The article goes beyond the usual NY Times spin.. this is a propaganda piece pure and simple. The Obama FBI spied on a political opponent and used the full organs of the intelligence community to bring down a political opponent - this is kinda of stuff that happens in the third world .. even if you hate Mr Trump .. this is very very disturbing.. when the full extend of what happened sees the light of day ( and it will !) .. the credibility of this paper may be irreparable harmed.. shame on the NY Times !
1
"Trump Says Russia Inquiry’s Overreach Is a Scandal ‘Bigger Than Watergate!’ "
This has gotten out of control. We need to change the Constitution so only Democrats can be investigated.
1
Trump is like the Pied Piper, but for stupid people.
1
OMG. The Times has once again twisted facts and misled it's readers.
The scandal that's bigger than Watergate is not, as the Times would have us believe, the attempt by "a foreign power" to infiltrate a candidate's campaign and attempt to influence an election. It is the actual usurpation of executive power by the Obama FBI in planting an informant into the Trump inner circle on the pretext of seeking campaign information relating to so-called "Russian collusion".
If this isn't another Watergate than the world is not round!
But the Times has decided that it's Democratic darlings could never commit such a crime and is twisting actual facts to suit it's daily onslaught of misleading headlines and "opinion news" that any anti-Trump act committed by the Justice Department and FBI (Comey) in the name of "Russian collusion" is justified, criminal or not!
Thank goodness that the vast majority of Americans do not accept the Times' unjustified philosophy and overwhelmingly reject the criminal over reach of any administration, Republican or Democrat.
2
Trump is really smart. Really, really smart. How do I know? He's told me so, ad nauseam.
Pope Francis said, "who I am to judge"? Indeed, who am I? Well, actually, I happen to be someone who has known this conniver for decades. And I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw Chris Christie. The fact millions did so is astounding. They not only believed he was smart, business-wise, but he exuded political savvy. Because, hey, if you're a billionaire, well, you must be smarter than the average bear, right Boo Boo? That's a Yogism; not the Yankee catcher; the bear from Jellystone.
And get this. Trump's disciples don T-shirts in public proclaiming themselves to be "deplorable". They do so without shame. They literally wear their ignorance on their sleeves. Go figure.
It's amazing a nation populated with so many proud fervent anti-intellectuals, wallowing like pigs in a mud pen of ignorance, managed to achieve all it has. But then, when one considers that America has done so by committing genocide on its Natives, shanghaied Slaves from Africa to do its dirty work, claiming Manifest Destiny as its right, well, under those conditions, who wouldn't be e Numbero Uno?
Conniving as the Trumps, Americans, White Americans, who employed such brutal tactics were bound to strike Gold in them there hills, right? We didn't wait for opportunity to knock. We broke the door of morality down to achieve it. Maybe, with Trump, America has finally found its true leader.
DD
Manhattan
3
Donald Trump is a loser. He's broke and runs the country as if he is still a schlocky New York developer playing a shell game with the media, the law and the American people.
This is why putting forth income tax records are important prerequisites to running for President. Every day Trump demonstrates how he is the canary in the coal mine as to how low the USA has fallen in regards to its public servants.
The sooner Trump is dumped, the better. Impeach!
2
....and so by extension we should also be questioning the heroic undercover, embedded work of Joe Pistone (aka Donnie Brasco) instead of imprisoning gangsters "Sonny Black" Napolitano, Lefty Ruggiero, and Joe Massino for their crimes? Seriously, does this conman of a President understand how much like a guilty mafioso he sounds like when flinging his twitter tirades out like this?
2
It's not overreach, but the inquiry will indeed end up being bigger than Watergate. Much bigger.
Trump is the biggest thief, liar and swindler to ever occupy the White House.
Wait till Mueller comes out with all the ways you broke the laws, Donito Trumpolini.
This IS bigger than Watergate. This is w-a-y bigger than Clinton diddling around and lying about it. The Trump presidency is an affront to democracy—the worst ever, anywhere, by anyone. If he would read a third grade textbook on American history, he might understand that he and his henchmen, including his line-up of thug lawyers, are not above the law of the land. This may be his land, but it's our land, too.
Mueller's investigation is not a witch-hunt, but if it were, I'd gladly pay a high price for a ticket to the finale. Ever since this nightmare began, I wake each morning with a sense of dread. It's becoming harder and harder to get out of bed. I'm sick of it!
I want it to be over, but I don't want it to end before each stone has been overturned and each individual has been interviewed. I want those who are proven to be guilty to be put in prison. And I want those who have perjured themselves to be put in prison. And I want the members of Congress who have ignored the evidence and looked the other way, neglecting their duty to guard our nation and what it stands for out of office. And I want them all to pay their court costs. These folks are denigrating our nation and sullying the ideal of democracy. They are devoid of principles, decency, and a sense of ethics.
I want my country back. There is nothing "great" about what's going on in our government. There's something rotten in Washington and the stink is suffocating.
The more he whines and plays the victim, the closer we are getting to the truth.
1
Trump will be completely vindicated. Yes the DNC collaborated. Not Trump. Then the FBI runs a sting operation on the Trump campaign. Stranger than fiction. Dangerous because it happened.
If the DNC collaborated, why isn’t Hillary president?
If the DNC and FBI colluded, why did Comey pull a last minute sabotage press conference against Hillary?
How come the obvious eludes Trump supporters?
1
Whatever happens outside he always says the same thing as if avoiding confronting the reality makes it go away. There seems to be no one in his cocoon who points it out and makes him smarter. This is not a new sight for those living in Japan. The one who breaks such an equilibrium here is always a more serious player, the prosecutors, which looks true even in the states!
1
Indeed. Trump can be likened to the very young child with immature brain development who thinks that if something can’t be seen, it isn’t there. And yet he gives lip-service to god, but, of course, he doesn’t believe in god—if only he did. I guess that's why he's so greedy and unethical. Maybe that's why he's so callous. But I don’t care why he is those things. The fact that he is means he's unfit for office.
1
Stop scaring yourself about the 52 million [twitter] followers. Once you knock out the 40 million trolls, the one million Beltway bandits, Congressional staffers and politicians, and 5 million who follow to send him insults, and one million foreigners and couple hundred thousand press, you are left with followers. The rest of us read the print press or listen to tv and just roll our eyes that anyone takes him seriously when he twits.
1
I can hear him now.... “Higher ratings”, “Most watched by most people”. Sadly it will be impossible to overcome if they really can’t indict as the NYT reported yesterday. Of course Giuliani said of Trump “you can’t indict” but said of Clinton “If doesn’t appear you just indict”. Perfect bunch of liars. They’ll say anything. Trump said when asked about his wrong statement about Canada “I just make things up”.
3
Yes, it is bigger than Watergate because no previous presidents colluded with Russians. Trump, your twitter nonsense is a sign of your guilt.
4
"Trump Alleges Inquiry Overreach ‘Bigger Than Watergate"?
Guess Trump played hooky or dozed off during the part of his US History class where it was pointed out that Nixon, Agnew, John Mitchell, etc, were found GUILTY?
Or proven so guilty in Nixon's case that he quit one step ahead of the impeachment process whose outcome was clear. And subsequently stayed out of jail and/or endless prosecutions only due to a Presidential Pardon from Ford.
3
Trump is now, and has always been since his election, a LIAR.
I am incredulous that this is possible for a president in the country I love.
1
There’s “probably no doubt”?
Someone might want to tell the President that means that there is doubt.
3
Once again, Trump is wrong. It is remarkable how dependably he is wrong, or lying, or wrong and lying. I suspect that Trump is the perfect reverse of Simon Cameron's honest politician - one who once bought will stay bought. Trump's methodology is always to default, always to lie and always to deceive. He cannot even stay bought.
1
Bigger than Watergate?
This is more like Tsunami-gate, or maybe even Gate-gate.
If it weren't for the tapes, Nixon probably would have gotten away with it. The biggest mistake we made was not sending him to jail for life, the way he deserved. If we had sent that message then, we might not be in the situation we're in now.
If he's really guilty, I don't want Trump impeached with full pension and early retirement to Mar-A-Lago, I want him in jail, for the rest of his natural life.
It used to be that people in public office were held to a higher standard. Now, they're not held to any standard. A credibly accused pedophile for the Senate? Why not! Transparent bribery on the front pages? Sure!
The entirety of the "me generation" doesn't come close to the self-aggrandizing hubris of the first "me president".
4
One informant = "bigger than watergate"?
Once again Trump shows his poor grasp of history.
1
Bottom line with all of this is ,if you are innocent then it does not matter! If I were an innocent man and were subjected to this I would do everything I could to cooperate and get the truth out. If i were guilty I would stall, complain, attack and try to wiggle out.
trump was busy getting his, um, shoe shined during Watergate. The rest of America was paying attention to democracy.
3
I'm not a Trump supporter but this investigation has gotten out of control. It appears Mueller is looking for something, anything they can pin on him. It's going to end up being something he did when he started his real estate company.
4
The Watergate investigation took one and a half years. The investigation that led to Libby’s conviction took three years. Until it’s complete nobody will know how long it should take or why it progressed as it will have. Those who don’t want it to reveal criminal behaviors are trying to convince all that it has gone too far. The
5
If the something he did in real estate was laundering money for Russians, that would explain a lot of his later behavior.
5
I didn't know that becoming president absolved you of any and all previous criminal activity.
Learn something everyday!
I can't imagine what you thought of all those Clinton investigations. Really out of control, right?
2
There may be no precedent for a president being indicted for wrong doing while in office or conduct that occurred before took office. One of the bedrock core principles of the United States is that no one, not even the president, is above the law. Our founders did not carve out exceptions that a president can be “temporarily” above the law for a period of time due one matter or another which invites creative license to find as many exceptions as possible to postpone the reckoning that they must adhere to the law.
One internal department legal opinion that has not been settled in court should not prevent the special counsel from pursuing an indictment, if warranted, against the president.
What if the president were to be indicted? It would be a reaffirmation of equal justice. The nation’s core values would be strengthened.
Can the office of the presidency withstand an indictment? Under the constitution, the 25th amendment could be invoked. If the vice-president were also implicated with wrongdoing, then the constitution provides for an ordered succession.
The worst outcome would be the Gerald Ford example of “at long last our national nightmare is over” with no accountability under the law. Our legacy as citizens means we deserve the most complete investigation that the special counsel can provide with public reporting of all facts and to pursue any indictments for accountability where necessary.
11
Spot on Kathy! And a well deserved Times Pick!
1
The allegations that led to the approval for the inquiry and the appointment (by the GOP led Senate) of a Special Counsel are already bigger than Watergate.
The potential illegal activities and/or crimes are the big deal, not the investigation.
Don't follow the guy holding the gaslight up the stairs.
8
Can’t take the heat
Get out of the kitchen
4
Wow.
First Obama had wire taps into Dear Leader Donnie's tower and campaign.
Then the Deep State put spies into his campaign.
Just another manifestation of President Dennison deep seated mental illness.
The Great Showman is even more corrupt than RMN.
In return to 500,000,000.00 in investment in a Trump Empire project......
the Mango Mussolini is ready to save 75,000 Chinese jobs for a company that violated trade bans with North Korea and Iran.
A company whose product threatens our national security.
Phones banned for sale to service members because Der Trumpenfuhrer's good friend Xi can trace their location through their phones.......
Impeach
Indict
Imprison
9
Mr Trump, you are such a wuss. Man up! Robert Mueller, by all indications, is a thorough man of integrity. You don't want a cloud hanging over your head. You must admit, it looks peculiar when Junior says talks are about Russian adoption when he wasreally there, with Jared, for Hillary dirt. All those people close to you....and the Russians. A witch hunt, hardly. Perhaps you are innocent but I need Mueller to continue a thorough investigation....without interference. After all I can hardly depend on your changing stances when you can't keep your facts (not alternative facts) straight.
5
Yep. It is bigger than Watergate. I agree with Trump on that. Nixon didnt sell out the US to foreign adversaries.
13
Outsourcing ... great deals people ...
" Bigger than Watergate. Nixon was an amateur, he got caught. I don't like people that get caught. I have the BEST crooks and criminals, they never get caught. The best in History, I'm telling you, anything else is just Fake News, from that crooked, lying Hillary ".
Sure.
3
Watergate was a singular crime that grew because of the cover-up. Clearly, lesson not learned.
Comparing himself to Watergate is not the best move, either. At this point he's just a fool throwing darts in any direction, hoping for a score. So far, his base accepts it, they've tuned out anything resembling common sense.
Watergate perpetrators pushed back, too. It took longer than a year to resolve but ultimately it did not end well for the president. Had Mr. Trump gotten in front of this early on, taken his lumps, none provably illegal at that time, it would not have moved forward. But as is often the case with ego-driven people they have to keep shoving back.
The best advice, should he ever take any, is to choose your battles. By taking on the FBI and justice system he's out-disciplined. His downfall will be perfectly laid out in his thousands of tweets.
4
If anyone has any doubts about how corrupt this adminstration is, just look at the story about the Kushners getting bailed out by the Qataris. "The most successful first 17 months of any adminstration in U.S. history." I think Fat Donald spelled "corrupt" incorrectly.
6
You’re correct, it’s spelled
T - R - U -M - P
Obama’s irs targeted conservative groups - fact
Obama’s doj and fbi colluded with the DNC to use the full power of government to spy on republicans.
Russia is a problem- Mitt Romney pointed that out and obama and the media laughed and laughed.
The real election collusion is obama hillary and comey tried to overthrow the fair election of an American President.
4
Yes, deflect to Obama and Hillary. Very original!
1
@William Rodham - you don't get out much, do you? Your information resources seem a bit limited. For example, no one based in consensus reality - you know, the real reality - believes the IRS 'targeted conservative groups' because that isn't actually true. Similarly, 'obama hillary and comey' never tried to overthrow the fair election of an American President. Someone other than you and your little computer friends would have noticed. ... Anyway, baby steps. Maybe visit a library? Do a little bit of reading?
1
Hm. What was Watergate again? Oh yeah, a burglary of Democratic National Headquarters by a unit of White House operatives to steal campaign information and possible incriminating evidence, and the subsequent COVERUP and OBSTRUCTION of justice by the president. Substitute "collusion with a foreign government' for "burglary' and Trump is in EXACTLY the same spot as Nixon.
4
lock him up
3
Apparently, Trump always has to have the biggest of everything, including scandals.
