It really is a Witch Hunt and Mueller has a coven of witches in his sights , the Trump family , Kushner , Wilbur Ross , Manafort , Cohen & Roger Stone as a minimum. The swamp creatures are getting nervous.
Trump`s answer to the press in front of Putin in Helsinki re Russian hacking/interference in the US election "I do not know why it would be Russia". America what have you done to yourself !
3
Jeff Sessions is the biggest loser and should be fired asap although it will be after the Midterms. The non productive Russian hoax was the reason for the investigation. Now hateful socialist democrats will do anything to undermine and impeach this president. Obama had to pay $375,000 in campaign violations but that was just fine; plus he was partially black so the socialist democrats conveniently looked the other way as they usually do when it fits their agenda. Glad the president is getting rid of Mr. McGahn. The county needn't hear rumors about potential firings (like Mueller and Rosenstien which never happened) for months by the media. This president has more important things to do like continue the prosperity he has initiated with this country.
This is the way Trump does things where people are concerned. That the fool is also a coward is now well and truly established. What next: a tweet announcing that Melania has been given the boot? Watch this space.
2
The old saying about weaving tangled webs certainly comes to mind with this administration again and again. There is no cohesiveness there. There is no sanity there. Chaos on a daily basis.
The only thing we can expect from this POTUS is more of the same. The inmates are in charge of the asylum.
3
What rhymes with Coward?
T-R-U-M-P.
#45 doesn't even have the brass to call the guy before he shows him the door. What a loser!
5
There soon will be a new office-betting phenomenon racing across the nation The challenge: Select the next person to be fired by Trump. "How" is not a question. We know for certain he won't do it in person. Options include by tweet, by bodyguard or in the Situation Room.
I suppose we could also consider a Grand Sweepstakes contest by combining the firing challenge with guessing the correct number of silenced women in David Pecker's safe.
Geraldo...brush up on your safe-cracking skills. Believe me.
3
Really is pathetic watching trump in action, immature, has no concept of leadership, read him/manipulate him like a book, play on his insecurities and vanity, lives in his own world with no empathy for his “supporters”
1
Be gone, Mr. McGahn.
Liar in chief jettisons another small voice of reason so he can continue to run amuck as Mueller and the various legal pitfalls of this corrupt / colluding admin of clowns and sycophants . The circle of insanity keeps getting tighter around Cadet Bonespurs and he is his own worst enemy . the blindside by the tweet master in chief is another example of his cowardice and 4 y old /baby mentality.
3
Donald John Trump, Sr. hss assembled the most corrupt incompetent ignorant immoral stupid team of lawyers ever gathered in the White House and Cabinet. Protecting, preserving and defending the Constitution of the United States is the solemn sworn oath duty of every one in our divided limited power constitutional republic of united states where the people are sovereign. They are all our elected and selected hired help.
Avoiding even the appearance of impropriety is the essential ethical obligation of the legal profession. By hiding his profitable personal and family income tax returns and business records from the American people in a conspiracy with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Russia Trump is the essence of illegality, immorality and impropriety.
1
Please, enough with the hagiography of DMcG – “Mr. McGahn was seen as the protector of presidential institutions” – “a rare island of political sense in a sea of White House officials” – “willing to push back against Mr. Trump.” The NYT owes its readers a more balanced account of his tenure, and that of the WH Counsel’s Office.
1
And McGahn will be preparing his own NDA for Dennis Dennison to not sign?
1
In firearms marksmanship parlance, Trump's Twitter procedure is: Ready -- Fire -- Aim.
The fastest with the trigger finger is not always the alivest when the contest is over.
3
If I were McGahan, I would depart the WH post haste and let Trump weather the Kavanaugh hearings himself. I think any concerns McGahan might have about that being unprofessional are moot, having served as a capo in this administration.
6
Kudos to Mr. Conway! Trump, Nunes, Grassley and others have turned "the swamp" into an open cesspool of corruption and deceit. I am sure Mr. McGahn will find a better life outside the White House as Trump and the Republican Party spiral out of control. Perhaps Trump firing Mr. Mueller next would be icing on the cake being presented to Democrats this November? As if we need his report to tell us how much the cesspool stinks?
5
To: New York Times: Please write an article on what an impeachment is. Too many Americans think it's a process of removing someone from office. However it is more of a formal inquiry of the office holder's status. Thank you.
3
President Trump again displays his complete lack of personal courage and even a shred of integrity. Firing the Secretary of State by Twitter was a new low, but the stupidity continues. Does he actually believe that people will remain loyal to him when he throws them away like yesterdays trash, and to do it on Twitter, not having the courage to talk to the person face-to-face.
When you break the laws of the nation with such abandon you clearly have no respect for the law or the people of the nation. The oath he swore to defend the constitution when he took over as president is completely worthless. Will he be the first president to go to jail for high crimes against the nation? Many around him have been convicted of criminal activity or have plead guilty to criminal activity and lying to the FBI, so what can we make of his activity? Is he a criminal as well. His own lawyer testified that Trump directed him to break the law in his dealings to silence two of the women he has sexual affairs with about the time his third wife was giving birth to his youngest son. Where are the christian evangelicals on all of his behaviour? Why are they not getting all righteous and denouncing him? Oh, wait, they are keen for him to change the law to allow them to get involved politically so that they can influence elections even more than they do now. Sounds like christian fundamentalism with a for-profit twist at work here. Lots of evangelical preachers need new Cadillac's.
4
How is Trump’s inability to understand that Sessions HAD to recuse himself not ITSELF a damning indictment worth investigation?
4
Wanted : New Trump " Family " consigliere. No ethics required, major perks and taxpayer funded expenses. Send video clips, preferably from FOX " news ". SAD.
5
Only a guilty mind acts this way. The pettiness is all Trump, but firing anyone who counsels him with caution is what he needs to fire Mueller.
3
The depths of the corruption in the WH is an acceleration on the soon to be explosive problems in the country. The politics, the policy and the ideology are simmering disagreements that our institutions can handle over time.
The WH and their alt-right allies war on minorities, on civil rights, on voting rights, on the environment and yes even on and non-Christians is destroying the institutions and norms of the country. This is the destruction of the country as a moral and ethical force in the world. If not reversed soon, it will be the destruction of the county.
Vote !
4
Kyle Reese is correct. I have often commented to friends & foe that we are in a period akin to the late 1960 to 1970's when the war in Viet Nam came to an end brought about by the many times we flooded the streets in the US in protest. We need to take to the streets again & in front of all congressional members offices in daily peaceful protests in all states in the nation. The silent majority is now us. Speak up in public!
6
It would be fitting if not perfect to see the firing of Sessions. He is a stain on our legal system , and if some were not forewarned by his odious policy positions , then it was in plain sight when perjured himself before the Senate Judiciary Committee in his AG interviews . Sessions gave up his Senate seat - now held by a Democrat - where he was an entrenched incumbent so when he is fired as AG we may be rid of him once and for all.
3
I find it amazing that any one with one ounce of morality and decent fiber in there body can still be working for trump in the White House. Okay with the exception of Sanders and Conway, to which neither probably could find another job at a fast food restaurant; sorry no insects allowed. Trump has always claimed he was the smartest person in (any) room, smarter than our Generals, and he can do it all by himself, no outside help needed. I would personally be worried about my own reputation, and if working for trump would be considered a negative on my resume? It doesn't appear that McCain's passing is going to mean any more to some of his friends in the Senate (Graham), who along with Nunes in the House; along with his wack job personal attorney Giuliani, will continue to be his lap dogs. I hope the democratic voter turn out numbers which have been higher over all for the primaries is a strong indicator for what's going to happen in November for the mid terms. Lets send trump and the GOP members a strong message, no more. Americans will make sure there voices are heard on November 6,2018.
4
McGahn's exit clears the way for Trump to fire Mueller. Trump has given Rudy Giuliani an increasingly prominent role as 'legal spokesperson' asserting Trump's authority to pardon himself of any crimes and for Trump to be involved in "routine business matters" at Trump International while serving as POTUS. Giuliani has said publicly that Trump could order Mueller to "wrap up" his investigation quickly or face being fired. McGahn stood in the way of that happening, but now is effectively a 'lame duck' in having any control over Trump.
1
Praise be to Mueller and his crack team of investigators! With lazer-sharp focus, they seem to be getting the goods on all the players in Trump's playpen who - one by one - are falling into line by cooperating.
Who's next?!?
It certainly is amazing to see the brilliance of this investigation unfold!
3
Mr. Trump praised Mr. McGahn and said he had nothing to fear about what his counsel had told Mr. Mueller, even as he appeared to confirm that he was not completely aware what that was.
“I don’t have to be aware,” he said. “We do everything straight. We do everything by the book. ”
Yeaaah.. but that book was the Necronomicon!
2
The issue that bothers me most about djt (there are too many to list) is his constant insulting of mine, and the American people's intelligence. "........chaos doesn’t exist-just a “smooth running machine” with changing parts!", "“We do everything straight. We do everything by the book." Really? Casual observation proves otherwise.
3
Can't this guy get anything right? Forget if you can the whole Senator McCain thing, and all the awfulness of that. So you want to fire someone and make it look like he left on his own power? Hey, this happens--it's not that tough. But step one, you get him in on it. You don't announce how he's leaving and not even tell him, and then complain because people are referring to this as the "so-called 'pushing-out'."
11
My guess is that Trump knows McGahn will quit when Trump fires Mueller and so is pre-empting that by firing McGahn as soon as he installs the right-wing ideologue Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court
11
I am beginning to like political correctness more and more.
12
WH counsel is departing and has cooperated with the SCO.
The trump “organization “ CFO has been granted immunity by the Mueller team.
So who is next to enter the waiting room in the SCO office and work against DJT?
For someone that thrives on loyalty, there are not many willing to stand by DJT once they see the evidence the SCO has on DJT.
I expect Mueller will release his findings just before or just after the midterms so DJT has no time to react and the Democratic response can be swift.
Vote 11/6.
10
“We do everything straight. We do everything by the book. And Don is an excellent guy.”
Maybe this is an insight into what Trump has planned for after his ejection from the White House. Maybe he is thinking of becoming a stand up comic because this is even less credible than his normal toxic stew of lies. Therefore one must conclude that this is intended as a joke.
14
@Jim Dickinson
"And Don is an excellent guy."
Like always, I believe he is really referring to himself in this tweet...
5
"Dear Don, As soon as another partisan SCOTUS appointee is dumped in the Court, please pack up your things and leave ASAP. I know firing people isn't usually done with a tweet . But that's the way I like to do things. Sad."
10
So much for the whole keep-your-enemies-closer thing.
5
with any luck, trump will be leaving the white house this fall, too
18
Who out there didn’t expect this coming? Petty man has been firing for years. It’s a habit. Shows no intellect. Again what’s new?
5
His job was done. The Senate Democrats just voted to expedite the confirmation of all of the conservative judges he recommended to Trump so that they could get home to campaign.
6
Where is Theodore White to now write the 'UnMaking of a President'? Its quite interesting that in a world where ones survival, much less success depends on making allies and friends who can support you, that this president creates enemies in mass who no doubt will comeback and haunt him. i look forward to Trumps final tweet- ' Russia here i come!'
7
Yes, and still this toxic president's TAX RETURNS remain hidden from public view.
16
McGahn has done a great job packing the Supreme with strict constructionists who will interpret the Constitution and not make it up as they go along like liberals prefer. The judiciary is life time appointments so these nominees will be affecting policy for years to come. Republicans need more stealth candidates that are young, can fly under the radar, and who will reverse the monstrosity of Roe v Wade and affirm free speech rights in Citizens United. Gay "marriage" farce has to go too. All we need is one more judge on the Court since Kennedy was the swing vote. So nice job, Don. Good luck.
1
Another one bites the dust. Another one bites the dust......
Donald just loves the phrase “You’re fired!” Why can’t he just go back to “The Alprentice” then and be happy?
Seeing him in the White House makes me cringe. I sense the previous president’s spirits there having some very interesting conversations......
19
Just imagine Trump becoming CEO of a large corporation. The stock would drop so quick. They would stop trading.
2
Come on,man!
We'll have this weird thing with the Trumpies for awhile, but their noisy effort to establish the Neo-Confederates?
Ain't happening.
8
Here goes another knight from the round table at the court of Donald the First.
Not entirely unexpected, by far not the first and certainly not the last.
The real beauty of this is that every one of those fired is a potential witness for the prosecution of Trump.
The more people he fires, the more witnesses the prosecution can chose from.
And as seen from a legal and management point of view, this just another proof that Trump does not even understand the very basics of management.
You don't fire and make enemies if you yourself are under investigation.
Even the Cosa Nostra, the mobsters that Trumps so much likes that he even tries to emulate their language, understand that.
But not the stable genius Donald the First.
13
Yes I would agree that this is a slow moving train wreck that is about to be derailed. By the looks of things there will be a constitutional crisis a coming. Somehow ended with Trump being removed one way or the other.
11
“I don’t have to be aware,” Mr. Trump said. “We do everything straight. We do everything by the book.” I have to stop reading the NYT at meals. I just about choked on my chicken.
24
Seems like this is the Wednesday Morning Shooting before the eventual Saturday Night Massacre? Regardless of McGahn's tenure, Trump will fire Sessions and Mueller in one fell swoop after the treason Indictments of Don Jr., Jared and Manafort drop.
11
And certainly this does not have anything to do with McGahn talking to Mueller.
17
Now that the world has seen the profoundly infantile manner in which trump reacted to Senator McCain's passing and all the attention and admiration it attracted it raises the question to Canadians if the reason trump FLIPPED on PM Trudeau after the G7 is did Mr. Trudeau divert attention that trump felt belonged to him. Trumpf and co.sure are bulling Canada over NAFTA and with Mexico stabbed us in the back. The USA sells way more than double the dairy products to Canada than the converse but he wants to destroy our dairy industry so we are forced to consume your hormone..BGH..poisoned products. Man is he a loathsome individual!
21
Eleven days ago, commenters were predicting how long it wd b before Trump fired McGahn https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/18/us/politics/don-mcgahn-mueller-invest...
