More oxygen for Trump. The NYT line of attack was that the Mueller Report would cause defections. Trump's ratings remain up there. And now the searchlight turns on uber-rich Manhattan. Bet on it: there are legions of monsters (on both sides of the isle) waiting to be hatched there. Trump grew up in this swamp, he knows were all the bodies are. As the Epstein trial proves: there are no partisans in the gutter. Meanwhile, the 147 candidates don't even make the front page. Translation: the Times is still on the lookout for a viable candidate. At best, the District will get Trump after he leaves office. Which leaves 6 years of raw executive power. Imagine 6 more years of Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, etc.
4
Dear NYT:
Although colorful and highly politicized, and sure to provide lots of tabloid fodder, these continuing investigations all have one thing in common:
They do not represent an impeachment risk, because they do not address "high crime and misdemeanors" of the president in his official capacity.
Conspiracy to commit a campaign reporting violation?
Sure thing -- when we see Congress prosecuted for making dozens of illegal "campaign contributions" by using public money to secretly pay off staffers complaining of sex harassment.
Or when we see Hilary prosecuted for failure to report hiring a foreign ex-spy to dig up Russian "dirt" against Trump -- the mirror image of the "collusion" alleged against Trump.
An emoluments violation? Please! This hoary old prohibition that has never been used to prevent a president from running a business on the side? Or when the Trump organization donated all proceeds from renting to foreign officials?
The Trump Moscow hotel project, pursued solely by Trump's dishonest lawyer, who did not even know who to call at the Kremlin, and was never able to get this project off the ground?
All so "sketchy," as President Obama would say. I miss him.
5
i like the part where the Trumpists and other wingers are trying to flap their hands and make the 36 precious indictments, the convictions of Trump’s campaign manager, personal lawyer, NSA guy and staffers, and the long, long list of investigations just go away.
It’s quite pretty, really. Nobody ever investigated Trump until these here commies, who cares if he’s been investigated pretty much every three years from 1973 all the way to Trump U.
It’s all just “process crimes,” and nobody ever enforced the Logan Act, so what if it’s actually Trump’s guys cutting deals for lesser charges amidst a welter of election tampering, witness tampering, money laundering, tax evasion, campaign finance law breaking, and bank fraud.
It’s just SDNY being the commies they’ve always been, big deal if that’s where Giuliani and Mueller, lifelong Republicans, made their bones.
It’s no collusion, no collusion, never mind if it’s screamingly that Trump’s bragging about collusion, and the auestion is whether there’s been conspiracy.
And—my fave—Mueller proved Trump’s INNOCENT, so what if the Report’s not out, there’s a passel of running investigations, and the claim’s based on a distortion of anonymous source said. You know, the anonymous sources we’d been screeching at for years.
Oh, and I adore the way Trumpists found out Mueller’s an authentic hero about 5: 01 PM, EDT, on Friday. Seriously, if I tried to turn around that fast, my head’d snap right off.
7
trump is Individual-1 aka an un-indicted co-conspirator.
3
Haven't we heard for while now they "can't indict a sitting president"?
Could that be why there are no "further indictments" at this time?
2
I am surprised that nothing has come, so far, from Mueller's bringing in an investigator for skullduggery with Russian financing. Both trump's sons said they get all their financing from Russia. A micromanager who cheated subcontractors, scammed a university, and whose closest campaign associates have been convicted of illicit involvement with Russia must be just as guilty.
4
To state the obvious, we all choose sides. It is human nature to want to overlook the infractions of our side, while at the same time highlight the infractions of the opposite side. That will never change, it is the wellspring of hypocrisy.
For the love of the game we can overcome this human tendency and become true sportswomen (men) more interested in upholding the integrity of the game, than claiming our own tainted personal victory. When the umpires of the Mueller SDNY emerge from their separate huddled reviews I am not hoping for a call that agrees with what I see, but rather for a call that gets it right. For the love of the game.
2
Even when the Mueller Report is made public, in its entirety, we will not likely know the full story of Trump's relationship with Putin, his oligarchs and even the Russian mafia. But there is still a minefield or two ahead for our Traitor in Chief. Between the Southern District of New York (known by all as SDNY), and the seperate congressional investigations, Trump and his family still have a long fall ahead of them.
I am also hoping that the investigations look into how industry shills wound up leading the EPA, Interior, Education, FCC, etc.
What is not part of the investigation is something that I found deeply troubling: While Democratic presidents seek judicial candidates via the American Bar Association, Republican presidents are directed to a list put forth by the right-wing Federalist Society. There list of hopeful candidates have all been vetted for their devotion to today's version of conservatism. Thus, those are the ONLY candidates for federal judicial appointments a Republican president gets to choose from. Which is why the topic of judicial term limits is so important. Lifetime appointments of any political stripe only leads to judicial confrontations. Even the SCOTUS should be controlled with term limits, say, to one 6 year term.
The rest of the world is waiting to see if we can clean up our own messes.
5
since Mueller has concluded his investigation, why are there still 10 prosecutors remain in the team ?
2
@BSY
Inefficiency?
1
I am so gullible. How could I have possible believed that a fair and impartial justice system would suddenly emerge in a country controlled by a few hundred families. There was never going to be an investigation, much less justice.
4
Trump's presidency was always born dead on arrival. No one thought he would win (including trump who only ran for publicity) because he came off as unhinged, foul mouthed with a freight train of baggage behind him. Since day one and before, we now have 3 years of investigations, 199 criminal charges, 37 indictments, and 5 prison sentences. And all to people who work with and around the president. How could anyone at this point think this will end well!
6
Mr. Barr's opinion on the content of the Mueller report can not remain the only definitive statement about Trump and his family's conduct. Right now a battle is raging about wo will control the narrative. Will it be Trump who is at the center of the investigation and his appointed mouth pieces which now includes Mr. Barr? Or will it be the House which has the mandate with its impeachment powers who will reveal the truth based on empirical facts? The possible felon can not be allowed to continue his cover up.
President Clinton lied about having an affair with an intern, a relatively minor offense, declaring to the effect that he did not have sex with that woman and it led to his impeachment. Now Trump declares 'there was no collusion. There was no cover up' in the same tone, an offense which if found to be true has much greater consequences for the nation. The full truth must come out, and that can not be determined by the one accused. It must be found openly and not behind closed doors.
2
Now with the restraint and integrity of the Mueller Report out ot of the way and the beast is now out of its cage and free to roam free, who wants to bet that if AOC were to run and win in 2020 the Republicans would not demand a full and detailed audit of the tip jar that sat in the restaurant she once waited on the day after she was sworn into office? Their investigation of that will make Trump’s tax returns look like empty peanut wrappers.
1
Trump will use executive privilege the same way police use"I feared for my life".
Reaction to this has been humorous. I told you Mueller was part of the club and nothing would happen. Welcome to reality 101,the light sentence for Manafort should have been another clue.
Democrats need to refocus on positive initiatives and stop obsessing over Trump.
3
Trump's quote of the week from the LA Times: "Trump says barbed wire ‘can be a beautiful sight.’ " Oh that he and his co-conspirators are soon surrounded by it.
If he is exonerated, I'll crawl into a depression and never come out.
4
Please remember that the SDNY reports to United States Attorney General William Barr. He is not going to let them embark on a vendetta to get Trump at all costs.
2
The New York courts are our best hope for justice.
1
SDNY is under the DOJ headed by Mr. Barr. SDNY won't be allowed to go after a wide open fishing expedition. It they have anything, lets hear about it. NOW.
1
"...the office's prosecutions have started the careers of judges, F.B.I. directors and even a New York City mayor."
But, do not let it be said that any of the myriad of investigations have even one teeny weeny tiny iota fleck of political ambition driving them.
No sirree. Justice is blind.
Although, it makes one wonder why she is wearing a blindfold if she is actually blind.
3
This is about our federal law officials in the DOJ AND FBI covering up their crimes in falsely by accusing a political opponent of being a traitor to directly abet Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party. No matter where you are on the political spectrum, you should be horrified by this corruption of our political system. The participants need to go to jail.
3
“I said to my lawyers, ‘Are we being looked at here?’” Mr. Trump said, adding that his lawyers “don’t even know what people are talking about.”
One more lie to add to the pile. I guess the deplorables might believe that line, but the rest of us don't.
2
The theory that the Trump campaign conspired or colluded with Russia always has been improbable because no conspiracy or collusion was necessary. Russia considered Hillary Clinton as anti-Russian due to her actions as U.S. secretary of state. According to the U.S. Intelligence Community, Putin also hated Hillary because she publicly accused him of rigging Russia’s mid-term election. Moscow would have supported any Republican nominated to run against Clinton, but Trump campaigned on promises to prevent a second Cold War by improving U.S.-Russian relations.
Many nations meddled in the U.S. 2016 election.The president of Italy publicly endorsed Hillary, the president of Mexico compared Trump to Hitler, and European leaders grumbled about Trump’s to pull the United States out of NATO. Russia allegedly hacked DNC email, discovered the DNC was stacking the deck against Bernie Sanders, and allegedly gave the hacked email to WikiLeaks.
None of the alleged Russian meddling required the least encouragement or cooperation from the Trump campaign.
4
Yet, it still got it, in spades!
1
The crimes have never been about Russia. The crimes have always been about financial crimes committed in the SDNY. We need to pray to SDNY now. Pray. Pray!!
2
Muller clears Trump and his campaign of the conspiracy ( collusion) charges that were the essence of stated resistance to Trump.
The resistance refuses to acknowledge and accept and doubles down.
Trump regains traditional and full control of DOJ.
Trifecta.
2
The Southern District had exactly - zero - open investigations into Donald Trump, the Trump family, or Trump's business affairs.
Then he was elected president.
That's all the information we need.
No amount of spin or doublespeak from the Times or any other source will be able to change the conclusion of an objective observer.
The upcoming investigations by the Southern District are a cheap politically motivated stunt.
Period.
4
Speaking of spin and doublespeak...
1. It’s kind of hard for SDNY or anybody else to investigate Trump’s campaign, inaugural and charitable finances before he runs for President and, you know, has such things.
2. Actually, Trump’s been getting investigated since, ah, 1973. And when he’s not doing that, he’s suing or being sued.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_affairs_of_Donald_Trump
2
One feels greasy just watching the machinations of this Administration and its obvious contempt for rule of law. Far more dangerous, though, is the fact that the entire GOP is now openly committed to defending a criminal seemly because he's their criminal. McConnell, Graham Cruz, et al., have shown that their partisanship is more important to them than the nation, their oaths, and the Constitution. The whole party has to be expunged.
6
Trump only trusts people he's met in person, and who have praised him. He cannot abstract, and does not want to read resumes, and this makes him a natural nepotist, a neurologically-inclined simonist.
People joked when Dubyuh nominated Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court—I remember on SNL they showed him saying to himself: "Supreme Court justice—the nice lady down the hall." Combine that inability to abstract with an embattled nature that thrives on conflict—and you have hairdressers, sons-in-law, and chauffeurs running the government, while the qualified are taunted on Twitter. The US of Harriet Miers and the KGB. You have Putin and Jong un elevated because pomp and circumstance and personal interaction and status, while our own congress and press are trashed with the same reflex Trump had against a father who found him wanting. Even generals are trashed as below his status level. Not man enough for him. Only murderous tyrants and mafiosos qualify. Anyone who'd shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue is worthy to be an equal.
If Barr releases anything at all revealing, he best be prepared to be, if not fired, at least fried, by tweets of calumny and bile.
4
Just a reminder, no one other than a select few in the AG's office and Muellers' office know the scope and detail of this report.
No One.
No One knows why Mueller made the decisions he did, and the supporting details for those decisions, other than the aforementioned.
No One.
This report has exonerated No One yet, and until we see it we simply are just flapping about making noise and postulating on knowing nothing.
The report will come out either through the AG, subpoena, or some other method, but it will come out and we will see the information for ourselves.
Nothing will change the cult of personality which worships at the feet of the false idol Trump.
But, I believe many non-cultists have already been swayed by his behavior and decisions and enough of the non-cult others will be swayed as well to rid ourselves of this plague of a person by impeachment, indictment, or vote.
6
The press corps and Democrats have been slobbering over dots which do not connect for two years so far, even while turning a blind eye to the Obama era politicization and weaponization of Justice and the intelligence community (not to mention the IRS).
May we now turn our attention to the real problems that have surfaced in the investigation?
2
@OldEngineer Yes, the real problem such a middle class like me found us paying more tax after trump's tax cut for rich, such as the blown-up deficit by the tax cut, such as the spike up hate crime and domestic terrors... all by trump.
1
Never has something about which we know so little substantively gotten so much attention.
3
Prosecution seems to be more like persecution.
2
Interesting that NY is leading the charge to continue the death by a thousand cuts.
What liberals are missing in this entire thing is that is has spent so much time in the news that it is nothing more than white noise to the general public.
To many that do pay attention, they are playing Trump's hand. It is looking very much like the proverbial witch hunt that he has been calling the investigations from the start.
Get out of DC, the five boroughs, and other liberal strongholds. You'll find the vast majority see this as a joke.
7
It is highly possible that Muller was pressured to end investigation PREMATURELY by trump through the acting AG Matthew Whitaker (who said the investigation could be to ground to halt by various means) and the present AG (Barr's AG "application" letter to trump). What could you do if your boss told you to wrap up an investigation when you are in the process of building more cases? Muller already indicted a significant number of people and trump's associates, and he's closing in trump's family and trump - but his time was cut short. That's why we must see the full report with underlying finding and document to understand where he really stands.
Muller knew that he could be fired any time and his investigation could be halt any moment. That's also a reason that he farmed out many key cases so that what needed to be investigated can continue after his counsel was forced to end.
2
@jnl
"Highly" possible?
Apparently, even after the full Mueller report is made public, it will be impossible for Trump haters to put aside these ridiculous conspiracy theories.
In fact, Mueller has already certified that he was not interfered with by Trump or his Justice Department.
3
Imagine a world where you can criminally prosecute your enemies without a crime just because you hate them. That’s the world Democrats want you to live in.
19
@AVR . You mean like what republicans did and still do to Secretary of State Clinton?
8
Absurd. Criminal acts whether found in the course of an investigation by the special prosecutor or arising within an unrelated set of circumstances, must be pursued.
Emotional reactions and layman’s thinking as well as social media are the magnified awfulness of the time.
Hocus pocus thinking and the adage “I believe something strongly so it must be true” are ignorant.
1
You mean like lock her up?
4
Trump and his allies (inside and outside the media) have convinced his supporters that short of a charge of conspiracy to collude with the Russians, he is guiltless. Thankfully, state and federal law enforcement officials are professionals who will pursue any and all crimes which may have been committed by Trump, his family members or associates.
Trump may be celebrating this weekend in Mar-a-Largo, but soon such celebrations will turn again to outrageous, angry and panicked tweets, denigrating the next set of people who dare investigate him. The pattern of Trump's behaviors are now baked in to our daily lives.
9
The transparency that will be communicated by N.Y. going after the President’s family is that the Democrats are vindictive because Clinton lost and this has never been anything but an attempt to reverse the 2016 election. Come 2020 the voters will remember the vindictive behavior of the Democrats. Vote for America—vote Republican.
8
As the Mueller investigation drug on for months. The names that kept coming up were, Hillary Clinton and James Commey.
So the question for these Democrat presidential hopefuls is. Will they be willing to indict these two corrupt individuals if elected?
6
@fjs In trump's world, right is wrong and wrong is right, good guys are bad and bad guys are good.
1
From the Heritage Foundation regarding impeachment:
"The implication (Constitution, Article 2, Section 5) is that when the President (or other impeachable official) has committed an impeachable offense, the Members of the House, bound by the oaths they take to uphold the Constitution, are under a particular obligation to deal with the miscreant's offenses, irrespective of whether their bill of impeachment may or may not lead to a conviction in the Senate."
And I would add, irrespective of whether or not they rile up Trump's base.
3
If media reports that the Muller report recommends no further indictments are accurate, the only crime attributable to the Trump administration is the “materially false statements” former National Security Advisor Michale Flynn make to FBI agents about his transition-period conversations with the Russian ambassador.
According to the Muller indictment, “ Flynn “falsely stated that he did not ask Russia's Ambassador to the United States to refrain from escalating the situation in response to sanctions that the United States had imposed against Russia."
The materially false statement was not told to cover up a crime. The FBI determined that Flynn had not violated the Logan Act during his conversations with the Russian ambassador. Asking Russia not to escalate was not a crime and was advantageous rather than detrimental to the United States.
No other member of the Trump administration has been charged with a crime.
6
I take it you’re unaware that Flynn copped a plea and cut a deal for reduced charges, and that you’re playing fast and loose with your defs of “Trump’s Administration.” Let alone that it’s early days yet on investigations into how many of his Cabinet members?
Mueller was clever, he spread his investigation to avoid trump using his presidential pardon power.
While we all await NY state finding I also wonder about the content of Mueller three dozens sealed indictments.
I suspect trump problems are not ending but barely beginning.
4
Interesting that the article refers to Robert Fiske. It was he, Ken Starr and Robert Ray that investigated the Clintons for 7 years regarding criminal activities at the Whitewater Land Development Corporation. It wasn't until September 2000 at the end of Clinton's second term that they filed a final report admitting that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the Clintons for any crimes regarding Whitewater. Always remember this when you hear the complaint that Mueller took too long in his investigation and came up with nothing on Trump.
4
According to media reports, the Muller report contains no recommendations for further indictments. If true, this means no one will be charged for anything they did as members of the Trump campaign during the 2016 election.
George Papadopoulos and Roger Stone were not members of the Trump campaign when they lied—or, on Stone’s case—allegedly lied—to FBI agents during post election interviews. Neither of them were charged for anything they did as members of the campaign or during the 2016 election.
5
And when things are wrapped up in New York I am sure the desperate will go somewhere else. How about we accept the election results and get on with governing.
7
You all know the story. When Ben Franklin was leaving Carpenters Hall at the conclusion of the drafting of the constitution, a local woman asked him, "professor, what kind of government have you given us?" Franklin replied, "a democracy, if you can keep it".
3
@Epicurus
I think he said “a republic, if you can keep it.” There’s a difference.
3
This story feels like a teaser trailer for a spin-off from a major network series, like NCIS: Las Angeles or Law and Order Criminal Intent. The NYT is promising us its coverage of Trump: Southern District of New York will be as interesting as the DC version. It will take more than a new cast of characters and a change of location to reinvigorate this tired series. 2020 will be here before the courts can think of acting.
28
get ready for a lot of challenging of assessments to lower taxes, bumping up of insurance claims on repairs, accelerated depreciation, stiffing of contractors, etc. Every real estate person in the country could be charged with this if investigated. Thank God I did not learn the names of the little "Russian Oligarchs" like Victor, Konstantin etc that Anderson, Rachel, Larry et al spouted every night along with some Russian "pop star" and a person named "Goldstone". Nothing will come of this except some civil fines and recalculation of tax liability. A joke
21
thanks for reinforcing Arthur that we should never ever elect a real estate person to public office. Most of them are Crooks and greedy
1
Oh, I sure hope so. Trump is a corrupt person whom I have despised since the '80s. That is a long time.
20
We simply hate the guy so we will keep fanning the flames and will never let go. Even if you hate Trump that sounds more like a witch hunt at this point. And it will certainly backfire.
26
@Bob You forget the 38 indictments the jail sentences and
the ongoing investigations.
You see, Bob, in a witch hunt there is none of that
because there would be no crime, instead with trump many crimes have been found.
So no, it will never look like a witch hunt.
What "legal threat"? Trump presidency was never in any danger, because there was nothing behind the allegations to begin with. It was never anything but a circus through-and-through. Now after two years of investigation resulting in zero charges in relation with "collusion", it is just ridiculous to present it as anything but a complete exoneration of Trump. Of course, with the next election looming on the horizon, the circus will never end. But the Democrats keep it going at their own peril. They could probably handily beat him in 2020 on the issues, but they are shooting themselves in the foot with this pathetic witch hunt dragging on.
25
Either way, Mueller or NY-AG, his goose is cooked!
8
"It's up to you, New York, New York!"
16
Is Donald J. Trump a crook or is he not a crook. That is the question.
4
@Smoky Tiger To people with moral compass, trump is an obvious crook. To people without moral compass, trump is not a crook even he shoots someone in 5th Ave, as trump said it.
2
You have more faith in Federal prosecutors than I do. Rudy was famous for his perp walks but not for convictions. He was just a politician on the make. But at least they are non-partisan, they tried a Republican Alaskan Senator falsely, apparently just to drive him out of office. They did and that led indirectly to his death and the conviction was overturned. There is no justice in this country, prosecutors only care about winning at all costs. Just this week a man was let out of prison after 35 years for a rape for which there was a fingerprint proving he hadn’t done it.
10
Great job NYTIMES for trying to turn this into a positive. But, it's not working. Sorry, my Democrat friends but you lost again, plain and simple. The Mueller probe wasted millions of dollars and cast a shadow over our duly elected President for two years. It hurt the ability of our government to get things done. It hurt the ability of Congress to get things done and was huge distraction. It was all based on phony intelligence, the Steele dossier, an unverified piece of garbage that has brought our government to a standstill for 2 years. The miscreants that started all of this must be held accountable.
26
Perhaps everyone’s reactions and responses are a bit premature.
We do not know the actual results of the probe/inquiry other than the current public indictments, guilty pleas and trials and sentencing in progress.
Perhaps we should just all wait until we have the actual contents of the report.
We also must wait on knowing the contents of the sealed indictments; none of us knows the actual charges in those indictments.
No further indictments does not mean that all those involved are not facing indictments which are currently sealed.
I would like the actual rule of law enforced; not hyperbolic citizens citing their opinions and guesswork (at this point) as fact.
Perhaps these investigations will show Trump corruption. The Mueller investigation was based wholly on wishful thinking. The news media is still filled with talking heads who with dead certainty think Russia interfered in the election in a crucial way which the Mueller investigation denied. Trump won a fluke election that literally caused the Washington establishment to have a nervous breakdown. The talk of an alliance between Putin and Trump is just plain dumb. Trump may yet stumble into a nuclear confrontation with Russia.
8
so you read the report already? Where can we get it?
2
Can we just fast forward to the bit where we have someone respectable for president?
24
The Trump 2020 Campaign has a new theme:
Re-elect President Trump and keep him out of prison.
19
Let's see the tax returns, Trump.
The baton is passed to the Southern District of NY. It is just not possible that Trump was/is surrounded by crooks of all types yet remains virtuous.
17
I as many americans have lost faith in our democracy. Go back and look at what socrates & plato said about democracy-from democracy we go towards aristocracy/oligarchy...we've been there long before trump, but now its worse. Suspend the 22nd amendment, bring back obama, and lets make america great again.
21
Would have been nice if the NY AG or the City ‘s prosecutors would have looked at trump a decade ago. His criminal behavior is nothing new.
44
Batman is 80 years old this coming week and I cannot help but feel we--the American public, aged boomer and younger, were long ago given a warning to protect our freedom and democracy from autocratic tyranny--perhaps, most devastatingly, power given, wrongly and blindly, because of complicated circumstances, directly to a joker: one who disrupts, is wild, flouts every law and upends every norm, taunts every seam, every thread, every individual precious fibre of our American life. Distorts our thinking. Overrides all of the established rules. Is plainly corrupt, for all to see and adjust or adhere to.
We the people, all equal, and all capable of not only surviving but thriving in our lives, in which the world's dissonances harmonize into harmonic hums, the hum of every precious life, of every human being, of which we all are. All loving, all loved, all valued and remembered. A virtuous billionaire: Bruce Wayne who stands in opposition to a sociopath-narcicist billionaire fraud. Make that clown.
America: the joker is in the White House. Perform your civic duty and vote him out of office.
20
Why in the world after 37 indictments is anyone pretending this report is exonerating Trump. Many of the convicted people involved were very involved in Trump's campaign and, in the case of Flynn, in his cabinet.
We all know he has lied repeatedly to the American public about his involvement with Russia. Is it a crime to lie to the American people? Perhaps not, but campaign finance violations, using a charity to enrich oneself, and money laundering are indeed crimes. It ain't over yet. "It's up to you New York, New York!"
33
Whatever the report will reveal, there are a few things we have learned during its time.
The continued,perhaps intrinsic, failure of semi-autocratic populists. The ones that promise the moon to people desperate for change of improvements. Trump promised a better health care program and never delivered. He promised better economic deals but he upset every accord while achieving nothing. He promised that he would bring back manufacturing jobs but the import-export balance get worse.
He has shown his absolute incapacity to govern with his intellectual poverty, his spiteful and ridiculous appointments, the chaos of his administration.
Finally, he has betrayed his followers with a scandalous give-away of billions to the wealthy. If this charlatan had not been lucky to start his administration on the wave of economic improvement, he would have been impeached long ago.
28
Excellent piece. The silent majority will wait and see. Let's hope that the prosecutors will indict the Trump family and their crooked henchmen before the 2020 election.
14
The fictitious witch hunt song is over. Factual evidence now is in the spotlight. Like the old R&B song “No Where To Run” this is going to be powerful. All kinds of criminal deals and quid pro quo diplomacy may appear. The absurd threat of crossing the line with crimes involving family is meaningless. With Manafort he smirked “they went back 12 years, 12 years”. Yes they went back years for enormous crimes, fraud and more. This is where the rubber meets the road. No one is above the law. This isn’t a real estate fiefdom. Now it all surfaces.
7
Call this “Prosecutorial Focus” if you will, but it does not disguise what this really is...a weaponizing of the judicial system.
11
Trump's criminality is an octopus. Mueller investigated just one tentacle. Even if his report does not connect Trump to the nefarious conspiratorial activities of his underlings, there are seven other tentacles that will haunt Trump during and after his presidency. He can wail "No collusion, No collusion" and may claim vindication but Trump, Don Jr., Ivanka, and Jared face grim prospects ahead. Now we turn to the SDNY, who, unlike Mueller, has had no parameters in which to investigate, and to the Democratic controlled House, where Nadler and Schiff will persist in getting to the bottom of this monumental mess.
8
That Trump is a lying con artist is more than obvious. The ignorant TV comic Trump was only able to stay in business with vast sums of laundered Russian money. He has allegiance only to himself and he has absolutely no allegiance to the American people.
The most pressing question faced by our nation, which is based on a two-party system, is how to restore a sense of decency to the Republican Party. The GOP leadership has known all along who and what Trump is but they chose to foist him off as the leader of their party handing him the highest office in the land in the corrupt election of 2016.
The members of the Republican leadership are not necessarily traitors on behalf of the Russians, they are traitors to the Constitution, to our democracy. They have made a global laughing stock out of America and they must pay heavily at the polls if there is to be any hope for the future of our country.
12
This feels like listening to those crazy conspiracy theory people who can line up all kinds of evidence to "prove" to you that we never went to the moon, JFK jr is alive, mass shootings didn't happen. Whatever. I think Trump is toxic, but this reporting and com box makes me believe his rabid opponents are just as toxic to our poor, polarized country.
9
Spare some resources to continue the investigation Pret Bharara started and Trump interrupted into the very crooked Andrew Cuomo, including the $800,000 he received for a book that sold a few thousand copies.
5
Of course it does. Good luck with that.
2
Somewhat like a tree falling in a forest with no one there to listen to it, is there collusion (conspiracy) if no one speaks it into a microphone? At all? The president repeats continually "no collusion." Maybe a truer statement is "no provable collusion." He might know, if he never spoke of a direct quid pro quo with Putin.
That being the case, it can still be the case that there was an unspoken understanding: sanctions relief for the election plus a Moscow Trump Tower (and no compromat coming out). This being the case is there nothing that can be done? Well no. Just like common crime boss themes of Capone and Gotti, prosecutors look for side effects of the crimes: failure to report and pay taxes, for example. They prosecute these.
A counter argument, heard on Fox, is this is unfair. Because they can't prosecute or prove collusion, they dig up old, unrelated dirt. If one follows this logic out, it doesn't make sense. You don't get off for both crimes because you got off with one.
Enter SDNY. Not to go after Trump for other, older crimes, leaves the country in the hands of Capone, successful organized crime. In an ideal world, we could read minds. As it is we are left with a post hoc ergo propter hoc world: he got elected, he tried to relieve sanctions ergo one caused the other. We suspect this, we can't stomach it. The country has to be move on. Capone can't be president. It is against our collective national security.
4
Several National Mags and Many Newspapers already mentioning four states and seven venues that will continue investigations of the Trump administration's, his organization's, inaugural's and his transition's possible and probable crimes, misdemeanors, abuses, etc.
Its quite possible a few or more of them will intersect with Russians.
4
I fired Comey because of the Rusher [sic] thing, says Trump. Stay strong, don't be a rat like others, says Trump. Find the emails Russia, says Trump. Putin didn't do it, says Trump. My son didn't do it, saysTrump. Lies daily to the American people. Plain old fashioned lying.
I haven't been waiting on Mueller, I've been waiting on the Dems (GOP hopeless). It is there duty to impeach. Duty. That was a thing once. But they treat it like a political game. They are as complicit as the GOP.
This nation owes a debt of gratitude to Mueller and his team of Patriots. Well done. I hope Mr. Starr took some notes.
5
We still haven't seen the Mueller report yet. I think people are being a little premature to assume that the report will be a dud.
Every Mueller indictment has led to a guilty plea or a conviction. Mueller doesn't shoot blanks.
I expect that Mueller will find that Trump, compromised by Russia ($2 billion in loans funneled through Deutsch Bank and the prospect of the Trump Moscow project), worked closely with Russia in his campaign for the Presidency.
Trump may or may not have known that relying on Russia to promoted his election was illegal. In Trump's mind, not to take advantage of the Russian hackers and social media trolls to advance his electoral chances would have been stupid.
Trump wasn't indicted because Mueller follows Main Justice rules.
Until we know what is in that report, everyone should keep their seat belt fastened and their seats in an upright and locked position.
9
@Scott Brown
"Every Mueller indictment has led to a guilty plea or a conviction."
This is flat-out, 100% false. In fact, most of the Mueller indictments have led to NEITHER guilty pleas NOR conviction.
2
The neutral mainstream media needs to ask MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow why she cried when she announced that the Mueller investigation was over with no further indictments. Really?
13
@Conservative Democrat
She cried because she was so happy that the leader of the free world was vindicated. Obviously.
2
So many rocks to turn over. So many connections to follow up. If Trump avoids impeachment, what are the odds of multiple RICO prosecutions?
The organized crime group known as the GOP may rue the day it let the Trump family take over.
Make it so.
10
So no smoking gun for a Russia conspiracy.
Mueller could not get over the very high (90%+) evidence bar. But he did hand off everything he found to State prosecutors outside of Trumps' line of command - and it's all perfectly gift wrapped.
Mueller was the end of the beginning for Trump, call it the discovery phase. We're just getting started and now we get down to it. Those New Yorkers will want a piece of him.
7
When I heard a week ago that Trump emphatically told Merkel not to buy natural gas from Putin, I knew that Putin couldn't have anything on Trump and that the two had not colluded. Which is what I'd suspected all along.
However, the main effect was achieved, and that was to undermine and delegitimize Trump for most of his first term. It was turnabout for Mitch McConnell saying his main goal was to ensure Obama was a one-term president.
Meanwhile, essential tasks languish and don't get done.
13
@Cyclist how do you explain Helsinki, giving classified intel to Russians in Oval Office with no American press allowed, private meetings with Putin *no one* else to witness, the Holt interview, the drafting of a false statement re: Jr., giving regular putin talking points? You and I both know Trump couldn't find Montenegro on a map. Why does everyone else know and believe that Putin interfered with our election but Trump won't admit it? A foreign (hostile) nation hijacks our election and that doesn't infuriate you? Why is that? Come on, man.
Why has everyone around him consistently and continually lied about their dealings w Russia? How do you explain Manny, Pappy, Gates, Flynn, Stone going to prison?
Come on, man. I'd love to believe it was just a series of lies and coincidences, but come on.
The undisclosed Mueller report findings may be more explosive and fear inspiring than in the public realm.
2
SDNY answers to the AG of the US. They are not a special counsel. Don’t expect them to do much more beyond what the Mueller team has done.
