He should have shiut it down in December. It was clear by then that Mueller was not finding any evidence of collusion and was looking for anything whatsoever to charge Trump with. No collusion. Then, no obstruction. Now, he's going after long ago financial events that not a part of his charter in any way. Fire Mueller and deal with the certain reaction of the Democrats. It's so predictable. If the don;t get control of the House, they and the press will scream about what a bad thing Trump did and how there must be collusion. So what? If they get the House they'll do the same thing and add articles of impeachment. Then, its dead, because it will never get 2/3rds of the Senate.
Nothing that would happen if Trump fired Mueller is any worse than the bother and obstruction the investigation is now. In fact it would be a lot easier for Trump than it is today. I suspect he'll figure this out and fire him.
Donald J. Trump could volunteer to disclose his income tax returns and business records to Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III followed by producing any other documents requested by Mueller. Then voluntarily appearing before Mueller to answer any questions. Except of course if Trump has something to hide or he needs to plead the 5th Amendment.
9
Deutsche Banks paid heavy fines for overlooking money laundering by Russians via the Bank of Cyprus among others.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/31/investing/deutsche-bank-us-fine-russia-m...
Bank of Cyprus was formerly headed by Trump's choice for Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross. It will be important to know how much of that laundered money reached Trump and for what purposes. It will also be important to know what Wilbur Ross knew and when he knew it.
7
The Paranoid Style In American Politics, the 1964 essay by Richard Hofstadter has been referenced in NYT op-eds before. Also Fantasyland by Kurt Andersen. The paranoid mind is omnipresent in American history, fear of cosmic enemies that are coming to get you. Tabloid newspapers traffic in ludicrous conspiracy theories. The paranoid malevolence against Jews, Catholics, the Irish, the Chinese, the Native Americans, blacks, latinos, Muslims, communists, socialists, liberals, a never ending scaredy cat malice with zero connection to reality.
The supernatural aspects of religion are also pure fantasy. We have a president who is paranoid to the bone, constantly persecuted according to him by ANYONE that disagrees or dislikes him. He is the epitome of the tabloid conspiracy mentality. The world is out to get me, the perfect being who is never wrong. No one should pick on me, the great genius. I should be allowed to do anything at all I want, for I am a superior being and should be the 1st dictator of the US.
An innocent man would not attack a lawful process to clean up our system, a national security investigation to fact find what Russia did in 2016. Why all the Russian contact in Trump World? This is abnormal in the extreme.If Trump has nothing to hide, let him be a patriot and help protect and clean up the country. But of course he only cares about himself, as he has his whole life.
Sickening watching an infantile adult whining all day about being picked on.
32
Attorney-Client privilege is officially dead. As well as MD-patient, priest-confessor, husband-spouse.
Libs may applaud, but they have hung themselves on their own petard. Next time they're involved in a legal matter and the opponent gets a warrant or subpoena for everything you ever said in confidence without even having to justify it.
3
They weren't going after Trump. If Cohen broke the law, he should be worried about being found guilty, and Attorney-Client privilege has absolutely nothing to do with it.
1
Or.... it's only possible to get one of these subpoenas when the person is almost certainly guilty, and that was the case here. The person who okayed this was a Trump appointee, for goodness sake.
This move only feels shocking if you're presuming there isn't overwhelming evidence of guilt. But all the clues we have so far suggest that Trump's guilt (certainly in terms of money laundering) is pretty much definite -- and Mueller is just dotting the i's and crossing the t's because he knows he has to do so if he's going to indict a sitting president.
6
Dear Upside,
Sorry but you're as wrong as Trump. Attorney/client privilege has never extended to the cases where an attorney was implicated in criminal activity. The client can incredibly implicated and it still applies, but when it's the attorney themselves, the attorney has no such privilege.
2
This entire "investigation" has devolved from "Trump colluded with Putin to steal the election!" to shaking down lawyers to dig up dirt connected to an alleged 10-year old consensual affair with a porn star. It's beyond preposterous, it's a farce. This is the very definition of an investigatory fishing expedition.
4
Trump has generated so much news in such a short time that a huge industry must’ve developed around all of his utterances and foolishness . If Trump is convicted of crimes and has to leave office I’m afraid a major recession will occur as people won’t watch TV or read newspapers and books about his antics anymore . The mental health field will be decimated also as people won’t need assistance with the bigly level of anxiety he generates . First thing in the morning and before I go to bed I’m wondering what he’s up to ! Lol lol
5
For one who espouses extreme skills, intellect, business experience and outstanding leadership, this is certainly my first exposure to anyone who picked his team then fired the majority of them within a year.
Most of those who signed on had superior careers in many walks of life prior to joining the administration and now litter the annals of history of which I hazard, they had no premonition.
The result is that this ship of fortune, while in increasingly rough waters is practically crew-less and foundering just when it needs to be coherent, working in concert and with a good compass and rudder to guide it.
It would seem it is time for the US to dig in, use its moral compass and surface its reputation from decades passed to direct their ship of fortune on a better course, or lose much of its former reputation. and stature.
10
That Trump is willing to risk a constitutional crisis by firing of Robert Mueller is a sign of guilt. Now the public is more eager than ever to know what he has that he’s desperate to hide. He thinks he is above the law and can do what he wants – like seeking to protect himself or his associates from criminal investigations.
His firing of Mueller would justify an opening of an impeachment, because by doing so, he is obstructing justice. Mueller should be left alone until he presents his findings. Trump took his oath of office in January 2017 to do his best to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution. He must be held responsible for flouting it.