Well, most of us didn't expect this firing to take so long nor did we expect Trump to fire w civility and act like an adult. He still didn't act like a professional bc he tweeted before giving McGahn notice, but at least he didn't attack.
8
Those who would praise McGahn for providing a semblance of orderliness to the Trump White House ignore the damages that he has done to the USA judiciary. His ends justified his means for himself. Another Republican user.
16
If McGahn is really principled, he’ll resign today—or tomorrow at the latest.
12
@Edward
Yes, and leave Trump to find someone else to push
Kavanagh through the confirmation process. Now that
would be a "flip."
4
I continue to wonder just how totally compromised the Republican leadership is regarding Russia and dirty campaign money funneled through the NRA and elsewhere. It seems just too convenient to rationalize their total silence and indirect actions serving to protect Trump and undermine Mueller as only a fear of Trump voters in the mid-terms. Seems more likely that McConnell, Ryan and RNC brass are terrified of much, much more than a Trump voter- maybe a possible jail term? What was that odd Jun 15 2016 conversation about? https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/paul-ryan-keeps-it-family-kevin...
As Mueller starts to close in, I'm expecting we'll see even more egregiousness by some key Republican senators and congressmen who swore that they will uphold and defend the constitution.
15
Rohrabacher. Nunes. Rand Paul. Pence. Shelby. Paul Ryan. McConnell. Issa. McCarthy. more. Both House and Senate.
2
Let truth come out from his 30 hours of interview. He helped Trump so no admiration unless he provided deep and valuable facts about the Trump operation. He’s not “Teflon Don”. We need to be rid of Trump and company.
9
McGahn might have said plenty to Mueller, but not necessarily the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He might have answered the questions but not necessarily volunteered the relevant but significant information to bring a closure to the investigation. He might have invoked client-Attorney privileges and they hold even if he is out of job. Trump let him go because there is too much negative coverage on the issue of his testimony. Sessions will be fired after elections for not doing his job well. Then, Bork clone gets the appointment who fires Rubenstein and then fires Mueller for spending too much money and time witch hunting. Only the people can deliver the verdict at the ballot and not Mueller.
11
I guess that 45 still hasn't figured out that Don McGahn isn't his personal attorney, but rather White House counsel, which is not that same thing.
45 expects that all the cabinet officers and staff of the WH owe him, personally, fealty rather than the government and people of the United States. The oath they take (and the one he took) is to uphold and defend the Constitution. Not Donald J. Trump.
I can only hope that the next time we go to the polls, we have to opportunity to elect someone who has actually read the Constitution and the rest of our foundational documents and understands the limits of presidential power.
17
Well, Mr. Kahn offered the “very stable genius” a copy, but he knows it all and he refused.
5
It may be that "the way Mr. Trump blindsided him with a tweet underscored how dysfunctional the relationship had become," but with Donald Trump no interpersonal dysfunction is required. The internal one is more than enough.
Trump's aversion to facing people he's decided to get rid of seems to be as compulsive as his germophobia. This is not inconsistent with his tough-buy bluster. The bluster is a protective cocoon around the fragile, timid nature of a pampered rich boy.
14
McGahn's legacy is pretty much set: packing the judiciary wholesale with mindless ultra-conservative apparatchiks provided by the Federalist Society, some of the nominees so embarrassingly ignorant and inept that they withdrew their names from consideration virtually while being thrown puffball questions by GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It's going to take some pretty devastating testimony from McGahn in the Mueller investigation to balance out the long-term harm he has inflicted on the nation with those court-packing efforts.
19
Somebody start writing a play. All you need are lines Trump actually said and what he has done so far in his presidency. Fill out one hour.
I need this as a way to step back and get perspective. To see how utterly ridiculous and shocking everything is.
2
This is good news for all the surplus of law school graduated who can't find employment. At the rate Trump is blowing through attorneys, he's bound to hire them at some point.
16
@DJS
He’ll be calling temp agencies soon.
6
Now Sessions has to go. He has way too much integrity to fit in in the Trump administration.
2
I guess we’ll soon find out whether Mr. McGahn’s commitment to the truth is greater than his commitment to hard-core Conservatism. Trump has created a chasm between the two.
3
Just a note - In the modern corporate world, precipitously firing people is very common.
Almost invariably, the victim is not allowed to even say goodbye to fellow employees before they are "kicked to the curb".
I've even seen cases where the victim was called down to personnel, and not even allowed to go back to their desk to get their coat.
Takeaway:
1. Trump is a creature of the corporate world in every respect.
2. If you get called down to personnel, bring your coat with you.
7
@Peter Zenger
Dude, he is the president of the United States, not the CEO of a private company.
1
@Bob
Thank you for offering this proposition, but I would argue the inverse:
Trump is acting as the de facto CEO of many large corporations - particularly in the oil, mineral extraction, defense, agriculture middleman, and private prison industries. Not to mention, his own Rich Man's Golf Club enterprise.
Since the job of President, just like every other public official, is to act in a way that balances the needs of all of us, Trump is no President at all.
Sincerely,
Dude
Clearly McGahn placed adherence to law,respect for the Consitution and love of country ahead of personal loyalty and fealty to Trump. He was doomed. It is amazing that he lasted this long.
12
Thank you Mr. Trump for firing McGahn as now he will have more time to help Mullerin his investigation.
21
Poor Donnie. He should have remembered the iconic line from "The Godfather": "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
11
After looking at the graphic for this article, I estimate that more than 90% of those who "quit," or who were fired, left only after extreme negative publicity compelled their departure; otherwise, those grifters or incompetents would still be present if their sins could be hidden.
Perhaps 5-8% of those are like McGahn, who are forced out because their competence and ethics are at odds with the grifter in chief.
6
Is it any wonder that a president who has no respect for the law has trouble getting along with lawyers? One of the few exceptions is Rudy Guiliani, who really is just Trump hatchet man with a law degree.
8
President Trump strikes again! Firing by Tweet. We have truly lowered the standard for craven fecklessness. It used to be that a boss confronted an unsatisfactory underling in private, frankly, with a face to-face reprimand or dismissal.
The president might claim a bone-spur exclusion for normal supervisory behavior. or worse than that, maybe firing-by-public-Tweet might have become the new normal for stand-up supervision.
God bless the United States of America!
11
A single day doesn't go by that Trump makes America less great.
37
A President who plays on Twitter rather than working for the American People is a President who should be removed immediately from office. He's on our nation's payroll and does not follow any chain of command except twitter. Unacceptable!!!!
25
I suspect that McGahn indicated to the President that he told Mueller the full truth. As this is considered an unpardonable sin in the Trump White House, he was told "Don, you're fired"!
2
One more development emanating from the chaotic White House in pursue of abolishing checks on the despot in residence.
If, we the people, can't tolerate the transmutation of Democracy into Autocracy in our country, we must run to the polling places and vote Democrat, so they can countervail the unhinged President. As for almost two years, we have witnessed the ignoble lack of courage from the Republican side.
Not doing so is to be complacent with bigotry, indecency, destruction of our democratic institutions, and assault on the rule of law.
9
If McGahn told Mueller the truth, there is a lot of people who have to be scared.
In fact, McGahn is a potential witness. He should have left long ago or recused himself.
6
Yeah, it might be a bit strained to go to work every day and spend a few hours next-door to President Queeg, who wants to gouge your eyes out and rip the skin off your body.
7
Hire, “resign” or “fire”, rinse, repeat. This is getting old - fast. Not good!
4
I very seriously doubt that:
"Muellers' report will be buried."
I've seen mistaken predictions before, but none this far off the mark.
2
McGahn seems to be a man of conscience and integrity. This White House is no place to be for a man like that. Allegiance to the rule of law and the US Constitution are not valued attributes by Trump.
1
Trump and the GOP fear the Midterm elections as Trump prepares to be Impeached - as McGahn does an early runner
from a dying regime.
Everything Trump touches rots.
4
Wow, once again the low class way to do a deed. At least he is consistent.
1
McGahn's Wikipedia entry reads like an aide of Erdogan's. McGahn is the one who kept Trump on the ballot in New Hampshire. He also ran the legal team that helped defeat the NeverTrump movement at the 2016 Republican National Convention. And he won litigations in four battleground states alleging voter intimidation and seeking to enjoin the Trump campaign from having observers at polling locations.
He excelled at doing the dirty work for his boss. And he was fired by tweet.
What hope does the rest of the country have for survival when Trump slaughters his chief henchmen?
21
Don McGahn should leave now. Leaving now would be an act of patriotism. Let Trump suffer his coming consequences with no real legal representation.
2
President Trump obviously fired McGahn so he can pardon Manafort. McGahn would never have agreed to that. Let's see who Trump replaces him with. Whoever it is better have lots of money because he is going to need his own lawyer.
7
This is a comedy, right? I mean, except for the tragedy parts.
Is the "Administration's" losing so many "great people" winning? Who's on first?
2
Don McGahn has been complicit with Trump's American Carnage since 2015. Clearly wants to sneak back to the executive suite at Jones Da, but will continue to be a source for reporters. He doesn't deserve a revisionist narrative to rehabilitate his reputation.
10
Trump said he had a "lot of affection" for Don. Really? Fired by a tweet? That is reminiscent of the abrupt way that James Comey and Rex Tillerson were fired.
Mr. McGahn seems to have acted with as much integrity as was possible within a chaotic family-infested court. Knives are always out, usually for petty reasons, and zero ever seems to be about the good of the country, American democracy, or effective government.
This is a corrupt White House. If you aren't related by blood or marriage, you are at risk. Friends one day, enemies the next. Sycophancy is no protection. Everyone is a potential witness, a potential target of Trump, of the Russian or other investigations. Anyone who can get out should flee ASAP, preferably with whatever evidence they have that could be useful to the investigators about conspiracy with Russia or other misdeeds.
The great Clark Kerr - chancellor of Berkeley during difficult periods - once quipped that he left his job the same way he entered it: Fired with enthusiasm.
123
When will Sessions, McDonnell will go?
Respectfully - if the President helps pick Supreme Court justices and the directors of the Department of Justice and the FBI; able to pardon anyone for any crime; Commander in Chief in possession of the instantaneous launch codes for the nuclear arsenal; doesn’t that make the President pretty much above the law?
I think the situation is set up intentionally so the President can do anything necessary for the security of the nation, beginning with the President himself or herself. Only Congress has the power to criticize the President’s actions, am I wrong? Maybe the People have the power to criticize Congress?
4
Ah - another firing by Twitter. I think Trump is trying to relive his Apprentice days. Perhaps reality TV could find a place for him and save the USA.
4
McGahn already testified to Mueller that Trump did not commit obstruction of justice. In any case Trump had asked Comey to investigate anyone in his campaign for any collusion. Comey should have been fired the day Trump took office. However it is a good thing we have the special counsel as so much behind the scenes going ons has resulted in the firing of the Director of the FBI, the Deputy Director, Strock fired, Lisa Page left before she could get fired, Sally Yates fired, Ohr will probably be next to be fired.
McGahn is not their to protect POTUS.
Trump does not need to fire Sessions as Sessions already submitted his resignation to Trump. He simply can decide when to accept that resignation.
How exactly is this not obstruction of justice? He`s being penalized for giving evidence to government inquiry and removed so that he's unable to continue accessing information he`ll need if the inquiry results in charges and he's called to testify. How long do you think it will take to pull his security clearance? A NY minute?
3
This is not good. The grownups are leaving the baby alone at the helm during a storm, the baby isn't going to last long, but the ship of state isn't going to fair well either.
1
Some advice to Special Prosecutor Mueller. Your protectors, Sessions and Rosenstein now have a short shelf life, as Republicans in Congress who have been poster children for capitulation cow tow to the President even more. Obstruction of Justice, which brought down Nixon, will no longer be a factor; nor will be pay offs to former mistresses, even if illegal campaign contributions, make a difference. The President has recognized this and dared Prosecutors to find the Russian Collusion, the only thing that would change the equation. So Mr Mueller, if you have the evidence on this issue, now is the time to come forward before it is too late.
1
The picture accompanying this article is awesome. McGahn looks to be contemplating something sinister. Maybe involving a pillow, or set of stairs.
Him; "I know the many ways around the law, a good alibi would be easy...they'd never catch me...so many would call me a hero..."
1
For Trump, McGahn can't leave soon enough. He's long resented guardrails on his impulses. McGahn said no repeatedly but was a bridge to Federalists and evangelicals. For his part, he's a garden variety conservative warrior who joyfully handled the stocking of a depleted federal judiciary with arch conservatives.
Knowing Trump's criminal and scapegoating proclivities, McGahn's second priority was to avoid indictment. Apparently, he was mister blabber mouth for Mueller. And Trump will disparage him at the first opportunity if he thinks his testimony is threatening.
Now imagine Trump without McGahn and Hicks and probably Sessions to stem his volcanic temper and determination to obstruct the FBI investigation into Russian election interference. Even Senate Republicans have given up. They just hope Trump will wait until after the midterms. But additional damaging revelations may precede the election, and Trump may blow ahead of schedule.
Trump views lawyers as part of his battlements, dutiful soldiers ready to deflect or take legal arrows directed at the king. That much is all predictable. But Trump's ultimate goal is to quash the entire Mueller investigation and any of its reports. Throw in pardons for all and you have the nuclear option.
Trump will act within days after the midterms, and he won't care what his lawyers say. He knows the depth of his guilt and exposure. He also knows impeachment is futile if the Senate refuses to convict. I doubt he cares how he wins.
2
Is this news? Isn't a pattern of Trump to use people and get rid of them if they are not useful anymore? If he needs them back in the future he can buy their services again at anytime. I hope the future proves me wrong, however, I am not so optimistic about it!
3
I doubt if he’ll have to look hard for another job. So sad.
With Mr. McGhan departure in the fall, Trump will be most vulnerable. It is also said that he is scared stiff about impeachment. Bring on the charges of obstruction of justice. Ramp up investigations about his illegal business practices.
1
Another firing-by-tweet?
Perhaps Mr. Muller will give Trump the news of his demise-likewise.
1
We are witnessing a complete revolution - and not an evolution - in how future POTUS may operate or we will expect them to operate.