3
He's gotten away with it and will be reelected unless you vote. Don't just hope for a better president. VOTE for one while we still have a country to love.
8
There is no mystery here. The only reason Trump
has not been indicted is the DOJ policy that precludes
same. Ken Starr was right, there is no reason why
a sitting president can't be indicted.
The MSM would be well advised to drop the "collusion"
framing and deal with the law and conspiracy to
obstruct justice
I note that all the lies are about one thing-Russia.
5
So if you are a criminal, run for President. You put a hold on any crimes you can be indicted for during your term or terms and maybe the statue of limitations will run out.
We now have a President who believes tax fraud, insurance fraud, campaign fraud, and fraud in general are not serious crimes and should not be investigated.
President Trump was calling for the jailing of Hillary Clinton for doing things that might compromise national security while it appears he allows his daughter and son-in-law to actually compromise national security through unsecured communications.
I know that some will say that you have no proof of that. But they say that while trying to block the investigations that can determine it.
It appears that we have the ultimate Catch- 22. A President can not be indicted but can obstruct justice and have his minions within his Justice Department withhold information that may lead to his impeachment. A President is not above the law but the catch is that the President and his minions are solely responsible for enforcing the law.
6
@dan-this is not wild accusations. The investigation that Mueller was given had a very narrow scope of questions that he was able to investigate. There is still a sealed indictment against a state owned bank. plus the sitting president cannot be indicted. also, SDNY is working on many more investigations of the president. plus, SDNY can seal, indictments and wait until the president is out of office to indict him.
2
This country can not survive if becoming its leader is a ticket to a criminal investigation. It is not healthy and it is wrong to him and the country.
Shortly, we will have an election and we can move on.
If some prosecutor is seen to interfere with Trump’s term in office, the backlash by his supporters will be wholly justified and likely severe. And for what? So that Pence can fill his shoes? So that Republican can nominate Nicky Haley and win by a land slide?
We have a democratic process, let it play out.
7
It would be important to continue to push to see Trump’s taxes. He is not above the law. The people should know the source of his money, he is not a private person anymore. Although, Trump thinks he is a king, he is a public servant. The rampant nepotism in his administration, the illegal money coming to Trump’s coffers. The people needs to know.
4
Why did Donald Trump fire Preet Bharara, the SDNY attorney who, I believe was investigating Deutsche Bank and the loans it provided to Mr. Trump? In other cases, the bank has been found to have laundered foreign money. How was Mr. Trump able to get those loans when he has had so many defaults with nearly every major U.S. bank?
4
My cousin Fred is so far left, he makes progressives look like right wing extremists. So maybe he's not representative, but when asked about Mueller's not charging Trump for colluding with Russia, Fred wouldn't accept it. "He definitely did collude. Just wait."
If Fred is representative of wider Democratic thinking that justice won't be served until Trump is in jail, then you might as well hand Trump his second term right now. Most of the country has had enough. If Mueller's two year investigation doesn't satisfy because the conclusion was not the outcome they wanted, and Congress continues to pursue this on their own, then this will increasingly feel like a witch hunt. It's time to MoveOn, to use a liberal organization name, even if it means MSNBC and CNN will have to come up with alternative programming.
10
The real crime is That for so long democrats lied to The base and had them salivating at the illusion of Mueller putting Trump in jail.
For the longest I have posted Mueller is a team player who would never shake up the establishment and this was a waste of funds. Now democrats are going to waste local time and resources on more farces. The interesting part will be seeing how NY and other states will be able to protect democrats from their net. For decades democrats in NY and other states have been in bed with Trump.
In the meantime so many local issues could be fought and addressed with the resources and give democrats a positive platform for 2020. The problem is democrats are too corrupt themselves and have local baggage like Menendez. So their only platform is going after Trump and they are even losing that issue.
9
The penalties for trying to usurp a duly elected president’s Power should be tantamount to those faced by those who fought Lincoln. Trump is no Lincoln. That is what makes it so tragic that the misconduct of elites may elevate him to a comparable stature. When you give Trump moral high ground by indulging wantonly in shadowy deep state misconduct, what does it make you? With that said, I wish good hunting to the legitimate investigators doing work that has a legitimate provenance. If there are any.
5
If there are misdemeanors and high crimes it’s best for now to let NY take up the mantle so his ability to derail prosecution by declaring an emergency or pardoning his associates and himself.
1
There are three big hurdles the country faces: whether or not at least some of Trump's supporters will finally absorb reasonable information instead of the steady stream of evil that comes out of Fox News. I do not use the word "evil," lightly. It is "evil" to purposefully spread fake news and wacky conspiracy theories, all in the name of profits and ratings. If some of Trump's supporters abandon him, the cowardly Republicans might be able confront Trump and McConnell. The 2nd hurdle is voter turnout. Impeachment is useless. The Republican Senate will not vote for it and the Democrats will be made to look like sore losers who are wasting our time and tax dollars. The third hurdle will be who the Democratic candidate is. I, for one, say "No" to Joe - his voting record is not stellar and he IS the "same old same old." I am a feminist and I wanted Bernie in 2016. I still do.
1
Americans have grown tired of the McCarthy-like investigations into Trump and anyone who knows him. The Russia investigation was a joke to most from the start. "Have you seen any Russian collusion around here? No? Mueller can't find any either." It's time for the prosecutorial focus to turn to where it should: Why was America's time wasted in the first place on this useless investigation? How could the FBI weaponize itself to unseat an American President? When did Mueller know in his investigation that there was no collusion or obstruction? Why did the investigation keep going when he found out?
We were told endlessly that Trump colluded with Russia and obstructed justice by every media outlet and Dem congressperson that could get in front of a camera. That was a lie. They all lied because they were angry about losing an election. There are much more important questions that need to be answered than anything the southern district of New York is wasting its time on.
10
If anyone had any doubt that the Muller persecution - yes persecution - was a witch hunt this article should remove it. The l The progressive left and its political and media apparatchiks will continue their relentless effort to prevent the president from doing his job despite being fully aware that the end result will be the same. Indeed their goal is not to find Trump guilty, because they won't, but to continue the presumption of guilt and the prejudice such presumption generates. The good news is - as more and more pundits are noting - that American voters are increasingly disgusted by this pile on, recognize it for the bullying that it is, and will vote accordingly in 2020. A media tainted by gross partisanship will have only itself to blame.
8
Mr. Trump, while cagey as can be, is also very astute in getting others to handle his dirty work. Many paths lead out from his finagling of the law - but one of them -- all it takes is one -- will be the trap that he, himself, unknowingly, has sprung, and will be his downfall. After everything Al Capone did which was heinous, the only thing that landed him in Alcatraz was income tax evasion. There will be an equally petty but stunning result in the case of US vs. Trump after all is said and done.
2
Americans need to see the entire report. We also need to hear from Mueller, not Barr. I hope the congress calls him into a public hearing so we can hear from the actual investigator everything he has discovered. Americans have a right to know everything Mueller has learned. The gov't works for us, the people. Remember?
3
If indictable crimes were committed that are subject to a statute of limitations that would expire if Trump wins a 2nd term, and the likelihood of Trump winning a 2nd term remains high — then perhaps a different private deal could be offered: if he agrees to not run, charges will be dropped. This could set the stage for a new slate of Republican candidates.
6
Actually the likely hood of Trump winning a second term is low. He has lost some of his followers and has gained no significant new converts.
4
Perhaps the leadership of both parties could put themselves in the position of the other and review what legislation or policies regarding governance should be changed or newly written. Perhaps starting with requiring those aspiring to be president to release their tax returns for a specified period, and perhaps clarifying an acceptable interpretation of what "emolument" means in this day and age would be a good start. What personal business practices are appropriate to be retained while in office, and perhaps consider, once again, the hiring of family and what actually is to be considered a conflict of interest. What happened to the ethics department?
It's OK to want to "shake things up" but not OK to destroy acceptable and needed guidelines for a civil society.
41
What business practice to be retained in office?
None
Period
2
The Southern District is as unbiased as its collective egos allow them.
17
Yup. Same as every other court and person in this world.
1
I know a person who, while in NYC , caught a criminal in their vehicle.
My friend pulled the person out of their vehicle and told them to go away. Fifteen minuets later, my friend was arrested for assault.
The thief filed a complaint.
I have no faith in New Yorks justice system. Absolutely no confidence at all.
To read that the AG's are doing this only reinforces my lack of faith in the State of New York's legal system!
19
Oh, yeah, that's a really well crafted comparison.
That is an N of 1
In research that is laughably& woefully inadequate
1
I've never been a fan of Donald trump but these investigations are actually making him the victim. What we needed after 2016 was a thorough investigation of the DNC's corruption the rigging of the primary against Bernie Sanders and the behavior of the Clinton campaign.
36
@Alex: The conspiracy theory of the Democratic primary rigged against Sanders has been debunked as promulgated by Russiian trolls. Trump is a victim as much as Al Capone and Bernie Madoff were.
2
Am I missing something? Did the Mueller report actually state why they’re not pursuing any more indictments against Donald Trump, his son, and Jared Kushner? It seem like the media is inferring that there is no evidence of criminal behavior from Donald Trump but we haven’t specifically heard that yet.
It is possible that, just like with Ken Starr's report, Mueller found evidence of criminal wrongdoing comitted by Donald Trump (Conspiracy to collude with a foreign government, obstruction, money laundering, bank fraud, violation of the emolument's clause, or any other crime....e.g), however he knows that a sitting President can't be indicted, so therefore he declined to indict Trump?
He may have also declined to indict Trump jr and Kushner because their indictments may have required corroborating testimony from Donald Trump which he knew Trump would never agree to doing.
In the end, Mueller's report may include these or similiar allegations including a recomendation for impeachment proceedings against Trump.
If this is the case, my only worry is that Attorney General Barr could prevent Congress and the public from ever finding out about this.
So, the Democrats should publicly push for the FULL release of the report and if the Trump Whitehouse refuses to release it, then the political narrative should be that Trump is hiding evidence of criminal misconduct.
25
I didn't vote for Pres. Trump, nor do I support his policies but "focus moves to New York" feels like a witch hunt and the American people left and right are not going to support it.
37
@Julia I don't see this as a "witch hunt," but rather as the appropriate judicial routing of certain possibly indictable crimes...what they were and where they took place.
4
@Julia
An official letter of authorization signed by the acting attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, authorized Mueller to investigate (quoting from the document):
(i) any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and
(ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and
(iii) any other matters within the scope of [the statute prescribing the special counsel’s jurisdiction].
When he found other matters, he referred them to other jurisdictions. If he had not done that, his investigation would have gone on for years and years. Was Mueller supposed to ignore evidence of crimes that were uncovered?
4
@senate27 it's only double jep. if it's the same charge. eg. there are no honest services charges in NY law. If there are state income tax violations they can be charged.
Al Capone went to prison for income tax fraud. Don't get too excited yet.
3
As with Al Capone, we need to follow the money. Everything Mr. Trump has done in his life has been about the acquisition of more and more money, through questionable maneuvering and sliding on the edges of the law. Certainly he has been unethical; now it is time to show the illegal aspects of his businesses.
26
"The work by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, may be done, but prosecutors in Manhattan and elsewhere are pursuing about a dozen other investigations."
Already we hear from the dead enders.
11
As a former democrat I would say the following: forget about investigations and focus in 2020. Get rid of the socialists /extreme left. The Center must regained power. Don’t be afraid to criticize representative of minorities when they say or do something wrong. Traditional Democrats are so scared to criticize their members.
As of right now I’m voting for and I’m working to re-elect Mr. Trump in 2020.
24
My family needs Medicare for All, free community college, and living wage jobs. It’s OUR taxes. We want to say what OUR priorities are: health care and education.
28
@Zejee
We Republicans want all citizens to have access to prosperity! We want people to able to take care of themselves. Our businesses must be our providers not the government.
3
Nothing is free.
3
Get this straight. Mueller was about collusion however for anyone who still doesn’t understand, the fact is that anything illegal that s Special Prosecutor finds he must pass along to the right agencies.to investigate. Forget collusion. We can it seeks count on New York to handle their investigation into Trump family business criminal activities. Indictments will come. Meanwhile I count on Congress and the Senate to pursue all crimes that tie to quid pro quo diplomacy, Saudi weapons deal, irresponsible Kushner security clearance which was fought by intelligence, business with reps acting as screens hiding Saudi, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese and other illegal investments that may reveal Trump corruption. Ivanka, Kushner illegal banking. Don Jr. illegal banking and more. They all think they are above the law. They are not.
32
I hope so and I pray for our country or what is left of it, that this ‘secondary’ set of investigations does not drag on for another two years, while the current sitting president insults and spits on the graves of his enemies like John McCain, and separates children forcibly from their parents into internment camps.
He needs to go and go quickly now. Our country is fully broken and my personal spirit is dimmed by this anguished process. No more of this! Let’s get this over with ASAP now.
10
The lines continue to be drawn as to what is reality, what is illusion, what is fact, what is fiction, what is truth and what is a lie.
I believe, as so many have said, that no matter how much of the Mueller report is made public, a disproportionate percentage of the American public will believe Trump and his Republican acolytes as they pledge allegiance to the Trump Nation. The once proud flag of our nation may no longer wave in the name of the home of the free and the land of the brave as the hands of corruption and self-interest continue to tear at its very fabric and its symbol of democracy.
27
Well said. The influence of Fox News propaganda and right wing radio is the great defining force of our age. It is hard to know how to defend against it. And it has so thoroughly poisoned out airwaves that I’m afraid it’s too late anyway.
2
I agree with Discernie... on every point and in case you missed it.....
“Collusion/conspiracy cases are the most difficult criminal cases to make by prosecutors under Federal law.
Mueller did us a great favor not extending the facts beyond that high bar one needs to clear to get a conviction on such a charge. Let's us the people sort it all out to our satisfaction.
There is more than enough there to show what we really need to know by 2020 along with the rest of the mess currently cooking in NY state and other venues and forums.
No please, no impeachment talk at all. PERIOD.
Get ready for a heavy turnout to dethrone the king in 2020.
Let's not waste 20 months spining our wheels in vain.
Go positive. Love the people and protect their right to vote. Fight where it counts most before the people who've been hurt the most by the elite corp of fools who rain "stuff" on us daily with unceasing and callous disregard for the good of all the people.
Mueller is our Hero no doubt and he will not be forgotten
An honest straight up and down brilliant prosecuting attorney; (investigating with integrity and valor) who has sacrificed for us and was steady at the helm of the most important project of its kind.
After it's all over.........we will know just how much we owe to one who was never above the law and revealed the true heart of the American justice system.
Thank you, Robert Mueller.
19
I expect the report was finalized to coincide with Rod Rosenstein’s departure. The NY prosecutors are green from Trump interference and pardons.
3
why are the Republicans so happy that no indictments were included? Aren't 34 enough? And Mueller said he would not indict the President; that does not mean his actions not indictable.
31
If the full report is not shown right away, then I believe impeachment proceedings should be filed by next Friday.
14
"...the federal prosecutors in Manhattan take an expansive view of their jurisdiction..."
Well, like, yeah. Their job is to investigate and prosecute the violation of Federal laws, as much as Donald Trump would like to restrict their performance of their duty. Red lines? He wishes.
15
Yes more investigations. To what end? Possible light punishment when he's out of office? Or maybe no punishment at all and re-election instead. Meanwhile Trump gets the first and last laugh and stays on as president itching to tell the world 'see I told you so. I'm innocent and such a great guy on top of it, leading the country to economic greatness.' Crime, especially the white collar type, pays handsomely in the U.S.
16
Donald Trump asked Matthew G. Whitaker if someone he viewed as loyal could be put in charge of the investigations at the Manhattan office?
This ALONE should end Trump in jail.
47
Barr shut Mueller down.
SDNY? More federal garbage that can and should be pardoned.
NY State charges?
NY state has the strongest "no double jeopardy" laws anywhere.
5
As someone familiar with federal investigations, I knew last September that Mueller didn't have anything. The first 8-10 months are spent identifying the issues. The next year is spent developing the support for those issues. If Mueller had anything, it would have been identified in mid 2018. And I will also say that the FBI has a reputation of protecting itself. If they don't have a sure thing, a slam dunk, they don't proceed. They protect their reputation above all else. They don't take risks. They don't have the drive that other federal agencies have in support of their mission.
10
"The first 8 to 10 months are spent identifying the issues." What a preposterous statement! Each case is different. To suggest a common timeline for such a simple, easy ( in many cases) step in every case is funny at best.
1
Perhaps that was why the 39 indictments, the long list of convictions, and the ongoing investigations.
Nice try.
1
Regardless of whether there was collusion or obstruction, it is undeniable that Trump takes every opportunity to argue and act in Putin’s favour. This, I believe, deserves much more scrutiny than it has received.
30
@Norm Vinson
And you, Norm Vinson from Ottawa, know that this has not received sufficient scrutiny, how? I'm sure Mueller would appreciate the benefit of your insight and experience. You're obviously closer to the facts and law than he is.
12
These issues are WELL outside the scope of mueller’s investigation as you well should know, they are well documented since Trump has pushed his pro-Russian positions out in the open, and I live in Ottawa, not Pluto.
2
Oh, why oh why did Donald Trump have to toxify New York?
5
Barr was hired to shut Mueller down.
That has happened.
SDNY? More federal garbage that can be pardoned.
NY State charges?
That's so funny, because liberal NY state has the strongest "no double jeopardy" laws anywhere.
4
Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize as soon as he started his job.
Trump got a Special Prosecutor investigation against him as soon as he started his job.
Why are things that should be happening at the end of an administration happening at the beginning?
7
I really doubt that Mueller or Barr will let an unhinged and dishonest person like Trump wreck our country. Trump has said enough in public that should be grounds for being indicted. Mueller was head of the FBI and he knows Comey, McCabe and other people that Trump has tried to destroy. I think they got fired because they we’re doing their jobs and they must have known Trump was up to no good. I doubt Mueller will let Trump totally destroy the FBI.
The big question is on Barr will he restore the justice department? I doubt Barr has respect for Sessions or Whittaker.
14
Talk about over hype. Short of some seriously damming information in the report it will be anticlimactic at this point. Think most people are just sick and tired of hearing about it. So much speculation and nonsense. Just tell us what’s in the report when it’s finally released to the public.
11
35% of Americans believe the most corrupt president in American history is "draining the swamp" and believe climate change is a hoax.
While this is happening, no one in bought-and-paid for corporate media is asking the fundamental question: "Has our democratic capitalist system failed?"
They'll never ask.
17
Democracy has a fairly good reputation because one can suppose that it is “fair”, but it was never claimed to be efficient.
3
@Marco Philoso
When you call our system a democracy I honesty cannot tell if you are being sarcastic or what. How can you even pretend that our system is "fair" when our presidential elections always hinge on voters in a few swing states, and everyone else's vote is essentially ignored?
12
@Marco Philoso
And 50% of the voters in this country believed that Hillary was the "most qualified person ever to run for Pres.", and that she had spent her "life in public service." Stupidity is bipartisan.
2
The nonpartisan truth is if Trump is not compromised or a traitor, it is good news for the country.
But how do you square this with him doing NOTHING to protect our 2018 or 2020 elections and not launching a full-blown investigation into Russian interference himself?
Why was this put on Mueller to confirm, but be labeled a witch hunt?
Something is rotten in DC and me thinks it’s oozing from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
42
Apparently the Dems are incapable of accepting that Mueller was unable to find anything to indict Trump for. So now multiple agents, DAs etc are going to be wasting hundreds of thousands, if not millions of tax dollars looking for something that doesn’t exist. In the meantime real criminals will be free, due to the focus elsewhere.
25
@Ellen Min
Did you have the same opinion when the repubs wasted millions of tax-payer funds trying to burn Hillary on the emails or the tragedy of Benghazi???
30
I figured democrats would ignore the almighty Mueller if he didn’t find a smoking gun to lethalize Trump. Now they’re removing all their eggs from the Mueller basket and placing them in the Southern District basket. Further attempts at reversing an election. Why won’t they put their energy into grooming an electable candidate instead? I got a hundred bucks says Trump is gonna win again in 2020 as the Dems busy themselves with endless investigations that will turn off the swing voters in this country.
27
@DanielMarcMD
How is it that a medical doctor thinks that 100 million people can only perform one task at a time? Also it's interesting that this is only a $100 risk for your upper class portfolio, while the rest of us are risking our entire fortunes.
10
Trump has not been proven to have sat down with Putin and made plans and carried those plans out so he's innocent of collusion? He must be presumed innocent in America.
Trump has talked to Putin alone several times but there is no record of what they said. Either there was no witness or only a translator who was told not to give information. Unprecedented, raises suspicion.
Trump has parroted things Putin said. Raises suspicion.
Trump has said he believes Putin, not US Intelligence. Unprecedented. Raises extreme suspicion assuming Trump was given evidence.
Trump believes Saudi Crown Prince innocent of/about Kashoggi's murder, rejects US Intelligence opinion. Considering Saudi explanation raises extreme suspicion.
Trump got money from Russian Oligarchs when he couldn't get loans from US banks. Transactions that looked like money laundering for years.
I could go on for many more pages of things that raise suspicion, especially considering that Putin was a KGB officer and is a Russian Patriot. The damage done to America in Trump's 2 year presidency makes me hope Trump is tried and worry about 2020. Almost nothing has been done to protect us from cyber meddling and Trump is attacking the Constitutional separation of powers. Trump's budget predicts more angry and desperate voters.
30
What if the report has concluded that Russia worked to have Trump elected? He refuses to acknowledge this happened. Will Trump take action to make sure this doesn't happen again, or will he continue to believe Putin's denial of interference?
16
Can we please remove this dangerous tumor before it strangles the entire body? Shame on those who thought this malignant narcissist would make a good president.
51
@Gigi
He'll be removed at the next election for sure!!
5
It took the government three times to bring down John Gotti
but eventually Gotti went down and died in prison.
18
@New World
It took the government four runs at Junior Gotti, but eventually he skated on all four attempts and the feds looked ridiculous. You bring a silly analogy into a serious discussion.
6
If grand jury testimony can't be released, why was Monika Lewinsky's grand jury testimony released?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/mltest080698_1.htm
Please explain the differences between Starr and Mueller.
19
The fact rains that DJ Trump is a corrupt, delusional, pathological liar who has been damaging this country's interests since the day he got into office - unless something happens to get him out of office sooner there is no telling how much harm he will inflict before the end of 2020.
34
No more indictments, a sinking feeling and a complete loss of faith for this country.
The justice system began to show us how it is rigged and bent towards the white and the rich with the Paul Manafort sentencing. How Roger Stone, Rick Gates and Rick Gates have all been charged with lying, but not with working with Russia to advance their interests, not ours, that to me is treasonous at its slightest.
I am sick and tired of looking forward for someone or something to have this malignant President be held accountable for the dozens of corrupt and disgusting actions he has done to serve himself, his family and the rich. Yet nothing, no one, nobody can stop him.
This country has failed, miserably, to be held to it most fundamental democratic principles. Letting one man, one ignorant, poisonous, narcissistic human being tear it by the seams with no remorse.
The election in 2020 is truly our very last hope to get this humanoid out of this position of such enormous power. The other investigations will come out blank, he is immune.
Trust the United States to not deliver with the same token.
23
As has been pointed out - the Special Counsel investigation has already produced many indictments and guilty pleas.
THis podcast by Lawfare - where they simply read sections of the Mueller court filings as if it were a spy novel - really lays it all out in detail.
https://www.lawfareblog.com/lawfare-podcast-shorts-speaking-indictments-robert-s-mueller-iii
6
@cjw
You don't seem to understand that indictments are not facts. Rather, they are mere unproven allegations. Wen-Ho Lee was indicted, Richard Jewell was indicted, the Duke Lacrosse 6 were indicted, the Central Park 5 were indicted (and convicted). Do you get it?
8
Rich white people don't go to jail in America. Ever. Not one after the financial crisis. Not one after this crisis. The president surrounded himself with provably criminal mafiosos and foreign agents, flooded the white house with unqualified criminal hacks based on nothing but nepotism, and he's going to skate. Teflon Don.
The Republicans who ran this investigation like Comey, who sunk Hillary, and Reagan's Princeton Boy Bob Mueller did such a hack job. Didn't even question the subject of the investigation. Don Jr. publicly released that e-mail. Nothing came of it. He didn't even get questioned. Nor did Prince for his sketchy Seychelles meeting. Nobody even turned that stone over. The fix is in, ladies and gentlemen. They'll burn the republic to the ground for just one more regressive tax cut every time.
36
Mueller was never about collusion. It’s always been about SDNY pursuing the trump crime family.
12
@Fred
This is called Revisionist History. Mueller's investigation was ALWAYS about collusion & Russian interference.
13
Really? How much must we spend does funding the transitions of former DOJ Prosecutors into private sector/big law partnerships?? Enough already.
5
Big day for Trump fanboys and angry old bigots whose families want nothing to do with them. If you like seeing dead war heroes grotesquely insulted and Nazis praised by a military service-dodger, our allies alienated and foreign dictators and enemies empowered, it’s a good day for you. Judging from the comments, Trump supporters are just waiting for the word from their leader that they can come after their fellow Americans like they’ve been unofficially doing for months now.
44
They all must be demons to disagree with you.
Look up McCain’s service record before he was shot down. The same skull work that got him ranked 846 out of 851 at USNA guided him to select Sarah Palin as his running mate. His Dad was the admiral in charge of the Pacific fleet. Look up the aircraft carrier crash landing with fatalities and some other cowboy behavior, always absolved where other would have been drummed our. The man endured torture (and talked as everyone does to make it stop) and imprisonment for 5 years and that certainly earns him the highest respect.
He was far from perfect however. A hair trigger temper, more insecure than even Trump, consider his recent far-ranging actions including the tie vote on the dumpster fire that is the ACA which has now cost us an additional trillion dollars. He had railed against Obama Care at every turn but voted against the repeal solely because he hated Trump even more. Now, as of two days ago, we know he directed his staffers to distribute the phony dossier to the press in addition to the rancid FBI leadership. That was an actual crime. Take the time to get your news from sourced content rather then partisan blather.
8
@Harry Johnson
Let's look up Trump's service records first...
16
Reminds me of The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf.
6
@Jean-Claude Arbaut
In the end the wolf was real. Wasn't it? Are you saying that Trump's supporters aren't going to see it coming?
3
@Martin
For two years democrats and the media have been crying wolf.
The whole Russia thing looked and still looks plausible, but when you want to bring something to court you need proof, otherwise your credibility is lost. If Mueller's report doesn't bring something very hot, it will only reinforce Trump and his allies. And the 2020 election will be much more difficult for democrats. They wanted justice, they ought to accept the result, whatever it is, and move on. Forget Trump, focus on the campaign. Who wants another legal fiasco, with all the consequences? We are already in 2019, the clock is ticking.
Well, maybe there will be something in the report. I would be surprised though: Trump had enough time and power to hide or blur any evidence against him - if there was anything to hide in the first place. Maybe barely enough to convince those who are already convinced. In my experience, politicians are rarely convicted.
Don't misunderstand me. Trump represents everything I despise, and I would love to see him in jail. But trying again and again is not the right way.
Besides, there is something much more serious than Trump: the American people is more divided than ever. It's time to heal and reconcile.
6
@Jean-Claude Arbaut - Many indictments and convictions and/or guilty pleas of everyone around Trump. But so far Trump has escaped. So I agree to a point.
But as far as the electorate, the Mueller report changes nothing, and it was never going to change the country's divide - "conviction" or not. The only thing the report could do is make a case for impeachment, by breaking Trump's support in the Senate.
And yes, we are more divided than ever and it's up to leadership of the country to solve that problem. The problem is that our divide starts, and is promoted by the President giving his approval to conspiracy theories while encouraging his supporters to "lock her up" and beat people up. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Trump *enjoys* the divide.
Healing and reconciling? Easy words to write. Starts with trump reigning in his troops - and himself. That's not going to happen.
It's like telling the Yellow Vest protestors to just go home and reconcile their differences. Except Trump would be inciting those people if they'd vote for him.
3
President Trump should remain at Mar-a-Lago and pressure Florida to secede and abolish any extradition treaties with the US.
17
We are all rooting for NY to nail Jr. and Kushner at least. We hope they can do whatever the Feds cannot do. The worry is that Barr is the Boss and may nix whatever they are trying to do. We the People are helpless against a Cartel.
15
Philip,
Please do a service to yourself and your family, and watch less CNN.
7
Although the Southern District's investigation is largely separate from Mueller's Russian corruption investigation, at this point it might be prudent to take stock of the aims of the Russian interference program.
It was to create division, discord and disunity among Americans.
That's why they targeted both MAGA and BLM supporters with viral fake news at the same time. The aim wasn't necessarily to advance a single political agenda, but to weaken the U.S. from the inside.
We might want to keep that in mind while partisans harp on what amount to modest technical campaign finance violations (hush money illegally paid indirectly but that would be legal if paid directly). I personally don't think we need to dive head first into a Constitutional crisis over a porn star. Prosecutorial discretion may be the better form here.
7
That’s an interesting reaction
2
"Show me the man and I will show you the crime"---Lavrenti Beria, Stalin's state security chief.
The howling mobs in the media and the Left have their role model. Determined to undo the 2016 election, they'll stop at nothing.
Trump will leave office for sure----in January 2025.
20
@ras
If a Dem had done all the same many horrid things that Trump & family & associates had done - you'd be screaming about it. And I'd be screaming about it right along with you.
The disappointment is that you don't see anything wrong when your "side" does such atrocities on America, for personal or political gain.
You're so consumed with dis-ing the "howling mobs" that you're willing to take this country and all of us down the rabbit hole to subservience to Russia & Putin (y'know, the country of Stalin?).
Half of my family came to US from Ukraine, where such critics as yourself had guns and sabers, and chased all the "howling mobs" out of the county.
Be careful of thinking you know too much, before you learn anything from your (or our family's) own experiences.
13
@ras: There you in the Midwest go again...that one-track mind, that keeps insisting this is all about voiding the election of Donald Trump; well, it's not!
This is about trying to get to the bottom of a corrupt administration; a man who has flouted the Rule of Law, and tripled down on every lie he's told; and is arguably more dangerous than Nixon.
Maybe you haven't been paying attention to the grand scheme of things; which include money laundering, and obstruction of justice; what the Southern District of New York is investigating.
Sure; Trump may win reelection. But once he's out of office, he stands to be the first (former) POTUS to be indicted. And if jail doesn't get him, lawsuits will.
You watch.
12
If DT does not go to jail, we will never have a non-corrupt President again. The door is open, say whatever you want to get votes, lie, cheat, steal, break the law. It’s all A-OK. this is America - the New Third World.
26
This is how they got Al Capone. The paperwork, not the slaughters.
8
Now the "progressive" democrats in their fury are going to attempt to destroy the lives of anyone associated with Trump. They will operate under Lavrentiy Beria's theory of "show me the man and I'll show you the crime".
18
@jaco
Not a bad theory where Trump's concerned. The only requirement to work on his campaign was a willingness to lie to the FBI.
9
Trump has pretty much ruined the lives of everyone he’s touched.
11
@jaco
You got that from a mass-mailing directly from Moscow?
6
The report is out and the wait is on. Here's what I want to see happening;
Mueller found not direct link to djt's part in collusion,( he has master the art of remaining once or twice removed from all actions he executes). He looses the 2020 election and heads back to wherever. Southern Districts comes knocking at his door and bingo you are going down.
10
Where is the media’s reckoning who essentially created an industry around this conspiracy theory for the past 2 years?
14
The only one spouting conspiracy theories are on the Right, the Fox, InfoWars and the like.
Many respectable news outlets, both print and TV news, got it right.
9
I would be more than happy just to get Trump's tax returns.
Nothing fancy like all the "investigations" swirling around now.
Just his tax returns.
20
@Hal
The tax returns almost surely are a non-issue--maybe politically embarrassing, but nothing DT can't survive easily. I do not doubt that he takes aggressive positions on his returns, consistent with the law as it exists, a reasonable interpretation thereof, or a good faith *disclosed* argument for a new interpretation. He has the money to hire the very best and makes no secret that he strives to pay the least possible amount legally required.
