistic, that might very remotely resemble some of the morality that motivated the Russian Revolution (not to mention the world's great religions).
4
The primary purpose of Mr. Mueller’s investigation is not to take down Mr. Trump. It’s to protect America’s national security and the integrity of its elections by determining whether a presidential campaign conspired with a foreign adversary to influence the 2016 election — a proposition that grows more plausible every day.
It's becoming increasingly obvious that Putin won trump the election and of course expects pay back. There’s a general realization looming on the horizon spreading far and wide that effectively we have a criminal imposter in the White House ... in truth a tragically unprepared and dangerously unprincipled ‘fake’ president who is an unabashed leech and an unrepentant liar.
25
in all of this i can't help but believe that manafort, gates and van der Zwaag were not working to destroy our democracy but for the outrageous money they must have been getting. our system of government was just the collateral damage caused by their greed.
10
Indeed. Sadly and of equal concern, the situation is parallel in Congress. Larry Lessig's book Republic Lost reports the statistical data: Congress members overwhelmingly vote according to the wishes of their major campaign contributors.
3
Trump has done nothing to stop the cyberattacks. This is collusion, in plain sight. Includes much of the GOP in Congress. For all the talk on wingnut radio and cable news, it's the GOP that is becoming a real and credible threat to the nation.
What a spectacle at just how fast the so-called “successful businessman” in the oval office is proving terribly unfit for the job, and how spineless and feckless a group of cowards McConnell, Ryan and the rest of the GOP are in refusing to come to terms with this reality. It’s a shameful national embarrassment now on full display for all the world to see.
19
The Russian Reset Button and the return of 10 Russian spies To Putin in 2009 never caused any problems or blow-back for the Obama Administration. Why ?
Uh, because Obama took a lot of flak for that silly Button (which happened to be Hillary Clinton's dopey thing, by the way), and those spies were part of a typical exchange?
2
No hurry, Mr Mueller. Trump perjures himself on Twitter every day in the court of public opinion.
10
The reason seasoned lawyers can't work for him is they know he will lie under oath. Only if he says he will never testify, thus he must take the 5th, can a real lawyer not go to jail with him. I cannot see Trump making it through a five minute session before he starts sounding like Frank Costello. "I paid my tax!"
8
Gates was the campaign liaison to the Republican National Committee according to the article. Reince Preibus was the head of the RNC. I would not be surprised if Preibus has already made a plea deal which also covers his time as Chief of Staff.
Gates and Preibus are the same age - both born in 1972 - with young kids. Cooperating with the Special Counsel is probably seen as a life raft.
11
For a very long time Americans have been concerned about money flooding into campaigns.There was the McCain Feingold Act and finally the controversial decision by the Supreme Court in "Citizens United". Now we have an even more troubling problem with Russian/Ukrainian influence and money.We need to know why they felt emboldened to meddle.When Mr.Mueller puts the pieces together Congress will have to get serious about election reform.
14
Yes! Best and cheeriest thought I've read in months. Let's hope and encourage them to do that.
2
Looks like the GOP are comrades now; they traded allegiance to country for power. Putin is playing the long game; destabilizing us, eroding our international standing and dismantling our institutions. Sounds like the Mercers and Kochs already bought in. Trump is lying prostrate and Fox News keeps the masses armed and afraid of brown immigrants instead of Russians. America has been catfished.
10
There was collusion with Russia to impact the 2016 election through influence and chicanery at the ballot box. The crime is Conspiracy against the United States. Trump, the RNC and his campaign were complicit. Mueller needs to indict and arrest all of the involved post haste.
9
RML, you are both delusional and ignorant of the law. The crime of Conspiracy against the U.S. has to have an element of doing something harmful against the U.S. Like defrauding the U.S. or otherwise harming the U.S. Show us the evidence of collusion. Just having a citizen of the U.S. talking to a citizen of Russia or any other country, which is lawful, by itself is not evidence of collusion. And show us how the U.S. was harmed by the contacts and conversations. I know you probably believe we are harmed by the fact that Trump is President and Hillary isn't, but obviously the majority of voters in 30 out of the 50 states didn't agree with you. And I don't think they were duped by a few low dollar, clearly skeptical Facebook ads. Again, what is your evidence of how the U.S. was harmed and how the President, RNC officials and others in the campaign "conspired" against the U.S. It's not a crime to run a hard and forceful campaign using hardball tactics. Democrats have been doing that for decades.
2
Mueller is zeroing in on trump - it is time for congress to protect him. Trump is lying, and attempting to brain wash people with his constant attacks on Mueller and law enforcement. If trump has nothing to hide, why is he acting so guilty ?
8
Most of Trump's guards are going by the way side, and Trump can't see why. He's about to get creamed. He insists he's got this. Famous last words.
7
Nothing surprises now.
6
Terrible to think that Americans who are normally a proud people, would sit by and watch this blatant assault to our democracy. But I guess we are equally a nation of laws and would let this investigate proceed in a lawful manner...just as Watergate did.
And if we are patient enough and let Mueller dot all i's and cross all t's, Trump and his thugs would be history sooner or later.
14
Why do you think this investigation is an assault upon our Representative Democracy? Any open and freedom-loving society should embrace such investigations.
President does not have a gang of thugs around him. These are successful capitalists.
1
Voters can hold Trump accountable by flipping the House and Senate in 2018. Vote Democrat in 2018 to show Republicans how patriotism and love of country works.
13
If Russia worked behind the scenes using the same supposed means to help Trump only this time now for Democrats, would anyone of us here care? I think they should do it just to really mess up,our heads.
There is absolutely no denying there was not Russian Intellegence embedded in Trump's campaign.
5
I’m confused. Who stole the election anyway? Trump, Facebook, Russia, Cambridge Analytica, Martians . . .? That said, it’s irrelevant if it actually really was or not, I suppose. Make any object heavy enough and it creates its own gravity.
5
The office of the President was elected and is being run by a 5th column. No matter how much Republicans try to wrap themselves in the flag of Patriotism and the President wraps himself in the flag of Nationalism, they will all be looked at as traitors for ignoring and enabling the obvious.
13
For the second time backstage censors:
What's missing from this Mueller report is that Gates said, "Thank you", albeit unwittingly, to at least four Uber drivers who were, according to the FBI, perhaps, maybe, could be, depending directly linked by Rice and the NSA to Putin's secret cohort of Kremlin Uber spies in New York City. How amazing is that?
6
Apparently you can believe any fool thing you want, at Alice's Restaurant.
2
You're talking about the FBI's "perhaps, maybe, could be, depending directly" Group W Report, right? Or perhaps Rice's collusion with the NSA to spy on American citizens at will?
2
Julia, Oh, I am sure you have evidence and knowledge that there was no collusion.
1
It is becoming glaring clear that Trump and his boys are security risks. How much longer do we have to endure this nightmare?
12
Everyone needs to be prepared for when Trump fires Muller. I don’t care if you use a walker, at that moment you’ve got to take to the streets and demand impeachment!
11
The investigation was ginned-up by the outgoing Obama Administration/Clinton Campaign!
The real collusion story of the 2016 election was the way that the Obama administration put the law enforcement and intelligence arms of the administration in the service of the Clinton campaign and a lot of these Mueller lawyers come from the top levels of the Obama Justice Department.
4
Have some more grape juice Caterina as you watch our Republic go down in flames.
10
I believe Mr. Manafort is well aware of Russian intelligence operatives, and Mr. Putin’s, responses to those who betray them. Witness the recent poisoning attack in London that left a signature directly tired to the Russian government. Why do you suppose that particular nerve agent was chosen, one that has a unique Russian signature? Why is Mr. Manafort refusing to cooperate with Mr. Mueller, despite all the evidence against him? Because he would rather live in prison than die in some curious unexplained “accident.”
6
The record shows that Manafort is a high-flying political lobbyist, consultant, and lawyer who has worked closely with various branches--clandestine or otherwise--of international governments and political organizations. He knows, and has worked with, the highest echelons of Russian government and intelligence, and understands the Russian/Ukrainian political landscape inside out.
And yet he will have the American public believe he was too naive to know that he was communicating with a GRU officer on a matter concerning the 2016 US election. Right. This would be akin to CIA head Mike Pompeo being surprised to hear that his hotel phone is tapped in China.
The fact is that this recent court filing is damning for Mr. Manafort, and begins to create a more fulsome picture connecting Manafort, Trump, and Russian intelligence. This is damning.
10
Does anyone remember when Trump or his campaign denied ever having any involvement with Russians, never doing business with Russians, never meeting with any Russians?
It seems like there hasn't been any point in Trump business dealings or his campaign, that they haven't been in contact or involved with the Russians; this is most deceitful and Un-American group of liars ever in government.
38
I don’t even want to ask where Melania is from.
1
After this bombshell, Mueller won’t even need to uncover the file drawer full of forged Trump ballots that his campaign staff never got around to stuffing into ballot boxes. Of course that election stuff is secondary now to the more pressing issue of who told a lie or not. Fitting really for a country founded on what was said about chopping down a cherry tree.
1
Enough already. There was no collusion.
2
Your joking right? If not, then read the indictments already filed.
8
Sarcasm will get you everywhere.
7
HA! Very funny!
6
If we digest all the information contained in the front page of the NYT today, it seems that the 2016 election should be declared null and void. Social media reigned in, Muller investigation completed and then a proper election held. Some of us studied the impact of an "Internet" on the social fabric long ago but, in those days, were a small minority. The whole thing, if not properly regulated, turns into a propaganda free-for-all most of which goes unrecognized by the general public. Worse, people feel a sense of "empowerment" that is blinding - do not see that they are being used. A few get rich and the masses pay the price in more ways than can be imagined. In any case, there needs to be a "Reset." We are at a precipice and corrective action must be taken.
12
When you join Russian intelligence, you join for life. There are no retirement plans, unless you are perceived as a threat or traitor-then you and your love ones will never collect your pension or death benefit.
8
...And moving to England is certainly not an option!
7
I can just see the tweet coming. “Well ok my campaign chair, co campaign chair and deputy chair were meeting with known Russian spies but it was only for borscht and the FBI had no right to follow around people during their lunch and there was NO COLLUSION except for Crooked Hillary.” How was that Vladdy?
9
“It’s not like these people wear badges that say, ‘I’m a Russian intelligence officer.’ ”
If we take him seriously, Manafort is like the clueless FBI officer in THE AMERICANS who doesn't know that his neighbors across the street are Russian agents. He must look through his blinds and see his neighbors in one of their many disguises and say to himself, "Hmm, Phillip and Elizabeth must love costume parties."
6
Ask any, and I mean any, Ukrainian, about Maninfort. To a person they’ll tell you that it’s been known for over two years at least, that Manafort was working for Kremlin interests, received many millions of dollars, and sold out the Ukrainian people for that sum.
Next stop, US society and it’s elections.
9
Back in 2016 neither Rick Gates nor Paul Manafort anticipated that they would be under the FBI investigation. Manafort’s team in Ukraine at various times included Gates and Konstantin Kilimnik, who knew Manafort since 2006. The two formed a private equity fund and received millions of dollars from the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, loyal to Putin.
Kilimnik came under scrutiny from the FBI and the State Department because of at least two trips he took to the US during the presidential campaign and his meeting with Manafort. During his first interview with the special counsel’s team, Van der Zwaan admitted that Gates told him Kilimnik was a former Russian intelligence officer with GRU. The question is whether Trump knew about Kilimnik.
7
Mr. Trump was elected with the money of American oligarchs and corporations, and with the efforts of Putin's spy force. The campaign was conducted when we had already imposed sanctions against important friends of the Russian government.
This raises three questions. First, did the former know about the latter? Second, what did Mr. Trump know? Finally, what are the definitions of, "enemy," as in, "give aid and comfort to," and of "treason," as used in our Constitution?
12
Let's be clear. Republican House members and senators are trying to undermine Mueller's investigation. In so doing, they are not only undermining our democracy, they are aiding a hostile foreign power - Russia - in its ongoing efforts to influence our elections.
They control the House Intelligence Committee which has concluded its shame investigation of Russian meddling in our election
In coordination with Trump they released a memo with a biased interpretation of secret information claiming the Justice Department inappropriately investigated Trump campaign officials about their ties with Russia
Again in coordination with Trump the Republican representatives blocked Democrats from using the same information and releasing a memo to correct misstatements by the Republicans
Their reaction to hearing that more Trump campaign aides and managers are pleading guilty to lying about ties to Russian intelligence officers is to pressure the Justice Department's Inspector General to undermine these guilty pleas.
When news emerges that Trump considered pardoning Manafort and Gates, who just plead guilty, Republicans are silent.
When news emerges that Trump considered firing and is still considering firing Mueller, Republicans are silent.
Trump would not be able to do any of these things if House and Senate Republicans made clear that they will support his impeachment if he pardons such people or fires Mueller.