3
Proof that a morally corrupt person can become president. There was no moral issue or integrity issue in the Obama administration. Regardless of deals he brokers Trumps damage to the country, lack of dignity, berating and personal attacks can never be forgotten.
5
Indeed, trump conspiring with the Russian government troll and hacker apparatus in exchange for sanctions relief is a scandal BIGGER than watergate. Congress and the media are blinded; who can not see it. Quit calculating and stand up for this country
3
I'm more interested in a Israel/Saudi Arabia/Qatar-gate inquiry.
That's happening right in front of our eyes and nobody seems to want to talk about it.
4
And his tax returns will be the icing on the cake.
3
What a goofball Trump is - doesn't he realize that the comparison he is making between this investigation and Watergate is basically saying his scandal is far bigger than Nixon's? Of course we all know that Trump is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
4
Mueller is no Elliott Ness. He's a conservative legal bureaucrat deeply invested in conventional thinking. He won't indict the President no matter how compromised he may be. Mueller will just punt it to Congress. Given the Democrats' feckless, geriatric leadership, it will come to nothing even if they are the majority next January.
In 1920, French President Paul Deschanel greeted the British ambassador stark naked except for his presidential sash. Shortly thereafter he was removed and sent to a sanitorium. That's what it took. We're stuck with Donald Trump until he either exposes himself publicly, or starts a nuclear exchange and kills us all - whichever comes first.
2
Wait-the Democrats are behind this? The Executive Branch, cabinet Departments and Congress are controlled by the Republicans.
3
Trump got it wrong. His scandal will be way bigger than Watergate.
How desperate is he that he tweets this garbage that only his supporters and Republicans defend. He can tweet all his way to prison. He's guilty in the court of public opinion. Trump will get his comeuppance. I wish there was a Nurenberg type trial for Trump and his group of criminals. They are robbing America of not only money but its values.
1
This president will most certainly go down in history.....
1
Nothing, and I mean nothing that comes out of Trumps mouth is true or makes any sense. He's like a child who has never been taught to swim thrown mercilessly into a lake. he is flopping and flailing and he is on his way down. To those that back him all I can say is: "Open your eyes, open your mind and you will see the emperor has no clothes". If you won't accept that, then just imagine that this was Obama doing all this stuff and how you would react. then you will understand your bias.
6
Of course the Russia inquiry should be far bigger than Watergate, Trump is far more immoral and unethical than Nixon.
2
The fact that a man like Trump is now sitting in the Oval Office is in itself the biggest scandal of this century and the last.
3
As Obama said in his farewell address, the greatest threat to our democracy is a political polarization so severe that partisans no longer share common facts and vocabularies. Today, it is possible to live in a news bubble in which Trump is perpetually on the verge of impeachment or one in which the president is the target of a witch hunt. Neither is an accurate depiction of reality, but reality is now optional.
Trump supporters are so isolated in their own media ecosystem and tribal epistemology that nothing can dissuade them from their Deep State conspiracy theories; Trump and his media enablers operate on the assumption that there are no facts, only interpretations... Trouble is, 'Democracy' assumes that its citizens share the same reality...
We’re about to find out whether democracy can be preserved when this assumption no longer holds.
The Twitter-in-Chief ("TIC") is right for once. This is way, way bigger than Watergate. Nixon was a crook, but he was our crook, not Khrushchev's. The TIC is a crook - but he is Putin's crook.
2
The Trumps make the Clintons look like pikers!
when Donald Trump resigned as Richard Dixon did, then and only then, I will be glad to agree that the trump mess is bigger than the Nixon mess
1
Donald J. Trump says such dopey things on a daily basis, that even I ,as a semi intelligent person is becoming numb to his absurdity. I think he and his foolish cohorts are on to something. Flood the electorate with foolishness and eventually even the non fools will give up.
Wake up people of reasonable intelligence!
2
What was so successful? Not sure what he is referring to.
1
The most curious aspect of this witch hunt is how many witches it seems to be finding and how many of them appear to either by Russian, have significant ties to or interactions with Russians, or at the very least have engaged in highly unethical if not criminal behaviors. Funny that when you go on a witch hunt sometimes you actually find witches.
2
Only a person with a poor grasp of history—we’re looking at you Donald—-would compare the Mueller investigation to Watergate. Really, they are completely incomparable—no one can hold a candle to Donald.
Since Donald enjoys using and bestowing superlatives on himself, here we go. Donald is the winner, as always!
The Russia investigation is much much bigger than Watergate—the most gigantic ever, as is befitting.
Nixon was a piker who oversaw a third rate burglary to get himself re-elected. Donald pulled off a much more fantastic heist, working with the Russians to get himself elected (barely) on the very first try. Who is a bigger winner?
Nixon had a few dirty tricks, but he was basically a one trick pony. Donald is a magician, specializing in the dark arts with his friends from Moscow. They clean money, traffic in stolen emails, false advertisements, etc. The most unbelievably corrupt guy ever. In fact, he’s so corrupt, he has his own crime family: Ivanka, Jared, Don Jr., and Eric. Donald is also a notable Lothario and draft dodger, besting Nixon in those arenas too.
Nixon resigned in disgrace; the loser just gave up. Donald is a counter puncher—he could have knocked out Ali. No one tells Donald I call my own shots Trump what to do! It will take an elephant dart full of Thorazine to bring down macho man Trump. Or handcuffs. No resigning for Donald. That is for total losers.
Nixon left 20 months after the election. Let’s hope Donald can beat that.
3
I believe what he says to be true. After all, he has always told the truth. And, if you believe that, I have a bridge.....
At least Nixon had the sense to keep from getting roped in by the Soviets. Good grief.
1
I'm sure it's been said here at the NYT before, but there have been indictments - quite a few of them - and so it's not a witch hunt. Not only that, if there was nothing there, the investigation and indictments might have ended. When the trail has forks, the investigators will keep traveling until it ends. Trump can say all he wants and his base can believe him, but the fact that there have been indictments says Mueller is not done - until he is.
3
Indictments that have nothing to do with Russian collusion
1
Trump should worry less about Watergate and start reading up on what happened to Spiro Agnew that same year.
Hint: conspiracy, fraud, kickbacks, collusion and the granddaddy of all crimes, TAX EVASION.
3
"Trump Alleges..." begins the headline on the NYT homepage.
Excuse me, we're talking about President Trump, the unhesitating, unconscionable, unapologetic, unprecedented, unbelievable liar, right? Not one of the less infantile Trumps(Barron perhaps) that might have some modicum of shame at telling outrageous lies?
Trump "alleged" (August 8, 2016) that the 5% unemployment figure during Obama's administration was "one of the biggest hoaxes in modern politics" only to later announce upon assuming the presidency that the declining unemployment rate was "very real."
Trump "alleged" (August 2, 2012) that an "extremely credible source" told him Obama's birth certificate was "a fraud."
Trump "alleged" (August 12, 2016) that Obama was "the founder of ISIS" and categorically rejected the suggestion that he meant it metaphorically, saying, "No, I meant he's the founder of ISIS."
Trump "alleged" (May 3, 2016) that Ted Cruz's father was somehow involved with Lee Harvey Oswald and the JFK assassination saying, "I mean, what was he doing-what was he doing with [Oswald] shortly before the death? Before the shooting? It's horrible."
Trump "alleged" (November 21, 2015) that he "watched in Jersey City" as "thousands and thousands" of people cheering as NYC was attacked on 9/11.
Would bother challenging me if I "alleged" that, I could not cite dozens more of Trump's lies like the ones above without repeating a single one? So devil take him and his "allegations."
4
Trump did not win the election,he wasselected by the electoral college whith the help of Russia and some mobsters.
It will take years to return your country to its former stature,assuming that a war is not started befor you kick this bum out of the WH
Nixon was nothing in relation to Trump and all the BEST people surronding him
8
The President of the United States blathers on like a middle schooler
7
I do wish that the Times would not publish the Twitter-Idiot’s tweets
Trump craves attention, and publishing his tweets feeds his ego.
By the way, I did not waste my time reading his lies.
9
Listen NYT
By ignoring his tantrums they might even go away
Like any 3 year old
1
From the guy that took a 500 million dollar bribe to lift sanctions on a Chinese telcom.How quaint.
15
Only he would be stupid enough to drag an analogy to Watergate into his own Twitter.
11
Was the government informant named Mike Flynn or George Papadopoulos?
2
No
OMG, the man in mentally deranged. It's like we have a mad king and he's sending his minions around to look for unicorns and they have to pretend he's sane. He's destroyed the republican party, the teaparty, the mercers, the kochs, the evangelicals, breitbart, sinclair and fox news forever. Who could ever trust these lemmings again? It's the one good thing that came out of the mad man. He's taking all the "just following order" (or taking bribes...) criminals down with him.
9
Of course it is bigger than Watergate. Watergate evidence did not include Russian "kompromat" (aka the pee tape), nor treason, racketeering, collusion, bank fraud, etc. Trump's crimes will be revealed, and others will go down with him...including the GOP who foolishly continues to stand with him. No one is above the law. No one.
10
It's really sad that "Barry" couldn't have gotten into the 2016 Trump Campaign.
Something good might have occurred.
Dopey Donald is quoting Andrew McCarthy.
McCarthy promoted the false theory that Bill Ayers, co-founder of the militant radical left-wing organization Weather Underground, had authored Obama's autobiography Dreams from My Father.
McCarthy argued in October 2008, "that the issue of Obama's personal radicalism, including his collaboration with radical, America-hating Leftists, should have been disqualifying."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_C._McCarthy#Barack_Obama
Andrew McCarthy is a consipacy theorist, plain and simple.
Naturally, a Birther like Dopey Donald Trump pays attention to him.
Not. My. President.
Stormy Daniels is a PORN STAR, but Donald John Trump is an OBSCENITY.
10
"Mr. Trump wrote in a tweet that federal investigators attempted to infiltrate his 2016 campaign with a confidential informant."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No Spanky, that wasn't a "confidential informant", it was just another employee whistleblower...
You, your family and everything you stand for is rotten and stinks to high heaven.
Trailer trash with money.
10
Biggest liar ever in White House. Biggest crook. Biggest traitor to a foreign enemy. Biggest mouth. Biggest serial assaulter of women. Biggest coward. Biggest crybaby. Biggest self-promoter.
In other words, he is just the person America's biggest conservative evangelical racist student-murdering-enablers want their own children to grow up like.
10
What are you so afraid of, Grifter?
A nice orange suit, right off the rack awaits you.
6
Using GOP logic, if Police have a warrant to search a car for, say suspected drugs and find during the search a severed head in the trunk, they should ignore it, as it is going beyond the scope of the warrant. That is simply idiotic.
6
Have other presidential candidates conspired with a foreign power to win an American election?
Has the stench of corruption and treason coming from the White House ever been stronger?
6
Ted Kennedy tried, but didn't get the nomination
Naturally Trump wants to be the biggest and the baddest President He is the baddest but Watergate was much bigger in scope.
1
Candidate Trump - 'I'll drain the swamp.'
President Trump - 'I'll drain my personal cesspool into the swamp.'
Trump's legacy - 'I degraded 'Washington the swamp' into 'Washington the sewer.'
3
Interesting picture to accompany this article. I know it's supposed to be an eagle, but doesn't that figure behind Trump look like a Satanic face? Hmm....
1
Please stop covering every idiotic utterance and lie from this toxic monster.
4
We can only hope it's bigger than Watergate.......and that this one spends time in the hoosegow.
#BoycottTheGOP
2
Since it has't been quite 16 months since the inauguration, he must be planning one heck of a lot for the next 30 days to be "most successful". Although I expect his definition is different from mine.
11
You are right, Mr. President, your scandals are bigger than Watergate; you are more corrupt than Richard Nixon, or any other President.
15
More typical responses from the Trump playbook, first to accuse Clinton of anything suspected of Trump, and now to include President Obama. In my opinion he's treading on dangerous grounds to accuse the Obama administration of anything like Watergate. The Mueller investigation is clearly touching a nerve, but more importantly, producing results. As we hear more news bringing us closer to Don Jr, Jared Kushner, or "fixer" Cohen, we see Trump and Giuliani emboldened in their deceptions and exagerrated claims. The American people must demand that we stay the course on this investigation.
12
"Believe me," My Corruption is "Huge, Incredible, Tremendous, Amazing, Terrific, Beautiful, Record-Setting, and the Greatest Ever."
17
"Well, if the president does it, that means it is not illegal" - Richard M. Nixon
7
Delusional.
Perhaps he can convince himself. Maybe even his sons.
After the Storm(y), I suspect Melania will be a tougher sell.
And a few other racists and misogynists.
But the clatter you hear soon will be the scales falling from the eyes of even believers.
6
Biggest political scandal in American history. Watergate, the Tea Pot Dome scandal, etc., are not even a distant 2nd.
Weaponizing the federal law enforcement agencies and using the deep state as political cover to destroy or frame political enemies and seeking to overturn a duly elected American president is frightening and highly disturbing. and it comes from the Democrats, the radical left, idiotic Republicans and the praetorian guard media.
6
Weaponizing law enforcement? Deep state? I'm sure you've conjured up these phrases all on your own, right?
Also, a president who loses the popular vote by 3,000,000+ votes is NOT duly elected.
Finally, can you and others please try some critical thinking for once and make up your own mind instead of pilfering your talking points from a right wing "news" organization? It's not a good look.
You got conned by a conman. We'll accept you back into civil society if you just own up to that. We promise.
2
It's so 'Bigger Than Watergate" there's going to be a brand new word for it:
TRUMPGATE
12
Greatest "Witch Hunt in American History"? Has he not heard of Salem, Massachusetts, or Joe McCarthy? Oh... wait a minute... probably not.
4
Trump and his cronies, no, it's not Witch Hunt. It's an honorable and just hunting of criminals and traitors to lock them up. Giuliani, you should reread US v/s Nixon et al. This will be a second Watergates, in the sense that there were concerted cyberhackings and distribution of the Democrat campaign documents by Don Trump, Jr, Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, the Russians and their henchmen. Stop the crooked game of the theft crying "Help, theft, theft."
1
Doubtful Trump knows what Watergate is. That would require that he read something, or at least listen to someone for more than 12 seconds.
6
Can’t wait unti we get a full accounting of the deeds of these merry pranksters in this corrupt administration. They will pay a steep price for their few years of power.