Via tweets, this POTUS hires and fires folks, sets or resets policies and most importantly keeps friends and foes alike guessing.
I think the next POTUS is going to be judged by standrads of this POTUS on how he or she handles communicating with Americans whether supporters or not.
Without many of us realizing - like Reagan changed the way White House massaged a message and staged events - even small details like his quote 'honey, I forgot to duck' - this POTUS is changing what it means to be a POTUS.
This is either good or bad as time will tell.
But one thing for sure, any aides thinking they can plant stories, rumors or annonymous briefings - those days are gone.
And may be, that's a good thing.
Why am I NOT surprised? Well... this is par for the course in Trump's administration...and we all know that his Number One priority is loyalty to him. Mr. McGahn surely knew when he was sitting down with the investigator's in the 2016 election investigation team that he was very likely going to be invited to leave his job as Trump's attorney. I applaud his moral strength of character to do his job as an American citizen First, and not his job as Trump's lawyer. That will stand him well in his future career...and even if it does nothing in particular for him, he is sleeping at night in the knowledge that he didn't sell out to the President's corrupt influence.
Coincidence?
McGahn leaving just when Trump is trying to get a team
together to defend himself against the onslaught by
the Democrats when they take over the House in Congress.
Trump fears that the Democrats will be investigating everything that Trump has done, and is doing. Trump really fears this.
But his team is like a political skeleton where no one wants to work with Trump - and there is a fear that there will be a mass exit when the Democrats take the House.
Fear is stalking the corridors of the White House.
Trump is working on his Impeachment action plan?
It's called a resignation.
83
When people who know him well say on the record that McGahn believes in serving and protecting the office of the presidency rather than the individual president, and when I see that he has put in lengthy and dedicated terms serving his party in various different offices in past conservative Republican administrations, I take that all together to mean that McGahn would likely be just as happy to come back and work on judges and legal issues for a President Pence, in the relatively near future. In a way, I'm almost tempted to view the combination of McGahn's principled ideas on the presidency, the sudden departure announcement, and his cryptic 30 hours of "unsupervised" Special Counsel testimony, it's tempting to see them in relation to the growing number of subtle but obvious Pence-being-presidential "trial balloons" that we've seen floated around Washington recently.
20
@James Trump could sit with someone for thirty hours and have nothing meaningful to say but I imagine McGahn may have been rather engaging and informative during hs time with the Mueller team.
So the president announcing what the individual had decided to do is important news? Seems like some routine type announcement, that perhaps Sarah should have handled. It appears his job is mostly over as the improvements in the judges are probably mostly done. And I hear several cabinet members who voice their opinions to the president, they just know to stop once the decision has been made.
7
@vulcanalex WADR, the first sentence states Trump’s tweet surprised McGahn. The second says Trump hadn’t talked to McGahn before tweeting.
That is not routine.
1
It would appear that Mr. Trump is again looking for people to work in the White House who pledge allegiance to 'The Trump' as opposed to the flag.
It's interesting that McGahn believes Trump would be better served by white house counsel with impeachment experience.
68
McGahn was threatening to resign if Trump fired Sessions. Looks like AG Jeff Sessions will be fired shortly after McGahn leaves, which benefits McGahn, not the rule of law.
It is amazing that McGahn has managed to keep his reputation and himself out of harms way, I wonder if that is more about being a shrewd lawyer, rather than the martyr he likes to portray.
14
I was a successful elementary school teacher, a state teacher of the year, and a teacher union pres in a metro Baltimore area system. Politicians generally left a bad taste in my mouth but I often had to deal with them. Whenever an elected official or candidate would tell me that the school system or the county or state government should be run like a business, I would cringe.
Apparently the man currently occupying the People's House, is using his business acumen as he attempts to govern and is applying his experience to the day to day management of the United States.
How's that working out for us?
129
@Paul Schatz , I agree with your excellent assessment, with just a minor modification: his business acumen to benefit himself and his businesses, not to benefit the people of the USA- stunning violations of the emoluments clause of the the Constitution.
72
@Paul Schatz Perhaps you cringe because you have no idea what running something like a business actually means. It means that you look at the value for every expenditure, so that the citizen tax payers get a good deal. Now that includes say the salary and benefits of teachers which might be why you cringe. Extorting more salary and benefits by being in a public employee union is great for the union, decent for the members, and a rip off of the tax paying public.
4
@vulcanalex
Continuing to support fossil fuel extraction and use, is not good use of taxpayer money. Giving unfunded tax cuts, that are heavily skewed to favour the mega rich, is not good public policy. Paying $12 billion to compensate US farmers for losses resulting from Trump’s tariff war, is not a good use of taxpayer money.
If one looks at Trump’s business history, there are several of his businesses, including a casino, that filed for bankruptcy. Many of those who supplied goods including their labour for Trump projects, were never paid.
Trump University was wound up, and had to pay a fine of $25 million. His Foundation was wound up with many ongoing investigations into its expenditures.
For a self promoted great businessman, Trump’s business record is not very flattering.
Your view of pay negotiations between public employee unions and their employers, seems to assume no pay rise is ever justified. Despite your protests regarding union power and its effects on wages, real wages fell 0.2% in the last year, so maybe unions need to do a better job at protecting the pay and conditions of workers they represent.
92
McGahn is trump’s primary right-wing judge finder.
If trump’s kicking McGahn to the curb later this year, he must think Kavanaugh’s confirmation will automatically pass in the Senate. It’s a typically egotistical trump assumption.
If Kavanaugh is nixed, tho, who’ll be digging up the next right-wing judge nomination for trump?
As far as trump finding judges who’ll protect a president from criminal prosecutions, that’s pretty much a nonissue. Trump can be indicted on January 21, 2021. And if Kavanaugh were sitting on the bench, he would have no authority over trump’s impeachment trial.
Trump should cheer up, tho. He loves to shake things up and make new inroads for the history books. The fact that he could be the very first, and most Americans hope the last, president to be impeached, convicted by Senate, and kicked out of office is an unprecedented legacy. He will be immortalized.
39
@S L Hart Well it will pass so your idea is great. Your idea on impeachment is foolish, and conviction well a fantasy alternative reality.
4
@vulcanalex I finally agree with you. I'd much rather Trump stay in office and do ever more to ear the honor of Worst President in American history. I'm kind of glad I'm alive to see it take place.
1
@S L Hart I think it goes deeper than that. I'd say that if he toxifies the United States government, there'll be a big payoff at the end of his term, and it'll be from the coven of caldron-stirrers we continue to label 'the Koch Bros . . .' but there's more of them in the coven than just the Koch Bros.
2
Well, given that he's spilled the beans to Muller, and therefore can't POSSIBLY be trusted by trump, of course he's leaving....
13
Autocracy evolving slowly and with full Republican complicity. McGahn, let us not forget, has been a central figure in the ruthless Republican effort to fill Federal judgeships with conservatives with a narrow view of the role of the Federal Government and its agencies. And perhaps a narrow view of the ability to prosecute an off the rails President. McGahn has, to his credit, apparently acted as a 'break' on Trump's worst lashing out. The ONLY solution to this quagmire of nuttiness and autocracy in the While House is to elect a resounding Democratic majority in the House and Senate in November. Trump will act out increasingly as he is backed into a corner but there must be reasonable checks and balances and rebukes to his self-absorbed, dangerous, wildly inappropriate behavior or our democratic nation is going the way of Hungary, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. We really are better than that, people!
26
How long before he is left with Ivanka, Jared and Don Jr., assuming none of them is in jail...
53
"You can't quit. I'm firing you." "You can't fire me, I quit."
I swear, it's like a piece of B-flick dialogue from the '50s.
52
After the revelatory NYT article I suspected he would be McGone. The mystery is how Trump found out. Are there spies reading the NYT or is there an auditory version?
48
what a weasel. Trump belongs in a petting zoo. For someone pretending to be a real man, firing someone by tweet tells what a brave and courageous man he is. No wondered he deferred 5 times his duty to country.
75
I agree with your sentiment but quibble with "he deferred his service" which makes it seem almost normal. What he did was LIE about a fictitious ailment - he later couldn't remember which foot supposedly had bone spurs - and get daddy to buy a doctor's note to support the lie.
And somehow he is supposed to be seen as on the side of our servicemembers?
3
@JTinNCHe fakes it. Look at how many photos he shows himself with the flag and servicemen. It all a trick or symbolic photo ops he is not one with our nation. His deferments with fake doctor's notes show what a coward he is. He only serves the ultra rich.
He's a great guy. (Lowlife bottom feeder).
He's been with me a long time, represented me before I was president. (Am I really president? Anyway, hardly know the guy.)
He's done a wonderful job (could of done it better myself).
He'll probably move on to private sector. (Not if I can help it. Rudy!)
Gets along great with my kids. (Thanks goodness that doll Ivanka reads the papers, 30 hours with Mueller?)
(Answers in parenthesis just in case).
16
The Times reported earlier this month that McGahn had cooperated extensively with the Mueller investigation, even making them aware of events that they would not have known of but for McGahn's input.
It was then only a matter of time.
15
Of course Trump is now adding McGahn to the ever growing list of those who have failed the Trump loyalty test of Never do anything to make the Dear Leader look bad. So under the bus (as usual) McGahn goes. Anyone who does not know by now that loyalty is a total one way street with Trump; has been living in a cave for years. You serve Trump; or you are out; PERIOD. The instant it was reported that McGahn may have said things to the Mueller investigation that might be yet more evidence that Trump lied or is guilty of Impeachable offenses; McGahn was toast. One wonders how anyone with a shred of dignity can possibly work with this vindictive tyrant.
41
@Greg Hodges
"One wonders how anyone with a shred of dignity can possibly work with this vindictive tyrant."
That's easy. They don't. If you have dignity or integrity, you do not work for Trump. Ever.
1
Another tweet firing. I hope that Trump supporters dont mind it when their pro-Trump bosses start tweet-firing them in the not too distant future.
What a coward this POTUS is. Cadet Bone Spurs, a lite-coward then and a hardened one now.
No way I could support such a man.
32
Forget all these ridiculous "Hitler" and "Weimar" comparisons. Mr. Trump is doing it "The American Way". To be precise: "The old days New York way".
He´s even no "John Gotti" because he doesn´t order to hit in the back of someones head. He is ordering firing only - as his much behated role model Mr. Erdogan also prefers. Both have learned well what "hitting" their opponents had led to in their countries before - Mr. Erdogan by the "putsches" in Turkey and Mr. Trump by the fate of his fellow clients of his preferred lawyer Roy Cohn.
If I had been real estate Tycoon in NYC in the old day I would have acted the same way - if I had decided to get rich at any costs. By charging Attorney Cohn I would have had a legally protected opportunity (formal "lawyers privilege") to talk to some concrete and drywall suppliers in Manhattan who could send me "offers I could never refuse..." That´s exactly what a developer needed in these days at this place.
I´m even not loathing Mr. Trump. This was the most clever thing he could do as a developer in these days because there had been no way to evade these circumstances. He has learned this lesson and I think he had learned it extremely well. But he learned THIS lesson only. This is the thing he doesn´t get even as president of THE global superpower 30 years later.
Anyway. You are lucky enough that he is nothing a third class politician. If he was an "Erdogan" or an "Orban" there would be no telling what he could have achieved now.
5
He said he’d drain the swamp and he has! Sadly he’s turned DC into a sewer instead.
10
It just does not make sense for the Mueller team to spend 30 hrs. with McGahn just to shoot the breeze. Something in McGahn's answers to their questioning gave them the incentive to continue. I would picture Mueller and his team not waste time with McGahn if their investigation did not result in something productive.
So did he just return to the WH with little inquiry into what he told Mueller?
Did he tell donald there's nothing to worry about, "I pulled the wool over Mueller". (Doubt that)
Now that McGahn will be departing soon is there something in the works for him to conduct a tell all, possibly a book.
We're either at the precipice teetering to fall into the abyss donald created or cross over on the Mueller bridge to the side where the rule of law and rationality return.
8
He’s going to be on the re-election campaign - so did he sign a non-disclosure agreement? Thick as thieves takes on new meaning.
5
I can only hope that Mueller recommendations something on Trump before the midterms since Trump and his treasonous GOP will get rid of him if the Dems don’t take over.
8
Don Jr and Kushner are more likely to get indicted. That will really put the cat among the pigeons.
1
Calling the investigation a witch hunt, Mueller as a sham and his investigators and lawyers as 12 angry Democrats is hardly listening mostly to his lawyers advice.
5
17 angry Democrats and one angry Republicans?
2
Hmmm, now we learn that Jared and Ivanka are behind this. I guess they are worried about what McGahn told Mueller.
11
So Ivanka is fearful of what McGahn told Mueller.
I have thought she was complicit (thank you, SNL) since Adam Davidson's account of Trump's deeply sleazy dealings in Azerbaijan, where Ivanka was on the ground. She's up to her neck in his Russian money laundering.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal
25
The ouster of McGahn is a result of the internecine warfare at the White house. Apparently, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner still have clout even after Kushner's disastrous advice to fire Comey, a humongous mistake. As they say, fools never learn...
12
@Whole Grains Ouster?? I seem to remember reading that he planned to leave after the supreme court nominee is confirmed. Since this should be in say September this is not ousting, but reporting. Firing Comey was only a mistake because it did not happen on day one, and yes fools never learn. I won't mention who might be a fool, but it is not the president.
@vulcanalex Firing Comey was Trump’s first major obstruction of justice.
Just like Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer before him, McGahn had to be close enough to the 'King' to see the ax coming.
3
It appears that Donald Trump has only now discovered that he played the role of Mr. McGahn's "useful idiot." The sole purpose of his brief West Wing career was to serve the interests of the nation's sump of reactionary plutocrats by making the Federal courts a safe haven for parasitical wealth and privilege. Trump stupidly assumed McGahn would take a bullet for him. Instead, he flapped his gums to Mueller while busily bending the arc of history to social injustice and penury for he many.
11
"in a White House that has drawn more than the usual share of legal scrutiny" is a most challenging example of semantic surrealism when "scrutiny," an ongoing dimensionalized activity has become, and remains, little more than a descriptive word devoid of needed ethical dimensions in a White House which is constantly darkened in its harmful words and deeds as each of us, actively or passively in so many ways, permits it to become an architectural swamp.