The only solution is to vote these Republicans out of office
31
Gates defense: Gee, he SAID he didn't belong to the GRU anymore, so I, like, believed him.....
9
I wonder why Mr. Mueller is leaking all of this information. Is he trying to show progress where there is only assumption and assertion? Or is it a case of feeding some clickbait to the mob?
1
The information is most likely being leaked by agents who do not want to see this investigation shut down as it is yielding the TRUTH of what happened.
Do you have a problem with truth?
3
The article said this was RELEASED, not leaked.
11
Mueller isn't "leaking" information. He's filing papers in court to prosecute people. Court records are and should be public.
10
I have talked to people who have talked to Russians. Come get me, Mueller!
1
If you were a senior official on the Trump campaign and your Russian friend worked for the GRU, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Mueller paid a call in you.
9
If this not treason then what is it. Ronald Reason is spinning in his grave that Putin pulls the lever of power in the US.
7
For national security's sake, we need to build a wall...a wall around Trump. Best of all, we won't have to pay for it! The entire world, except for perhaps Russia and Fox News, will chip in. Build the wall! Build the wall!
13
At the end of the film The Manchurian Candidate, Laurence Harvey is to shoot the gun to commit an assassination. Maybe in this possible real life Manchurian Candidate situation, Trump will shoot the gun down 5th Avenue to show that his followers still support him.
5
The only way to stop this is to get the money out of politics. A good way to start is to ban all campaign donations and finance them directly from our taxes. Shorten the election season and provide free limited ad time on TV and radio as part of their FCC public service requirements to lower the cost of running. Another thing is to end lobbying. Lobbying is bribery plain and simple.
If we don’t start making some changes along these lines nothing will,ever improve. Everything will keep getting worse.
111
And we can employ all the lobbyists that are out of a job as teachers of STEM subjects to keep them honest. Let lobbyists try to live on the money teachers make.
Ban campaign donations so legislators must work to legislate instead of working to get re-elected.
Make officials run on what they got done rather than promises of what they will do.
2
Last night on PBS Newshour Jimmy Carter was interviewed. He spoke also of big money distorting our election process. It is bribery. President Carter also spoke about how little is cost to run for president back in his time. Now individual voters are buried under piles of money making their needs so much less important than those of the Koch brothers. Super pacs are bad news on all fronts. Citizens United was probably the worst Supreme Court ruling since Jim Crow. Also KevinX you are absolutely right about shortening the election season. It is painful to endure and everyone should be able to evaluate the candidates at most in two months. No need for so much money. Far less time for candidates to suppress votes through the use of Facebook etc. Far less time for Russians to meddle. The 'information' era is speedy and our elections are longer...
8
The Supreme Court has aligned itself with the big money interests so I see little hope.
2
A talented novelist could weave such an interesting tale around these and other current facts coming to light lately.
Gates had contact with Person A and admitted he knew he was a former Russian intelligence officer. Gates was
the Trump campaign liaison with the Republican National Committee. Republicans in Congress either turning a "blind eye" to any evidence of collusion or working hard to discredit the investigation. Why?? Maybe, to protect Trump and keep his base happy in order to win future elections and retain power. Or could their reasons be more than just that? Devin Nunes should certainly be woven into the tale. He was a member of the transition team and certainly someone leading the charge against this investigation.
Paul Manafort would certainly be an interesting character. He is steadfastly defending charges of money laundering. Wonder why he won't cooperate since he is facing a stiff prison term? Maybe, he is relying on being pardoned. If I were the novelist, I'd concentrate more on his knowledge of what happens to people who cross the Kremlin. Poison nerve gas anyone!
Yes, someone with a good imagination could certainly weave this into an interesting tale. Then again, perhaps, not too much imagination is needed!
6
Is there anyone, I mean anyone, on Trump's campaign staff who didn't have contacts with Russian spies during the campaign?
20
I wish I knew what Mueller knows.
7
Yet another drop in the flood of evidence that a substantial Russia connection to the Trump family has existed for years.
Trump needs to defect now if we’re to have any chance of saving the economy and our democracy itself.
The FBI needs to provide a boat or plane to Trump for his safe departure from our country.
He will find plenty of women that suit his taste.
Schedule a new MissUniverse pageant for him to inspect there and he’ll never come back.
Bon Voyage Donald
8
Read the writing on the wall...Putin-remote controlled Trump is setting the U.S. up for Civil War II! It's a textbook psyop of trashing a democracy through class warfare. Once the objective is reached, "The forgotten ones," will be shipped off to re-education camps!
6
"Rick who? You mean, the guy who got us our coffee...?" - President Trump
7
Just wait till they indict his son. "The President is sure he's never met Don Jr. He only worked on the campaign for a short time."
8
And the saddest part is; it's too early to know if this is a low point in the history of our nation, or just the first data point on a long descending curve.
12
Many Democrats helped to lose the 2000 election because they thought they would get a notice from the NYTimes or the TV telling them, in time to change their vote, that he was polling too large a portion of votes.(?)
Unless Democrats do what Republicans do: vote at the polling place, bring ID of every description, bring along friends and relatives , all who are properly registered and NEVER_NOT EVER ,vote before an election or send in a mail vote! Mail votes are literally boxed, unopened. They are not ever counted-are usually disposed of in the garbage, once an election is "Called". But increasingly, Democrats have been voting months before elections by mail-then leaving our country to go to the old country, Europe or Asia. Vote and do it HERE!
Democrats didn't lose the 2000 election. Al Gore would have won the Florida recount. Republicans knew this, which is why the Supreme Court intervened along partisan lines to unconstitutionally stop the Florida recount and install George W. Bush as president. The language of the ruling is astoundingly Orwellian to behold; Bush just HAD to be declared the winner, otherwise he would suffer damage by not being the winner. Oh, and PS - The logic and results of this ruling are never to be used as the grounds for any future ruling. That was the day our Republic started dying.
13
I'm guessing that Boris Badenov and a speeding car full of blazing AR-15's will persuade Mr. Kilimnik to be more discrete in his future dealings.
1
Is Trump person A?
3
This article deserves a larger and more bold headline banner! Smoking guns everywhere -- it's going to alter our entire history!
7
An innocent President, hearing this for the first time, would launch his own investigation.
16
Sentencing documents are not put forward unless there is absolute proof the charges can be proved at trial. This is the beginning of a a systematic revelation of collusion with Putin operatives by The Trump campaign to influence the 2016 election. What did President Colludy McColludeface know and when did he know it?
12
Trump is guilty of money laundering.
He bought one Florida property for $45 million, and sold it to a Russian oligarch a couple years later for $95 million. (Bribery too?)
12
The smell test is all that is needed here. Why would any USA citizen involved in a candidate's political campaign have any reason to be in contact with any foreign national, benign or malicious? It doesn't pass the smell test at all. Those who would have us ignore the issue are equally treasonous to the nation.
9
NO COLLUSION, NO COLLUSION, NO COLLUSION....ok, so maybe a little but it didn't have any influence on the biggest election victory ever!
6
The facts, so that readers can decide if this is anything more than continued speculation, are missing: What did they talk about? It was a business associate. Business or was there something to compromise U.S. interests. Without facts, this is nothing more than an attempt to sow discord - doing Putin's bidding.
3
Fact: he was a Russian spy. His job: to spy, gather information he shouldn’t have, and do something with it that undermines the country he’s spying on or, at the least, help his own country best the country he’s spying on in an underhanded (ie illegal) way. Seems like he doesn’t have a legitimate reason to talk “business.”
7
So ten people with major responsibilities on Trump's campaign staff were talking to Russian operatives or others with ties to operatives or friends of Putin, anyway, high ranking Russians during the campaign. I find it hard to believe, with all these conversations flying around that when they had staff meetings, nothing was ever mentioned. If there was nothing there, why did it take so many people to find it out. The attraction must have been really strong for so many otherwise busy people to spend time on it, and of course, they all lied. What they were doing was wrong, they knew it, they all lied to cover it up. Too much Russia-related activity for Trump not to know.
33
And today it's reported that the Justice department (under political pressure) is investigating whether the FBI illegally wiretapped Carter Page, a person with known contacts to Russian Intelligence. Just whose side are Republicans on? I literally cannot believe the lengths they will go to to keep their jobs. To stay on the good side of Trump. And for what? At what cost? I am sure history will not treat them well but I pray that the voters will not either.
27
Mr. Mueller methodically collects and integrates facts but the likelihood of this resulting in the major participants (i.e., Manafort, Flynn, Kushner, Trump, Jr.) going to jail for collusion with a foreign power is probably not going to happen - Trump will pardon the entire dastardly lot. Or he will continue to create deflections, distractions and chaos in an attempt to derail the investigation. He also has the backing of Nunes and other GOP stalwarts (i.e., O'Connell) who are determined to upend this legitimate quest to bring closure to an issue which should concern all Americans - the collusion of the Trump campaign with a foreign operative, a treasonous act.
3
There was no collusion. The case gets weaker ever day.
1
Hey Robby - Collusion isn't a crime, but obstruction of justice is.
5
You're right. It's looking ever so much more like out-and-out conspiracy and treason.
14
Statements like these are laughable. Trump and the GOP accused Hillary Clinton of nefarious doings, and this is your response to this administration? You aren’t to be taken seriously.
15
The collusion and subsequent obstruction of justice by the Trump campaign is rather obvious at this point. I am beginning to wonder who in Congress has fallen to Putin as well: Devin Nunes is trying to avoid the truth; Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell do not seem to care if Congress exercises oversight on this issue or not; other members of the Republican Party are strangely silent. Is it more than just Trump and his people who are in cahoots with the Russians? It is starting to seem this way.
15
Hopefully, we are getting close to the end of this incredible low-point in the history of the U.S. presidency. I am not a fan of Mike Pence in any way, but he looks very good next to Donald Trump. Time to act Paul and Mitch!
1
Pence is just as scary as Trump! He is also involved. He lied to the American people when he said he didn't know about Flynn. He was the head of the transition team. Sally Yates and others notified him of illegal/dangerous activity and compromise of Flynn multiple times.
3
This investigation is slowly uncovering the ties between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence. It remains to be seen how much collusion actually occurred, and to what extent Trump was involved. Trump's associates are lying and they are stone-walling the investigation, which makes it unfortunately a slow process. Let's hope the truth is uncovered sooner rather than later.
21
This is indeed a huge deal. This is the first time we hear of an individual who directly connects Mr. Trump to Russian intelligence, before and after the election. This is a clear sign that the end is near. Soon Mr. Trump has to decide if he should resign or go through the impeachment process.
10
The problem being Trump in his past efforts to establish credibility with Russian business (to further his hotel empire) negligent in not realizing that every other Russian has some connection with Russian secret services. Jared Kushner also in the same bracket by associating with the wrong Russian crowd? Lets assume Trump guilty of being a bit too friendly with Russia and therefore impeached by popular demand. The damage done to the US Presidency as an institution would be immense in global terms. Who in their right mind would want to be the American President? Is that not the reason Trump got the job in the first place? Even with Hillary Clinton as president the lawyers would be crawling all over the place questioning her family foundation or her birth certificate? America wasting too much time on the time-honored tradition of Watergate special prosecutors?
People in the Trump Administration who claim to be Reaganite should know the late President Reagan would be rolling over in his grave if he knew what has transpired. When he said "tear down this wall," he was inviting the Russian and Soviet bloc to move closer to the American ideal of freedom and democracy. Now America has sold out her own ideal for a few rubles
16
Please do not automatically conflate or confuse all "America" and it's or her political standards or pretensions with those of the GOP and Donald Trump. As everyone-even the GOP-knows, if all registered Democrats had simply gone to the polls and voted for Hillary Clinton, without trying to mail the ballot a month early or to voe from a foreign country in the local US consulate, but had, like the Republicans who knew they were underpoweredrs Clinton would have crused Trump by millions of spare votes-just as Obama did in 2008 and again, in 2012.
Americans in the Democratic party hve become accustomed to getting what they desire and not having to work for it.
All politics, however, is about working to convince voters and even ones foes, that a particular choice is the right one-and that any other choice is a mistake. Afte '08 and '12, far too many Democrats, out of ignorance and sheer laziness, became convinced that they now were a permanent vote4r majority and could never be beaten.
We forgot about our-"Electoral college". Few actually know how, or even why it works. Fewer can explain why it remains, not, long ago, re-purposed to line the trash can of the "political ash heap"-(where Capitalism was supposed to go, when Communism eventually triumphed over all the world and we happily adopted the really bizarre system used by the old USSR.)
No, The USA and many other troubled democracies are still useful and good-this is just voter indigestion.-it too will pass. . .
1
Not so fast. Those same Reaganites would applaud tax cuts, the dismantling of the government and an increased military budget.
3
Yet another drip in the flood of Trump collusion
29
So where are the indictments?
There have been multiple indictments. Others will come. This type of investigate takes a lot of time, just as Watergate did.