They will look great in Orange.....
6
Mr. Trump is contemptible. Still, we should not let Mr. Trump's behavior distract from the story. A political party used extensive government resources to spy on the other party during a campaign. The spying party at first denied and then leaked to the friendly media when the denials were threatened. The denials have now turned to justification, but the nearly two-year old investigation, as has been reported (in the seventieth-something paragraph), has not produced evidence of collusion. One party cannot be permitted to spy on another party merely based on some theory that fails to yield evidence after nearly two years.
If the parties were reversed, the good readers here would be beyond outraged. Imagine if Mr. Trump ordered the FBI to spy on Joe Biden in 2020.
Mr. Trump's time will pass. The damage to our institutions will remain, and it's time to acknowledge that certain actors in the prior administration behaved inappropriately and should be subject to a thorough investigation.
Civil liberties and due process are more important than party. If we do not protect civil liberties and due process now, one of Mr. Trump's successors will make us yearn for the days when the president's biggest vice was lying about paying a former porn star to keep quiet about an adulterous encounter.
3
"Congratulations" will be due for American when Trump is gone... not before. Perhaps Trump can review the Whitewater investigation timeline, and then the Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi! investigations timeline, before he spews about "witch hunts". Trump may believe nobody before has been investigation so intensely, but, like so many other things, he's wrong about this, too. He may *deserve* to be investigation more than anyone since Nixon, but he's skating by, certainly from the House Republican's, who, having waved the whitewash brush around vigorously, are all done. "Nothing to see, everything's just peachy here, move along now..." is the condensed version of Chairman Nune's work of fiction.
3
Wow, indeed!
You mean to tell me that the FBI had a informant in the Trump campaign?
A leaker? In the Trump campaign?
Hard to believe! :-)
2
No, not a leaker. Not someone in the Trump campaign already. Someone grafted onto the Trump campaign. In other words, a spy. And not from the DNC, which might have been justified and legal. From the FBI or CIA or both.
1
The Watergate investigation began with a crime. Five operatives paid by the Richard Nixon reelection campaign were caught red-handed on June 17, 1972, as they broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters to plant listening devises. Three months later, on September 15, a grand jury indicted them, as well as Nixon campaign officials G. Gordon Liddy Hunt and E. Howard Hunt, for conspiracy, burglary, and violation of federal wiretapping laws. The FBI's investigation into whether Trump campaign officials colluded unlawfully with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election began in July 2016 when the FBI learned Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos told a Australian diplomat that Russians had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. The investigation began not with a crime, but with the possibility a crime might had been committed. Robert Muller inherited the FBI collusion investigation when he was appointed special counsel, so it is nearly two years old, not one year old. However, after nearly two years, the investigation into whether the Trump campaign officials colluded unlawfully with Russia still has produced no evidence of unlawful collusion. The Trump campaign doesn’t object to the Russian investigation, or the Paul Manafort money laundering and tax evasion investigation; it objects the two-year search for unlawful collusion, despite mounting evidence that no unlawful collusion took place.
2
Mr. Case, you commit an error - you cite mere facts.
I doubt you'll get more than three recommendations.
2
Trump supporters were aptly anticipated by PT Barnum. The claim by Trump lovers ,"Nothing to see here folks. Just move on", is ludicrous. These same people were willing to lock Hillary up for doing nothing whatsoever. Sad!
1
Wait,have to catch someone red handed in order to investigate what happened?Sorry WRONG. We had and have plenty of evidence that SOMETHING went on. Mueller is simply doing the required investigative work to get to the bottom of it. Trump, if he is really innocent, should welcome the inquiry and its clearance of him. What he can't do is shut down the investigation that has already found lots of wrongdoing. Look maybe there was no collusion, but have found out that lots of other really bad stuff happened. I want to know, and Trump should too. You know if Mr T would just keep quiet then no one would be paying daily attention.
Yes, this is worse than Watergate. At least Watergate involved wrong-doing planned, directed, and carried out by Americans. It is somehow worse that in this case a foreign power and foreign actors were involved.
5
Way bigger than Nixon. Trump makes Nixon look like a choirboy. Heck, he makes W Bush look like a statesman.
7
The hypocritical Republicans were obsessed with looking for charges to bring against Hillary Clinton, just as they were against Bill (remember 14 days of Congressional hearings to investigate claimed Clinton misuse of the White House Christmas card list?). The all out effort to smear Hilary with Benghazi and Email Server accusations were deliberately conducted in anticipation of her seeking the Presidency. The Russians were happy to help out to put their paid stooge Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
Trump is immersed in Russian collusion up to his ears. The number of smoking guns is enough to fill an NRA-sponsored arsenal. But the Republican anti-American insistence on ignoring Russian interference in our election system with Trump's full knowledge make them co-conspirators. How many Trump campaign rallies were filled with chants led by Trump to "lock her up!!".
There is a sickness that has descended on our land and it is called the Republican Party. They have truly lost their way. They have no shame whatsoever.
7
Ho Hum. Yet another sensational accusation with absolutely no proof. Perhaps the FBI informant planted in his campaign also wiretapped the Trump Tower. A president who has racked up over 3,000 lies in his first 16 months in office is the last person to scream "Witch Hunt!"
This is the president who promised us we would be winning so much we would get bored with winning. Instead, we are getting bored with a president who finds blame everywhere but in the Oval Office and more make-believe villains than in a B grade horror movie.
2
Trump Tweets. Now there is an example of fake new. Blah, blah, blah Don. No facts, no basis. Just his rambling thoughts. His perception is not our reality.
3
Measuring by how long the Mueller investigation has lasted and how many indictments (and guilty pleas) it's produced, this is one of the fastest, most effective probes in law enforcement history. Which is exactly why Trump and his enablers are getting more scared and angry every week - the toppling dominoes keep getting closer to the Oval Office and the Trump family. Looks as if the next one just about has to be Sessions, Giuliani, Don Jr., Jared, or Ivanka. Once it gets to the kids, the question becomes whether they flip on him before he throws them to the wolves. Or if neither happens, they all go down together.
5
This is not a news article. It is an editorial rebuttal of Trump's claims, and not a very convincing one at that.
1
Will this guy ever stop campaigning to his hordes of sheep and do what's right for all of America and put America's Citizens First? First step, fire all Science Deniers.
4
Enjoy your impeachment, Mr. Trump. It's coming.
2
Never mind what Trump says or tweets.
This is shaping up to blow up in people's faces, including the upper levels of the FBI, DOJ, previous Administration, DNC and and Mr. Mueller.
An old saying: Don't kick a skunk.
It will be entertaining ... especially attempts of the anti-Trump MSM to explain it all ...
1
God, please tell me there's a perp walk at the end of all this.
4
Nothing wrong with a witch hunt when there's an actual witch.
2
Exactly Bill. That's what they used to say in Salem, and it remains true to this day.
1
Dear NYT:
In all fairness, the President should have credited his "bigger than Watergate" claim to The Times article yesterday detailing how the Obama administration spied on Trump campaign officials, without a criminal probable cause finding, instead illegally employing "national security letters meant only for the surveillance of foreign spies, and even planted an "informer" in the campaign.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/17/us/politics/trump-watergate-russia-in...
4
You mention this:
The president also praised his administration, calling it “the most successful first 17 month Administration in U.S. history — by far!”
But that it, just a mention. Is this accurate or not? Where is the context and reporting? How do you expect readers to make an informed decision when there is nothing to go by but Orangeman’s hyperbole? This feeds the echo chambers.
The President's tweet is referring to the embedded informant and not the entire Russia investigation.
I find it misleading that the headline and first paragraph point to the alleged overreach but the body of the article veers onto the entire Russia investigation and never addresses the President's assertion.
Is this supposed to be reporting or is this an opinion piece? I am not sure...very disappointing.
3
What did Trump say; “word seems to be coming out”; which means “I have no evidence” but it sure sounds good.
He said something like that when he claimed HIS Trump Tower offices were bugged, and never provided any evidence.
The theft from the DNC e-mail server, the computer that’s replaced the old wall of office mailboxes, and also saves things in case they’re accidentally lost truly makes the Watergate break-in look like a simple “third-rate burglary”
Not only because it succeeded but:
•It appears to have been committed by Russian government e-crackers.
•The thieves could easily cherrypick alter or what they released, changing a word or two in a real letter or forging a whole one.
•GOP campaign leaders predicted Hillary was in for a bad leak a day in advance.
What turned up was trivial, some nasty words about Trump by her campaign’s staff and some donations illegally made that had to be returned, maybe a petty fine because they were properly reported to the FEC by someone who should have also known they were improper to begin with.
•But Trump’s right-hand man, meaning probably the candidate knew about it.
•Possibly before it was over.
‘Treason’ is a loaded word, but give me another for a GOP candidate and staff working with ‘the red party’ in Russia to poison our election and tear apart the country? A candidate whose son said in ‘03, the family business had switched from US to Russian banks?
Worse than Watergate.
3
Is the fbi still looking for the bugs Obama used to spy on trump. Oh, he didn’t bug the president. Oops, the president must have been mistaken. Well, no, not really he still thinks it’s true and has not apologized to Obama.
Didn't you read yesterday's article where the FBI admitted that it had wiretapped him and his campaign?
Just smile at The Donald, nod comforting reassurance then return gently to reality.
While he’s stealing and trashing absolutely everything good about America? No. Not a chance. This is a war, perhaps the most important one ever in our history,and he needs to be buried.
Trump may have started as a master manipulator of media in the creation of his virtual-reality presidency. But he has become almost completely unhinged lately, especially in his unbridled racism about immigrants, and today in bragging about his accomplishments as president.
He tweets "We have had the most successful first 17 month Administration in U.S. history - by far!"
Successful at doing what?
Giving billions in tax refunds to billionaires?
Undercutting even modest environmental protections and hastening climate change that threatens the whole planet?
Eroding instead of improving the availability and affordability of healthcare for all Americans?
Undermining public discourse and a free press, and substituting road-rage rants for honest policy discussion?
Turning Americans against each other and stoking blind hatred, intolerance, and fear as a way to undermine the American dream of opportunity for all?
Fracturing our international alliances, undermining US credibility, and stoking the spread of violence in areas of the globe already suffering the brutality of authoritarian regimes?
Maintaining the support of his base while undercutting many of their legitimate interests...through using the same tactic as he applied to women in the Access Hollywood tape..."when you're a star, they let you do it... you can anything"?
14
Amazing that the president can think his current situation is a worse miscarriage of justice (“greatest witch hunt in American history”) than the actual witch hunt that occurred in 1692-3.
4
We could always dunk him in a pond and see if he floats. Witch hunt style
2
Come on, this piece is not even close to serious journalism. Basically, you are giving Trump's tweets another audience, while offering nothing to balance his lies, and illusions, and misinformation. When the President of the United States resorts to exaggerations and lies, even during a tweet-storm, it is the press's responsibility to offer clarification and context. Sadly Ms. Sullivan does not do this.
Challenge the madness coming out of the White House, or be forthright in your cowering to power, and own your decision to be quiescent rather than inquisitive.
10
Mr Mueller has got confessions of crimes from individuals related to the Trump campaign. If Trump truly wants to be vindicated and have proof that he did not collude with Russia then he should be encouraging Mueller to dig deeper. Any attempt to scupper the investigation suggests that Trump, the man who declared he could shoot someone in Times Square and still get elected, thinks he is above the law.
4
It was no more “Obama’s FBI” than today’s one is Trump’s. Had Obama wanted to use the FBI for campaign purposes, he’d have publicized its Russia probe before the election. That he didn’t was a big example of putting principle above politics. Is there _one_such example from Trump?
9
The big problem with trump's claim that this is a witch hunt is that Mueller is finding lots of witches. I trust Mueller will continue to do his job in a thoroughly professional manner, despite the hectoring from the person most responsible for this investigation.
7
Trump always makes false statements like this without citing any evidence at all except, "Sean Hannity told me so." So who was this "secret informant" who supposedly "infiltrated" his campaign?
Trump's conduct in this entire episode is beneath the dignity of the office of the President of the United States.
Trump seems to have forgotten that he is merely a caretaker of the office, and a public servant. He is not a king.
You serve us, Mr. President. We don't serve you.
3
It doesn't appear that The Donald knows what Watergate is, but if that's the comparison he wants to make I'll accept that.
I just think a lot more people are going to go to prison in the Trump administration than did in the Nixon administration.
5
International crimes against this country were committed by the current occupant, and his staff, advisers, and family. Send them all to jail.
9
Since learning about Dr. Ronny Jackson's medical ethics I question his report on Trump's health. I am calling for a new examination of the President by an impartial physician. Trump tweets are alarming and may be indicating symptoms of an undiagnosed medical emergency. I used to eat Trump Tweets for breakfast on Saturdays. Not healthy for daily intake.
3
The potential crime of colluding with a hostile foreign power in order to win an election is huge and the ensuing investigation is larger than Watergate, as it should be. The Russia scandal makes Watergate look like a jaywalking offense.
4
Be still my heart. The commentariat never fails to post anti-Trump nonsense. Of course -- they are merely the echo chamber for the Times that pushes the narrative Trump colluded & publishes stories defending FBI behavior in 2016 re Trump investigation.
So here's what we do know.
1) No evidence of collusion has been put forth by house, senate, FBI or Mueller. And we can be sure if there were evidence it would have leaked.
2) We know Mueller has nothing. All he is done is charge people with crimes unrelated to the Trump campaign. And the Russians he's indicted. Wow. Great job Bob.
3) There was no obstruction of justice. The investigation continued immediately after Comey was fired - which he should have been. No bribes, nothing. Those in exec branch serve at the pleasure of the pres.
4) The FBI was politicized in 2016 -- against Trump. We have that from the horses' mouths. And they were determined to stop Trump from becoming president.
5) We don't know who initiated the investigation into Trump - Russia. The story that it was because of G Papa's drunken bragging doesn't pass the sniff test. The FBI claims they didn't have the Steele dossier until after the investigation opened but that strains credulity as it reached FBI in early July. We know FBI had an informant inside Trump's campaign, they used the dossier to obtain Fisa warrants, and won't give congress docs. So who ordered the investigation to be opened? Someone at the top?
5
"We know Mueller has nothing."
Neither you, nor I, nor anybody except those on the Mueller team know what Mueller has or does not have. Full stop.