I am very confident he has not taken fraudulent positions that could result in the civil fraud penalty or criminal prosecution. I am doubt that even the 20% accuracy related penalty applies to anything he's done.
He'll be blasted for being a Richie-Rich who has taken full advantage of the law to minimize his liability. Some on the left will argue that this is scandalous, as though high politicians have a *moral* duty to overpay their taxes.
That ain't the way the system works.
11
@Wine Country Dude
Sounds like you want to keep his tax returns hidden. The majority of Americans want to go through Trump's tax returns and make our own assessment and not just accept your "explanation".
6
@Wine Country Dude, guess you missed the Times article on the tax fraud the Trumps have been committing for decades. You can google it.
3
Hence the term political witch hunt, which is accurate in two respects.
On the one hand, it is accurate because it is politically motivated. People dislike Trump, so they want to investigate anything and everything, no matter how old, to frame him as guilty. He definitely did have some shady dealings in the past, but this shadiness should have been investigated then, not now. The timing is entirely off. It suggest a tendency to frame Trump so as to tarnish his reputation.
On the other hand, it is a witch hunt because we are looking for guilt many, many years after the fact. The things Trump did are wrong, but then to search for them this late after the fact suggests the partiality in our justice system. It also points out how grey and politically motivated the justice process really is.
People want to attack Trump's character and reputation because they hate him on a personal level. Never mind that his proposals, when discussed from different rational perspectives, actually have merit. Unfortunately, we must reckon with the fact that this "witch hunt" is a very accurate descriptor for what's actually happening.
14
@Anna Q...excuse me, but you are aware that several US intelligence agencies determined a foreign government's (Russia) interference in our electoral process? That doesn't bother you?
This was the basis for investigations starting, and lo and behold, look what else has been uncovered.
14
I liked the way you used the word “shady,” to try and turn all this into a trivial little boyhood oopsie. It’s every bit as hilariously annoying as, oh, changing “conspiracy,” to “collusion,” or swearing up and down that, golly, all anybody’s been convicted for is a petty eensy “procedural crime.”
7
We can’t tarnish Trump’s reputation; he’s done that on his own.
He is all about corruption and self-enrichment. Amazing that you cannot see that.
11
All of you trump supporters who believe in alternative facts should hold on to your beliefs because objective reality is coming. Trump is going to lose because he's tired of winning and playing golf.
Trump is not a liar. He is going to make his tax returns public once the audit is finished. He's going to give middle income taxpayers a 10% tax cut. He has made Kim give up his nuclear arsenal. So much winning.
22
@John
You forgot the 'amazing' health care for 'everyone' for 'much less'.
I'll be dead before he comes one step closer to any of the that.
8
Give us a break ... Those “Objective” Republicans so Anti-Trump they planned a coup involving wearing wires to entrap the President. They’re as much Republicans as bleeding-heart reparation fan David Brooks.
Liberals politicians in areas with conservative prosecutors never tore off those mattress tags - federal prison awaits ...
5
"federal and state prosecutors are pursuing about a dozen other investigations that largely grew out of his work, all but ensuring that a legal threat will continue to loom over the Trump presidency"
I'm not a particular fan of Trump, but this is pathetic. There isn't anything on Trump and Russian collusions or crimes in office. Give it up. Democrats should focus on the 2020 campaign -trying to run Trump out office didn't work.
14
@Dave
Perhaps as well you believe the Grand Canyon was caused by Noah's flood?
5
Profound feelings of regret akin to those the evening Trump was elected POTUS are ruining this fine early spring weekend. If another shoe is to drop, let it be soon.
9
4 by-lines all striving for the gold!
3
"...about another dozen investigations..." The implications of such a phrase is staggering.
Never since 1789 has ANY president faced such an overwhelming number of investigations because no administration since 1789 has been so blatantly and openly criminally corrupt.
And this is not even inclusive of all the ethics and criminal investigations of the cabinet. For example - Secretary of Labor Acosta was found in federal court to have broken US law when he essentially let child trafficker and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein off the hook. In ANY prior administration this would be front page news, and would call for immediate removal.
In the Republican party of 2019 it is a second of third tier scandal, behind things like money laundering for Arabs and Russians, the children of the president illegally getting top level security clearances and apparently using them to sell secrets to Arab benefactors while using WhatsApp and private email servers to cover their tracks, or Chinese spies operating out of Mara Lago using trafficked prostitutes to gain access to the inner circles of Republicans in congress, the media, and of course the president himself using "rub and tugs" to make Republicans "happy" to do their bidding.
Impeachment is the Constitutional remedy.
Finding "work arounds" to eliminate the Electoral college and fighting to end gerrymandering are needed reforms to prevent this kind of grotesque debasement of the country from happening again
14
Because two year of hyperventilating partisanship, fear mongering and stoking division was not enough!! Double down. The Democrats are digging their grave (one can only hope).
19
And yet somehow we’re not the people throwing exclamation points and graves around.
7
What this commenter predicts is not going to happen:
"I wouldn't be surprised if Barr takes Mueller's report and tosses it in the trash, and passes on the one he has been writing since he assumed office -- and says mueller wrote it."
If Barr does that, Mueller will just say (as he should): "That's not what I wrote," and Barr will look stupid and craven.
Far more likely, the Mueller report will be publicly released, with protective redactions, or leaked. One way or the other, I expect to be reading it soon.
3
Maybe Mueller believes a sitting president can't be indicted. The bottom line is that no one other that Barr and Mueller actually know what is in the report.
To Trump supporters, he isn't even close to being exonerated. Why are you folks so blindly supporting this thief? I'll never understand it for as long as I live. Can one of his people answer that?
26
The Democrats and the media have laid a big egg. No indictments involving any U.S. citizen colluding with the Russians. Only indictments are for unrelated crimes or lying to the FBI. A total farce because the Democrats lost and wanted to come up with why they lost. The reason is simple--the voters decided the Democrats were a fraud. And please do not give me the nonsense about the popular vote--remove CA and that is not true. The Electoral College will never be changed for the same reasons that the smaller states do not want to give up their two U.S. Senator—so CA it is your lot in life to not matter. Keep America Great—Vote Republican.
14
Not at all true, but I did like the way you airily dismissed the indictments of 26 Russians and three comoanies run by Putin.
14
@Jonathan
"Only indictments are for unrelated crimes": still, a crime is a crime and there seems to be quite a few criminals among President Trump's friends and associates. How many does it take to make a "mafia"?
6
Continue the Trump investigations, but lets also hire a few hundred professional prosecutors and investigate every single member of the House and Senate. Investigate how Nancy Pelosi accumulated 50 million dollars, some of it from insider trading. Let’s also investigate how Diane Feinstein’s husband made millions on government contracts. How about Joe Kennedy? Generations of his family are all rich from money that their great grandfather made in the 30s, and 40s - talk about tax dodging! Let’s investigate them all!
16
Collusion/conspiracy cases are the most difficult criminal cases to make by prosecutors under Federal law.
Mueller did us a great favor not extending the facts beyond that high bar one needs to clear to get a conviction on such a charge. Let's us the people sort it all out to our satisfaction.
There is more than enough there to show what we really need to know by 2020 along with the rest of the mess currently cooking in NY state and other venues and forums.
No please, no impeachment talk at all. PERIOD.
Get ready for a heavy turnout to dethrone the king in 2020.
Let's not waste 20 months spining our wheels in vain.
Go positive. Love the people and protect their right to vote. Fight where it counts most before the people who've been hurt the most by the elite corp of fools who rain "stuff" on us daily with unceasing and callous disregard for the good of all the people.
Mueller is our Hero no doubt and he will not be forgotten
An honest straight up and down brilliant prosecuting attorney; (investigating with integrity and valor) who has sacrificed for us and was steady at the helm of the most important project of its kind.
After it's all over.........we will know just how much we owe to one who was never above the law and revealed the true heart of the American justice system.
Thank you, Robert Mueller.
619
@Discernie
For starters, if there is evidence he gained office by violating the law, the judges he has appointed should be removed from the bench.
On the other hand, the white, rich, and well-connected do have a way of making crime pay in the United States, don't they?
Bye-Bye, 'merica, Bye-Bye
81
@Discernie Let's wait for the report to be made public and also consider the charges in the Southern District of New York. If the findings rise to high crimes and misdemeanors then impeachment proceedings should start. This case is exactly why impeachment exists. To do otherwise, is to sanction criminality.
58
@Peasant Theory
It was stated last night on BBC that indeed despite the choice Democrats believe they have, may be forced by a chronicle of crimes, I think already obvious, that will force their reluctant hand.
Yes to all appointments becoming invalid as a result of criminal conclusions.
Although, yes, I believe they will all get away with everything. This is our tradition after all, right?
31
Commenters should hang their hopes on Letitia James.
The Southern District of New York is part of the self-same Justice Department headed by Trump's appointee, Thomas Barr, to whom Mr. Mueller formally reported. The Southern District is subject to the discretionary review of prosecutions by Washington, as it should be. It is, after, all, part of the Executive Branch.
If the SDNY declines separately to prosecute the President (a decision that would actually be made at the highest levels in Washington), the left will object that Trump again intimidated the Justice Department into letting him off.
And if Letitia James won't do it, I'm sure there are some assistant Queens County DAs, Chemung County prosecutors, and possibly public defenders, who can be drafted into battle--you know, to get at "the real truth".
Really, you folks need to just focus on winning the election in 2020.
5
@Wine Country Dude
What jurisdiction would a prosecutor from Chemung County have?
4
@Wine Country Dude
Commenters should "hang their hopes" on the Senate Oversight Committees, and seeing the published Robert Mueller Report for themselves.
5
"...The Southern District’s reputation for nonpartisanship..."
Is this some kind of a warped joke ?
This office has a reputation alright, and it certainly isn't for non-partisanship.
13
Not a single American was indicted for collusion or obstruction of justice after two years of twisted attempts by Democrats and their supporters to illegitimately attempt to unseat this president and damage the country.
Not a single one.
15
@AVR
I still don’t think they understand the fury of the blowback that will be unleashed against them.
4
@AVR
Attacking a GOP-dominated justice department and the rule of law is basically another form of subverting the Constitution.
But, if you're comfortable with that, you can own it.
9
@Greg
So you are arguing for what, armed insurrection against the faithful execution of Constitutionally proscribed laws?
Treason, right?
Although the emphasis of this investigation is Trump I have zero doubt that there will be a lot more, discovery of nefarious dealings on the part of Jared and the Kushner family financial entanglements with totally inappropriate people, in particular his dealings with those such as the Steinmetz family in Israel , whose patriarch Beny was wanted by several different international law inforcement agencies at the time of these dealings involving a very large loan so Jared and Ivanka could scoop up some low level rentals in N.Y.C., this followed( and proceeded by if you go back further to a mega loan from Tom Barrack to stave off bankruptcy concerning the 666 building), but most aggregiosly in my opinion his loans involving the Saudis and Qataris during periods of international attention on MBS following the murder of Khassogi and the timeframe of the sanctions regarding Qatar: that these mega money deals were allowed to transpire to the benefit of the supposed Presidents advisor doesn’t just suggest corruption at the highest levels, it screams it: seemingly we have morphed into a banana republic, the transgressions taking place in this administration suggest to this reader at least that the nation is now run by an international cartel of players in the Middle East not the rule of law. The mind boggling, off the cuff decisions, with respect to Jerusalem and the Golan Heights add yet another layer questionable dealings. Let’s hope the Southern District does its job.
12
The SDNY and all the rest will likely be totally transparent. Mueller was a genius to structure these cases this way. And no pardons.
10
@Debbie
Or indictments. Indeed, brilliant.
3
@Debbie
Smart legal strategy, especially with Trump meddling in the federal investigation.
New York has manner matters ahead regarding crimes. They will do a good job!
4
I think Mr Muelller has proven beyond doubt that he's a lot smarter and far more competent than the US media and "pundits" who have been sniffing around Mueller's investigation. More competent than Washington, too, but that's no longer much of an achievement.
When will someone realize, let alone mention, that this report isn't a standalone thing. There is now a respectable tonnage of highly relevant legal findings related to parties involved, too, and has been for quite a while. Those findings point straight at Trump and the Trump campaign, as well as the astonishingly large group of mediocrities involved.
The various convictions and indictments that have sprung from this investigation are now proven legal facts. They can't be overturned by some bit of presidential maneuvering or tweeted out of existence. Any further legal action can draw upon this vast library of shoddy/ illegal practices and very iffy political deals as evidence.
The fact that Manhattan seems to have an oversupply of the stunningly dull individuals involved isn't all that relevant. Any sewer expert can tell you that "going with the flow" is pretty much expected, and that's what a certain class of business people do on a regular basis, whether it's corruption fraud, or just being jerks. This is no different.
In epidemiological terms, it wouldn't be the first time that Manhattan has caught the flu, and America has got pneumonia, either. Mr Mueller has supplied the diagnosis and the treatment.
4
At this point, let's please move on. George Soros was right to create a moveon organization, and we should embrace that concept. Trump is not good for America but finding the lower road only makes us look worse. Move on America, your best days are yet to come.
4
People who are critical of the Mueller investigation should be grateful it ever happened. It's purpose was to investigate foreign government meddling in our elections. It found evidence and indicted multiple Russian defendants. It's purpose never was to investigate Trump.
The equating of the investigation and Trump has been wrong from the start.
People who saw the investigation as a way to get rid of Trump have been wrong all along. It was never about that.
As Americans we should be concerned with Russian interference in our elections.
8
@J. Alfred Prufrock
Trump, his administration, and his family were all deeply involved. The only stumbling block is indicting a sitting President.
7
@J. Alfred Prufrock: You claim: "It's purpose (the Mueller investigation) never was to investigate Trump. The equating of the investigation and Trump has been wrong from the start."
You (and anyone recommending your comment) are detached from reality. See below:
"The Justice Department appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, as special counsel on Wednesday to oversee the investigation into ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russian officials"
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/us/politics/robert-mueller-special-counsel-russia-investigation.html
1
What happened to obstruction of justice, you ask? Mueller will present the evidence that supports a finding of obstruction and then he will let Congress decide if it's obstruction.
The singular internal flaw of this process from the beginning. If the DOJ won't indict a sitting president (because of an internal policy, no less), then there was never a criminal solution, only political.
The rude truth is that our politicians are our prosecutors, God save our democracy. The DOJ "policy" (not law) is and was always a farce and proves that Trump could actually shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not be criminally indicted. I hope he does just to expose the farce of the DOJ policy.
5
Meanwhile while New York’s wheels of justice keep turning the Congress needs to be on point. Pelosi, Schiff, Nadler, Feinstein, Schumer and so many super talented honest people with real knowledge about the United States Constitution, law and intelligence must protect the integrity of America intact!
7
The only thing I worry about is the President changing his mind before the ink is dry.
As for the country, it runs itself.
Translation: we didn't find anything in Washington, so let's move to an even more politicized investigation. Very sad.
8
@Mike Livingston
The already have Trump listed as an unindicted co-conspirator, and that is the tip of an iceberg.
Thankfully, the House of Representatives can get Mueller to testify to those things Barr will bar.
5
Though I thought little of Trump since 2008, or whenever he started becoming political, and didn't vote for him, the resistance has made his success important to me. I felt the same way, only towards the Rs, when they acted like vindictive children to B. Clinton. Different time, different party, same nonsense.
If I were sitting on a jury and the prosecutor convinced me DT, or anyone associated with him, committed a crime, I'd find him guilty, but it would be very hard to do without the most convincing evidence, as the vicious hatred on the left towards him surpasses what I've ever seen held against any president, going back to Reagan, in my late teens, when I started becoming politically conscious, and I think makes people delusional and obsessively vindictive.
The vitriol against him is so excessive that I believe the resistance, including the media, will once again help him get elected. In 2016 neither candidate should have been nominated and though I was happy to see the media get a slap in the face, I couldn't hope he won. This time, the waste of time and money in the Mueller investigation, the sickness of the Kavanaugh nomination process and the continued efforts to bring him down other than by nominating a better candidate, makes me hope so. I'm not sure if enough to vote for him, because he does behave like an idiot too often. And, if you are convincing me, who has not voted for president in a decade, I imagine you are persuading a lot of other people too.
5
@DHEisenberg
No vitriol. Merely utter and complete disrespect for a man who is morally and ethically unfit for the office. Apparently, facts don't matter?
8
@dmckj No vitriol? Uh huh. My advice. Run. someone against him who is.
1
Why the assumption that the AG is going to reveal anything substantial about the report? I’m willing to bet Barr invokes “national security” and says nothing of substance.
1
Impeachment is not enough. I dream the impossible dream: Trump doing time in vertical stripes.
6
Maybe the Dems and their friends in the media should focus instead on identifying a candidate who actually can win in 2020.
4
@Steve
Don't worry. They are.
4
Preet Bharara was fired, but isn't this standard operating procedure for new Presidents? Didn't Obama do exactly the same thing?
2
Data collection by Mueller, plus some indictments, is over. Now, the real work to hold Trump's criminality to account starts.
5
Next up from the Democratic excuse folder, " let's see what the dozen investigations come up with". Impeachment is too divisive, and needs to be approved by Republicans. That'll be about as effective as waiting for the Mueller report.
5
Feels like a Schrodinger cat situation with Trump until the Mueller report is released in its entirety.
Open the box. Let’s see what’s inside. This is the price one pays for holding public office.
3
Wow. Trump's derangement syndrome critics just lost 3-15/16ths of their 4 legs and should therefore be streaming big apologetic mea culpas in President Trump's direction yet in utter frustration they choose to double down in NY with even more bottles of political poison. Funny think is . . . they'll be the few to have consumed it come November 2010.
8
Speaking of Michael Cohen (pictured at the beginning of this article), he claimed in his recent House testimony that he's never been to Prague (or anywhere else in the Czech Republic). In sharp contrast, James Brennan, then head of the CIA, claimed that the CIA has evidence that Cohen met in Prague with Russian agents.
Setting aside what Cohen might have talked about in Prague, or with whom, should we at least find out whether he was there? Either Cohen was lying or Brennan was lying. It would be easy to figure out which it was. Frankly, I doubt Cohen would lie about that, since it would be easy to disprove any such lie, and Cohen had no incentive to lie. But if Brennan lied instead, it makes me wonder about his and the CIA's credibility.
4
If Trump wanted to put an end to all this suspicion and speculation once and for all, he'd release his tax returns and he'd divest from his businesses. He'd do everything in his power to be cooperative and to show—with evidence, not with juvenile tweets—that there's nothing to investigate. Come on now, Mr. Trump, you forced Mr. Obama to release his birth certificate. And, while you’re being forthcoming and transparent, let's see those academic records and bone spur x-rays. Get it all out there, Mr. Trump. If you have nothing to hide, this should be easy. As your supporters keep saying, we all have bigger and better things to worry about, so let's put an end to all this horribly unfair and biased witch hunting once and for all so you can finally show us what a master deal maker you are.
4
If at first you don’t succeed .....
It’s a political hit job that will stop at nothing to remove him from office. I’ve got news for you, he gets re-elected.
Myself, having never voted, will ABSOLUTELY VOTE FOR HIM. Democrats will implode as the party is all over the place. Zero agenda. Oh wait, Green new deal, how could one forget. It’s beyond ridiculous and they know it....
9
What is the fascination with the Southern District of NY? Has it escaped everyone’s notice that this is a FEDERAL court? Trump can pardon federal crimes until he gets tired of signing his name. Why would any Federal court risk looking as bad as the Special Prosecuter now looks for no gain at all? Trump can holler “NO COLLUSION” and then pardon anyone who so much as gets a parking ticket near the Federal Courthouse. What a colossal waste of time!
4
Now that we know that "Justice Department Guidelines" and Nancy Pelosi's Personal Opinion protect traitors from the law, we can expect presidential campaigns to be sponsored by any country that wants to bankroll a candidate or dedicate its spy network to that candidate's election. Mueller's indifference is in line with the Citizens United ruling in which bribery was declared protected by the First Amendment. Treason deserves the same protection and will, no doubt, receive it.
Let’s face it. There won’t be impeachment.
The thing we can hope for after 2020 is that he might go to prison.
6
WHY is there is so much TALK and very little action being taken to get this BUM OUT OF OFFICE!! HOW MUCH corroborated evidence is needed? Those in Congress representing the GOP should also be looked at with a jaundiced eye. GREAT SCOTT! Action is needed sooner rather than later.
6
@betty sher
Because we are a nation of laws, procedures and deliberation. This is obviously frustrating you.
6
@Wine Country Dude
Trump seems to have broken too MANY of our "nation's laws" and we have had 2 years of "procedures & deliberations". Enough is enough for that scoundrel!!
3
I ❤️ NY! Go get em!
9
Looking forward to seeing the full, taxpayer funded report. Hopeful the findings will lead to major reforms and the restoration of American values.
6
So apparently the report contains no damaging evidence regarding Trump himself. I'm sure there are people all over the country who are disappointed at this. Reality doesn't fit our dreams sometimes.
11
You should turn your attention to current analyses of the investigation. Absence of charges on matters forwarded to other government investigative agencies does not mean exoneration. There's more to come. I'll have plenty of popcorn on hand to sit in on the months of investigation to come. I can hardly wait!
5
@JackC5
What you, and so many people who view this situation as some kind of personal battle or cause for retribution fail to recognize, is that this is more about our COUNTRY than about any one given person.
Besides, the Report hasn't even been made public yet, and there are still other investigations underway.
THAT is the reality,
7
@JackC5 Anybody closely following it predicted that there would be no further indictments. Any person closely following it knew that the king pin could not be indicted. Here is some reality for you. Individual 1 was named as a coconspirator in a case where the less guilty other conspirator got several years in jail. Since virtually ?nobody else knows what's in the report yet how do know that "the report contains no damaging evidence regarding Trump himself."
4
Just vote Trump out of office:
"... many of us want to hold President Trump accountable for his actions, and yet that outcome is becoming increasingly unlikely."
For better or worse, the collusion investigation has taken so long that we're coming up to another election. If voters don't like Trump, they can just vote for someone else. Why take a chance on an impeachment conviction in the Senate when you can just toss Trump and Pence out on their ears -- for any reason a voter fancies, or for no reason at all?
11
Your dream of getting rid of President Trump is just a dream. President Trump is going to win a second time.
6
The Mueller report is focused on collusion only, no details have been made public yet. All else is still the same, abuse of power, lying and business crimes are still out there, also the fact that a sitting president can't be indicted, at least so they say.
7
As this commenter points out, the "baton" has been passed from Mueller to the SDNY:
"God speed, Southern District of New York. The baton has been passed to you."
A few would argue that the "baton" has instead been passed to the House, to Adam Schiff, but most Trump opponents understand that Mr. Schiff's conclusions probably won't be "accepted" by Americans (unless, of course, the House comes up with a "smoking gun").
The SDNY prosecutor, in contrast, has a reputation for even-handedness. Some will wonder why the SDNY didn't look into these allegations at the time, but better late than never.
9
Trump’s corrupt business practices have been exposed (phony charity, tax scams) only because he is President. Had he not become President, he would have continued this behaviour essentially without consequence.
This makes me wonder how common these practices are, and how many Trumps There are out there operating without scrutiny?
50
The left constantly fretted that any investigation coming out of Trump's Justice Department would be fatally compromised: Sessions, whitewash, Whitaker, etc. etc.
Now, we are to believe that the Southern District, a considerably lower and less independent arm of the Justice Department than special counsel Mueller, will administer Trump's true comeuppance. Of course, if the SDNY falls short, then Schneiderman's former office surely will lead the way in convicting the president. Yes, that Schneiderman.
This is an enormous win for Trump. That it doesn't conclude all legal proceedings against him is irrelevant. We have been pounded for two years with the notion that Mueller, with huge resources at his disposal, would see the evidence and charge the President himself. The left has only itself to blame for the failed binary nature of its position. I believe more failure will come.
20
@Wine Country Dude
If anyone "fretted" about this investigation coming out, it was the "very stable genius".
6
The progressive liberals love the dream of impeaching president Trump. The last almost three years have been fun for the progressives. Too bad the dream is over.
2
@N. Smith
That contradicts nothing I said.Both fretted, but for very different reasons.
Take heart. We don’t want the Mueller report to offer up indictments. Remember that the President can pardon conviction of a FEDERAL crime. Better that the Mueller report provide the information and evidence to be used by state law prosecutors, e.g., District Attorneys or State’s Attorneys.
Better that Trump should be charged with violating STATE law, which he has no authority to pardon, and which Pence would have no power to pardon.
As stated by the retired judge and former US Attorney quoted in the article, the important thing to remember is that Trump has done all his deeds inside the jurisdiction of the Southern District of New York. This just means that he’ll be tried, convicted, sentenced, and maybe even jailed — right in his own hometown. And that day is not far off.
22
There will appear to be many more weeks, if not months, for the Fake President, his grifter family, and associated co-conspirators to proceed shedding droplets in several federal prosecutors' sweat boxes. The public could be witnessing repeats of the intensive Mueller probe, with a pattern of initial indictments methodically leading to later ones, up the food chain, in multiple venues involving all matters of Trumpian criminality. These prosecutions, "life imitating art", will be like watching multiple episodes of "Law &. Order" as the full scope of 45th's illegality and depravity is revealed. How many R.I.C.O. charges will emerge?
15
All these investigations will go on for years and lead nowhere. It's purpose is to enervate the American public such that behavior that would have caused intense outrage in the past is accepted with a yawn, "par for the course".
At some point, which I believe has long since arrived, we lose our democracy. We are reduced to a state of passivity and grumbling.
What will CNN and MSNBC do when the story has ended. Will they have forgotten how to report real news.
The American public which watches these channels at every opportunity because they are not just interested they are addicted.
They'll stop watching and find some other addiction to capture their time, energy, and thoughts.
Why does this happen?
7
this will be a lot of real estate stuff, like trying to lower appraisals to save taxes, accelerate depreciation, insurance reimbursements , stiffing plumbers in Atlantic City etc. Every developer in my town has the same issues Stormy/Karen are non starters..just paid to protect his family and easily arguable. As long as O'donnnell, Rachel, Don, Anderson, Brian can put their early retired "prosecutors" and "FBI agents" 6 on a screen fro $750 an appearance to promote their books all is well. This will mean nothing and make many Hillary voters(like myself) consider trump in 2020 which I never thought I would do.
7
The amount of baggage the President carried into office, has generated since and will produce in the future will continue to be unpacked and examined. He and his crew can howl about the heightened scrutiny but that's comes with the job. Mr. President it was your choice to run, get used to it.
14
It seems to me that several changes need to be made to our laws. One, being why a sitting president can not be indicted? Esp considering when these acts are of the gravest nature (likely collusion and treason which is an offense punishable by hanging), and were most likely committed before, and now during a presidential term.
Secondly, no president-candidate, -elect, should have had dozens of harassment cases as their back history. It’s the same with Greg Gianforte (the Montana rep) who assaulted a reporter the day before his election. There shouldn’t be room for criminals in our government, and because most of society clearly can’t understand, listen or read, a law needs to be in place to establish criminality and the disqualification to run for office.
There’s also the issue with gerrymandering and the electoral college, but I’ll stuff it for another day.
7
@Christine
When the American people, by popular vote, passed the "Justice Department Guidelines" that exempt a Republican president from all laws, they never imagined a president as execrable, as vile, as treasonous as Donald Trump. I'm calling for a vote to overturn the "Justice Department Guidelines" and reinstate "The Constitution of the United States."
3
I have a radical idea. How about leaving the fate of Donald Trump up to the people of the Unites States in the 2020 election, instead of, again, wasting years and untold millions of dollars on attempts which, if we are to be brutally honest with each other, are motivated primarily by the desire to delegitimize or stain his presidency ? Remember how the Mueller investigation was the vehicle which was to reveal the truth we would all abide by ? Now, absent some unexpected revelation in the report, it will quickly be relegated to the trash heap of history. We were never really looking for the truth, were we ? No, we thought we were going to boot him out of office and nullify the election. Well, surprise, that's not what happened.
And-am I the only one who has noticed that there has been no public clamor to spend all our resources devising a way that insures the Russians can never interfere again with our elections ? No, because we cared more about fixing blame than solving the problem. So here we are, two years and millions of dollars later, and the Russians can and will interfere with the 2020 elections. Imagine if instead we had devoted all that time and money to prevent Russian interference?
15
If the Russians helped Trump get elected, and Trump was in on it, that’s almost treason.
If the Russians helped Trump get elected and Trump was NOT in on it, that’s even worse.
7
@New World - I agree with everything except the word "almost."
2
@New World
Well, framed that way, Trump is guilty regardless of what he knew or did, at a time when he lacked the government's power or resources. His culpability depends solely on actions taken by an independent, foreign third party.
That's a really curious position. We're going to see a lot more of them, as Trump Derangement Syndrome spreads.
2
Stop, just stop with the predictions, analysis and the endless Russia blaming. It’s like living the Cold War again. The problem is with a country that claims it’s democratic but never was. From the expropriation of land, to the exclusion of women, slavery, segregation, playing games with the voting system, minimizing labor rights, encouraging discrimination against minorities and immigrants, practically criminalizing people who fight for healthcare, clean air and water, workers rights, a social safety net. Trump and those around him are venal, if not downright criminal, but impeaching or jailing him won’t solve the problems we have. Trump is just a symptom of a decaying society. Trump is the president we deserve.
10
@jc: Don’t speak for me if you were too lazy to vote in the midterms of 2014 and 2010, or let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I for one, do not deserve Trump as president. Women have the vote, and slavery ended in 1865. Hillary Clinton would have strengthened all the other things you mention, whereas Trump and the Republicans sabotage healthcare, environmental protection, unions and the social safety net. It’s not Russia blaming either, because Russia interfered in the 2016 elections for a fact.
3
@Anna You’ve made my point for me. Hillary got more votes than Trump. Because of the Electoral College many people’s votes, including mine, were meaningless. The system was designed to be that way. As for the end of slavery it didn’t. Segregation and forced labor were slavery by another name. Maybe women could vote but to pretend that they are treated as equals is delusional - me too anyone? Just wait for the new abortion restrictions. As long as we don’t confront the contradictions in our country we can’t do better.
1
The report has not been revealed to the public and Trump supporters are already claiming a win. Or others are saying nothing will ultimately result from the report. Both conclusions are wrong. Trump and those in his orbit have been revealed as the most dishonest and corrupt group to have ever held the highest offices in the land. The cat is out of the bag. Trump and his family have been exposed for the grifters that they are. Trump may not have "actively" colluded with Russia but it was an unspoken truth.
7
I just checked a statistic online that I think puts things in perspective. Over the course of his life, DJT has been a party to approximately 3,500 lawsuits. 3,500! That is just staggering.
So when I read in the paper about how this time the Feds are going to get him and justice will be served, pardon me for chuckling.
This is a guy who thrives on conflict. Today is just another day at the office.
16
This should give some thought as to way Donald the Swindler did not reappoint Preet Bahra as the US Attorney for the Southern District of NY.
Preet Bharara, the former U.S. attorney for Manhattan, told an interviewer Sunday that he was fired after a series of “uncomfortable” telephone calls that made him feel that President Trump might be trying to compromise his independence as a federal prosecutor.
"Trump, who was then president-elect, first telephoned in December, “ostensibly to shoot the breeze and asked me how I was doing and wanted to make sure I was OK," Bharara said on ABC's “This Week." "
10
@David Underwood
Why don't you tell us how many USAs (US attorneys) that were in office at the end of GWB's second term Obama kept on? It's a political position.
3
@GMooG
Here's an idea. Why don'y YOU tell us how many there were, and then name them?
Another thing.
Why is the default position ALWAYS about what Obama did?
3
The Trump syndicate have done business in NYC for decades completely unobstructed making tons of friends along the way.
To think all of a sudden NYC politicians are going to do anything of consequence now is a joke. What have you been doing the last 50 years?
4
Yes, continue the investigations ! File articles of impeachment !
Waste time -- and invite (rather, beg for) the inevitable public (especially independent voter) backlash.
