President Donald Trump renewed his public discussion over firing Robert Mueller after the search of his lawyer’s office, a move that would be the single most destructive act since . . . well . . . Trump fired James Comey. It would not only not stop the investigation but it would expand calls for impeachment. The statement clearly thrilled many of his critics who relished the idea of the largest unforced error in history since New York Giants center fielder Fred Snodgrass blew Game 8 of the 1912 World Series with the Boston Red Sox. Of course, dropping that ball cost New York the World Series. This could cost Trump his presidency. I have a column out this morning in the Hill on this issue.
Trump attacked Sessions, Rosenstein, Mueller, and Comey during a meeting on the Syrian conflict. Many people swallowed hard at this line “We’ll see what happens. Many people have said, ‘you should fire him.’ Again, they found nothing and in finding nothing that’s a big statement.”
The move against Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, could play into Trump’s long desire to move against Mueller and others at the Justice Department. As with the Saturday Night massacre, however, such moves only magnify the costs for a president. When President Nixon moved to fire of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox. it triggered the subsequent resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus on October 20, 1973. It simply led to the appointment of Leon Jaworski.
As discussed earlier, if Trump were to fire Mueller now, Trump would put his very presidency at risk. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and White House counsel Don McGahn likely would resign in quick succession.
Moreover, Congress could reinstate the Independent Counsel Act, which existed until 1992. Indeed, Mueller could conceivably be reappointed under that law. Finally, Congress would likely embark on its own investigation, including a possible impeachment process. In other words, firing Mueller is unlikely to achieve the desired end of stopping the investigation. It would, however, likely stop the Trump administration from doing anything other than crisis management over the firing.
Trump is right that there are people calling for Mueller. They are wrong, Mr. President.
The fact democrats are celebrating muellers abuse of power and his destruction of a pinion of The American Justice System, the client attorney relationship, proves democrat hatred is the most important thing to the party. Acting out their violent power mad control freak hatred for the American people who reject their hate-filled violent platform has become the number one goal of the democratic party.
The contemporary democrat exists for one thing and one thing only, to attack, overwhelm, eliminate and kill any opposition to their platform of hate, control and absolute power over American Citizens.
The democrats are now closer in their thinking, goals and plans to the Nazis at the height of the Third Reich than any other political party has been since World War II. The democrats are 21st century Nazis and like the Nazis, are extremely proud of their hate. democrats are energized to continue their campaign of Violent Hate Filled Terrorism at all costs by the destruction and death their activities cause. The democrats intend to do everything possible eliminate people who stand in their way.
mueller is showing Americans first hand what democrats are willing to do and exactly what their goal is for the United States, for It’s Citizens and their children. Congress watches passively as the mueller controlled fbi goosesteps into the very Constitutional foundation of Citizens lives in America, slaps chains on them and one at a time tosses them into the boxcars while sessions and all of the other collaborating gutless wussies cower catatonically in their pee soaked Capitol Hill safe spaces, collecting their paychecks and violating in the most heinous, most traitorous, despicable way possible the trust the American People put in them to do the Duty their Office and the Oath they swore demands of them.
Murdering Jews was illegal before the Nazis made it a legal form of state policy by little doses of murder without challenge or consequence desensitizing the people into acceptance, then wholehearted embracement of the policy.
Agonistics gone wild. Totally irrelevant to the topic. Completely disproportionate to the issues. Dawn’s post, above, is clearly and distinctly an instantiation of Godwin’s Law.
Well said Dawn, and your comparisons are proof positive that the Inmates (the Dems) have almost succeeded at over-taking & running the Asylum (the U S of A).
If a Democratic majority is elected by popular vote in the midterms (despite gerrymandering and voter suppression), it could be the death knell for the U.S. oligarchy, put in power by the Kochs. Long live the representative democracy of the American republic.
Linda bot is hilarious. You think that there aren’t 100 other “oligarchs” pulling other strings besides the Krotch brothers? Ridiculous. Two party duopoly. Look it up, Dem party shill. Keep on telling yourself we have a ‘democracy.,”
Yet, the Democratic Party was on the verge of bankruptcy in the 2016 Presidential election.
The financial mismanagement of the DNC is the DNC’s issue.
The $1.2 Billion Democratic campaign war chest in the Presidential campaign that outspent the GOP 2-1 is another issue.
Hillary’s war chest.
Mr. Kurtz,…
You may have missed it, but the resident “oligarch”-complainer recently said “God Bless” the “right kind” of political spending by her preferred oligarchs.