8
McConnell and Ryan, in their complicity via inaction, in their dereliction of the duties they swore an oath to perform, would do well to consider what their legacies will be in the pages of American (and possibly, global) history.
Their own descendants are like to look upon them as subjects of shame and best forgotten.
54
Shamed yes, forgotten no.
4
I will never defend Trump but the link that an acquaintance of someone linked to someone in the Trump campaign is too tenuous. How many degrees of freedom links the average DC insider to a former Russian intelligence officer?
4
Except there are so many of them.
Coincidence?
3
Either you are joking or conducting business under a bridge.
4
That's only one degree of freedom. Kilimnik was a spy and Gates was a campaign official communicating with him! (Yes, the Times says Kilimnik "had active links to Russian spy services" but that's the way Russian and American operatives work--"Once CIA, always CIA".)
2
The picture of what happened continues to emerge bit by bit and day by day. And the question of time is really critical to this whole national ordeal we are going through. What will happen in the midterms? Will enough people of conscience populate our branches of government to withstand and ultimately vanquish Trump and his treasonous enablers? It remains to be seen.
Never in my life did I imagine I would live in such a compromised nation.
NEVER.
211
I feel the dividing of our beautiful country began with the controversy about abortion. More than ever we must endeavor to maintain the separation between church and state.
2
Remember when what Dan Rostenkowski did seemed so awful?
1
The amount of greed involved would surprise anyone.
2
It seems that Mr.Trump has only one chance left to escape the Mueller investigation: he must fire him to save himself and his family business. He will then be forced to resign and will get a pardon from Mr.Pence. I expect that to happen in the near future...unless he is arrogant enough to believe that he can handle Mr.Mueller basically without a competent defense team. Based on his “character” that might be quite possible.
15
I am afraid the Pence, Ryan, and McConnell are dirty too, and they will be charged for high crimes later. Dios mio!
5
So here is a hypothesis:
1. Putin did not want Hillary to win (plenty of baggage in that relationship), and wanted Trump to ultimately win (newbie/potentially pliant/was looking to brand Trump Moscow/Maybe he has something on Trump as well)
2. Putin put together a multi pronged plan to achieve this objective:
Strategy:
1. Disinformation and discord (Social media) amongst the electorate
2.Outreach and support to Trump campaign and offers of unsolicited guidance and intelligence that would help the cause. Some in the Trump campaign took the bait and some did not)
3. Active disinformation and benign sabotage of the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Tactics: We are all seeing the Assange/Facebook/Gates/Kushner threads.
Collusion? You decide. So bottom line - Putin played a long strategic game and accomplished his objective.
Thoughts?
30
Good summation but the sabotage was hardly benign.
6
Collaboration, not collusion.
3
The article states that Gates had conversations with Person A. It doesn't say what the conversation was about. While Gates was at the time with the Trump campaign, he could have easily been talking with Person A about the work he did with Person A in the Ukraine. This is story is grabbing for something, and it's not there yet.
5
The deputy campaign director for a US presidential candidate had conversations with a known Russian operative connected with the GRU during the presidential campaign. They were exchanging borscht recipes. Nothing to see there folks.
5
A third of americans voted for autocracy and do not care that a tyrant rules the country. Only a fool would think the 2018 election will fix anything knowing full well the 2016 election was already rigged.
#calexit
18
I give us about a 50-50 chance of avoiding disaster within the next 12 months. It all hinges on the November election and whether Democrats take enough seats to control the impeachment process.
24
Sadly, if Democrats control the house we can be assured there will be an impeachment process. After all, it would be nothing more than business as usual. Politics is ugly and cares little about facts or policy.
Is the memorandum also an effort to encourage cooperation from Mr. van der Zwann, one of the attorneys who worked worked with Gates and Manafort?
It certainly argues that Mr. van der Zwann should not be granted leniency.
As the filing notes, he lied and destroyed documents, and even tho his wife is now pregnant, " ... that circumstance would not preclude a term of incarceration ..."
The memorandum's mention of "Person A" and "additional payments" is certainly intriguing. More to come, no doubt.
13
Politics even worse than usual. The dirty ends justify the corrupt means. Machiavelli for President. The Greater of Two Evils. Got in bed with Russian Intelligence agents, but didn't collude. I don't recall those political slogans being used as part of Trump's Make America Great Again campaign, but that's unfortunately what we got.
11
Tomorrow's weather- widely scattered Twitter storms with a chance of firings.
22
Question to accompany the caption:
WHY is that man (i.e. Gates) smiling?
He's a documented liar, facing obstruction of justice, RICO-level conspiracy, and very likely treason charges!
He thinks that's a JOKE?
12
Book and movie rights.
1
While we do not yet know what Gates and the official communicated about. The volume and leaks to date make it impossible to chalk up to a nothing burger.
8
Drip, drip, drip.
A flood in the making?
12
Timing is everything. Robert S. Mueller III presents his findings and concludes his investigation by this October and congress is faced with damning findings not in favor of 45. Republican congress says, nothing to see here. Next thing, Mid-Term elections, House is majority Democrats, Senate may still be Republicans by a smaller margin. Boom, next thing, wheels of impeachment are in motion.
Something is rotten at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
15
In Trump World, the blows keep coming.
The porn star and her lawyer are escalating with their case. Another Republican legislator says he's quitting. He can't defend Trump's conduct.
Maryland and D.C can proceed to sue Trump over his emoluments violations, such as his DC Hotel and getting richer from the oval office.
Mueller finds Trump staffer Rick Gates was engaging with Russia’s military intelligence while with the campaign. Direct link to Russia.
Trump's departed lawyer Dowd raised possible pardons for Flynn + Manfort, likely demanded by Trump, likely obstructing justice via corrupt intent.
Right as Mueller was building his case!
Yet another Trump cabinet chief had taxpayers fund his fancy personal trips and is getting the boot, as Trump's top comms staffer leaves her position this week. Is that all? No! There's more!! When do investigating reporters sleep?!
19
Pete from West Hartford is correct, he said,
" GOP has already decided--> by not legislating to protect Mueller they are signaling to Trump that they want Trump to fire him."
No one seems to be grasping that Mueller cannot take a chance on these Republicans in Congress. He KNOWS that they are ALL guilty...From covering for Trump, on the low-end, all way up to "Electronic Vote Tampering". Ever since 2000 -Bush vs Gore-
RNC thru Rove & Diebold et al, they are all guilty of it....& THEY ALL knew about it. Must read,
"Code Red: Computerized Election Theft..."
by J.D. Simon (free to read w/Amazon prime).
Mueller HAS to wait until after Mid-term elections. He knows that he cannot take a chance by indicting Trump, only to have this Republican congress do absolutely NOTHING (except turn on him & FBI/DOJ)...
Mueller cares too much for the Rule of Law & KNOWS that without at least one House of Congress being under Dem's control, it is FINISHED in USA...All thats left will be the shooting!
15
"Tied to Russian Intelligence" is an understatement. Known Russian intelligence agent (and known by Mr Gates to be a former GRU agent) is more accurate.
16
Thanks to Ken Vogel’s reporting, we have known about KK and his GRU coonection for some time: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/paul-manafort-ukraine-kiev-russia...
10
Our government is now run by traitors -- not just in the White House, but you too, McConnell and Ryan. One day the NRA will not be able to cover for you. They are/will be too busy recruiting in Russia and other despotic regimes. We see that you have nothing to show in terms of checks and balances and have been complicit in keeping it that way.
28
How deliciously ironic that Mueller's investigation is playing out like Dostoyevski's "Crime and Punishment". Mueller is Porfiry Petrovich to Trump's Roskolnikov. Like Columbo and Porfiry, Mueller can afford to drag this out, leaking tidbits of damning evidence that will confuse and provoke our paranoid and unstable RaskolniTrump into confessing. I'm waiting for the "Few Good Men" Moment.
14
Trump will fire Mueller by Easter. How about a Good Friday night execution?
Manafort is a Russian agent and Trump will pardon him.
Mueller knows almost everything Trump knows and Trump knows that he is guilty. Mueller is toast and Congress will do nothing to stop Trump.
The only chance to beat Trump is to throw out all of his supporters in Novemebr.
16
Sessions will give him the kiss of death, and Ryan will wash his hands of it all. It's Comey, McCabe, and in the middle Mueller on Golgotha.
Where will this end? A prosecution of the president for treason.
20
Heaven knows how many more "useful idiots" work for or on behalf of Mr. Trump. I'm certain what we've seen thus far -- Paul Manafort, Mike Flynn, Roger Stone, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump Jr., Carter Page (did I miss anyone?) -- are just the tip of the veritable iceberg.
9
The porn star payoff story has been fun, but the real stories are still going on. Don't be distracted
12
Donald Trump et al. Corrupt, unpatriotic, liars, inept.
Thanks Trump supporters. You had no idea what you were doing.
13
MIMA: I always knew that trump was a crook, a liar, bombastic, ridiculous, outrageous, corrupt, a sexual predator...and that the GOP has stunk (corrupt, cruel, dishonorable) to high, holy hell for many long years...but that he and his buddies are in league with the Russians...THIS I never dreamed. I guess if you cannot get any more loans from American banks because you keep going bankrupt, and the Russians offer you plenty of $$$$$ dough, prostitutes, and God knows what else...you will launder their money, obstruct justice, commit treason...and God knows what else...
14
It is articles like this one that clearly confirms why no reputable lawyer - and no matter how high powered - is willing to represent Trump let alone sit with him across the table from Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III.
And by the way, I hope Pence is investigated as well. It is utterly implausible that Pence did not know what was going on with Russian influence and I certainly do not want him sitting in the Oval Office either as he appears to be tainted as well.
114
But there's NO COLLUSION. NO COLLUSION. Everybody knows that there's NO COLLUSION.
27
You have to wonder whether the Republican National Committee was either an unwitting or witting accomplice in the Trump campaigns numerous contacts with Russian intelligence agents. Were they helping the Trump campaign coordinate the smear of Hillary Clinton?
The politics of the Russsia investigation do not fully account for the strange behavior of both Paul Ryan and Devin Nunes in attempts to discredit Mr. Mueller and the FBI. Nunes is obvious in his efforts while Ryan stands by and allows his House Intelligence Committee to do the dirty work of supporting Trump in his efforts to obstruct the investigation. Why? What is the GOP leadership trying to hide?
59
What they trying to hide? Perhaps only their deep ambitions. Trump goes and maybe the self-proclaimed but non-practicing pillar of public virtue, the Veep. So then who's the constitutionally ordained president? Why, Paul Ryan, of course!
Yeah, I know, it's a stretch. But when did you ever think the current situation with the President could ever happen? Or, that neither major party could come up with a baggage-free candidate in 2016?
5
Because the Russians also hacked the GOP? Whatever the Russians have on them hangs over every decision they make regarding protecting Trump.
5
When all is said and done, Trump will have been found to be the first American president co-opted by an enemy of the United States.
It may take years beyond his actual term but history has a way of getting to the bottom of a story. This president's sordid past: his sexual profligacy, his consuming need for money and, oddly fame and celebrity and finally his genuine lack of a political intellect will be his downfall.
The much greater story is how intelligent men and women looked the other way when it was time call evil by its name. They will take their cowardice to their graves.
Donald J. Trump will be nothing but a long footnote in the story of our times.
93
Thank you for this concise comment. Intelligent people looked the other way, and in some cases, got on the bandwagon with him. People like Ryan, McConnell, and the rest of the so called leadership are all tainted as well.
26
Evil is a strong word for what the GOP is doing. But saying that, it is certainly dark and un-patriotic, revealing what people have done throughout History for self-interest, and yes, at times through evil acts. These politicians are just humanly foolish, greedy and short-sighted, ignorant of man's real purpose here on earth which is service to humanity. This era of Trump is a great wake-up call for Americans to look deeply inside of our own history. We can see this Trump stain upon it today, and make the choice to become a flexible and honest society, one person at a time.
One reason that Trump has temporarily taken power is because he has called forth that 'fear of the other'. He believes, as do some like John Bolton, that the other is 'bad'. They must be 'bad', because as we feel so 'bad', they must be 'bad' too. Substitute 'bad' with any noun you wish, but this is the way in History that leaders have always misbehaved. They project everything.
Anyone who watches Trump's behavior with objectivity can see that he hates himself deeply within. He projects all that self-hatred to anyone outside of his family unit. Hitler also did this. One doesn't have to be Freud to see this.
Thank you for your original commentary, and let's be better persons, one at a time. It's our only hope.
114
To cloudsandsea: I really liked your comment.
3
There is a fairly good series on Netflix, and it is about a soft Russian occupation of Norway. Just search for Occupied on Netflix if you are interested, and although it is mostly in Norwegian, it is worth watching to see what a government is like when it is controlled by Russians. They mostly got it wrong, but I am hopeful that a good writer is piqued by Trump, and will begin to write a a really good series on how Russian would occupy America.