26
Anybody know what Mark Meadows' comments about Rod Rosenstein not turning over documents and that he may be held in contempt? What are these documents? Is there a story on this somewhere in the Times? Meadows made it sound like he and other Freedom Caucus members are trying to create cover for Trump to fire Rosenstein.
3
Loadsa trolls out in th NYTimes comments sections these days. They all seem to be pro-Russia, pro-Trump, and anti-democracy. No collusion: hahahahahaha.
20
Firing Mueller wouldn't end the investigation, or miraculously destroy all of their files. The professionals working on it would continue to do so. If they were all to be sacked, there would be a Tsunami of leaks that would destroy Trump. No doubt staff members take turns going home at the end of their long work days with thumb drives of data secreted in bodily orifices.
13
To readers who insist that the Mueller investigation is a waste of time: can you honestly say that if the same allegations were made against a Democratic president, you would have the same opinion?
I thought not.
28
@Steve Wheeler,
If such an investigation was being conducted against a president Hillary Rodham Clinton, I would be behind it 110%.
3
I don't think anyone can protect Mueller, and President Trump is the least of his worries. Just about every freedom loving, law abiding US citizen hates Mueller and would find it hard to tolerate him if they saw him in public. He is trying to make trouble for our beloved President Trump and our nation. Patriots hate people like that.
4
Well, patriots like me don't like people like you who are willing to subvert the rule of law.
34
You’re believing a man who cheated on his wife a few days after their son was born over a man who has dedicated his life to the public good? Laughable claptrap.
5
This might very well be the funniest comment I have ever read. Please proceed to cry in your MAGA cap.
14
Mueller is an old, tired man who is being manipulated by his underlings who despise President Trump.
The entire Mueller investigation is tainted, and it must be shut down immediately.
7
The walls are closing in on Trump. One day soon, idiots like you won’t matter any more.
22
Mueller is 72; he’s old, tired and susceptible to manipulation but 71-year-old DJT is young, vital and in charge?
23
I know you are the type to say things just to be a rabble-rouser. So here is your post, re-worded, to reflect reality....
Trump is an old, tired man who is being manipulated by his Russian superiors who despise American democracy and the rule of law.
The entire Trump presidency is suspect, and it must be ended immediately.
Now were talking
13
Ryan’s an outright lier to suggest that trump has not considered firing Mr. Mueller! Maybe he just hasn’t been following the news. j/k! And the Republican Party are as a group thoroughly dishonest in suggesting they support the special counsel. Otherwise they’d proactively put in writing those protections for this investigation. Once trump fires Dep. AG Rosenstein and the replacemeant fires Mr. Mueller it’s over! And then the republicans will go through their rehearsed hand wringing. Democracy as we’ve known it is dead! Oh, and make no mistake Pence is complicit in all the nefarious crimes being committed to subvert our democracy!
5
There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't seek to fire Mueller. Those couple times were simply Trump thinking out loud.
6
He wanted to shut it down in December?! He wanted to shut it down before it began. That is the source of his anger at Sessions’ recusal. The president is a crook and he knows it.
23
There are no red lines when it comes to the Constitution and the Rule of Law. One can't appear any more guilty when he/she publicly states such a red line exists.
12
Don't worry, Dear Failing 45. In the event of a legitimate witch hunt, the Body Politic knows how to "shut that whole thing down".
IMPEACH!
10
This is a story? Anything Trump, I guess. Since all Mueller's been able to dig up is some lying to the FBI type charges (about completely unrelated stuff, no less..), it's time to wrap things up.
3
Fascinating how you know the findings of investigation that hasn't been completed yet. You're so special.
10
Watergate was 33 months along before Nixon flew away. Remember Benghazi ? Whitewater ??
7
"The president’s diatribes about Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Mr. Rosenstein and the existence of the special counsel have, for most of the White House aides, become a dependable part of the fabric of life working for this president." Exactly. So this article was not news. Our President rants and raves. So did Nixon. We survived Nixon. We will survive this.
3
In a way I wish he would try to fire Mueller- at least it would throw down the gauntlet and hopefully hasten the end of his presidency. This drama has gone on way too long.
5
Be patient. It took years to bring down Nixon.
6
Trump cannot fire Mueller. Why does the NYTimes keep hypothesizing and using 'he said she said' comments from inside the white house? There is an investigation that is supposed to be looking at a conspiracy between Trump and Russia (Putin, but same thing). That's it.
3
So if Mueller's investigation will prove "NO COLLUSION", why is Trump so desperate to shut it down.
The whole world is watching Trump right now. He's unraveling fast. Fox and Friends cannot save him.
Firing Mueller would be a total disaster for Trump. And to borrow a phrase Trump often uses, such a firing will create a constitutional crisis the likes of which no one has ever seen.
Don't even think about it.
16
If Trump has committed high crimes ..Mueller will uncover it.
If you believe Trump is guilty, than Trump will ultimately have no choice but to fire Mueller..as a last desperate act of survival..
The GOP will then turn on him..and positioning themselves accordingly..
Trump will resign..pardening anyone who may be able to help him..
Pence will be sworn in..
It's coming..The markets will get rattled for a few days, and will carry on..
4
Still waiting to see Trump's tax returns!
18
I had to laugh at the last paragraph, and the song with the words "Once, twice, three times a lady" is now firmly ensconced in my brain.
1
Trump has continual psychological and physical meltdowns over this investigation. If he didn't do anything illegal or immoral, he should just sit back and let the investigation unfold. His reactions reveal he's afraid he and his family and friends will be outed and he believes that firing Mueller or anyone else involved in the investigation will save himself, his family, and friends. Pathetic. Immoral. Narcissistic. Hypocrite.
