Junior always gets confused when pondering "guilty but not responsible" and "responsible but not guilty"...
19
".....the government would unlikely be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the June 9 meeting participants had general knowledge that their conduct was unlawful....”
Is ignorance of law a valid excuse?
18
@Parthasarthy, Not for you and not for me. But for the Trumps, of course it is.
9
@Parthasarthy, -- No, but ignorance of facts is a valid excuse.
As soon as some Senate Republicans start to sense that the wind is blowing the other way regarding Trump, they'll seize on the opportunity to criticize him and claim they never knew how bad he was. All in time for 2020.
19
@Michael -- I'm sure the old survivors among those lifetime politicians are keeping their options open, as much as they possibly can.
3
@Michael
Ain't happening. In too deep and too late. They are either going to go down with his ship or simply tighten their grip on power.
3
So Trump's blanket refusal to let anyone testify only applies to Democrats. That will help the Dems in court cases.
10
@Paul Raffeld
Jr is not part of the administration.
3
@Paul Raffeld Since when has that stopped Trump from trying?
2
@Barooby. Trump will rectify the problem of Jr. testifying before Congress by calling for Bolton’s resignation and replacing him with Donny II. He is. after all, about as qualified for the job as Kushner is for whatever it is he does.
Call me cynical, but if recent history is any indication, along with the obvious stance from Republicans in the senate and past actions from the countless shameful things that have been done, this is going to go one way.
Senator Graham and others will start asking questions relating to other things having nothing to do with the subject, pointing any blame away from those being investigated.
They have done nothing but this every single time there has been a testimony. This is basically a “hey come over so we can show the public how innocent you are, but asking only questions that softball the way to that conclusion”. Even if Dems grill this guy, the end conclusion from the top Replublic will be “no crimes here” in another attempt to shape the narrative. Sad.
22
@arielg3891 This is also what I expect. I do not for one second believe the republicans are behaving in anything resembling a noble way. They are attempting to undergird their false narrative of complete innocence of this criminal family while they have significant power to do so.
9
@Therese
And how will the Democrats get them of the subject of Benghazi?
Total waste of time and money - nothing substantive here. In the end McConnell will stonewall or squelch this. However young Donald, given his combination of ignorance and arrogance, is not above perjuring himself which could see him wearing orange and perhaps joining Manafort or Cohen in their country club quarters.
14
Perhaps the numerous obstruction findings in the Mueller report have finally gotten the attention of some republicans. Time will tell if this is a charade or legitimate endeavor in getting to the truth.
21
I can't imagine why the Republicans would want to put Fredo on the the stand except as some kind of stunt to prevent the investigation from going any further. It's hard to imagine Donald allowing him to be used as a prop, but I wouldn't put it past him either if he thought it would help close the case as Mitch would have it.
16
Just prior to his appearance before the committee Trump Jr. will come down with an acute case of geographic amnesia. Not only will he not "recall" any meetings about Trump Tower, he won't even be able to point to Russia on a map.
17
Senator Richard Burr, chairman of this committee which has subpoenaed Trump Jr., shared confidential information about the Russia probe with the White House. This is documented in the Mueller Report.
Something doesn’t smell right here. I wish I could be more optimistic.
34
My thoughts exactly! I don’t trust Burr anymore than I trust Barr or Trump. This is a con job to make the republicans look like they are fair-minded. They are not trustworthy!
1
These are just bad people, out of control people. And I am talking about the House Democrats.
Here is a better way to look at things- the correct way. What the nation is seeing now is a runaway House of Representatives trampling on the Constitution. They trying to take on powers specifically denied to them by the Founding Fathers for a reason.
In contrast, Trump is trying to protect the Constitutional integrity of the Executive branch. He is the hero in all this.
2
@steve Have you read the Constitution? And, for good measure, the quote below is directly from the White House website regarding Congressional powers. Let me direct your attention to the last phrase, "substantial investigative powers."
"Established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers."
2
@steve "Trump is trying to protect the Constitutional integrity of the Executive branch"
You cannot be serious...
3
@steve, hate to be pedantic here, but the Senate Republicans are driving this, not the Democrats in the House. Details, why be so snitty about details, I know, but nevertheless......
3
Not only was D. Trump Sr. finagled into office but extra-unfortunately we got his personally trained grifter family. Each of whom lie and do only what they believe is good for themselves and their father.
Oh, 26% of the voting public: How could you have saddled us with such regrettable humans? Your hate for all that is progressive exceeds your wisdom on every measurable level.
73
The Mueller report documents contacts between Trump Jr. and WikiLeaks. We'll know soon if this subpeona is less about the Trump Tower meeting and more about Junior's contacts (negotiations?) with WikiLeaks. It may be a move to fortify the cases against Julian Assange and Roger Stone as well as Trump Jr.
16
@um -- We'll know soon if Mueller had more on Roger Stone. That will be released first to the defendant, and then the public, as part of his trial.
Mueller said he had no sealed indictments or further prosecutions. Therefore, Assange is unlikely to be the topic, since that is not the subject of current proceedings against him.
The Senate subpoena is not about that however, since it is not yet revealed outside the leadership, and they've promised not to reveal it until it comes officially.
BTW, the timing of release of information on Roger Stone is set forth in Federal Law, passed by Congress. The delay is a longstanding abuse of defendants, done to favor the government. This is just another aspect of that.
It's a glimmer of hope that someone in the GOP has the fortitude to compel testimony from someone who at the very least was trying to conspire against our democracy with a foreign power. Mitch McConnell has been a disgrace, and will go down in history as a handmaiden to our most despotic president* to date.
Mr. McConnell's legacy, in fact, may be worse than Donald Trump Sr.'s. The President* is simply a con man who operates by blunt force with the support of his jackbooted base. (And his presidency* has been a lot like the conundrum of a dog who finally catches a car - what to do now?) Mr. McConnell is shrewd, calculating, and devoid of any principle other than serving the Koch Brothers and their like.
So credit to Richard Burr for acting in the interests of the country for once, rather than for the President*. Baby steps, to be sure. But steps all the same.
28
So what? What’s a subpoena? Meaningless today.
Trump Jr. is counting on his dad’s new best friend Bill Barr to protect him. Who could ask for more?
Jr. will never show up. If the Attorney General refuses why should the president’s son?
27
@MIMA
Perhaps it is time to re-fit that good old Congressional Jail Cell?
WHO CARES?
The meeting was not about dirt, what they thought it might be is irrelevant, what it was, was not illegal.
Keep beating this dead horse, the voters will repay you in 2020.
Of course perhaps they want to find out why Natalya Veselnitskaya was here in the first place, or was it part of the undercover FBI investigation using Fusion GPS?
But that can't be, because then a whole lot of people must have committed perjury as to the beginning date of the Russia probe.
3
Maggie Haberman, yet again, chose words to describe what Russia did to us in the 2016 election that soften the truth. RUSSIA ATTACKED US. They committed information warfare! Haberman said- .....“surrounding Russia’s efforts to sabotage 2016 election”. Well, technically you could say they made efforts, but they did a lot more than make efforts. They succeeded. And they didn’t just sabotage, they attacked us —-they committed information warfare!!!!!!!!!. Front page reporters need to be crystal clear at this point. Give us a break we’re suffering out here!!!
2
"But the subpoena of the younger Mr. Trump shows that the Intelligence Committee, which is under Mr. McConnell’s jurisdiction, is proceeding with its vigorous investigation that — for the most part — has not degenerated into a partisan morass like a parallel investigation by the House."
The last part of the above sentence has no place in a news story. It's an opinion. The NY Times used to do straight reporting and didn't allow its reporters to inject their personal opinions into a story. What is obvious is the prejudice against the Democrats since it is they who are in the majority in the House.
The partisanship exists now in the Senate where McConnell refuses to acknowledge that Barr's "exoneration" has raised more questions than it answers. If it were Obama or any other Democrat pulling the sort of stunts Trump is doing now, the GOP would be united against them and would demand an investigation for everything imaginable, just like they did to Bill Clinton. All Clinton did was to lie about sex in Oval Office.
5/9/2019 8:02pm
2
I think GOP is clinging to the premise set out in Mueller report that Jr and others in Trump Tower meeting were ignorant of campaign laws. Of course they didn't know the laws, Trump family didn't seem to even know how voting works. Remember Eric Trump explaining that he couldn't vote for his father in primary because he was "new to politics" and didn't know one must register with a party in order to vote? So it makes sense that they'd want to bring Jr in and have him reveal his general ignorance to bolster the defense that he didn't know it was wrong to meet with Russian spies to receive "dirt" on opponent. Democrats keep missing the point. Trump base LOVES that he claims to not know how the government works because they hate the government "elite." Democratic leaders have put too much focus on Trump's general vulgarity, shadiness and lies. Their version of events is being broadcast by "fake news" and is not believed. Jr. is a hero among Trump base. Democrats need to shine spotlight on how shrewd, rather than how stupid Trump and family are on some levels. If Jr appears, Dems should focus on how shrewd and greedy Trump family/org has always been, rather than how ignorant they are.