16
We can only hope that the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh emrge in the investigation. I understand that Hannity and Trump speak often and that the President seeks his advice .
20
"I understand that Hannity and Trump speak often and that the President seeks his advice ."
Amazing. Incredible. Outrageous. Off the wall. One world class liar advising another world class liar.
8
More contacts with Russians??! Can't say I'm surprised. But read the underlying filing by the Government. Gates talked to a long time Russian business partner of his. Not much news in that. What's news is that the business partner was a Russian government agent. Also, not terribly surprising. Was it conspiracy, collusion, fraud against the US Government? Who knows. But what is becoming very clear is that the Trump campaign organization was vulnerable to (and may have been penetrated by) Russian 'probing.' It speaks very poorly of their personnel management and vetting, something we are seeing almost every day when it comes to senior White and Government officials in the administration. What's past is prologue.
19
Five years from now the movie/documentary will be fascinating to watch and many of its real life characters will watch it from their jail cells.
22
Is it foreign "interference" in a US presidential election if that "interference" was courted by invitation from a presidential campaign? That we are even debating the question of collusion after more than a year of growing evidence of it, much of which has emerged from the president's own mouth during and after his campaign, is absurd.
Hillary Clinton was wrong about many tings during her campaign, but calling Trump "Putin's puppet" during the second debate was exactly on-target. If only she and her campaign team had dogged Trump's bizarre bromance with Putin more, um, doggedly, with the same mercilessness as Trump displayed with his "crooked Hillary lock her up" trope.
The major difference between such GOP and Democratic campaign bile would be that the Dems' accusation would have been backed up by hard evidence.
21
The attempts to collude with Russia and undeniable. Trump’s only defense at this point is to argue that those attempts did not result in actual collusion. Which is just as treasonous and so much sadder.
18
I believe that even "attempts" to collude with Russia in this type of political situation is considered actual collusion...or, rather, criminal conspiracy. If you ATTEMPT treason...You are a traitor. If you ATTEMPT murder, you go to prison if you are caught.
5
It's startling that none of these corrupt and criminal associations and business practices might have come to light had Donald lost the election.
Just how scandal-ridden must international business be before Congress imposes strict ethical regulation?
23
"Just how scandal-ridden must international business be before Congress imposes strict ethical regulation? "
Congress may certainly be "in" on the scandals and as a result, complicit in the cover ups, so they would have no intention of imposing strict ethical regulation from something that is to their benefit...or something that they are pretending does not exist. By the way, LOVELY bunch, Congress, ey?
9
The smoke grows thicker, the blaze of the fire behind it, hotter. Bob Mueller, "if If it’s what you say I love it!"
15
Republicans keep saying there was no collusion, there's nothing to investigate. Then how do they explain all the contacts between Trump advisers and Russians connected to the government and intelligence agencies? Just a lot of coincidences? Or perhaps they'd rather no one find out the truth.
17
"Or perhaps they'd rather no one find out the truth."
Eric, you hit the nail on THE head!
6
this all sure fits the "Webster's" definition of "collusion":
"a secret agreement, especially for fraudulent or treacherous purposes; conspiracy"
18
Republicans you are standing at the edge of the pier and Trump is a big rock tied around the neck of the Party.
My advice is to cut the rope now, before its too late. Not that long ago Trump was a Democrat making donations to the Clintons. Trump throws all of his allies under the bus eventually, and that bus is aimed squarely at you. Do you really want to stake the future of your party on a liar and conman?
I don't expect you to take my advice and will enjoy watching the party follow its worse instincts down the sewer, but I offer this advice anyway for the good of the country.
38
Now with DNA testing widely available, Mueller should subpoena that we all be tested because it’s plausible that many of us have a Russian gene or two that we were unaware of and that could conceivably link us to Russia and any vote by such person therefore a link in this whole conspiracy. At the rate he’s going we may all be behind bars before this is over.
2
Don't quit your day job. Comedy needs to be less strained than this.
7
Your attempt at satire and minimizing the findings, convictions and plea bargains thus far in the investigation is fatuous. Your comment reveals ignorance of the nature and level of a Russian who was part of Russian military intelligence. You should make a better study of the results of the investigation thus far.
You might start by reading the court filings Mueller has made to-date.
You should also get a lesson in the A,B,C,s of the law. For example, the crime of making false statements only applies when a defendant has lied to law enforcement about a thing material to an investigation.
If Flynn had told the FBI that he had Cheerios for breakfast, when in reality he had eaten a scrambled egg, that would not cause Mueller to charge him with making false statements.
Similarly, none of the Russians thus for indicted or involved with the Trump campaign and mentioned in Mueller’s court filings are random Russian immigrants living and working in New York.
11
Mueller is showing more and more how vast was the "effort" to compromise the 2016 election on the part of TrumPutin. Thanks to independent press and their great integrity, the facts are coming out and it's becoming safe to say that Trump's days are counted.
24
The corruption and treason runs deep and it doesn't stop in the WH. It's in the Congress -- Nunes, Sessions (even before he became AG) and others whose silence is deafening. Why would any Republican in Congress cling to Trump and refuse to step forward unless they too are part of the corruption? Owned by the same people who own Trump?
Leavenworth won't be able to hold all the criminals that will ultimately be exposed by the Mueller investigation.
22
They should all be required to show their taxes. The corruption doesn’t end at the White House.
"At the time of the calls, Mr. Gates was the Trump campaign’s liaison to the Republican National Committee and, before that, he was the campaign’s deputy chairman."
Gates was promoted to that position when Manafort, revealed by the press to be dirty, was allowed to resign (AGAIN -- Not fired by Trump who is scared of personal confrontation) from that duty.
Gates was Manafort's right-hand man. Keeping him on was virtually keeping Manafort on.
So Gates was already known to be compromised by the Trump camp at this juncture.
Though for them, "compromised" meant "connected."
60
if Hillary Clinton had won, and it was then determined that Russian intelligence was instrumental in manipulating her victory, would Republicans concede defeat and allow her to govern?
The 2016 election was compromised with the full knowledge and assistance of the Trump campaign. the democratic process was subverted, and corrections must be made. if the entire election must be voided, then so be it, and let that be a lesson to those who would attempt to manipulate American democracy.
229
I do think that, if the Russian intelligence is proven to have helped Donald Trump, that the election should be voided.
3
not a chance of a redo.
not a day goes by that I don't blame Bernie's babies and bullies for staying home on Election Day.
31
Bravo! well said. Let the heads role.
2
Will Trump dish out pardons to these people to protect himself from indictment? It seems that if they believe they will be pardoned then they have no reason to provide any further evidence to assist Mueller’s uncovering any possible crimes committed by Trump and family.
23
Will he? You can't be serous. Of course he will. And he will resign just before leaving so that Pence will pardon him. Trump isn't so dumb as to rely on the nonsensical speculation that a chief executive could pardon himself. Then he will have New York justice because almost all the federal violations have state analogs. And he won't elect a jury trial. New York prosecutors are already salivating.
7
If he tries it and isn't removed from office, then the country is finished.
10
Actually, pardons would be good, because those pardoned no longer have Fifth Amendment protection, and are then required to testify honestly subject to perjury. A State AG could subpoena them for any election issue.
6
I've hammered ad-nauseum on this point but it's worth remembering the conversation taped in the Summer of 2016 with Paul Ryan & Kevin McCarthy laughing away about Russians funding Republicans and the hacked DNC emails posted by WikiLeaks. Remember this odd Republican Con-fab ended with Paul Ryan's demanding ALL present pledge silence. I'd be willing to bet this version of the once grand old Republican Party won't protect Robert Mueller's or his Investigation because it's more than likely it doesn't just implicate Trump and his co-opted Administration but reveal other Republicans had Russian ties because they can't win a majority anymore without cheating.
176
I do remember reading about this conversation. Perhaps this will come out in the wash as well.
14
An indicator that the fix was in? Add to that how cocky McConnell was about denying Obama the Supreme Court appointment. Just how complicit is the GOP?
11
Regarding that conversation, Paul Ryan behaved dishonorably over it when the Washington Post called him to ask about it.
The WaPo described the conversation to Ryan and Ryan said that the discussion never took place.
The reporter then told Ryan that WaPo had a recording of it.
Ryan then claimed that the discussion had been a joke.
Afterwards, Ryan fumed and railed against the recording having been made.
It was made a former CIA operations manager who had gone on to become a senior advisor on national security to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The man who made and then released the recording obviously did not think that the conversation was just a joke.
12
What I don’t understand is how come all of this is only coming out now? Manafort has had dealings in Eastern Europe for years and Trump has been dealing with Deutche Bank since the 1990’s. Deutche Bank has been fined on more than one occasion for violating US sanctions. Yet no one thought to investigate Trump’s relationship with this bank or the other financial shenanigans the great businessman has pulled all his life. Our law agencies are able to easily find evidence of wrong doing by those of us down in the trenches and putting us in jail. However, Trump and all his rich buddies have gotten away with breaking the law for years.
I hope Mr. Mueller catches Trump and all the others who have had shady dealings with the Eastern Europeans or have broken the law. Trump and friends belong in jail.
Thank you Mr. Mueller! You have shown thru your actions that you have integrity; something Trump and friends lack.
51
Nixon was impeached for abusing the power of his office, trying to cover-up criminal acts by some of his henchmen, violating his oath of office, and obstructing justice: all of which are activities unbecoming the president of our nation.
At no point do I recall any suggestion that he was closely involved with a nation not only hostile to our nation but also our allies. Nor do I recall evidence of his, or his associates, having colluded with a hostile nation to influence our election. Nor did he engage people in his campaign who had close business and financial ties to a hostile nation. Nor was their concern that he and/or his family had suspicious dealings with hostile nations, including having borrowed large amounts of debt. There was never a suggestion that he, his family, and his friends were using his position of power to increase their financial holdings. Nor did he appoint family members and associates to key offices who lacked the knowledge and experience to fulfill the requirements of their posts. Nor did he insult our allies. Nor did he break pacts with other nations. Nor did he admittedly lie to a neighboring national leader. Nor did he incite divisiveness between American people. And on and on and on . . . .
At what point do we admit we have a major problem leading our nation ruin? It's time to cut our losses and rid ourselves of Trump, et al. Nixon was honorable enough to resign. Trump has no honor.
113
Nixon was an adamant anti-communist who had Kissinger to advise him, along with other strong advisers. Trump and his supporters are deeply pro-Russian with only Trump and Fox News to advise them.
34
and they keep on quitting, resigning, or back-peddling. We as a nation are in serious trouble to condone this.
10
Nixon quit before he could be impeached.
2
This is another example of information that is "discovered" after having been "discovered" over a year ago. This guy was known to be ex-GRU and was known to be working for Manafort.
Do you notice that there is no claim of having cooperated or conspired on anything dealing with the US election campaign?
People are making an evidentiary leap here.there is no evidence of any attempt to subvert the US election here.
Besides Manafort only worked with the campaign 2 or 3 months.
You have to have evidence, not just insinuation.
4
Hmmmm...
Let’s see A Trump Campaign Chairman with an international consulting business with a Russian agent or cut out.
3
Yes, they were just playing tiddlywinks together.
4
Then why did they all lie about it?
4
Republicans, leave Trump’s side while you still can. And don’t be wish-washy about it. Be very clear that Trump has committed many, many crimes against individuals and our nation. Otherwise you will be certainly be voted out in any area that is not immorally gerrymandered.
55
Please. Congress has another 10+ days of vacation.
Nothing is going to happen.
Nothing is going to change.
They will hack the November election and Trump will declare that it's void. And that he's president for life.
Mitch will do everything he can to assist.
These men are traitors to the United States.
10
Let’s see the bright side here. Mr. Mueller is a very very smart guy with unimpeachable (sorry - couldn’t resist) ethics and life. He is being thorough and painstaking. Right guy, right place. He will work until he is doneAnd when he is done, watch out. Til then, we can be patient.
37
There was no collusion.
Collusion is a "secret agreement of cooperation" and nothing about Trumps ties to Russia appear to have been a secret at all!!!
20
Why would Trump associates lie about ties to Russia if they didn't think it was secret?
1
The operative word here is not "secret," Johnny Reb; it is "TREASON."
2
The smoke is getting so thick and pervasive that Mueller's people must have to be working in oxygen masks.
40
This administration is illegitimate. It doesn't even matter whether this conspiracy actually won the election for them. Athletes get banned when they get caught doping, whether the doping actually helped or not. Intent is what matters. There is clear intent here. A foreign power attempted to subvert the US elections and conspired with the Trump campaign to do so. Our constitution has no mechanism for doing the right thing here. The right thing is new elections and jail time for some of these traitors.
71
You are correct about intent with the exception that it also must be proven and the mere want or desire of proof is no proof at all.