2
Ralphie, best comment of the lot, regardless of the number of 'recommends'.
1
I think it's more accurate to say that the FBI leadership was politicized about Trump. There are strong rumors that the only reason Comey reopened the investigation days before the election is that field agents were going to leak the FBI's obstruction if he didn't. McCabe tried to sit on it, but failed to run out the clock.
If there really were an "Obama FBI" that would take marching orders directly from Obama, it begs the question what the "Trump FBI" is like.
This is becoming an Alice in Wonderland story, where Trump takes things and stands them on their head. For him to take umbrage that a government informant (what that means is anyone's guess at this point) trying to get Carter Page to talk, is like a Mafia don taking umbrage that someone was sitting in on their private meetings. If Page hadn't been acting suspiciously, and meeting with Russian intelligence agents, there would have been no "government informant" looking into the matter.
2
Page reported Russian agents who were trying to recruit him to the FBI and cooperated in their conviction.
That's not suspicious behavior.
1
Nonsense.
"Agents had known Mr. Page for years. Russian spies tried to recruit him in 2013, and he was dismissive when agents warned him about it, a half-dozen current and former officials said. That warning even made its way back to Russian intelligence, leaving agents suspecting that Mr. Page had reported their efforts to Moscow."
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/us/politics/crossfire-hurricane-trump...
Trump hawking his innocence to the American people by raising the spectre of Watergate will be about as successful as Bolton cajoling North Korea to disarm by invoking Khadafi's fate as a model to follow. Good luck with both, fellas!
2
Up is down, down is up. Yes is no - except when it's not. No Collusion! Wait, it's better in all caps; NO COLLUSION! Say it loud enough and over and over and the lies become the truth. Trump's base will never believe the results of the Mueller investigation, no matter the outcome. It is a waste of time. Democrats need to field an electable candidate and win in the polls. Then and only then can we get rid of this narcissist in the White House.
2
The law is one thing, but this what I know about Donald Trump, from his own words:
"He doesn't have a birth certificate. Or, if he does, there's something on that certificate that is very bad for him. Somebody told me that where it says 'religion' it might have 'Muslim', and if you're a Muslim, you don't change your religion."
"I have people that have been studying Obama's birth certificate and they cannot believe what they're finding. If he wasn't born in this country, which is a real possibility, then he has pulled one of the great cons in the history of politics."
"People do not think it was an authentic certificate. His mother was not in the hospital. There are many other things that came out. And, frankly, if you would report it accurately, I think you'd probably get better ratings than you're getting."
"An 'extremely credible source' told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."
"Amazing. The State Health Director who verified copies of Obama's 'birth certificate' died in a plane crash today. All others lived."
"Who knows about Obama? Who knows, who knows? I have my own theory on Obama. Someday I will write a book, and it will do very successfully."
You can see from his own words that Donald Trump knows quite a bit about "witch hunts".
3
But, smaller than a breadbox.
"Trump Alleges Inquiry Overreach ‘Bigger Than Watergate’"
Well of course it's bigger than Watergate, Nixon had narrow issues at play. Trump and his group have issues all over the map and they extend into Russia and Eastern European countries. The only "scandal" is that Trump has created this entire unholy mess. Trump and his minions and the republicans who support Trump are the scandal.
2
America please comfort us foreigners with 3 things
1. Vote as if all our lives depended upon it in November to flip the
seats to put some well needed brakes on this corrupt
administration
2. And if this does not work then march in the streets if the GOP
refuse to do anything WHEN RobertMueller's report shows
wrongdoing. We will march too I can guarantee you.
3. Consider a third party like we have in Canada. It certainly helps
keep a balance of sanity ~ if a 'minority' is elected the
remaining 2 parties can call a vote of Non confidence & kick out
the government
Watching the daily calamities (yesterday topped it for me not sure about others) is getting us more and more nervous.
4
Hmm, he keeps repeating "greatest witch hunt in history." Hundreds, probably thousands, of falsely accused women have been murdered in the history of witch hunts.
When Trump is tied at a stake to be burned alive, perhaps he may start claiming that this is the greatest witch hunt in history.
I think he needs to study more history.
2
He's half right. Its bigger than Watergate. If he cooperated with a hostile government to get elected (i.e. before he was president) he might be up for criminal charges. If he had nothing to do with the Russians before his election then its just his chosen foreign policy no matter how much I or others disagree with it.
1
Trump reminds me of the punch line to the old joke " I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you!"
Trump doesn't have to be the smartest guy, he just has to be smarter that his fanboys.
1
Love It!! Trump haters have done absolutely everything crooked that they can think of to ruin the president and it all backfires. Hillary bought out the DNC and had them remove Bernie from the ticket (single handedly disenfranchised all democrat voters). She fed opposition research (which has been determined to be "salacious and unverified") to J. McCain and FBI. All these leaks from within the FBI only increase scrutiny of the political bias that existed. Investigation will be over by August and then there will be a reckoning for the leaks.
2
Salacious yes. Unverified? Not at all.
"Most successful first 17 months" by what definition?
1
Confusing article. At times, it says that RUDY SAYS that Mueller won't indict Trump. Anything Rudy says, of course, is high unreliable and self-serving. Then, at other times. the article states, AS A FACT, that Mueller has decided not to indict Trump.
1
This president is delusional. Do we have to wait for him to completely destroy our country before the 25th amendment can be invoked?
4
Hopefully, it has the same outcome.
2
Vote in November to put majorities in the congress willing to stand behind Mueller.
3
"At least one government informant met several times with two of Mr. Trump’s former campaign aides, officials have said."
What does this mean? Who were the "officials" who said this?
I followed the link and it took me to the piece that talked about how the FBI investigated when the Australian ambassador told them that Papadouplos had bragged about having Hillary's emails. Is that the "government informant" who met with Trump's former campaign aides?
Trump seems to think that the Obama government "spied" on his campaign. It would be more accurate to say that the FBI was investigating one aspect of the campaign. Or am I missing something?
1
Do you think somebody should remind the History-challenged Trump that the Clinton Special Counsel Investigation lasted seven years and started more than a year before Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton had even met?
Or maybe we should remind him that the Clinton investigation began over a mere $40K loss on a Real Estate estate investment in Arkansas? And that despite all that investigation, it resulted in exactly one finding of lying under oath about a consensual extra-marital affair?
But, nah, I don't guess Trump would see the irony in screaming overreach, given that he is, you know, only:
* under suspicion of having very likely colluded with the Russians to influence the election.
* is very possibly personally compromised by the Russians.
* has had multiple campaign associates plead guilty to lying to the FBI and conspiring against the USA.
* had his #1 personal lawyer raided by the FBI for making illegal campaign donations, paying hundreds of thousands in hush money and running an extortion and racketeering scheme out of Trump Tower with the President's full knowledge.
* that the whole Trump organization has come under suspicion of laundering hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars for Russian Oligarchs and other criminal elements.
Yeah, Trump, you are absolutely right. Your investigation shows signs of clear over-reach when compared to say, the Clinton or Nixon investigations.
So, tell me again, Mr Mueller, why isn't Trump already in Jail?
5
Actually, Whitewater resulted in prison time for 17 of the Clinton's friends and business partners. And for real crimes like bank fraud.
Thanks, I didn't remember that, but I'm glad to know it. I consider it a good thing, if white collar crime is caught. All the more reason for Mueller to keep going, even if it goes on for 7 or 8 years. There's obviously a lot of criminal activity being covered up by the Trump organization.
Why is Trump upset? He has stated many times he hasn’t done anything wrong. Or, could it be he’s guilty?
2
What does it say about President Trump that when he wants assessment of his presidency so far, he turns to himself for the assessment?
2
Trump is blowing smoke and reframing reality in a way that requires a suspension of disbelief to accept. He’s hoping that Congress and all his supporters will stop the investigations before all associated with him are indicted and he faces impeachment followed by a long vacation in some club fed facility.
Trump was making deals with the Russian government to beat Clinton. He never before faced this kind of legal peril as a private citizen because he had money and no scruples about using it to get out of trouble. Lying and demonizing adversaries always worked. But all of his normal habits suddenly became crimes for which he could be held accountable but he did not heed the dangers. Now he might have to confront what he has done without the protection of his money. But the Republicans may save him and undermine our government of laws to preserve their political power.
what criminal has ever said "sure - go on - keep the investigation open - dig a little deeper?"
1
Trump is sitting pretty on this one year anniversary. Confirmation that there was an FBI informant within the Trump campaign will confirm deep state conspiracy theories and which hunt rhetoric.
Just the message Trump will use and abuse to cleave the faithful to his victimization.
Thanks for muddy waters FBI. Now everything is fungible from the truth to FBI actions. Specific and truthful answers seem to retreat farther away every day.
This is truly a hurricane of political perception run amuck with the Liar-In-Chief at the center.
1
Pro Tip: When you're the defendant, don't compare yourself to the target of the largest public corruption and cover-up case, who deservedly went down for it.
119
Is that what they call a fraudulent slip?
5
Yes, bigger than Watergate because he and his fellow mafia friends are bigger crooks. Kick them out!!!!!!!!!!!!
4
The man's as dumb as a post. Unfortunately, so are his followers.
12
That Trump invites comparisons to Watergate in this matter is fascinating. After all, that crime brought down a sitting president. But Watergate was by no means a "witch hunt," Trump's favorite term for his own investigation. So he'd be wise not to conflate the two.
8
So is it ok for the CIA and FBI to spy on the opposition parties presidential campaign? They used secret wiretaps. It is aledged they used "informants" to feed Papadopoulos the information he later spilled under interesting circumstances back to the FBI . This along with the dossier initiated the whole thing.
Is anyone curious about this? Is any of it true? Why is the DOJ resisting releasing information that could clear it up. If it's obstruction by republicans the DOJ could show that.
6
When there is strong enough evidence of courting direct foreign influence in an American presidential election to get FISA approval then spying on a campaign is not a problem for this American. If you have an issue with that then you need to check your priorities.
3
Since when are the CIA and FBI affiliated with any political party and therefore have "opposition parties" to spy upon?
2
For every day passing it becomes more obvious that Trump has nothing to fear from Mueller or anyone else. You’re stuck with him and your foreign policy are tied to the fortunes of the family’s Trump and Kushner. Well, and the puppeteers that enables them of course.
I would like to say “Time to move on,” but where do we move from here?
The name of one informant is known. Based in London. Not Steele.
This will not be bigger than Watergate, it will be better than Watergate.
6
Ironically, Trumps allegation that the investigation into his conduct and that of his associates is "bigger than Watergate" comes as no surprise to anyone who has followed Trumps career since the 80s. This may be the truest statement he's made as President. Unfortunately for him it's not true in the way that he meant it.
10
Well if Andrew McCarthy said it it must be true!
That the FBI would use a legal method to acquire evidence of wrongdoing is unconscionable!
5
Ummm, Andrew McCarthy was pointing to the NY Times' own reporting.
1
He's telling the truth. It's a nice change.
3
A man who believed he was innocent would shrug things off and focus on serving the public. He wouldn't have time for tweeting and conspiracy theories.
Virtually everyone on both sides of the aisle has urged the president to stop tweeting. Mueller is not seeking to make headlines on a daily basis. It's Trump who keeps the story alive (along with occasional indictments of his associates.)
8
It says everything one needs to know about the president's mindset that he views Watergate as an overreach.
9
"Bigger Than Watergate!" - It feels like this should logically cross-reference with the Theater dance trend article a day or two ago on "Tapping In Quotation Marks."
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/15/arts/dance/tap-dance-broadway-spongeb...
Life imitates show biz. (Or maybe. with this White House, show biz imitates show biz.) Maybe call it a jokebox musical. I kind of remember Alan King doing a dance number called "The Watergate Tap" years ago.
Its becoming increasingly apparent that there was collusion, conspiracy and coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. Some illegal, but all of it seriously wrong and dangerous to our national security and democracy.
Whatever Trump's motivations during the campaign and now, we need to know the truth, and then take all actions to fully protect ourselves.
10
Yes
This is certainly bigger than Watergate.
The only question is will he resign like Nixon or get impeached instead.
8
As far as truth is concerned in this case, it only is such if it serves the purpose of achieving the ends of those purporting to know it and wield it. Sorry for any inconvenience to the real Truth. Best we don’t know it because we won’t like it anyway.
One suspects the current evidence regarding Trump confidants, administration and business organization is but the tip of a giant iceberg. There likely will be a profitable business for reporters and journalists in the next several decades outlining the extent of legal/financial obfuscation, details regarding questionable encounters and extended analysis outlining events and history of the Trump machine. (I would love to see what a Ron Chernow or Robert Caro could do with this period)
Die=hard supporters can expect decades of tense holiday conversations with puzzled relative and baffled grandchildren. It would certainly be an opportunity to take the higher ground of modeling adults' taking responsibility for their choice in light of subsequent evidence.
8
I thought the FBI gave up on that and were focusing on Stormy Daniels. They have long ago gave up on proving there was collusion with Russia. There is more evidence indicating FBI misconduct and whitewash of Hilary Clinton's email debacle, which should have kept her from being the Democrat candidate for president. Though I loath Trump, and the fact that he got the presidency due to a fluke set of circumstances that allowed him to win the electoral college while losing the popular vote by 2.8 million votes, is very disturbing. The FBI idiocy was supposed to be covered up by the fact that there was no way Clinton was going to lose the election.
5
What evidence of a whitewash?
Would you want the head of the Dept. of State NOT to be in touch with her staff 24/7?
The government’s communications system was outdated then, and remains outdated,
It was the only arrangement possible.
Incidentally, do you know what sn “e-mail server is?
How secure hers was ( never mentioned)
I’ve been playing with the net and its predecessors since 1970, got my first minicomputer in ‘76.
And I‘ve discovered most people talking about the significance of the server don’t know what a transistor is, let alone who ‘Alice and Bob’ are (they’re the first two names always used in cryptography classes and books).
Let's just wait and see what Mueller has found. I wouldn't rule out evidence of conspiracy yet.
He won because of Russian meddling and Cambridge Analytica. Period. And both make him an illegitimate president.
The referenced "confidential informant" is very likely a British intelligence agent who brought the information forward as a matter of ally loyalty.
But isn't it just like Trump to reflexively turn such legal--and indeed laudable--communication into a nefarious Obama plot? Just as he did with the perfectly legal wiretap of the phone line of suspected Russian spy Sergey Kislyak--a wiretap that happened to sweep up a transcript of the call that proved Michael Flynn a liar?