1
President Thanos will come down hard on those Senate Republicans that dared to mess with his spawn. That was awfully brave of them taking a first baby step in holding this administration accountable.
1
I've had more than enough of this nonsense. This is America....we can find the truth.... if we really want it. Past time for Congress to pull their heads out of the sand (or from where ever it is) and think seriously about the country.
The time for partisan savagery has past. Trump is who Trump is...and has been for decades. Just can NOT be that difficult to put an end to this sad experiment in American political history.
1
So Burr is disloyal and only won on on Trump's coat tails. Graham says if he were Jr's lawyer, he would advise not showing up. Expect that if he does show up, he'll take the 5th.
1
I would guess Senator McConnell is practicing his "case closed " remarks.
1
And daddy can't do a thing.
1
What is surprising is the Subpeona issued for Donald Trump Jr., to appear before the Senate Intelligece Commitee is the CRACK, revealed in the Senate Wall of partisan support. So much for Mitch McConnell's, "Case Closed."
Another surprise is Devin Nunes, supporting Adam Schiff, in the House Intelligence commitee's subpeona for the unredacted Mueller report on Russian involvement in the 2016 Election. "Surprise! Surprise!! Shazam!!!" "Gee Golly." There may still be some Republican support for the Rule of Law?
Dear Republicans, why is it ALWAYS "time to move on?"
2
I smell a rat the size of an elephant.
1
Trump's sons, son in law, and daughter have everything to lose and nothing to gain if they decide to tell the truth. This is probably one of the few times in their life they have power over their father. Unfortunately, Cohen had the power but blew it when he chose to first defend Trump by lying and then only after Trump betrayed him did he disclose the truth. By then, his credibility became suspect by Muller prosecutors, Congress, and the public.
1
Particularly with Republican Senators Burr and McConnell it appears that the Republican Senate wants to show that they care a small bit about our citizens Democracy. A tiny bit but not nearly enough to stop working hard to defend Putin/Russia and Trump from any attempt to reveal all the long-term business contracts, personal relationships, financing of golf courses and real estate without which Trump may not be the brilliant billionaire. We the American citizens democracy is being attacked from the inside!
1
Two thoughts:
First, thank God that there are still a few Republican politicians who are willing to put the country and the truth above worrying about the next election and sycophancy to Donald Trump.
And second, the Trump Tower meeting was COLLUSION (to steal the apologists’s use of caps for the moment), and no amount of lying or dissembling changes that. If you are a conservative or a Republican you need to face up to that fact and think about what it means.
1
Who was it who said “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.” It applies to less mortals but not to the privileged? Not so.
1
I Suspect Potus Donald Trump would have never considered running for President if he didn't have or expect an unfair advantage
1
There seems to be a lot of confusion in the comments.
Don Jr.'s testimony is needed to put away the high level FBI and DNC operatives who staged the meeting in the Trump Tower. That is why Republicans ask for it.
We are now in the blowback stage of the faked Russia collusion investigation.
NY Times readers set themselves up for another huge disappointment.
1
Please don't forget this, people.
On the same day that Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) officially joined the Trump campaign as a senior national security adviser, October 7, 2016, the Department Of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a joint statement confirming that the Russians were engaged in active measures to subvert our election. The statement began:
"The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations. The recent disclosures of alleged hacked e-mails on sites like DCLeaks.com and WikiLeaks and by the Guccifer 2.0 online persona are consistent with the methods and motivations of Russian-directed efforts."
Burr had already been briefed by US intelligence and knew that Russia’s interference was designed to support Donald Trump’s electoral chances. Yet Burr still chose to join the Trump campaign. What's more, the Access Hollywood tapes hit the news on the same day that Burr, then running for reelection to the Senate in N. Carolina, joined the Trump campaign. Burr defended Trump when others in the GOP briefly condemned him, thinking Trump was doomed. Later, at his own campaign rally in N. Carolina in late October, Burr declared, “There’s not a separation between me and Donald Trump.”
Burr has somehow won public confidence as head of this probe when he should've recused.
Please remember.
1
Obviously the first thing you wonder on reading that Mueller thought being unable to prove the meeting participants knew they were breaking the law was a reason not to charge them is, since when does ignorance of the law excuse illegal behavior? This article should have explained why they would think that. Does this law require intentional illegality, as obstruction of justice does? Otherwise, Mueller's excuse is incredibly lame.
Far from being a witch hunt, Mueller's probe looks more and more like a whitewash.
I am surprised how easily people are convinced that Bob Mueller pusillanimously disregarded the principle that lack of knowledge of the criminality of an act does not protect you from punishment. A little journalistic due diligence on part of the authors might have helped.
While the Mueller report at first sight does indeed convey the impression that the authors relayed (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/18/us/politics/mueller-report-document.html#g-page-193). closer inspection produces the following:
In 52 U.S.C. § 30121 on Contributions and Donations by Foreign Nationals there is no reference to any willfulness in violating the provision (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30121). However, in 52 U.S.C. § 30109 (d) Penalties; Defenses; Mitigation of Offenses we read:
"(1) (A) Any person who knowingly and willfully commits a violation of any provision of this Act which involves the making, receiving, or reporting of any contribution, donation, or expenditure —
"(i) aggregating $25,000 or more during a calendar year shall be fined under title 18, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both; or ..." (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30109)
Not being a lawyer, I assume this to mean that this condition introduced by the legislature does "reign" on § 30121, too. Even if it does not we have to assume that the jurisdiction is ambivalent enough to render pertinent Mueller's observation that they would have a hard time in court.
@Vítor Luís Antunes Coutinho
Thanks for filling in the enormous gap the reporter left in this article.
If DJT refuses to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee, he MUST be thrown in jail. Otherwise the rule of law is dead in America, and the criminal enterprise masquerading as an administration will have won and the US will have a dictatorship.
2
If I, as a US citizen, were guilty of any of the things of which Trump's associates have been accused or convicted you can well believe that our system of justice would punish me to the limit. If we are a nation of laws - essential to freedom - why is it that Trump's associates are given minimal sentences?
If I were asked to release my tax information or business transactions or bank information would I be excused? If I had given information to Russia would that be overlooked? Are we a nation of laws? If so, why are some ABOVE the law???
9
While I think the Senate's intent is to neatly close the book on the president's son, this could actually force the president into a tight corner.
What logic is there that enables the president to openly declare war on every subpoena originating from the House related to the Russia investigation and not to fight against his own son being subpoenaed by the Senate about the same topic?
Unless the president fights this subpoena as well, this would shine a very bright spotlight on the fact that he's obstructing solely on a partisan basis, not a legal or principled basis related to the content or nature of the investigation.
The House Intelligence Committee should issue the same subpoena and see how the president responds.
6
@AGuyInBrooklyn It is even less justifiable than that - the White House is stonewalling on ALL requests from the House, whether or not they are related to the Russia investigation.
Testi-Lie.
Duh.
1
ah! ignorance of the law is no excuse - unless you have lots of money. if this is what it sounds like, I love it - especially later in the Summer.
2
As the votes taken by the Senate Intelligence Committee are confidential, Senator Burr’s support for the subpoena means that the vote in favor was at least 8-7.
If anyone is speculating whether the vote in favor was more than 8-7 and, assuming all Democrats on the Committee voted in favor, the question is which other Republicans sided with Senator Burr - the possibilities would be Senators Sasse, Rubio, and Collins. Do any of them have the courage to take a position against President Trump?
Collins might be afraid because she is up for re-election in 2020. Sasse has shown himself to have an independent streak and willing to think and be a maverick to some Republicans and a “loose cannon.” Rubio is not up for re-election in 2020 and may still want to stick it in Trump’s face, because he must still seethe over his memory of “Little Marco” and Trump’s very abusive and low dig that Rubio has “small hands.”
At some point the Republicans may accept and be good with idea of Pence.
As for Trump, the question is which Republican has the courage and is willing to take a position against Trump. If and when that happens, the dyke protecting Trump and his family will break. That will be the beginning of the end.
The Russian thing could also make Senator Graham flip, considering how he flipped to favor Trump after McCain died for political reasons as he is up for reelection in 2020 in a very red state.
5
"Case closed?", Senators Mitch McConnell and Lindsay Graham? Begging to differ. If "it's all over!" why has one of Donald Trump's children just been supboenaed by the Intelligence Committee to testify on the ongoing interference of Russia in our 2016 Election?
"No collusion" isn't a legal finding. President Trump's social media "Collusion Delusion" And Donald Trump, Jr.'s Dad wasn't exonerated in Special Counsel Mueller's Report, which has still to be disclosed to the Democratic Congress and the American people. Who can forget that Don Jr., when told on the phone that the Russians had damaging "dirt" on Hillary Clinton, said "I love it!". Trump's son, lying that the Russia Meeting 9 June 2016 was about Russian "adoptions", wasn't credible. The acorn falls not far from the rotting oak. Waiting for the fruits of the subpoenae.