2
Trump only hires people who are willing lie for him, but they are not very good liars. Manafort is trapped by evidence that he is lying even as he maintains his innocence. So far everyone else, when presented with hard evidence of lying, is not so arrogant and overtly waiting for Trump to bail them out. I've got a message: the only person Trump is interested in saving is himself. And he himself will continue to lie and intimidate all the way to his near-certain indictment.
25
Like the saying goes "You lay with dogs, you get fleas". Gates and Mannfort knew Yanukovych was a criminal and Putin stooge, why would hey be surprised that his associates were less than honorable. There are so many layers upon layers of lies in the trump camp that it will take forever to unravel.
21
Yanukovych, whether you like him or not, was elected by the voters of Ukraine in what has been described as a fair election.
Trump was elected but that does not make him any less the liar.
1
Trump also ate dinner at a restaurant 15 years ago that had a Russian immigrant who was washing dishes in the back. That's when all the collusion started, according to anonymous sources.......
5
Stop; weak argument at best. Ignore this collusion and criminal activity at the risk of our democracy.
6
Failed attempts at humor will not change the reality of what the investigation is uncovering.
4
Actually, it was when they started funding his businesses.
10
Trump is patriotic ? Imagine if he wasn’t ?
5
If Trump is implicated and Pence, and Paul Ryan flies the Coop leaving Steve Scalise as Speaker.
Then this 2018 election may come down to Nancy Pelosi or Steve Scalise as POTUS.
As the say in East London UK -
"Stone the Crows"
3
Scalise will only be in there from when Ryan steps down (shortly) and until the new House is sworn in in January.
This way, Ryan will have positioned him to get a bigger pension, etc., because Scalise took one for the team. After that kind of serious injury, he will never be right, and would never be able to perform the full function of the Speaker.
2
Steve Scalise is not in the line of succession. If Trump, Pence, Ryan fall, it’s the president pro tempore if the Senate, Orrin Hatch, who succeeds. After him it’s the Secretary if State.
3
Trump-Gates-Russian spy operative: Correct me if I'm wrong. No president has ever been charged or tried on the charge of treason.
42
No president, including Trump, has ever been charged with treason.
1
It’s about time.
5
Well, Mr. Case...trump may be the very first president to be charged with treason! How proud he, his family, and his supporters will be! Now, THAT is something for the history books! It will be downright disgusting and deplorable.
2
What doesn't seem to be hitting home in some circles is that this is a direct threat to our national security. Our government agents go out into the field not knowing whether top officials in their own government might sell them out. Russians hack directly into our elections and critical infrastructure. Russian gangsters seem to have substantial influence on our government officials.
It's been said that traitors can exist only if we're at war. It seems pretty clear, however, that Russia has committed acts of war against us. Giving aid and comfort to them, particularly aid in committing those acts, constitutes, in my mind, treason.
615
Add to this that Trump has stated that NATO is obsolete, weakening all of the countries that oppose Putin’s aggression.
The Russians recently conducted a chemical weapons attack on a NATO ally. You might have read about it. Is Britain invoking the mutual defense clause of the NATO treaty? Nope. Because thoughtful NATO members doubt that Trump would rally to Britain’s side against Russia and, in doing so, he would neuter NATO irreparably.
It’s all part of Putin’s plan folks. MAGA!
20
Justin wrote: "It's been said that traitors can exist only if we're at war. It seems pretty clear, however, that Russia has committed acts of war against us. Giving aid and comfort to them, particularly aid in committing those acts, constitutes, in my mind, treason."
The plain language of the Constitution says either is an option. Art: III, Section 3: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, OR in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."
4
I couldn't agree more, thank you.
This president and all the president's men have one foot in incompetence, and the other foot in treason. The optimistic side of me hopes Mueller can prove which foot is being leaned upon most-heavily before it's too late.
6
If a government "ethics" committee recommended the firing of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe for "lack of candor" related to an article that appeared in the WSJ and Jeff Sessions (who lied before the Senate about previous contact with Russian authorities) carried out that recommendation a few hours before McCabe's scheduled retirement - what can we expect for people in the Trump campaign that worked directly with GRU operatives? As they say about both the CIA and the GRU (KGB, FSB, etc.) there is no such thing as a "former" agent. I guess the obvious followup question is what did Mr. "No Collusion!" DJT and the rest of his entourage know and when did they know it? And it's getting hard to fire Mr. Mueller... by the minute.
66
The GOP and the Trump administration are all traitors and every day something worst comes out. From Facebook, Microsoft,google all of these technology spying companies, at least I can now understand how and why there are so many rich people in this country, they have sold the rest of us out for millions.
Democracy of corruptions works for them all. When I listen to people go on and on about how they could never vote for Mrs. Clinton I want to say you to must be making lots of money on the side from selling out America. They are all traitors we cant build enough prisons to house all of them in. Midterms are coming and we all better be paying attention and voting for individuals who actually understand the constitution and want to represent Americans not the Russians or themselves.
44
Tony, You do realize that Meuller is a republican right? So if they are all crooks then one may not put any credibility in the investigation. Funny how that broad brush combines with reality to make one look quite foolish. Carry on as usual.
Conley: It is quite clear that Tony was not referring to Mr. Mueller in any way. Your remark was quite foolish. That being said, I will tell you that the view from HERE is that MOST republicans are crooks, and that they are aiding and abetting a criminal "president." I would say that our congress is "a joke," but there is nothing funny about the illegality and immorality of their behaviors vis-à-vis our nation and its citizens.
3
Elin, Tony said all republicans, Meuller is a republican, thus, he must be including mueller. Simple logic.
"...he served in the Russian Army as a linguist."
Right. Cause The Russian Army is so interested in linguistics. They're great sponsors of linguistic research. Pastrons of humanities...
Could they say cover job any more clearly?
Shheesh! These people...!
24
I get your point, but NSA and CIA employ lots of linguists.
A linguist saved the world in "Arrival"!
Linguists are also greatly involved in developing e-translation and AI-pattern recognition.
However, that's actually just the sort of research that spies , Facebook, and CA are interested in
Just imagine if someone on Barack Obama's campaign staff in 2008 or 2012 had spoken to unknown or mysterious Russians during the campaign. Republicans in Congress and Fox News would have been HOWLING for impeachment or charging him with treason.
What do we hear now from Congress and Fox? Crickets...
151
Clinton did this? Lock her up! Oh wait, Trump campaign did? So?
72
GOP, the party of double standards and betrayal of the American citizenry.
25
We're going to need a bigger Prison.
79
Seems perjury and obstruction of justice are side issues. Why isn't treason on the charge sheet?
37
Some letter writers to the NJT have stated that treason only applies to warfare, but the legal definition of treason in the U.S. includes rendering “aide and comfort” to the enemy. Is Russia an enemy? We have certainly regarded it as one for decades and it’s proven actions against us in recent years have accentuated that characterization. Mind you, I know the U.S. has taken actions against Russian interests that would provide the same characterization on the flip-side. Nonetheless, when speaking of U.S. interests, Russia has attacked our infrastructure, our voting systems, and Russian dissidents on our own soil (not just in the U.K.!). And the mountain of evidence that Trump and his campaign have worked with the Russian government and highly connected oligarchs is increasing every day. I understand that Republicans have done their best to deny the patently obvious in order to retain power. But they have done so at great cost to America. They are aiding and abetting a traitor and they know it.
13
Big investigations often work on the same principles as the Death of a Thousand Cuts.
Yes, Peter, I would say that if a foreign power is encouraging operatives in our US government to do things that are harmful to our nation, and to our citizens, which Russia IS DOING, and if a foreign power interferes in our electoral processes, which Russia HAS DONE, (proven) then that foreign power is a hostile foreign power, and an enemy of The United States. If people in our government (or anywhere in our nation) are helping that hostile, foreign power to get away with/cover up/continue with these dangerous, criminal misbehaviors, and are flagrantly protecting and HELPING the hostile, enemy, foreign power, then those people are guilty of treason. That these traitors STILL retain power in our government is BEYOND BELIEF.
22
This story has a strong smell of treason about it.
Has there ever been an innocent party with so much power at his finger tips proclaim so many times how unfair this investigation is? How crooked the investigation is? How compromised the investigators are? They are all democrats! (A huge lie.)
Trump reeks of two odors. The smell of treason and a reek of obstruction with notes of money laundering.
If the GOP where wise they would impeach him with what they all know. But then we know the GOP is in part guilty of this treason and foreign influence and are hoping beyond hope of a miracle like war. Which Bolton might just give them.
Dangerous times when good men and bad men do evil against the nation.
Prayers won't fix this one.
70
You can't even say the writing's on the wall.
There's a painted mural on the wall at this point.
It's frustrating, but I think Mueller might just be holding back as Trump Camp further implicate themselves that once he takes then down, they'll hot the ground with an audible splat!
So,I'll continue waiting in the wings with the little patience I have left and keep observing this sideshow that has become our nation!
23
"Never interfere with the enemy when he is in the process of destroying himself."
3
But "her emails" right?
The Trump campaign has many members who have committed treason, possibly including Trump himself. I hope justice hits these people like a ton of bricks. They need to be made examples of.
69
This so called president makes Tricky Dick look like a choir boy. The electors and Congress should be ashamed of themselves for certifying the election of this traitor. The Republican Party has lost all credibility. This is not just a matter of impeaching Don the Con but his entire illegitimate administration. Gorsuch needs to be removed from the Supreme Court, if he has any integrity he will resign when Trump and his band of traitors are tried for treason and deported to the Soviet Union. I’m sure Putin will roll out the red carpet. I hear there are lovely accommodations in Siberia.
Congress, pass a law making all Presidential candidates publicly disclose all tax returns, business affiliates, and foreign interests prior to declaring their candidacy. Oh, let’s make anyone running for government office do the same.
Mr. Mueller just follow the money. Get those tax returns. There is a reason he refused to release them. Trump is a crooked as they come.
57
Doesn't this offer constitute attempted bribery?
13
I don't vote for Republicans but I'd vote for Robert Mueller.
45
I’m relatively liberal voter from Vermont and he has my vote.
4
Which Trump associate did not speak to Russian operatives?
42
Hey Congress, it's probably a good time to put together a bill to protect Mueller. How could any reasonable person read this story and say "Oh that's normal a campaign official is talking to a former Russian intelligence officer"?
26
Alex van der Zwaan, is the son-in-law of German Khan the owner of Putin's biggest piggy bank, Alfa Bank. Alfa Bank and the server in Trump Tower were dancing with each other during the campaign. The lawyer for Alfa Bank and Trump Transition advisor, Brian Benczkowski, "investigated" the dance and concluded: "nothing to see". Trump has nominated Benczkowski to run the Criminal Division at DOJ. When asked if he would recuse himself from the Russia/Mueller Investigation he told the Judiciary Committee: “I cannot commit to such a recusal at this time.”
Indeed, not a thing to see here....at least until Team Mueller lays it all out in indictments.
51
Of course they did, that's already been proven.
We just need one of them to roll on Teflon Don.
Just have to think about Teflon Don ruining (running) or country or Pence.
The evangelicals would fire teflon to get pence at the healm.
It may be already under way
13
You know something, I think the charges against Trump will be the most serious high crimes and treasonous. On top of all that, Trump is defending himself without adequate legal counsel.
We don't know the facts but there is so much noxious smoke, I think there is a high probability that Trump will be given a prison sentence.
24
The most notable thing is that the same people keep reappearing in multiple storylines.
So, there is a server in Trump Tower communicating with Alfa Bank, Betsy DeVoss's (Erik Prince's) family medical business, and Cambridge Analytica. Then Erik Prince meets with Russians in the Seychelles. Then Erik Prince is a co-founder of a spin-off of Cambridge Analytica (Emerdata) with his friend from the Seychelles, Nix, the Mercers, etc. Then the Mercers funnel money into Cambridge Analytica through Bolton's SuperPAC. Then the guy with the original idea to use the personality test scam on Facebook was working for a company founded by a Facebook stakeholder. And then, of course, Van der Zwann is the son in law of the Russian Oligarch who started Alfa Bank. Etc. Etc. Etc. Just throw in the NRA funding, the Cambridge Analytica foreign agents running who knows how many GOP campaigns for the last 6+ years. The silence of nearly every elected Republican, etc.
It just goes in circles and circles within circles!
51
This article would be more useful if it mentioned that Manafort met Kilimnik on August 2nd, 2016, in NY, for a 2 hour meeting, after Kilimnik flew in with messages from oligarch Deripaska. (He seems, in fact, to have flown in on one of Deripaska's jets.) The Times has also reported on the emails exchanged btw the men before the meeting, leaving little doubt that Kilimnik was coming to Manafort -- then head of Trump's campaign -- with a deal from Deripaska.
In short, Kilimnik represents a smoking gun of collaboration between Manafort (the Trump campaign) and Russian oligarchs (along with GRU).