Her complaint is not about the issue of money in politics; it’s about the money that might go to causes that she opposes.
The Trump super pac employee, former lover of a married Trump communications strategist, what is their combined contribution to GDP?
The superpac employee and the Trump strategist mentioned are probably the cause of “the 2% drag on GPD” that has been mentioned here repeatedly ( without any factual basis)
Truer words never spoken.
I can’t argue with this. I am stunned by what the Dems have become. One difference is that no one resisted meaningfully in Nazi Germany, whereas we are not united in our support of this madness, and likely won’t ever be. I don’t know what’s coming, but I know it won’t be met with apathy.
I’m not stunned by what the Kochs have done. If you are, read Jane Mayer’s “Dark Money”, posted on-line in New York magazine.
Jane Mayer demonstrates a clear bias in her writings.
“Linda” is biased in favor of Mayer because it’s likely that they’ve met.
See “Jane Mayer and the New York Times dive into the gutter”, Jan. 12, 2016
The photo array at the Powerline blog (source of the referenced Koch defense) is mighty white and mighty male. Paint me surprised.
BTW- James-
Get in line, 300,000 people, across the nation have committed to protest if Mueller is fired.
Trump and Russia – causing dissent- the Putin playbook.
total nonesense. The warrant was isdued after a New Yirk prosecutor appointed by Trump himself convinced a judge that there was sufficient evidence of a crime. This has NOTHING to do with Democrates.
The warrant was isdued after a New Yirk prosecutor appointed by Trump himself
We haven’t seen the application for the warrant. The temporary occupant wouldn’t be the first Trump appointee to recuse himself. Neither the name on the warrant application nor the identity of the magistrate who signed it have been disclosed.
Yes. Geoffrey Berman recused himself from the Cohen investigation.
Mueller is a Republican. Rod Rosenstein, the Deputy Attorney General who oversees Mueller’s investigation is a Republican. The Judge who approved the warrants is a Republican. A requirement for obtaining a warrant is to establish that there is probable cause to believe that a crime is being or was committed. Mueller did not request the warrants. Upon obtaining evidence of a crime, he turned the information over to the N.Y. Federal District Attorney for their determination on what action should be taken. The N.Y. Federal District Attorney sought the warrants. Democrats have nothing whatsoever to do with the Cohen subpoenas.
Your hateful, factually-inaccurate diatribe does concern me. You really need to stop watching Fox News because your thinking is skewed. You sound mentally ill.
Mr. Turley,
How would you feel if Mueller came to your house with a no knock warrant and seized all your personal information? I am concerned that you think President Trump should remain quiet and not do anything? This is now the norm and anyone can have this happen. Attornies in America now have no attorney client privilege. Yesterday the NY Judge who signed the warrant made sure we are not living by the constitution anymore. I have a sick feeeling in my stomach that no one will ever get a fair hearing and you taught some of these lawless prosecutors. Today is a sad day in America. Where are the American Patriots?
And where deangraham1776 is the ACLU?
The ACLU does not help White Men! The ACLU has never brought a case against Bill Clinton, why? Because he is a white man. Facts are facts and they ACLU has a history of protecting Democrats and fighting for the very rights that were violated yesterday. Just not for White Males, It will be a cold day in hell before they defend Cohen.
Ham 1776
Your comment is reverberating the the right wing echo chamber and its ditto heads?
If that happened to Mr. Turley it would have meant that someone had demonstrated to a Federal Judge, a Federal Prosecutor and the Assistant Attorney General that the information couldn’t likely be obtained another way. There are processes in place to ensure attorney/client privilege isn’t violated and while Trump has questionable lawyers working with him, this warrant, execution, and protection of Trump’s and Cohen’s will be highly scrutinized and will be protected.
The possibility/likelihood you seem to be ignoring is that Cohen is an actual crook that has done what the warrant says, committed FEC violations and bank fraud. Along with of course, covering up Trump’s bad behavior for a decade.
A few Cohen quotes to remind you of who he is:
“I’m gonna come up to Harvard. You’re all gonna get expelled. If this photo gets out you’ll be outta that school faster than you know it. I can be up there tomorrow,”
“I will make sure that you and I meet one day while we’re in the courthouse. And I will take you for every penny you still don’t have. And I will come after your Daily Beast and everybody else that you possibly know,” Cohen said. “So I’m warning you, tread very fucking lightly, because what I’m going to do to you is going to be f-ing disgusting. You understand me?”