It's impossible to believe today's "Obama spied on the Trump campaign!" is anything more than a retread of yesterday's "Obama tapped my wires!"
14
The culprit probably took the strawberries too.
7
But he did spy. That is, his Administration did.
1
The NY Times states at least one informant/mole embedded in the campaign, presumably based on a conversation in a bar and the unverified dossier. What was the informant reporting back to his/her handlers? Only info relating to Russian interference, or information more broadly about the campaign? Where was that information going? To Comey, Brennan, Clapper? To Obama, Rice and Clinton?
Trump was wrong that they were tapping their phones. They didn't need too - Comey/Brennan/Clapper were in the room. Which FISA court authorized this operation? Was it authorized by anyone other than Obama's intelligence team? Talk about election interference, wow, this takes the cake. We need to know 1) who was spying on the Trump campaign, 2) under what authorization, 3) what type of information was being gathered, 4) who was it being passed along to, and 5) how was it used politically.
If Republicans can't get a special counsel for this investigation, they might as well get jobs at McDonald's.
8
Oh boy, we're really fishing for ideas here. This only works for those who believe the "wiretap" myth that Trump used and was quickly discounted.
4
I suggest you get a readily available copy of the dossier then check it point by point with the also available public reporting on its accuracy. Presently the low end on its accuracy is 70%. Apparently if you were an national security official in 2016 you were supposed to ignore the intelligence because tRump was running and Obama was the President. Am I the only person who thinks that's some truly fuzzy logic?
1
Fishing for ideas? The NY Times reported it. MSNBC and the Washington Post keep saying these are unverified allegations. Is the NY Times standing by their reporting or not? The entire article appeared to be ghostwritten by former Obama officials trying to whitewash the IG report about to hit. Given those sources, it makes sense to take them at their word.
He’ll hate no fury like President Trump scorned. Expect exacting merciless revenge from the most powerful human on earth.
2
In his assessment, Chief Ignoramus Trump was close ... but ... as usual, way off. What he should have said was not that the Russia Inquiry is a scandal "bigger than Watergate"; but, rather, that "the scandal of his decrepit administration will prove to be bigger than Watergate."
16
Nice try, Trump. Watergate pales in comparison to Trump's lying, stealing and underhanded dealing since taking office. If there was anyone embedded in Trump's campaign attempting to secure information on Russian collusion, it was probably Trump himself. Or the elusive John Baron.
23
What really needs to be investigated is trump's mental health. He is a pathological liar. Nothing he says is true. His reality seems to be Fox Noise spewing, like he spews. Of course this is bigger than Watergate because the laws and ethics broken are more extensive. I will believe what the Special Prosecutor says, not the lying, unethical, so-called president. trump like all bad nightmares will pass!!
16
Mr.Trump certainly has a bad case of amnesia when it comes to two of his first and closest advisors,Mr.Manafort and Michael Flynn.Both have been indicted by a court- hardly a sign that Mr.Mueller's work is frivolous.Mr.Trump's acquaintance with the law is casual and careless.He insults all of us who live by the law of the land when he equates the court system to a "witch hunt".
25
don the con is putting to use everything he learned from that paragon of virtue Roy Cohn...
3
Apparently, counting correctly is not of the main successes of this Administration. Inauguration Day was less than 16 months ago ... .
Despite the disgusting, illegal and unwarranted Witch Hunt, we have had the most successful first 17 month Administration in U.S. history - by far! Sorry to the Fake News Media and “Haters,” but that’s the way it is!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 17, 2018
4
Donald, all of your tweets and rants and verbal sewerage which spews out of your mouths really tells all that you are very much afraid of what will come out of the investigation. There is little or no doubt that you; Cohen; Flynn and your cabal of criminals will soon hear the click of handcuffs on your wrist. Donald I suggest that you be afraid, very afraid. Oh, so I do not forget throw in your sons and femboy Jared. Bye Bye.
4
The DOJ has a standing precedent that it has never indicted a sitting US president. It never had to before. Until now. Trump is the "big winner" of the corruption trifecta. Conspiracy, money laundering, obstruction of justice and... possibly a bonus: treason.
When you smell the foul stench of rotting fish, there must be a fish nearby that is rotting. Trump has so much corruption and direct/indirect connections to Russia swirling around him... it's hard to believe he can be exonerated from any wrong doing.
12
I swear to God, the more this man complains the more guilty he seems!
20
Trump never stops lying and accusing innocent people, fomenting these stupid conspiracies he hopes will muddy the waters of his betrayal. The guy is an enemy of our democracy and must be removed from office. This is just going to get worse. Trump's too stupid and selfish to care about the damage he's doing to this country. We must rouse ourselves and stand up to this menace.
13
I believe Mr. Trump is onto something here. The intelligence agencies just might be the most successful at outing criminal behavior during any presidency EVER! They are doing it BIGLY! By FAR!
You really cannot argue with over 100 criminal counts against 19 people and 3 companies. 5 of those 19 people have pleaded guilty already and by the look of things there are more pleas coming. Thanks Mr. Trump for setting into action these fine defenders of justice and keeping us on the straight and narrow path towards an ethical future. Well done!
19
He is right. Some day students will read about his presidency and know that his treason was "bigger than Watergate".
26
This is blowing up on the Democrats. We will have trials of FBI staff who were engaged in criminal behavior and the trials will have impact on the Democrats during the 2018 and 2020 elections. The narrative the Democrats have been trying to spin is unraveling.
7
Translation: If I disagree with any explanation of what this investigation is about, that must mean the explanation is coming from a Democrat. And if this investigation turns up criminality with the Trump campaign, that can only mean one thing: criminality among the Democrats.
"Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." – The Queen of Hearts
Lots of things are becoming clearer: that Trump knew at the time of the June 2016 Trump tower meeting what was being discussed, that Trump formulated a lie to cover up the purpose of the meeting (getting "dirt" on Hillary), that the Steele dossier is basically accurate about Trump's financial entanglements with Russia and Cohen's role in the collusion with Russia over the election. Trump is guilty of numerous things and we just have to wait till November to start the process of cleaning up the mess he's made.
12
Hey Donald, at the end of the day, your downfall will be because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut. Unfortunately, even after you are given the boot, we’ll have to put up with your blathering idiocy until you fade away.
14
Donald Trump has achieved "more" than any other administration in American history. It's just that everything he has achieved is all horrible for all living things on planet earth. History will not only see Donald Trump as the worst president in America's history, but it will also see him as the worst American president for human civilization and the planet. The GOP/Russians have been the real collaborators in this "achievement."
23
This is an important time for our country and the rule of law. Things must seem like they are out of control for the president since such serious allegations are being raised and investigated.
The president seems to be abusing his power when he is often lying and distorting the truth, not allowing the investigations to proceed without challenges which appear to be obstruction of justice, and trying to bully the justice department and special counsel. If he is innocent these investigations will show that in the end. They need to be allowed to continue.
4
Yeah, I would agree with you on one thing mr. trump, this truly is " bigger than Watergate".
Your crimes and cover-ups are expansive.It will take years, if not decades, to uncover all of your crimes and cover ups.
Mr. trump, you are very lucky the FBI was soft on you prior to the election. The FBI knew about your attempts to collude with Russia prior to the election. If the FBI would have made your attempts at collusion with Russia public prior to the election, you would not be president. You and your team attempted treasonous activity - Yes, you did not succeed, but you attempted to do so and that is bad enough.
13
Donnie is right.
This is "bigger than Watergate."
Just ask Bob Woodward or John Dean.
Just not in the way Donnie means, but then again, his grasp on reality is tenuous at best.
24
Another reminder that Russian military hacked the DNC.
The only difference between this and Watergate is that he outsourced the plumbers.
12
I'm willing to bet the actual witch hunts were the greatest witch hunts in American history.
21
"The president also praised his administration, calling it “the most successful first 17 month Administration in U.S. history — by far!”
Um, Trump seems to have forgotten about FDR and the New Deal.
But then again, Trump never cares about silly little things like history and facts.
16
He has no idea that anything ever took place prior to his YUGE inauguration.
10
Trump didn't forget anything, Paul. He doesn't know it in the first place. That's the benefit of not knowing history. You can make any claim you wish.
4
We keep hearing from the Delusional Right that there is no evidence implicating Trump in collusion with the Russians.
In fact, there is voluminous evidence of that very offense. As recently as yesterday, in documents released by the Senate committee, we see further details of the Trump administration's mad scramble to obtain compromising documents from the Russians.
The excuse that those documents weren't immediately provided in the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower is a bit like a bugler admitting that he broke in, but claiming that he didn't find all the valuables he was looking for.
The Senate and House committees may have stopped short of finding out whose blocked number Junior called before setting up that meeting, but Bob Mueller won't.
Donald Trump was directly involved. He must be held to account.
19
Trump's disrespect for the office makes Watergate look quaint.
20
Well, Trump's Crime Family have committed offences that are also biger than Watergate. For those interested in the time spent on this investigation, Ken Starr spent 7.5 years investigating the Clinton's. So, precedent tells us that Mueller has at least 6.5 years to go.
20
In Watergate the President was guilty. Same thing here. Hang on Mr. Trump, your day is coming.
19
Perhaps if Trump were not so much of a proven, habitual liar then he might be believed and the inquiry would go away. But what thinking person would take anything Trump says as true, or even close to being true? Mueller's inquiry will go on until there are enough credible sources to say Trump didn't do anything wrong - and credibility seems in short supply in this White House. We should all settle in for a long ride.
9
Are you saying you don't believe him when he said he didn't repay Cohen for silencing a sex worker ?
3
If we're very, very lucky this gives us exactly what we need: a cooperating witness in the vein of John Dean who has/will blow the cover off of this treasonous administration's activities.
13
The one thing Trump is spot on; that this ever widening investigation, and scandals, are "bigger than Watergate". However, not for the fiction that Trump indicates. If anything, these are more "fake news" created by the paranoid mind of Trump. I mean really, President Obama having secret spies, and agents, in the Trump campaign? This is a work of fiction.
This goes on, "the most successful administration in history"? I mean really, the Trump administration makes the Hoover Administration look grand and glorious, in comparison.
What we do have here is a a more deranged individual who now knows that the so called "witch hunt" has made it to Trump himself. That Mr. Mueller is almost done connecting all the dots. And, that right now the Justice Department is trying to figure out the next step. That is, should they break precedent and indict a sitting president?
Trump may hit the realization that this country still runs by "rule of law". And, he is not above the law, nor his family, nor his campaign, nor some GOP insiders, nor some GOP contributors, nor Russian government agents and nor his attorneys.
It looks like it is time to send Trump, and his administration, packing. And, send a number of people to federal prison. No, Mr. Trump, this is not a "witch hunt"; it is the "rule of law" in action. Obstruct it at your own peril.
17
Investigations into Hillary Clinton's use of an email server exceeded those of Watergate! If he's going to throw out superlatives, how bout he looks around a little at recent hysteria by his own party?
10
Trump uses adjectives which apply best to himself. So he is the "most disgusting" "fake" president to stain the White House: How could he be otherwise as a pathological liar, bully and hate-filled standard-bearer of racists or fawning dupe of Putin? This charlatan and serial bankrupt laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in shady Russian money from oligarchs and mafiosi. That's on the public record. No predecessor in the presidency came to the White House with the help of a hostile foreign power: That's his unique and vile distinction. Trump is unable and unwilling to leave his fantasies (e.g., size of inauguration crowd, his great "successes" as president) and lies - for instance, that surveillance under court orders of known Russian agents in his campaign was illegal. His stain on American history and the long tradition of decency (most recently demonstrated by Barack Obama) will only be overcome partially and with difficulty even after he leaves office in disgrace as seems increasingly likely. To paraphrase a recent comment by the EU's most senior official, with a president like Donald Trump, America doesn't need other enemies.
13
The biggest news amongst the storm of current developments is actually that Senate republicans are now admitting that Russia attacked the US elections ("meddled") -- specifically to get trump into the White House.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Russia, America's enemy (let's not sugarcoat this) wanted trump to "win" the election.
I repeat: Russia, American's enemy wanted trump to "win" the election, steal the Presidency, occupy the White House.
That's really all that anyone needs to know about this whole thing.
Why do you think the Russians would want trump in the White House -- because he would be such a great President for America?!?!
(Hint: no, they wanted him in there because they knew he would destroy the US from within, and he is well on his way doing just that)
(Against this background it is almost irrelevant whether trump knew that the Russians were helping him or whether he even was actively conspiring with them -- which we know beyond any doubt, let's not sugarcoat this either, that he did -- which is treason)
38
Sorry, but I just watched Hannity and it turns out Russia is our ally and Americans are our enemies.
10
Did Hannity have to pay his attorney, Cohen, for that information?
1
I'm not a psychologist , but these tweets give the impression that Trump is becoming, to use a medical term, unhinged.
18
Many of us suspect that when Don Jr., Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort met with a collection of Russians in Trump Tower expecting "dirt" on Hillary Clinton, they were presented with a tit-for-tat: the Russians would release the hacked DNC emails in exchange for the future president's release of the hated Magnitsky sanctions.
That is why, according to multiple participants, the meeting ended with an agreement for follow-up discussions and why Don Jr. made an immediate 11-minute call to a blocked number that likely belonged to his father--a call he now "can't remember." And we suspect that is also why Don Sr. crafted a statement declaring that what was discussed at the meeting--one he did not attend and supposedly knew nothing about--was "adoptions," which is now open code for the discussion of release of the Magnitsky sanctions (because the Russians disallowed American adoptions in response) and which was the exact same explanation he gave for his one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin at the G20. And that is why the release of the hacked DNC emails within hours of the release of the Access Hollywood tapes was, in our view, so telling: it appeared to confirm that the suspected proffered deal had been cut.
If we are right, Russiagate will dwarf Walergate into something infinitely smaller than the penny-ante burglary that it was.
12
Yes, Mr President, your crimes do look a lot bigger than Watergate.
And of course the FBI was investigating your campaign -- you had at least three foreign agent/traitors (Manafort, Flynn, Page) working on it!
7
MSM needs to stop using the word "collusion" and use the word "conspiracy".
Then maybe the rest of the nation will wake up and realize just how dangerous it was/is for Trump to be the President!