There's much more in the public record about these crucial couple days in early August, the Times needs to do better connecting the dots.
27
Interesting, but it doesn't really matter at this point. I wonder if Mueller already knows how the story is going to end and that is why he is going so slow? Only time will tell, but Trump (even if the worst is true and he is indicted for treason) is small potatoes compared to the stuff that has been going on in this country.
9
I think he's going to go just as long as he can collecting evidence to cement his case.
Word is that he has a deadman's switch such that, the moment he is fired, all the indictments are filed. Trump must suspect this and he is merely forestalling the inevitable.
2
Of course the Russians interfered! The real question is: so what? Trump has been consistent in rejecting the view that Russia is an enemy.
If not an enemy, then Russia is just a foreign country, and Israel sets the gold standard for foreign countries that meddle. Since Israel is beyond criticism, on what basis can we criticize Russia?
4
Beautiful presentation of Whataboutery! Nicely done, you did not say, "what about?"
2
Of course "Trump has been consistent in rejecting the view that Russia is an enemy." Trump is Putin's puppet. Our Intelligence community understands that Russia is our most powerful enemy. They also probably understand that Trump is a traitor. I don't know what will be a better nick-name for the President in 2O2O... should it be Dishonest Donald or Traitorous Trump? Of course it is unlikely that he will still be around it for the next election.
4
Russia was on a decent path of world citizenry until Putin got into office. he considers every other nation beneath him, mere rookies on the word stage. His sole desire is to return Russia to the power level of the former CCCP. That his nation now has a lower GDP than Italy or France makes him just that more ornery. He's a trained intelligence officer. He has his hands on strings we can only imagine.
4
Well, well... What were people saying about Mueller's job being over months ago? Nothing left to find?
Hogwash.
44
What is equally perplexing and threatening to our democracy is the silence of this GOP Congress. The egregious acts of Trump's Team of Corruption, from the time of the campaign through the present day, mind you, are so blatantly a betrayal of our Constitution that they border on treason. Most thinking people of this nation have come to expect this of Trump and his greedy, amoral abetters. But this Congress, its silence or downright Nunes-style defiance, is an absolute disgrace. If this were Obama or Hillary Clinton, McConnell et al would have them both behind bars by now. Yet this Republican legislative branch and its rabid electorate enable a bigoted, misogynistic, egomaniac of a "president," a word that for years to come will be tainted because of the man who now fraudulently has that title.
64
The tRump team crossed the "border" of treason a long time ago. The complicit Republicans in Congress are no more than blind, deaf, and mute evil monkeys.
18
"What is equally perplexing and threatening to our democracy is the silence of this GOP Congress."
I can only imagine two possible answers:
1) Serving the donor class with tax cuts and favorable regulation is so important to GOP members of Congress that the defense of basic pillars of our republic and our nat'l security takes a back seat, or
2) Many of the GOP members of Congress are implicated.
15
Russian espionage puts Americans at risk...you'll recall that Russian hackers infiltrated America's critical infrastructure (such as power plants and nuclear generators), according to the Department of Homeland Security. Energy Secretary Rick Perry confirmed the Kremlin cyber-attacks to lawmakers the day after the report was released March 15. Earlier this month, the WSJ reported that Russia-backed actors "flooded social media to try to block Mitt Romney from securing a top job in the incoming administration." Mr. Romney is a known Russia hawk. In July of 2017, Congress OVERWHELMINGLY (House vote: 419-3; Senate 98-2) passed a bill giving Congress the power to block any effort by the White House to weaken sanctions on Russia. Sally Yates was fired for telling the White House that Michael Flynn was "compromised with the Russians." The list of people tied to the campaign who have lied about contacts with Russians keeps on growing. Now this. When will Trumpers put country first?
38
At this point, I am probably a suspect in the Russia probe because I watched "Rocky 4" movie and rooted for the Commie to beat Sylvester Stallone in a fictional boxing match.
3
Har har har... Anything of substance to offer?
2
Oh no - do we have GatesGate?
1
Is this really big news relating to Trump or just an extension of Gate’s pattern of bad behavior after being indicted last year “for money laundering and other financial crimes” relating to the Ukraine
1
Please pardon them all, and end this nonsense once and for all.
1
Is this known as “treason”?
7
Peter so you think that having Russian interference in the US elections etc is just “nonsense”?
16
Adrian, do you think that carrying plane load of cash to Italy in 1947 to subvert Italian elections was ‘nonsense’?
I can’t help but feel a bit of schadenfreude at all this nonsense about Trump. We must accept that, indeed, what goes around does come around. Eventually.
1
I hope it was US$. Probably got a good exchange rate.
It's wonderful to watch Mueller methodically connecting dots.
163
Mueller has three more years to connect the dots. I think he is chasing the dots, that are far too many for him to connect. The authors of Russian Roulette claim that the evidence is so overwhelming and so obvious, that it looks like Mueller is trying to help the president by going on and on.
The "gone native" quote is a term misused by the speaker but also a bit misleading. If you read the actually court document, you'll see the statement was criticizing van der Zwann for pre-releasing a report to PR firms against the wishes of his client. He was later fired for this and other indiscretions. This intersects with Gates and Manafort because van der Zwann even wrote talking points for them on the content of the report. Presumably "Person A" was the go between.
The only really interesting part is the Trump campaign was still actively engaged in conversations with Person A in 2016. Also, van der Zwann kept recordings of various conversations using his law firm's equipment. Definitely interesting but not much enough to draw too many conclusions. This could be old news that bled forward into 2016. I'm not sure yet. Mueller appears to have thrown the book at van der Zwann though. As much as he can anyway.
What I really want to know: Who else has been recording their phone conversations?
10
As we read and write about what they did, it's fair to assume that, now somewhat in control (despite the bullying, haranguing and politicized leadership), like a toddler with hands on the levers of power, can we get caught up with what might be happening in real time as the midterms approach?
8
Really now, are we surprised by this? Is there even one, just one, tRumpeteer who was not involved in one way, shape or form with RUSSIANS?
34
In case a reminder is needed here, the Republican National Committee suspiciously changed their policy platform on Russian involvement in the Ukraine during their convention. What this means is, the GOP has, in all likelihood, put American foreign policy up for sale. The shorthand word (that comes to my mind) for that is: treason.
428
As I recall, that change in the platform was at Manafort's insistence.
65
It may be difficult to remember now, but the Trumpskis for the longest time denied any contacts with Russians. And yet, drip by drip, they have been exposed as liars. Nothing they say can be believed.
184
Shall we practice —-“Lock Them Up!”
19
We have met the enemy and he is us. Quite literally.
27
Its no surprise at all. More will be revealed..
24
You can't help but conclude that the Republicans will always find a way to cheat. In this case, the election of 2016 victory was won through acts of treason.
87
Mueller has a map. Manafort is probably key. But the global game isn't one-sided. Manafort is essentially a double agent. Russian double agents don't survive outing.
Manafort, Van der Zwann, and Gates worked with Russian agents for Ukrainian oligarchs. Van der Zwann lied to Mueller last year. He's now admitted he deleted 2016 emails that involve the GRU, Gates, and Manafort.
Manafort has been on FBI radar since 2014 - they tapped him since then. Mueller knows content. Presumably, they contain smoking gun material. Presumably, they're cryptic. Mueller needs Manafort to come clean, to show Russia's 2017 influence.
Mueller wants the testimony of Gates, Manafort's #2, to pressure Manafort. Could Manafort not be pressured by Russians too? After all, he's basically a double agent: think Sergei Skripal.
This game is well above Trump's ability. It's the FBI (and CIA) vs. GRU. Wow.
45
How can you compare Manafort to Sergei Skripal? Mueller hasn't flipped Manafort (yet).
If Manafort has any hint that Trump will pardon him, he won’t flip .....no reason to,I suspect?
1
I agree . Manafort is not a double agent. He's just an agent. Of Russia.
People like Skripal were born in Soviet Union. They had no choice. When they got their choice, they chose right. They chose the West, they chose to serve freedom and democracy. Manafort's made the opposite choice. He chose to corrupt his own democratic country to serve a horrible tyrant. And he did it for money.
To compare Skripal to him is an insult to Sergei Skripal, who is fighting for his life after an assassination attempt with nerve agent. Together with his daughter, I should say.
7
The Washington Post notes that “The document, filed in Mr. Mueller’s name, stated that the communications between Mr. Gates and the individual were ‘pertinent to the investigation.’” However, the Post neglects to inform readers that the “investigation” mentioned is not the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election or possible collusion between Russian and the Trump campaign. The investigation referred to is the investigation of money laundering and tax evasions allegation against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. The document states: “As explained in the statement of offense, the defendant [Rick Gates] appeared at the Special Counsel’s Office for an interview and lied regarding topics at the center of a significant investigation into the criminal conduct of Paul J. Manafort, Jr., and Richard W. Gates III. Both had been indicted just days earlier. The charges include Manafort and Gates’ unregistered work on behalf of Ukraine and specifically referenced their work in commissioning and disseminating a report concerning the trial of the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.” The document does not mention or make reference to Donald Trump, the Trump campaign or the 2016 election.
7
It doesn't have to: the point is that Manafort, a money launderer for Russian oligarchs, did business with the GRU before running the Donald's campaign. If you say does not seem pertinent to the investigation of Trump's campaign, you are being wilfully obtuse.
20
Ah, weren't you the guy who claimed the FBI had concluded General Flynn wasn't guilty of anything?
There will be more indictments coming. I can't wait to read your claims that it has nothing to do with Trump. (At least until the final curtain falls, and we know how that will end).
11
Manafort and Gates are charged with laundering money paid them by a Ukrainian political party for campaign work. They were not charged with anything involving Russia, the GRU, the Trump campaign, or the 2016 election.
Of course, Mr. van der Zwaan has "gone native". His father-in-law is the Russian oligarch/Putin pal German Khan who also just happens to be the co-founder of Alfa Bank, Russia's largest, privately held bank and 7th largest overall. Alfa Bank also just happens to be the bank, per the FBI, with an "odd" relationship between its servers and those at Trump Tower during the final months of 2016 whereby 80% of all of the "lookups" to Trump's server at Trump Tower were from Alfa Bank. The rest of the "odd" server communications to/from Alfa Bank were with Spectrum Health, the health insurance company in Michigan owned by the DeVos family (as in Betsy DeVos, Education Secretary and sister of Blackwater founder, Erik Prince). No wonder this server relationship is still an open investigation by the FBI (and, presumably by Mr. Mueller).
Even more reason for Mr. van der Zwaan to go native, refuse to be a cooperating witness, might be that, per the UK's Daily Telegraph, his Russian oligarch father-in-law told BP Oil executives in 2011 that he sees the The Godfather movies as his "manual for life".
I'm guessing that Mr. van der Zwaan knows what happened in The Godfather to Fredo, even if he was family.
34
Wait for it. I predict that Sarah Huckabee Sanders will stand on the podium and with a straight face tell us that Gates was a coffee boy and Manafort hardly touched down at the campaign at all. He only worked there for hours. Why, not one person in the WH can even remember either face!
35
I believe they already said that.
1
Mueller is doing an amazing job - because everyone LIES, he has to be ready with irrefutable evidence that supports the truth. How tiresome for Mr. Mueller and his team to be faced with so many LIARS each and every day. God speed, Mr. Mueller. And thank you for this report, Mark Mazzetti.
104
Iran/Contra, Iraq- now Russia: Reagan, Bush and Trump. Perhaps, this time, we do have someone willing to determine no administration is about the law:Orange Jumpsuits for all.
29
There are so many tentacles between the Trump Campaign and Russia it is virtually impossible to believe Trump himself didn't know about it.
39
If he knew, he's complicit. If he didn't, he's even more out of his depth than we could have imagined. Either way, he's not fit to serve.
2
thats called collusion, right? Or more aptly, conspiracy. Now the story changes from witch hunt to "entrapment".
19
So a clear case of collusion then, no to say possible treason? Looking forward to the next bout of late night Tweets!
10
It is high time that we begin asking questions about the Chair of Trump's transition team. Mike Pence is either clueless and therefore the dumbest man alive or knows a great deal about what was happening all around him and needs to be questioned. Somehow, he seems to have avoided scrutiny despite his clear presence and leadership while all this was going on.
94
Read up on Mike Pence from those in Indiana who know him. This guy is as dirty and nasty a liar as the rest of this crew.
3
Well surprise, surprise! No collusion, eh?
Seems as though the trail to the White House is leading directly to the Oval Office. Keep digging Mr Mueller. It seems as though you are on the right track.
28
When the New York Times applies the term “tied” in article related to the special counsel investigation, it usually turns out to mean a person of interest knew someone who knew someone who was Russian or sometimes knew a person “link” to Russian intelligence services. It’s like the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” parlor game based on the "six degrees of separation" concept, which posits that any two people on Earth are six or fewer acquaintance links apart. Movie buffs challenge each other to find the shortest path between an arbitrary actor and prolific actor Kevin Bacon. In the Manafort/Gates investigation, the person tied to Russians is “Person A,” a Ukrainian businessman who the FBI assessed had ties to a Russian intelligence service. Since Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union until 1991, it has no shortages of official and business oligarchs with Kremlin ties.