7
@s.einstein, I'd say this administration has inspired more legal sophistry than any other.
Oh what a tangled web lyin Donny weaves when he continues (as he always has) to deceive.
Eventually the truth will come out, but for the good of the Country it needs to be this year... hopefully before the midterms.
If not then, the spineless senate republicans (led by the worst of all mcCONnell) and their equally corrupt spineless co-conspirators in CONgress MUST ensure that Mueller's investigation continues to its bitter end.
No matter the cost to those republican phony "patriots" in Office from trump's moronic and vindictive base and from trump himself an even lower life form.
It's a sick and cruel joke that the Republican Party over Country used to be known as the party of Lincoln. Now the morons of trump's base would be chanting "Lock him up" for his "crimes" of tolerance. "Have they no shame?" Evidently not!
Anyone who doesn't vote this fall for a Democratic candidate (which is their right, of course) will be a co-CONspirator in my book. And that includes well intentioned idiots who throw away their vote on 'no chance' statement candidates from the "green" or other fringe parties (left or right). Honey, in a two party system you are totally wasting it. Like going for a touchdown in baseball. It can't happen.
Wake up. It's already too late.
32
@Howard Beale, I doubt even Lincoln could bridle Trump's horsemen of apocalypse.
3
Candidate Trump did promise his supporters that he liked to fire people!
Firing by Tweet is a bit weaselly though, compared to the boardroom showdowns that were scripted for him on The Apprentice.
12
Does firing people really create jobs?
4
The most unexpected miracle ever....
Cant´t trust this guy.
Bad Consigliere.
3
The least surprising announcement ever from this White House since Sean Spicer left. Once it came out he talked to Mueller only the date remained unclear. But as competent aides leave and only those desperate to keep the job remain things will go further awry. It's staff that protects a president from gaffes but with his bench warmers being promoted he's walking into a muddy field without his Wellies.
14
Trump is planning to install his own personal "Roy Cohn" AG as soon as McGahn leaves and he will be replaced quickly by an unqualified Trump loyalist political hack type of yes-man who will be willing and able to do Trump's bidding and fire Sessions in order to shut down the Mueller investigation. I guess it will be the "fill-in-the-blank Day Massacre" when Rod Rosenstein gets the boot, as well. It's as clear as day what is happening here.
Trump knows very well that he'll lose his House Majority in the Midterms, and subpoenas and investigations will be ratcheted up by an order magnitude from the Democratic Majority and his only last resort in keeping the Justice Dept. in check will be some sort of corrupt AG toadie who is there only to thwart investigations into the President and the ever expanding tentacles of the Russia Investigation.
I would highly recommend to Mueller that he already submit to Rosenstein a summarized report, well documented on the crimes and connections he has uncovered to date, so that Rosenstein has all the current information available to him so when (not if) he is fired, he can give his report to Congress before his departure. It will be the only way to ever have the Mueller investigation see the day of light.
This is a vital investigation for the future safety of the Nation and needs to be archived and safe-guarded from this President's authoritarian quest for censorship. I trust Mr. Mueller has plans in place for such a sequence of events.
28
@Harrison
There had better be a thumb drive stored safety away with all of the evidence collected to date. The GOP is going to do all that is possible to bury Mueller's report, before the report buries them and the treasonous buffoon they bow to.
5
@Harrison, How would it feel to see something done to them that they did to others without thinking it could come back to haunt them?
1
Too late McGahn, you already have Trump stink all over you. You might be able to get rid of some of it by informing the American people, who you work for, about how Trump is a danger to them.
13
@rich: I hope we will find "Federalist Society" lawyer to tell us honestly what it is all about.
5
The president believes that the White House Counsel is his private attorney, just as he believes the Attorney General is (or should be). This erosion in our country's judiciary by an unindicted criminal is, well, criminal.
19
Another anchor holding the ship of state from being steered onto the rocks by an unhinged president is lost.
Inevitable given his cooperation with the special counsel, but not good.
11
Looks like Putin is calling the shots. If trump inc is involved in the construction of the fbi hq, this country is doomed. Florida’s desantis is an abomination; openly racist.
23
The WH counsel is there to protect the Office of the Presidency. So it should not be so difficult to find those who would want the job. The difficult part is the patience and fortitude required to work with a functionally illiterate and utterly unethical President whose identity is tied inexorably to making money.
17
Trump besmirches everything he touches and soils it like a Roomba unthinkingly and persistently scouring dog poo into a carpet. Leave while you have the chance. Al the Silkwood Showers in the world will not be enough to cleanse your soul.
5
You know who else will be leaving the WH soon? Trump.
26
Another White House Republican bites the dust. Good riddance, McGahn.
8
Congrats, Mr. McGahn. Whether you were fired or volunteered to resign, it would not make any difference. At last you can breathe a sigh of relief: you won't have to put up with an insane/idiotic president.
10
A live Omarosa and a dead John McCain both rendered Trump impotent this week. But still violence, dead children, one 18 months, Trump's words, resumed war games, deaths at video games, killer cop teaching other cops, psychic violence by a man insisting football players stand who refused to lower the flag for a patriot, by a comic, violence by promise, violence—its many forms--blanketed this week, threats and fear lurked in every discussion, especially their absence of details. What, exactly, is Mexico's deal? North Korea's agreement? What actions are pending against the US at the World Trade Organization? Exactly how many businesses have lost jobs?
Who gets the tariff money? Tariffs are taxes. Keep your eye on him until he is indicted or removed.
16
I guess no one wants to be on the Ship when it goes “down with Trump...
12
Hmm. Wonder if he knew ahead of the tweet, or if that was his "your're fired" notice.
4
A Providential ax is striking repeatedly at the roots of Trump's sick and poisonous tree. Nevertheless, this entire process remains rather terrifying.
As is widely recognized, the lifelong record of our aspiring dictator suggests that he would throw everyone and everything (possibly excepting Ivanka) into a fiery outsize dumpster in order to insure his own survival.
He'd have help. The entire GOP would apparently join him in torching the Constitution if that's what's considered necessary.
Since Trump's presidency is true to the racist campaign that got him elected, I wonder if this odious misleader will try to stage the simulacrum of a race war so that he can declare martial law and destroy the rule of American civil law, which would be akin to destroying American civilization in favor of Trumpite barbarism.
One thing is certain: he's got something up his sleeve, although God forbid that it's an ace.
I surmise that McGahn's coming departure is inspired in part by his sense that he's betraying the country whenever Trump asks him a leading question about what might be legally possible in an 'emergency situation.'
People, get ready.
15
Slowly and surely, Trump is getting rid of anyone in top White House positions who is not absolutely loyal to him and willing to do exactly what he says. Once Sessions is gone, he'll own that staff body, heart, and soul. All the deals with the Devil will be finalized by Christmas. Then watch, out, things are really going to get crazy when there is no one to say no or even wait a minute let's think that through...
15
Excellent reporting, especially
McGahn’s comments confirming his voluntary departure. Did no one have a way of contacting him?
2
"At the time, Mr. Trump exploded at Mr. McGahn and said he needed an attorney general who would protect him."
Exactly. Who needs protection? Guilty people.
And, protection from whom or what? Justice?
45 has a lot to hide, too much.
35
Trump complained that much of the news about him on social media is bad. Did it ever occur to him that he's the source?
30
@DCBinNYC: and, sadly enough,
it is beyond his CON_prehension :-)
1
McGahn has seen the way Trump treated Sessions. He now knows a lot about the way Trump operates. There is just so much a person with an intact ethical system can tolerate. It is amazing that he lasted as long as he did in this White House. He may be one of the few members of Trump's administration who may escape without being tainted by the stench of this administration.
4
A worthy adversary! McGahn, like Sessions, is categorically opposite on animal husbandry and farming techniques I practice, however, I can respect that since they get up early, keep a clean farm and work hard.
As a kid I recall old timers on Vermont dairy farms grumbling about each other "ol' Moyer up the hill don't do it like I like," and the complaint was which direction to spread manure, clockwise or counterclockwise.
McGahn has spent two years repairing the farm implements, smashed fences, broken axles, he's managed to see to it that competent, albeit opinionated, farm hands got hired and he's done it all in the driving rain, burning hot summers and in the depths of winter when the temperature was 10 below and everything was frozen solid.
McGahn will likely see all his hard work come undone in the two years after he leaves, and for that I say "Chin up, ol' boy, the farm's for sale and the new owners are already fixin' to move in."
6
Forty-five will fire everyone the day after the midterms. Unless he can't wait and fires them before that.
If Dems don't flip the house, there will be zero consequences to this. Muellers' report will be buried. And the house will begin hearings regarding "Crooked Hillary".
Vote like your life depends on it.
28
“This fall,” otherwise known as ‘Autumn’, is in about three weeks.
How quickly the rats all flee a sinking ship. Bon voyage, captain!
6
Mr. McGahn needs to wear gloves when he enters the White House. I wouldn't touch anything without them. The man protecting the office of the presidency will be replaced by someone who will protect trump & pledge undying loyalty.
3
So nice how the president informs McGahn that he's leaving after the primaries. Apparently, he could not tell him to his face that he would have to seek other employment. Another adviser struck by the Trump bus.
1
Senator Grassley pleading via Twitter. Twittering at the highest levels of government...it is just so odd.
13
@Sue: Observe that none of these cowards comes here to plead their cases to the educated, unless incognito.
5
Everything that DJT touches dies.
Everyone that meets with the SCO quits and/or flips.
This is all getting very predictable as law enforcement closes in on DJT.
7
Removal by Presidential tweet. No firm, pull you towards my body handshake and lean in to whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Just a 40 word statement with an implied, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."
If the time comes for a presidential removal, they should do it by tweet.....
15
As my grandmother would say, when a liar thinks people believe him, he's only fooling himself. Trump knows he's going down and we should, by now, understand that he intends to take the country and maybe even the world with him. There is nothing uncriminal about this man and as the sleaze oozes from him, as with this latest departure (McGahn), my hope is that Rudy wakes up and has the pleasure of using his professional experience as a prosecutor and as a public servant, to deliver Trump the summons and read him his rights.
6
I guess he does not want to go to jail
7
With every move this administration gets more ridiculous. Rudy Giuliani for WHC anyone?
5
McGahn will be a key witness in the impeachment hearings.
12
The rats are jumping ship. The dumb rats keep eating more and more of the spoiled cheese. They are not willing to see the giant rat traps coming for them. Fired rats are also in trouble.
6
Mr. McGahn and I would have substantive disagreements over policy and process so it would be unlikely that I would normally have nice things to say about him as White House counsel. I will say though that as an attorney Mr. McGahn has obviously reached a point where he can no longer responsibly act in an official capacity for the Grifter in Chief. While I question why it took him so long to come to this decision (assuming of course that it actually is his decision), I congratulate him for this move.
3
Uhhhh...
Is any body noticing that the sane people are leaving the funny oval office farm???
Knowing that Steve Miller, General Jim, and Kelly Ann are sticking around is not a big comfort.
9
@Steven of the Rockies
Do you mean President Miller?
1
Yet another rat flees the sinking ship.
4
What is the motivation behind the Trump-compromised and untrustworthy Grassley's emotional plea with his dear Leader to retain McGahn? Afraid that he will soon be completely unimpeded to "spill his guts out to Robert Mueller and Co." and free of White House assertions of legal privileges? Perhaps McGahn might also have an incriminating story, or two, to tell to Mr. Mueller about the blowhard Grassley's participation in some unseemly conduct. Stay tuned.
7
"Uh Donald ... I really gotta go now..."
All the smarter rats are running for the hawse hole while there is still a rope to shore.
The Trumptanic is bow low, and they cannot pump fast enough to keep it afloat. Nobody wants to see it sink in the harbor, particularly alongside a dock. Old leaky wrecks get towed out sink were they will inconvenience nobody.
That's what the Republicans are hoping for now -- that Trump can be shuffled out with minimum damage. Or if not, at least that individuals have a safe spot on shore.
But don't bet on it....
3
What's the opposite of Noah's Ark?
4
@joan: a sinking ship.
of titanic dimensions.
and only rats involved,
no diversity of species.
[in the real world, rats are among the smartest critters.
why did they board the "non-ark" in the first place?]
The Washington Post reported that Trump's tweet was news to McGahn.
8
Smart man.
3
Guess being called a rat, on Twitter, would kinda be a last straw for most people.
And guess Melania’s anti-bullying campaign is proving to be very effective in her own household.
2
Dropping like flies. But McGhan knows all the WH secrets and has already cooperated with the Special Counsel team giving 30 hours of testimony.
DJT is obviously terrified about what's coming next He's losing it and is lashing out at everyone in his path.
Who is next?
7
I need a scorecard. Who's left?
6
Help Wanted
Do you have money to waste on criminal defense attorneys that will be needed as you join an ongoing criminal conspiracy?
Do you look good in an orange jump suit?
Have you always wanted to be a convicted felon?
Can you embrace nonsense and lie pathologically without batting a eye?
We have the job for you.
Some legal knowledge required.
No SQUEALERS,RAT FINKS TATTLETALES , !!!! need apply.
Russian helpful.
10
Donald McGahn will never rid himself of the stain of Trump.
7
Trump's tweet re McGahn was sent at 9:30 a.m. and sounds like the words of a responsible adult.
So Trump didn't write it. Let's see what Hannity says, and then at 4:30 a.m. tomorrow we'll know what nasty names Trump decides to call McGahn.
5
@Ann . . . that was my first thought, too. There is no unnecessary capitalization in that tweet, only complete, coherent sentences. So I know DJT didn't write it.
2
McGahn will be remembered for his lack of judgment.
4
He'll soon be McGone.
2
Sweet Justice. McGahn who has helped destroy the US judiciary has been sufficiently tortured by the President to finally get out. The Devil has a way of extracting his pound of flesh.
10
Don McGahn is leaving because he knows how corrupt this White House is but, before leaving, he has stacked the courts with people he knows will look away or let Trump get away with his illegal actions. When you lie down with dogs, you wake up with lawyers.