10
I'm an independent voter and I want them to bring every crime of Trump's to light using every legal mean at our disposal. I doubt there will be a backlash. It didn't hurt the Republicans to spend Obama's presidency wasting time with pointless investigations. It helped solidify the base. It didn't hurt Trump to insist that he had information that Obama wasn't born in the USA and to ride the birther wave to the presidency. He was rewarded for attacking the president on flimsy or no evidence.
Also there is the obvious difference that this is no longer a partisan investigation but a criminal one in the courts.
4
What grates me is the damage to this country - water, air, land, national monuments, wild animals, the insistence on oil and coal, the offenses to our allies, dumping on Puerto Rico, and the casual "no, I won't do it" by trump. And the acceptance of his behavior by his base.
11
The Democrats are making sure they lose in the next presidential election. Blind hatred and naiveté' abound. The Blind hatred of course is best illustrated by their hatred of President Trump and their sincere hope that something bad and sinister would come out of the Muller report. They hate conservatives and white men, even though white men created the country they are attempting to take over they despise them. We would not have running water, electricity or air-conditioning were it not for white men- just to name a few little shared (non partisan) conveniences. The naiveté is best illustrated by their belief that their politicians (lets use Obama as an example) was more honest, less self seeking, etc. This is simply untrue it's just that Obama was a very smooth snake oil salesman and Trump is more like a disparate used car salesman. Still further naiveté' example is that the US citizens would actually go for the Stalinism and socialism they are holding up. Too bad Pelosi is so weak.
8
They’re just doing what they were elected to do.
1
I'm a white man and I hate Trump. It didn't hurt him to spend 8 years insisting Obama was born in Kenya, so I'll take your warning with a grain of salt.
4
@Dixon Duval: We wouldn’t have evolution theory and safe abortions either if it weren’t for white men. We wouldn’t have mass shootings and the Holocaust and slavery and rape either if it weren’t for white men. What is it you want to say? That white men are superior to women and non-white men? We have a name for that: White male supremacy.
1
The much awaited Mueller Report lands in absolute silence unlike the Starr report. Now it goes straight to Trump's Justice Department. Will the report come to a dead-end there? Much ado about nothing, if true. I'm disheartened to say the least, enraged to say the worst. But the House has to be informed. Which means another two years of repeat investigations, another round of drama and intrigue. What a waste of my tax dollars! Now my only hope lies in the Southern District of New York, host to most of Trump's crimes!
1
Your tax dollars are being wasted on a much vaster scale than the Mueller investigation. We are currently at a record high federal deficit.
5
The headline should have read: as one Dem dream dies, all wishful thinking switches to New York.
The shame of it is that a precedent has been created. If we ever do elect a Dem President he or she will be set upon from day one. This is the new normal in politics.
8
They don’t even need to be president! They could just be Secretary of State!
5
The president is above the law. Get ready for it, because that's what's happening. I bet Cohen feels played by Mueller's team and frankly, he has some reason to feel that way. I bet he and the other cooperating witnesses are thinking "Wow, that's it? All that for nothing?"
3
Trump should have been in jail a long time ago.SDNY turned a blind eye, and will look bad for this. I will believe it when I see it. Meanwhile trump and most of his henchmen are sitting pretty and hard at work destroying our country.
I never believed that Mueller would be the savior decent Americans thought he would be.
3
We are light years from seeing the entire report and the supporting documents. The enemies of our "right to know" should be pouring the Dom Perignon, toasting to the defeated bufoons they outfoxed.
Mueller can post a sign "Gone fishing". He deserves it. Now is time for SDNY to reel the criminals in... similar to what happened to Capone.
5
@Nicholas
Best keep Mr. Mueller around in case there are any more questions -- or subpoenas.
3
Is Barr still locked in his bathroom?
If there was anything, we would have heard by now.
I can't stand Trump, but if this turns out to be hyuuugge money waster that could've been concluded months ago, I will be even madder.
Think of what we could do with the money spent on this investigation. I hope it does provide some kind of meat on the bone, but I bet it won't.
Then, it'll be spin time. All these people who are NOT elected or the President who have gone to jail will be for naught. They should've been caught for thier crimes by the local law, instead of using our tax dollars.
We'll see.
No announcement yet, but someone needs to go knock on the bathroom door and ask Barr: "Are you done yet?!?!?!"
On the other hand, if there IS nothing, how much you wanna bet that Mueller, a Republican, will become Trump's best buddy, instead of just "some guy who wrote a report"?
@Ignatz, the forfeitures of money and property Mueller got from Paul Manafort have paid for the investigation twice. Look it up.
1
This is a CRUSHING blow to the Leftist Media, though I am uncertain as to why. There was NEVER any CREDIBLE evidence to suggest a collision; it was a complete FABRICATION! Somehow, however, I gather there will be a NEW THEORY conjured up by Conspiracy Theorists that will launch an even more CREDIBLE investigation than that of the first.
9
@Mark Grago
I agree. There was never any evidence of a collision.
14
@GMooG
There is more to this than "collusion" -- starting with the indictments of 34 individuals, including Trump's former Campaign Manager, Paul Manafort and the 5 who plead guilty to charges.
Let the public see the findings of this investigation before jumping to conclusions.
4
And yet...how many indictments?
2
From what I've read Trump never expected to win. When it was announced that he won, his wife cried. Smart Cookie.
We have an incompetent, racist, cruel, greedy, criminal as our president. Unbelievable. I didn't vote for him so will detach myself and pretend i am living in Italy or New Zealand until 2020 and then i will be back to vote.
Here's looking at you Joe Biden. One term and then it's time for a qualified woman. Hear me roar, hear her roar. It will be deafening.
7
Whereas … apparently ... a foolish DOJ 'notional' stands in the way of any potus indictment …
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS (gifted presently) is to see 'Donnie-boy smug,' the wastrel princeling Jared and the useless, delusional Ivanka indicted, arrested and taken into the custody of the warden @ Rikers' or that underfunded Fed lock-up in Brooklyn … and to see trump's 'visage' in the event.
P.S. 'If necessary,' I'll take 2 out of those three indictment wishes -- provided it's the boys who are 'tapped.' But -- even if only one is … regardless which -- I must 'insist-the-wish' (and 'deliverance thereof') in re the accompanying 'reaction shot' of donald-in-charge.
3
God speed, Southern District of New York. The baton has been passed to you.
551
@dafog
What’s next? Unpaid parking tickets? Wake me when Trump wins in 2020.
7
@dafog
If there were a "God" … and further assuming the "good" and "great" super-supernatural one in whom the believers believe … there would be no trump -- or and at least, no donald trump known beyond family and friends (in the unlikely 'event' of any of the latter) and a universe of enemies (in a 'universe' confined to a couple of blocks in Queens).
7
@dafog — You do realize a sitting president cannot be indicted, right?
For many waiting for Godot has not ended by any means !
1
I dread that this I'll become a permanent feature of Democratic party politics and the news cycle, along with Russiaphobia, the Yellow Peril, divisive identity squabbles, and all the rest of the dross which keeps politicians and the electorate rivetted, while the war state rolls on like a giant snowball, unexamined.
6
Sounds Russian in its outlook to me.
2
News media such as the NY Times are caught in a dreadful and unenviable predicament. That is, they are in the business of delivering the news a regular feature of which for the last two years has been about a ghastly person whose oxygen it is to be in the news cycle as much as he can. That led me to imagine a “what-if” scenario along the following lines. What if somehow the NY Times decided that they would not print anything concerning Trump for say 6 months. But if it was absolutely necessary to mention him his name however would never appear except under a sobriquet such as “the nameless person”. Would subscribers abandon the paper? Would Trump seethe with fury at not being the paper’s perpetual object of attention? Would readers feel that in reading the paper that they have at last recaptured a modicum of sanity which had hitherto eluded them? If your answers are “not really”, “yes naturally” and “yes thankfully” then you know how I feel. Unfortunately this is a what-if scenario which is hardly likely to happen. All the same it was so liberating even to imagine it.
4
@Camestegal
A week or so ago, whenever that college admission scandal broke, I remarked to my husband what a wonderful respite it was from the endless Trump news. Instead of Trump, we got to talk trash about Lori Loughlin!
Anyway, I wish we could stop talking about Trump forever, but unfortunately he's the President of the United States.
3
I get it. Liberals hate President Trump and now that the Feds couldn’t coerce and blackmail targeted Trump acquaintances to smear him in Fed court, other prosecutors are brought to bear to coerce and blackmail targeted Trump acquaintances to smear him in state court.
Any rational American who loves our country and appreciates fair an impartial justice should tremble in terror at how liberals have weaponized the prosecutors offices to destroy their opponents.
Bar Associations would disbar any conservative prosecutor blatantly using criminal courts to attack political opponents - but liberals ....
14
Dude, don’t be afraid. It was Trump’s very own Republicans appointees who selected and oversaw Mueller. ‘Member?
5
@Scared Citizen, I don't hate anyone. But I do expect a criminal to be prosecuted if he broke the law. And from all the evidence I've seen, it looks very likely that Trump broke many laws. A court has already named him as a felon co-conspirator in a crime that he would now be going to jail for if he were not president. That should matter to all Americans who claim to love this country. The law matters.
1
On to Plan B
Pathetic, considering how very sure we would get him.
So much for the conspiracy thing
Let’s move on, eh
8
@Joe Yoh
Just to be clear. This is not about some conspiracy to "get him" -- unless that's as far as you're able to understand what's actually going on here.
10
all that glitters isn't gold
“I said to my lawyers, ‘Are we being looked at here?’” Mr. Trump said, adding that his lawyers “don’t even know what people are talking about.”
Me thinks he knows.
8
1st off. If the SDLC is so good, why did it never prosecute trump prior? Useless legal system that never goes after rich people is shameful.
5
@Mogwai
Are you confusing the SDNY with the SPLC? The latter doesn't prosecute.
1
You'd think that after lying us into war in Iraq, the NY Times would be a bit more circumspect. Certainly some self-reflection would be warranted after misleading the public over the past three years with all of the heavy breathing about how Trump is a traitor.
But no.
Now it's on to New York. Now it's on to more baseless speculation calculated in malice.
This is an appeal to the audience:
Don't be a chump.
Mueller spent two years examining Trump. This included using teams of F.B.I. and I.R.S. agents to comb through all of his financial papers.
They found nothing.
You know why?
Because Trump is smarter than the rest of you. He has had the government after him for decades. He has the best lawyers and accountants on retainer to keep his finances and reporting in compliance. So, of course, his paperwork is clean.
There are real problems in America. Don't let this kind of propaganda distract you. Don't let the Fake News fool you again.
11
The RNC makes the Dem’s look slow and dumb. RNC already has talking points of no collisions and that report exonerates trump. They haven’t read the report yet but they win leading the news cycle.
2
If you're indicted here
You're indicted everywhere
It's up to you
New York, New York.
12
Trump and his criminal organization should have been put out of business long ago. His dirty money kept him free. Will his Presidential power now do the same? Or will the law finally prevail?
8
A lot of other rich criminals including dictators are friends with Trump as we all know. There are lawyers working 24-7 for Trump in which some are taxpayer paid.
Sickening dirty politics in the USA are at an all new time high. These are not dumb people they just lack any moral compass whatsoever and worship power and money.
The democrats and independents have huddled in a cave for far too long in fact 2 years and 2 months too long.
2
We must all continue to pray to Mueller that he arrests trump immediately! Pray. Pray to Mueller!!
2
A new broom sweeps clean. We need an Amy Kobuchar to run against this family. Her only fault is handing her hair comb to an aid to wash....she will clean his clock so profoundly that we will have to put out a world wide emergency alert for the flotsam and jetsam released drifting their way. It's going to be especially difficult for his gun toting allies, be it biker gangs or radicalized police and military, to short circuit our political process with a senator from the Midwest. R
@Mrf - Nope. Her staff turnover is almost as high as Trump's. Whenever someone looks to acquire or partner with a company staff turnover is one of the things they look at and high turnover is a sign of some significant management problems.
4
Translation: we lost this round. Next
98
@Henry James in Manhattan
There is no next round. The Democrats gambled all of their political capital and credibility on Mueller and lost. They’ll be lucky if they hold onto the House in 2020.
27
@Greg, dream on Greg, dream on. The report hasn't even been examined by congress or released to the public and Trumps apologists, supporters and sycophants are claiming victory. As if Russia interfering in the 2016 election for Trump benefit has somehow gone away or the other numerous investigations into Trump's history of criminality and mendacity isn't still happening. As they say it ain't over until its over & that hasn't happened yet.
79
@Greg
You do realize this isn't some kind of a Game Show, don't you?
The only "gamble" here is on the the due process of law, and the U.S. Constitution.
51
You got to wonder here. I mean to not even mention here the shocking behavior, if not deeply criminal actions, from the likes of the top management of the FBI and DOJ during the campaign and after the election is more than shocking. And it wasn't even mentioned in the accompanying video here which is supposedly on how it all originated. It's certainly beyond baffling. It was clearly criminal behavior yet it seems that reporting the many recent news breaks on it, let alone its long and complex history, is just never done at the New York Times. I think such a steadfast and consistant omission is telling. It speaks loudly that this paper isn't actually reporting news, it's shaping it, shaping public opinion. And you can see it here in the comments section.
It's shockingly absent, and given the serious circumstances of what they did -- actually attempting to nullify a presidential election -- the only explanation of its glaring absence is collusion of this paper with those who are hell bent on bringing down the president -- no matter what.
9
So now we are going to have 2 years of NY digging into Trumps's business and legal affairs? Does anyone really think that Trump understands or reviews those telephone book sized tax returns every year? That he doesn't have an army of lawyers and tax experts preparing all of his business and financial reports? And that Trump and the Trump organizations have already had probably every one of these returns audited and reviewed by the IRS and NY tax authorities?
Now they are going to go back over these returns and say that they didn't do their job correctly?
Trump is obviously not the successful businessman he boasts to be, in fact he's a pretty crappy one, but people will see this for what it is, as a politically motivated vendetta.
9
This just in: when you sign your tax returns, you’re attesting—legally attesting—that to the best of your knowledge, they are truthful and complete. Something about perjury is mentioned, I seem to recall.
But which way do you want it: is Trump completely innocent, or just a total doofus?
6
The important piece to recognize is that the investigations into Trump are not about Trump. They are about the presidency of the United States. There are many Trump like characters who would love to exploit the presidency to their monetary benefit if they could only get elected. But if you are a criminal, you better believe that any misdeeds are going to be investigated and see the light of day. I hope that if Mr. Trump is found to have broken the law, that he is charged just like any other American citizen, if only to deter the next criminal from ascending to the highest office in the land.
12
And "Sovereign" indeed as it refrained from prosecuting the financial industry in it's own neighborhood for the malfeasance that helped bring us the Great Recession on 2008.
2
There is a large pro-Trump rally outside of Trump Tower in New York that is now happening. Why no mention of this very important event? If I had not made previous plans for today I would have joyously joined in.
There is certainly a lot to celebrate with the Mueller investigation finding no more indictments to deliver and no collusion on the part of President Trump. This is certainly a day for celebrations for both President Trump and the Republicans. This cannot be said of the Democrats who must be very unhappy with this latest finding.
13
Can’t be much of a rally, given that it’s not really showing up on the Internet. Or is the Internet in on it too?
By the way, how do you know that Mueller found no collusion, exactly? You get an advance copy, telepathy, remote viewing, what? Or is the just the same old clever, clever attempt to shift the def from consoiracy to collusion?
10
@Robert
And it can't be much of a rally if it's happening here in New York City...
3
@WPLMMT, well the rally must have ended because the 12 people that attended seem to be back on the comment section of the NYT telling us over and over that crimes don't matter. Sad.
1
The bar representing the public tolerance level keeps being raised. Not only have his previous indiscretions failed to move the needle, in retrospect they seem strangely quaint as though from another time in our collective history. The scandals surrounding him have not ushered "end of the world" scenarios. Donald J. Trump, the individual, has prevailed through countless 5 column "Breaking News"headlines.
4
How many thumb drives does the Mueller report exist on?
1
So much delusion among this readership just because of a personal hatred of a man. There are plenty of intelligent people who support Trump, who, have viewed the past 2 years for what it is - a media-supported circus that has zero bearing on reality. It's turned everyone into some kind of wannabe investigative reporter, seeing "evidence" where there clearly is none. Trump won't be touched, that much is obvious, and has been obvious to those sane enough to see things objectively for the past couple of years. But I doubt that'll stop the fantasies from continuing to live on in the minds of otherwise very smart people. A shame so much energy is being wasted by such people.
10
The political system is in crisis. This is no longer a functioning democracy. It is now a continuous investigation of whomever happens to win power, an attempt to cast your political opponents as criminals. It was started by the GOP and has infected the Democrats and cable news. Before the Trump presidency, it was Benghazi and emails. Now it is Russian collusion. Liberals like me simply could not deal with the fact that the country would elect a horrible man like Trump, so it was convenient to blame Russia and not look in the mirror. Russian collusion was always a joke. Serious journalists on cable news keep repeating the speech in which Trump asks Russia to release Hillary's emails. This is ridiculous. He did this in a campaign rally, in public. Did somebody think that this would qualify as some smoking gun for Mueller? It was just another improvised jab that Trump threw out there to mock liberals. Was there was corruption, incompetence and fraud? Sure. But there was no collusion and now nobody will care about the former. Congratulations for shooting yourself in the foot, resistance.
7
Do you guys really think that these fast little waves at fairness confuse everybody into mistaking you for anything other than a clever, clever Trumpist?
2
As was 100% predictable, there is not a moment of introspection or second-guessing on the part of the people who have carried this scam for 2 1/2 years. Automatically, instantly move onto the next accusations, allegations, finger pointing, anything conceivable to distract from this historic failure.
I don't see a single one of you asking where the allegations came from - who was making up so much stuff about Trump? How did the Steele Dossier turn out to be so wildly incorrect? Who was making things up about Trump, and who in the govt took it seriously? Are they still lying to you
But none of that, you folks will stay on the attack every single day. The damage done to this country by this paper alone in its complete failure on this story is tremendous
145
@Dan
Most of the speculation was borne out of Trump's lying mouth and public conduct.
The attacks will continue until justice is served.
Remember Al Capone walked around for years thinking he was above the law. Then the feds got him on tax fraud.
Boom! He died in prison.
260
@Dan: Everything verified in the Steele dossier turned out to be correct. The con in the WH needs to go! Lock him and his grifting family up!
224
A scam that resulted in 37 criminal indictments.
296
In my opinion what’s most difficult about this entire situation is that I believe many of us want to hold President Trump accountable for his actions, and yet that outcome is becoming increasingly unlikely. It’s obvious that the president’s actions have ranged from questionable to verging on corrupt, but what we can all claim he and his team have done, and what we can actually charge him for, are two different cases. So we are faced with this question, do we harbor on this investigation, turning it into a true witch hunt (not that there aren’t any witches to be found) or do we turn our attentions as well as our resources to the future?
This is a question I have struggled with recently. So often in history the ‘bad guys’ were never held accountable for their actions and in our modern age I think many of unrightly assume that this is no longer the reality. But through closer analysis we can see that most of the time the ‘bad guys’ do get away with it. We now face the fork in the road that will determine not only the 2020 elections but American politics and values for the foreseeable future. While I don’t believe there is a right answer, i don’t think any politician can succeed in 2020 by centering his/her campaign on the premise that Trump is a horrible person, Clinton tried that and we all know how that turned out. The next POTUS will need to be able to convince Americans and the world that their vision of the future is more important and substantially better than our past.
121
@Roger
“ ...I believe many of us want to hold President Trump accountable for his actions, and yet that outcome is becoming increasingly unlikely. It’s obvious that the president’s actions have ranged from questionable to verging on corrupt,”
What actions? Questionable how? Verging in what way on what corruption?
We Buzz words alone are in no way representative of any kind of rational thinking. Is it the left’s intention to simply keep posing undefined, unknowable assaults on our President and his electorate with absolutely no underpinning of actual fact? Do we want to live in country where innuendo and character assassination are the rule of civil intercourse?
9
@Roger Not once did you mention Russia's interference, you cast Hillary as if she did not win, but she did. Almost 3 million votes, and Roger did you know more people voted for HRC than ever voted for Any US President in History ? How is that possible? Well, the game's rigged, knowingly or unknowingly by the GOP & by Russia, who are quite knowledgeable in the arts of psychological manipulation, propaganda, and persuasion. As for Clinton, how can a woman do any better than she did, she beat the vote total, and she broke the record on votes cast. for anyone, ever?
42
My favorite example of"bad guys getting away with it" is the Wall Street Bankster scandal of 2008. No investigations leading to prosecution and punishment happened. The Obama Holder administration looked the other way.
Not only that, regulations have changed and these same miscreants are free to repeat their criminal plunder.
Bad guys prevail, though the establishment will throw one to the wolves; think Martha Stewart. So sad and frustrating.
15
Let’s not forget what it is that prosecutors, everywhere in every jurisdiction, do: they look for evidence that someone, anyone, has committed a crime. Mr. Trump’s assertion that their is a “red line” over which prosecutors are morally obliged to avoid crossing, is malarkey. If there, in the course of their work, any evidence of criminal wrongdoing is uncovered, it is absolutely their job, indeed their duty, to pursue.
5
Well now we know what the Sunday talk shows will be about (to the exclusion of all other news). After all on Friday night that was all that every show talked about along with wild speculation.
I am already sick and tired of hearing about the Muller report. I don't mind waiting on hearing what the AG has to say. At least it will be based on facts not the insane dreams of the press corps.
Let me remind everyone that the days of WW2 type espionage is over with - forget James Bond and the cloak and dagger books on the Cold War.
Today espionage finds its most fertile grounds in social media where CEO's like Zuckerberg whose FACEBOOK app is a hackers paradise. make life very easy for foreign governments to snoop.
So just chill out. There is more to life than the Muller report.
4
Yeah, like watching Trump’s entire family get led out in cuffs.
2
@Robert Ain't going to happen. If thr evidence was there Mueller would have acted. All you will get are more fringe actors.
So sit back and laugh at the Sturm und Drang going on in the House.
SDNY is where the gold is. Forget any earth shaking revelations from the Mueller report. There probably aren't any worth pursuing. After all, how could such a clueless band of incompetents, in charge of Trumps election campaign knowingly collude with the Russians. They may have grabbed some "dangled" fruit but they were not sitting shoulder to shoulder with laptops and printers...
The real story, now beginning to unfold, is coming to understand the Trump Organization as an organized crime family complete with soldiers, under bosses and consigliere's..all doing the bosses bidding, with a handshake, a wink and a nod.
We already know Trump was involved in his Russian hotel deal after he was elected, he paid off Stormy and McDougal and lied about it, he has historically inflated the value of his holdings to get favorable financing and refinancing terms on his NT properties and golf courses, while understating their value to get better insurance rates.
His taxes will be examined for evidence of under reporting of income ( a certainty) and to find out who he owes money to...and how he got it.
So, sit back folks. The opera ain't over til the fat lady sings. And she's barely taken a breath yet.
11
This all plays 100% into Trump’s hands and the narrative he’s been pushing this whole time. The Mueller report is done, no charges forthcoming (“No collusion!”). Now it’s moving to all these different blue state federal prosecutors to try and nail him on something else (“Witch hunt!”). And liberals, who have been supporting Mueller all along (“Save our country, sir”) all of the sudden don’t care about the conclusions of his report (“We know Trump did something illegal, it’s obvious!”).
Trump’s supporters are going to be emboldened times 1,000 now.
I give him a minimum 70% chance of winning in 2020. And if we (I’m a Democrat) nominate St. Bernard, Kamala “I had mo idea my office was doing that” Harris, or Pocahontas, it’s 99.9%.
7
The dem’s can lose the house in about 20 months from now.
The only thing they will have to show for it is ?
The republicans can add more senate
Right about now the MSM , news cartel both media and print credibility is pretty much finished with a very, very large chunk of America
6
@Independent voter
Here's the REALITY. Your "very, very large chunk of America" STILL doesn't represent the MAJORITY of the American electorate.
7
@BearBoy
Just a suggestion. Don't group those who happen to disagree with this president into some monolithic mass that you can easily disparage.
Like it or not, America is STILL a Democracy, where Freedom of Speech and the Right to Dissent still matters.
THAT is what DEMOCRACY looks like.
3
@BearBoy, don't assume that most Americans don't care if the president is a crook or not. Independent here, and I care.
As a Republican supporter of President Trump, I accept the heartfelt sincere apologies of all those TDS liberals whose accusations have been proven without merit. I forgive you.
Now that we’ve targeted every Republican supporter of the President for criminal persecution (prosecution is not accurate), let the political persecutions begin. Americans are entitled to support the candidate of their choice - as long as liberals approve.
7
@John Holderman - I didn't offer any apology and I won't be offering one.
Trump will deservedly spend the rest of his miserable life in court for his misdeeds and I'm sure his deluded followers will spend the rest of their miserable lives worshipping him and hating anyone who isn't white and wealthy.
Good luck with that.
10
@John Holderman...I would remind you that Comey, Wray, Rosenstein, and Mueller are all Republicans. They are not Democrats. They are not liberals. I would remind you that Trump's campaign manager, National Security adviser, and personal lawyer have all been indicted and found or plead guilty. Any rational person would be concerned.
7
What about all my fellows on the Left who already spent the kid's college money on tickets to the treason trial of The Donald? Is that anticipated circus not stopping in Trump Derangementville? Are The Great Trump Deranged to left out on the siding as the justice train zooms by at 100 mph on it's way to make sure some inconsequential nobody can't be pardoned? That's it? The answer is of course, yes.
9
Hopefully the state of New York will be more effective is surfacing issues that will send Trump to jail. No president is above the law, despite what Trump thinks. His business affairs are filled with issues that once in the hands of competent lawyers will show the American people what a crook Trump is. If anything his presidency has shown us, it is the double standard that wealthy people can live escaping the justice of our legal system which most Americans have to live in.
6
Give me a break. Since the ‘announcement’ yesterday afternoon, all I (and the American people) have heard is speculation as to the contents of Mueller’s report. Mueller and his team are way too smart for Trump, Trump’s attorneys and apologists for Trump, so the reality is that the only statements being made at to the report’s content and recommendations are by an unnamed Senior DOJ official (who would be a political appointee) and by the ‘usual suspects’ on Fox News that there won’t be any additional indictments on collusion - not that there won’t be indictments on obstruction of justice, etc. It is inconceivable to me (and anyone actually paying attention) that Don Jr. and Jared won’t be indicted on collusion-related charges (at the least conspiracy). Farming out work to the SDNY may make all the legal sense in the world, but some of this is a bit beyond their purview.
I’ve waited a couple of years for this moment so we DON’T have to speculate; what’s another 12-36 hours?
3
Trump can shout "no collusion, no collusion" until he is blue in the face, and that may save him to protect him from his own base, but it will do nothing to stall the threat that he will care most about: his material position in the world and how much of his life after leaving the presidency he spends defending himself legally paying out fines, or, a new first for a former president, serving time. This man is supremely self-centered, and what remains to be investigated and charged against him could shake the foundations of his family and fortune.
13
We need to know of any and all corrupt activities by Trump /Kushner families as they have their hands on the vast power of the USA govt from the military,foreign policy and financial levers. The GOP and Trump's cult of followers may look the other way on a corrupt president as he is their president and as long as they get"theirs" they are happy. The rest of the voting public may not be so forgiving of a corrupt president and if the president and his family are using the office to enrich and protect themselves as that would put our democracy at risk. It is not ok for a foreign adversary to help elect our president nor is it ok for his family to cash in on the presidency. Trump has a long history of corruption lying tax dodging, draft dodging making illegal payoffs to porn stars lying to the voters about his Trump Tower Moscow and fraud with Trump University. A president who refuses to release his tax returns and has a history of over 3400 lawsuits while not divesting his worldwide holding is not one to trust with the office of president and all the power that comes with it.
7
1. Trump and his campaign colluded with Russia, no question.
2. Trump is aware the Steele dossier is genuine and it's existence looms ominously even more than the Mueller investigation.
3. Trump will continue to lie and assess blame on Obama long after Mueller has uncovered collusion and obstruction.
10
Reading the comments, I get the impression that I may be one of the very few who have not been given a copy of Mueller's report. Where could I get one, please?
11
@Fran
Denial comes in many forms -- even at the expense of the truth.
3
@N. Smith
That does not answer my question. Have you read the report? Where did you get a copy?
(Nothing to do with denial.)
@Fran
No. I haven't read the report -- nor did I even remotely suggest that you or anyone else did.
However after reading all of these comments, one might think that they have.
1
New York is the most corrupt state in the the U.S. (except maybe Connecticut).
By all means, see what the rest of America thinks if you all decide to continue this farce.
6
@Greg
Hate to disappoint --but the Top 10 Most Corrupt states in the U.S. are:
1. Mississippi, 2. Louisiana, 3. Tennessee, 4. Illinois, 5. Pennsylvania, 6. Alabama, 7. Alaska, 8. South Dakota, 9. Kentucky, 10. Florida
Think not?
Google it. I did.
7
@N. Smith
Well, if google found it on the internet, then it must be true. How has that theory worked out for the Dems over the last two years with the constant refrains of "everybody knows that Trump...."
2
@GMooG
That is not what I meant. My point is simply that a little bit of research always helps -- because no search engine is a substitute for the truth.
2
Anything out of the Southern District of NY only interests the anti Trump fan base. The rest of us are tired of politically motivated investigations intended to undermine or take down a duly elected POTUS. NY Times, you should be writing about how the Mueller report basically absolves President Trump from the accusations of being a Russian operative. Continuing to fan anti - Trump bias will only help him get re-elected in 2020. What will the anti Trump base resort to then?
6
@samuel, the report hasn't been released yet. And you don't have to be "anti Trump" to want to know if your president is a crook or not. Every American should want the truth.
1
Imagine robbing a bank with your kids.
The local DA does an investigation, but doesn't bother calling in you for a face to face questioning. She doesn't bother calling in your kids. You do have to look at some questions they email you, and your lawyers fill it out for you.
No problem, they say.
The DA says she is dropping the investigation after a full sifting of the facts.
You go to your Estate in Florida and kick back, until the next robbery.
I watched Trump obstruct justice at least twice, in full view of cameras.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
5
Trump is indeed guilty of defeating Hillary Clinton and should be removed from office by any means necessary
6
@Hudson Bronner
You're missing the point by either intent or design.
It's not so much that Trump "defeated" Clinton, who by the way, got over 3 MILLION more popular votes -- it's HOW he did it.
Facts help.
5
To quote Omar, you come at the king, you best not miss. And, the media and the deep state missed. The coup collapsed. Millions of Americans are laughing at you all, very hard. And, I am not a Trump guy. But, I am tired of the absolute bias of the media and it’s running dogs even in good papers like the Times.
7
@Tim Dowd, obstruction of justice, abuse of power, bank fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud, sexual assault, bribery, witness tampering, extortion are all felonies. I'm sick of people who pretend these are not crimes.
1
None of us knows yet what any of this means as none of us have seen Mueller’s report. But there are plenty of possible and probable crimes that still need to be investigated in accordance with American law. We know Trump has already committed innumerable offences – they’re right there out in the open: violations of the emoluments clause, obstruction of justice and witness intimidation, just to name a few. Morally and temperamentally, Trump is so glaringly unfit and corrupt that it's not even debatable. He had extramarital affairs with porn stars, tried to cover them up and lied about it. He bragged about grabbing women’s crotches. He hasn’t divested from his businesses and we don’t know where his business interests end and legitimate American foreign policy begins. He spun racist falsehoods about his predecessor's birthplace and academic records. He encourages political violence. He is favored by neo-fascists – they recognize the dog whistles. He insults veterans like McCain and Mueller. It goes on, and on. We’re told that we should be respectful of Trump’s supporters, but respect is earned. There is right, and there is wrong. You cannot claim to be a good, moral or holy person if you endorse a man like this. Just because he’s “your guy” doesn’t mean what’s objectively wrong is suddenly right. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. At least drop the veneer of morality and civility; if you’re still with Trump it’s because you approve of his behavior – the lies, the racism, all of it.
8
Perhaps Mueller doesn't believe he should recommend indicting the president or his children. Mueller may believe that it is the responsibility congress given the high level of the offenders. Perhaps Mueller doesn't believe that Trump actually did anything directly or provable involving Russia and their interference in the election and collaboration with the Trump team. Or, maybe it's just white guys in power helping white guys in power.