8
What is the punishment for treason against the United States by American citizens ? I’d like to see a full article/explanation - seems to be a debate on what qualifies as treason and corresponding penalties.
13
unfortunately you can only commit treason during wartime, by aiding/abetting the enemy. A declared war. This is conspiracy.
3
The Dutch connection is interesting. Readers may recall Russia's meddling in the Dutch referendum on whether Ukraine would be allowed to take its first steps toward EU membership. This was Russia's first real foray into web-based disinformation operations in the West.
Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Ukraine%E2%80%93European_Union_Assoc...
7
It gets worse. The sister of one of Trump's campaign officials has a brother-in-law whose cousin once knew a man who studied Russian in college!
4
actually, the heads of the Trump campaign consorting with Russian intelligence agents shortly before the election is what one would call a smoking gun, in legal terms.
15
Actually what is worse is the state of denial that many of the Trumpsters are currently in--so let me explain in the most simple of terms. Mueller, like all expert lawyers, is building an airtight case by first indicting Trump flunkies for actual criminal acts they committed (which some Trumpsters try to make appear funny despite the significant damage this has done to our democracy--real unpatriotic, and certainly not at all funny) in order to get them to roll over and finally tell the truth about Trump's illegal actions.
You see, if Mueller didn't have a whole lot of evidence pointing to Trump's illegal behavior he wouldn't bother making certain to build an airtight case, because if he didn't have compelling evidence of Trump's guilt he'd just close the investigation for lack of evidence. If this did happen it would be because Mueller is an honorable person, who is compelled by law to find out the truth. He was not hired to convict DT but to find out the truth--Mueller has no motivation to make up lies about DT. If Mueller did so HE would be the one to get indicted and convicted. Mueller is exceedingly smart and experienced, so he has no reason to harm himself by acting in an illegal fashion.
I hope this helps those who don't understand so they can finally start to comprehend what this means about the person for whom they voted (that Trump is a self-serving, unpatriotic criminal who never cared about the welfare of his base or the country).
9
Laugh it up while you still can. If you can impeach a president for lying about getting to third base, I'm pretty sure you can impeach one for lying about conspiracy.
2
So, the missing link is finally emerging - how high up in the Republican Party is this going to go?
23
Sure looks like a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russian government to me.
Expect Trump's Twitter sabbatical to end very soon...
27
"It’s not like Trump wore a badge that said, ‘I’m a Russian intelligence officer.’"
10
Well, this certainly walks us to one more step closer to Trump. He will have to answer to the Nation first before we kick him to the gutter from where he came.
21
There were traitors embedded in the Trump campaign. This can no longer be denied.
50
The verified hypocrisy of the GOP makes me ill.
Had such revelations been made about Obama or his associates, Fox “News” and the GOP noise machines would be in “DEFCON 4 incoming nuclear attack” mode, incessantly calling for impeachment, convictions and imprisonment.
Yet for Trumpolini & Co., it’s a free pass. When the wheels come off, I hope the GOP will wear the stain of treason for decades. They have certainly earned that distinction with their disgusting silence, aid and comfort in the face of incontrovertible evidence.
71
We need an investigation to find out if anyone on the Trump campaign had ties to any Americans?
79
The funny thing about this is that starting with the top man on down, you can't blame them for wanting to talk to Russian Intelligence, after all they have none of their own.
23
I wonder what Roseanne thinks about all of this?
15
What more will it take to get this buffoon out of office? First this, which is CLEAR conspiracy and collusion on behalf of the campaign. Then the talk of pardons for Manafort and Flynn? Is there no law and order anymore?
15
The New York Times notes that “The document, filed in Mr. Mueller’s name, stated that the communications between Mr. Gates and the individual were ‘pertinent to the investigation.’” However, the Post neglects to inform readers that the “investigation” mentioned is not the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election or possible collusion between Russian and the Trump campaign. The investigation referred to is the investigation of money laundering and tax evasions allegation against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. The document states: “As explained in the statement of offense, the defendant [Rick Gates] appeared at the Special Counsel’s Office for an interview and lied regarding topics at the center of a significant investigation into the criminal conduct of Paul J. Manafort, Jr., and Richard W. Gates III. Both had been indicted just days earlier. The charges include Manafort and Gates’ unregistered work on behalf of Ukraine and specifically referenced their work in commissioning and disseminating a report concerning the trial of the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.” The document does not mention or make reference to Donald Trump, the Trump campaign or the 2016 election.
3
Patience, Grashopper.
2
Re: "...The campaign official, Rick Gates, had frequent phone calls in September and October 2016 with a person the F.B.I. believes had active links to Russian spy services at the time, the document said. Mr. Gates also told an associate the person “was a former Russian Intelligence Officer with the G.R.U.,” the Russian military intelligence agency..."
It is neither 'ironic', nor an accident that Americans are referring to D. John Trump as 'Comrade_Trumpski' more, 'N, more often these days;
...Except of course when we opt for the president's middle name, 'JOHN'...as colloquial_euphemism, (for 'Prostitution_Customer'), Vs. middle name!
2
Tick tock, tick tock...only a matter of (mueller) time before the whole white house of cards takes a tumble.
13
Russians, russians everywhere. If there was no collusion, like Mr. Trump says, he should explain to the American people what on earth all those russians were doing swarming around his campaign. Oh, wait, Mr. Trump lies all the time.
22
I'm beginning to think there might be a Russian connection with the Trump campaign.
23
Gates pled guilty to conspiracy against the United States. That’s the news.
The weather at the White House - Stormy.
Sports at 11.
22
In February 2017, Donald Trump told the American people that he knew of no one connected to his campaign who had any contacts with Russians. Jeff Sessions swore under oath to the same thing in front of the Senate.
That's right, no one connected to Donald Trump or the Trump campaign has had any contact whatsoever with any Russian operatives. Except
Paul Manafort
Michael Flynn
Jeff Sessions
Jared Kushner
Donald Trump, Jr.
Carter Page
Michael Cohen
Roger Stone
George Papadopoulos, and
Rick Gates.
So far.
Glad we've cleared that up.
362
The transcript show Jeff Sessions did not lie under oath. During Session’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Al Franken remarked: "CNN just published a story alleging that the intelligence community provided documents to the president-elect last week that included information that says quote, ‘There was a continuing exchange of information during the campaign between Trump's surrogates and intermediaries for the Russian government.’” Sessions responded, “Senator Franken, I'm not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn't have — did not have communications with the Russians.” Sessions obviously meant he had had no contact with Russian operatives who claimed to have compromising personal and financial information about Donald Trump. Ironically, Franken was referring to the Russian Dossier, which we now Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee paid for.
Case: so let's just call it lack of candor. Hmmmm... are there any consequences for that if you work in the Dept of Justice? I seem to remember something about that.
2
Sessions clearly said he did not have communications with "the Russians." He was referring to Franken's phrase: "intermediaries for the Russian government." Sessions was a surrogate for the campaign and met with Russian intermediaries, including the Russian ambassador. Sessions' recusal (or purported recusal) is an acknowledgment of his involvement with intermediaries for the Russian government.
While Mueller continues his investigation, Trump continues dismantling the government. At this point, even if Trump is locked away, so much damage has been done that the nation--and the world--will be suffering the effects for many years to come (and that assumes Democrats can assume leadership despite the Republican-led assaults on fair voting). Please, Mr. Mueller, bring this to a conclusion soon!
43
How any thoughtful person would believe that Manafort and Gates did not routinely associate knowingly and, perhaps, unknowingly, with Russian intelligence agency assets, and officers, is incomprehensible.
Both men conducted extensive business with pro-Putin political leaders and oligarchs in-country where GRU and FSB officers are on terra firma. They might not wear badges identifying them, as Manafort said, but they had an imperative to associate with them, maybe more than one.
The more operative questions become whether those associations with Russian intelligence ended up benefiting (or intending to benefit) the campaign of Donald Trump, or just the revenue coffers of Manafort and Gates, or both?
10
Gates defense is, they didn't carry signs saying that they were "Russian spies." I'm pretty sure his alibi won't hold up in court.
16
Gates doesn't have a defense (he's already plead guilty). You sure you weren't thinking of Manafort?
2
It would seem rather difficult to argue 'no collusion' at this point. I am sure Trump will find a way. I am guessing it will be his form of deflect and project, more commonly known as "I'm rubber your glue".
6
Why don't many patriotic, constitution loving Republican Trump supporters care about this? That fact is the most troubling part of this, to me, and the most worrisome with respect to our democracy.
26
Answer:Trump supporters are not patriotic.
8
I think many of Trump's base are in denial, a portion do not comprehend what all this means, and some are clueless about why their stance is unpatriotic--because they likely think thoughts like this, "Trump won, he's president, so his authority is now law."
You see, some people just do not question or think critically in the face of authority. Blindly following authority is exactly what the GOP want, but it is the absolute worst way to behave in a democracy.
3
There are some Trump supporters who actually believe that a multi-billionaire truly, altruistically, cares about them, their four rusting cars, their cache of guns, their obscene t-shirt collection, and their $2,000 CD, and somehow will turn that into two new Caddys, a personal fortress, fur coats and a $2M retirement nut.
3
There is just a speck of doubt, microscopic, that all the major Republican politicians knew directly or indirectly, but with certainty due to the sources, that the 2016 Presidential Election was an assured victory for their Party.
Some knew of the criminality others held their knowledge at arms length and asked no questions lest they be incriminated.
The whiff of treason is fast becoming a toxic cloud enveloping the entire Administration and Party. From Trump, Pence, and Kutcher through McConnell, Ryan, and Nunes, to Mnuchin, Ross, and DeVos - they all knew there was sabotage afoot. It was too good, too easy, and too self-serving to say no.
24
Apparently Gates has a story to tell and has presumably spilled his guts to Mueller's team. Recent news suggests no reputable criminal defense lawyer wants to join Trump's team. If he hasn't already, Trump should be thinking seriously about his exit strategy. Maybe his recent meeting with Pence included terms of his resignation and pardon. I can see Pence telling the nation it's now time to forgive, heal, and bring everyone together under his reign as the new American ayatollah.
19
Well, no one can purse his lips, gave heavenward mistily, and utter sanctimonious drivel like Pence can, so it looks like Trump would have made one sterling personnel decision.
1
Meanwhile, Trump is buried under an avalanche of tabloid scandal that hides this clearly significant development in the Russia case. Like the possible multiple Trump NDAs (maybe even Melania signed one?) that the Stormy Daniels case hints at, this turn suggests an entire ocean of buried contacts with the Russians.
13
A disturbing aspect of this investigation is it demonstrates that large and diverse countries can be controlled by an incredibly small number of apparatchiki.
The probability of this occurring in the US has increased due to the consolidation of social and news media. America's free press is being transformed into consigliere, and this action must be halted.
For the sake of American democracy, this monopoly of communication has to be broken apart.
16
Now why in the world would a main Trump campaign operative be in frequent communication with an ex-G.R.U. agent still actively connected to Russian Intelligence in the 2 months leading up to the election?
Mueller obviously knows, these conversations were picked up in surveillance.
This is another devastating revelation to Trump today. Look for another series of tweets from Trump attacking Mueller soon.
26
Future generations will likely debate whether Robert Mueller deserves a spot on Mount Rushmore as savior of the republic. And that's a best-case scenario.
23
I suppose all those tweets about "no collusion" were lies. What a surprise.
12
This is making Manafort's life interesting. Will he continue to fight the charges or roll over and take a plea deal. What will his friends in Russia think? Will Trump pardon Gates and others convicted of election interference? Please turn up the heat Mr. Mueller.
10
What a web,
the Trump Administration does weave,
when it practices to deceive.
Good thing that the transition heads had no knowledge of any contacts, with Russian Military GRU Officers.
10
Everywhere this investigation goes it has uncovered serious breaches of the public trust and/or criminal activity. Money laundering, racketeering, invasion of voter privacy, communications with Russian intelligence operatives, acting on the behave of foreign governments...etc. Some have suggested that this has been a waste of time. That is ludicrous. I admit, it may be found that Trump personally never cooperated with the Russian government to criminally affect the election (and honestly, I hope that is truly the case), but with every new uncovered lie, and criminal charge, Mueller is doing a great service for our democracy. He is cleaning the filth that has infected our system and laying bare for all to see that the rule of law does matter in our country. As Americans, conservative or liberal or anything in between, we should thank him for that.
9
I'm patient, and clearly there's a serious game of deep chess going on here. And still, I'm anxious for more cards to be shown, for the case to be built, and for the House to collect what is owed after these cheaters tried to swindle the country out from under us.