Every member of the GOP Party that supports what is happening to our Democracy are traitors, and it will come out that they are "co-conspirators" in this attack by enemies both foreign and domestic!
19
Oh, dear God, please make it stop.
11
Make America great again, Donald. Spend the rest of your life in shackles repairing our roads, bridges , sewers and water supply. You could start in a reprise of Paul Newman in "HUD".
6
I think that Mueller’s investigation is turning up so many different crimes, ranging from campaign finances used to pay off porn stars, to money laundering and tax evasion and extortion and more, that the initial crimes of conspiracy with a foreign power and obstruction of justice and perjury are being lost in the thicket of criminal activities.
10
Reading the President's tweets struck a chord of memory: who'd said such things before? Corrupt prosecutor out to get me. Just an innocent businessman caught in the bullseye of a witch hunt. Nothing but a conspiracy by enemies to bring me down. They have no proof I did anything wrong! No evidence. I'm clean, they're the ones who are dirty. Their whole case is built on lying informants, squealers who will get theirs.
Then I remembered. John Gotti. Joe Banano. Al Capone.
Yeah, the FBI was out to get them, too.
13
This administration is rotten to its very core. Every member of the administration is an anti-government, anti-people, pro-corporate idealogue, or a petty grifter, or maybe both. We will look back on this time with sadness and shame.
11
Trump is a marketing genius. Calling this investigation "Bigger than Watergate" is a great way to keep people interested and watching. He is making Mueller even more interesting and making him into a great adversary. Great TV. He calls the investigation a Witch Hunt. Guess what Mr. president, YOU are the WITCH.
9
It's "bigger than Watergate" 'cause you and your thugs committed worse crimes than Nixon and his thugs.
Sending Giuliani onto Faux News to babble won't help your case.
Actually, since he keeps changing his story, he makes things worse for you.
You would do everyone on the planet a favor if you could just shut up for 24 hours.
5
Trump can cry, scream, bray, even Kim J. un knows that he is nothing but a fool.
9
I hear Trump’s 2020 re-election Team has started working already. If they are looking for slogans, here’s one they might consider as a winning one:
Russia’s Favored Candidate!
Small print: as determined by US Senate Intelligence Committee
Smaller print: Don’t Ask Why!
Even Smaller print: Nor about those tax returns...
7
Watergate wasn't an example of overreach, but rather of underreach, seeing as Nixon was pardoned by Ford and wasn't pursued by state prosecutors. We won't make the same mistake with this mob boss.
11
Trump repeatedly cries "no collusion, no obstruction", then why is he afraid of the special counsel. If he has done nothing wrong, then he should let the committee do their work. Of course is bigger than Watergate because no American president EVER sought Ruskies help in 'winning' the election.
4
Know who else hated the FBI? Al Capone.
13
Calling the investigation illegal is borderline hilarious.
Fortunately for us, Trump opening his mouth is illegal, too!
That statement should stop him from spouting gibberish, right?
3
What's really discouraging about those tweets is that they gathered 75K and 56K likes. That many people aren't concerned at all about possible Russian meddling in our elections? I don't get it.
11
Of course he does. He lies and cheats, not sure he actually steals, but possible. It is really so awful to have a President who you know has no basic human ethics. The people who voted for him did not really know this. I forgive them, but we must get him out of there ASAP. I most often vote Democratic, but the two people I admire most at the moment are McCain and Tillerson. I may not always agree with them on policy, but I know they are ethiical human beings!! I trust them!!
3
He also said the GOP primaries and the general election were rigged.
He may be on to something ...
5
If President Trump has proof of this 'infiltrator' or 'spy' then he needs to provide it. Otherwise, he should man up and stop acting like a child that has been put into time-out. Other Presidents have worked while their administrations have been investigated, why is he so weak?
9
[[Despite the disgusting, illegal and unwarranted Witch Hunt, we have had the most successful first 17 month Administration in U.S. history - by far! Sorry to the Fake News Media and “Haters,” but that’s the way it is!]]
He sounds insane.
19
the king of nonsensical blubbering delivers - he is correct this is bigger than Watergate - he is a CROOK.
13
We have never had a leader who has denied that Russia has been actively fighting against western democracy for over 100 years and counting. We've never seen a president treat an opposition party like they are enemy combatants, while giving special treatment to a known enemy either. Watergate was election tampering done by Americans - they tried to rig an election. Trump benefits from Russian spy-craft during the campaign and does noting to stop them to this day. He even calls the most successful espionage campaign in history - "Fake News." His campaign and the transition met with 19 Russian operatives and a bipartisan Congressional approach could not get Trump to actively enforce vital sanctions against them. Watergate resulted in 55 of Nixon's people doing prison time. "This Russer Thing," promises to indict far more people . . . 19 indictments so far - and counting.
13
Trump's choice of words is code to his followers. I think he uses the feminine "witch" since there really are no women at the forefront of the investigation as code to his followers for Hillary. Trump is a propaganda machine he keeps using the same phrases over and over.
And Trump has sicked his followers on a continual witch hunt to search on implied crimes he alleges the Clinton's committed.
The one thing Trump is a master of, he is a master of propaganda and rhetoric which is how he got elected. The press played into this by repeating his messages in the headlines of their articles which then reinforced the message to his followers.
Trump code is, what he accuses someone of, he is doing.
I think the best thing media can do, is not to repeat or reinforce what Trump says while maintaining their objectivity. The second thing is not to fall into the Trump traps of stupid stories that create media whirlwinds that suck all the attention away from critical issues.
It is a hard time to figure out where an objective viewpoint is when any comment or report that doesn't agree with Trump's very. very extreme views he calls liberal and tries to position any alternatives or disagreements to his viewpoint as a partisan viewpoint rather than an objective one.
I have not agreed much with what Tillerson has said or done but I agree with his statements about focus on the actual truth even if in this current environment the truth appears extreme.
7
Donald...you fraud! Show us your tax returns!!! Why is it so hard? YOU FRAUD!!!
13
Another entry into Trump's Top Forty of Lies. Who can forget such hits as:
Obama Was Born in Kenya
Hillary Clinton is a Crook
Obama Wiretapped Me
I Won the Popular Vote
I Won't Be Doing Any Golfing
I Never Paid Off Stormy Daniels
16
The version of the deep state’s Trump campaign spying given to the Times is a leak meant to pre empty the IG’s report, which will be damning. Still, the Times version completely reveals truths that can’t be taken back. Set-up, anyone?
1
Informants are often used in espionage cases and organized crime cases. Trump fits both.
8
What a total waste of money and why didn't the FBI,CIA or the NSA not aware of it while it was going on and a year later and nothing. We could have built a portion with all the money wasted on this three ring circus.
The "most successful administration"! Well, there is evidence of someone who is extremely delusional! I would readily agree with John from Stowe, Pennsylvania, that the crimes of the Trumps (quite possibly all of them other than daughter number two and the young son and his mother) will, when we have all the facts, be much bigger and "badder" than Nixon's crimes. I am so thankful for Mueller and for the extraordinary reporting from this newspaper which, I understand, continually has more subscribers (and for good reason since it has actual news based on "facts."
12
There's an upside to the tweets. They show how agitated Trump is. It's fun to watch him suffer.
22
Trump's tweets reiterate that he's dumb enough to think Mueller's silence is proof of Trump's impunity.
Watergate took like 26 months of investigating and it was Obstruction of Justice that took Nixon out. Pretty clear we already have that here, and only Mueller's team knows what else is coming soon. When it's all released, Trump will be finally silenced or effectively ignored.
18
Oh, it's bigger than Watergate alright. Trump's paranoia is entirely justified. And we can probably expect even more people than in Nixon's gang to go to jail before it's over.
9
if I was one of those so far NOT interrogated I would worry.....
Putin's puppet has is right. Colluding with a known enemy foreign power far exceeds straightforward election stealing.
7
I truly believe that we will see at the very LEAST charges of Conspiracy Against the United States...quite possibly rising to the level of Treason.....most especially considering that Putin et.al. is our worst Adversary in the world at this time.....however, I am equally sure that this Republican dominated congress will never impeach him unless outright TREASON can be proven.....! but I do expect that quite a number of people will be charged with serious crimes in the not too distant future...some who never thought such a thing was possible....
3
Mr Trump's adolescent megalomania, on full display as usual.
8
I agree, Don, you, your family and your campaign colluding with the Russian government to steal the presidential election in 2016 is bigger than Watergate.
I could not agree more!
9
YES this is bigger than Watergate. And NO the Watergate inquiry wasn't overreach at all!
The only thing more remarkable than the brazenness of his actions is that he has gotten away with it. So far.
9
"The president also praised his administration, calling it “the most successful first 17 month Administration in U.S. history — by far!”-- Which, of course is a lie. Similarly " there was no collusion". Is also a lie. Rule of thumb - whatever Trump says , the opposite is true. -
11
For the first time ever I agree with Trump. This IS bigger than Watergate. Trump's collusion with a foreign adversary, Russia, was treasonous.
8
Oh poor Donnie Trump...Mueller is closing in on your Russian handlers & friends. Only have to follow the money. No wonder you said finances would be red line. Sorry can't stop the train on it's down hill run. If you are innocent, shut up & stop worrying. You'll be cleared. If you're guilty, Run Donnie Run. You can share an apartment with Edward Snowden. He probably helped the Russians with the cyber hacking after all.
7
Was the infiltrator Michael Cohen?
1
Face it Donald. You are on the fast track to being considered as the worst president in history. No amount of whining and bragging about your so-called accomplishments will change that.
9
When Trump announced in a 2016 speech before his advisors met with the Russian representative that he would soon have important dirt on Hillary Clinton, he was telegraphing that he knew about Russian involvement. He did it again when he asked Russia, again in a campaign speech, to illegally hack Clinton's emails. His base may not understand the implications of asking a foreign government for help winning a Presidential election, but it is dangerous business. If we are to remain a free, independent country, Trump has to be brought down. I wish it could be done quickly because every decision he makes is against the best interests of the United States and its citizens.
10
Well, yes, Donald ... the FBI often uses informants to bust international criminal organizations. It's what they do.
6
He's stoned - someday we'll learn from what.
6
What else is new? He's the greatest President ever and is the victim of the most witch hunt ever. We've heard that so many times and we're not through yet.
I wish the media would stop reporting this repetitive nonsense every day so we could learn what else is happening in the world.
If the media would just publish the new stuff Trump says, even if it's a lie, I think we'd ll be happier. When's the last time we didn't hear about him for a whole day? I yearn for those happy days!
1
Whenever I hear "No collusion" I want to complete the thought with "We tried but we didn't know how and we didn't succeed!"
1
There are some good books on Amazon about how to be a spy in 4 easy lessons. The FBI should procure a copy for every agent.
1
Vulgar Trump has always behaved as if he owned the world, mafia-like, and got out making a 'bundle' even after each of several of his bizarre casino bankruptcies. Trump has perverse instincts that command him to go on cheating us from the White House for private gain. No scruples whatsoever. The only reason he has not fired the prosecutors investigating his obstruction of justice, and the likelihood of Russian collusion to steal the presidency, is his fear of an institutional crisis outing him from office, and possible jail time...as the most corrupt official this side of the Atlantic. Trump's stupid twittering notwithstanding, he won't give pause to interfering with the Department of Justice...until he is stopped abruptly 'a la Stormy Daniels'. This may be 'schadenfreude', but I almost feel sorry for Melania; what was she thinking when she surrendered to him? Happy ever-after bliss?
1
Trump is perfectly aware that the minute he leaves the presidency it is likely that handcuffs await him....!! I think he is terrified to leave it..,,and I also think he is terrified of Putin.....as in, when he is no longer useful to VP he will be eliminated......he is paranoid about being poisoned....a favorite KGB tool of assassination......! just sayin'
3
Melania was thinking "green card" and "credit cards." She got what she bargained for.
One of the sad things is many of Trump's supporters agree that he has done more than previous Democratic Presidents. It is very sad how many voters are "anti Democrats". Republicans have done a great job dividing our citizens.
3
At least Nixon respected the Constitution and enough to resign.
2
Please. He resigned to avoid a sure impeachment and highly likely conviction in the Senate. He resigned to try to salvage what little remained of his reputation and legacy. It was a purely selfish act without a shred of respect for anything or anyone else involved.
5
19 people and 3 companies charged, 5 guilty pleas and witches are turning up all the time.
Yes, this is going to be far bigger than Watergate and what exactly is Trump bragging about?
10
Bigger than Watergate? Yes. Only not the way Mr Trump intended!
5
"I'm the best traitor since Benedict Arnold. And much smarter and better looking!"
5
Trump's attitude expresses the idea that if there were no investigation of Russian complicity there could be no crime. We heard the same philosophy regarding intensely insensitive and cruel remarks about Sen. McCain. It was the leaks, according to Ms. Sanders that were wrong, not the comments by Kelly Sadler.
Carry this logic to an extreme and one could claim that getting rid of all policemen would eliminate all arrests and hence no statistics on crime. Everything bad or embarrassing goes away if you just look the other way. Even Watergate would not have existed if no one found out.
Fascist states work that way ... maybe something to consider. Police would just arrest the predetermined "bad" guys and not investigate the anointed good guys.
4
Trump is on to something. Here we had an election where both candidates were being investigated by the FBI. Clinton for her actions as secretary of state as a result of the House Benghazi investigation and Trump because a minor campaign aid made a drunken comment to a foreign diplomat. Amazing! Trump's claims that he was being "wiretapped" by Obama seem to be getting more support with every revelation. The entire episode has gone from a bad smell to reeking of corruption at the highest levels of government. The further we burrow in the better. At the rotten core of this entire episode we will find the CIA and John Brennan.
Interesting that I read the same news articles and come to precisely the opposite conclusions. I believe I’m far from alone.
10
Does anyone think. that deep down, the President actually believes any of his tweets or the words that tumble out of his mouth?
4
Perhaps the Times will update this story at some point. As it appears now, it isn't journalism. No relevant context at all. Who is Andrew McCarthy? Did he say what Trump says he said? In what context? If he said it, is there any evidence he's correct? If he's correct, what does the FBI have to say about it? Who ordered it? If the statement is baseless blather, so state.
Hypothetical Donald Trump statement:
"As scandals go, we’ve had the hugest Presidential scandal in the history of America. No other Presidential scandal has been bigger and better than my scandal. Just try to find one bigger. Big, bigg-er, bigg-EST. Just let’em try. They try but they can’t. Where is the bigger scandal I say? Show me. Can’t find one can you? Sad."