9
Given how much our Twit-in-Chief prizes loyalty, it is remarkable how little he gets. What is the matter with so many of his appointees? Do they actually feel bound by that dammed oath of office they took? He doesn't feel bound by his. Why should they?
6
Maybe Trump will put an ad in Backpage for a new WHCounsel, which he has just learned to spell. Mouthpiece wanted, no ethics required. Scott Pruitt is probably available.
4
Mark Corallo, Esq. quit the Trump Administration when he thought the President, et al committed obstruction of justice on board Air Force I when Trump dictated a cover-up memo for Don, Jr. about the Trump Tower meeting. McGahn has been with Trump since the campaign and one can only wonder how many legal shenanigans he has witnessed and been a part of in this administration. McGahn, and every other lawyer that stood by while obstruction of justice was being committed should be disbarred. They are officers of the Court. They are duty bound to the Constitution of the United States of America. ABA, where are you?
18
I wonder if McGahn knew he was leaving in the fall, or if he's just finding out now.
4
Chop, chop Mueller. Please.
3
McGahn is as amoral as any of these roaches; but he is smart enough to know the severity of their situation and that cadet bone-spur's "plumbers" are the most incompetent ever assembled.
This wise guy knows to stay out of jail.
5
I'm surprised that McGahn has remained for so long. Trump has little time or respect for anyone who doesn't do as he "requests". That someone would dare to remain committed to upholding the Constitution or the law (be it Sessions, McGahn, or the other law officials he summarily fired [Yeats, Comey...]) is cause for dismissal. Trump has given a new--narrower--meaning to "serving at the 'pleasure' of the President."
The WH is no longer that white. It's being defaced by all the grease and guck of its primary tenant.
2
He'll be leaving "just as the sprawling investigation reaches a crescendo" and "after the confirmation vote on Kavanaugh."
Is NYT omniscient? These things may or may not happen, but for NYT to state these things as stone cold fact is either careless journalism, poor journalism or a combination of both.
1
Will someone with some big pockets and a contrarian personality PLEASE get the permission to reproduce the Trump-Baby balloon that flew over London not so long ago and manufacture it in different sizes to be sold in stores all across this country and floated over houses, cars, lawns, Fifth Avenue, across from the White House and the Trump towers, over the NYT headquarters, across the street from Fox News and Mar-a-Lago, on the desk of all MSNBC commentators, given in "smirky" kindness to Trump supporters, etc. PLEASE!
10
It's must be hard working in the same Whitehouse with an imbecile that the most Racist President we've had in my lifetime.
4
All the President's Men (and Women), with few exceptions, have been fired or have resigned. Those that stay serve out of duty to Trump or out of duty to country. The Mueller investigation and history will tell what their roles were and they will accordingly be judged.
20
@DKS Other than those in the military, who apparently had a real "duty," none of them are going down in history well. They are all enablers to a blatant kleptocracy and kakistocracy, and what is looking increasingly like a treasonous one. I can understand staying around to "give him a chance," but that ship sailed long ago.
5
Trump may well be immune to prosecution when Kavanaugh is seated. He won't be needing lawyers. I bet he will save a lot of many. (If he ever really paid them.)
7
@psrunwme: Going by Manafort, Trump paid his affiliates with interest to peddle.
1
Had he been offered Immunity from prosecution yet?
13
Thank you Mr. McGahn for standing up for the presidency--not necessarily our president. I can't wait till Trump is out of the White House.
23
@dolly patterson Ditto.
It seems to me totally inappropriate that Emmet Flood should be considered to replace McGahn. Flood is Trump's lawyer and therefore responsible for protecting the man from legal issues. McGahn is the chief White House Council responsible for representing the Office of the President - definitely not the same thing! Although we don't know everything about McGahn's advice to the President nor his testimony to Mueller's investigation, reporting suggests McGahn understands the difference and has represented the Office without buckling under to the man. I am more than incredulous that DT's personal lawyer (Flood) can or should be put in a position that requires adherence to that dividing line.
33
@Critical Reader
Trump reply: We don't need no stinking dividing lines.
2
It's a wonderful thing that we have all those stout-spirited, straight-spined senators like Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell who stand without compromise for what's right by US tradition and its Constitution by legislating to block the president's torpedoing any meaningful inquiry into his behavior.
12
Something very weird happened to me today that I have to share:
I seriously had to laugh about Trump. The first time ever!
A Dutch website showed Trump receiving a party from FIFA (the international football association). Someone gave him a set of yellow and red cards. He took a red card and threw it to the attending press. Everybody was laughing!
So Trump can be funny! He has a sense of humor!
I am still shocked!
Is this meaningful? Is it a sign that Trump is throwing in the towel in the ring?
1
@What'sNew: maybe he was just hoping that,
miraculously, throwing the red card would just
make all of the press people go away, far away,
and finally off his back?
Let's see: McHahn knows that the 'non-disclosure' document Trump likely forced him to sign is unenforceable. McGahn knows exactly what Trump has been doing. And McGahn has already been talking to Mr. Mueller's team. Now he's leaving the Trump rolling wreck of a White House. Excellent. I'm sure McGahn's book will be very interesting...
7
If history were the canon, none of this should be happening, and Trump would have gone long time ago. Norms have been broken umpteen times, rules are bent quotidian, checks and balances are abused at will, there is smell of corruption since the beginning this administration, yet, we continue to talk that the “walls are closing” or need more public scrutiny. If all the scrutiny of Trump has done nothing so far, nothing will. The fact is Trump enjoys acquiescence of this complicit congress, support of supposed patriots such as Mattis/Kelly etc., and the admiration of over 40% of voters from all walks of life. There is no rational explanation for this. Trump isn’t the issue here, it is the environment that feeds him
17
@vgg, no responsible person rabble-rouses after getting elected to a public office.
1
Who with a law license other than an informant would dare apply to work there?
8
The exit interview must be interesting. "So what did you tell Mueller exactly?" Witness tampering is definitely within the realm of possibility. I feel as though McGahn has been playing a double game somehow though. He wanted to appoint conservative judges. This we know. What did he trade in return? His White House endurance is slightly suspicious.
7
@Andy, People who like Trump put sincerely held beliefs above establishments of science and give no quarter.
To all voters, is it going to be the Constitution and our Republic first or Trump first? Think about it.
8
@lftash. Trump supporters have made their decision. They’ve chosen Trump over the US Constitution and The Rule of Law.
4
Getting rid of witnesses is just another tool in Trump's Toolbox for Mob Bosses. Promise to pardon them as bribes to keep their mouths shut (as with the convictions of Manafort) or use social media and right wing talk show gasbags to attack their credibility (Cohen, Gates, et al) in the court of public opinion.
Our mob boss in chief is concerned about losing the POTUS job, not because he craves to perfom service to our country. On the contrary. Trump wants this job so the country can serve him. The emoluments clause has be torn to tatters by Trump. Consider the millions of dollars in his pocket after dragging the secret service to his country clubs where they sleep and dine to protect Trump on these trips.
There there are the meetings with foreign leaders at his resorts where the visitors' security teams pay into a Trump property for food and a roof.
No president has ever abused the office of POTUS like Trump. And therefore I am surprised that White House attorney did;t advise against this behavior.
OH,WAIT! Trump doesn't take advice from his lawyers. He advises THEM or, simply ignores them altogether.
I hope McGahn has enough information to share with Mueller that will keep The Orange One sweating more, not less.
12
Just one more in the revolving door White House. Between those who are crooked and those who refused to be cowed by Trump, it is not surprising.
At the same time, McGahn is a high value witness in the Mueller investigation, not least of all because he was asked to fire Mueller and refused.
6
One feels he is getting out while the going is good.
Cannot blame the man. His job is to protect the good name of the presidency, an impossible task with the current incumbent.
Better to let Trump appoint a sycophant who will destroy the role, and potentially go to jail for the way they do so ,than to risk jail himself.
4
McGahn is probably looking for a way to leave. If he is not ready to leave, all he has to do is provide all record relevant to the Kevanaugh confirmation to the public.
2
The trouble with litigation is the paucity of clients with clean hands.
4
Sing to Mueller and just maybe you'll save your personal and professional reputation. The Trump stain, however, is not removable.
25
Of course there’s a revolving door at the Oval Office - I cannot help but think that people sign on there, thinking how good it will look to have “The White House” on their resume, only to find out that they are actually working for a 24 hour daycare center, except it’s equipped with the nuclear codes. Scary thought, that. No wonder Trumpski can’t keep help - he should be advertising for full-time nannies!
8
Getting out while the getting is good.
It's amazing anyone is willing to serve under a megalomaniac, and I cannot imagine how much further the bar will be lowered to find a new White House counsel.
History is not going to be kind to those who put a crooked president ahead of the Constitution and the Country. This is a disaster in the making, and it will be years before all the damage is known.
15
Another sign of obstruction. Trump purging the ranks of people that aren't "loyal" to him. Since when is that the primary criteria for employment to a president? Since Nov 2016.
CONGRESS WAKE UP! You are responsible for stopping this guy. You. Do it.
13
Who on Earth would want this job? Certainly not a principled, talented lawyer. Who does that leave? No one with an ounce of integrity wants to get within a thousand miles of this White House.
3
The one that most of want to be gone from the WH is the main occupant. There will - literally - be dancing in the streets when that happens.
12
" ... a White House that has drawn more than the usual share of legal scrutiny." The understatement of the year. This administration has been in a bunker mentality since day one, and its only gotten worse since. It seems to be driving Mr. Trump to be even more unhinged recently, with threats to "regulate" Google, predictions of violence against evangelicals if his candidates don't win, and on and on. A sad, embarrassing wreck of a man, indeed. (George Will)
9
Everyone who has worked for or with Trump has had their reputation ruined and their career destroyed.
2
Watch what happens during McCain's funeral - when the Capital is empty because all members (and TV cameras) are at National Cathedral - he fires Sessions, Rosenstein and Mueller. Boom. McGahn threatened to resign if Trump directed him to fire any of those three, Trump, knowing that McGahn sung to Mueller and leaked the occurrence of same and the Mueller is closing in calls McGahn's bluff this week, says fire the three or go. McGahn says no and makes good on his threat and resigns. I'm telling ya', watch what happens when all attention is on McCain.
6
Yet another exhausted babysitter staggers out Trump's White House door.
I used to look at the White House building in photos as a place of dignity and honor. More and more, it is looking to me like a mental health hospital, where no one can really tell the patients from the staff.
14
Trump's campaign theme song should be "Another One Bites the Dust."
43
True suspense. Does this rampaging, destructive, mentally troubled president permanently cripple or destroy our nation, or will decent, patriotic Americans, regardless of party, remove him from office in time?
123
@Jim Steinberg
Yes, No
2
I would speculate that based on the subject matter of the questions in his sessions with the Mueller team, he now realizes that he and others have been used....and are at least complicit...and that questioning regarding seemingly isolated incidents indicated that they were instead calculated and part of a pattern of obfuscation and obstruction.
12
@fb That presumes they were ignorant beforehand, not a great position to be in either.
2
Too late to help Trump. Mueller already knows what was going on. I guess Trump will get a lackey that will fire whoever Trump wants, but that won't help much at this point. Trump is not the brightest though. I guess that's an obvious understatement. I think the swing in the political fortunes of the GOP will be quick and severe and if I am wrong then we will not be a country based on democracy. If the GOP supports the criminal and the people fail to punish them at the polls, then the rule of law is dead and so is our country.
Based on what is happening with the GOP at this point, it appears they want an end to democratic processes in this country. We probably should have known that when they were so effusively complimentary of Putin. They had a real crush on the fellow. I suppose it was the shirtless pictures, they really peaked their interest.
34
@Chris "...'piqued' their interest. (That darn auto-correct.)
3
@Chris, as for the GOP wanting to end democratic processes, a chunk of those processes were ended w/ the establishment of the Electoral College. Democracy was very frightening to the Founding Plutocrats --- it had to be restrained.
The restraint of gerrymandering is in force in many states, and is being challenged in court.
And voter suppression campaigns are very active.
Democracy has had some very power enemies in the US from day one.
5
@Chris piqued
I guess this means we won't be hearing any more stories - deep background sourced, of course - about how heroic Don McGahn has been in tempering the worst instincts of Trump.
22
@RH, no more stories of McGahn's heroism because he's a rat?
McGahn was the one preventing Trump from firing Mueller and pardoning Manafort. Buckle in folks. We are in for a bumpy ride...
52
I hope that some of these exiting, Trump averse government employees in Trump's inner circle will speak out to both the public as well as Mueller's team.
Never mind preserving your own career and self-respect, Mr. McGahn. Think instead about defending your country and the Constitution that defines it.
36
In order for a Presidency and a nation to succeed, to progress morally and responsibly, a leader must be able to choose from a minimum of fifty good honest men. who in turn can help him choose others of the same persuasion. Hard enough for a true leader to do and harder still for a man who only knows those who are of very questionable values like his own. How can such people even be asked for loyalty when there is no loyalty among thieves to begin with. His days are numbered because of the company he chooses and rightfully so.
27
@Rodrian Roadeye. Any room for women in your all male government since we are over 1/2 of voters? Misogyny is ugly.
1
@Rodrian Roadeye, one cannot attract good people without the capacity to appreciate what they have to offer.
@sleeve I can see your point. And since I had Trump in mind specifically when I posted this with a Freudian slip must ask you... What kind of woman would work for him (Betsy DeVos)?
"And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake the dust from your feet." The rule of law will prevail, regardless of the naysayers and fear mongering.
5
"Mr. McGahn’s departure after the midterm congressional elections was widely expected, and Mr. McGahn had laid the groundwork for his own resignation, persuading Mr. Trump to hire Emmet T. Flood — who represented Bill Clinton in impeachment proceedings — as his lead White House lawyer dealing with the special counsel inquiry, in order to position Mr. Flood to succeed him in the counsel post, according to people close to the discussions."
Wouldn't it be a conflict of interest for Trump's personal attorney to fill the position of White House Counsel?
Flood would have to be crazy to agree to this. I could hear Trump screaming, "attorney - client privilege," and trying to blur the line between the two positions.