“You write a story that has Mr. Trump’s name in it, with the word rape, and I’m going to mess your life up … for as long as you’re on this frickin’ planet … you’re going to have judgments against you, so much money, you’ll never know how to get out from underneath it.”
Mueller did not go to anybody’s house. As for the NY judge, do you have any knowledge of the probable cause offered to justify the warrant? Does “living by the Constitution” mean that Cohen can do no wrong? That Trump can do no wrong?
Just wait for your no-knock by the FBI. Then email me back and tell me how that felt. You must be one who thinks it’s okay to do this? Mueller sent the request to the NY FBI. Mueller did in fact start the chain that led to the raids. In America the no-knock warrants are reserved for the known major law breakers like murderers and drug dealers. Not the Presidents personal attorney. For this to happen, the rights of attorney client privilege were violated and ignored. Cohen was cooperating and Cohen was not a flight risk. I do not have to be a lawyer to understand this should never be okay in America. For you to question my outrage means you are not for a persons right to defend against unlawful search and seizure. The President should immediately Fire Mueller, Sessions and Rosenstein for their overreaching heavy handed unlawful actions. The SCOTUS will ultimately overturn any convictions that come from the illegal searches. Mueller has been overturned before. He should have been disbarred then!
It all comes down to probable cause. If there was no probable cause, there would never have been a warrant issued. Judges don’t issue these just because they feel like it. Cogent and compelling evidence has to be presented.
As for attorney client privilege, that is not an absolute privilege. But among other things, it is not clear whether or to what extent Cohen was acting as an attorney, or as a “fixer.”
I have not heard one attorney say “Probable Cause” must not be low for a no-knock warrant to be issued. You must know there is no way the evidence presented met the burden for knocking down doors. Hillary and Bill Clinton’s attorney’s have not had their doors knocked down? Kinda seems like the NY Judge is acting on a very smelly weak case based on a very biased investigation. The FISA memos should have made this Judge want extraordinary evidence and should have made him or her Very weary of anything presented by Mueller or Rosenstein. This stinks so badly, I can smell it at my house. The DOJ and FBI along with the Judiciary suffered a blow yesterday. They have shown, if you are a conservative you have no threshold for guilt. You do not even have to be charged with a crime to be raided by the FBI. This is a coup plain and simple. It will be ironed out in the end and I hope the SCOTUS puts people in jail.
I do not care about affairs prior to his running. He did not have sex with an intern in the Oval Office. If he did, I would hold him responsible. If President Trump did anything the Democrats are guilty of, I would not defend him. What is being done right now is an injustice and he has not been given the right to a defense against frivolous non criminal activities. Mueller made the FBI and DOJ the partial cesspool of corrupted agents and prosecutors of today. We have been put in a constitutional crisis by the illegal actions of the previous administration and the very justice department charged with being impartial.
Jay S.
– That’s why I said earlier that the sooner the basis for this warrant is disclosed, the better.
Almost all of the news prior to the raid was about the Cohen-Stormy Daniels payment….if there’s sonething beyond that to explain the exteme measures taken in this case, it needs to come out.
There is not always blanket confidence in the actions taken by LE officers and prosecutors, and I think there needs to be a healthy skepticism/ oversight.
What I’m seeing expressed here, by some, is absolute confidence that all involved in this process/ investigation are certain to have exercised unquestionable judgement, and respect for the safeguards against any possible abuses.
If that were true, we’d never see any issues arising out of questions of prosecutorial misconduct or overreach by law enforcement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/10/us/politics/trump-cohen-raids-legal-issues.html
Excerpted from the article linked above:
“It bears remembering that not everything in Michael Cohen’s office, home or hotel is even covered by the privilege to begin with,” said Miriam Baer, a former federal prosecutor who teaches white-collar criminal law at Brooklyn Law School. “There are a lot of papers, data or files that could be in Michael Cohen’s office that don’t fit the definition of privilege.”
Are all lawyer-client materials off limits?
No. In certain cases, lawyer-client materials do not receive special legal protections. One of them is called the “crime-fraud exception.” Under this doctrine, the privilege does not protect lawyer-client materials in situations in which the lawyer was helping the client commit a continuing or planned crime or fraud, since that would not serve society’s goal of ensuring lawyers can render sound legal advice. If the judge who signed off on the warrant invoked that doctrine, it would be “extremely significant,” said Katrice Bridges Copeland, a law professor at Pennsylvania State University and a former white-collar defense lawyer.