9
"The articles that provoked Mr. Trump’s anger in December — which were published by Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Reuters — said one of Mr. Mueller’s subpoenas had targeted Mr. Trump’s and his family’s banking records at Deutsche Bank. Mr. Trump’s lawyers, who have studied Mr. Trump’s bank accounts, did not believe the articles were accurate because Mr. Trump did not have his money there."
Does this mean that Trump has no idea where his money is? It sounds as if his lawyers understood he faced no threat, and that Trump needed his lawyers to tell him his banking records were not targeted.
It’s a coup in progress to nullify the votes of Americans who voted for Trump. There is a fierce backlash growing that is going to overwhelm the “blue wave” (remember that “blue wall?”) and it already being reflected in Trump’s improving approval ratings and the narrowing gap in the generic congressional polls.
4
No doubt the morons that voted for him are upset. They pent eight years upset that Obama won twice and worked very hard to prevent him governing. . The coup was when the current illegitimate president "won" the 2016 election with massive, illegal outside help. That nullified the votes of the substantial majority of voters, who voted against him. He didn't even have a plurality. If only it really was a witch hunt: there'd be a cookout at the end!
11
Mueller works for and has worked for both DNC-RNC Politburos doing as mandated--protecting the swamp. He was obviously the right choice. Trump should fire him tomorrow and push it to its limits--till the last vote for or against to impeach in the Senate has been recorded.
The times and our "democracy" need an awaking--Stock Market doesn't, though. Could get uglier than the streets. Nonetheless, let's move this circuitous trail of nonsense forward.
1
Trump had "no problem" releasing his tax returns before the election. Once elected we're told that's NEVER happening. By a guy who was "disappointed" to learn he didn't control the Justice Dept and FBI. Trump's increasing fear and desperation about what a closer look will reveal tells us everything we needed to know BEFORE the election. GOP must join Dems NOW to protect Mueller's investigation. It is also absolutely critical that we make sure in the future anyone running for our highest elective office is REQUIRED to reveal ALL relevant legal and financial information---where ALL their money comes from, everyone they OWE money to, ALL "legal entities" they have ANY stake in whatsoever directly or indirectly, including shell companies or other mechanisms designed to hide their identity or enrich family members, ANY "deals" they are involved in for themselves, their family members or personal and/or business "friends". If such requirements had been in place before the last election we'd NEVER have ended up with a bunch of shady suspicious characters running our federal government.
14
Trump thinks about getting rid of Mueller when he first wakes up, right before he falls asleep, and most moments in between.
6
Just fire him already. I spent a lot of time making my sign for a No One is Above The Law march and I intend to use it.
At last count, there are 300,000 plus also ready to take to the streets.
10
Good. With any luck the military will take care of them. I'd imagine at least a thousand of them are actually gainfully employed and would free up some jobs.
3
Tens of millions of patriotic American President Trump supporters will see you in the street, and we carry weapons to defend ourselves and country.
Thought of shutting it down twice, and was correct both times. There was no collusion except in the minds of Pelosi and Schumer, and they got the thought from the phony dossier. There should be a Special Counsel, but he should be exposing the Clinton campaigns attempt to fix all aspects of her re-election including the DNC nomination process, the media, and the DOJ/FBI in league with the Obama Administration.
2
It's almost as though Trump has something to hide...
7
He's wanted to shut this down from the moment AG recused himself.
Decisions we make, sometimes come back to haunt.And Session's recusal from all this (selectively,of course) more than anything haunts and leaves Trump more butt-hurt than anything.
Boy, how did we get to this point in just a year?!
Mueller, keep at it until the very last-minute, because I think Trump is about to blow.
4
Have his lawyers and advisors told him what it would look like if he shuts down an investigation targeted at him? Positively 'banana republican'.
5
And yet despite #45's repeated statements that he wants to shut down the Mueller special counsel investigation, Mc Connell continues to insist there is no reason to introduce legislation protecting the special counsel. Mc Connell's contempt for the rule of law is almost beyond belief. This traitor would do anything to keep the GOP in power, which is his real reason for ignoring the latest bipartisan bill. Without question, Mitch Mc Connell is the biggest snake in the swamp.
10
Of course ztrump is onstructing justice. You don't need a law degree to see that.
2
This has nothing in common with watergate the council needs to be all fired ,see whats left , nothing.
1
For White House staffers, dealing with Trump sounds like dealing with either a bratty toddler or an irascible, semi-demented drunken uncle. Either way, it doesn't sound like dealing with a sensible adult.
6
Trump's sensitivity to any potential investigation of his international financial dealings may well be an indication that this is definitely an avenue the Special Counsel investigation should explore, especially his business in and with Russia or Russian based businesses. To any reasonably objective observer, Trump has always acted as though Putin has a hold over him of some sort, and there is no doubt that Putin most definitely wanted Trump to win the 2016 election. That hold could be in the form of a honey trap when Trump visited Russia years ago, or in his business dealings.
Of course it's possible that Trump merely fears Mueller finding unrelated malfeasance in the former's financial and business records but, given Trump's past dealings in Russia, it bears examination.