4
The Trump Tower meeting was a Democratic setup, as evidenced by the fact that Glenn Simpson of Fusion GPS, from whom the DNC and Clinton bought the Russian GRU salacious dossier,
Glenn Simpson met with the Trump Tower visitors both immediately BEFORE and immediately AFTER the meeting.
If Don Jr. waits a bit, his testimony can help put the respective DNC operatives away, all the way up to the top..
Thus saving time and energy for all.
3
Wow! Amazing how conspiracy theories can be made up out of thin air!
1
The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee has subpoenaed Don Jr?
For what?
So Trump-loyal Republicans can give Donny Jr softball questions to allow him to "explain" his previous perjury statements and exonerate himself?
2
The deep swamp's RNC Politburo is no more a friend of Trump's than are their brothers in the DNC Politburo. Just more ooze from the bureaucrats--the Mandarin ruling class--seeping into the Politburos.
Can it be more obvious that the people's constitutional choice is being challenged by the "institutions"--to include our Sovietized mass-media--of the deep swamp?
3
It's such a shame that Junior committed a series of patently illegal acts involving financial fraud. And now, to be asked about it again? However will he get over his sadness? Perhaps he can find something to kill to make all his hurties go away.
3
“I wouldn’t have wasted his time with it,” he said.
Come now, Don Jr, you don’t think anyone believes that do you. We also have your damning emails. Of course you told daddy, who was in on it right from the start.
Like his father, Trump Jr has told so many lies that putting him under oath is a dangerous proposition.
[If Jr takes the fifth, it won’t look good. It’s also worth noting that historically Trump Jr has rebelled against his father.]
3
No one is ABOVE the law; Not President Donald Trump; not
his son Donald Trump Jr....; not William Barr: Not Mitch McConnell; and this is the lesson which needs to be learned
by the very duped and gullible victims of the brfainwashing which is dealt out by the right wing GOP media to Trump's
very ignorant supporters.
Jail Time: that's what ignorant supporters of the Trump
fiasco will understand; Jail Time for those who defy the
US Constitution...and the rule of law.
Michael Cohen understands this now: and I am sure that
others like McGahn will find a good reason to answer a
subpoena from Congress...because he does not want to
break the law and then go to jail...like Cohen...and maybe
others who have colluded with President Trump to obstruct
justice...will not want to be part of the Trump regime to
defy the US Constitution....either...Jail Time...that is a reality
for those who consider ...being 'loyal' to this maniac we have
as Presdient.
5
Trump Jr.:
"I refuse to answer that question for reasons of privilege."
Senator:
"For the record, you mean executive privilege - correct?"
Trump Jr.:
"No."
3
This is the joke of the day. The GOP senate is serious about grilling a Trump? Thanks for the laugh.
2
About time to get Junior in the hot sit. Kushner must receive the same treatment.
2
I’ve been involved in trying to prosecute white collar crime. The FBI and local law enforcement don’t really care about it, and don’t have the resources to follow up. These people operate outside law. The difference is Trump made himself subject to public oversight.
There are probably hundreds of violations or crimes but Trump will counter sue and cost a crippled government a ton of money and resources. I honestly believe no one cares.
1
@Concerned
I care deeply! White collar crime in this country is out of control and will remain so as long as money is the only "god" for the masses. We are either a nation of laws which apply to all, or we lose our republic and devolve to the lowest common denominator where anarchy becomes the norm. To survive we must return to some common values including truth, ethical behavior, and care for others and our planet.
1
"The special counsel considered bringing charges against some of the participants in that meeting but ran up against questions about whether they knew the meeting might violate federal bans on foreign contributions to elections, the report said."
It's a well worn cliche that "ignorance of the law is no excuse." It's impossible to believe that,at least, Paul Manafort knew that conspiring with the Russian government to get "dirt" on Hillary Clinton was a crime. Don McGahn served as counsel to the Trump campaign. Before that he served on the Federal Election Commission. Did Mueller actually believe that Manafort didn't know he was engaged in criminal activity, and it never occurred to Jared or Junior to pick up the phone and ask McGahn for guidance on the subject, which was, you know, his job? Literally, unbelievable.
3
This closed-door session should give them all a chance to get their stories straight.
2
America's democracy is at stake. If Don Jr. defies the laws of the land, he must be held accountable.
6
Does this come with immunity?
1
It is a foregone conclusion that he will lie, that is the trump way.
2
The tipping point could come if Republican senators were convinced that Trump had no chance of prevailing in 2020.
Then telling Trump it’s finally time to go, they could claim they addressed his overreach, and open up their primary field for 2020.
2
To the Honorable Representative McCarthy:
I would be more willing to accept your tweet regarding endless investigations being distractions from focusing on the issues but for the tiny little fact that you very specifically pushed for endless investigations into Hillary Clinton even though those investigations were very specifically designed to be distractions from the issues and a way to drop her numbers.
I'm sorry, why are endless investigations into Democrats even in the complete absence of evidence a fine and necessary thing, while continuing investigations into Republicans to get more access to the evidence actually there is a horrible problem that must be stopped? It almost sounds like, in your opinion, the law should only be enforced against Democrats.
There is no justice in such a stance.
5
@Jacob Sommer, On Tuesday, September 29, 2015 'McCarthy bragged to Fox News’ Sean Hannity that “everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Benghazi Special Committee, a select committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping.”' I mean, they did try to spin it for him. The GOP claimed that his words were twisted and misconstrued. https://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/hillary-clinton-benghazi-kevin-mccarthy-214325
Smoke and mirrors, another orchestrated act. Everyone else that lied to the Senate committee has paid the price. Jr is the only one to have suffered no consequence. The Republicans have a plan and it is to insulate Jr. Use subpoena powers and he does his part and protest too much threatening to fight the subpoena. After enough smoke has filled the air, Jr reluctantly comes back before the committee. With snowball questions, Jr reflects, has a sudden epiphany and wide eyed proclaims that he mis spoke during his last appearance. He is allowed to correct the record and the Republicans declare there are no lies on his part and he is innocent as the newly fallen snow. Simply another Trump reality show. Trump Sr tweets out extolling the wondrous captive GOP Senate and how they know how to be fair and balanced. Sean Hannity probably wrote this script.
1
It looks like this is the first step for Republicans who are afraid they might lose their seats in 2020. McConnell's polls are about 33%. Trump will tell him to ignore the subpoena anyway.
3
This story doesn't clarify the depth of Republican support on the committee for further investigation of Donald Jr. Is Chairman Burr the only Republican on board? If so, he will soon be isolated and the target of Trump and his diehard supporters of which there are many.
1
Prepare yourselves for a new Executive Order.
"The President of the United States of America may assert Executive Privilege to immediate family members for any and all matters determined by the President to be relevant to the Executive Branch of government."
The Attorney General will issue a supporting a Department of Justice policy. Republican members of Congress will raise no objections.
1
Junior appears to have picked up his father's ability to obfuscate the truth. Now he apparently won't answer questions that aren't in writing because the truth is hard to speak for this young man.
Junior also seems to be attacking the chairman of this Republican led committee because they dare to call him again.
Trump and his family have real issues with integrity & honesty when it gets in the way of serving themselves. I don't trust them to act in the best interest of America
1
It has to be a ploy. Where they (the Repubs) can come back and say "See what we did? And we found nothing. Aren't we fabulous?" Playing Br'er Rabbit is how I see this.
1
So if you don’t know something is illegal you can just go ahead and do it? I never had confidence that the FBI would deliver us from a Trump but even I am shocked at what weak sauce Mueller ended up serving. Hope he feels good about himself though, played by the book, that’s what really counts.
14
@Keef In cucamonga If Trump Jr. thought it was legal then why did he lie about that meeting and attempt to hide his connections to Russia?
4
@Keef In cucamonga
Pretty sure what he actually wrote was more of a " how to" for grounds to impeach+ convict. He farmed much of it out, where charges couldn't be ignored or pardoned.
4
Donald Jr should be interrogated about the entire episode ( and any relevant contacts) " fresh." All of his misleading statements made when asked about the meeting, and also how it came to be that his father dictated a statement that was submitted as the son's, are obviously targets. If anyone wants to get closer to the truth of what transpired in the meeting or other contacts, direct questioning of a participant is necessary.
DOJ may not be represented at the committee hearing because of the profound conflict of interests of the AG.
Maybe the Senate won't discover anything major-- but I actually think this is being done because experienced Senators on both sides, think there is a huge gap in what they know, about the relationship of a long standing enemy to the White House.
This shouldn't be about anything other than how to stop a foreign power from manipulating our electoral process. That is the appropriate exercise of this committee's power, and, sadly, the real threat to democracy is getting lost.
The committee should do whatever it can to stop foreign influence. The rest is political and should be dealt with, but elsewhere.
1
Burr, I believe Gore Vidal has already done this.