25
@L: Does Trump claim moral equivalence to Crooked Bill now?
1
Don McGahn was the Trump campaign's attorney. Given that he is a former member of the FEC, presumably with expertise in election law, how did he allow members of Trump's campaign to meet with Russians linked to the Russian government with intent to provide material assistance to Trump's campaign? Why didn't he advise them that it was against the law? No regrets at his departure. The taxpayers should pay for someone less ethically challenged.
78
@ch Unfortunately, I don't think there is anyone less ethically challenged who would take the job.
4
@ch: I love the FEC. It keeps my e-mail inbox overflowing with pleas for multiply-matched donations to meet its inscrutable deadlines.
@ch, MrGrath's answer to all those questions will be..... "I didnt know."
I presume that John Dean (counsel to Richard Nixon) called Mr.McGahn and advised him of the potential pitfalls of remaining in place even as the Mueller investigation consumes ever greater numbers of people in Trump's orbit ?
Dean should know. He went to prison.
80
Not sure how much soul McGahn has left to save, but I guess he's going to try to salvage what is left. Problem is, he helped create the monster that he is now running from. Actions. Consequences.
25
No sadness here. McGahn has been responsible for many problems the past 10-15 years. Look at his work on the Federal Election Commission. You can also thank him for Gorsuch and now Kavanagh and many new judges he helped shepherd with the assistance of the Federalist Society and the Heritage foundation. His handiwork will cause many problems for the next 20-30 years.
I hope he has something to offer in the ongoing Russian investigation but I'm not holding out hope there.
He is a full blown denizen of the "swamp" and will continue to be. I am happy he will be out of the WH at least.
35
At the point, Trump's administration is a bakery. There are so many turnovers.
9
Think about this president and his appointees: Over the months, we've seen over and again the more responsible voices being forced out, only to be replaced by "yes men" and sycophants. Mr. Mcgann appears to fall into the former category. That Mr. McGahn had the temerity to stand up to the president and not succumb to a demand that he fire Jeff Sessions or Robert Mueller was probably the start of his undoing. We know this story, because we've seen it over and over. President Trump expects fealty over all else.
Whereas in most administrations, one's career in government is defined by their commitment to public service and serving the common good, for Trump and many of his appointees, the primary motivation seems to be all about profit and power. They play a zero-sum game where one person's loss is another's gain.
President Trump and his appointees (apparently) don't understand that what makes the United States different from tin-pan dictatorships around the world is our tradition of adhering to rule of law, as framed in the Constitution and reinforced through actions of Congress, the courts and the legal system. Without a solid foundation rooted in law, the United States is little more than a carrion carcass upon which the greedy and selfish will feed.
23
@Chris While reading your comment, it dawned on me why religious leaders and Trump get along so well. They share common goals - profit and power. I would add control to that list.
10
Trump has never understood that Don McGahn’s job is to protect the office of the presidency and not the president personally—just as he has never understood that the electoral college elected him merely president (as defined by the Constitution) and not emperor.
The big question is who Trump will choose as next White Housel counsel. Emmet Flood, McGahn’s handpicked successor, has the integrity and intelligence to appreciate the purpose of the role and to operate accordingly. Trump could hardly abide that and is more likely to choose somebody like Giuliani instead—someone who does not care what the role actually is and who will simply use it as a platform to do the president’s personal bidding.
McGahn’s announced departure thus just puts all the more pressure on getting out the vote in the midterms. The GOP has proven time and time again they will all just look the other way as Trump oversteps the bounds of both his office and the rule of law. If the Democrats can take at least the House there is a chance of finally putting some checks and balances on our would-be emperor—perhaps before he uses the White House counsel role to wipe out the Mueller investigation.
17
McConnell can NOT be trusted for I believe once McGahn departs the White House and Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Session and Special Cousel Robert S. Mueller, McConnell and his ilk will all be once again silent hence, aiding and abating Trump in all he does order to keep him in the White House.
The reason for McConnell to be quiet is that he and his ilk have an agenda, which favors the wealthy, he very rich and big companies and as long as Trump follows their agenda he will have their full support, never mind the middle class, the poor and underpriviledged.
23
I find it a little curious that the Counsel to the Office is departing those duties so shortly after the thirty some odd hours spent with the Special Counsel, Meuller were revealed to the President.
Another Oh Dear moment?
10
It was inevitable that McGahn would be leaving after it was revealed that he had spent 30 hours with the Special Counsel's office. McGahn seems to respect the rule of law and showed this when in June 2017 he threatened to resign if Mueller was fired by the president. He has witnessed Flynn resign, Comey and Sally Yates be fired, Manafort, Cohen, and Gates be indicted, and a lot more. It is possible that he will remain a key witness to obstruction of justice by the president in the case being investigated by the Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
11
Trump, having gotten away with breaking laws his whole life, apparently didn't realize that in the United States everyone, including the president, must follow the law. What a shock it must be, to suddenly at his age, be accountable like the rest of us.
20
From the article...
"At the time, Mr. Trump exploded at Mr. McGahn and said he needed an attorney general who would protect him."
Protect the president from what? The crimes he committed?
Paul Manafort, your pardon is on its way. Loyalty to the mob boss does pay off.
15
@Steve
Doesn't Manafort have to admit his guilt if he is pardoned? So even if he's free, he's still reviled and has to live in exile since no one will ever hire this convicted criminal with close ties to Russia. Burned as a Russian operative too.
Wouldn't it be better if Manafort accepted a plea deal, cooperated and did a short sentence.
He could then put it all behind him with a "mea culpa" and work on redeeming his reputation (like John Dean did).
At least half of the country will see him as a hero for finally telling the truth.
2
The president's counsel is fired
from a post that for months has been mired
he was out for a romp
but got caught in the swamp
and now he is all but retired
17
I will be glad when Trump gets done remodeling the swamp. Trying to keep up with the revolving door of Trump republican thugs is tiring. They will never again in good conscience be able to claim any moral or principals superiority over their counter parts. In comparison they literally make the left look like saints.
What a sorry sorry lot they are.
22
It is hard to believe that Mr. McGahn's departure is independent of what we have all only recently learned, namely, that McGahn has cooperated fully with Mr. Mueller. Even the White House had been unaware that McGahn was telling Mueller everything. McGahn is a key witness in the Mueller investigation. Surely McGahn does not want to go down with the ship. After all, some 40 members of the Nixon administration spent time in a federal prison. McGahn is however staying on until his other work is done: getting Kavanaugh confirmed. That is the same old GOP immoral opportunism.
No president like Trump should be permitted to stay in office and nominate Supreme Court justices. Trump has already been directly implicated in a campaign finance felony that effected the election outcome. Members of his team have been indicted, convicted, found guilty. They have cooperated, turned state's evidence, pleaded guilty. Trump will almost certainly be either indicted or designated an unindicted co-conspirator. He has failed to protect the nation from ongoing and future election interference. He is already a traitor in the everyday sense of that word. It is looking more likely that he also committed Constitutional treason.
50
I believe this is a combination of both the wills of McGahn and Trump...with more force from the latter. Perhaps, Mr. McGahn has grown an actual conscience, a rarity indeed in this administration. My guess, though, is that it was a more expedient decision, i.e., protecting his own hide in this continuing peeling toward the core of a rotten onion...Trump himself.
What is worrisome, however, is Trump's relentless efforts to either weaken or destroy the Mueller investigation as it travels closer to the truth. On the one hand, McGahn is now free to cooperate more fully re the Russian connection. Yet, this controlling and omnipotent (he thinks) "president" proceeds to get his own way in all things Mueller, with the aid of a weak and cowardly Republican Congress. Who is/are next to "resign"?
10
@Kathy Lollock, Trump could be next to resign.
He's lost his incrowd: Bannon, Manafort, Cohen...
And he's now seen as a loser so he wont have a crowd of top tier replacements calling the WH.
The Thrill is Gone and that was his motivation.
Or for a Last Hurrah, he could have John Bolton set off some sparks w/ Iran or North Korea.
1
Wow! This will be a tough choice for Trump. Does he appoint Giuliani to be the White House counsel or to be his Attorney General?
5
What goes around comes around. Scams after scams, Trump has transformed his administration to corruption kingdom. No person with little self respect, integrity can work for the swamp. For the same, Trump administration cannot fill many vacant position in the White House where the job qualification is limited to loyalty, not competence/experience. Very soon, the narcissist will run the White House just by himself before he and his cronies end up in prison. “Lock her up” is the most common vulgar strategy used by the con man in his rallies. Alas, it seems like he and his entire swamp are gping to end up there.
5
Change that "alas" to "with any luck" and I'll agree with you!
2
Anyone with character ought to have left this horrid administration long ago. No one with character would have joined a campaign premised on birtherism, race baiting, misogyny, and blood and soil ethnonationalism.
Mr. McGahn enabled the Republicans' hostile takeover of the judiciary, which is a fundamentally undemocratic, hyper-partisan, wholly ideological gambit. Those judges are like little landmines scattered across the nation, and their decisions are going to harm the environment, women's right to choose, marriage equality, and workers, while promoting a spurious notion of religious liberty and making life safe for the ultra-rich and giant corporations.
The idea that McGahn being in the WH was a good thing is risible, and so is the idea that he's being forced out. He's received his share of the war spoils and now he's on to more profitable ventures.
If anything, McGahn temporized so that he could see his and McConnell's judicial plan through. Frankly, he's no less an enemy of the republic than the derelict occupant of the Oval Office.
32
Certainly, Mr. McGahn is a witness to Treason after Helsinki
by Trump. Will he speak? It's a question of patriotism?
14
The Government of the United States of America is being poorly managed like some kind of Publicly Traded-Company. As a citizen, and stockholder seeing this kind of turn-over I concerns me that our upper management's seemingly unstable revolving door of cronies and handlers has no stability and no one at the wheel. Something is rotten in America!
11
@Doc Holliday
Correction: The U.S. Government is being run like a poorly run, debt-ridden privately held company. The U.S. should be managed like a publicly held company that answers to it's shareholders, i.e., the American public who invests our hard earned tax dollars in it.
5
Now that the Supremely Corrupted Court is staffed with sufficient Federalist Society nihilists to reject the common good for the next 30 years, McGahn can now relax and enjoy life in the feudal society that the radical Republican right-wing has fantasized about 50 years.
Nice GOPeople.
368
So, who's next in line for possibly the worst legal job in America or anywhere? Rudy Giuliani? Or, perhaps the President will pardon his former, longtime fixer Michael Cohen, and hire him if he can keep his law license?
21
This is not a firing! McGahn is simply holding to the spirit of faithful client representation for one last time, by demonstrating to his White House clients how to spend more time with the family after their future impeachment.
15
“I have worked with Don for a long time and truly appreciate his service!”
Didn't he say the same thing about Cohen? McGahn, watch your back.
42
McGahn is counsel to the presidency and the administration in whole. It is a staff position. He is an employee of the government and citizenry, not the personal lawyer to the personality in office. Protecting the office of the president is McGahn's duty and the oath he took to hold the office trumps any NDA.. Trump hasn't a clue.
41
@adkpaddlernyt
Absolutely correct. His responsibility is to the office, and not the person.
2
Good riddance to the man who heralded a backwards thinking and acting judiciary of inherent corrupt means to corrupt ends.
Following Justice Kennedy's announcement of his retirement from the Supreme Court where he wrote the decision in "Citizen's United" allowing unlimited buying of political power, he met with Trump in the White House. I suspect he convinced Trump to nominate his former Law Clerk; Judge Kavanaugh, to be the next Supreme Court Justice solidifying a right biased Court. Trump eventually nominated Kavanaugh.
McGahn was a giant leap backwards for mankind.
61
The special counsel is going to uncover the nefarious ties to foreign money throughout the bloodstream of the republican party. Trump's eventual downfall is just the tip of the iceberg. Why else would Grassley say "you can't let that happen" regarding McGahn's departure? Incredible that republican senators at the end of their long careers are choosing that their final legacy be protecting Donald Trump and the anti-American forces at work in their own party.
96
@M. Grove-Russian hackers hacked into he RNC servers--with the GOP insisting they didn't get very deep. Russian hackers also stole information from state-level Republican Party computer servers and an old Republican National Committee digital domain and penetrated the email systems of Senators Lindsay Graham and John McCain.They also succeeded in hacking into state voting systems and vote counting software This cybersecurity threat continues yet House Republicans just voted down additional modest funds to toward helping state's secure their election systems. Why?
"Russian Hacker Hit List Included John Kerry, Top U.S. Generals"
https://www.newsweek.com/russian-hacker-hit-list-featured-john-kerry-top...
Donald McGahn has enabled the power hungry unconstitutional establishment of a monopoly Republican government. By his deeds, the Judiciary is stacked with Right leaning conservatives, most pronounced, the Supreme Court that will have a majority of Republican appointees who are partisan by virtue of their past decisions. If Democrats fail to win a portion of the government in November, fully half the population will have no voice in a monopoly government of Republicans historically victimizing Democrats. Democracy has been extinguished by McGahn, Trump, and McConnell.
134
Amazing the personal abuse guys like McGahn, Sessions and others will take in furtherance of their "ideals". By way of example: undoing over 50 years of progress on civil rights, eliminating worker's rights and women's rights to autonomy over their own bodies, destroying the environment for their friends in the coal and oil industry, promoting the massive redistribution of wealth to the one percent, and generally, stacking the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, with their partners in crime.
123
There's a lot of evidence, anecdotes, and hearsay to support the view that Trump doesn't listen, doesn't learn, etc. But my guess is that he has learned, and learned very well, to be very sure that anyone he appoints to a position of any importance will not rock his boat. At the same time, the pool of potential appointees with any honesty, spine, or principles has surely become considerably smaller. So the nation is left with a small supply of, and zero demand for, people of integrity in important government positions. Trump's future appointments can be expected to be far, far worse than the ones so far. And that's a pretty high bar!
Thanks Donald. Thanks voters who thought Trump was really going to "drain the swamp." Pity our Republic.
76
It must be so tiresome to be counsel to an elected US President who doesn't understand (or doesn't want to understand) the difference between defending Trump and defending the Office of the President.