2
BEACH-TIME REFLECTIONS: So if Trump is impeached or resigns...he will not go quietly into the night. That should concern us greatly. He will continue to tweet radical views, even openly criticize his successors, and to attract a faction of the Republican Party post-presidency. He will not uphold the noble tradition of presidents largely retiring from political life. Bill Clinton’s campaigning for Hillary is an exception, though following each campaign - he retreated to his philanthropic work. A post-President Trump presents a clear and present danger for our nation’s democratic norms that only one President should govern at a time. Imagine if Nixon had actively engaged in public political speech following his resignation or pardon. That would have created even deeper divisions for a nation that needed more unity and healing following Watergate. To prevent post-presidency Trump from doing further damage, he must go down in flames and be thoroughly disgraced.
2
Trump's speech and intentions constitute obstruction of justice. We need to start taking him at his word. What's the hangup?
2
An agreement to commit obstruction of justice, between two or more people, would form the basis for a charge of felony conspiracy. Thus, if Trump and Cohen (or anyone else) had agreed on a plan to fire Mueller for the purpose of ending his investigation, they have prison time in their future.
3
Yikes? Discussing a potential strategy with your attorney, and deciding not pursue the strategy, should land you in prison? Because doggone it, a prosecutor's power should be unlimited!
1
No Johnny, an "agreement to commit obstruction of justice." Words matter.
2
I hope our government wins. I need us to win.
3
Mueller should conclude his report by the IRS tax deadline of April 17, 2018. How long is this thing going on? Roughly a year. How much Russia collusion by the Trump campaign and the Russian government in the 2016 presidential election?ZERO. Have there been private Russia citizens attempting to influence the 2016 US presidential election? Without a doubt Mueller investigation reveals that and those Russians have been indicted. What are the chance these Russians will show up willingly to stand trial? ZERO. Did the Russian government or the private Russians influence American voters in the 2016 presidential election in which the outcome was that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by an excess of 3 million votes and Donald J Trump won the electoral college by a wide margin? NOT AT ALL. Donald J Trump won the 2016 presidential election fair and square. Was the democratic party fair to Bernie Sanders in the nomination process? No it was not but Hillary Clinton won by a very big margin and would have won even if Bernie was not knifed. Are there any other questions that Mueller was asked to answer in connection to the Russian collusion with the Trump Campaign? None that I can think of. What then is the point of Mueller dragging the investigation beyond a suggested deadline of 17th April or the justified winding down of the Mueller investigation by the Trump administration for going past the set boundaries of the special prosecutor's investigation into the Russian collusion.
4
The Benghazi investigation dragged on for almost 2.5 years. I don’t remember the GOP complaining about the length of that investigation.
7
I have a question. Even if Trump fires Mueller, doesn’t the mandate for the investigation still apply. Couldn’t, or shouldn’t, the justice department assign a new special council?
2
If Trump takes the unprecedented step of firing or attempting to fire Mueller directly, it would amount to proof beyond a reasonable doubt of obstruction at the very least. Such an action would justify the equally unprecedented step of asking the grand jury to return indictments for obstruction and any other provable crimes committed by Trump.
27
Wishful thinking! Trump and republicans have successfully subverted our government as they also dismantle every agency they see as hostile to the ruling class/corporations. Then there’s the packing of the courts with puppets!
Wrong! That's just crazy. If you'd said that a year ago maybe it might hold water, but now the statement is ridiculous. It's been over a year with no evidence against the president.
We the American People are paying millions in taxes for Mueller to futz around. There is no Russian collusion on the president's part. But what we are awaiting is to dig into the Hillary, Podesta and Deep State collusion with Russia case. This will be far more interesting, and *Note to New York Tiimes* a much better "seller" frothing with interesting tidbits rather than more boring Mueller. You've run that dead horse way into the ground.
2
You don't know what evidence the investigation has, do you? Sad!
1
Our thug in chief is not interested in even honoring the promises to his base. He is here to steal from our government (us) and make as much money as he can. His moods have not changed from the beginning. He will always be a thug. It makes no difference how we react to his tweets because he simply does not care. Mueller has only been a problem to the degree he prevents Trump from making money. If the sideshow continues to highlight his efforts to bilk the country, he may try to fire Mueller. His aims and goals are not like ours. Think Al Capone and his thugs.
18
How is that possible? I am "Trump's base." I LOVE everything President Trump has done and I trust our President Donald Trump to do the right thing in each situation.
Steal from our government? One reason I liked Trump from the beginning is he was already rich. He did NOT need money. Actually he has even donated his salary to good causes. His purpose has been about patriotism and the Constitution and in that he's been right on the mark.
So, this is not about "mood" or superficial things. This is about bravery and doing the right thing at the right time no matter how difficult. The President does this.
No surprise here. Donald Trump was itching to shut down this investigation and get rid of Robert Mueller at the first sign of its yielding results. As a master of deception and manufactured reality, the last thing this president wanted was someone digging too deep.
The only amazing thing is that Mr. Trump actually listened to his advisers who urged him to back off from firing Mr. Mueller with the warning that in the long run, it would create far more problems than solving them.
It's also probably not a coincidence that John Bolton is now in proper place to advance a war agenda in Syria, that Mr. Trump is all too pleased to sign off on.
After all, there's nothing like a war to create a diversion.
It's just too bad for this president that Mr. Mueller doesn't happen to share the same opinion.
15
Trump and his mob family should have been smart enough to stay miles away from the White House with their secrets to hide. They are all dumb as rocks.
32
Agreed. Hubris, narcissism and idiocy is a dangerous mix.
4
Agreed. Melania used to have a sweet life of Broadway shows and private dinner parties. Now, every word she utters is parsed, every outfit she wears is reviewed, even whether or not she is holding hands at any given moment becomes fodder for late night comedians.