I will always believe there was collusion to ensure a Trump victory and that the Trump campaign and the Russian government were intimately involved with each other. Frankly, I think the Trump government is covering up plenty and that is evidenced by the fact they felt the need to heavily redact the Mueller report and the fact Trump refuses to comply with Congressional subpoenas and the release of his tax returns. Whether or not anyone cares or wants to acknowledge it, our institutions of democracy are under attack by this government on a daily basis. Their partners in the US Senate have so far done almost nothing to shed light on what is going on. I am deeply worried for whatever is left of our democracy.
3
Trump's plan to drain the swamp was a great idea.
Starting with the Trumps is even greater.
1
Junior will take the Fifth, if he shows up at all. Would love it if they also ask about his Saudi meeting with Erik Prince, but they probably will not.
The Trump family will be tied up in the courts until Junior is an old man. NYS will deliver where the democrats will not. I hope the AG here in NY takes their fake empire apart.
1
McConnell must be enjoying himself hugely. He stirs the pot a little and hopes that justice will in some way be done are temporarily revived. Soon enough these hopes will be dashed and he'll laugh again.....
With his two main partners, Rupert Murdoch and Trump Snr, McConnell forms a triumvirate of old and almost unbelievably bitter white men who are spending their waning years using their accumulated power and wealth to undermine the future potential of vast numbers of their fellow human beings.
They are not content with the vast wealth they already control - they want ever more; they are not interested in leaving a decent legacy for the majority who follow - they just want to reward themselves and their inner circles; they are not interested in leaving the earth or its in habitants in better shape than they found it - they just want to use and wreck everything before they go.
Even sadder that these people and their allies are so bitter and harbor so much hate (and it is Hate - listen to the ghastly things they say, with increasing frequency, about their fellow Americans), that they work relentlessly to ensure that the effects of their presence on this earth will be felt for decades after they have passed on.
How utterly vile and completely vacuous these three are. How unlucky are we all that we came into their orbit.
7
OMG! Is this the beginning of the Republicans leaving the sinking ship of state (aka The Trump Administration)?
1
By this point it is apparent that the "president" and his family are above the law. Nothing will come of this. Jr. will either refuse to testify and the congress will go to court for the next few years until it becomes moot or dad pardons him, or he'll take the fifth (like pleading guilty according to his dad) and this will all go away.
Like father, like son. Always hiding from the TRUTH.
1
One would hope that this investigation would be completely honest and straightforward in its proceedings but I see the stench of Mitch McConnell's rubber stamp hanging all over it.
1
So nice to hear Mr. McConnell, who set the GOP goal during the first days of the Obama Presidency as doing all they could to deny him a second term and launching investigations like holiday fireworks.
Now he has discovered the importance of governing -- as a distraction from the dysfunctional, amoral narcissist who is destroying McConnell and his party.
History will show that McConnell took the low road, the expedient, self-serving road, the road sadly most travelled. He will protect the man who employs his wife, even as Kentucky farmers whither and his state leads the opioid death race. He will join the list of DC characters whose reputations lay in ruins as they leave and worsens with age.
Public dis-service will be his legacy.
3
@Chris
Thank you especially for your honest words:
"History will show that McConnell took the low road, the expedient, self-serving road, the road sadly most travelled. He will protect the man who employs his wife, even as Kentucky farmers whither and his state leads the opioid death race."
Expediency over what is right has always been his norm for achieving power and self-aggrandizement.
Likely a set up to exonerate Jr. OR the GOP now realizes it has become the DJT political party and the realities of losing the Senate and presidency are real unless it does something to look like it cares about the USA more than Russia (e.g. DJT’s 90-min. chatty phone calls with Putin about US intelligence are disconcerting) OR Trump sees impeachment as a way to save face, keep his secrets safe and leave office as a victim instead of a loser and the Senate needs to tee up its process.
About Trump’s 90-min phone call with Putin. It’s quite possible Putin knows more about the Mueller report findings, including Grand Jury testimony, than Congress as I don’t see Trump capable of limiting their conversation to the heavily redacted version. Do you?
55
@KB. Nope, definitely. Weirdly enough, Trump is a bit gossipy and I can easily see him sharing the entire report with Putin.
3
@KB Trump doesn't belong discussing Mueller's findings with Putin at all. it was PROVEN that Russians, under the direction of Putin, used social media to influence our election. So how is it acceptable for Trump to discuss this report and make jokes about it with very man who violated the USA?
4
Yes, Senator McCarthy, it's tough for Junior to have to spend "dozens of hours" dealing with Congressional requests. This takes so much time away from his -- sorry, what does he do again?
12
Probably a scam by the Republican-controlled Senate "Intelligence Committee" to head off a subpoena from a Dem-controlled committee in the House.
Having completed another whitewash hearing, they can cook the results and say it's time to "move on," a la Barr and the Republicans mantra about the (still not fully released) Mueller report.
Does anyone trust the Republicans to investigate anything about Trump (and themselves)?
9
So long as the Senate remembers one thing, that it was established that Russia did hack our elections an are still doing so, so in their questions to Don Jr. they need to know did their campaign have any knowledge of this in 2016 and if so why wasn't it reported?
6
The fact that Don Jr. welcomed Russian information designed to undermine our democracy should be key here. He proved himself to be disloyal that day. Disloyal to the USA. Period.
13
Someone please tell me that after he gets thrown out in 2020, if Dems can get their act together, that he will face civil charges and courts and get to spend the rest of his life in prison, or is that asking too much of our "great" democracy?
I don't trust anyone any more.
10
While the Committee is at it, I would like a clarification from Junior on his assertion, in 2008, “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia,” and that “for four decades Trump’s property empire effectively functioned as a laundromat for Russian money,” as quoted by Luke Harding, in Collusion: Secret Meetings, Dirty Money and How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win. And remember, as his father says, only the Mafia takes the fifth.
6
Kevin McCarthy should understand the need for further testimony from Trump jr. given he once said he believed the lad's father was one of the people being paid by Russia.
3
I know a man who likes to go through garage bins looking for things that are perfectly fine but just tossed away for various reasons. One day my friend was arrested, jailed for 30 days and was ordered to pay a fine he couldn’t afford. He also was jailed for not paying the fine.
My friend had no idea it was against the law in the city that he was taking “trash” from. The judge told him “that ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort meet in secret with Russian individuals on behalf of the Russian government. No matter how you want to put it or twist it, these people were COLLUDING with Russians.
Paul Manafort has a law degree and Jared Kushner graduated from New York University with dual JD/MBA degrees. He also interned at Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau's office and graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.
I am really supposed to believe that neither one of these individuals did not have “...general knowledge that their conduct was unlawful.”
And why doesn’t ignorance of the law apply to these individuals when it certainly fully applied to a man who was innocently collecting trash?
I am just so disgusted by the fact that nearly half of the country is actually okay with all of this. The collusion, the obstruction of justice, the constant lies, the pure and utter disregard for what is right. It just shows that so many people have absolutely no moral compass. I just want the truth!
200
@David Parchert
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr said when he was re-elected in 2016 that he would not seek another term.
Are Republicans who are not seeking another term the only ones in the Senate willing to stand up to Trump and McConnell?
10
@David Parchert Jr. has lied before and will lie again - that's how the trump's have always done business and continue to do so. After all, protecting dad is all important to jr. - it's the source of all his power and future (as president?)
4
@David Parchert
How Trump is getting away with what he's doing. This Republican Senate has since entering into public office been fantasizing about being the one with THIS job:
https://www.art.com/products/p15063126749-sa-i6840947/gahan-wilson-of-course-it-helped-that-my-father-was-also-a-king-new-yorker-cartoon.htm?upi=PGPUC80&PODConfigID=8419449&sOrigID=704688
2
If prosecutors commonly declined to press charges because they they are uncertain whether they could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect knew his crime was a crime, few cases would be brought.
Another thought: Enough of hearings behind the veil. The hearings should be public.
46
Whether or not Junior shows up the key piece here is that a Republican called for his appearance. I gives me a tiny sliver of hope. Perhaps all is not lost with the Senate. Ok, call me a dreamer but this is a significant step.
50
@Hortencia I would be highly suspect and from what I read this may just be a chance to reiterate the no collusion narrative.
5
@Hortencia
I think it was the Senate committees way of letting McConnel know that it is in fact NOT over yet.
Nor sure if anything will come from it in terms of charging Trump Jr with anything (President would just pardon him anyway).. but it sends a clear message to McConnel that he does not decide when "it's over".
1
@Hortencia A few honorable men still exist in the U.S. Senate. Unfortunately honorable Republican senators are now too few in number.
1
Junior's defense is "I didn't know it was illegal to solicit slanderous information for a foreign country. I'm innocent because I am ignorant."
48
@Fallon
whatever happened to « ignorance of the law is no excuse? »
5
“unlikely be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the June 9 meeting participants had general knowledge that their conduct was unlawful,” the report stated.”