32
Trump is under considerable pressure because of the Mueller investigations. He is going to take far worse actions within the coming months. He will fire Jeff Sessions after the Midterm elections. And if the Democrats take the House and the Senate, Trump will start inciting violence and blame it on the "antifi left", as he told his evangelical Christian supporters a closed meeting yesterday.
To him, this presidency is not about his constitutional duties to the U.S. but to his Trump Organization.
137
"Mr. Trump exploded at Mr. McGahn and said he needed an attorney general who would protect him."
Protect him from what, the law? This is a chilling statement from a President.
239
@David
Trump wants an attorney general that protects him from his crimes, simple as that.
3
Another sign of paranoia/despair from our "very stable genius" President.
Let's hope Mueller has enough on Alan Weisselberg to make him sing the dirge for the "very stable genius".
Anyway, don't forget to VOTE on November 6th.
55
Whatever the stated "reasons" for McGahn's leaving this Administration, the real reason is that Trump wants a yes man in this office. Trump believes that White House counsel should be his personal counsel, and not counsel for the office itself. It is clear by his actions that he has no regard for the latter.
Trump will appoint a toady who will tell him it's just fine to fire Sessions (which he will), and to take other steps to shut down Mr. Mueller's investigation (which he will).
Trump's handling of the investigation against him is playing out like a slow motion train wreck, one that we all knew was coming. Well, the train wreck is happening now. Sessions will be gone after mid-terms, if not before. Democrats may take back the House, but not the Senate. Trump will ensure that Mr. Mueller's investigation goes nowhere.
Trump has seen that every action he's taken to consolidate his power has gone unopposed. Congressional Republicans are terrified of his voters, and there aren't enough Congressional Democrats to check him.
If supposedly "sane" Republicans like McGahn are counting their days on the job, then we know this is no longer a fight between political parties. It is a fight for the soul of this nation. Are we going to tolerate living under a dictatorship? The past eighteen months have shown me that most Americans will. The few large marches have essentially been media events. But understand this - the streets are our last refuge, and our only refuge at this point.
699
@Kyle Reese - I doubt not that we're in for some extremely perilous times as trump and his many gang members in congress, propped up by his supporters, cross line after line.
That said, the numbers prove they are a minority of the nation - they are the tail wagging the dog. As the democratic nominee for Florida's governorship stated in his victory there are more of us.
I refuse to live under a dictatorship. But if it comes to it, I'll be in the streets with you and I believe with the majority of Americans who realize there's a coup underway.
So many republicans are blind to it and/or they're brainwashed by Fox, Limbaugh etc. Yet I hope that as trump makes ever more desperate, egregiously outrageous moves to protect himself, even some of them might wake up.
6
@Kyle Reese
A best case scenario:
1. Take the House back in November
2. Spend 2 years fighting a ‘civil war’ for voter registration and against voter suppression and gerrymandering while the House checks, to the extent that it can, against further abuses by the Executive
3. Slog through another 2 years of angst. Regard them as a glass half full.
4. Take the Presidency in November 2020
(5. Assuming Mueller is fired, reappointing him and resuming the investigation as soon as is feasible. Let it proceed for as long as it takes. Even the rats that have already left the ship, as well as those hiding in plain view in the House and Senate, need to be pursued and caged).
This is a long game, my friends, but it is the one which is least likely to generate random (or worse) acts of violence perpetrated by those on the other side.
4
@Kyle Reese
I think some people in the so-called "resistance" are starting to realize that the ballot box will not solve all of their woes. Many forums on the internet implore us to go vote! go vote! I had never planned not to. The real obstacle is what is to be done when our votes do not stop this catastrophe.
9
No one with any integrity wants to be near Trump. "Everything Trump touches; dies". Vote out Republicans for health care; jobs and a living wage. Ray Sipe
136
Wonder if Trump pumped McGahn about his 30-hour tete-a-tete with Mueller and, if so, what beans McGahn spilled.
12
One wonders if Mr McGahn will be stripped of his security clearance.
32
Trump brands truth-tellers as rats and of course he does.
The President of the United States thinks like a criminal and has zero respect for the laws of our nation.
51
More obstruction of justice.
Can’t wait to see which stooge will replace McGahn.
25
@New World. Emmett Flood
3
Question is, what took McGahn so long?! How does anyone with an ounce of decency and integrity stay with this administration?! Clearly, #45 is a criminal.
31
We had a solemn reminder this week that there are Republicans with a sense of honour. We shouldn't need that reminder of course; and there are many, including people I call friends. Don McGahn appears to be one such as is (surprise!) Jeff Sessions. In fact the great majority of Republicans are not the racist xenophobic misogynists they are sometimes painted in these BTL comments. We progressives/libtards (or whatever you want to call us) can only hope that they join us in rejecting the closest this country has ever come to fascism by voting in November.
21
Trump keeps inching close to getting Sessions out and eventually shutting down Muller investigation.
Republican lawmakers' last grains of morality crumbled when they signaled their acquiescence to Sessions firing and when they failed to admonish Trump on his behavior after Senator McCain's death.
In short, republicans are hell bent on clinging to power; ethics, morality and general good of the public be damned. They are sure to dangle the threat of impeachment and SCOTUS confirmation in front of their base.
The only way to prevent Trump turning US into his kingdom is for democratic voters to hugely outnumber republican voters.
61
@Assay-Republican failures:
- Voting down necessary funds to secure U.S. elections
- Not calling out Trump when he incites violence and claims violence will follow if the Democrats win
- Not calling out Trump when he threatens allies abroad
- Not calling out Trump when he locks up children
...and on and on....
Whether McGahn stays or goes is of no importance to me, but ratifying judge Kavanaugh to the SCOTUS is! Let's not take our eyes off this prize for the republicans and especially Mitch McConnell. People, don't forget Mitch's refusal for almost a year to allow Obama's choice to even have hearings much less a floor vote. We need to put pressure on Sen Collins who seems to waffle back and forth on the abortion issue especially since there will surely be a very conservative senator chosen to replace McCain. With two Trump picks on the court Roe v. Wade will surely fall. Let McGahn go if he wishes, but keep Kavanaugh off the court!
187
@Phyllis Melone
PTL, Phyllis. (total sarcasm....)
1
The adults are leaving the sandbox again. This administration is a train wreck.
28
So now I expect Trump will be mounting a search for a replacement for McGahn (and probably a new Attorney General as well) ... by seeing which Fox News folks happen to have law degrees.
20
Gosh, what a surprise. Another rat fleeing the sinking ship. The line outside Mueller's door must be getting pretty long. How long, I wonder, before the first Trump family member signs up for a plea deal?
23
McGahn's replacement will undoubtedly be someone willing to facilitate presidential pardons. I am still amazed at how readily the "Republican Party" acquiesces to Trump's unethical acts. The likes of McConnell, Grassley and Hatch are content to let Trump's wrecking ball batter our democracy in order to cater to evangelicals and the alt-right with their white nationalist pro-Russian proclivities.
108
@Emergence-Somehow these folks haven't realized that the wrecking ball will eventually batter them. That's Trump's m.o., to blame and abuse others.
Trump's rants are like the garbage trucks in my street that woke me up every time for the first two years I lived here, screeching and hissing and grinding. Soon though, I learned to just roll over and go back to sleep.
His goose has already been cooked, Mueller will be finished in a few weeks, and to quote Lady Macbeth, appropriately, "What's done cannot be undone"!
22
@MaxCornise Also "All the perfumes of Arabia can not cleanse this little hand of mine."
13
@MaxCornise
Out out damn Mueller!
It won't be quite as awkward when McGahn testifies that Donald Trump attempted to obstruct justice very day since he took office when he is no longer working in the White House.
27
What us wrong with Congress, especially Lindsay Graham who did a 360 on Sessions!
Perhaps McGahn's next job could be with a govt ethics organization.
4
@Gerri Perreault ..That's presumably a 180, not a 360?
2
I have to wonder what attorney is going to take the risk to his or her reputation to step into the shoes of the departing Don McGahn.
Delusional Donnie told us that he knows more than the generals.
He must also think that he knows more than all the lawyers, so he probably thinks he does not need a replacement for McGahn.
21
Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night. Will the next be Sessions?
4
Only the best
quite the academic pedigree!
McGahn grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the son of Noreen (Rogan) and Donald F. McGahn,[1] and attended Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Atlantic City and Holy Spirit High School in nearby Absecon.[2] He briefly attended the United States Naval Academy before transferring to the University of Notre Dame.[3] At the University of Notre Dame he received a B.A. degree in history and computer applications[4] . He obtained his J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law in 1994
4
Chuck Grassley, you can be assured that it "is happening." Yet another rat jumping the sinking ship in this high-turnover White House. At least he gave Mueller many of hours of recorded statements about the corrupt White House.
16
i can't believe this is happening - NOT!
it makes perfect trump-sense that when you try to stop a pardon, talk to a special counsel, and stand up and say no, your time to total decay is 585 days - or less
mcgahn almost looks like a survivor
who will be next in the cavalcade of liars and cheats?
6
Get out while the getting is good Don. Trump will be following you out the door.
1
Will not miss him. Do not count on him spilling beans on the crook in the white house. McGahn was part of the rigging of the Federal Elections Commission (as illustrated in "Dark Money" film). He will skate off into a high paying job at some republican think tank or law firm.
43
The smell in Denmark must be overpowering.
What is clear is that people who were once close to this president are scrambling to put him in their rear view mirror.
Donald McGahn’s three sittings with Robert Mueller’s team—for 10 hours—may perhaps have factored into his decision. He cannot deny that the president, in a towering rage, ordered him to fire the Special Counselor in June, 2017.
He also blames Mr. McGahn for not forcing AG Jeff Sessions to recant his recusal after the firing of Janes Comey.
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”—Sir Walter Scott, “Marion”, 1808.
And since the president foolishly granted his White House counsel permission to speak to Mr. Mueller’s investigators, he has relinquished whatever confidences he may have shared with Mr. McGahn under the “client-attorney” privilege.
Perhaps this president will be better served by a high-priced lawyer whose raison detre for legal work is “truth isn’t truth.”
9
Months ago it was just "smoke". Now it is white-hot clear that all things Trump are indeed a blazing "fire". This article's content is another log on that too-clear fire which everyone sees but about which Trump supportors could not care less.
Which is to say, this is a political battle and war; not a legal one. And that means you must VOTE this November. And that is not nearly enough. You must talk-it-up now and until November and make sure that as many other individuals within your reaching distance also VOTE.
Don't you dare think what you do doesn't make a difference. That's a miserable excuse. You matter! Stand up and be counted! Your VOTE matters!
VOTE this November! It is the only solution.
28
A few things here
First, the words “rat” and “sinking ship” come to mind. It is no surprise that he is leaving.
Second, many are posting about how this impacts things for DJT, pardons and AG sessions future.
The work of the SCO has propagated beyond any pardons and many of the indictments will be at the state level and DJT can do nothing about it. Nothing!
The state based crimes are tied to election law, tax evasion, bank fraud etc and based on where these violations took place.
DJT is done.
Lawyers know it. The feds know it. McGahn knows it. My gosh even Rudy knows it!
So even though DJT can dangle a pardon here and there, the legal troubles for DJT and his family and close associates in just beginning and it has nothing to do with the SCO and Mueller.
Think about it. There is a reason why the trump organization cfo requested immunity.
DJT is toast. If he does not resign or get impeached beforehand he will certainly be heading to some jail time moments after his term is up- again, if he makes it that long.
Collusion or obstruction of justice is not even his biggest worry at this point. Courts and law enforcement officials in NY, FL, DC and NJ can all bring charges against DJT and his family when the time is right.
Donald J Trump is done.
57
Great! He'll be even more unencumbered to testify against the president and his illegal acts.
9
Maybe McGhan disclosed a lot of Trump's actions and rantings during his 30 hours of questioning by Mueller's team. Perhaps he is quitting because he realizes he is on the losing side of this investigation and once he steps down maybe called as a witness in front of a Grand Jury.
This is all speculation of course.
Maybe the simple explanation is that McGhan wants to get out while he still has some credibility.
The plot continues to keep the American people distracted from the real corruption going on in Washington DC. This corruption extends to Mitch McConnell. If only he would be investigated.
23
They should have lined up his replacement first. I can't imagine why anyone would want to fill the vacancy after Mr. McGahn is gone.
7
@BWMN There's got to be a thousand kids with new law degrees, maybe online ones, each with a hundred thousand dollars of school loan debt. Someone will no doubt step up.
3
After the midterms, it would not be shocking to find out that McGahn has been granted immunity from prosecution by Mueller in potential actions against Trump, Sessions and Flynn. With his departure, there's one fewer sane person in the West Wing, and for that we should all be sorry.
9
People are beginning to abandon Trump as they know what is coming - Mueller, reports, court, impeachment, jail, and
much more.
So the Fall is the time?
Or, is this the week?
McGahn knows when to leave a sinking regime.
12
It certainly seems that Trump is angry that McGahn would not participate in obstruction of justice by not allowing Sessions to not recuse himself. Perhaps he should leave before fall and testify before the Kavanah vote.
8
Trump will also be leaving the White House this fall to take up residence in other government-funded housing, the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary, Lewisburg, PA 17837. Please forward all best wishes and many thanks for his abbreviated service.
32
@Jeff M
From your lips...
McGahn could take no more. And Trump being all nice to him is probably indicative of how much he knows. McGahn will probably be leaving sooner than Trump tweeted as Mueller and company get closer and closer. Manafort's second trial is more about his relations with the Russians in the Ukraine than anything else. And that could get very messy fast.
11
So he doesn't want to be in the White House when the Constitutional crises comes to full boil and the man in the oval office takes one last crack at obstructing justice by firing Mueller and putting someone like Chris Christie in charge. Congress needs to do its job, and if it doesn't, a new Congress needs to be elected.
22
@Joe Barnett: I don't think he got out in time, I believe it will come crashing down around him, how damaged he emerges is in part up to Mueller. It's beyond amusing to contemplate both Christie and Giuliani out on the stump for Trump, I can easily see Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick playing them in the next Mel Brooks blockbuster, giving Randy Rainbow songs the justice they deserve. The choreography will be to die for. It's springtime for Donald and Trumpistan......