One of my favorite comments about the Trump presidency was that it was an "...and for what?" situation. "They ruined a perfectly good money laundering operation via their real estate empire... and for what?"
The House and Senate need to stand up for Mr. Mueller......or else face me in November.
13
John, they aren’t concerned about you...at all! They’ve cynically divided this country with the help of the Russians, Mercer, et al. And I have no doubt they will continue to find a way to cleave off enough distraught Americans desperate to ignore reality and support the trump/Pence cabal!
Trump is so obviously guilty of something. And this constant attempt to obstruct justice makes it clear that he's remarkably unintelligent too. I can't wait until he's out of office, and I do hope he remains the worst president America will ever have. If we ever get someone more incompetent, ignorant, and idiotic than him, I doubt our nation will survive it.
17
Admittedly, it is hard to see how the US could have a worse President.
2
Spoiler alert! If he goes we get Pence and his self-righteous and cruel theocracy!
2
Trump has wanted to and has been trying to stop the Mueller probe from the beginning. For those of us that know the President did it, Trump and the GOP leadership included, every day is like listening to someone drag their fingernails over a chalkboard.
7
There is a genre of news reporting: Stupid Criminals, where the idiotic moves of lawbreakers are documented to the derision and delight of readers.
Trump is the quintessential stupid criminal. He reacts viscerally, draws his "tweet" weapon or summons his minions with ill-considered orders, and shoots himself in the foot. Again and Again.
Emperor Donald the Dumb is so incredibly incompetent, he can't even act in his own best interests. The time has come when we need to seriously question his mental faculties. In any other position of leadership he would be discharged--partly on compassionate grounds. He is not able to handle his own affairs, much less those of the nation.
13
The risk Trump poses to our republic is greater now than it's ever been--he's losing any remaining traces of rationality and there's no one around to talk him down. Congress will soon recognize that failing to manage this obviously deranged man is much worse for them--and for all of us--than taking the demanding but necessary step of restraining his dangerous impulses. Dealing with the Russians in his state of mind? North Korea? O.M.G.
We're in serious trouble, and continuing cowardice by Congressional leadership could easily turn this crisis into a conflagration.
11
I have lost trust in Mueller. I think he has lost focus because this case has become so personal to him. He can find no evidence of collusion and therefore feels like he has failed. This has lead him to flail in the wind and do sloppy things. I almost feel as I did when my daughter was trying to run a mile under 5 minutes and just could not do it. I told her that some things are just not meant to be. The Dems need to realize that their candidate lost fair and square because some things were not meant to be.
6
What has he done that is sloppy? If you're going to make stupid claims, you need to back them up with evidence, not bad metaphors
3
But the Dems are not investigating Trump, the Republicans are so the argument that this is all just bitter grapes does not fly in the wind.
To date, what has Mueller done that is sloppy? Is it publish your email about meeting Russians in your dads building? Is it going on camera and saying you do not know where the money came from to pay Stormy? Is it publicly announcing that you paid hush money out of your own pocket? Could you define sloppy for me.
If my daughter had a hard time getting under 5 minutes, I would tell her about the time Prince was booed off of a stage. Or how Howard Schultz was turned down 268 times before he found an investor for Starbucks. Or how many times Elon Musk failed in his attempt to land a rocket booster on a floating pad in the ocean. I would play the video of Susan Boyle when she said she wanted to be a professional singer like Elaine Page and everyone laughed. I would buy her a book by Dr. Steven Hawkings and then I would finish it with the famous, I Have A Dream speech by Dr. King and explain to my daughter to never give up on her dreams.
3
Ummmm....he has not finished his investigation. Grow up. You need more patience than a four year old.
3
I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that Trump should do whatever he wants. Enough with the handlers and babysitters who have to talk him back from the edge every time he throws a temper tantrum. Let him rage. Fire whomever he wants. Then and only then will the sycophants in the Capitol be forced to show their true colors. This daily business of "will he/won't he" needs to come to a close.
8
What a surprise! I intend to also be surprised at the sun rising from the east next morning.
Thanks, Comey! I hope you are enjoying the millions of dollars for your book as the country crumbles due to your actions.
5
"...people had become conditioned to wait until Mr. Trump had raised an issue at least three times before acting on it." I've worked for similar managers, and it was not a strategy for success. Constant tension, clenched jaws, focus on survival and not growth. Is this how we want to be governed?
18
I vaguely remember reports of Nixon staffers making almost the same comment especially during the Watergate scandal. It seems there may be common techniques when managing a cornered rat.
1
Instead of Keystone Kops charges against untouchable Russians and shock-and-awe intimidation of prior bit-players for alleged tax offenses and minor indiscretions, Mr. Mueller should lay this immense, scandalous rotten egg before the country. If he can't face that challenge and service, he should shut down this charade so that Attorney General Sessions can end his recusal and we can bring on the main event and identify the authors of this monstrous farce.
It is all, and always has been, nonsense. The Russian activities Mr. Mueller has attacked began before Mr. Trump had announced his candidacy, were favorable to Senator Sanders and the Green candidate, Dr. Jill Stein, as well as to Mr. Trump, and were almost entirely Internet advertisements decrying the state of the country in terms many Americans would sadly endorse — violence, corruption, poverty, crime, racism, etc. — in a presidential campaign in which the major candidates spent $2.5 billion, and Mrs. Clinton spent the unheard-of sum of $250 million on attack ads.