I know generally that I’m supposed to file my yearly earnings to the IRS and I do but I am ignorant about the “finer” details. It’s reassuring that the government will forgive that ignorance.
6
@Fallon
Starting with Perry Mason and Dragnet, everyone in this country has known that ignorance of the law is NOT a defense that will get anyone out of hot water.
I guess if the law has changed, such that, if you are wealthy enough and have certain connections, you can walk free, I was just not aware of the change.
30
Guess McConnell’s announcement that it is over, does not really mean it is over!
28
@Global Strategist No it's not over. Unfortunately McConnell's tenure as "leader" of the Senate is also not over yet.
The mens rea IQ of Junior may be higher than that of either his father or brother-in-law. Lock him up should be the first priority.
10
Can the new Trump Consigliere, William Barr, get Donny Jr. a “Get out of Jail Pass”?
23
@John
Barr is surely no Tom Hagen.
Today we know that the only "dirt" in question was emails. Did they know that at the time of the meeting?
The Russians could have had other things that could be considered dirt on her. They might have transcripts of her conversations with Russian officials. They might have had recordings like those they had of Victoria Nuland. They might have had witnesses to stuff.
Was it ever clear to those in the meeting that the only dirt in question was emails hacked by Russian operatives?
Remember that the Russians were being vague, evasive, trying to get something for hints and suggestions.
Mueller did not find anything that went beyond that.
3
@Mark Thomason
So you’re saying that the thousandaire is too Stupid to know what he’s hearing.
Have the Republicans manned up and decided to defend the Constitution and the truth?
Or, are they trying to foment sympathy for poor Junior? Is this going to be the talking point for his talk show circuit tour and tell-all book--that Daddy made a big Russian mess and poor Junior was made to be the fall guy?
After all, Rudy did say that sons were dispensable but daughters (by that he only meant the daughter with the great body that Trump wants to date, not Tiffany, wherever she is ), are not dispensable.
Is this part of their plan? Throw Junior to the wolves to gin up sympathy in the reality T.V. show that is this administration?
7
Trump Jr. may claim that he did not know that the meeting and not reporting it was illegal, but he sure was excited when the dirt appeared and did not change his tune when he obviously did know. Not knowing may lighten the penalty, but it sure does not make these shenanigans legal or ethical. but when did ethics ever deter a Trump.
17
Am I missing something here? Isn't the White House fighting/ignoring ALL subpoenas?
Then again if a subpoena from the friendly side of the aisle, well maybe that's a different case. So I'm going to guess that sonny has nothing to say or if he does, it'll be the fifth all the way.
5
@Tim - Don Jr. is not part of the Trump Administration. They cannot fight or ignore this subpoena.
18
The bank robber (aka Jr.) goes into the bank to get its money. The teller’s cash drawer is empty so he gets frustrated and leaves.
1. Can’t prove that he knew he would be committing a crime.
2. Since he didn’t get the sought after money, he won’t be charged with a crime.
Since when is a bungled attempt to commit a crime a free pass?
27
@Hub Harrington
It's a free pass when you're the President of the United States in a Republican run DOJ and Senate. If the names in the Mueller Report would be replaced with any of the former administration names, the Republicans would imprison everyone. Unfortunately, that's the state of our Government now. The oath to the Constitution is nothing more than window dressing.
1
A ploy by Repubs to prove POTUS Trump didn't collude with the Russians.
10
the bigger question is will daddy aka "individual one" allow Junior to go, or will "individual one" realize that Junior isn't part of the gang he controls. but then again it was "individual one" who lied about having knowledge of the Russia meeting at the NYC tower, and then wrote Juniors excuse for the meeting also a lie. its possible Junior will decide to go ,as it was the head Republican who had the subpoena issued, they only say no to Democrats.
1
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark! There's a method to their madness!
8
Just more theater from the nervous democrats...waiting for the Comey diaries to come to light
1
@steve The subpoena was initiated by a republican controlled senate....
23
@steve, last I heard the Senate is controlled by the Republicans...
3
@steve Next time read the article before you hit SEND with your automatic response to any criticism of the Trumps.
They can't get President Trump so they are going after his family. Shame.
@AO
Trump would be under indictment if it were not for the unique protection from criminal prosecution afforded to the US president.
The Trumps are a crime family. Perjury, fraud, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, witness tampering, money laundering are all on their resume. The Feds, NYS AG, Manhattan DA are all on their trail now. The wheel of justice turns slowly, but it grinds exceedingly fine.
@AO. I am sure the Republicans who have called Little Donny Jr. ( aka Elephant Killer) to appear before the committee will treat him quite gently. It seems to me he will be given every chance to proclaim his innocence and the committee chairman along with Mitch McConnell will make sure that that is the point of view the hearing leaves with the viewers.
The shame is that Congress and voters are letting the Trump family set themselves above the law. Will you miss the powers of the Congress to protect you when they are gone?
"Republican lead Senate panel...???!!!" I'll believe it when I see it.
4
This is a sham. All this will be is simply Republicans waving off what's in front of their eyes and asking Jr. again and again "But you're a good boy, aren't you?" And Jr. will nod furiously before they all shake their heads in unison and say "Those unAmerican Democrats."
8
Will Trump block Don Jr from testifying too?The whole thing smells fishy to me.
5
Just because he was subpoenaed, doesn't mean he will show up, as we are seeing with Mnuchin and Barr. Trump has ordered them to ignore subpoenas, to ignore Congress and disregard the law and constitution. Heck, he is trying to stop Mueller and McGahn from testifying too. And on another note, how can McCarthy say there was no collusion with the Russians when the first part of Mueller's Report proves there was plenty of collusion with the Russians? Mueller wasn't trying to prove or disprove collusion; he was looking for conspiracy (agreement between two people to subvert the law) and because of lack of evidence (some overseas and some destroyed here by members of the Trump campaign), he could not prove it. I think McCarthy needs to read the Mueller Report instead of going along with Trump's big lie on the topic.
18
@kay
Gee could it be that Trump is doing a "huuuge obstruction of justice here?
Can we not see the forest for the trees?
Just do not forget that the same Russian lawyer who met with Don Jr also met one more than one occasion with reps from the Clinton campaign. Again, this is all nonsense. The notion that only the evil Trump family was engaged in opposition research (otherwise known as digging up dirt on the opposition) is not only silly, but put to rest by the Clinton campaign’s causal connection with the Trump Dossier.
3
@ehillesum
The Russians were trying to compromise both sides, millions to the Clinton foundation and election help for trump. Why would they bet on one horse?
2
@ehillesum Where is your evidence that anyone in the Clinton campaign met with Russian operatives to obtain 'dirt' on Trump? False equivalency meant only to distract.
12
@ehillesum. Just stop!
8
Put Trump Jr in the next cell to Cohen and call it Liars row.
As for McConnell wanting to deal with issues he has not taken up one piece of legislation passed or proposed by The Democrats in the House.
Here is an agenda for him,
Health Care ensuring the ACA is not overturned
Reduce Drug prices to European levels
Fair taxation reform eliminating corporate and wealthy individuals subsidies , reduce tax for individuals and deficit.
Protection of our Democracy against Foreign interference , gerrymandering and repression of the vote
I am tired of paying this free loader who is doing nothing for the American people. He is the ultimate obstructionist and Putin enabler
26
“He’s showing the world that when he says he’s going to do something, he means business," he [DJT Jr] told an enthusiastic crowd.
Perhaps in the light of recent revelations he might want to rephrase that.
12
The facts are pretty clear: in 2016, the Russian government offered to help the Trump campaign in a variety of ways; campaign officials welcomed and accepted the help, didn’t call authorities, and then, when questioned, lied about their contacts. Donald Trump originally claimed zero contacts with Russia—now one of his defenders admits that wasn’t true and getting help from a foreign foe isn’t illegal. Trump has also continuously denied what every major intelligence agency and the Mueller report have found; he has done nothing to fortify our defenses against new Russian election aggression, and has refused to rebuff Russian assistance in 2020. This case is far from closed.
25
The diminishing power of the Republicans will continue its downward slide if the best they can do is to continue to attack Hillary Clinton. This does not surprise me, since they mantra seems to be to return to the past with their policies. I fear the my father's republican party is a long-lost thing of the past. There has not been a meaningful piece of legislation passed under this administration. The tax cut did not benefit the masses, and its foreign policies are worrisome. I fear that we will return to the horrors of the late 1960s and early 1970s when we were unable to back away from a losing proposition. Too many of my Marine and service buddies perished or were serious maimed; I pray this does not repeat itself.
18
@Dr Russell Carter -- "The diminishing power of the Republicans will continue its downward slide if the best they can do is to continue to attack Hillary Clinton."
True.
The same is true of Democrats and Russia-gate.
Our politics is stalled. There seem to be powerful forces in our political establishment who do not want to discuss new ideas. They want to rehash the last two years, then re-run the last election.
3
With Sasse in there and Mitt gleaning related info, the Donnie T crew could be isolated on the fake right.