1
There goes Donald, leaving The Donald's Toxic Cage of Fools.
With him goes yet another piece of what is still left of what we used to know and respect as The American Republic.
Trump and his GOP, as the destructive nihilist crooks they are, do not want to keep The American Republic any longer. Instead, they turn it into a vile regime masking as such while claiming they do so "on behalf of the American people."
Which means that The People will have to do everything they can to keep it. Because once they allow Trump and his GOP to succeed, they will be reduced to serfs for a wretched self-enriching Emperor and his court of debauched self-enriching sycophants.
Panem et circenses.
8
According to the Washington Post, McGahn learned of his leaving only upon reading Trump's tweet this morning.
What a class act is (y)our president....he doesn't even have the character or grace to speak privately beforehand to the individual he's about to throw under the bus.
NOT my president
33
Mr. McGann's departure will have little impact on the bloodless coup taking place since November of 2016. Even Mr. Mueller's findings will be minimized and diluted by Trump and his cult like followers and complicit Republican controlled congress.
Truth and facts are no longer considered in the White House madness or in Trumpland.
7
Who knows why Mr. McGhan met with Special Counsel Mueller or what was discussed, but his impending departure from the Trump administration speaks volumes. Is he mentally fatigued by his impulsive, know nothing Boss? Is he protecting his reputation because he knows what info Mr. Mueller has? Is he worried that Democrats could recapture the House and understands what that could mean? Is he fed up with Rudy G? Whatever--good luck Mr. McGhan.
6
This was certainly expected, especially after the revelation of McGahn's cooperating interviews (30 hours) with the Special Prosecutor's team. Anyone with information concerning Trump and his many illegal actions should help provide evidence to hasten the denouement of this presidency.
13
Sally Yates warned Don McGahn about the possibility that Michael Flynn was compromised and could be blackmailed by a foreign adversary in January of 2017. Shortly thereafter she was fired, yet Flynn wasn't let go until almost three weeks later.
McGahn knows about the president's relentless harassment of and will to fire Jeff Sessions because he recused himself from the Russia investigation.
And McGahn was going to resign when Trump asked him to fire Robert Mueller. McGahn may be leaving because he's going to be a star witness for the special counsel and has probably wanted to do so for some time to protect his career and reputation.
457
@L
If McGahn had as much integrity as everyone is ascribing to him, he would be standing out on Pennsylvania Avenue demanding that Merrick Garland be appointed to the SCOTUS vacancy, instead of pulling behind-the-scenes levers to get the odious Kavanaugh confirmed.
He's no saint or savior, by a long shot.
10
Kosher Dill,
I agree that McGahn is no saint.
He, like everyone else in this rotten administration, is simply trying to protect himself.
3
Obviously, the details of this "departure" will come out at some point. But it's safe to assume that Mr. McGahn's leaving is another example of President Trump's mistrust of anyone who is not loyal to him personally - whether Mr. McGahn is an effective public servant is irrelevant.
If the mid-term elections go the Republican's way, we can expect a wholesale purge of individuals deemed "disloyal" to the President, starting with Mr. Sessions. All the more reason to VOTE in November!
62
Let’s see if he lands on the Trump payroll somehow in an effort to buy his silence. He was the campaign lawyer. He knows much more than we know about.
23
McGahn's departure means the loss of one of the few constraints on the impulsive instincts of Trump. Pardons for Manafort and others are likely. Firings of Sessions and Mueller also likely.
Does it matter? If the promised Blue Wave occurs in November, maybe it does. If Republicans continue to hold both the Senate and House, probably not. Republican politicians are apparently willing to accept anything from the sociopath in the White House and so are Republican voters.
36
Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing Mr. McGahn to spend more of his time assisting Mr. Mueller.
He can join Mr. Cohen, Mr. Weisselberg, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Gates, Mr. Papadopolus, Mr. Nader, and others in what will seem to be a reunion of your confidantes in the 2016 presidential election.
And, it is comforting to see that Mr. Manafort and the prosecutors have another week to finalize his plea deal by mid-September.
Again, thank you, Mr. President, for the quality of your leadership, and the manner in which it will be your undoing.
143
@Didier
Excellent. I think you have out done Socrates with this one.
2
"He didn't work for me for very long. I didn't really know him that well".
128
It seems that any day any issue would lead to the demise of any previous administration but not so for Trump. The more outrageous the report the stronger his base becomes.
Many are becoming aware that as great a problem as Trump is for our democracy, the real problem is with the mindset of those who believe Trump is somehow good (or at least harmless) for our nation.
Our hope is in an educated electorate but can it compete with a very powerful propaganda machine? It is not unfair to study what happened in Germany on its path from civil society to world turmoil. Fear can be utilized in dangerous ways to manipulate minds to accept the otherwise unacceptable.
55
@Johnjam101
Fewer things are more terrifying than a group of people who have been conditioned to hate on demand.
3
"At the time, Mr. Trump exploded at Mr. McGahn and said he needed an attorney general who would protect him."
Yes, this is exactly how completely innocent people behave, isn't it?
286
@M. Grove
Yep, Trump seriously needs attorney general that protect his crimes, otherwise, it's not good enough.
1
Grassley talks an ethical game, but it is all talk.
41
@DSM14
Trump seems to believe ethics are for losers who are jealous of those who are rich -- the winners.
5
Mr. McGahn, for the next few weeks, we would like you to wear this wire and record your conversations in the white house. You will be doing your country a great service.
Thanks,
Robert S. Mueller III
59
If Mr.Trump was angry at McGahn for opposing the recusal ofJeff Sessions and the firing Mr.Mueller ,you can be sure the next time he will opt for a reliable mouthpiece.Mr. trump is getting more frantic abut all the information being uncovered as his former pals plead guilty and tell all.You can be sure that the next White House Counsel will be someone who will spin all information to favor Mr.Trump and will be LOYAL.
10
@Janet Michael: Rumor has it Emmet Flood will be the next white house counsel. It's like a never ending line of zombies waiting to have their blood and dignity drained before being thrown to the curb. I guess it's no coincidence Rudy looks so much like Klaus Kinski in "Nosferatu". Trump's histrionics are approaching the level of Tom Cruise jumping up and down on Oprah's couch, between him and Giuliani they could be doing a segment on the old Benny Hill show. But no amount of distraction will suffice any longer, the momentum has been reached, the snowball is nearing critical mass and gathering speed, the crescendo of daily revelations is nearing it' apogee. I suspect some in congress will go out on the fragile limb in his defense, Nunes et. al. might soon be heard telling us "it depends on your definition of treason", but they will eventually have to back down or fall on the same pile of effluent awaiting the demented dugong in the oval. McGahn, for all his many faults, is not stupid, and actually possesses some character and integrity. He's done his self preservation thing with Mueller, and likely will do more, he has exposure. It amazes me that at this late date so many still are so arrogant or unaware of their own exposure as to continue to support and defend the most morally, ethically and emotionally challenged person to ever hold the white house.
1
We all know that Mr. McGahn was the last of the attorneys in the White House counsel who has respect for the law. This spells the end for any checks on Trump within the White House because he is going to fire Attorney General Sessions and the Asst. AT as soon as the November mid-terms are over. McConnell refuses to do anything to stop Trump. Now it will be up to the following people to release to the public everything they know about Trump's involvement with Russian hackers in the 2016 election:
McGahn, Sessions, and all members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. What must the American public do to find out what they know?
469
@USexpat There haven't been any real checks on Trump within the White House, just those who have managed to give him pause now and again.
Trump realized long ago that his days are numbered, with the Mueller investigation and its spread into SDNY and more. Since then, he has been freed of almost all restraint; only the prospect of losing his cult base stops him now. He will do every devilish deed he can manage until they drag him out of office, either by impeachment (unlikely, given that it would require 67 senators to convict) or by vote (2020 can't come fast enough).
The only variable to that scenario is if Mueller proves really, really bad crimes by this POTUS. Crimes even his GOP enablers could not ignore. And, believe me, I think Trump has committed some. I just don't know if it can be proven, and it would have to be beyond a reasonable doubt to shake the GOP now.
3
@USexpat
In my view there is a 77% probability of Trump firing Attorney General Sessions and Asst. AG Rosenstein - 95% if the Democrats take over the House (which has a 75% probability) and 50% if the GOP keeps the House (which has a 25% probability).
At which point the nation will see a worse constitutional crisis than any since the Civil War (War of Northern Aggression for).
@USexpat: McGahn is of particularly high value to Mueller as he started out as the lead attorney for the Trump campaign. That's where his major exposure lays, in addition to what he's witnessed in the white house, none of which is protected by privilege. Trump is now playing Russian roulette, and trying to distract us by wearing a suicide vest. It won't end well for him an any foreseeable scenario.
1
Donald McGahn knows first-hand of the president’s desire to fire Robert Mueller and derail the investigation which threatens his presidency. McGahn’s departure could be more damaging to the president than Michael Cohen’s revelation of presidential wrongdoing because it details a detailed and deliberate pattern of obstruction of justice of which McGahn has full knowledge.
Also, McGahn’s 30 hours of testimony to the investigators is alarming to the president and puts AG Jeff Sessions in danger of being fired any day now. The walls are definitely closing in on the president.
339
@silver vibes
He's let go by Trump simply he and his attorney cannot tell Trump or his attorney the detail of that 30 hours meeting. Is this another clue for obstruction?
@silver vibes
Or as the cover of this week's New Yorker illustrates, the bloodhounds are nipping at his heels.
1
What amazes me about this president is that his ego has proven to be even bigger than his own sense of survival.
Anyone running for president, much less winning an election, should expect much greater media and public scrutiny than a private developer who may break a few laws or laundered a few million dollars or made a few shady deals with foreign governments in the process.
He expected McGahn and Sessions to protect him from this scrutiny, but I guess he's finally figuring it out. Giuliani can throw up all the smoke and mirrors on Fox News he wants, but the truth will eventually come out, McGahn or no McGahn. Sessions or no Sessions.
725
@avrds
Trump has a concept of a child. Whenever you point out his destructive behavior, he gets tantrum.
3
@avrds
Getting that to matter is another matter altogether. The assumption that the truth coming out will rid us this blight is not guaranteed. It requires a Congress that has the desire to impeach. It requires 2/3 majority in the senate to convict and remove from office. There is scant possibility of that. The excruciating thing about learning that truth will be, for the majority of Americans that did not vote nor support Individual-1, having an outright criminal operating right out in the open as "president". This is completely likely. How will it be tolerable?
2
@avrds a few million? Multiply by 100 give or take and that's the damage he inflicted on his Atlantic City casinos alone.
1
And if the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh falls through? Will McGahn still leave?
26
McGahn comes off as a stooge for Mitch McConnell. McConnell will protect the most unfit, unhinged president this country has ever seen if it means he can get his way, finally.
These people won't bring justice to America or uphold their constitutional responsibilities. All that matters is imposing their will on the rest of us.
704
@Suzanne Moniz
Indeed, McConnell emerges, more and more, as a key axle in the authoritarian vehicle that is slowly driving over our democracy and freedoms!
I used to think that the anti-McConnell taunts ("Cocaine Mitch") of Don Blankenship, the crazy alt-right candidate for WVa governor, were way off the point and crazy, but now I'm beginning to wonder whether he had inside knowledge. . . .
16
@Suzanne Moniz
Nothing will change until McConnell is removed as
Senate Majority Leader. Party and personal power over
country not only from day one of the Obama administration but in spades since the Republicans have the majority in Congress. Mc Connell has done at least
as much, and maybe more, than Trump to undermine
democracy in America.
11
@Suzanne Moniz –
that – and milking the rest of us for every cent they can grab.
2
This is Trump messaging his co-conspirators (particularly Manafort who is under extreme pressure now) that pardons will be coming and Sessions will be fired.
218
@TSI
I haven't heard any argument for pardoning Manafort that would block state charges against him being filed. Surely state evidence would be just as overwhelming at the fedreal chages. He didn't pay fedreal taxes, what are the chances he paid all of his state taxes?
12
@TS
By he time, Manafort is pardon by Trump, he will be broke.
Manafort better deal on his hand is cooperation with team Mueller. The longer he waits, the worst he get emotionally and financially.
1
Ah! The plot thickens!
60
Surprise, surprise!
Go in peace Mr. McGahn now that you have said your piece--waiting to hear the details.
77
@charlotte
He is responsible for the likely installation of Kavanaugh on the court. I hope McGahn never again knows a moment's peace of mind.
23
The Trump administration has higher turnover than your local Panda Express.
435
@Rich
And hawking the same authentic, high quality goods.
6
Yeah, but the food's better.
2
30 hours with Mueller wasn't sitting well with Trump, nor was McGahn's opinion about pardoning Manafort.
348
"Mr. McGahn is a key witness to whether the president tried to obstruct the investigation."
So is every American who watches Trump openly confess to obstructing justice or openly try to impede the investigation.
Everything from the Lester Holt interview to demands that his Attorney General stop the investigation to his tweets attacking Muller and the "13 or 17 Angry Democrats" in the Special Counsel to his attacks on the FBI, and so on.
It's as if Nixon released a transcript of his secret tapes every morning.
100+ million American witnesses will not be deposed, but the will get the opportunity to vote for candidates who protect the investigation.
November 6, 2018.
652
@LT
Trump will get rid of any witness that support Mr. Mueller's investigation. In fact, he didn't care tampering jury during Manafort's trail in Virginia.
Trump is guilty by his actions and he will do anything to protect his crime.
2
Do you really think the 40,000,000 Trump supporters care about the Truth?
Another one bites the dust .......
57
Well that didn’t take long...
55
Donald McGahn, keep your integrity and go!
Wipe your shoes as you leave the swamp.
185
@cretino Wiping shoes may be insufficient. A complete decontamination will be required.
10
@cretino Swamps are beautiful places full of biodiversity. I think it's more accurate to look at Washington DC as a kind of chemical wastewater holding pond.
169
Agreed he should go. And he may well help Mueller’s investigation. But he worked for Trump’s campaign. He knew what kind of person he was, and he kept working for him. That’s a black mark he can’t erase.
13