6
are you serious? the campaign chairman's multi-million dollar bank fraud and money laundering, and the national security director's secretly being a foreign agent are 'bit players .. and minor indiscretions'? also AG lying to congress; Kushner Don Jr & Manafort meeting with Russians to get dirt on Hillary and lying about it, etc. Yes the Russian attacks started before Trump was the republican candidate, but T&co then had many contacts to facilitate and further it .. through Stone, Cambridge Analytica (Bannon and Mercer's company). This is far from nonsense or a charade.
31
Here goes the Times trying to be objective yet again by "picking" this laughable comment. That's the only "monstrous farce" here.
If Trump and his mob are innocent, what are his supporters so worried about? Wouldn't he and they want this proven beyond any doubt by an objective thorough investigation led by a man whose credibility is beyond doubt? What are they all so worried about if innocent?
Any attempts to paint this investigation as a partisan witch hunt are lies. Demonstrably untrue. There are the facts and there are opinions. Let's find out what the facts are.
Then we'll see where the rotten eggs, if any, are located.
21
sean, is that you ?
5
I'm struck by the irony that the wall between Mexico and the U.S. is not the only wall that Mr Trump wants built. The second wall is to be built around himself, by firing the head of Justice, and then the firing of the Special Counsel may cost him the Presidency. But those pesky people trying to preserve democracy keep taking the wall down. It's a disgrace.
11
Donald Trump's game of Russian roulette with Robert Mueller has now fired two empty shots. But, the game appears to go on and the gun appears to have been loaded.
2
The president's "eruptions" are no substitute for reason, intelligence, knowledge, or wisdom. I just finished "Fire and Fury" and the characterization of Trump's subhuman aspirations seemed relevant and accurate to me, despite some creativity in author Wolff's descriptions.
The president's deficits are dangerous to the future of humanity. This is just one more aspect of his irresponsible confusion of US aspirations with his desire to be an absolute tyrant. His tantrums are no substitute for governing.
He has discovered that by dredging up resentment and encouraging base tendencies - the easy path to evil and death - he can "win" with far too many people. He even appealed to the left, whose simpleminded susceptibility to absolute condemnations and totalitarian solutions found a home with Facebook / Cambridge Analytica trolling and subliminal advertising tactics.
Firing Mueller will not change the facts. This man and his henchpeople, enablers, grifters and liars all, are dangerous to children and other living things.
There is one power greater than all of us - the earth ("god"
s absence in all this is gobsmacking) and we are dismantling its bounty at speed. We pursue "dominion" (Genesis) without responsibility at our peril. It will get rid of its apex predator if we don't get wise to ourselves.
Seeking harm for personal profit is of evil. I can hope my fellow humans will wake up and look to help each other sooner rather than later.
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I suspect that Robert Mueller is well aware of the possibility that trump will find a way to fire him, before he can complete the job. Handing off pieces of the investigation to state prosecutors, as he did with the Stormy Daniels payoff, is one way to insure that the investigation can continue in the event of a new Saturday night massacre, and out of reach of presidential pardons.
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When did Mueller hand off an investigation to state prosecutors?
Tobias, Mueller handed off Cohen to state prosecutors.
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tom, Southern District of New York is Federal DoJ, NOT New York State.
Forget collusion. At a minimum the Trump campaign entered into a conspiracy with a foreign power to undermine our elections. They are the domestic enemies from whom many of us have sworn to protect our constitution.
We need new elections. The entire chain of succession is tainted.
I hope Mueller has plans in place if Trump fires him.
The GOP will do nothing.
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The forefathers of the country must have been well aware of the Donald Trump types.
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Which is why they provided for impeachment. What they didn't expect is a Congress full of gutless sycophants.
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"The forefathers of the country must have been well aware of the Donald Trump types." Yes they were and would never ever have allowed such a low energy, dishonest, ignorant, morally feeble rascal run for the office. The Federalist Papers explains the fine qualities to look for in a president--Trump is the type of candidate our system was created to prevent.
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The forefathers were aware of Trump types but back in those days, Donald would have been challenged to a duel already and that would have ended that problem.
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After two years of listening to Trump lie on a daily basis, one just assumes that if it isn't an obviously verifiable fact, such as "the sky is blue," then everything issuing from Trump's mouth (or tweeting thumbs) is a lie. May he drown in them soon.
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Trump was a bully and like all bullies, he is chicken as well. He blusters and thunders and roars; strategies that have been successful until now in his murky real estate world. Knowing no other approach to business, he used these very same tactics during his campaign. He found that it continued to work and served him well as he found a narrow pathway to the WH.
But this strategy is failing him in the WH. But he knows nothing else. So he flails and yells at anyone withing earshot to no avail. The end of his road is near.
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I agree with you totally sir, but what really concerns me this "bully" and "chicken" is the Commander and Chief of our military! With his limited experience and training, ie DRAFT DODGER and attending the New York Military Academy, which in itself is a joke. Thinks he has the power to use our military rather than the State Department in foreign affairs. I keep telling myself Trump will leave the White House in one of two ways. In handcuffs or in a straight jacket. It can't be soon enough.
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Sir, thou dost protest too much.
If you were innocent -- it would be great to be exonerated by Mueller, wouldn't it? If there's nothing to hide, what's the big deal? You couldn't wait for the Mueller investigation to reveal everything about you -- so you could triumphantly crow, "I told you so!" Best possible preparation for your 2020 re-election campaign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But that's not what you're doing -- you're trying to create a cover-up. Booooo!
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It's not "Fake News" anymore, is it, Mr. President?
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Every day we learn of heroes who honor our Constitution and the basic idea we are a nation of laws not criminal thugs. They - and persons we may never know of - are blocking and tackling to ensure Trump and his backers don't complete turning our government into a strongman kleptocracy. It's not clear how long these heroes can hold out.