The president is a criminal. A criminal is the leader of our country. Clearly our justice system is a sham, our leaders weaklings and criminals themselves. Money controls them and everyone else.
4
Washington DC politics, one non stop lawsuit with the lower and middle class as ultimate losers.
4
There is good news in this even as many are surprised or confused that the report delivery didn’t include a dramatic handcuffing event.
As additional indictments are prosecuted in various jurisdictions, we the people, juries of their peers will be part of this process.
Our constitution is still working.
6
@Elle No one in Oregon will be part of this process.
let's face it... Trump stacked the deck with his lackey barr. I wouldn't be surprised if Barr takes Mueller's report and tosses it in the trash, and passes on the one he has been writing since he assumed office -- and says mueller wrote it. Trump has made a mockery of our government.
10
Is it really too much to expect those that aspire to our nations highest office that they be squeaky clean?
4
@William
It is not too much to ask, but perhaps too much to expect.
4
This commenter "gets it:"
"Voting [Trump] out of office in 2020 is a national imperative. Hopefully the soy latte drinking, kale eating Democrats will nominate someone who can defeat Trump, and not nominate a far left progressive who will turn off those Democrats who voted for Trump over a flawed candidate in Hillary in 2016."
Impeachment is still possible, of course, but less likely. More important, it doesn't really matter. A voter can pick someone other than Trump for any reason or no reason at all.
Nixon was about to be impeached, and Clinton WAS impeached, fairly early in their terms. Trump is in a different situation entirely. By the time he came up for an impeachment vote, the 2020 election would be upon us.
Why in the world Trump opponents take a chance on an impeachment vote when they can instead just vote him out of office?
One hint to Trump opponents, though: Tack to the center. Don't force voters to choose between Trump and a Democratic Socialist; they'll choose Trump if those are the choices.
8
@MyThreeCents
Sorry, I don’t think you “get it” at all. First off, Dems and others who consider Trump dangerous to America could care less about any advice you may wish to provide about who Dems should or will ultimately nominate - at this point, the more candidates the better - let Dem voters pick the candidate who puts forth the blueprint for governance that resonates the most. But I can assure you - and I say this as someone who is thoroughly familiar with virtually every announced and prospective candidate - there isn’t a true centrist in the bunch. Klobuchar and Biden are hardly centrist, they are decidedly progressive on every single issue of importance to voters, perhaps just a little less aggressive in tone.
Secondly, your “recap” of the impeachment of Nixon & Clinton is dead wrong factually. Clinton’s impeachment on hopelessly trumped up charges some 8 years in the making, came in the 2nd half of his 2nd term; Nixon resigned rather than being convicted by the Senate and removed from office, but impeachment aside, he would have been indicted for tax evasion outside of any impeachment. Whatever, the crimes by Trump against America make whatever Nixon did and what Clinton was accused of seem almost Elementary School -like.
2
I for one am enjoying the meltdown from the Left. Rachel Maddow dragged herself from a Trout Stream in TN to come back online about the breaking news and other CNN and MSNBC figures had similar reactions.
This Circus has been going on for over 2 years. If they had spent this long investigating the Clinton Foundation and Hillary then well..you know.
Where's the Beef Folks? Its all a "Big Whoop" which probably means there was no Collusion Hello! Anybody with any common sense can see that Trump has been very tough on Russia economically and Putin is no friend. He wanted Hillary with her dumb reset button elected.
This has been laughable from day one and the astonishment expressed by the Liberal Readers here about the release of this report shows how deeply they have DJT Derangement Syndrome..apparently there is no antidote until possible 2020 and maybe 4 more years after that..eh gads!
16
And yet somehow, OUR language skills seem to hold up.
6
They (GOP) did spend this long and longer (4 years on Benghazi alone). Also, the Mueller investigation (a Republican appointed by a Republican) showed us all (regardless of political party) that’s our elections are vulnerable and that there were crimes committed by members of the Trump campaign team and cabinet (Flynn).
8
This is where the smoking guns are, decades of dirty business dealings.
8
They started an investigation purportedly to prove Russian influence in the campaign and Trump involvement. Instead they looked for anything and everything they could to punish anyone who worked with Trump, coerced them to rebuke the president and his advisers, prosecuted them and then alerted other attorney generals hostile to Trump of anything and everything they could.
Sounds strikingly like what they did when they looked to investigate the taxes of any organization with right wing sounding words in their title.
Socialism is totalitarian. These are further tyrannical moves to impinge upon our constitutionally granted liberties. Much like the violence we face when we attempt to express our opinions, or hold events (eg. try to speak at Berkeley etc)
9
Yes, those Charlottesville marchers and the right winger who committed the synagogue massacre are really interested in free speech. That’s what conservatives are all about.
2
we are about to learn what is meant by the common phrase, twisting in the wind.
4
FOX news' in your face rants totally ignore the plain fact that trump's inner circle is rife with people arrested, charged, found guilty, convicted, and in prison. The GOP Benghazi investigation went on for 4 years! ... with no indictments and no counts. The Mueller investigation hasn't even 2 years yet, and already with 37 indictments and 199 counts and several in trump’s inner circle charged and in prison with more imminent.
17
My Magic 8 ball says there will be lawsuits for years, many attorneys will get rich, and the Trump Organization will actually go bankrupt this time. Every single member of the Trump family and their fellow travelers are going to have astronomical legal bills. Melania would do well to figure out how to save some of the fortune for her son now.
5
@Katrin
Let me guess: that's the same magic 8-ball that told you that Trump was going to jail for treason, and that Hillary would win in .
A sad sad day for the media, Democrats and NeverTrumpers.
Very sad.
9
@JQGALT - I'm not sad. Anyone paying attention knew that it would take years to untangle Trump's misdeeds and bring him to justice.
He will spend the rest of his life in court, a sick, twisted, miserable wreck who can never escape just how rotten he is and what a waste his life has been.
4
@JQGALT
Judging from the combined amount of vitriol and ignorance in most of these comments, I'd say it's more like a sad day for Justice and America.
2
So, it would appear that the president and his inner circle, the family, had plausible deniability of direct involvment with Russia, while those closest to the inner circle engaged in a huge undertaking of treason and corruption.
But who knows, clarity will come shortly.
2
And now news one of the top prosecutors in the of these matters in the DSNY now gone? What does that mean?
You might want to consider/look into how the Double Jeopardy Clause of the 5th Amendment plays into this subject
Where's his tax returns? Something as simple as that is still a mystery after more than 2 years.
Even if the report paints Trump as a model citizen I could care less. Sickening dirty politics in the USA are at an all new time high and it's non stop hurting the lower and middle class.
The democrats and independents have huddled in a cave for far too long in fact 2 years and 2 months too long.
4
Well, all it amounts to is Trump being a naughty boy. I always felt that this report would amount to nothing. All this secrecy pointed to them hiding an empty investigation. The hype was generated by hopeful democratically leaning newspapers and a desperately hopeful democratic voter base. Mueller is republican, it’s like a fox guarding the hen house. Alas, it will be more GOP for another 4 years.
3
It never seems like they really go after the big fish. At the end, we witnessed a wholesale shredding of Manafort and the little people while Javanka raked in cash and consolidated power.
Cohen was indicted largely for lying to Congress. Papadopoulos was destroyed for lying to the FBI. That’s it! Are we to believe that Kushner (bone saw’s bestie) didn’t lie this whole time? How about Don Jr, as honest as Abe was he??
What happened to that back channel Kushner floated? And the meeting with the Russian bankers? No indictable offenses among the billionaires, how ...interesting.
Yes, sure, the other investigations could cover a trove of money laundering, tax evasion, graft, etc, but if this is all Mueller turned up then as far as I’m concerned it’s a bust. And a suspicious one too.
2
You are joking. Now you want the State of New York to investigate him after a 25 million dollar Federal Investigation. While they are at it the state of New York should re open the White water investigation on the Clintons as well.
10
@MiguelM
"The Clintons" are not running the country, nor representing us abroad. Trump is.
9
@MiguelM
White Water was connected to Clinton when he was Governor of Arkansas; it was investigated in that State, NY has no standing in Arkansas. I think the issue is that Trump has a history of financial problems; Trump U cost him 25M for fraud. He paid off a prostitute with $130,000 to stay quiet; she disappeared after she gave an interview about his preferences. Clinton had a relationship with an intern who milked it until it was old news. There were no scandals attached to the Obamas. Are you reading old issues of the Nat'l. Inquirer?
3
I expect Trump and Trumpists to try and gaslight everybody else. But I must say, it’s hilarious watching them gaslight themselves. Kind of like watching a pug successfully eat a pieve of toffee stuck to its snoot.
7
It's absolutely shameful what is going on. Enough with the whole looking into Trump, destroying those around Trump, or investigating his business going back who knows how long. It's sick. It's dishonest.
6
@Len - Trump lies more than a dozen times EVERY DAY. How's that for dishonest?
3
@Len
If there's anything dishonest -- it's Donald Trump and the entire band of grifters he has surrounded himself with.
No offense. But try changing the channel once in awhile.
2
No indictments for Russian collusion. Wonder if this means we'll be treated again to an excuse a day from Hillary why she lost.
Oh if only the Dems would rerun the most qualified candidate ever* what fun that would be!
*How laughable. After reviewing the qualifications of the founding fathers (the guys who wrote the declaration of independence and constitution) FDR, Eisenhower, Nixon, LBJ, and Bush 1 please get back to us on Bill Clinton's wife. Though it was Obama who called Hillary the most qualified. Given his tissue thin resume the comment makes sense.
8
If a “Benghanzi Scandal” couldn’t be found on Trump, Democrats have the option to pursue an “email scandal” until this buffoon is out of office.
Learn how to play the games of the other party, or you will keep losing.
2
How is the NY Prosecutor's investigation of Tony Podesta's work in the Ukraine going?
6
I wish New York prosecutors would give as much attention to Wall Street in general as they do to the Trump and Kushner families and "quality of life" crimes. The problem is NEW YORK.
7
You’re right and I have a feeling that Wall Street will be stung by the cascade of events that follow these prosecutions.
@Louis Anthes
At this point, I'd say the problem is the rest of the country that voted Donald Trump into office.
NEW YORK knew better.
5
@Louis Anthes
New York did not vote for Trump; he didn't even carry his home town, NYC. I lived in CT for 22 yrs. I spent a lot of time at the Met, the Modern, the Frick, the NY Symphony, and Central Park. This means the problems with New York escaped me. The charms of Long Beach also escaped me. I am a native Californian who loves NYC and New Yorkers.
1
Robert Mueller may have ended his investigation without bringing any additional indictments, but he has already brought a slew of them and exposed the criminal enterprise that surrounds Donald Trump, and there is no doubt that his investigation will lead more indictments to come in the way of criminal charges at the State and Federal levels.
We may soon find that Mueller was wise to separate his report from additional indictments in order to focus out attentionon the facts and not the related charges. Trump would have jumped on any criminal charges against his family as a way to discredit the report. Now we can focus on the serious issues at hand, even as criminal cases are being farmed out to SDNY and other prosecutors to handle.
It should also be noted that counter intelligence investigations rarely result in criminal cases. Instead, the intelligence gathered is used by our own intelligence services against the enemy. In this case that would mean flipping Russian agents against their handlers, feeding them false information, exposing other members in their network, and disrupting any ongoing operations they have to interfere in our democracy and elections.
Vladimir Putin may have opened a can of worms that will eventually take down the Trump crime family and the network of witting and unwitting conspirators which he has spent years building. Trump is just the tip of the iceberg; it’s far more important to dismantle Putin’s long game, which is to destroy our country.
12
Vlad’s plan backfired in the worst way. The Russian mobsters that prop him up are going down with Trump’s cronies which equals political disaster for Putin.
4
trump exudes a kind of vanity and artificiality so profound that it baffles common folk. If his flailing now on full display seems practiced, it’s because it is. In robotic fashion his eyes and consciousness seem to bypass rational discourse somehow, and focus somewhere in an undefined middle space. The words sound memorized; he has an affect that might best be described as “nobody home.”
7
This is ultimately where the rubber hits the road.
Because if there is any validity to the maxim:"Follow the money", the investigations undertaken by the Southern District of New York is where it will all come out.
6
Sigh, when will we learn. The country does not need one distractive investigative fishing expedition after another. Let’s get on with the important business of governing. The economy is roaring, ISIS is defeated and we may finally be getting out of the endless wars in the Middle East. How about taking some steps to make healthcare more affordable or fix the declining infrastructure?
7
@Bill I couldn't agree more. If they don't pull themselves together, the Democrats will score another own goal. Please get back to real issues! No one one cares about identity, witch hunts and muck raking. Aren't there enough life and death issues out there?
3
Mueller uncovered crimes unrelated to his investigation. He referred them to the appropriate offices. The crimes were committed in the Southern District of New York. SDNY must now investigate and, if there is enough evidence, indict the perpetrators of said crimes.
7
We know there was some sort of payment to Stormy Daniels. If there was anything illegal about it, the SDNY should promptly assess a fine then close the case.
1
Whenever I see a photo of Robert Mueller, I think 'that man's face belongs on Mt. Rushmore.' Integrity chiseled into every feature. But it's not only his face; his resume appears flawless. I have unyielding faith in Robert Mueller. If he found nothing indictable then I will live with the results. It means he is following the rule of law, and isn't this what we Democrats long for? Karma will take care of the odious Mr. Trump. Karma, and the SDNY, if the road map points in that direction. Meantime, I stand with Robert Mueller, and the good he represents.
6
Partly right, partly not:
"So let’s get this straight: it wasn’t the Russian investigation that mattered, sinqce there was no Russian found in the closet. No. What mattered was the Trump business practices in New York."
Adam Schiff's committee is still investigating possible Trump/Russia collusion, and its conclusions may be entirely different. The SDNY prosecutor's office is investigating Trump's (and Cohen's) business practices in NYC before he became President, and that is its right -- indeed, we expect the prosecutor's office to do just that. Granted, its timing is a bit suspect, but I don't think the statute of limitations has run on any of the possible crimes the SDNY prosecutor's office is looking into. While many have argued that the SDNY prosecutor's office is simply "weaponizing" laws for political purposes, we don't know that that's what's happened here. The prosecutor's office is very busy, after all, and it may have been focused at the time on other wrongdoing. Better late than never. We don't know, and probably never will know, whether there is any political motivation here.
2
Continue and keep up the good work doing the right thing.
There should be no red line by anyone. And the law is applicable to everyone! Period.
This has been the history of the United States since 1776.
The future of our country depends upon it!
9
At some point, even for DNC Politburo New Yorkers, this obsession with Trump and his family becomes an embarrassment to the nation. Seems we're at that point.
14
There is no particular reason to believe that the Trumps have done anything illegal, but Democrats have weaponized the government. Formerly neutral entities, like the IRS and law enforcement, are now wielded at cudgels against political opponents. Put simply, not one of these investigations would have commenced were HRC POTUS. (If she were, her AG would be directing her energies against potential GOP opponents.)
If you are not afraid of turning government into a partisan weapon, you should be.
11
Um, you ARE aware that Trump’s people run the IRS and Justice, yes?
6
@Brenda
Democrats weaponized government? Brenda, were you not alive during the Clinton Presidency? We have a President who calls the media the "enemy of the people" and who has disparaged the Special Counsel, the Deputy Attorney General, the FBI, the CIA, and his own intelligence officials. He has ruined the reputations of civil servants and career law enforcement officials who were just doing their jobs. Everyday he wakes up and attacks honorable men and women who have served this country. It is Donald Trump who has weaponized government. He's turned using the Executive branch for partisan gain into an art form.
5
I have been following all of the questionable actions by Trump, the outright criminal activity, all the disgusting things he has said and done for years before he was elected to office. I have a word for all of his brainwashed supporters; the Federal Prosecutors and Federal District Attorney’s offices do not just sit around and make us investigations into people for the fun of it. It they are spending this much time and effort in so many districts across the country investigating Trump, his family, associates, and others it is because they truly have reason, and evidence (direct or circumstantial) of criminal activity. And to continue to defend this despicable human being in face of all the dishonorable and dishonest things he has done and said since taking office, and long before that, only shows the wiring in twisted in your minds.
I have never agreed with Mueller’s political beliefs, but I have seen him as a fair man who believes in truth and honesty. I cannot see him passing off information from his limited investigation to so many Federal Districts if he was not sure that Trump was guilty of crimes.
I can only hope and pray that these investigations are honest and that Trump is held accountable and imprisoned.
I will never understand just how any president can pardon anyone they choose. It certainly cannot be legal or constitutional or to believe that our founding fathers intended that a president have the power to pardon their friends when they are guilty of crimes.
16
Secret dirt is omnipresent with this government that loves the rank smell it emanates. All the GOP vassals are busy at work, synthesizing it's myriad particles to produce a perfume that can be packaged, marketed and sold. Modus operandi: forget rules and make profit until legally thwarted. Legal issues? Not a problem. At best a slap on the wrist, at worst a fine. That's what's great about having the freedom in America to revel in artifice. Auctoritas non veritas facit legem, and given the nation's predicament, exactly what has America learned from history? We laugh, but we don't clap, After all, it's a cheap show.
1
Mueller's conclusions aren't binding on the House or the Senate, or on pretty much anyone else who is investigating, has investigated, or hereafter may investigate whether Trump colluded with Russia.
If one's hopes are dashed by one investigation, one can just give up or, as appears to have happened here, instead shift one's focus -- for example, to the House and to the prosecutor's office for the SDNY. The House, for example, is free to impeach Trump if Adam Schiff's committee reports that its investigation reached the opposite conclusion from Mueller. It indeed is curious that Mr. Schiff did not share his collusion evidence with Mr. Mueller, or publicize it, but that appears to be what happened. Somehow or other, Mueller appears to have missed that evidence.
As for the SDNY prosecutor's office, which is investigating Trump's (and Cohen's) pre-Presidency business dealings, I expect they will find something. One recalls the infamous statement by Lavrenti Beria, Stalin's KGB chief in the 1930's:
"You show me the man, and I'll show you the crime."
Some argue that laws shouldn't be used as political weapons, but we don't know that that's happening. It is a bit suspicious that the SDNY prosecutor's office did not investigate this conduct at the time, but better late than never.
2
donald trump is personally and politically a corrupt individual. We hopefully operate under the rule of law, and personal assumptions like this without the facts to support are meaningless.
The Mueller report is just the stepping stone over the flowing sewage underneath. In time the facts will emerge as to the degree of corruption or punishment.
More troublesome are those who support this man. If evidence proves trump did break the law, will;
1. trump call for their support that can lead to violence? It happened at his rallies were supporters manhandled protestors.
2. Can this country become united enough to move forward. That will be a much tougher prospect then ridding the country of donald trump.
4
Most of us miss the point when we're looking for a way to criminally indict the President of the United States. Donald Trump has already condemned himself by his behavior on the world stage , whether it was on television in Helsinki, with Lester Holt, or in the myriad of ways that he has put his foot in his mouth repeatedly disregarding the rule of law and essentially soiling the Constitution with his particularly dark brand of subterfuge. The American people will speak, he has already been convicted in the court of public opinion and no number of gun toting imbeciles are going to curtail this fact .
And while he and his less than brilliant followers continue to squawk "no collusion" , they don't understand that the more serious transgressions are conspiracy to defraud the US government, and obstruction of justice, as well as what will almost inevitably be criminal findings in the Southern District of New York for which he cannot be pardoned .
9
Brexit and this Trump administration mess are the result of an un informed voting Citizenry. This is what we all suffer now.
7
@Scott Harris, don't kid yourself. Russia had a big hand in both as has been proven through investigations. Never forget it.
Since the day this investigation started I have constantly said that there will be no 'Mueller Miracle.' There will be no removal from office. The SDNY will likely uncover dirt---a lot of it---but Trump's hands will be clean. He is a master at playing the game.
He has gotten away with everything short of "shooting someone on 5th Avenue" for over 50 years. Nothing is going to change now.
We are faced with a choice. Vote him and his enablers in congress out or kiss democracy goodbye. No identity politics. The stakes are too large. It is either them or us.
7
It’s time for all those anti Trump Americans to ask the President for forgiveness so we can all move on.
This charade to divide the Country and overturn a duly elected President is over and good riddance.
8
@Beltway Griper
FIRST. This "President" doesn't speak for the entire American electorate -- only those who blindly embrace him, which is NOT part of the job description as ordained in the Oath of Office.
SECOND. The only one who has successfully divided this country even further, is this "President".
THIRD. The Electoral College is hardly representative of a "duly elected President'.
There. I fixed that for you.
4
Now that the Mueller report is released there seem to be recurring Trump supporter's memes going around (without seeing report):
1) Ignore the 30+ indictments
2) Ignore the convictions
3) Mueller now good?
4) Ignore the illegal Trump charity
5) Discredit the New York courts
6) Pretend as though Republicans never investigate
7) Investigate the Democrats again
My head hurts
9
Well, the Russian collusion investigation came to a dead end harder than the Faber College Marching Band in National Lampoon's Animal House.
At least Emily Latela would have had the shame and decency to say "Never Mind".
So off we go, as the prosecutorial pack of dogs find other cars to chase.
8
Donald J Trump could be like many former presidents in nations like South Korea who ended up being imprisoned for corruption and financial crimes. More free BigMacs (with beacon) for djt in federal prison.
1
All of this just sets a bad precedent. So from now on anytime anyone with any sort of big business holdings runs for Prez the other side will come after them like rabid dogs. Great! What’s reallt going on here is that the political elite didn’t like that someone not from the political establishment (rep or dem) came i and trounced the establishment candidate. So all of this is just a charade by the establishment folks to send a message to anyone who has big money to stay out of politics or else the establishment folks will look under ever rock to take this person down. For example someone like Oprah I think could very easily be a very viable candidate she’s got money star power management ability and a huge following. She could easily be the first female prez ... well why is the crowd on the democrat side filled with a bunch of politicians? Bloomberg the same he could easily beat trump... why is he not running? Because the message has been loud and clear to these candidates that they and their business will undergo a detailed body cavatity search! If you spend a life time building an empire are you going to jeopardize that and throw yourself into a pool of starving piranhas?
4
@Dom
The lesson is, if you're a crook, don't run for office.
Everything Trump has done in his so-called business career is ethically corrupt, much of it may be illegal or bordering on illegality. Before his ambitions got the better of him and he decided he should be president the questionable aspects of his behavior were mostly overlooked. After all the world he inhabits is often corrupt and trafficking in fraud and crime is just business in which Trump is just another colorful character. He should have never exposed himself or his associates to scrutiny, he’s so dirty and offensive that his behavior would attract attention the way garbage attracts flies. That’s why it attracts authoritarian thugs like Putin and like fellow travelers. Isn’t it sad how hubris and arrogance can take down even the wealthy and powerful or people who pretend to be like Trump.
8
Trump has demonstrated his ignorance of the world time and again. But is it possible he is ignorant of all the unethical/illegal/nefarious activities that surround him? With all the indictments/convictions of his cronies and with Donald Jr.'s assertion that nothing escapes his father's view, it is totally implausible that Trump didn't know and approve of all that was going on with Manafort, Gates, Stone, Assange, Flynn, Kliminek, Russian oligarchs, Cohen, et al.
5
For two years we've been hearing from you about "collusion" in order to destroy the president. Now that it appears there is no collusion, your article is already moving the goalposts to keep up the drumbeat against Trump. You've lost all balance and it makes many people doubt the honesty of your reporting
6
Regardless of what the Mueller report concludes, Donald Trump will still be a liar, bigot, narcissist, misogynist, coward, and a danger to the foreign policy (i.e. Russia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, etc.) of this country. The fact that about 40% of this country believes every word he and Fox News says is a scary thought.
Six more years of his "leadership" is even scarier.
Impeachment will guarantee six more years. Voting him out of office in 2020 is a national imperative.
Hopefully the soy latte drinking, kale eating Democrats will nominate someone who can defeat Trump, and not nominate a far left progressive who will turn off those Democrats who voted for Trump over a flawed candidate in Hillary in 2016.
1
Mr. Mueller and his team gave us two years of professional work. I want to thank them for ensuring that their task was not sidetracked by the hatred on the airways from the boy president and his loudmouth minions of white hate.
Yet Mr. Mueller and his team are people of character were quiet going about there work knowing they were surrounded by anti democracy crooks.
Now the ball is in the hands of the democrats because there is no trust with the foot soldier of Barr.
We will get the full report . this Trump administration never had a problem with sharing state secrets they use Facebook apps so don’t get self righteous now.
The American people are going to save democracy and rid the country of a con man sendinh him straight to Russia, Praying Pence won’t be able to save Trumps administration or himself. Bring the report into the sunlight .
3
No more indictments from Mueller. No Kushner. No Sessions. No Don Jr. No Corsi. Nobody else. That means nobody HAS been indictment for 'conspiring' with the Russians and nobody WILL be indicted for conspiring with the Russians.
Psychologists could write entire books about the national media confirmation bias that has taken place the last two years.
I call it the Russia Bubble because it had so much in common with the .Com Bubble, the Real Estate Bubble and the WMD Bubbles.
4
We must keep in mind the Congressional investigations!
7
Several commenters have noted the timing of Mueller's report, but I'd rather read the report (with appropriate but limited redactions). It is true, in the advertising and political worlds, that bad new is typically released just before a weekend, while good news (including "new product" launches, in the advertising world) is usually released bright and early on a Tuesday morning.
But that timing is far from universal, even in the advertising and political worlds. I'd like to read the report for myself. I have almost no doubt that I'll be able to, very soon, as Mueller's report almost certainly will either be publicly released or leaked. I hope it's publicly released, since that would make appropriate redactions more likely. I recognize that Mueller's marching orders didn't call for public release, but those marching orders can be changed.
2
Laughable headline. So, let's see if I have this right: Now that Mueller landed with a thud, it's off-to-the-races to find something - anything - in order to "criminally" destroy the Trump presidency (and of course Trump himself). I'm no fan of Trump, but this frantic "Resist!" nonsense will drive me to the ballot box to vote for him in 2020. The "opposition" (Dems, the media, the coastal big cities) seem dangerously comfortable with the old Stalin method of destruction when it comes to Trump: "You show me the man, I'll show you the crime." I can't imagine the vast majority of the country supports that. If only because a dangerous precedent will be set for the next Dem prez: search, scour, investigate backward for decades until we find something "indictable" or "impeachable." Nice way to run a democracy.
22
@Underclaw
Considering the fact that you have not seen the contents of the Mueller Report, nor have any idea where any future subpoenas down the road might lead to -- it's rather premature to contend that it "landed with a thud".
And if there is nothing for this president to hide, then there should be no reason why it shouldn't be made public in its entirety, without the restrictions of executive privilege.
The American people have a RIGHT to know.
THIS is what Democracy looks like.
10
Precedent? Perhaps you have forgotten the Whitewater Investigation. Is it really too much to ask those that aspire to our highest office that they be squeaky clean?
7
@ Underclaw
So, if I read your comment correctly, you’d vote for Trump in 2020 because you’re tired of people criticizing him? That’s brilliant.
4
As a lawyer I read this article with fear. Trump has a long arm in the appointment process of those investiagating him. Congress should Immediately take action in the form of legislation that will take away the appointment process from any president who is the subject of felonious investigations.
Another route would be to assemble a watchdog committee of lawyers who are allowed to oversee the entire operations, without say or input, but the ability to deliver to the public annuals status opinions, majority and minority, and let the citizens of the United States know they are getting impartial investigations.
The Southern District has a heroic past. But they have never took on the likes of Donald Trump.
In forming a committee my idea would be a selection of candidates from around the country, bi partisan, from equally lawyers who are solo practitioners, to those from big firms.
Those interested would apply to the American Bar Association.
Names would be submitted to Congress for an approval of , maybe some 25 individuals. The work is to be done pro bono, for free for the public good.
It is just an idea that needs work, and support, if any.
It I think we are all sick and tired of this circus presidency.
14
@Patricia wagner
"Congress should Immediately take action in the form of legislation that will take away the appointment process from any president who is the subject of felonious investigations."
"Congress' is the House and the Senate. If anything's real in recent history, it's that nothing there happens as quickly as you imagine it might. And then there's that nagging issue of presumed innocence: the same thing Justice Kavanaugh faced you now want to use to strip our President of Constitutional authority simply because unwarranted "investigations" are under way? Are you really suggesting you can find 25 lawyers in this solar system who'll work for free to oversee our Presidency? What kind of government do you want?
We are not all sick and tired of this Presidency, we're just sick and tired of the clown show his opponents are trying to stage. Because they lost.
5
As the NPR host just pointed out, Republicans were shrieking witch hunt until about 5 PM yesterday. And, I’d add, they were screaming just as loudly about anonymous sources.
Now, they’re yelling and screaming that Mueller’s exonerated Trump. Which he hasn’t. Or more exactly, we don’t know what’s in the report—though we do know that 36 indictments have been handed down, and Trump’s campaign manager, NSA guy, personal lawyer, and about five staffers are going to jail. And we know that there are at least four state-level investigations and prosecutions going forward.
Or as Congressman Ben Klein (R-Virginia) just said, “Well, you hire the best people you can, and well, ih, mumblemumble.”
Stirring words, Congressman. Stirring words.
14
I expect Trump to face the same charges as any other citizen. Why should the State of NY subsidize or ignore Trump family business and personal transgressions? We need a clear look at everything in these NY cases.
16
@Raul Campos, Mueller's investigation cost $21 million. He got $42 million from Manafort forfeitures.
The Mueller investigation has closed, but the ramifications of his work will continue. The SDNY will take good care of the case against Donald Trump.
11
Whoa to he who steps from the frying pan into the fire, for they shall 'rue the day' of triumph.
5
@TIm Love Make that "Woe unto him who" ... "for he shall rue the day" ... Just like to see accurate grammar.
All the Republican supporters are feeling Trump wasn’t indicted with this report. In a way he was with his whole family corrupt business practices will now be investigated. From Trump not paying his Taj Mahall builders to his sons Don’s not paying the the North Carolina investors back when that corrupt idea fell apart. What about the years Trump did not pay taxes. I am sure he trained his family well to avoid taxes. I am still optimistic he will get locked up.
13
Shame on NY city and state officials for not looking into Trump and his companies sooner.
20
This article about the myriad of investigation in to Trump, his organization, his family, his associates, etc. highlights one pernicious element of the US -
The 'rule of law' is out of control.
We have ceded our government and the running the nation, as well as much of everyday activity, to the army of lawyers in the executive branches, legislatures, the courts, the administrative state and so on down through every level of life.
A republic by the people, for the people and of the people did not mean having to have a lawyer and the legal system entangled in every facet of life from cradle to grave.
What our 'rule of law' has resulted in is inevitably every man, woman and child has broken the law in some way at some point during their life. (I probably just broke some law by limiting my genderization of the population of the US!)
We need to take back the Republic of the United States for the citizens of the US!
9
This is a criminal family, no different from other criminal organizations. I hope the SDNY, etc., continue their investigations ending with prosecution.
And, yes, vote him OUT.
18
@Raul Campos The federal court in the Cohen case named Trump as a felon co-conspirator and if he wasn't president, he'd be in a cell next to Cohens.
For those who have already tried and convicted Trump or who have acquitted him, the Mueller report is irrelevant. No one on either side is going to budge because of what may or may not be in the report. Most likely everyone will be disappointed by its contents and in Mueller.
2
OK, Trump (&Repubs): 1 - Dems: 0, at halftime.
And if this is the way Dems play I predict it will be soon Repubs 2: Dems 0.
9
"Mr. Trump (said) that his lawyers were perplexed by reports that he faces multiple investigations."
Perhaps he should hire someone who can read the handwriting on the wall: the final curtain's about to fall (courtesy of inimitable singer Ann Peebles).
6
Ok, so the report has left Mueller world & may or may not reach the public unabridged or at all. People aren't stupid. They'll detect cover ups or favoritism towards Trump Inc & other associates which may or may not inform their opinion about the whole Trump, Russia thing. Now, Democrats in Congress need to be smart & consider the short runway Trump & his eventual opponent has to the 2020 election cycle. This means choosing battles carefully & conducting investigations with the least amount of drama, with a fast pace & then getting reports & finding out to DOJ and state jurisdictions as appropriate, and of course to the public too.