12
Something stinks to high heavens but while evidence of collusion and obstruction mounts, the right-wing media and many congressional republicans are sliming Mueller to the point where any findings will be considered illegitimate. I just don't see any action against Trump regardless. I watched an interview of evangelical Christian women voters discussing the Stormy Daniels affair and the consensus was that Trump was ordained by god and can do no wrong. Congressional leaders are watching and will never defy the base. The only hope for remediation is for Democrats to flip the House.
9
Do I have this right? The administration CONTINUES to believe our election system has been undermined by illegal immigrants committing voter fraud -- despite any lack of evidence. Hence the question about citizenship added to the census form.
The same administration REFUSES to believe our election system has been undermined by illegal Russian interference -- despite all evidence to the contrary. But now there's Carter Page. Oops.
23
Oops, indeed. I meant "But now here's Rick Gates." (not Carter Page).
3
ML - fret not, at this point a monkey with a dartboard could throw at an executive branch org chart and hit someone connected to the defendants and their pals and apologists.
2
This quagmire is a blot on our nation's history, and Mueller must be protected at all costs and enabled to complete his investigation. I have confidence he will root out all illegal activity by Trump associates and the Russians. Penalties must be swift and severe.
20
Politico is reporting today that Trump and his minions at Fox and Drudge are setting the stage to either fire Mueller or have his finding disqualifying. There will be a certain portion of the population who won't believe Trump is guilty. If the Republicans in Congress don't speak up I worry for our country.
28
The Republicans will never stand up. So,yes,worry for our country.
3
The wealth of incriminating evidence Mueller likely already has will rock America to it's foundations when we are finally made privy to it.
32
It is starting to appear that the entire Republican political leadership. through the Gates-RNC connection, is tainted with Russian influence. No wonder resistance to Mueller is hardening in R circles. The Russian tentacles run so deep and so pervasive that, perhaps, the only way Rs survive is to bring down the entire Constitutional governmental system of America. It really comforts me to have those rabid anti-Russian/Communists in power now...
17
While Trump tweets, a whole bunch of canaries are singing to Mueller.
That little gold-haired bird is going down.
Amen.
14
Perhaps we can more clearly see the reason the Trump Administration wants to end Mueller's investigation before it finds even worse conduct!
10
So Gates was AWARE of the fact that they were communicating with someone connected to Russia intelligence?! And who was communicating with Gates about the subjects?
7
I hope this isn’t all for naught and I’m just being paranoid ... but I have zero faith in the Republican Congress to take appropriate action, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the election is disrupted in November. “Martial law”?
8
My goodness! It looks like a duck and sounds like a duck. Did the Trump campaign conspire with the Kremlin to steal the election? An unnamed individual who worked for Mr. Gates and Mr. Manafort was an active member of Russian intelligence. At that time (2016), Gates was the Trump campaign liaison to the RNC, and Manafort was the Trump campaign chairman. Gates himself told others that the individual was connected to Russian intelligence. Manafort was almost certainly not telling the truth when he said he had never knowingly had contact with Russian intelligence.
52
If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck the next question is Mallard, Shoveler or Teal? Robert Mueller should publish a field guide to Russians, Russian colluders, Putin backers in the Ukraine, and traitors so we can keep them all straight.
9
Nixon said he didn't know anything either.
138
van der Zwaan -- yet another who has fallen into the 'lying to the FBI trap' -- 22 months of investigation and no substantive charges with respect to Mueller's remit - Russian interference in the 2016 election.
It almost feels like the Mueller investigation is going to be used as an instrument for the 2018 elections -- wait for the 'October bombshell'!
Everywhere this investigation goes it has uncovered serious breaches of the public trust and/or criminal activity. Money laundering, racketeering, invasion of voter privacy, communications with Russian intelligence operatives, acting on the behave of foreign governments...etc. To suggest that this has been a waste of time is ludicrous. I admit, it may be found that Trump personally never cooperated with the Russian government to criminally affect the election (and honestly, I hope that is truly the case), but with every new uncovered lie, and criminal charge, Mueller is doing a great service to our democracy. He is cleaning the filth that has infected our system and laying bare for all to see that the rule of law does matter in our country. As an American, you should thank him for that.
20
Mueller started his investigation in May 2017. That's 10 months, not 22.
I suppose you're somehow including the fake investigation led by Trump coffee boy Devin Nunes?
15
Being asked questions is not a "trap." Just answer the questions and go home.
Why would anyone lie to the FBI? Why have so many people involved in Trump's campaign and White House done so? They're not lying about parking tickets. They're lying about their relations with foreign actors: in particular, with Russian government operatives.
Follow the lies, follow the money. Did Trump or any of his people financially benefit from Russian connections? They're not moving slowly. They're being careful. Surely you wouldn't want it any other way.
14
No evidence of collusion? Conspiracy?
There are literally smoking guns EVERYWHERE.
297
Collusion yet?
12
Robert Mueller's noose around the president is tightening by the day. It's clear that his campaign aides had numerous contacts with Russia, including his son who was roped in during the "dirt on Hillary" meeting. And Paul Manafort is disingenuous to say that the Russians didn't did wear badges to identify themselves because he knew full well who he was dealing during the campaign. If Rick Gates and Alex van der Zwaan admitting to lying to the Special Prosecutor, is any aide to the president capable of telling the truth?
154
is any aide to the president capable of telling the truth?
Not without incriminating themselves.
(And others.)
4
According to No. 45, this is “fake news.” We’re also being told that Trump’s lawyers sent up pardons as a trial balloon. He’s not acting like an innocent man. Keep on, Special Counsel. And make sure someone has your back 24/7.
214
Under another rock another Russian..
70
And yet, the FOX oligarch-a-plex will deep state dive into contorted knots about Clinton. Never mind today's 10th dropping Trump shoe! Muller, step by step, is restoring a world where bizarre counter narratives do not constitute truth and lying is not just another career path. I hope more Americans than not see these as a bedrock values our nation must support.
94
Interesting, that a campaign that according to Donald "did not collude" has SO many people taking meetings with Russians! Smells of collusion!
What more evidence do the congressional Republicans need to SEE that Donald colluded and continues to?! Republicans are complicit, and I hope that We, the People, will fire all the Republicans we can on November 6th, 2018!
Go get 'em, Mr. Mueller!
127
You bet the Republicans are complicit. I think they took Russian money for their own campaigns, funneled through that all-American organization, the NRA.
23
If a tree falls in a Russian forest and no one in the Trump campaign hears it …
Never mind, that scenario is implausible.
18
Every article I read on the subject seems like this is the final nail in the coffin, how can they explain that, etc. I'm not getting fooled this time. Somehow, this will continue to torment all of us. Fool me once...
9
What an amazing story this. Thank you nyt.
30
Has anyone involved with the Trump campaign or administration ever told the truth BEFORE being confronted with evidence?
25
As more and more charges are brought against Trump and his aides the tighter the noose becomes. The sooner the better Mr Trump is out of office.
67
Charges against Trump? Could you elaborate? What charges?
1
We are nearing that magic moment when the dearly departed Dave Niehaus would have shouted out: "Get out the rye bread and mustard, grandma, 'cause it's grand salami time."
Robert Mueller is flexing his muscles, Gates is in his windup, the pitch is heading for the center of the plate, and... "he just hit this one outta here! He gone!"
47
This story together with the Pardon story is huge. One thing which hasn't been reported on much is that The NYT had requested information on the Trump Tower meeting just before Trump went off alone to meet with only a Russian interpreter at the G-20. It makes that meeting very suspicious, was Trump trying to get his story straight with Putin?
230
Gives globalization a whole new meaning.
24
Is anyone surprised?
It's only a matter of time until we find the Trump campaign solicited illegal kompromat on HRC from Russian hackers. "If it's what I think it is, I love it, especially in the summer..."
Some of these jokers will be in prison, possibly in the summer, and I love it.
153
I don't see how everybody couldn't have been in the know about all of this--including Pence--it's so pervausive. Of course The Donald knew, but my big question is what did Pence know and when did he know it? That's what I'd like to know before he becomes our new President.
412
How could Pence not know?
17
Pence was in charge of the transition. If he truly did not know, he is a very, very poor manager. He knows. Sessions knows. Melania's father probably knows. He was in the Communist party back home.
18
Yes! Pence was in charge of the transition when Flynn was illegally talking to Kislyak about sanctions right after Flynn called to discuss the new sanctions with “a senior official” of the Trump transition team. If Pence didn't know, he sure isn't much of a leader.
20
Hmm. Do I hear the words, "Yes, collusion."
21
Collusion anyone?
22
Paul Manafort's comment, "It’s not like these people wear badges that say, ‘I’m a Russian intelligence officer.’ ” defies belief. Manafort had worked around Russian government operatives for years; they were his clients, and if he could say this with a straight face, no wonder he's in serious legal trouble.
553
"...and there's no evidence of collusion."
This quote can be attributed to many people on Trump...er...Fox News. Of course they can't see the evidence; all the smoke from all those guns keeps getting in the way.
2
When this is all said & done, Russia-gate will make Watergate look like an unpaid parking ticket in terms of seriousness.....
For those crying the witch hunt blues, remember Robert Mueller has already secured GUILTY pleas....People who are truly the subject of a witch hunt would not plead guilty to anything....
450
Obstruction of justice by Trump is a given based on what is publicly available. Now we move on to find if Trump conspired against democracy...it sure looks like members of his team were...and just how much (plus/minus hundred million dollars) that Trump and his organization laundered of dirty Russian oligarch money.
194
Nothing to see here, folks! Benghazi! Solyndra! Pizzagate!
145
Not sure if you are being sarcastic or not, but there is a huge difference between rumors that have not been professionally investigated, and a process led by a White House appointed Special Counsel of the stature and experience of Robert Mueller. On the other hand, if your point is that in the minds of Democrat-Hillary-Obama haters who don't care about evidence and investigation that even proof of collusion with the Russians won't matter, I'm certain you are right. And that is the most frightening aspect of this whole dark chapter.
9
Funny, isn't it, how four soldiers could be killed in Niger without any investigation into what went wrong when they had multiple investigations of what happened in Benghazi. Gee, what's that about?
29
Some of the results from extensive high-level investigations into those deaths are publicly available online. They reveal a serious breakdown in the command structure, in fact, many breakdowns-confusion, communications, chain of command, exceeding authority at several levels, Rules of Engagement, force protection...........
Careers are going to end abruptly, and criminal prosecution(s) are very possible.
Bottom line is that 4 US soldiers are dead, and that's not going to change. Tragic!
3
So, lawyer types, get too close to trump and you may end up sharing a cell with him.
68
Wait, but I thought there was NO COLLUSION!
91
Trump had to know Manafort and Gates were connected to the Russians when he brought them into his campaign.
185
Trump, via business loans and pageant, was connected to the Russians before the campaign.
17
Barbara, it was a feature, not a bug.
10
That’s WHY he brought them in, I believe.
2
Good grief, was there any Trump aide ever who is not tied to the Russians and especially to Russian intelligence?
587
Mr. Mueller continues to earn his pay as an investigator of Russian influence on US elections. Let us hope Trump doesn't fire him. If he does we will have a constitutional crisis with the power of destroying the US constitution. The Republicans may have to decide whether they prefer power -- in the office of Trump -- or constitutionality which could involve Trump's impeachment. At this point the Republicans will be the ones who will have a moral crisis on their hands.
702
GOP has already decided--> by not legislating to protect Mueller they are signaling to Trump that they want Trump to fire him. They know, anyway, that the long term demographics are not on their side, so will do whatever is necessary to retain power. (I hope I turn out to be wrong.)
42
How can you have a moral crisis if you have no morality. For the Republicans it would be a political crisis.
17
Great post, @William, but I’ll caution you that the evangelical movement has endorsed Trump. The likes of Anthony Perkins, Jerry Falwell Jr., Ralph Reed and Franklin Graham, and their supporters, all back Trump. And they are the keepers of morality in this nation. So it is they who will have a rude awakening.
3
The "witch hunt" is rapidly becoming the "which hunt," as in which Trump campaign official or associate will plead guilty next or be indicted for conspiring with Russian operatives to influence the election or obstruct the investigation.
599
Gates, while liaison to the RNC, was telling some people that he was working with Russians who were a part of the intelligence complex and telling others that he was not.
What was he telling the RNC? Based on Republicans silence or breathless defense of Russian interference, it's hard to think they weren't receiving the same message. No wonder McConnell stays so quiet.
726
Good thing that Mr. Gates is singing. Maybe its the reason that people like Nunes are desperately trying to stop Muller. Did Nunes and Gates ever talk? This investigation could end up with a lot more collateral damage to GOP than just losing Trump.
37
Mitch is looking out for one person-Mitch.
15
Suzanne, this seems to be a stretch. It is the kind of stretch that some make who think that only liberals will merit salvation.