Finally he was right about something.
2
Anything you have to report out on what Traitor Trump says, should be reduced two sentences.
And lose the Twitter posts!
3
If there was no collusion and nothing to worry about, why does Trump care? Why isn't he adamantly in support of this investigation if he knows for sure that neither he nor his associates have done nothing wrong?
Why does he act like this is a witch hunt against him, unless he is of the opinion the US federal government is actively trying to manufacture false evidence, as in a real witch hunt? Frankly, Trump is imputing to Mueller that behavior which would come naturally to Trump. Trump is the kind of person who thinks other people think like he does, it never occurs to him that people "think different." (sic)
7
He's right, it's bigger than Watergate, but because in Watergate, Nixon wasn't sitting on Putin's lap with his associates and family meeting with Russians 7/24. What Nixon did was petty compared to what this disgraceful President is doing, patronizing Russia, an adversary that would wish us harm, enriching himself using the Presidency, having his senior people raiding the Treasury like it was a slush fund. And last but not least, Nixon at least was patriotic, unlike this guy that speaks ill of America, of it's veterans, and demonizes our FBI, our Intelligence Agencies, and our Judicial System. On top of that, he has demonstrated quite clearly over and over that he is a bigot and racist when he continues to single out non whites and Latino immigrants as drug dealers, rapists, and criminals, now elevating it to "animals". But...if you're Norwegian, you're welcomed to our country. We need to call him what he is and stop playing nice with him when he is not deserving of it. A Bigot and Racist and he's proud of it. Disgraceful.
14
It sure is bigger than Watergate. The list of trump and trump family crimes we know about just from what is already public makes Nixon seem like an honest upright law abiding citizen
So why are Republicans so adamant in defending him and not the United States?
605
Because Republicans do not see a distinction between their party and the United States. To them Democrats aren’t real Americans, they’re mostly revenue resources.
71
Because they want to hold on to power at all costs - even if it costs our democracy.
We the people need to vote them out.
37
Where can I look to find "trump family crimes?" In this article...besides having anannoying personality, not a crime, and tweeting too much, also not a crime...but it does seem that the FBI was ruining their own reputation if not committing crimes by using the informant to make Papadopoulos into the reason for the Trump investigation. The informant seems to have planted the idea that the Russians had dirt on Hillary in order to get him to repeat it and be able to entrap him with lying about knowing about this. And the FBI named the secret spying after a Rolling Stones song exactly at the time, they had to know the Trump campaign used You Can't always Get What u want, as a theme song, it can't be a coincidence that they chose the rolling Stone reference when they were looking for collusion which was not a crime, in the campaign cuz they should not be investigating ANY campaign.,.that is what the FBI secret files were for in the Clinton Whitehouse.
Trump never tells the truth. His scandal is much more serious than Watergate and involves tainting the election, Russian involvement, money laundering
8
Trump is really going to punish the USA for opposing him like this.
Part of his problem is that his youthful math studies failed to explain that 40% is not a majority of the population.
The English Monarchy had a few types who got into the same type of snit with a majority of the people. It didn't end well.
8
So is he saying Watergate was a bad thing on the part of the special counsel and congressional committees and The Post etal?
1
If indeed Trump is guilty of half the crimes and misdemeanors alleged thus far, he’s right: it’s bigger than Watergate.
5
Trump sounds like a middle school bully. He just rants and spins for his base. The biggest problem facing America is education of our electorate. No one should be falling for this shtick.
15
The uneducated have fallen along with 40 percent of the population.
2
My favorite part of the tweet is the phrase "probably no doubt." I should use that if I ever want to be able to cover all my bases.
11
There's no doubt that the man should be locked up for his incessant misuse of the English language, no probably about it.
2
Every day that goes by the republican party owes the rest of America an apology for allowing this vulgarian to be nominated by their party and for not standing up to his daily assault on the institutions that are the pillars of our democracy.
19
Be proud Donald! You're a bigger crook than Nixon ever was and like Bill Clinton, you cheated on your wives with multiple women. You're first among liars, thieves & cheaters!
28
Only President Stupid would say that the Russia investigation is bigger then Watergate, as he always likes to think things are much bigger for him.
However Watergate took over two years to complete and two years before Nixon resigned.
So if Trump wants to beat Nixon he needs to address the nation with an "I am not a crook" speech now and resign this summer.
7
It’s Stupid Watergate, as John Oliver aptly calls it. Given the intelligence of all those involved.
It’s also sweet sweet Karma. Trump spent all his energies trying to delegitimize Obama with the Birther issue. Dogged, embarrassed, and distracted him for years. To what purpose? Obama had bigger crises to solve for our nation than the self-inflicted ones Trump has.
Funny and apt that the president who will always have an asterisk next to his name in history books will be Trump. And I’m NOT referring to the asterisk that will spell out to educate succeeding generations that in those days there was such a thing as the Electoral College which people claimed as Democratic to win power...
I’m referring to Conspiracy with a foreign adversary. That’s all the legacy Trump will have. He’s so proud of himself wiping Obama’s legacy. What does he think? That we Democrats won’t undo every single thing he’s done as it is a disgrace to our American values? Starting with the despicable “permanent” tax cut to the wealthy.
Russia. Russia Conspiracy will be Trump’s only legacy in the history books... he can count on it.
39
"We have the best scandals, don't we folks?"
10
What an idiot, comparing your presidency to Nixon's? Go on, they'll end the same way.
13
Psychological projection is what flawed and immature humans use to defend themselves against their own negative impulses, qualities and misbehaviors by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others.
Projection his own sea of guilt onto others is Donald's Rosetta stone in life.
It allows Donald to shift the blame for all his own crimes onto others as he once again shirks all personal responsibility for everything he has done.
The President is a legitimate psychopath best removed from the Oval Office before he does any further damage to the country and the world.
202
Last I heard, Wiccans are increasingly irritated by Trump's assertion. Many have indicated that action may be warranted.
14
They're organizing a ME TOO movement against him!
2
So with all the expertise at the FBI they could not ascertain in short order that:
A: George Papadopoulos was a 28 year old doofus in way over his head
B: Carter Page was a 43 year old doofus with no connections
C: Paul Manafort was in it for himself, did not think Trump would win, and was not even honest with the Trump campaign. Hardly a candidate to collude for votes.
Case closed.
Makes all the sense in the world that the FBI inflitrated Trump's campaign under at the behest of Mr. Obama. He then shared that information in multiple ways with Americans, the DNC, and Hillary Clinton. Trump lost and Ms. Clinton is president because Mr. Obama helped her cheat!
I was angry when Mr. Obama revealed that his administration knew that the Russians were interfering and influencing the 2016 presidential election. Despite Trump publicly asking the Russian agents to hack into Hillary Clinton’s computer network, Mr. Obama remained silent. He said that he did not want to influence the outcome of the election.
In light of Trump’s new disparing claims, it was a smart move on Mr. Obama’s part. He probably suspected that Trump would blame him if he lost.
Being the master of deflection that he is, Trump cooked up this accusation to draw attention away from his son’s poor memory, his labeling of immigrants “animals,” the Stormy Daniel’s saga, North Korea having second thoughts, and several other disasters unfolding.
Stay focused and don’t be fooled by this carnival barker!
9
No fair! Quit looking at me! He did it first! Make him stop looking at me!
Dear Bob Mueller, please be a good 'parent' and put this tantrum throwing child in time out. Better yet, ground him and take away the keys.
30
I was just thinking the same thing.
Every time I read a tweet or an expert from a rally or interview I reflexively roll my eyes as if I'm dealing with a five year old that has been working my nerves.
A time out is needed indeed. How's 5 to life sound?
7
The problem with seeing just an excerpt of one of his rallies is you don't get the full experience - the rambling, the ranting, the incoherence, the illogic. And that's just 45. On top of it you can see the angry mob reach near ecstasy, having been fully marinated in hatred, fear, anger, and grievance. Dystopian comes to mind.
I just finished an excellent book, The Age of Eisenhower by William Hitchcock. I suggest that perhaps the McCarthy-era investigations into "domestic enemies" was The Greatest Witchhunt of All Time. I'm surprised Roy Cohn never mentioned that to his protege.
2
"Wow, word seems to be coming out that the Obama FBI “SPIED ON THE TRUMP"
Good, it's great to know that Obama is buried so deep in his brain that he can't get away from the thought of him doing something nefarious. Pay back for all those years of the bc nonsense.
6
All Trump's tweets are intended for his base...he doesn't care about the remaining 60% of voters.
Trump has created a dangerous chasm in the country and if the mueller investigation bring back criminal charges against his administration, he his banking on his base to protect him.
10
See, Donald, here's the thing: I'm your age and throughout my career no one sought to embed anyone to ascertain the possibility of my criminal behavior. An agent could have spent a lifetime in my meetings or home and only come away with a few laughs (and occasional embarrassment).
You, Donald, need embedding, investigating, indicting, impeaching, informing and more.
Think about why that might be the case.
17
What scares me most about this article is not that the president misrepresents the facts or makes things up out of whole cloth or that he exaggerates or that he shows a complete lack of knowledge about political and American history or that he can't write a coherent sentence or that he doesn't seem to know the definition of collusion or obstruction. No the scariest phrase in this whole article is "his 52 million followers".
121
re: 52 million followers.....
just because you're watching the circus doesn't mean you are part of the show.
7
Take solace in knowing that most analysis of his twitter followers shows about 40% are fake accounts, and of the remainder many just follow him so they can troll him
16
Very true about the most disturbing. I hoping most of those are just people who slow down watching a car wreck - looky-loos.
6
To paraphrase George W Bush “If Russia is calling, we’re listening”:
1
Treason, porn stars, money laundering, campaign finance liabilities, pay to play, thousands of lies, coverups. Yep.
Take back our country. Elected officials are supposed to be the collective voice of the people. This is full on corruption.
29
The first six "headlined" articles in this mornings paper are about Trump, mostly click-bait. There are more important, real problems in the country and world that are being ignored on a daily basis. Although I want to see the full extent of what Trump has done uncovered, surely there are more significant things to write about than the latest Stormy development.
6
Worse part was you couldn't comment on the ones that really needed comment.
3
What could be more important than the effort by Trump and his Republican enablers to subvert the Constitution? What could be a bigger problem than a president who trashes truth, condones (and participates in corruption and uses the presidential pulpit to pander to our worst instincts?
6
What a strange and paranoid way for an innocent* person to act.
33
Watergate was merely the coverup of a botched domestic partisan political 3rd rate buglary.
While Trump Tower Gate is a treacherous act of foreign espionage collaboration, collusion, conspiracy and cooperation with the Israelis and Russians in order for Donald Trump to become President of the United States. While hiding the House of Trump's profit from the American people in his income tax returns and business records.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin know and own Trump's allegiance and fealty.
23
I actually agree with Trump, it is much bigger than Watergate. Incidents much more significant than Watergate are practically a daily occurrence these days.
22
Bigly bigger than Watergate because the crimes are bigger and the number of crimes is a thousand times bigger, so that's pretty big all right. Thanks for pointing out the obvious Traitor Don.
16
And don't forget the size of his EGO. He has no trouble in this department, in spite of having tiny hands.
1
I often wonder how those around him cope with his altered reality. Is he capable of telling the truth about anything? It's all so pathetic.
12
Can it be possible that Trump equates the theft of documents from a political opponent with the legitimate surveillance of operatives caught dealing with foreign spies? Genius or Idiot, we're sure his friends at Fox and Sinclair will promote the fake thread.
6
And hopefully Treasonous Trump will fall even harder than Nixon did as a result of Watergate.
29
Leave the branding exercises to the baiter-in-chief, you don't have his touch
How 'bout "Draft Dodging Donald"?
Well, thank God for that, jjasdsj!
it s too bad roy cohen isn t still around too help don the con. it would be nice to see him spend a couple dozen years in jail.
4
With respect, his name is: Roy Cohn
This is not a scandal. The FBI is within its rights to spy on Americans so long as a warrant is obtained. What's more, Trump's Congress has reauthorized the legalization of similar types of spying, with Trump's blessing.
9
They're squirming under the spotlight like slugs under a rock. IF there is no guilt, why is his lawyer talking about how presidents can't be indicted? If there is nothing that they have to hide, why all the lies about communications with Russia? Justice will be served. The day of reckoning is coming.
40
You can pour salt on slugs & they dissolve away. Can we try pouring salt on Team Trump & see what happens? He is right...His treachery is "bigger than Watergate."
7
trump needs to be ignored except to defeat him, and as the perfect reverse role model. trump is the terrible lesson the USA didn't know it still needed. His existence is creating gigantic long term positive externalities.
19
Dear Donald,
You uttering the word Watergate - in relation to something that involves yourself - is really, really dumb.
55
Trump mentioned the use of a confidential government informant.
He is correct.
Trump's team met with Natalia Vesilnitskatya. Last month Ms. Vesilnitskaya said, "I am a lawyer and I am an informant." She is a source of information for Russian PG Yuri Chaika.
Mr. Mueller will inform us in due time....in due time.
69
What do you think about Ms. Vichysoisekatya meeting with Simpson before and after the Trump Tower meeting...entrapment, and is that ok?
And finally something that Mr. Trump and I agree upon: Oh yes indeed, this is in fact bigger than Watergate. Much bigger.
Trump actually said "bigger than Watergate." He said it. What history will reflect, more than anything else, is that Trump is an idiot.
17
A scandal "bigger than Watergate?" Trump's use of superlatives are finally telling the truth. This administration is beating Nixon's--Congratulations! By the way, why are you Tweeting from 7:30 to 9:42 in the morning when you should be
10
Sorry. Sent before I finished my comment. Should have read "...when you should be fulfilling your responsibilities as president." Wish an editing feature was available.
2
Fox News wasn't over.
2
The 2016 election was a fraud perpetrated by the GOP with Russian aid. Trump will deny any collusion with the Russians - he is incapable of speaking the truth under any circumstances. However, only the dimmest of wits cannot see the direct connection between Russia and Trump.