But the most important thing on the Dems agenda going forward should be beating Trump & senate/house republicans 2020 & for legislation to be crafted that will protect our elections. Speaker Pelosi has a lot of work to do.
3
Donald Trump is named as "Individual 1", an undicted co-conspirator in filings that his fixer Michael Cohen will soon be going to prison for.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the life of a sleazy, money laundering New York real estate developer who has been breaking the law for decades with impunity.
Cohen said to Congress that Trump didn't think he'd win the presidency and that Trump considered the campaign to be a giant "infomercial" for the Trump Organization.
This is probably true. But the Kremlin absolutely wanted this compromised con man in the White House, and unfortunately, they succeeded.
15
That report belongs to who paid for it. It should have been delivered to the people not some hidden ruler.
8
"As Mueller Report Lands, Prosecutorial Focus Moves to New York"
So Washington DC lost interest and the Democrats thus moved to NY - nice try. Also that obviously will fall flat and the next step will be Boston, then L.A. and finally Frisco. Never boring but far from productive.
11
@rudolf
Don't think of it as a series of investigations, but rather a Democratic Road Tour.
6
So now it's on to Plan B (NY) and, if that fails to satisfy, then Plan C ( which for a good many commentators here is the (odd) hope that the economy tanks and millions are thrown into unemployment- thus somehow throwing the election to whomever isn't Trump. I would suggest a more positive Plan C. Well, don't try "HOPE" it was already used and turned out rather disappointing.
7
I hope that Barr does not allow Trump’s lawyers to “edit” the report. A few months ago Giuliani stated that they legally can do just that. The report may be in Mar Lago right now. It doesn’t seem that executive privilege apply when the investigation is about the executive himself.
Rudy Giuliani says President Trump’s legal team should be allowed to “correct” special counsel Robert Mueller’s final report before Congress or the American people get the chance to read it.
The claim, made in a telephone interview with The Hill on Thursday evening, goes further than the president’s legal advisers have ever gone before in arguing they have a right to review the conclusions of Mueller’s probe, which is now in its 20th month.
“As a matter of fairness, they should show it to you – so we can correct it if they’re wrong,” said the former New York City mayor, who is a member of Trump’s personal legal team. “They’re not God, after all. They could be wrong.”
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/giuliani-wants-correct-muellers-report-its-release
1
@Debbie
Does anyone with a thinking brain listen to Giuliani? He is way past his prime when he enacted his infamous "broken windows" policy which threw hundreds of young black boys into jail for minor street crimes, e.g. smoking pot, or selling small bags of pot on the street. Eventually he railroaded five black boys into prison for assaults and attempted rapes on no real evidence, other than testimony given by women who couldn't identify the real attackers in a lineup. The crimes were later confessed to by a man already in prison for life; his confession included details known only to the police. Giuliani was not "Americas Mayor" to a lot of people in the tri-State area; we knew him as the man who refused to fund the radios firefighters needed to communicate with police radios; 300 died in the Towers when they could not receive the warnings of an imminent building collapse from police helicopters hovering outside. Those firefighters later travelled to FL to make sure he would not be nominated as a GOP presidential candidate. He hid in Brooklyn until there was no danger, then returned in a motorcade. He was sleazy then and still is.
4
So now, in the United States of America, we have a sitting president who is seeking reelection in a large part so that he can beat the statute of limitations and stay out of jail. There is something so wrong with this reasoning.
11
"Most of the investigations focus on President Trump or his family business or a cadre of his advisers and associates"
Henceforth known as "the crime family".
8
This story doesn't have much content concerning Trump himself (only the allegation that "prosecutors have already implicated the president, claiming in a court filing that Mr. Cohen 'acted in coordination with and at the direction of” Mr. Trump"). Weak gruel.
Maybe there will be something chewier in the Mueller report. Otherwise, the whole, multi-year Democrat campaign of made-up stuff against the President falls apart like wet tissue paper.
The voters overall are not stupid. Democrats had better get their act together, especially in the House. At least try to do something real for the country (e.g., immigration, roads, healthcare and pre-existing conditions). Stop this meaningless babbling and web spinning based on suppositions and lies. Get to work. Appeals to Trump hatred alone, even though there's a lot of it, will not be enough to succeed next year.
4
Percy, what will you say when all the House Bills on immigration, health care, infra-structure, etc. find they, like election reform already sent to the Republican controlled Senate, find themselves Dead On Arrival. I suppose you will cheer that the Republic has been save from democracy.
2
@Percy41
How many pieces of legislation meant to benefit working Americans did Obama try to pass? McConnell blocked all, including appointments for moderate judges. McConnell is on record as stating he meant to make Obama's Presidency a failed one. Now we have an incompetent corrupt Republican in the WH. What do we hear from McConnell? Crickets.
2
1. Actually, this statement is false: “Mr. Mueller, whose mandate was largely focused on any links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government’s interference in the 2016 presidential election”
Mueller repeatedly overstepped the bounds of his commission. Robert Mueller believed he could prosecute any/all crimes, big/small, real/imaginary while he was special counsel. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should have recognized that Mueller was out of control and taken steps to refocus the investigation.
2. Cohen made the claim under prosecutorial duress for a reduced sentence. Is Michael Cohen a "Star Witness" for the Democrats?
“Since Mr. Cohen pleaded guilty in August to helping arrange hush money payments to women who said they had affairs with Mr. Trump”
3. Who said “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime”?
“ the prosecutors have focused on what role the Trump Organization and its executives, including its longtime chief financial officer, may have played in the scheme, according to people briefed on the matter.”
1
@P J M Sweet
How much money does Trump owe Russian banks? Those loans would show on his tax returns, as liabilities. Do you think, Mr. Sweet, that the President is under obligations which conflict with his obligations to his own country? Let's see his tax returns; then you can attack an honest former Marine and head of the FBI. No scandals, no corruption. Attacks on others do nothing to distract from the family now technically in the WH.
@Linda Miilu
Personal tax returns don't show assets or liabilities, Linda. Anybody who actually pays their taxes would know that. Maybe we should have Mueller investigate you :)
1
@Linda Miilu
Tax returns don't show your liabilities, Linda.
Many progressives, democrats, and much of the mainstream press spent the past two years publicly accusing or insinuating that the sitting president of the United States is a traitor who colluded with a hostile government to steal an election, a deadly serious and horrific charge. Clearly we're not going to see any indictments for treason, collusion, or much of anything else.
So what's today's focus? Salivating at all the possibilities New York prosecutors will do what Mueller failed to do, remove Mr Trump from office by any means necessary.
Embarrassment? Contrition? A scramble to correct misleading reports? None of that. Just a self serving piece reassuring your readers that you'll find another way to bring him down. The accusations fed the narrative, and served their purpose. So what if the Russia story was "fake news"..
8
@Dave C
Mueller has turned over his files to the SDNY; they are the benchmark for professional prosecutors. Mueller is a former Marine and head of the FBI. Perhaps the many times bankrupt Trump whose loans were given by the only bank willing to touch him, the now troubled Deutsche Bank, will be accessed with a FISA warrant. A Grand Jury can be seated with enough evidence. Mueller had a crack investigator staff; he took a slow methodical path; the SDNY staff will go forward with the evidence collected. Trump's hysteria, rallies and incoherent speeches show his fear of what might be headed his way.
4
"Crossing the red line" is the job of prosecutors.
9
Trump has lived a life in business characterized by constant legal battles. It’s a circus he himself creates. Bankruptcies, fake lawsuits as an answer to any problem, lawsuits against his businesses for all manner of violations and for not paying bills. So his surprise at what’s happening in his own back yard is hard to believe. And it may be our ultimate, satisfying resolution to Trump—a river of legal woes with real financial consequences.
604
@JP
Interestingly in another article just out in NYT we read the following:
Mr. Trump reportedly has dismissed concerns about the rise of the federal debt, for example, by telling advisers, “Yeah, but I won’t be here."
This president and the administration is only thinking of themselves and their personal wealth and enrichment at the sacrifice of the American people.
68
@JP
Actually, I am hoping for a tsunami of legal woes.
41
Trump has teed this up masterfully as a binary outcome. Unless Mueller's report definitively proves Russian collusion or impeachable offenses, it will not matter when Trump faces the voters again.
Or it's the showman's art of heightening expectations to neuter anything that might dare undercut him.
Either way, by next year, the report will just be white noise. I will be stunned if "Mueller" is even uttered on the campaign trail.
Which should concern us all, because there goes the rule of law.
215
@Publius It will be uttered a lot by supporters of the president, the rule of law would actually indicate that the entire investigation was based on lies and corruption. I imagine what might have been accomplished if only it did not exist and Republicans stuck together like Dems. Infrastructure bill, no Obama Care, immigration reformed, and many other things.
3
Shouldn't your top story this morning be the fact that the 2-year collusion story you and all the other media put all your hope in every single day is bogus? But no. You say there are OTHER areas to look into. Other things that are also important. Other courts and judges and districts that will eventually bring him down for heaven knows what. I am flabbergasted. But I shouldn't be. Did you really believe President Trump worked hand-in-hand with Russia to get elected? None of that made any sense! And now you tie your fortune to campaign-finance violations?
143
@Chris R. - Do you believe that Hillary sold Uranium to the Russians in exchange for campaign donations?
What about all the other conspiracy theory?
Every time I read one of these comments it reminds me of what *is* believed by various Trump supporters.
141
True the headline should not be that.
The headline should be that this President has been let run wild with his corruption and nobody can do anything about.
Those who support him, like yourself I imagine, don’t care about what he has done to enrich himself, to smear and undermine this democracy. You care only to throw it at the faces of people who are concerned that he does whatever he wants and his supporters just look away.
81
@Chris R.
Here's some of what we know:
- So many lies regarding Russian contacts that I can't keep up with them. Their stories changed and flip flopped and reversed so many times that even Repubs must be suspicious.
- Trump tower meeting was confirmed, in writing, by Don Jr. that he was seeking information from people with ties to Russia
- Stone working with WikiLeaks who's working with Russia
- Numerous officials stating unequivocally that Russia interfered with the election (along with other elections around the world)
- Numerous lies told about Trump Moscow project
- The Butina thread with ties to NRA and the GOP
- Trump literally standing at a podium and asking Russia for Hillary's emails
This list goes on and on.
Look, they might not indict this mobster because he's also the president, but that obviously doesn't mean he's innocent.
Capone went down for taxes - Trump can go down for violations of the emoluments clause, or lying under oath, or campaign finance violations, or taxes, or bank fraud, or insurance fraud, or....take your pick. I really don't care, as long as justice is served.
I'm sure, back in the day, Al Capone and his co-conspirators complained that they've been arrested for taxes because the cops didn't have enough evidence to nab him for murder.
288
It is beyond comprehension that people will continue to vote for this man and the GOP will largely keep enabling him. In a sane country, there would be a clear, sefit, unified effort by voters and all members of congress to oust him as soon as possible in the name of integrity, our constitution, and the way we want the world to see our country. Every day I have to wrap my head anew around what's been unfolding.
97
@Anne
That ship sailed with the likes of Clinton and Obama. There is no longer any honesty, or integrity in politics (top to bottom), no matter what party, or ideology one looks at.
2
@Anne It was a great diversion from Hillary. Now everyone pretends Hillary did no wrong, her 30,000 emails her take over of the DNC and funding a fake Dossier with the help and guidance of the DOJ and the FBI. Tons of evidence everywhere.
6
@Anne, With GOP and Trump, they have truly exhibited why we should not vote GOP for years...GOP has been complicit in covering up crimes committed by Trump
10
As someone who loves the law .... I'm very worried about those who feel it can be used as a weapon of the state against those they don't like.
You can't fight the government -- it's ability to burry even the most fortunate defendant is almost totally assured.
Nope -- this is a dangerous path. Once justified it will be used again.
19
@GT "I'm very worried about those who feel it can be used as a weapon of the state against those they don't like." How about as a weapon of the state to uphold the law?
21
@GT This guy is an extraordinary individual in the worst possible way and so things that apply to him (prosecution of real crimes) will not apply to others in as in some kind of political tit for tat. This guy is so corrupt (or not, if that is proved) that the rule of law demands an investigation and prosecution for any crimes found. He has been toxic in his business dealings and toxic to the American psyche and so any crimes need punishing before we get another like him or worse (if that is even possible).
6
@GT: Being held accountable for crimes is not a 'weapon of the state.'
8
I love some of the Trump supporters comments. One would think that they have read all of Robert Mueller's findings before the rest of us did.
59
I liked the way that they screamed about anonymous sources until 5 PM yesterday.
I don’t know how they do it. If I changed where I was facing that fast and that hard, I’d twist my own head right off.
6
@susan
I loathe Trump. I will read or at least scan through the report. However, I already know that there will be no further indictments, that there is no collusion ( I never for a moment thought there was), there is no 'smocking' gun pointing at the 'hamburder'.
Summation: Trump has done the same thing he has done for 50 years. Walked right up to the line, barely crossed it, and then skipped back.
He got over. He always has.
3
I am amazed at how many people are talking about what this report says or doesn't say before they have a chance to read it. I hope we get that chance with limited redactions. I do think it would be hypocritical of the Justice Department to hide the names of people who were investigated but not indicted. They never gave Hillary Clinton that consideration.
Certainly any information that can help make the next election safer should be shared post haste.
55
No collusion, no indictment, nothing more than a smear campaign.
19
@Nature Voter
Susan said it best:
"susan
nyc 6m ago
I love some of the Trump supporters comments. One would think that they have read all of Robert Mueller's findings before the rest of us did."
12
Well, except for the 36 indictments on multiple charges, the Trumpers who’re going to jail or already have, and the fifteen or so state-level grand juries.
7
@Nature Voter
Please show me the same comment you made when Clinton was impeached. Was Clinton's lawyer tried and convicted? Was his campaign manager tried and convicted? Was his national security adviser guilty of anything? So I'm assuming you agree that Clinton's impeachment was nothing more than a smear campaign - right?
Trump's lawyer stated that meetings with Russians occurred DURING the campaign. Roger Stone clearly was involved with Wikileaks and russians during the campaign.
No collusion? - EXCEPT for EVERYONE around Trump himself. No indictments or guilty pleas? - except for EVERYONE around trump. Just Smears - by Trump himself - of everyone.
6
I am heartened at this reminder that law enforcement agencies press on even as the president insults and denigrates them. The corrupt Trump Family will be hounded for years by investigations of their business dealings. If these mobsters have to be in our White House, at least we can keep an eye on their movements. If any three people looked like flight risks, it’s Jared, Ivanka, and The Big Fraud himself.
50
@JR80304
there's a dacha outside Moscow waiting for Donald, Ivanka, and Jared. Ivanka is preparing to run her campaign for president of the USA from that location.
2
Strange how many comments here are people cheerleading their opinions when in fact no new knowledge has been learned. The story could be one sentence. "On Friday Robert Mueller submitted his report to the Attorney General." End of story. What is odd to me is that obstruction of justice needs no investigation. We all witnessed it when Trump admitted on national TV that he fired James Comey because he was getting too close to the "Russia thing." Hopefully the rule of law will prevail.
54
@justpaul
Two sentences actually. What you wrote, plus:
No further indictments.
2
@justpaul
It may be that there are sealed indictments due to the 'policy' of the JD that a sitting pres cannot be indicted. Stay tuned.
4
While the so-called president is relieved that FBI agents haven't yet appeared to take him into custody, there's little hope for him...law enforcement will be waiting for him in 2021....if he lasts that long.
Boor hunt in progress....
30
If you remain objective and really read all the evidence about how this started, it appears more and more that the corruption may be more related to an organized effort by SOME individuals in the Democratic Party, the DOJ, the FBI, the Clinton Foundation, and liberal biased news outlets. As the investigations continue, more evidence of this seems to be uncovered, and it is going to be very interesting to see how all of this finally comes to a head, and whether actual justice prevails.
10
You are so right! First, the Clintons forced Trump to hire Manafort and Cohen. Then they forced Don Jr. to meet with the Russians. When will they just give him space and funds to accomplish insurance coverage for all at a lower price, and to balance the budget? His friends Bibi, Vlad and Kim understand him perfectly - why not the Democrats?
4
@Lenny Kelly I said - look at it objectively. Let me provide some bullet points to aid you in your investigation:
- Obama Administration provides guidance to DOJ and FBI to back off Hilliary Clinton / EMail Sever / Mishandling of Classified info
- Clintons hire Steele to do oppo-research, create the Steele Dossier,
- FBI, along with DOJ use the Steele Dossier to start the claim of Trump Campaign working with Russia to impact election
- Meetings in Trump tower, Democrat lawyers meet with Russian agent pre and post meeting, actually had some impact on setting up the initial meeting
- Comey presents phony Dossier to Trump, leaks it to press, which starts the rumor mills running
- Comey, Struck, Page, Clapper, etc - seem to work together, show bias towards Trump and team (unbiased justice - I think not)
- it keeps going, do some investigation and let the facts lead you to your own conclusions - don't believe everything you see in the news
This appears to mean that no one will be indicted for soliciting help from Russia in the Trump Tower meeting. This is beyond discouraging.
21
The Muellar report has been completed. Now we have to wait for the Barr report. The circus isn't over yet.
12
The Mueller special council was never about Russia and the election. It was always about the SDNY. The special council was the way into investigate anything Trump. This way the evidence isn't from a poison tree, Though it sure feels like it is.
Trumps downfall will because he was set up by members of his own party. To the Washington establishment Trump was an outsider. For some Republicans they would rather have a Democrat as president then an outsider Republican. And then Trumps abrasive nature didn't do him favors. He just doesn't have enough friends in high places.
I feel that the reason Mueller ended his investigation is because he found enough stuff to take down Trump. Nothing of what he found pertains at all about Russia. But that wasn't the intent to begin with. It was all about getting enough info to the SDNY for them to take him down. It took a couple years of indicting Trump associates. I am guessing Cohen offered something for less jail time.
Trump said he wanted to drain the swamp. Lots of snakes and gators in this swamp.
104
@Jim "Trumps downfall will because he was set up by members of his own party." How about his downfall will be because he is a con man, a grifter, a cheat, a fraud?
111
@Jim The problems with Cohen he was offered a deal because of his wife being indicted and her getting 20 years. Its called prosecutorial misconduct. It hurts Cohen's testimony they will need co-oberating documents. There is also a tendency for prosecutors to write the witness statement for them. All the timelines are correct since investigators have gone over all the phone records emails places and sequences. When a witness is forced to lie by prosecutors which is exactly what happened to Corsi.
Judicial Watch and Freedom Watch who joined Corsi’s legal team this week, told The Hill on Thursday that the document will claim that the special counsel and his team were asking Corsi to lie and commit other criminal violations like witness tampering.
4
@Jim
Jim,hate to burst your bubble, but Trump’s not going to be taken down by anything in the Mueller report, or the SDNY. If you want him taken down, vote in the 2020 election. That’s the way the Constitution provides for us to get rid of a ruler. Mid term coups are the subject of third world countries. I hope we have not already irreversibly set a precedant where from now on, the opposing electorate will try to bring down an elected president before his or her term is over. Chickens do come home to roost.
So let’s get this straight: it wasn’t the Russian investigation that mattered, sinqce there was no Russian found in the closet. No. What mattered was the Trump business practices in New York. So now the highly respected U.S Attorney office in Manhattan which in its valiant history has brought down spies and terrorists is going to be investigating some money paid to a stripper allegedly on the president’s behalf. We are indeed living in a tabloid world.
118
Or one where he courts are interested in upholding the rule of law?
38
@Joe Gagen Yes they are going for Campaign finance violations though Trump used his own money and this was a standard practice for Trump. One should also consider these women never claimed harassment or rape and Trump did not commit perjury like Bill Clinton. I think it will be difficult to take down a President for a vague law were no one is claiming harm or injury.
9
@Joe Gagen the indictments handed out for the Russians came early and were filed as future arrests for those crimes as access to them is presented. Vlad won't turn them over to the US under any circumstances. Maybe we'll get them on vacation.
7
Of course the program is moving to Manhattan, which acts as a proxy special interest prosecution platform in a secondary legal venue, or effectively an appellate forum, except in this case it is more similar to a double jeopardy extra-legal action. This may end badly for the DNC if it does not adhere to rule of law, which so far it has not. In the meantime, the public is getting a glimpse of the content, the expected but frustrated political equity, and the resulting fallout of the Clinton-Obama electoral quid pro quo (do readers recall the actual deal they struck?) and with it, the embedded partisan agency assets now acting on their behalf in state and federal branches. Trump is going to be just fine. Obama and Clinton--likely facing accountability from, among other authorities, a new USAG. As for 2020? The DNC has already lost. I say that as a political independent.
7
@Matt Andersson "This may end badly for the DNC" I don't see how the DNC has anything to do with the Mueller investigation or the New York Attorney General's office? Do you really think all of this is mere partisan posturing? The indictments and convictions thus far suggest that we have a real problem that requires stepping back from your partisan view.
3
@Matt Andersson
Clinton was investigated for 26 yrs. Nothing. Obama was so squeaky clean and admired the GOP didn't even try their usual smears. Trump has a long history of cheating on real estate deals, and taxes, not to mention paid off rape charges against him and a friend, witnessed by another friend who is now hiding somewhere in RI.
1
With the Mueller probe coming to an end it seems the President and his family will get a short breather before the heats starts to get turned up in New York. It also appears the the State of New York also has some probes underway. What is evident from the indictments of Russian intelligence operatives, is that there was involvement by Russia in the presidential election. What remains to be seen is if the Trump campaign was involved with them in any way. The House can be expected to follow up on those findings and propose legislation to counter foreign influences in our elections. This article also leads me to believe that the Trump's are not out of the woods yet. With the presidential primaries around the corner Trump's family business and his tax returns are surely to be issues as the campaign gains steam. Thus the investigations by the Southern District and the State of New York will surely be of great importance. In the coming presidential election Trump will get no free passes. The press can be counted on to scrutinize Trump and his family unlike the last campaign. The 2020 election is sure to be a duke-fest.
37
@Ferniez
The House can legislate foreign hackers away? Really? And when did President Trump get a free pass to anything?
1
@JBC
Thirteen yrs. of tax fraud when he was allowed to carry forward casino bankruptcies. Sexual assault on a teen ager when he and a friend were in Georgetown Prep; the girl was paid off and now has disappeared; the witness is now in RI refusing interviews. No H.S. diploma from a military academy which expelled him; and a business degree purchased by his father with a huge private donation. The Art of The Deal was written by a ghost writer who later wrote about Trump for New York Magazine; he claimed that Trump couldn't focus for more than a few minutes at a time which gives some authority to the reports he does not read Security Reports, and pays little attention to verbal reports. His public appearance with Putin in which he denigrated his own gov't. Agencies. His appearance in front of a monument for those covert operators who died in service; he used that for insults to those who died. His appearance in front of young Boy Scouts during which he insulted former Presidents and bragged about a sexual orgy on board a private yacht. He cannot give a speech in which he does not insult someone. No wonder he was not invited to McCain's funeral service; the family was already in enough pain.
3
@Linda Miilu
"Thirteen yrs. of tax fraud when he was allowed to carry forward casino bankruptcies."
That doesn't even make sense
2
Unless Trump has now been so emboldened that he will fire the U.S. Attorney for NY, who recused himself, and then appoint a Whittaker to take over and shut down those investigations. Republican senators would support the new nominee out of fear. And Democrats in the House will find no support from the courts, especially the Supreme Court, to enforce their aspirational subpoenas. Sorry to sound so cynical but it is all very disheartening.
26
If the taxpayer, who paid for Mueller’s investigations and now for Southern District of New York’s investigation, the only way I would trust Mr. Fiske's claim that the public “should have confidence that there will be the same kind of integrity and independence in the Southern District of New York that there has been in the Mueller investigation…,” the investigations of Mueller should be presented in whole to the taxpayer. If not, I am convinced that my tax contribution supports a shockingly unacceptable system.
22
Why is it that you can find arrest of people online that didn't even result in a conviction on government websites but anything involving the elites is hush hush and kept hidden for privacy.
4
@victor g
You hit the nail on the head.realease the Muller report. Darkness is our enemy, not the press.
5
@Mons
You answered your own question - because nobody has been arrested.
1
It may not be the legal investigations that prevent Pres. Trump from being elected in 2020. However the economy may have a hand in defeating him at the polls. Recently short term interest rates exceeded the interest rates on the 10 year bond rate. Economists believe this is a precursor to recession. If a fine man like Bush Sr. could be voted out by a recession, then a corrupt man like Mr. Trump could also lose because he would no longer be seen as the economic savior for America. ( He never was anyway as GM is closing factories that undermine his claim of good jobs in America)
56
@Warren so you are rooting for the recession that will put millions working people out of jobs, decrease revenue for social services and depress 401ks and house prices that working people rely so heavily on just to get him out of the office? This is why people thinking democrats are anti-america. This and open-borders, let-everyone-in-and-give them-free-social-services policy.
1
If this report is not released, IN ITS ENTIRETY, then that alone proves collusion. The draft dodger has nowhere left to run.
50
This is why Trump is going to try his damnedest to get reelected, to protect himself from criminal prosecution. The whole thing is kind of unbelievable at this point, the fact that Trump NEEDS to remain president, to avoid criminal prosecution. This cannot happen.
220
@Anonymous
Considering that Trump didn't expect to win in 2016, lost the popular vote, and is an accidental president... At times I wonder how logical it is for him to roll the dice one more time?
A rational person would know when to cut their losses. But then I remind myself this is about Delusional Donald. Gatsby said the wealthy truly are different from the rest of us, I say the sociopaths are as well.
38
The prosecutorial focus is not only on the SDNY.
An unusually high number of three dozen sealed indictments, those which don't bear the accused's name but only a number, have been added to the docket of the Washington D.C. court since the beginning of 2018 until the mid-term election.
SC Mueller has transferred and outsourced a large number of cases to courts all over this country. These case have obviously nothing to do with the Russian interference in our election, but might be very dangerous for the Trump mishpocha and some of Trump's biggest donors, even if daddy-dearest can't be indicted due to a nefarious 'rule' of the DoJ.
All of the above is not a sequel of the Mueller probe, but will, at least in my opinion, the greatest show on earth entertaining the public and the press with all the corruption and crimes like money laundering, tax fraud, insurance fraud, etc.,etc., by not only Kushner Inc. but Trump Inc.
55
If, after assessing information from multiple investigations, including the Mueller investigation—
It is shown that Trump obtained his high office illicitly—
Then the Constitution requires that he be removed from office.
39
Trump may have done a Houdini in the Mueller investigation but he is not out of the woods yet. While he make think he is a Czar and above the law it does not work that way in America. Although he will not be charged with criminal misconduct while in office the prospect of jail awaits him when he leaves office.And he cannot pardon himself for crimes committed against NY State laws. More sleepless days and nites at the White House.
26
Investigations beget investigations. Just ask Ken Starr, who was originally asked to examine a failed land deal in Arkansas called Whitewater. He memorably detoured through Vince Foster’s suicide with Brett Kavanaugh tormenting Foster’s grief stricken teenage daughter by requesting hair samples. Starr finally landed on Monica Lewinsky, threatening to jail her if she didn’t cooperate. So Donald and his furious minions should understand this is standard operating procedure and far from over.
All of us who had the misfortune to live in NYC and witness Donald’s antics understand that he is morally and financially corrupt. He’s been tempting fate for 50 years. Throw the book at him.
64
We know for a fact that Trump hangs with a criminal crowd. Just how much control over the DOJ and how deep his reach extends is anybody's guess. But holding the office of the president, affords him almost limitless control of our entire government.
We have no reason to believe anything released by DOJ and that, in and of itself, gives me reason to worry. But Trump is likely to clean things up and still claim a Witch Hunt.
8
I have always thought the Mueller investigation to be misdirected in it's focus on 2016. Not to belittle the Russians assistance to Trump but the bigger fish to me was the connection between Russian money and Trump's finances back , beginning back in 1992 e.g. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/21/opinion/sunday/trump-business-mueller-money-laundering.html
It was, in my opinion, the pry bar by which Russia gained leverage over Mr. Trump.
I am puzzled and disappointed that this avenue of investigation has apparently been abandoned.
15
I’m just curious to see the Report.
Investigative findings can be presented a number of ways for myriad reasons. I’m sure we can distinguish what was criminal versus just unsavory or unadvisable.
As for Trump himself, his own words and deeds have already told most people everything needed about the man & his character.
24
This is why Trump is going to try his damndest to get reelected which can not happen. He does not want to be prosecuted and knows it is going to be harder to prosecute him while he is President. New York has long known of Trump and his family's unethical and possibly illegal dealings and now may be the time for him to pay, after he's brought all this additional scrutiny on himself and his businesses by becoming president in order, ironically, to enhance his businesses and enrich himself. This may ultimately backfire as Trump is realizing he can't run the country and his campaign and presidential dealings like a shady real estate broker, which he has been trying to do.
14
This good story and all the stories in today's paper contain references to tons of pages of documents and court filings. Why not give readers links to these documents, especially the indictments and court filings? Once upon a time The Times printed just about everything, including visiting shipping officials. That's no longer doable in print, but it's all very possible in digital.
These are documents you not only cite but also use. i'd include a link to the Special Counsel regulations and can't think of all the rest. Share your resources.
9
Mueller is no Henry Wallace, and he has been a D.C. insider and conservative Republican for years. His role in spreading the official story about 9/11 and promoting the Iraq War shows his tendencies.
As with the Warren Commission and the 9/11 Commission, I don't count on insiders to behave like tenacious prosecutors, especially when the stakes are so high.
That said, Mueller's investigation has shown us that the president hired a gang of criminals, paid hush money, instructed his personal attorney to break the law, and committed many other high crimes and misdemeanors.
I'm glad that AOC has been brutally interrogating Trump's gang members during Congressional hearings (check out what she did to Wilbur Ross the other day), and we see that Trump, Kushner, Ivanka are in bed with the clown prince of Saudi Arabia, and continually use the presidency as a cash machine.
Mueller's report isn't good enough, but it implicates rather than exonerates the most dangerous president we've ever had. He should be impeached NOW!
26
New York has a deep responsibility to address serious crimes commited in its jurisdiction. crime #1: NY inflicted the world with Donald Trump. time for some responsbility, Empire State! no bone spurs, no reform school.
10
I for one hope that the Democrats don't start down a path of endless investigations. We've had 25 years of investigations against the Clintons, most recently combined with 8 years of hatred and outright racism directed at the Obama family, culminating in refusal to consider a Supreme Court nominee.
So for all those Republicans now decrying any investigations, or hatred directed your way, take a long, hard, look in the mirror. You are experts so you should know how to end this madness. Right? You want to end this? Right? No more calls for Hillary investigations. Right?
So, if the report recommends no further action, hopefully the Democrats will do something the Republicans have proven themselves incapable of doing. Stopping the investigations.
Trump has enough baggage, and there have been plenty of indictments to sink any administration.
8
I knew from the beginning that this would be a challenge for Mueller. Ultimately, we are looking for a President who has a compromised relationship with Russia as a result of connections to oligarchs that are beholden to Putin. We know that Trump sold a home in Florida to a Russian oligarch for way over market value that had been sitting for long time which suggests washing money. We know that his son orchestrated sitdowns with people connected to Putin to dig up dirt on HRC. Then we have Trump surrounding himself with people who have curious relationships with Russia like Wilbur Ross, who becomes the Commerce Secretary after leading the Bank of Cypress, a famous money laundering institution for Russian oligarchs connected to Putin. Problem is that Mueller needs to have a smoking gun that comes from evidence or testimony from or related to Russian nationals that clearly links lots of curious and disturbing relationships and events to Putin. That’s a tall order. Rather, it seems so far, that we have a lot of smoke, but no fire that leads to indictments.
69
Mueller has 34 people and companies in connection with this investigation.