It’s therefore crucial that Congress wake up and do its job as a check and balance in the system by passing legislation to protect Mueller and also Rosenstein. History has its eyes on this Congress.
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"Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December."
Of course, he did. No doubt he considers doing so every day. If he fires Mueller, however, his presidency would be over, and the president and/or his associates would almost certainly spend meaningful time in a federal prison.
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This historical review tends to diminish the importance of Trump's dangerous mating of his own records with the country's well-being. An investigation into Trump and his lawyer's records is far from an attack on the country, unless we no longer live in a democracy.
Also, Trump's records have been protected from disclosure until this week as far as we know. The Special Counsel said that his records were not sought from Deutsche Bank. And his records at Trump Tower were never obtained, at least from the standpoint of the many servers now no doubt wiped clean.
This is by far the bigger story. That the Special Counsel has still not obtained any Trump records by subpoena. That there have been no tax records produced. And that emails and many other written records remain unsubpoenaed.
Is Mueller's investigation really as hard-nosed as it can be? Not even now. While our country wastes away, our honor destroyed by a hugely misguided man, we have not moved with all deliberate speed.
There are signs that this is now occurring. These signs, the subpoena here and the fact that Ryan is not going to run for reelection, as well as the largely continuing silence of the Republicans, should be seen as factors making indictment by New York, or for acts prior to the presidency, are at least likely if not certain. Leaving aside the very weak so-called "DOJ Policy" of not indicting a sitting president.
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Ryan is running for reelection; he's not going to run for Speaker if they still have the House.
Thanks for the update.
Facts elude you. Ryan IS NOT running for re-election.
If the Supreme Court were to rule that Trump could fire Mueller directly then, by extension, he could fire Mueller's entire team. This would usher in a new era in the United States where no man is above the law with the exception of the president.
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The President is the law in Trump’s mind.
It's more of an insight into what trump is hiding and afraid they will find. His actions scream to the world "Guilty!" If he has never done anything shady, why the overreaction to every new headline?
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I wonder if it will take Mueller leaving Washington with his things in a cardboard box before Mitch believes trump wants to fire him.
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Trump behaves as though he is profoundly guilty... but he is guilty of so much one can only presume that he was also involved in Russian shenanigans ... certainly the least of his crimes not that i will mind his getting hung for them. Who would have thought in his wildest dreams that the USA could have a President of his kind more befitting a Banana Republic!
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If Trump could fire Mueller without putting a gun to his head he would fire him in a second, but as dumb as he is he's got just enough brains to know that would be his doom.
So go ahead Donny, fire him.
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When is Congress going to act in proposing legislation that has reasonable protection guaranteeing that a a Special Prosecutor led investigation cannot be terminated by the subjects under investigation???? It seems a no-brainer. And while a couple of congressional members grabbed some headlines a while back, they either have been silenced or are so busy doing nefarious work dismantling the Obama network under the radar - hidden by Trump's daily, or sometimes hourly headlines - that they have lost sight of the fact that if the investigation is halted or Mueller is removed, our nation will suffer. Let's remember that the investigation is about our elections being compromised by the involvement of an unfriendly nation and possible collusion by candidates and their campaigns. That Trump's dirty laundry falling into the sightlines is a byproduct, and if illegal, also must be addressed. We have laws. And while it is still legal to do so, VOTE...for your nation, and to remove the representatives and senators who have been sitting on their hands.
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Why is this a surprise? Given who he is, we should assume that shutting down Mueller is always on his mind. A purely human obsession.
"I fought the law, and the law won".
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Congress - Protect Mueller NOW, before it's too late. History with thank you for protecting our democracy !
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Of course, he wanted and wants to shut it down. It's a fraud. There was no Russian collusion. It was and is all based on lies in a desperate attempt to remove a man who is not part of those who are above the law and who no longer care at all about the people who elect them. And as we see, they will stop at nothing to remove him.
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Thanks for writing, Len. I'll just repeat what you have said, to make sure I understand it. You think this president believes in the rule of law. Moreover, you believe he cares for the people who elected him, e.g., by passing the tax cut law.
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How many of Trump's people have confessed so far? How many have been indicted so far? How many plea deals have been and are being made? Seems like quite a lot for a simple "fraud."
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Who is "they"?
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When the order to fire does arrive, how many Trump staffer's loyalty will be to the Constitution and rule of law, not Trump? The GOP Congress has rolled over and submitted. Will Kelly? Sessions? Pence?
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None. Zero.
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Maybe Trump thinks Mueller is like the many very shady people that he knows. Bob Mueller is a war hero with impeccable credentials who appears to be conducting investigation with the highest integrity.
We won’t know what will happen but our embaressinly angry and desperate POTUS will go after the messenger.
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Trump and his enablers sure don't behave like men who are innocent and have nothing to hide.
By the way WHEN are we gonna see Trump'$ tax returns.
Trump told US he'd show them after the election and IRS audit were done.
IRS has said many times there's no restriction in Trump providing his returns. Just one more BIG lie from Don Con.
You know how we can tell when Trump is LYING? Easy. When his lips are moving. Just sayin...
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IMO, Americans have been extremely patient with our floundering, fulminating POTUS. Always given the benefit of the doubt, DJT continues to do himself no favors. By defending himself against the facts, he becomes comical. What we don't need as a nation is a clown.
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Yes, it's a "witch hunt." And the witch is cornered. In the White House.
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Trump's favorite expression: you are fired.