1
Who is next in line of our through and through corrupt Banana Republic Royal family being called to testify publicly in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee?
I hope it's the alway smiling plastic doll Ivanka, followed by the normally stumm but always smiling Jared, the one who not only received a delayed Christmas gift form his daddy-in-law, allowing him to see the most sensitive intel information despite having lied numerous time on his security clearing, but also magically received tons of money to save his bankrupt and aptly called 666 Fifth Avenue.
I
21
“On the facts here, the government would unlikely be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the June 9 meeting participants had general knowledge that their conduct was unlawful,” the report stated.
This is probably news to many people in prison or fined because they didn't know the details of a law. I thought ignorance of the law was not an excuse (although ignorance is).
19
@David -- Didn't know facts. Knowledge of law is presumed. Knowledge of facts must be proved. Hindsight is not proof.
2
The now famous “adoptions” meeting may finally produce fruit. Jr. may need to adopt a whole new strategy.
15
If this subpoena is what you say, I love it.
34
It is imperative Congress investigate until they find something, anything, even bribing a building inspector. The President can then be impeached and Mike Pence replace him. Everything will be fine.
3
Normally, Americans would say that the Senate is doing its duty to protect the nation from the influence of a hostile foreign power and any one who would lie to them about their involvement with that foreign power. It is a sign that the GOP should heed that they are seen as putting on a side show designed to do the opposite.
14
"He's showing the world that when he says he's going to something, he means business,"
Exactly right. And the businesses he means is any business that has the Trump name on it.
9
Despite claims of "no collusion" coming from Trump and his enablers, the Mueller report says nothing about "collusion." Mueller conducted a criminal investigation, and since collusion is not a legal concept, it can't be a crime. The Mueller report did say was that evidence of "conspiracy and cooperation," which are criminal acts, were likely insufficient to lead to criminal convictions. In part, insufficiency of evidence was due to the success of Trump's many efforts to obstruct the investigation.
Still, anyone reading the report--or, for that matter, following the campaign, would find more than enough evidence of "collusion" in the form of links, contacts, shared purposes, and winks and nods, between the Trump campaign and Russian interests. It is behavior of this sort, as well as so much Trump's abnormal, unseemly, and criminal behavior while in office, that justifies bringing an impeachment charge under the more vague and political "high crimes and misdemeanors" language of the Constitution.
On the case of Trump, junior: Mueller declined to charge him because "the government would unlikely be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [he] had general knowledge that [his] conduct was unlawful.” Whatever happened to the adage that "ignorance of the law is no excuse"? I wonder if Trump, junior, is unaware as well that lying to Congress is also against the law.
43
@Dr. O. Ralph Raymond An exceptionally well stated comment! As for Trump, yes, one of the forthcoming Articles of Impeachment should be on conspiracy and cooperation with Russia. As for Trump Jr., he should be prosecuted for knowingly (with intent) providing false testimony to Congress.
7
The biggest mistake we can make is to trust the GOP. They have shown time and time again that it's Party Over Country always. So, while on the surface it may look like some in the party are coming to their senses, it will take a lot more than this to convince me. The term "moderate Republican" is an oxymoron. Don't trust them and don't vote for them.
34
First, the obvious: It's good that some in the Senate are doing their job. When it's left to the Dems, it leaves too easy of a claim that it's all partisan. The SIC has a responsibility, and if they continue to, great.
There has been so much of changing stories and obvious lies re meeting with Russians, that this needs to be explored further. First 'there was no meeting', then it was 'just about adoption', then 'we rejected their offer of dirt', then 'the President didn't know anything' despite him helping draft Don Jr's response. Since the Pres was obviously aware, this really needs to be explored.
It's good to remember that Mueller's job was not primarily to charge people, but to investigate and report to Congress. Taking FBI's findings and acting on them, seems the proper course.
Barr has redacted heavily, misrepresented the report according to Mueller & staff, and danced around Congressional questions. He seem to be trying to protect the President. Given that he's Trump's pick for AG after Sessions didn't turn out to be "personally loyal" enough, Congress needs to look past his scant conclusions.
Good that the Senate Intel Committee is getting on with it's job.
13
@Mark MillerMueller's job was not to report to congress. He was tasked with making a private report to the AG.
3
I’m deeply suspicious of this move. Mitch McConnell has said the whole Russia thing is over, so why would the Senate be calling on Don Jr. to testify unless they think they can use his testimony to bolster the president and their party. The Republicans have shown no curiosity about Trump’s shady behavior nor about Russian meddling. Don’t see why that should suddenly change.
165
@Galfrido
I'm suspicious too.Their big thing right now is how the Obama administration was "spying" on the Trump campaign. Maybe they are thinking that they can use the Trump Tower meeting to get dirt on the Dems after all.
15
@Thucydides
Normally, Americans would say that the Senate is doing its duty to protect the nation from the influence of a hostile foreign power and any one who would lie to them about their involvement with that foreign power. It is a sign that the GOP should heed that they are seen as putting on a side show designed to do the opposite.
My guess is that they will not and my hope is that they will pay dearly.
24
@Galfrido The news of the subpoena smelled funny to me as well. What's telling is that POTUS isn't screaming blue bloody murder about it on Twitter. You'd think he'd want to play along and at least moan a little about it, nudge nudge wink wink.
13
This committee sees the most sensitive intelligence. Summoning Don Jr. for questioning might help those members sleep at night. It’s hard to imagine how the Russia favoring Republicans sleep at all.
15
Burr is a puzzle. He seems to have behaved reasonably in his Intelligence Committee work, yet he betrayed the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" by giving its secret information to Trump.
16
I have become so skeptical of the GOP that I believe they are only trying to bring him in because they know he will readily lie in public about all of this. I hope he is put under oath, so at least there is some possibility of consequences if he perjures himself. This family operates like a RICO enterprise, over three generations and counting.
65
@Dean
Since Nixon the entire Republican party has been nothing more than a RICO organization.
Sad part is, the Dems haven't been much better. They are both all about doing whatever it takes to gain and hold power, regardless of honesty, morality, and fairness to the "commoners". Funny, though, that the Reps are much better at those games, because they play by even less rules than the Dems.
Time to take our country back. Has been for a while.
10
@Chris, no, the Democrats aren't as bad as the Republicans and I will vote for whoever gets the Democratic nomination to run for President. I usually consider candidates of both parties but find that I always default to the Democrats because they are our best chance for a reliable government.
1
Another round of low-ball questions by GOP senators, another try at whitewashing Trump Jr's crimes, another show for the gullible, another chance to spin complot theories against the democrats, another way to distract from the Congres investigations. We've all seen this before.
Yet, it's also a chance for the democrats on this panel to ask pointed questions, and eventually to force Trump Jr into lying and making unforced errors.
33
Here is the script:
Don, Jr. takes the 5th.
The Committee votes to give him immunity from the use of his testimony in a criminal proceeding (on party lines).
Don, Jr. asserts that he, and he alone, dealt with the Russians.
Case closed.
17
@John Graybeard
But he only has immunity if he tells the truth. If he gets caught in a lie AND if our Justice Department isn't totally corrupted - a big assumption I know - then he goes to jail for lying to Congress.
3
@Thucydides And he will be pardoned by big daddy.
5
Don't be surprised if this is a setup to publicly exonerate Junior with a sham interview; the opposite of a Soviet show trial. Whereas the latter were held to create a public appearance of guilt in the innocent, this might be a mounted to create the appearance of innocence in the guilty.
58
Since Junior is not the sharpest pencil in the box, this could interesing. Watch for Daddy to have a "Tweet Fit" and stonewall.
14
More than likely Mitch McConnell will find a way to quash this investigation by this committee hearing. And Trump will refuse to let Don Jr appear.
But I do have to admire the fact they issued the subpoena.
10
@Jean
For about 5 seconds, oh let's be generous...10 seconds,
I too felt a tremor of hope for an inert GOP, but then came the suspicion that the issuance of a subpoena is merely a device to allow them to say they've done their job.
Rubbish.
11
Most of the questions they will ask Jr. will be about things during the campaign and before the presidency. Therefore none of it can be protected or privileged.
They only way to avoid answering will be the 5th. So it is up to the Democrats on the committee to ask the correct questions e.g. the meeting in trump tower, his knowledge of trump tower Moscow, why did he say they got their investment money from Russia etc.
@Barry Moyer
You are probably more right than I am.
1
It is so important to keep the pressure on the entire Trump clan. They are no good for this country. They obviously have more skeletons to hide. I am thankful that they have the intelligence of common criminals and that will eventually lay bare the truth. Thank you NYT for the excellent reporting you have done to help get the truth told. I have hope that as evidence showing the truth grows Republicans come to their senses and do the right thing. Sorry to say I have no hope for McConnell. Obviously he attended the same school as the Trumps.
33
since when is ignorance if the law sufficient to not being held accountable to it?