The Russians bailed Trump out for years with laundered money when no respectable bank would lend him a dime. The Russians own him. It is no accident that Trump has been surrounded by Russian operatives. Mueller must continue to investigate Trump's financial ties to the money laundering Bank of Cyprus, Deutsche Bank, and Russian investors in his property. There are strong links between Russia and Trump's cabinet members and associates including Rick Gates, George Papadopoulos, Wilbur Ross, Felix Sater, Roy Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Mike Flynn, Carter Page, Paul Manafort ( this was a paid Russian op running Trump's campaign!), Roger Stone etc., etc.. The strong Russian network surrounding Trump is not by chance.
The Republicans will to continue deny Trump's traitorous collusion because they wanted the same outcome and are complicit in Trump's sellout to the Russians. They must all be thrown out of office if we have any hope of saving our democracy. Get out the vote in every election going forward!
49
All we hear from the left is "Let Mueller do his job." But what is his job, anyways? Originally it was to discover evidence of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. Now, a full year later, it appears to have morphed into going after Trump on whatever Mueller can dredge up on any subject under the sun. Abuse of power by the special prosecutor? Of course it is, but it is never considered abuse of power when Democrats have your back.
20
The investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election seems to have stayed true to its purpose. However the exposed lies and obstruction by the Trump administration have properly become part of the scope. The problem stems from this administration’s inability to formulate a credible version of the “facts” that holds up under scrutiny.
185
That's the problem with special prosecutors...they follow the evidence. With Clinton, the prosecutor started with Whitewater and Travelgate and ended up at Lewinsky. The simple fact is that special prosecutors are dangerous no matter what party or politician is being investigated. If Trump were a patriot with a normal sized ego, he would want to get to the bottom of this. He won the election by running the better campaign, but that's not enough for him.
38
Watergate was a petty crime compared to Trump's collusion with a foreign power in order to win office. It took two full years of intense Watergate investigations and hearings, all obstructed by the GOP (sound familiar) before, by chance, the revealing missing tape was uncovered in testimony.
Let Mueller do his job. The fact that that other Trump crimes like extortion of major corporations for political favor are being turned up is no reason for Mueller to stop this critical investigation.
180
Good Old Con Don. His words are accurate when he says this will be bigger than Watergate.
Yes, Robber Barons like him around the world will be prosecuted and imprisoned for trying to destroy democratic governments, cause a global financial meltdown where they will make billions of dollars and start WW3.
WE THE PEOPLE will stop them by whatever means necessary.
8
The FBI often infiltrates known as well as suspected criminal organizations.
17
So they must have moles in the DNC and the Clinton "Foundation," right?
1
‘Bigger Than Watergate!’
For once, Trump might actually be correct. Nixon was only conspiring to obstruct justice. Whereas it appears that Trump and/or his campaign were conspiring with a foreign adversary to undermine our electoral process in a national election. Bigger than Watergate, indeed.
8
"it appears that Trump and/or his campaign were conspiring with a foreign adversary to undermine our electoral process in a national election"
[citation needed]
If you have evidence, I'm sure Mueller and the other histrionics would love to see it!
It appears that you may not understand the meaning of "appears." However, here are some of the reasons why it appears that the Trump campaign were conspiring with a foreign power.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/us/politics/trump-tower-meeting-donal...
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/us/trump-tower-meeting-interview-tran...
https://medium.com/@KeithDB/a-running-tab-of-mueller-investigation-convi...
Feel free to enjoy your wild-eyed speculation, but I'll reserve my judgement for when someone has some of that good old-fashioned evidence stuff. You know, the basis of our justice system. And wake me up when Trump himself is implicated and not random staff, unless the Watergate comparison really means we can start dredging up every administration that had people charged with crimes (it might be faster to name the few that didn't).
Trump is not being particularly wise in calling attention to how important this whole investigation really was. His complaints about overreach with a confidential informant...who was there investigating KNOWN Russian Ties with Manaforte and Flynn...seems to be a case of Trump whining because he was caught with all the proceeds of the cookie jar theft.
It appears that all the people around Trump, through the campaign and transition, were all very much involved with Russia or Russian satellites and operatives. That is a fact that even top Republicans in the Senate agree on. Trump trying to, again, claim that there was no collusion or obstruction makes him appear to not at all understand what those words mean.
Him trying to stop an investigation that is finding fruits, no matter how uncomfortable that may be to the sitting president, is indeed obstruction, no matter how you look at it, no matter what excuses one dredges up, it is obstructing the officials doing that investigation from doing their proper jobs by word or deed or de-funding, it is all the same.
The Collusion part is still a question, but the obstruction and attempts to obstruct, even if just in the public perception, is enough to charge the president with high crimes tantamount to treason, since this IS Russia that aided Trump. Even if he did not coordinate with the Russians, the thumb on the scales made a difference.
Tweets to stop the investigation are evidence already.
Leave the investigation alone Donny!
8
Having lived through Watergate, I would say, yes - this IS bigger than Watergate. Congratulations, Mr. Trump. You have created a scandal bigger than that of your role model, Nixon. And, you have torn the country apart in a manner not seen since 1973.
Here's what Nixon wrote about HIS situation at the time: “Above all else: Dignity, command, faith, head high, no fear, build a new spirit, drive, act like a President, act like a winner. Opponents are savage destroyers, haters. Time to use full power of the President to fight overwhelming forces arrayed against us.”
So, be like Nixon - "act like a President, act like a winner". It didn't help Tricky Dick, but then, he was no Donald J. Trump, was he?
62
No reason to believe the Don on this or any of the other topics about which he whinges, but if there really had been an FBI informant, his presence certainly would have been justified. Because campaign staffers were serving as Russian informants -- remember Manafort's offer of a series of private briefings to an oligarch, among other contacts?
37
The bungler in chief FINALLY got something right...the overt efforts by a hostile foreign power to influence a US election... in his favor...ARE bigger than Watergate!
94
Ah, remember how the Republicans objected to Bill Clinton being dogged for four years?
Don't feel bad. I don't either.
130
The case against Clinton had physical proof.
If Mueller or the other Chicken Littles have proof, they're sure taking their sweet time getting around to showing it!
1
jjasjsj,
No proof? Mueller's investigation has thusfar led to 19 people being charged with crimes.
1
I may be wrong, but I don't believe any of those people are named Donald Trump, are they?
We're comparing this investigation to the one that led to the beginnings of impeachment proceedings and resignation of a sitting President, aren't we? Or are we opening the floodgates of comparison to any administration that had staff charged with crimes?
GrifterGate. The Trump Regime, in ONE word.
98
More like "GutterGate".
6
“I’ll have the biggest scandals. Really, nobody’s scandals are as big as mine.” Trump
268
“I’m, like, really corrupt.”
31
He even has to "win" the scandal contest!
15
It's going to be huge! American will be great again after he's out of office. So in the end, and I hate to say it, he may be right.
1
“In some sense, Mr. Trump may be right... Efforts by a hostile foreign power to influence or win an election may well be a scandal “bigger than Watergate.”
This is not reporting - this is editorializing (it would obviously be scandalous to place a hostile government spy in a political campaign). The writer makes the comment based on her opinion, not fact.
This piece is not presented as opinion or “news analysis” (whatever that means). Please stop dressing up opinion as reporting and trying to shove it down the throats of your readers. This is why the media has lost so much of the public trust today.
5
Thanks for the laugh.
5
What? The gov't cannot conduct surveillance on citizens acting in collusion with foreign spies if those citizens are involved in a campaign? This is a new rule? Like diplomatic immunity? Campaign immunity?
XLER in West Palm, we think you're confused. The hostile spies were Russians, their cohorts were Trump campaign staff, the government was doing its job.
10
where is the collusion? What Spies?
XLER's point is that this is Editorial or Op-Ed material, not News!
Donald, has your bud Vladimir found you a place to live yet, in Russia? Does he golf? You could finish your bonding on the back nine.
15
Yes, it is indeed bigger than Watergate, and far more serious. Trump can't help but inadvertantly let slip an uncomfortable truth, even if it's misdirected. The full extent of the connections to Russia, the willingness of the Trump campaign to accept information and assistance ("Russia, if you are listening, I hope you find those 30,000 emails"; the knowledge that the Wikileaks dumps were coming; Trump's promise of big news on Hillary, etc) is ample evidence of collusion if not outright conspiracy to defraud the US election. By the time Mueller is done, we will see evidence of conspiracy, money laundering, obstruction of justice and possibly treason. I wouldn't be so sure that indictment is not possible.
552
New laws may be required to deal with people like Trump who would do anything to win, even conspire against democracy with a foreign power.
77
Indictment is necessary. He broke so many laws in broad daylight in front of the entire country. Nevermind what else Mueller has. There is always a first time, and this is the time if there ever was one. Republicans should be ashamed of what they wrought on this country.
18
Let's hope Mueller finds out everything, every single criminal act Trump has done ever done, and there are plenty out there, starting with his actions towards women.
14
President Trump asserted "... a scandalous overreach ... that would be “bigger than Watergate!”
He's probably right that it's likely bigger than Watergate.
Keep reaching Mueller!
37
Well yes, there was an informant by the name of Papadopoulos. But he was not planted, he turned into one after being too careless with information abroad.
It is disconcerting how he twists information to make him the victim but it is even more disconcerting with how many fall lock step in behind. What happen to "I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA - NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!"?
21
Trump, as always, is twisting and distorting the facts. None of the people working on Trump's campaign were informants before they joined the campaign. Some of Trump's "very excellent" people committed crimes in the course of working for his campaign, been found out by the FBI and Justice Department (often when they bragged about their illegal activities), and have had to testify. All after the fact of joining the campaign, which is nothing like "planting an informant". But Trump's not playing to a fact-based audience, this latest ploy is for his loyal, biased, undiscerning base.
291
"Trump's not playing to a fact-based audience, this latest ploy is for his loyal, biased, undiscerning base."
You're right John. Trump loves the 'poorly educated' and plans to keep them that way.
10
John they have found an informant, the Times is not up to snuff or ran out of space yesterday. It will be out on a Friday at about 4 pm.
Mr. President: this is “much bigger than Watergate!”
All Richard Nixon tried to do was subvert the rule of law and the Constitution. You’re trying to give us to the Russians as a down payment for your (alleged, not yet proven, but widely suspected) money-laundering debt to Russia.
You’re right: this “witch hunt” is “much bigger than Watergate!” The only thing hanging in the balance is our country. Small thing, that, to you (and the GOP). Right?
101
@Sox -- God told Pharoah, "out of thy mouth comes thy judgment". If this president's scandals are "bigger than Watergate", then he admitted his own guilt. The man is his own worst enemy.
11
Fran Lebowitz: 'You do not know anyone as stupid as Donald Trump'. She is absolutely correct.
Trump acts like an embedded 'spy' in his camapign, or squeezing Manafort to 'flip' are some illegal or nefarious tactics. They are neither. They are quite common, effective, and legal tactics investigators may use to gather evidence.
Trump not only displays his abject ignorance by complaining about legal investigating methods, he implicitly confirms that he has everything to worry about from such tactics. 'No collusion' so nothing to worry about! Why doth the bot protest so much?
11
Does he realize Watergate uncovered crimes?
104
Wrong, Watergate started with an actual crime -- the break-in.
This investigation started with suspicions (very little evidence) about collusion with Russia.
Eventually Watergate investigation uncovered other crimes, and ultimately led to resignation of Nixon (almost entirely based on physical evidence -- the tapes)
In this investigation there appears to be no real evidence of collusion and the obstruction of justice charges are based on Comey's recollections and an attempt by Mueller to divine Trump's intent while doing constitutionally protected Presidential activities...
1
Joe P.,
Does he realize Watergate ended with the resignation of the sitting president?!
12
That's almost immaterial to Trump. What matters to Trump is what he believes his base thinks and knows. Seen in that light, his expectations of them are low, and realistically so, which allows his shenanigans to work, sort of. Until they don't.
1
Mr Trump is, in the vernacular of the street cop, "dirty."
In the words of an old Doonesbury strip about Richard Nixon, "guilty, guilty, guilty."
In the common sense of any thinking person, "probably compromised."
"witch-hunt?" Not so much.
7
Bigger than Watergate, indeed.
5
Didn’t Trump also claim that Obama had wire tapes in Trump Tower and that Obama wasn’t born in the USA. He has Obama-derangement syndrome. Lock him up.
52
But as it is emerging, it looks as if the Obama-era FBI did spy on the Trump campaign. You can argue about the propriety of that, but if the story on Halper holders, Trump was not that far off.
1
Wire Taps. The FBI got warrants to listen to phone calls. Not really a tap....but spying by any other name.
Maxie, if Trump as a candidate was really in danger from Vladimir the FB I had an obligation to tell the Secret Service ASAP, not to play at cloak and daggers to entrap people.
Is it ironic for Trump to tweet "this is bigger than Watergate!"? I can't tell anymore.
7
Because Donald Trump is our president, we unfortunately have to follow all the silly (or worse) comments he makes. Otherwise it would just be an unrecognizable blip, like Facebook trolls.
It is unclear whether they are an insult to the intelligence of the American people, or a reflection of a lack thereof amongst too many of us.
6
But Mr. President you are innocent, right? So why all of the angst over the investigation, just let it run its course. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear.
30
Guess what? Nixon was guilty and there was good reason for the investigation. Sound familiar?
32
Comparing his investigation to Watergate isn't the sort of thing the president should boast about. His whining about unfair tactics is just another rant about how unfair democracy is. If his scandal-ridden administration of 17 months is the most successful in history by far, it shows how badly America has stumbled.
332
In trump's mind everything associated with him is the biggest, the best, the most hugely big thing ever in the history of the world. The obvious truth to anybody with more than a handful of brain cells is that he has zero credibility. His words are meaningless other than a glimpse into his sick pysche.
50
Trump is clearly no student of history. Even if he were, he is too humorless to appreciate irony.
Nice points for you to zero in on, though!
34
He means that a secret plot was hatched against his campaign, you don't Seriously think he is referring to himself as Nixon? 17 months of scandal has been over collusion that never happened. Who will pay his presidency back for this railroading to find a non existent crime?
The tone deafness here is ... well, deafening. Enough with the whining and complaining. Let Mueller do his job.
77
Ugh! This guy Trump is absolutely insufferable! He is, without a doubt the most presidential president this country has ever had.
He makes Jackson look like Marcus Aurelius.
8
I meant UN-presidential president
8
Bigger than watergate alright...
6
Somewhere in hell, Richard Nixon is watching and laughing saying, Look at this guy - he makes me look like an amateur.
112