With Ryan ready to quit; Cohen under a cloud, Trump's ego bruised seriously, he will fire Sessions, .Rosenstein and then Mueller, in that order.
Next, he is gone; good news
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Mueller's investigation has degenerated into a dumpster dive.
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I have no doubt that the investigation will follow the Trump Family's corruption wherever it hides.
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If you are going to comment, how about saying something useful that is backed by facts? Like this for example - Trump appointees are the main people Trump is beating on as disgraceful. Don't you find that odd and unprofessional? Take a minute and look at Mueller's resume and accomplishments compared to Trump's and then tell us who you truly believe has integrity.
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Then Donald and Cohen should have nothing to worry about other than a recycling infraction for putting cardboard in the wrong receptacle.
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If the idea of looking into Trump's Deutsche Bank dealings set him off this much, there must be damning evidence there!! I assume Mueller's team is smart enough to draw this conclusion; hopefully they (are allowed to) follow through.
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If I was president I would consider firing a lot of folks over at justice every day, after due consideration I would wait until Mueller runs out of idiotic side issues and finally admits that there was no collusion, but Russia (as many opponents) attempted to influence our election. We do that all the time Obama did it directly with one of our allies. Then justice needs a massive reform.
Having read yiour posts for a couple of years, I am sure you would have expressed the exact same sentiments during the Clinton investigations. Right...
Notice that not ONCE did Clinton threaten to fire Ken Starr, though his investigations went so far afield as to be ludicrous.
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Trump's been trying shut down the rule of law since the 1960's and 1970's when his dad, him and and Trump employees systematically attached a separate piece of paper with a big letter “C” on it — for “colored” — to any application filed by a black apartment-seeker in a Trump property.
Trump has spent his entire career evading the law and sweeping it under the rug.
Trump has no concept of right and wrong or legal vs. illegal; that's why he's losing his mind; this is the first time in Donald's life he has actually had to deal with right and wrong and the rule of law.
"Who knew it could be so complicated, Donald ?"
It's not complicated, actually, except for scofflaws, criminals, sociopaths, and malignant narcissists who accidentally land in the Oval Office through criminal means.
May we all see Donald in a glorious orange jumpsuit in the near future that perfectly matches his fake head of orange hair....with Mike Pence in the next criminal cell reading 'Christian' scripture to his Messiah Donald.
Flush this Trump Toilet before it does anymore damage to a once great country.
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Brilliantly put!
5
It seems very simple to someone who is not a lawyer. Any attempt now by Mr. Trump to stop the Mueller investigation, which is getting very close to Mr Trump himself, would be an unquestionable obstruction of justice. If Mr. Trump or those around him are not guilty of illegal behavior they have nothing to worry about. Why is Trump so afraid of the Mueller investigation? What might be revealed that would incriminate Mr Trump more than he has already incriminated himself by all his Tweets and spontaneous public verbal outbursts?
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It is not getting anywhere near close to the president on the collusion issue, so your idea falls apart. Now firing him is bad politics, I hear that someone in congress wants to impeach his boss and that might actually be a great idea. And no those Tweets do nothing , and his actions prove he is opposed to many Russian policies, wait for that bombing for more evidence.
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Who really knows what it is that terrifies Trump about the Mueller investigation? What is Mueller uncovering that makes Trump act like a guilty man?
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You have must have a direct pipeline to the Mueller investigation. You have absolutely no idea as to what Mueller has on Trump.. We will eventually
1
What is it with this desperate attempt to make sure they don't look at certain things. An innocent man say: "hey go ahead and look at everything - I have not done anything wrong, and want you to find that out so my name can be cleared". Trump is acting like someone who has something to hide.
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Actually, smart innocent people know that the police are never your friends, and are never there to help you, so they keep their mouths shut except to ask for their attorney. Rule #1 is: "Never talk to the cops.". Rule #2 is: "No searches without a warrant (that is, never give consent)"
4
Smart innocent people talk to the cops with their attorney present. They want to understand why the police think they are guilty and help clean out the misunderstandings. They also allow searches because the sooner the police find that there is nothing there the sooner they will move on. But that is not relevant to Trumps bizarre behavior. He is trying to use his power to shut down the whole investigation into the Russian interference in our elections even though he claims that he is not a party to that interference. Keeping this whole thing front and center with his constant obstructions and threats has cost a lot politically; what is it that makes that cost palatable if he really was innocent?
3
and he does..
Trump's "red line" is two things: a) a clear indication from his own mouth that his businss dealings could not stand up to scrutiny; and b) an imaginary limit on the special counsel's publicly documented mandate from the Justice Dept.
Trump doesn't sleep well because he knows there's plenty of evidence that he's tied to the Russians, mostly likely in money laundering schemes, if not more.
As to "collusion," we have all we need in the public record already -- in the form of more than 70 contacts between the Trump campaign and Russians tied to Putin and his government, formerly denied, now admitted and documented -- to support charges of treason by this cabal's leader, Donald J. Trump.
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I also think money laundering for the Russian mob is very likely. They didn't overpay for those luxury apartments for nothing.
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No kidding. He wanted to shut it down everyday since it started.
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Trump's only hesitation is that Republicans may actually begin to revolt. Shame on the entire clan.
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They are beginning to revolt as they leave cabinet posts and congress one by one each day.
I would not be surprised to see all of the resigning Republicans form a new party that is actually closer to what they used to be once upon a time.
For a man that claims innocence, Donald Trump certainly acts like someone with a great deal to hide. Where there is smoke there is fire and Donald Trump is smoking.
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