27
@TT
Right! As I was reading this I was thinking the same thing. This is a bedrock principle in American justice. It keeps bad guys from getting off by pretending not to know the law. It can be an extenuating circumstance when it comes to sentencing, but never a not guilty defence.
4
@TT
It isn't, but I won't be surprised to see William Barr use it as a defense. He's already used being "angry" as an excuse for attempts to obstruct. I joked about greed and plain stupidity being the best defense for the whole family from day one, but it turns out it wasn't a joke.
8
I'm shocked that some Republicans are putting nation before party affiliation. But no surprise some like Rep. Kevin McCarthy puts party before nation.
6
@Wayne I hope you are right but the skeptic I me feels this is some how staged.
14
The stench of this corrupt and malevolent regime is too much to bear. People of conscience should take their outrage to the streets.
87
@Gigi
It's coming...and soon.
@Gigi, no, take it to the ballot box!
2
I thought Emperor Mitch said this was over?
16
We should expect subterfuge. Republicans are consistently of ill will. I suspect they are looking to give Jr. a do-over to clear himself after his prior perjury. Maybe they found out about an criminal referral regarding the perjury in the Mueller report via Trump/Barr. (Remember, Barr informed the White House of the redacted portions.)
28
@TS
Remember, also, Barr said before Mueller's report was released that the White House would not see the report prior to being released to the rest of the world.
4
This is a sham. An attempt to appear as Senate Republicans are taking their jobs seriously. But what will happen is a hearing with rehearsed answers and a decidedly pro-trump outcome. Show business, my friends. You know, trump would have been great running the Barnum and Bailey circus.
47
@BasilQ
Yesterday it was embarrassing to look and listen to the GOP who have ignored the whole purpose of the Mueller report, are these the grandchildren of people who felt that the Nazis and dictators are very good people . Everything is fair as long as we destroy democracy.
The Don Jr. saga whether he actually shows up will be scripted to show that the GOP are not complete traitors to American democracy, unfortunately for the GOP the public are not going to be played for fools again
No matter what the Trump administration outcome the GOP will go down in flames sooner than later.
8
WOW...you realize that in order for the Republican members to grow a spine and do this there must be some potentially catastrophic intel surrounding Don Jr...Stuff so potentially damaging they had to go on the record as trying to do something.....
"If it is what you say it is, I love it!"
19
I now believe that Trumps power is derived from the compromising information he must have on elected republicans. Like Jerry Falwell and his pics with the pool boy and generous government contracts I am sure that every overt supporter is trying to hide something huge. Bigly.
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Manafort is in jail for, among other things, lying under oath.
Cohen is in jail for, among other things, lying under oath.
Flynn lied and had to plead.
Sam Patton lied, had to plead.
Papadopoulos lied and had to plead.
There are more.
Why is Donnie, Jr. just invited back to clarify things? He lied under oath. He should be indicted and face the music like everyone else. This privileged little twit has gotten away with things his whole life. It would be a good indication that the law matters in America. To let him "correct" the record and go back to big game hunting is unconscionable. Congress should do some big game hunting and this would be a nice way to start.
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Donald Trump Jr. better get used to it. It being the consequences of being an accomplice of his father. This subpoena is just the start of a decades? long search by Democrats into the depth of the Russian/Trump collusion. Especially, once Senior is out of office, Junior's days will be nothing but lawyers and subpoenas and glaring kliegl lights. (Yeah, I know they're L.E.D.'s now.)
17
So, a GOP led committee has subpoenaed DT, Jr. Is this a sign the GOP in the Senate actually wants justice or will this be a white wash of the Trump organization criminal activity and a platform to chide the few Democrats on the committee for daring to defy their precious Donald, Sr.?
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@Ellwood Nonnemacher A white wash, no doubt.
For any of us who still remember the TV show “Dragnet”, I still love the part where detective Joe Friday says “Just the facts mama.” The simple FACTS of the Mueller report show clearly that Donald Trump was guilty, PERIOD. Unless Mueller appears in front of Congress, we’ll probably never be able to prove it, and even then, because of the political climate, it will never be enforced. If you have Cancer, you either remove it or you die! America is dying!
15
McConnel has sold his soul to the devil in order to get his 15 minutes of fame and job security in the Senate by being a lackey for the de facto felon Trump and putting party over country.
This is a backup plan for McConnell in case the case for impeachment starts to build up steam, he can say, see I did something to help it.
20
Several others (including most notably, Michael Cohen) who were found to have lied in Congressional testimony ended up in jail, generally without an opportunity to "clarify" their testimony in a second round of questioning. Yet the spawn of 45 gets a second chance? He should be charged and taken to court. Let daddy pardon him, but still, it should be shown in court that he committed perjury.
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@David
But hallelujah, daddy can't pardon him if he is found guilty by the NYSD.
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@David
He might not be able to pardon him next year.
1
@Sarah
NYSD is within the federal court system and convictions are pardonable BUT convictions by the State of New York (something the NY Attorney General is working on), within its own court system, are not pardonable by daddio.
:-)
5
I wish I could be hopeful, but I do not trust them. I do not trust that they honestly want the truth and want to protect this country.
I feel the same about the Supreme Court. John Roberts has been such a disappointment. I thought he was an ethical man.
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Is it possible that Republicans realize they will finally have to acknowledge that something is rotten in D.C. and they're setting up Jr. to take the fall for it?
4
Three cheers for Sens. Burr and Warner! An extensive investigation into Russian intelligence operations in the U.S. is indeed warranted for the security of the nation.
This news could be a stunning new development, or it could simply be a means to reinforce Mueller's decision not to indict anyone from the Trump campaign for a secret conspiracy to benefit his candidacy ("collusion" is not a legal term).
In Mueller's report, Don Jr. has been characterized as being too stupid to have realized that the June 9th meeting would be illegal, and the ongoing negotiations with the Russians for a hotel in Moscow was continued ostensibly because the Trump campaign did not believe it would actually win. Once again, no conspiracy claim again Don Jr. or the Trump campaign. Moreover, Manafort's sharing of data with the GRU was not one of the legal charges leveled against him.
The linkage of obstruction of justice to the June 9th meeting through the POTUS' dictated explanation is as close as it may ever come. However, it is highly unlikely that even if a House impeachment charge again him evolves, he will still be acquitted by the Senate's GOP flunkies.
What may be the best outcome of Don Jr.'s possible testimony is that the electorate can witness the inanity, lies, and obfuscation that undergirds the entire Trump regime, both then and now. Whether this will affect the results of the 2020 election is anyone's guess.
8
I fear this will only be a try to set the narrative before it comes to a subpoena from the house.
9
I just assume that the president will assert executive privilege here too, since Donald Trump Jr will be asked questions that touch on matters for which executive privilege has already been claimed. The fact that the president has already done Nonsensical Act #1 creates his legal basis for Nonsensical Act #2. He is lost in a loop of legal nonsense.
The country may be experiencing a constitutional crisis, but the president has a matching crisis. He cannot do anything at this point without violating his oath of office through lies, unconstitutional actions, or his simple lack of qualifications required by the presidency.
15
I seriously doubt he will show up. His dad will claim "executive privilege" and demand that he refuse to appear. Not that Don Sr. cares about anyone other than himself. He has never cared about Don Jr. Recall the story where Trump slapped his son in front of his friends for not being properly dressed.
8
Anyone besides me notice that the Trump regime and his congressional henchman make no effort to even pretend to support any new law to protect the 2020 election from meddling by Russia or any other hostile foreign power? Why is that?
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@Demosthenes -- Nor have Democrats proposed one, not even in the House they now control.
The political games don't seem to include real concern, just gotcha.
4
As Franklin said, "It is a Republic, if you can keep it..."
The painful, and dangerous truth is that our country's very existence as an independent and representative democracy hangs on the ability of the Republican Party to police itself and its Putin stooge in the White House.
I am not wildly hopeful. The Party of Nixon and Bush and Trump needs to find a heart and a spine and a willingness to confront a dictator...
All empires fall, most fall exactly as America is threatening to fall, with the help of the super rich and the most greedy.
Hugh
46
The apple doesn't fall far from Dad's tree of alleged graft and corruption.
The only good thing is that Jr., whose hobby is to hunt animals headed for extinction, can, if eligible, be prosecuted asap, without waiting for Dad to be eligible for deferred prosecution!
And should he be pardoned by Dad, hopefully, the NY State legislature will have passed legislation to preclude double jeopardy for Jr.
8
This sounds like there is some effort being made by the Senate to get to the truth But, the reality is the republicans will throw softball questions and Jr. will lie as profusely as Sr. It is important to remember the trump cabal does not have any intention of playing by the "rules". They will simply block, sue, lie, and cheat while we have to put up with the most dangerously corrupt administration in our history. Let us not forget who has the nuclear code!
13
Fact: both Russia and Trump attempted to sow distrust among Americans in the process and outcome of the 2016 presidential election. For his part, Trump repeatedly cried of election "rigging".
No question, there was synergy at work between the Russian camp and the Trump camp in the actual monkey wrenching and the "lock her up".