17
@Mickey
Mickey, if that were the inevitable conclusion, then why did we bother to waste years and tens of millions of dollars, I mean if the result of the report proved nothing. Instead of wasting all that time and money , I wish it had been spent on figuring out how to stop the Russians, or anyone, from interfering with the next election. But we didn’t do or care about that. We were too busy going after the president.
No, the Russians can and wikl try to interfere with the 2020 election. Guess who really won this round?
1
"“I said to my lawyers, ‘Are we being looked at here?’” Mr. Trump said, adding that his lawyers “don’t even know what people are talking about.”"
I guess when you have led a life of corruption, legal abuses, and fraud, you're so used to getting away with things that of course you don't know what constitutes a crime.
I think Mr. Trump is in for a rude awakening. The SDNY, and to a certain extent, the NY Attorney General, don't fool around.
In fact, I've often said, I think Donald Trump is going to rue the day he ran for, and won, the presidency.
Now he's under the constant glare of legal microscopes, and from everything we're hearing, it ain't pretty.
1151
@ChristineMcM If the Letitia James, the New York AG, finds any state charges to convict him on, Mike Pence can't pardon him on state charges.
56
@ChristineMcM
No, what's pretty would be a President who has been a crook ever since her Arkansas days and for whom Dems are willing to stoop to any length to cover up for...
2
@sftaxpayer
Oddly enough, with an entire GOP legislative branch panting to find any dirt, 10 hours of grilling by hostile Congressmen, two Republican TV networks with dozens of reporters, truth-averse websites by the dozen, no one could find any criminality by Hillary Clinton. I guess freedom of speech also includes freedom to make up wild and irresponsible stories.
164
The Mueller investigation lasted for the better part of two years. The process of releasing and analysing that report will likely last years, as will all these spin-off investigations.
Surely then, the only certainty is that the fallout stemming from 2016 is far from over. I would wager it will still be at the forefront of the public conciousness (of the world and not just the US) by the time of the next election.
397
@DW With criminal charges against 34 people, (incl 6 former Trump associates and advisers), I sure hope so.
63
@DW
The only thing that will be at the forefront of the 2020 elections is that the Democrats and liberal media (New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC) spent two years lying to the American public about Trump colluding with Russia.
That should make a great debate topic.
14
@AVR - Sure it will, to 30% of Trump's base - as it always will be. That's a nothing burger to the other 70%. Will the base have given up on prosecuting Hillary by then?
45
I think we've all kind of realized that "collusion" is not really a legal term and that it is very hard to prosecute, despite the abundance of legal charges and Russian connections between people high up in Trump's world -- his lawyer personal lawyer of ten years, MIchael Cohen, Paul Manafort, his campaign chairman and friend for many years, Michael Flynn, Roger Stone etc. This is why Trump keeps using the phrase "no collusion" specifically, because he knows "collusion" is something that is very hard to prosecute.
18
while conspiracy is addressed all the time, and, as I get it, often in the case of organized crime.
7
@Pottree Well, the thing Trump and Co seem to most resemble is organized crime. And Trump freely uses mob lingo (calling Cohen a "rat") and comparisons. Cohen absolutely seemed like a mobster talking about a mob boss in his testimony and he has been around organized crime for years. So yes, hopefully there will be some RICO cases against Trump and his organization too.
2
@Pottree Yes, well, hopefully there will be some RICO cases in NY State.
There's a word few people are speaking of. It is that impeachable offense: treason. No further indictments? it does not mean that Mueller found no evidence of treason. It may simply mean that he did not believe it was in his power to do what he may believe only congress can do. It will be in the interest of Tяцmp to hide as much of the Mueller report as they can get away with. The rest of us will demand full disclosure. At some point all eyes will be on Mr. Mueller himself when he, sooner or later, is sworn in to testify before one of the congressional committees-- most likely chaired by a democrat. Those who are party to a review of the report now will be unable to demonstrate the discipline shown by the Mueller team. They will leak this or that which is favorable to Tяцmp while those who are clammering for access will demand it. No way is this long awaited assessment going to escape a bruising battle over who gets to see it and when. Ultimately, it will be an historic document studied in Government 101 high school and college courses. Of what we already know we can surmise that it will be a story about whether Tяцmp and his enablers committed treason.
35
@East End My memory is that a SC case has defined treason as collaboration with the enemy during a war declared by Congress as required by the Constitution. While the SC can reverse or redefine its holdings, under its present configuration that is unlikely to occur.
3
This is sick. At least with the Mueller investigation there was evidence that a crime had been committed (the hacking of John Podesta’s email account, in case you all forgot)
I don’t see any evidence that there has been a crime committed. These SDNY guys are purely out for political gain. Not how the system is supposed to work and very scary that they would do this.
21
@Greg: I believe that evidence will be forthcoming by the SDNY. You honestly think Trump and Family are clean are clean after all the guilty pleas by their buddies and handlers?
4
@Greg: Mueller raised credible suspicions that a crime might have been committed. Hence the investigations by NYSD. They may, or may not, find evidence of crimes. That’s how investigations work. Nothing political about that. The NYSD has a reputation of investigating regardless of party affiliation of the suspect.
3
@Anna
That’s how investigations work in the Soviet Union...not America.
I love New York!
26
And now the focus moves to U.S. Attorney John Huber's one-year-long investigation into alleged FBI misconduct regarding its handling of the sale of Uranium One to Russian interests and the potential defrauding of the FISA courts to obtain a warrant to spy on an American.
12
@times: Nope, the focus will not move to chasing conspiracy theories.
3
Uranium One involved part ownership in a Canadian company and a product that would never be sold outside of North America. As well around 10 different agencies had to approve it, among which State was only one. The FISA process was followed rigorously and fulsome. Had there been anything to discover in either of those cases dont you think 6 years of Congressional investigations would have done so? Quite unlike our current reality.
5
These NY versions of the Mueller witch hunt are going nowhere with Barr as AG. But expect the Democrats to continue whining as the full force of Mueller's no indictments sinks in. They're stuck with their fake narrative and they're going to stick with it.
12
@Jacob handelsman: So you're acknowledging that Barr will block and protect at all costs? Yet it's a witch hunt? Me thinks Barr is protecting the Witch and his friends.
6
Bad news: Barr has zippo real control over SDNY. And news from the Federal Department of Logic: if you wanna. All something a pure witch hunt, don’t smugly assert that said witch hunt can’t find anything because the AG won’t let it.
2
@Anne
Pretty amazing that Mueller concluded right after Barr was appointed isn't it?
It sure seemed that he had a lot more of investigating planned to me.
This is how our government works now. We've lost our justice system since, oh, around the time of the JFK assassination. Everything's a cover-up now
1
My colleagues in the SDNY knew their stuff 40 years ago. I'm sure the crew in there now is no different.
Can't wait for them to bring this degenerate and his family of grifters down once and for all.
519
@george eliot, Really George? Is that why they prosecuted zero bankers for the biggest mortgage fraud in world history a decade ago? I have no faith in them, or the Republicans appointed to oversee them, to police themselves. They can't, they won't, and they don't take white collar crime seriously.
33
@george eliot if they've known this stuff for forty years, what have they been doing, sitting on their hands?
17
One hopes, but where have they been for the last decade? When this is all over, America needs to have a serious conversation about the gap between rich and poor when it comes to justice in this country
16
A sizeable minority is convinced that he's no more than the Republican 's naked lunch. Dangerous tribal loathing.
When a sizeable minority becomes convinced he's US politics' naked lunch?
Anarchy.
1
The Mueller investigation was never charged with anything but an investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 elections. To the extent that more than 3 dozen indictments showing collusion by some working in the Trump campaign and later in his administration should be of concern to all Americans.
While Trump made public statements about absolving Putin of any wrong-doing, the report will likely show that the Kremlin and its intelligence agencies had a useful idiot in Trump; an unwitting asset that lured him in by promises of business deals in Russia.
92
Hold on folks. This party is just getting started. The issue Mueller investigated is whether or not Donald Trump conspired with the Russians to throw the election. Was he an active participant in that endeavor? He may have been passive, a useful idiot. But that does not mean he has not been under the pressure of Russian influence. That doesn't mean he didn't have ongoing deals with Putin or some kind of quid pro pro with him. Those are completely different issues. Has Trump altered US policy as a favor to Putin because of these associations? It sure looks as if he did.
Then we have all of the shady financial dealings related to his business and the campaign. None of that was under the purview of the Mueller investigation.
There is much more to this that lies outside of Mueller's mandate. This investigation would not have taken two years if there were no useful leads. It would have burned out right away.
As much as we all wanted resolution, this report will spawn many more investigations that keep us on the edge of our seats for months to come. The possible financial crimes, campaign violations, and tax fraud are enough to put people behind bars.
We just went through endless Benghazis. Endless investigations into Hillary's email and investigations into the investigations. Nothing was found. There will be plenty to find going forward about individual number one.
409
@Bruce Rozenblit
I believe that if you give a copy of the same bible to three different theologians, then ask for their understanding of a particular passage, you'll get four different replies... I have little doubt the Mueller report will be the same.
Spin neatly stacked on layers of spin, it may become the pundits full employment act of 2019.
Which is why the report needs to be released in full.
18
@Bruce Rozenblit - They made Clinton testify before a grand jury under oath on CCTV. Mueller didn't even interview Teflon Don. How's that for a double-standard? But what did you expect. Republicans investigating Republicans. Fox guarding the henhouse.
51
@BA_Blue Just 4? I've seen 3 different theologians come up with 6 or 7 different replies. If the Mueller report is released or declassified, future historians may be the exact same way. Keep in mind this is a legal document.
1
When will Donald Trump call off the " witch hunt " in the Southern District of New York and/or fire the U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and/or pardon his family and friends?
5
"when" only matters if you're taking bets on the day and date. or, if President Trump is no longer in office but before Mike Pemce ascends to heaven on a silver cloud, singig hosannas.
@Blackmamba He can't pardon anyone that isn't convicted yet.
Just like the massive bankster fraud that cratered the economy ten years ago, and the torturers and their legal apologists, looks like the traitors will escape punishment. Impunity for the elites. Yawn.
9
From outside the country that brought the world the anomalies of the OJ Simpson case and the Rodney King injustice we see this absurdity playing out from a distance where Mr Trump is swaggering around with grandiose peremptory and pompous overblown self confidence, the stinking flower of a budding tyrannous kleptocratic blossom. He may have gotten away with it but is there anybody in America who really believes that OJ is innocent?
You let Trump get away with it. Poor America.
28
@Bob Guthrie - Rich people do not go to prison in America.
@Bob Guthrie He hasn't gotten away with anything yet
1
And here comes the pivot...
5
What a total joke this whole collusion debacle has been. What a waste of time and effort, all for nothing. Now Democrats and the main steam media are moving on as quickly as possible to find anything, anything at all, grasping at straws, to attempt to save face as they continue their hypocritical slide down to Trumpian levels of lack of credability.
10
Since a sitting president can't be indicted and can only be impeached for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, the best thing that could come out of these investigations is bad PR for the Trump 2020 run.
Once he's out of office then they can really put the pressure on him and the Trump business and maybe he will join some of his cohorts in a nice jail cell.
14
The criminal Trump and his mafia family cannot be allowed to get away with crimes. Our system of justice and the public’s faith in our Democracy depend on it.
40
The public will tire of the Democrats trying to punish the President because their chosen one lost the election.
11
@M
What about Trump being a diagnosable malignant narcissist who currently is publicly and repeatedly maligning a dead senator who had been a prisoner of war and Republican presidential nominee?
3
Give it up Dems: you tried to invent a scandal out of whole cloth and you have lost. You can continue to lie and fabricate and push up the $23,000,000,000 national debt for nothing
OR you can go to work for the country and reform immigration,
entitlements, lower student educational costs by reducing red tape, improve the medical care situation, secure the borders, etc.
It's a 100% bet Dems will just continue to beat this dead horse while protecting their graft and corruption in every
American city and many states. A sad story!
14
The national debt was just raised by Trump and the GOP seems to be a willing party in failing to reign in the bloat. The debt is a bipartisan problem....
9
@sftaxpayer Trunp and the republicans who controlled both houses of congress until January ballooned the national debt. Republicans spend like drunken sailors and then only pretend to care about the national debt when a Democrat is in the Oval Office.
3
These truly are problems. However, causes are complex. Other perspectives:
(1) debt. racked up by wars, corporate entitlements, a broken healthcare system, and tax cuts for the wealthy.
(2) immigration. Let’s stop the assaults on people of color trying to escape violence. And if native born citizens can’t or won’t take certain jobs, let’s bring in people who can without terrorizing them.
(3) entitlements. Let’s stop giving handouts to corporations and the wealthy. They use up the public good and don’t pay their fair share.
(4) educational costs by reducing red tape is a red herring. Cost of straight-up regulation compliance at the poster child institution claiming red tape, Vanderbilt, is around 4% (US News).
A post high school education - whether college or vocational is the best way to increase income. Putting more money INTO colleges so we can support our young people is a fantastic investment. Do you know in-state tuition room and board at a UC school tops $35k per year? That’s too high.
Let’s take a look at the burden and cost of student loans, instead.
(5) Medical. Instead of building a people-first program that protects the health and finances of the ill people, we funnel the profits to corporations and stick the taxpayer with the bill at public institutions. US health care perfectly exemplifies the greed of the corporations.
Most of us everyday folks just want solutions, not more divisiveness. Let’s get corporate money out of politics to get there.
3
Plan B or C now .. right ?
4
That’s the beauty of American democracy, seeking justice through the courts of law. If we were a banana republic, the only way to remove an incompetent, corrupt president would be through armed revolution. I’m glad I immigrated to America.
2
welcome home.
Trump supporters:
Learn from your mistakes. Trump did nothing wrong. Democrats suffer from cognitive dissonance. Time to move on.
Prosecute Hillary! Prosecute Obama!
6
@Martin - cute
Prosecute them for what?
3
@DR -
Hillary and Obama - there is nothing to prosecute.
The Trump supporters on one hand are saying - "Learn from your mistakes"
Then they turn around and say - "Prosecute Hillary"
2
@Martin
Your post warrants an earlier post from me to another member of the Trump cult:
"Sure, but the Clinton’s are yesterday’s second hand news. They’re currently not -by today’s initial cursory look & yesteryears inquisitions at the hands of some really intellectually challenged house republicans - security risks - nor are they collaborating (as all Republicans in Trump’s pocket are doing) in the dismantling of the republic, turning it over bit by bit to America’s new oligarch class & the religious right.
If this poster was honest & existing in reality he’d have known that hours & hours of Republican interrogation by house committee leaders Trent Gowdy, Gym Jordan, & Jason Chaffetz produced nada, nothing on Secretary Clinton.
Trump may not go down while currently in office but the jig is up - his chances of being re-elected shrink by the minute & indictment by the southern district of NY increase exponentially. If not, then there really is not a benevolent G_d".
2
Mueller was very smart to spin off the behaviors that might land some of the Trump family in prison.
13
Sure, let’s see how long we can drag out this second rate opera buffa. It serves no purpose beyond feeding the fever dreams of those who still think they can reverse the Election of 2016 and hamstringing anyone who actually thinks they might yet pull a rabbit out of a MAGA hat. Meanwhile, over in Moscow, Putin is probably still pinching himself to be sure it isn’t just a dream. How do you say, “you can’t make this stuff up” in Russian?
97
@Larry
You seem to have chosen cynicism over clarity. Many of us reading your comment are probably wondering whether we agree or disagree with your view about releasing the entire non-classified Mueller to the public.
5
@Larry
re "let’s see how long we can drag out this second rate opera buffa"
Let's not and say we did!
5
@Larry...It is only second-rate in the casting; Trump and his minions are second-rate. His pursuers are first-rate, though, and together they give this opera its interest. The plot has a nice twist and I predict a long run.
16
It just seems that there is no way- after 1 year and 10 months of an investigation worked on by something like 17 lawyers- that Mueller did not come up with new substantial information, over and above the indictments and convictions and other actions that he has already taken.
8
@Edward Stickleback
Is it at all possible that the Russians acted alone because they didn’t like Hillary, and there was no collusion with anyone in the Trump campaign? Why is that so hard to accept?
5
@Greg
Because of the meeting in Trump Tower.
And the illegal Russian contributions to the inauguration party.
And Trump's negotiations for the Trump Tower Moscow during the campaign, followed by changes in the Republican platform to favor Russia.
5
@Greg Because Trump and his inner circle lied about the connections to the Russians. His son/son inlaw lied multiple time in the form he filled out for his security clearance.The CIA and FBI didn't want him to get the clearance because of security concerns.
3
Hypothetically, if "The Report" does not meet the hopes of the Democrats, what value does the SDNY bring to the nation with diverting so many resources to investigating what is now a real estate story. This may placate the fervid anti-Trump base, but I think for many Americans it will look like a vendetta.
7
Trump’s undoing happened when he got elected POTUS, it may take time but the truth always comes out in the end. Trump is also calling for the Mueller report to be released to the American public. Well, don’t be surprised if he does a 180 and comes out with a Trump tweet relegating that decision to AG Barr.
8
Even though Trump picked some of the SDofNY players the article clearly states the recusals, replacements. See the article: “... the investigations surrounding the president and his associates have been assigned to career prosecutors in the office’s public corruption unit, which has a track record of convicting politicians on both sides of the aisle.” They will see to it that this proceeds on an even keel. I think we can have confidence that this will reveal the massive pile of Trumpian dishonesty that we’ve been waiting for.....including his taxes.
8
It is these unpardonable state convictions that Trump and his crime family fear most, as well they should. As Winston Churchill wisely said in a different context, ''This is not the end, this is not even the beginning of the end, this is just perhaps the end of the beginning.''
17
Trump is well qualified to hide his illicit activities by delegating others to do such work while ensuring he remains blameless. Those who were indicted by Mueller are all affiliated with Trump and some had a lot to hide themself. Should the US constitution prohibit a President from being indicted despite mounting suspicion it could point to a constitutional blemish.
6
The Trump base could care less about any NY shenanigans. Trump never did. He ducked the radar for decades. Let's get real and focus on what really ails this country.
3
If the Democrats aren’t careful, they’re going to get to investigate Trump all throughout his entire 8 years in office. They should wise up and focus their efforts on giving the best candidate the best chance to win in 2020. Pete Buttigieg or Joe Biden.
5
Instead of focusing narrowly on the Trump organization, prosecutors should be looking at the entire industry. Then, find the most low hanging fruit to prosecute and flip them gradually peeling the onion of one crocked, corrupt, industry.
2
I’m not sure if trump and republicans realize how repulsive most of the country finds trump’s beliefs, incompetence, lack of intelligence, ignorance, laziness and aggression for starters. Never mind that he’s financially corrupt at a minimum and his ‘policy views’ are no more than selfish thoughts, dangerously carried out. I expected nothing big from Mueller’s report and have had every intention to work to stop his re-election on multiple grounds stemming from what is currently 100% transparently clear about him from the beginning. Unlikely that I’m alone on this; he was elected with less known about him by a minority of voters the first time.
11
The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York answers to the Attorney General, who can quash any indictment and may even fire the US Attorney. Barr will not let any indictment go forward.
2
Thinking this through, I suppose it would look really bad if the White House once again fired the U.S. Attorney and appointed a lackey. There would be an uproar, correct? The optics are terrible. The Don will probably do that and pardon everyone involved (except Cohen) on Monday. His supporters would cheer him if he proposed we become a Russian vassal state. Mitch McConnell and most of the GOP Senators would go along with that proposal. Trash talk about their 'dear friend,' decorated veteran Senator John McCain, rolled past with barely a peep out of the lot of them. They all could care less if Trump behaves like Boss Tweed or trashes public servants like them. Cowards is what they are, afraid to stand up for the U.S. Constitution, except when it comes to military equipment in civilian hands. When they finally do wake up and act it will, more likely than not, be too late.
10
Let's assume Mueller's report will not definitively show that Trump personally colluded with Russia, or knew of such collusion in his campaign. If that's the case, the report's conclusions should be a warning to all anti-Trumpers not to assume that SDNY or Congressional investigations will find wrongdoing of which Trump was aware.
Family business was probably vetted by lawyers and accountants on whom Trump would have justifiably relied. These investigations will need to show that Trump directed such professionals to lie. And I'm not sure Michael Cohen's word is going to cut it, legally speaking.
49
Would Trump be protected by lawyer-client privilege if his lawyers actually did the collaboration with the Russians?
11
@CassandraRusyn - I'm not a lawyer so I don't know. But the principle still holds. Unless it can be shown that Trump knew of collusion but did nothing about it, participated in collusion, or directed others like his lawyers to collude, he's innocent - or at least he should be under any rational system of law.
Cohen's claim that Trump is guilty because he (Trump) used mental telepathy to direct Cohen to lie to Congress is absurd.
4
@HurryHarry
Cohen's word won't cut it- against Trump's??? Wow.
10
The only thing that comes close to a crime is the "Hush" money paid to woman who would accuse Trump, without independent substantiating evidence, of “Me Too" type crimes which Trump has denied. The problem with these type accusations for a celebrity or well-known person is that they can be very embarrassing and hurtful to friends, family members and business relationships and tarnish ones brand or name regardless of their truthfulness. The prosecutor claims these payments are Campaign Finance violations but they are not.
The FEC passed regulations 25 years ago clarifying that campaign funds have to pay for obligations that exist ONLY because of the campaign. If the obligation was created “irrespective of” the campaign, it’s not campaign expenditure. In adopting that regulation, the FEC specifically rejected a test that would allow campaign funds to be used for an expense that “primarily” benefited the campaign.
Any debt Trump owes to Daniels does not arise from his candidacy. I don’t think there’s much doubt that Daniels timed her request for money to Trump’s candidacy, when she thought Trump would be most likely to pay. And it is quite likely, to say the least, that the upcoming 2016 election influenced Trump’s decision on when and how much to pay. But that doesn’t mean that the obligation to pay AROSE from Trump’s candidacy. And had Trump never run, she might still have extracted a settlement at some point. The obligation was out there, irrespective of Trump’s candidacy.
8
If Mr. Mueller's report doesn't find anything and it seems most likely the case now, Our media has a lot to answer for. This is going to erode people's trust in fourth estate.
40
@Ugly and Fat Git -- The mass media has made a lot of money selling hype on both sides of this, a hype that was cheap to produce and lucrative for advertising clicks.
The real tell for this comment will be media revenue post-Mueller. The audience may tune out, save for the die-hards. If so, the media will move on. Coverage will shift to whatever new item grabs clicks.
Is the audience tiring of this? Are they ready to move on? Will this empty report be the death blow to their attention on this?
2
This clause appears in almost every article in any news item I read: "While the prevailing view at the Justice Department is that a sitting president cannot be indicted. . ."
The wording makes it clear that it's just a "view" and that it is a current view, a popular view, and a temporary view (simply "prevailing"). What happened to the concept of "no one is above the law"? Not long ago, there was a debate about whether a president could be indicted while in office. Now it seems we are simply told the prevailing view negates that.
Is there a legal argument hidden in that clause? Why did the counter argument disappear? Was that a political disappearance or a legal disappearance? When did the Justice Department become the last word? Obviously I'm not a lawyer so I can't answer the question myself. Perhaps someone could tell me what I missed?
18
I am also not a lawyer. But my guess is that since neither Nixon nor Clinton were indicted, the view became a precedent.
2
But Nixon resigned rather than face an impeachment he was sure to lose, and Clinton's crime was purgury about an infidelity, an act that is condoned by culture (a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell.)
1
Mueller wisely gave incriminating evidence about Donny Jr and Jared to state attorney generals to move forward with indictments. New York will finish the job. Glad the report is in. Glad Mueller did his job to near perfection. And, I have confidence the public will get many, many details from report - we will have to be patient though.
89
@Granny kate it’s a matter of coordinating opinions of the legal experts in the Justice Department. One person (or more than one) in a department of lawyers might have an opinion that differs from the majority, but that opinion might not be an unbiased opinion. The general view, that a sitting president can’t be indicted while in office, has been the official policy of the DOJ for a very, very, very long time.
Two lawyers can argue about anything, like whether the second amendment gives the people (as it states, unambiguously) or whether it covers only the Militia (which means every able bodied man (now person, or does it?) or even if it is to be incorporated to the states under the 14th amendment (which a horrifying decision in the 1873 refused to do for the entirety of the bill of rights, for almost all civil rights (if that decision still stood, there would be no right to abortion, the Civil Rights Act, Title 9......)). Two lawyers might still argue if incorporation should be for the whole bill, or just some of the, that they favor, like the fourth and the fifth, or the first or the eighth.
@Granny kate You must be referring to the idea that the meeting held in June 2016 in Trump Tower would constitute an illegal campaign contribution to a political campaign because the original intent of the meeting was to collect dirt on the opposition. That is not a crime and happens all the time. The infamous dossier that was largely paid for by the Clinton campaign to gather dirt on Trump is an example of "opposition research" according to the left. I doubt whether the charge is going anywhere. If it does, it will involve a fine and a refund of the value of the information received of which there wasn't any.
2
@jsheb
You claim: "The general view, that a sitting president can’t be indicted while in office, has been the official policy of the DOJ for a very, very, very long time."
I wish the NY Times would look into this claim; my reading is that it was put into affect in 2000 or 2001; one reader suggested it arose out of the Clinton experience with the Starr inquisition.
In hindsight it is a completely silly notion; Clinton's crew did a very good job of creating a special legal division within the White House to deal with personal legal matters, so the President wouldn't be distracted by personal litigation. And the historical record suggests he wasn't.
Though Trump could be indicted while in office for sure (no constitutional problem there), it will remain up to Congress to remove him.
2
All of that evidence amassed by the Mueller investigators rests within the jurisdiction of the DC Circuit ready and waiting to be put to good use in future Trump prosecutions.
11
But don't forget, almost three dozen sealed criminal indictments have been added to the federal court docket in Washington, D.C. since the start of 2018. Its entirely possible that several are derived from Mueller's investigation. Moreover, the Special Counsel can only indict someone with the approval of the attorney general. Soon after the midterms, Trump appointed Matt Whitaker as AG. He would have been the one to approve any indictments since November.
There may yet be a few Mueller surprises out there ...
10
@JH -- Mueller has said not. He said there are no more pending, no more sealed.
4
@JH They say no more indictments, sealed or otherwise. The fix is in. Teflon Don skates again.
2
@JH
To Thomason, T., and Malone, wrong. It only means that the Mueller Team will not be bringing any further indictments. But, there WILL be further indictments .. count on it.
3
The Democrats would do well to resist the temptation to imply that a conspiracy is afoot should the entire Mueller report not be published in its entirety. Both Mueller and the Attorney General, all would agree, have impeccable credentials, and, therefore, to suggest that they are somehow in the pocket of the White House would not sit well with a majority of Americans (including people like myself, a registered Democrat).
As the days pass, there appears to be less and less likelihood that sufficient evidence exists that would warrant Articles of Impeachment. If there are provable financial shenanigans from the days prior to Trump's election, let the Southern District of New York and the AG of New York complete their investigations. Congress should go back to legislating and drop the pipe dream of impeachment lest the Democrats receive the same backlash the Republicans did during and after the Clinton impeachment.
The worst thing for the Democrats' prospects for 2020 is to look like a bunch of whiners.
12
Can we actually take a rest for a few days and see what is actually in the report? Or is that too much to ask?
10
Will the legal threats in the Southern District of New York's investigations into President Trump loom over this presidency for the next 2 years? Robert Mueller's Russia Investigation has loomed over America since Donald Trump was inaugurated. The 45th President's Inauguration rocked the most questionable moolah of any in American history. In the wake of the Mueller Report, which is over, finished, done, how many more investigations and indictments will be held, and where?
Meanwhile, Trump is huddling up in Mar-a-lago with his cadre of lawyers and club members. A hush in Palm Beach. Follow the money. We are confident in the integrity and independence of the Southern District in New York as we were in Special Counsel Robert Mueller for past 2 years.
7
In other words, this entire circus was never about trying to determine whether there was actual collusion with Russia. Mueller finds no collusion, so the focus and the goal shift to New York, where partisan hacks will try to find some other way to achieve the end goal, removing a freely elected president from office by any means necessary.
22
@Dave C
We still don't know what Mueller has found; the report has not been shared with you or me. Stuff has shifted to NY "Sovereign" district because in the course of looking Mueller couldn't help but notice irregularities that he is compelled by law to pass on to other authorities (Donald's bad luck).
"Freely elected??" Sadly we will never entirely know to what extent Russian trolling and fake Facebook accounts, release of DNC emails, and Russian funded NRA financial contributions played in tipping the scales toward Trump. And he didn't win the popular national vote, and required the Electoral College, formed by a lop-sided Republican Senate and a gerrymandered House of Representative to hand him the presidency.
2
I wish they had done this YEARS ago. Trump and the Trump Organization has been involved in sketchy, perhaps criminal activities for decades.
The so-called Trump Foundation, Trump University, raising and lowering the value of his properties to get loans, avoid taxes - illegal activities right in the open (I bet there was more) but no investigations until now.
Just think, he could have been in prison and we would have all been spared Trump bringing his crime family to DC
162
@Maxie An astute observation. We should always remember that the U.S. political and judicial system is full of people that sided with Donald Trump against the victims of his multiple frauds. Only a few of his enablers are in Russia.
13
In a country where it’s illegal to pull the tags off a mattress half of America would be in prison if the full weight of the law was thrown at them for political purposes.
10
I don't really like Trump that much but these investigations into his personal finances are really starting to get ridiculous. For someone who probably will vote against Trump in 2020, this stuff is going to anger more and more people who are suffering in middle America and in blue collar states.
11
" adding that his lawyer "don't know what people are talking about'". that's what happens when you put the emphasis on loyalty instead of competence. You can say the same for his entire cabinet.
4
There was never a witch-hunt and Donald Trump was sooooo wrong about Mueller. The President’s paranoia is dangerous and proves that he is unfit for office.
4
From the little I have been able to stomach, the media-left-Dem reaction to the announcement of no indictments has been as sickening as it is dishonest. The spin machine is out in full force. That’s fine. The American people aren’t as dumb as you all think.
Anyone who thinks that Americans are going to care about unending probes, committees, and front page feature article series into things like the Trump Foundation and the documents-behind-the-documents-behind the documents into the Mueller probe is insane. He isn’t going to lose a single vote.
What I saw across the news last night — from the purportedly objective talking heads, including two very famous ones — was the same dynamic at play here: Well, given unlimited time, access and power, we still may get him on something else!
This country is becoming a banana republic. Half the people, aka mob, don’t see anything wrong with Soviet-style prosecutions in search of a crime. We used to have an educated, intelligent class of public arbiters who kept the keel even.
18
@John You did not mention the focus on the issue of hush-money payments to a hooker. If the Democrats really think America is going to get exercised over that, they should rethink the issue. Further, as an attorney, I can tell you that the issue is far from clear that, even if Trump countenanced the payment (which would mean he contributed to his own campaign which is NOT illegal), such payments constitute a disguised campaign contribution.
2
@John
Who made it a banana republic? Look no further than Trump inc.
5
@skeptic Yes I remember when the campaign finance allegations first surfaced they were being couched heavily in terms of “potential” violations; a few months later they were being thrown around like these were hard and fast mob casino skimming financial crimes.
There have always been vicious, unethical public voices, but somewhere in the last 20 years it became the norm, and the measured voices ebbed away. Our national dialogue these days resembles nothing so much as a food fight.
1
Angry, bitterly partisan Republicans had TEN (10) investigations of Benghazi, in a blatant attempt to de-legitimize Hillary as a presidential candidate. These phony investigations failed utterly and found nothing. By contrast, Mueller garnered 37 indictments or guilty pleas. There were plenty of now convicted criminals in Trump’s inner circle, so obviously there is abundant legitimate basis to continue investigating Trump indefinitely.
18
@Jared -- "Angry, bitterly partisan Republicans had TEN (10) investigations of Benghazi"
Was that wise politics? No. Hillary was the candidate against them.
Did it work for them? No. It became a joke.
Is that the standard for how Democrats should conduct themselves in order to win? Repeat what did not work for the other side may feel good, out of anger, but it isn't the path to success.
How about win the next election. That would be the best revenge.