And nothing says this better than Don Jr.'s "love". And Don Sr.'s attempt to lie and cover this breach of law with love for orphans.
The synergy between Putin and Trump (and McConnell) was at work, is at work and will be at work. No matter how it is twisted with "no collusion" and "case closed".
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interesting vote. him, under oath. this should prove to be an eye opener.
4
Jr will never show up - his father taught him well that he can ignore whatever Congress says.
3
Senators Barr and Warner have worked relatively well together to keep the Senate committee nonpartisan, focused on national security, and leak-proof. Both should be commended. I hope committee members aggressively question Donald Jr. about why he shouldn't be in jail for multiple crimes.
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I would be surprised if this is not some sort of gimmick. Maybe I’m just too cynical now but I don’t trust this. This move is some kind of Trojan horse; either Jr. will go in and take the fifth or they already know what he will say, and when there is no smoking gun the Republicans will say they were non partisan in their quest to seek the truth.
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Charges weren't brought because the participants might not have known that meeting with Russians would violate federal law?
Um, for the rest of us, the saying goes "Ignorance is bliss, but it won't stand up in a court of law."
If you break the law, it doesn't matter whether you knew it or not.
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@Gusting. Is it just meeting with Russians (with an intent to impact the campaign) that is problematic, or is it meeting with any foreign citizens? Don Jr did not meet with a Russian government official, but with a private citizen. How—legally, is this different than Democrats campaigning with non-citizens who are illegally in this country? Especially when many of them are from countries that are hostile to the US generally or are pursuing policies that are hostile to us?
1
@ehillesum - Can you enlighten us on this campaigning with non-citizens claim? Which candidate and who?
btw Don Jr. met with someone who has ties to the Russian government and who was acting on their behalf. That's a very big difference.
10
@DR. If you watched the news during the election, you cannot have missed video of various Dem candidates using illegal aliens as props for their campaign events—the point being to humanize illegals and demonize Trump. It will clearly occur again in 2020. The question is a simple one: do people in this country illegally have any right to involve themselves in our political campaigns? If so, why don’t Russians ?
This is all so frustrating and could have all been avoided if Mueller's hands were not tied by the dictum that a sitting president can not be indicted. That is akin to watching a video of Trump shooting someone on Fifth Avenue but not charging him because he is the president. Would Mueller have indicted 45 if his hands were not tied? That is a rule that must be changed, one among many after Trump's reign is over, a reign that has revealed many cracks in the system, as in allowing 45 not to release tax returns.
Sitting presidents are not above the law. Mueller couldn't indict and now it is up to Congress to hold 45 accountable.
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@Patricia Caiozzo
I agree. It remains a mystery to me that the President cannot be indicted because it is a Justice Department 'policy'. Since when does policy have the authority of law?
Our battered and fading democracy needs thorough
retooling and repair. We are a complete wreck.
19
It is becoming more obvious by the day we need to see Robert Mueller testify in a formal setting, explaining why he held back on singling out anyone he believed would be fingered by Congress as they followed up on his report.
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It’s funny, I was always taught that ignorance of the law was no excuse. I would think it incumbent on anyone running for public office to learn the law about campaign finance...and follow it. Especially when the something of value is information about an opponent from a foreign government. So, I guess the lesson for future candidates is to NOT learn anything about campaign finance, because you can do about anything and not be found criminally liable.
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@ Scott Keller: It depends on what the text of the law that contains the crime says. This particular crime must require that the person acted “knowingly” or “with the intent” to breach the law.
Personally, I don’t think these standards make sense for this kind of offense. But I guess because lawmakers enact the law and lawmakers are the most likely to run afoul of these kinds of laws, they went with a knowledge requirement. It would be nice to set the standards, right?
3
« “On the facts here, the government would unlikely be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the June 9 meeting participants had general knowledge that their conduct was unlawful,” the report stated. »
Wow, I was unaware that if you don’t know your conduct is unlawful then the authorities will let you off. Reminds me of Steve Martin’s line: “I forgot armed robbery is illegal.”
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If it's what you say, Senator Burr, I love it.
7
There may have been no collusion with the Trumps but there is definitely no confidence with the Senate, especially not after their last little foray into white-washing Trump and certainly not in hypocrisy leader...oops, make that, majority leader...Mitch McConnell...
23
Testimony from Trump spawn will get us no further than talking to the original ("I don't recall") but I admire the gesture. The sooner this family is out of our lives, the better off we'll be.
56
SINCE MC CONNELL Has abused his power consistently by strangling legislation and in other ways, he will probably block Eric Trump from testifying. That being the case, the House will surely bring charges against Eric as a part of its oversight duties of the Executive branch. Soon enought, after the GOPpers in the Senate are done throwing marhsmallows toward Eric, the House will assume its oversight duties and call him to testify. Trump pere cannot invoke executive privilege because that act in and of itself would constitute obstruction of justice by pere Trump.
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@John Jones
The article is speaking about Donald Trump, Jr.
4
The senate republicans must have completely lost their minds with this move. I never thought they would ever make any kind of move against the Trumps. This in itself is historic. I can't wait to see what Teflon Don Sr. has to say about this.
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@Zobar
I think it's just a strategic move. I doubt anything will come out of this.
23
@Zobar Um, I wouldn't trust these guys. No doubt their intention is to use Junior's testimony to exonerate Daddy.
19
Well this is interesting. Public testimony by Junior about the infamous Trump Tower meeting. The Republican chairman has subpoenaed him but he's apparently going to defy the subpoena. That's not gonna look very good, in fact it's gonna be a really bad look. How to spin this?
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This will be interesting.
Didn't his father declare - repeatedly - the only people who "take the 5th" are those that have something to hide?
What options does that leave Junior?
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@Flower
Simply refusing to show up, and running rhe clock because it's difficult to enforce the subpoena.
10
@Flower to take the 5th.
5
@Flower.....how many times (30+), did the Donald reply in writing to Mueller’s questions that he could not remember and had no recollection? Is this not just a refined method of pleading the Fifth! This from a man who claims to have one of the best minds and memories.
5
In the Mueller report, there is a candid admission that much remains unknown because in general, the level of truthfulness and cooperation were less than admirable. Much information was clearly withheld or not recalled by those interviewed. How convenient. And of course, some key figures, notably the Donalds, refused to be interviewed voluntarily.
There were significant portions relating to Junior’s activities redacted due to personal privacy. However, it is notable that Junior did not testify for the Mueller team. Why is that? Did they subpoena him and he invoked the Fifth?
Junior now knows that Cohen spilled some beans to the SSCI. Let’s see if he invokes the Fifth.
And for Kevin McCarthy, Rand Paul and all those other people whining about how Junior agreed to testify once and once only and did so for one whole day, get over it. Start putting America first. No one cares about the toll this takes on Junior. He spends half of his time hunting so it’s not like he’s tearing himself away from a useful pursuit like transplant surgery.
The Trumps and the Gottis have so much in common, it is stunning.
345
@NJLatelifemom - Under DOJ policy, if a person informs them that he or she will take the 5th, they are not called simply to invoke the privilege.
3
Wow - this NYT morning news article Made My Day. Thank you for the outstanding article & good news.
It's a great feeling to know that democracy exists and it's alive and kicking in our nation. I'm still elated that the Democrats took control of the House and elected Nancy Pelosi, Speaker.
Now, with this great news that the Senate Intelligence Committee, controlled by Republicans - issued Trump Jr. a subpoena - I'm overjoyed with a new pride for my country.
56
Is there in fact a spark of political courage on this committee, let’s hope so.
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@Brendan Varley Agreed, but if there is a spark it won't be coming from the GOP members of the committee.
2
This is an extraordinary development. I could never have imagined the Senate Intelligence Committee's subpoena of the president's son. Maybe there's hope, after all, for a bipartisan investigation into alleged collusion.
Far more important and urgent is an investigation and in-depth analysis of Trump's tax returns, especially the annotations that list the details behind the round, balance sheet numbers. I am not interested in how much tax Trump avoided, but about his sources of funds, including offshore companies, loans, their repayment conditions and the routing of transfers (Deutsche Bank, take note!).
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@Hamid Varzi
Money, and dark money in particular, has been enabling stealth amongst the bad actors. At some point here, someone will turn on the lights and get a live shot of scurrying financial interests seeking cover.
20
@Hamid Varzi
Deutsche Bank, Trump's former piggy-bank, is luckily co-operating with US courts.
The German early morning raid on their headquarters in Frankfurt a while ago, must be a treasure chest for investigators.
Follow the money might yet bring the whole corrupt Trump mishpocha down.
31
@Hamid Varzi Given the GOP's total capitulation and sycophancy to Trump, latest evidence of which is McConnel's recent "it's over, let's move on" about the Mueller Report, I am very cynical about the GOP's motivations behind Trump, Jr.'s subpoena. Might it be some kind of setup to further "exonerate" Trump? On the other hand, Democratic senators will also get to question Trump Jr.
24