5
@Jared Differnce: People died in Benghazi, including our ambassador, because the embassy was not provided with the additional protection they requested from the State Department on multiple occasions. Budgets have nothing to do with that kind of protection so don't bother going there. If protection is legitimately requested it should b given. The request in hindsight was extremely legitimate and should have been given.
5
@Mark Thomason As I noted, in stark contrast to the 10 failed Benghazi witch hunts, Mueller’s investigation achieved 37 indictments or guilty pleas. His work has utterly proven the existence of a deep vein of criminality directly surrounding Trump. Would you rather those criminals have walked free? Some of the SDNY investigation is thought to be predicated on material referred by Mueller. Should we stop pursuing truth and justice out of some kind of fraught and misguided concern for optics?
6
What's most important is how the integrity of these investigations and prosecutions can be protected from the unethical actions of this dwarf mentality of a president. He will stop at nothing to hide his high crimes and misdemeanors. I hope that there is some way to bring trump and his crime family to justice.
4
What happened to all those sealed indictments?
7
@Deirdre - There are none. Teflon Don skates. What, did you think a billionaire Protestant white man was going to prison? He could shoot someone on 5th ave on live TV and get away with it. He told us as much.
1
For the past week the stock market was greatly worried about a negative Mueller report on Trump. The stock market yesterday indeed dropped significantly but had absolutely nothing to do with the Mueller report but rather the potential for high unemployment - something that the day before was not expected whatsoever. NYT, next time talk about barking up the wrong tree and stop pretending to be a "know it all."
5
If you can’t beat them at the ballot box beat them at the bar.
6
Still, there’s no “there” there, but a number of media stalwarts will make quite a few bucks on this whole deal , ditto for the pols jockeying for book and interview sales. It’ll be better than the run up - “fools gold” for all manner of media folks from coast to coast. As the late great Dorothy Parker, was said to have remarked , “Constant Weader Fwode up!”
1
The NYT should also urge investigations in Florida, Connecticut, Maryland, California and all left wing states, I understand he has visited Tennessee, start an investigation there. In fact, get the AG's of all fifty states looking at what he has been up to for the last 30-35 years in their territory; but do not start a witch hunt.
6
I have zero faith in our democratic institutions and fully believe the public will never get to see this report. There will be political storms for months if not years and eventually a heavily redacted cut up version will be released, most likely to appease whatever narrative trump and gop feel they want to push. Trump will be re-elected, this report buried and about a third this country will still talk about how Hillary almost destroyed America. Another quarter will be too busy wondering what Kim kardashian has to say and the rest of us will be numb, lost and angry at the realization that this whole thing was never about justice, it was just a distraction. And all this sounds crazy, except we live in crazy. Don’t hold your breath folks.
30
@Milad
Since there are not nor were there ever any " democratic institutions " in our divided limited different power constitutional republic of united states your " zero faith" made and still makes absolute sense.
Do you remember President Al Gore ?
Do you realize and understand why Hillary Clinton is not President?
3
@Milad
Retiree groups exist all over the country, 55 and older. I belonged to one in Chico, CA after retirement, and beg to differ with your opinion about what ordinary people talk about. We had 5 min presentations, open to questions. You would be pleasantly surprised by the number of smart, educated, well traveled ordinary people. They did not suddenly emerge after retirement; they were always interesting with different life stories. The Kardashians bore most people, with the possible exception of some teens and cases of arrested development. If there are still people fixated on beauty or its industry of products, they are not likely to be a majority, given that the family you mention is one of the least physically attractive examples. People magazine cannot convince many that enormous behinds and thighs are beautiful outside some third world countries.
2
@Milad Exactly. Barr will not be impartial. Trust him at your peril. You say don't hold your breath- I say don't breathe in pollution in the first place.
4
Not so fast Maggie, et. al. We know Manafort giving Kilimnik is at the heart of the Mueller probe. All we need to see is Russian Facebook ad spending that correlates to the polling data to make future New York based prosecutions seem like an afterthought. We should know if this article is correct by the end of the weekend. The more immediate question is will the report be damaging enough to affect the poll numbers or change the political calculus?
7
@Rusty Carr
It won’t move the poll numbers at all - my prediction. Trump has been preparing his groupies for years and Fox, et al got their talking points and will be marching in lock-step with Trump and the RNC
3
@Rusty Carr -
The correlation you mention won't be enough, even if it is there. Mueller would need to show that Trump himself was somehow involved in it, directed or knew about it. Any isolated, improper action taken on their own by renegade underlings won't put Trump in jail - or get him impeached.
@Rusty Carr
Estimates of Russian Facebook ad spending show that it was a pittance.
Just another example of Democrats trying to delude themselves into believing their own lies.
Spending on Facebook ads by Russians was evenly split between pro-Trump and pro-Hillary ads. Many ads did not specifically mention candidates but were topical in nature.
Initial estimates by Facebook were less than $50,000 was spent on those ads, which over time was bumped up to about $200k.
Hillary spent close to $2 billion.
The Russians’ level of ad buying on Facebook doesn’t even rate them a player,
Democrats would soothe themselves in these facts as proof that Hillary was cheated.
Logical thinking skills need more focus in our education system.
5
There are going to be plenty of prosecutions in DC.
Trump has been stymied while the fake narrative investigation was under way. If he even attempted to defend himself, he would have been accused of “obstruction”.
The gloves are off, baby.
Watch while we now learn the truth of the lengths Democrats went to in their corrupt attempts to gain power.
This will be fun.
19
@Ken Plenty of collusion, and even more delusion from the GOP.
10
@Ken
Absolutely. First stop: the poison fruit of the inquisition tree.
@Ken
I’m not sure you have a grasp of the situation.
1
The last few paragraphs of this article are more telling than the headline: all of the people in charge of the prosecution of Trump at the SDNY are his own hand-picked people.
To claim that they are “independent” is completely preposterous.
15
@Corbin - Exactly. I have zero faith in the Republicans at the Justice Department to police themselves. Maybe less than zero. They're laughing over cigars at Mar-a-Lago right now.
1
Trump appointed the US Attorney for the
Southern District of New York and he has full authority to fire him. If the heat gets on, what do you think he will do?
8
@michjas
The US Attorney has already recused himself. It no longer matters what Trump does. As of yesterday, he can only dig himself deeper into trouble.
3
@michjas -- Yes, and he appointed him after firing the one before, to ineffectual Democratic howls of protest.
@Rusty Carr. Berman recused himself from the Cohen investigation, not the Trump investigation. So Trump still has the power to clear himself. And what do you think he’ll do?
1
No new indictments or charges. The report is a NOTHING BURGER.
10
They pulled on Superman's cape.
Tactically, Trump has shown restraint in not engaging the special counsel. If his report concludes, "no further action is recommended", the President should just bypass this pocket of resistance and order the impaneling of multiple grand jury investigations with subpoena power, assigning prosecutors dedicated to each segment of this 'crime of the century' across the spectrum.
Certain actors, in conspiracy or in loose concert, attempted to influence the outcome of the election, then attempted a soft coup.
Compel everyone from the former White House including President Obama (he has no immunity now), the CIA, MI-6, FBI, Justice, The Clinton Campaign, the DNC, Fusion GPS. Ohr's wife, the FISC process and all applications to spy on American citizens.
He is the chief law-enforcement officer and since no criminal indictments are recommended there is nothing to obstruct hence, the President is now free to pursue Justice and he carries the Hammer of Thor.
11
@holman -- Turning it on the Democrats would be an act unprecedented in American politics. We let Nixon go, to move on. We let Wall Street go, after the crash, the better to fix the banks.
We let the war criminals of Dubya's neocons go, to reinsert themselves in our national security and make much more of the same kinds of trouble.
Our past behavior has not really worked out for the best. Ask Jerry Ford, who lost his election over it. Watch our current wars drag on.
So just maybe Trump will break with precedent. But I doubt it. It is too deeply ingrained, and the potential blow back is too great if it runs out of control. He'll just kill it.
2
@Mark Thomason
I share your skepticism. How different is the rough and tumble judiciary of the Brazilian prosecution against the Car Wash money laundering recipients compared to what American prosecutors do to U.S.A. leaders caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
1
@Mark Thomason
They tried to take down a President.
they failed.
Now it is Justice time otherwise they will be emboldened to try it again, no matter the party in power.
They almost succeeded. This is what is at stake - the Republic.
We know who "they" are.
1
Each and every partisan anti-Trumper, now convulsing with the expectation that SDNY can somehow balm their wounds left from the 2016 loss must very, very carefully review and comprehend the dangers of malicious prosecution. As though it wasn’t sufficient to parade this Special Counsel charade through our lives, rekindling your animosity via incredibly biased NY attorneys will once and for all douse your chances of preventing our President’s second term.
10
@JBC Oh, we’ve gone from “angry Democrats” to “incredibly biased”?
Here’s a clue: Trumps fraud and criminal activities have only ever been a secret to those who somehow voted for him. “Partisan anti-Trumper” is apparently the new term for how they used to describe people who believe in the rule of law.
5
@Christopher
Contorting law in order to adjudicate notions that are only attitudes does what to the rule of law? If the concept is so sacred, why twist it only to make you feel better?
Overt bias is a fact, regardless of which side you take. Slashing and burning the truth to skewer an unconventional President means that neither our electoral system nor our courts systems has much value.
Pre-Presidential Donald Trump worked openly for decades in full view of SDNY, the NY AG, and the world in general, and now suddenly he's fraudulent and criminal?
1
@JBC
Because he wasn't prosecuted previously doesn't mean he is necessarily innocent. When people thrust themselves on the national stage, they are presenting themselves for national scrutiny. And when they run for President, they increase that level of scrutiny exponentially higher. In addition, a presidential candidate (and of course, a president) is expected to be 'of good character' as demonstrated by his past and present behaviors.
3
"I said to my lawyers, are we being looked at here?" One disadvantage of getting his news from Fox and Friends is, the last person to know he's under investigation in the Southern District of New York is Trump himself.
18
Investigating the financial shenanigans of a New York Real Estate scion is hardly front page stuff and for a prosecutor should be shooting fish in a barrel. One need look no farther than Trump's son-in-law's family for an example.
The D.A. would be well-advised to 'follow the foreign money' in any attempt to make convictions. Ensuring that campaign finance abuses are only a domestic cesspool is a constructive effort.
5
@john Why stop at the Trump organization? He just conducted Business As Usual for that industry. Trump may be dead by the time the investigations are done but the industry could use some major clean up.
1
If NY S Dist do not deliver some serious penalty for all the legal transgressions of Trump and his family /associates the U S justice system will be known as a system favoring the 1 %.Any one else would be in jail for any number of these transgressions.
Nothing new here
9
@cwt
i think it has been clear for quite sometime the US justice system favors people with money and power.
2
@cwt
And yet, you can not name one transgression that he has committed.
You speculate that maybe he committed some transgressions and want investigations of your speculations.
You need a primer on how US Justice is supposed to work. First, we start with a crime, not a person.
Politicizing the legal process is a never ending job.
8
Already, without having seen the report, folks on the right are calling the report a 'nothing-burger', Without anything in hand, they are already certain that there is nothing noteworthy and discarding the findings that Russian agents worked to elect President Putin Jr. That we don't know what Putin Jr says to his father should remind us of the other, secret back channels, that were tried. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. The con-man in chief is not out of the woods.
145
Among the other investigations of the Trump crime family, likely there was money laundering at his casinos, but no doubt hard to prove.
6
@Sherry
What is your evidence Sherry?
So now it is up to Southern District of New York. It is not a good sign for Trump's second term if his lawyers “don’t even know what people are talking about.” Maybe Trump also lies to his lawyers given the Cohen factor.
At last, we may have the chance to see the president's tax returns and compare them with the financial statements he cooked for the Deutch Bank.
This is music to many ears because presidential pardons will not apply.
I wonder if Trump serves time after leaving the WH, does he get to keep Secret Service protection in prison?
19
@Aurace Rengifo
If he actually goes to prison, not likely, he will be in one of the prisons reserved for celebrities and well known pols. They are isolated from the general population, a cost effective measure given the expense of extra guards. Trump will never go to prison; however, endless bad PR and more exposure to his obvious lack of any interesting personality traits will reduce him to checkout tabloid reading. That would really be a punishment he deserves.
@Aurace Rengifo
By the way, the federal prosecutor of the Southern District
of NY works for the US Attorney General, who works for the President. So do hold your breath for the that result, but you might pass out...
God help the Democrats in bringing a cohesive platform/candidate to the 2020 election. If they do not succeed, it sounds like the additional 4 years would possibly negate legal charges against "a sitting president". Everyone should be astute enough to realize that his base would turn out in droves to re-elect him him JUST to save him from being prosecuted.
35
@JG no, his base, which is now rabidly growing thanks to Dem hijinx, will re-elect him because the Dems are offering nothing. Turn some of the attention to running the country and stop the witch hunt.
3
@Born In The Bronx “Running the country”? Like, government shutdown? Sitting on hands while avaiation regulators in every other country ground unsafe aircraft? Taking children from mother’s arms? Is that what “running the country” means to Trump Deplorables?
5
So it is not about collusion.
It is about trying to drag down a President any way possible by the other side because their candidate did not win.
Here is an idea. How about learning from the last election? Pay attention to working Americans, not just the millions who trying to get into the country or who wish to come here. Show some concern to decimated regions between the coasts. Lose the identity politics and interventionist wars and make the United States a priority.
There is nothing more frustrating than not admitting to and learning from mistakes.
66
@Andy alleluia! Thank you for your post. All I see are bitter Democrats looking for any reason to drag the president down because they got a bloody nose. Not the sort of people we need running our country, and not a chance of getting elected in 2020 if this continues.
16
@Andy
"Identity Politics", a meme used against democrats.
White Male Privilege = Republican Identity Politics.
America is about mixed identities; nevertheless, we're all Americans. No reason to divide, unless it is to conquer.
24
We learned much from the last election. Republicans were trounced and Trumpism denounced.
38
The President's ability to alter an investigation is of course a key question. The article's speculative tone when touching on this point ("The Southern District’s reputation for nonpartisanship — and history of autonomy from the Justice Department in Washington, giving it the nickname 'Sovereign District' — may make it less vulnerable to attacks from the president and his allies.") is not reassuring. Can Barr replace these people? if so, the office's reputation and history may change in a hurry.
7
The USAO for the S.D.N.Y. commonly obtains such an expansive jurisdiction that prosecutors in NYC joke that the question as to whether the Southern District has jurisdiction over a matter is “whether the crime was committed on earth.” The legitimate reason for the broad jurisdiction relates to the geographically sprawling impacts a crime can have that trace back to Manhattan. Perhaps some of that prosecutorial bravado can be mustered to challenge the constitutional interpretation of the rule prohibiting lawsuits against a sitting president and find an exception for felony indictment. If anyone can do it, it’s the Southern District. Whether they should do it is another difficult question.
6
Time for Democrats to realize the report & investigations will not be the results they so desperately hoped to achieve. They should also remember that many of their own live in glass houses and their conduct too has been terribly suspect these past many years. Dems should focus on encouraging sensible moderates to run for POTUS. With the failure of their Russian Collusion narrative and the far left slate they now have declared as candidates, Trump’s 2020 win is all but assured. It’s a given unless Dems rethink their strategy.
13
@Once From Rome -- I draw the opposite conclusion.
Denied the distraction and proof-of-power of an auto-de-fe, Democrats must now turn to voters with real ideas to help voters. It is no longer enough to blow smoke while taking big money for serving Goldman Sachs.
This exercise was how the losing moderates tried to keep power away from the Bernie types, and how they excused themselves to the furious donor class whose money they "wasted."
It didn't work. Now we've got two years to hear from real Democrats who might actually be interested in helping voters with the problems that stem from Republicans and Republican-Lite alike.
5
The Southern District of New York is infected with the same political partisanship we saw with the Mueller probe, but perhaps to an even greater degree than Mueller's team. Central to a city with a deep hostility to Trump, all of the prosecutors see life through a lens of political and professional ambition and would like nothing more to be the "hero" to the local Democrats for putting Trump's name on the wall. The good news for Trump is that these prosecutors aren't as smart as they think they are, as evidenced by the fact that most of Preet Bharara's biggest convictions were overturned. Still, even in failure, the prosecutors know it's the attempt that will get them paid TV gigs and college professorships. So attempt they shall.
11
The president himself has said it should be released. That command from the chief executive overrides the new attorney general. The Mueller team should accept that as an order by the president and put it on the Internet.
115
@Allen Polk
why hasn't this president called for wiki leaks and the Russians to leak the Mueller report if he wants it released - isn't that what this president likes to do? get his "friends" to help him get what he wants? rely on illegal manipulations to get what he wants done?
16
@Allen Polk
The president himself has said *many* things. Remember two principles that seem to always be functioning with this presidency:
1. It's always ever only all about Donnie.
2. Donnie lies like he breathes; if he stops doing either, he'd die.
25
@Allen Polk Most of what he says are lies.
3
And this is what passes as a victory in the Trump White House: No *additional* Trump administration officials or associates, including family members, will be facing federal criminal indictments.
Can the office of the president sink any lower than this?
(We'll see.)
488
@Bob - Can the office of the president sink any lower than this?
Yes, the answer is always yes. This "president" redefines low at every turn.
47
@Bob
wait.. what about deutche bank...
10
@Bob: There are other prosecutors looking into Donnie world, and there is a lot to look at.
8
What is the point of listing the names of all the prosecutors? I fear for their safety.
8
the idea that a sitting president can't be indicted is just that -- an idea. and ideas can change.
303
@true patriot -- Careful. How many times and places would Bill Clinton have been subjected to prosecutions without merit?
Is that how we want the Executive to be from now on? Whoever is out of power, retaining a regional base, is likely to pursue this if that is what the rules allow.
4
@Mark Thomason indeed. Some of the people here are so biased against the current potus that they don’t even realize how incapacitated the USA would be come in the potus was getting hauled into courts around the USA. Seems the Russians and probably Chinese have finally figured out how to play our two party system against us.... this started with Obama and the ridiculous claims made against him and will carry on to the next president. Just bad news all around for the country
2
@Dom
That's what we have a vice president for. Not that Trump does much actual work. He might have to cut back on his golf.
It's also what the 25th amendment is for.
So, no problem.
9
Frankly, the state of our democracy seems to be in the hands of SDNY. When you consider the earlier statements from Attorney General Barr who just received Mueller’s report:
“Mr. Barr’s views on executive power leave Mr. Trump with a nearly free hand. The Constitution, according to Mr. Barr’s interpretation, does not consider it a crime for the president to wield his executive powers corruptly...”.
“Thus, the full measure of law enforcement authority is placed in the president’s hands, and no limit is placed on the kinds of cases subject to his control and supervision,”.
According to Barr, the fox has complete control over the hen house. Barr’s statements explain why Trump selected Barr and why Trump is not afraid of the Mueller report. In Trump’s world, he is dictator, free to loot and operate with no restraints.
If SDNY does not reverse this situation soon, civil disobedience is bound to follow.
29
@Doris L -- Unlike the Special Counsel, the US Attorney for the Southern District could be fired, has been once before by Trump.
It is not a power center from which to do by repetition what the Special Counsel was unable to do.
3
I’m no fan of the President but all these investigations must be costing millions of dollars. Money better spent where it’s needed, like maybe the FAA. And what are they going to find? Anything? It’s all politics.
13
@Mike L. Question Mike; did you say the same thing with all the investigations into Hillary Clinton that turned up nothing - and no indictments, guilty pleas, trials and sentences?
8
@Mike L
I believe the penalties on Paul Manafort's tax evasions - and other moneys - could actually leave the government with a surplus of funds.
4
Does it make sense for these federal prosecutors to seal a variety of indictments targeting Trump and his crime family, hiding them from the POTUS's scrutiny (and pardon power) until he leaves office?
I imagine the POTUS can't pardon someone for unspecified crimes they're not yet accused of and once Trump is out of office he can't every pardon them (or himself).
Could Mueller's report include sealed indictments?
7
@JFR -- Mueller has said there are no sealed indictments. That's over.
Anyway, pardons apply to acts, not charges nor convictions based on them. Uncharged acts have been pardoned, including the entire Civil War against Confederates in a huge sweeping pardon. The pardon power has not in the past been limited as this seems to wish it was.
2
Godspeed to the NY prosecutors.
I have been amazed at the descriptions of the underhanded manner in which Trump conducted business.
The use of the charitable foundation’s money for unauthorized purposes, the fraudulent Trump University, refusing to pay monies properly owed to contractors, banks and others.
Too often, the more money that’s involved, the less likely the events are deemed to be a crime. The drug dealer and car thief get the book thrown at them whereas the fraudster escapes because financial crimes are often deemed to be a civil matter and are too complicated to be discerned by the average investigator. While there are additional damages available to someone who can prove fraud or a willful breach of contract in court, the cost of making your case can be prohibitive. There is often no recourse for those affected.
Now that more light is shed on these practices, hopefully some consequences will ensue, and perhaps other nefarious well-to-do robber barons and their enablers and henchmen will think twice before indulging in these behaviors.
21
This cannot end like the investigations of banks which caused the Great Recession, petering out with none of the real criminals in jail. Our country will not survive that.
115
@KKnorp
I agree and will add the invasion of Iraq where Cheney
Bush , Condi, Rumsfeld and the torture creators never
faced criminal charges in this country at least .
They are wanted on war crimes outside of the U.S .
That in my mind says it all .
9
We know for certain that Trump obstructed justice when he fired Comey. He admitted it in a TV interview. I want to understand why he wasn't indicted for this. He committed crimes.
563
I often wonder how " no one is above the law" was ignored to create the "you can't indict a sitting president" policy. Seems at minimum to be oxymoronic.
84
@Michael McDaniel
A questionable DOJ policy says he can't.
NY Times do a full story on this! Who argued for this policy? Did anyone question it? What was the reason it was implemented? When? 2000 or 2001?
Is it really needed? Does it harm the country by giving an allegeded criminal cover? Is it appropriate?
43
@Mary Ann It's puzzling. You'd think that we should be able to hold the president, of all people, accountable for their actions.
53
Take away from this is that even though the Southern District has a reputation of being nonpartisan - it seems this president has already used his power to manipulate the department with people at the top of his preference. It also is clear that a bunch of lawyers have already abandoned ship because they don't want to be caught in this president's web of wrath if things don't go well for the president. Just those manipulations and changes in the department suggest this president has already attempted to manipulate the results that will come out of the Southern District in the coming months and years.
6
Tell me again why a sitting president cannot be indicted, especially if we really live by the precept that no one is above the law. I don't know what that even means anymore.
Clearly Donald Trump has found a way around that maxim.
So now we look to the SDNY. Where was the SDNY for the past 40 years when Trump was lying about his financial wealth to get loans, defaulting on loans, not paying contractors, conning people out of millions with his get-rich-quick ploys?
Let's all close the barn door now after all the horses have escaped.
Many of us looked to Robert Mueller to provide the magic potion that would make Donald Trump disappear. Doesn't look like that will happen.
Before Trump was elected I had faith that our Constitution was a rock-solid document that had withstood the test of time. Now I realize that much of it is not worth the parchment it was written on.
11
What's to stop a politically motivated prosecutor from harassing Democrats and their families?
This is also an excellent way to destroy public confidence in the impartiality of law enforcement.
The Republicans did do it, I don't think the Democrats should. They have more to lose when the public loses all faith in our government.
8
political theater has its plutocratic directors. when the president is a billionaire and does it, it's not illegal.
4
Will some legal entity please hold this man accountable?
56
The worst thing to happen to Donald Trump (and the country) is that he actually won the presidency. What he and his family originally wanted was publicity, and to strengthen the Trump brand name. But then he got the job.
The investigations of Mr. Trump's corrupt political and business dealings only start with the Mueller report, but they will persist in the U.S. Attorney's office (and perhaps even Congress) long after President Trump leaves office. If, as the Justice Department asserts, a sitting President cannot be indicted, then reelection is Mr. Trump's best hope of avoiding legal troubles for as long as he can.
At least the Mueller report is complete. It's now up to the rest of the American justice system to do its job, make Mr. Mueller's findings completely public, and continue to investigate this corrupt and odious President.
100
@jrinsc -- "The worst thing to happen to Donald Trump . . . is that he actually won the presidency."
Yes. It is interesting that of the whole Trump clan, it seems to have been Melania who realized that from Day One. She was reported to be in tears, and refused to come to DC at first.
I suspect she has the instincts of a survivor of a hard life, and she could see what more privileged people would not see. She had the survivor's sense to fear being the bullseye on the target of what was coming.
She's smarter than generally credited.
16
@jrinsc...the word President just should not now or ever have been attached to trump's name. Thanks Putin:/
@jrinsc
'At least the Mueller report is complete. It's now up to the rest of the American justice system to do its job...'
Let me change this to say it is now up to the *American people* to crush this sorry stain on our democracy by voting him OUT of office (and the ilk he rode in on).
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No matter what further investigations or future indictments may come from the SDNY, EDVA, or District of Columbia, I think the truth is simple.
Nobody is coming to “save” us from this individual. Either we have six more years of this madness, or we vote him out in favor of someone who will release their taxes, speak with the minimum level of civility we expect from children, and not surround him or herself with convicted felons. The bar is low, but the choice seems clear.
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@Michelle
You want to be saved from tax cuts, low unemployment, booming economy, asking NATO partners to pay their fair share, standing to ISIS, etc...?
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@Reader In Wash, DC
Tax cuts for the 1% don’t do the rest of us any good, especially as prices for durable goods, food and health care increase.
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@Reader In Wash, DC
I will happily trade my tax cut for the repeal of the large permanent tax cuts for corporations and the richest among us. Future generations will see increased Federal, State and property taxes to pay for this GOP tax stunt passed in the middle of the night. Infrastructure is not cheap to build or maintain. Good public education systems and health care were never cheap. Intelligent public discourse has been reduced to talking heads shouting at each other. Congress should be covered the way the BBC covers Parliament with intelligent, and often witty commentary. Public exposure might have some impact on the voters who put some of these half wits in office.
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I would not be surprised if Governor Cuomo appoints Attorney General James as special prosecutor to handle all Trump related investigations and prosecutions for state law violations.
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And, just as the mueller report, there will be a big nothing.
The SDNY - maybe even the whole state of NY, has been trying to slam Trump for anything they can find the past 20yrs.
After Trump, and the Republican voters, embarrassed Hillary, and all the leftists, followed by the exodus of a lot of new yorkers to places like Florida, they've gone into overdrive in an attempt to find anything on Trump.
It really is funny to see their elitist ideals go up into a vortex of nothingness.
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@igot
First: Elitist ideal gave you Social Security, Medicare, a decent public school system, an inter-State highway system, Federal and State dams and irrigation systems, land reclamation following the Dust Bowl, public health programs providing vaccinations, mammograms, and education at the H.S. level, including public health information, national parks with educated personnel as guides, venues to get passports and visas, education about foreign countries, including health risks and the need for specific innoculations, and support for regional programs. We take these services for granted; our taxes support them.
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Social security is a rip-off. The returns are meager and the system keeps your paid-in capital at death. It’s intergenerational theft.
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Seems like selective prosecution. Coming from Chicago where the State's Attorney until recently was the daughter of the biggest political crook and the present State's Attorney does not feel that political corruption is a priority, it is obvious that these are politically motivated prosecutions. If you investigate anyone you will find irregularities, in Chicago its built into the laws ( eg- building codes ) so that you can find "wrong doing" in anyone. It just takes that you getting on the radar if some politically hack.
I am not saying that Trump is an innocent bunny, but I am sure if you looked as closely at others of the opposite political bent, you fill find dirt.
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@dan
No kidding. They could start with Albany.
Because he wasn't prosecuted previously doesn't mean he is necessarily innocent. When people thrust themselves on the national stage, they are presenting themselves for national scrutiny. And when they run for President, they increase that level of scrutiny exponentially higher. In addition, a presidential candidate (and of course, a president) is expected to be 'of good character' as demonstrated by his past and present behaviors. @dan
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This is the best Article I have read on the report yet. Mueller doesn’t have to file charges - he’s Already dug up enough dirt to keep Trump and his cronies in court for years. It’s kind like to see the Trump supporters on here talking about how Trump is not guilty and that he won’t face any further charges. Nothing could be further from the truth
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Mr.Trump has a lot to worry about when it comes to the investigations of the Southern District of New York.They are fierce prosecutors who have gotten convictions against mob bosses and terrorists.They have all the material from Cohen and can get anything they need from Trump Organization officials in New York.When they convict someone there is no ability for them to be pardoned.Michael Cohen got three years and he cooperated-imagine what a sentence would be for someone who did not cooperate and tried to use every slippery tactic to thwart prosecution!
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I've resisted the urge to pin all of my hopes on Robert Mueller, and I will do the same with SDNY.
While we haven't seen the Mueller report, we do have Donald Trump Jr. on record - the records he himself released to the press - agreeing to meet with representatives of the Russian government (Russian intelligence) to receive dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of the Kremlin's "support for Mr. Trump". Trump Jr. doesn't even deny this happened. But he didn't get what he was promised, so it's legal, right?
Ask the people who agreed to meet for a cocaine buy who didn't get their cocaine what prison is like. Or look to the men Chris Hansen lured to meetings with promises of crime, who thankfully didn't get what they were after. Their next meeting was with law enforcement.
Same principle here, yet a different outcome.
I hope to be proven wrong, but what I see now doesn't give me hope that justice will prevail. Until hopefully, it does.
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@Bill
If my brother and I talk about knocking a gas station over but don't knock it over there is no crime. We might also talk about joining the NFL or flying to the moon.
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@Reader In Wash, DC
Bad comparison. If you hire a hit man but he doesn’t actually kill someone you are still guilty of attempted murder. If you get caught trying to rob a bank you’re guilty of attempted robbery.
Trump did a lot more than just talk about bank fraud, tax evasion, campaign finance violations etc.
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@Reader In Wash, DC
If you take an act in furtherance of a conspiracy, there is absolutely a crime. Trump, Jr. didn't just talk about meeting with a Russian representative to get campaign assistance, he did so. The fact that she had nothing doesn't change is intent or his act.
This is what pointless desperation sounds like.
I, like the many millions that were shocked and dismayed to see Trump win, and then openly carry out unamerican/criminal/treasonous behavior in his term, was convinced that Mueller would bring justice.
That was unreasonable we now realize, and it didn’t help that the media was supercharging our anti-Trump sentiment with nonstop conjecture/fantasy.
It is the responsibility of decent Americans to end this presidency in 2020 at the ballot box. Let’s not allow ourselves to be sleepy, fractured and distracted again. We clearly can’t rely on anyone else to do what’s needed.
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No collusion and no indictments. So of course Democrats, liberals and progressives will turn to New York state and the highly partisan Cuomo administration to try to nail Trump on charges unrelated to the Mueller report. And so it goes on and on and on. Anyone who does not believe that this actually is a witch hunt is living in a leftist dream world.
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@paul - Not recommending any further indictments in no way fulfills your description of the Special Counsel's investigation as a "witch hunt". To date, 34 people and three Russian companies have been indicted and convicted or pleaded guilty to crimes and this includes President Trump's campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and at least six other members of Trump's closest associates and advisers to his presidential election.
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@paul
The NY Attorney General has an independent electoral mandate. The idea that James is taking marching orders form Cuomo is risible.
The NY District works for DOJ and the new AG. They will need to produce evidence of crimes to investigate and are under his direct supervision. No fishing. The media however presents them as some New York based legal arm of the blue resistance. They are not. The best you can hope for are some leaks or “principled resignations” claiming investigations are being sabotaged.
From day one, on account of the absurdity of the proposition that if Putin had Trump on the hook that Simpson character would find out about it by Skyping to Russia from his London flat, I stated here that the collusion was a run of the mill political trick that took on a life of its own and nobody really controlled it at the end. Media and Dems were riding the tiger by the tail.
Worse yet, Dems are not prepared to deal with the boomerang effect. There will be indictments running up to 2020 but indictments that will damage the resistance and make Trump the victim. Also, Ukraine polls have decided to help Trump and that news is bad for the Dems consultants and personally for Biden. Trump now controls his DOJ. The shoe is on the other foot.
Comey may become the man who helped to elect Trump twice.
You cannot make this stuff up.
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