“To have gotten this search warrant means they are finding that there was no separation between the attorney and the client, meaning they were working together in furtherance of a crime or some sort of fraud to cover up some previous crime,” she said. “That is a big deal. It’s not easy to make that showing to the court and get a search warrant on an attorney.”
If only Trump had known that his lawyer was allegedly committing crimes, he could have fired the lawyer and not paid him….wait, about the latter…..
If only Trump, the “billionaire”, could have identified law graduates from high ranking law schools to represent him.
It’s so unfair that Dowd (Trump’s lawyer) sent out tweets that were damning to Trump’s defense and people thought they were from Donald Trump’s twitter account.
It’s so unjust that Pres. Trump is forced to tap attorneys, known only for the famous (obscure) Jews for Jesus case.
Dean you are right. Nothing wrong with Trump fighting back on this. This is why he got elected – he put in plain words why this is wrong. If anything he solidified his base by fighting back and might have have picked up support from fair-minded moderates/independents.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/09/us/politics/fbi-raids-office-of-trumps-longtime-lawyer-michael-cohen.html
Excerpted from the NYT article linked above:
Mr. Trump, in an extraordinarily angry response, lashed out hours later at what a person briefed on the matter said was an investigation into possible bank fraud by Mr. Cohen. Mr. Trump accused his own Justice Department of perpetrating a “witch hunt” and asserted that the F.B.I. “broke in to” Mr. Cohen’s office.
The president, who spoke at the White House before meeting with senior military commanders about a potential missile strike on Syria, called the F.B.I. raid a “disgraceful situation” and an “attack on our country in a true sense.”
It is not clear how the F.B.I. entered Mr. Cohen’s office, but agents had a search warrant and typically would have presented it to office personnel to be let in. The documents identified in the warrant date back years, according to a person briefed on the search
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/19/politics/opioid-policy-trump-new-hampshire/index.html
Excerpted from the article linked above:
President Donald Trump officially proposed imposing the death penalty for certain drug dealers on Monday in New Hampshire, arguing that the federal government is “wasting our time” if it isn’t willing to put some traffickers to death
To review, briefly, Trump called the F.B.I. raid on Cohen’s office a “disgraceful situation” and an “attack on our country in a true sense.” And Trump also said that we’re “wasting our time” if we don’t put some drug traffickers to death.
Trump was entirely right and he could have said even more inflammatory things that would be true. I thought Trump’s response was rather restrained.
The attorney-client privilege is abrogated when the attorney and the client commit a crime. That is the law. Stop believing the garbage spewed by Fox News. Neither the attorney nor the client can hide behind the attorney-client privilege when there is criminal conduct.
What a clown! Tell me the criminal act that his attorney committed? Hurry! There is none, he seized documents looking for a crime. You really must think before you comment next time!
FishWings,
Let’s include ham 1776 in the drinking game- one shot for the “clown” put down. If you remember, it’s one drink for each time Allan, Insufferable and Nash use “stupid” as an insult and, two shots for baser insults.
@deangraham1776: A look at the warrant would disclose the criminal activity alleged. A magistrate cannot properly sign a warrant seeking evidence of attorney-client communications absent probable cause to believe that the crime-fraud exception pierces the privilege.
Ham 1776 asked, ” Tell me the criminal act that his attorney committed?”
Allegedly bank fraud.
Mueller and the NYC prosecutor did not leak what proof they had. They got a warrant with little or no physical evidence. That is why they did no knock search and seizures illegally. The Supreme Court will smack Mueller and all the other zealot prosecutors soon. I just pray they will be held accountable and jailed after being found guilty of treason.
1776- I just pray Christ isn’t watching what is being done in his name by defenders of the oligarchy.
Don’t look towards Jesus because the Kennedy’s believed they were very close to God. If you want to see a picture of an oligarchy you can see the movie Chappaquiddick. That is the type of government you look forward to except Ted Kennedy only killed one person and got away with it. I think you fashion yourself more after the Stalin type.
One of the most important features of law is the attorney-client privilege which at present is in great jeopardy.
Another important feature is that justice is blind, what is good for one is good for another. In HRC’s case, her attorney was granted immunity and produced no evidence. She was then permitted to sit in on HRC’s FBI testimony which broke tradition for HRC wasn’t sworn in and there was no tape recording of the interview. Instead, HRC’s exoneration paper was written long before the interview.
Apparently, justice is blind and attorney-client privilege have fallen by the wayside.
Excerpted from the NYT article linked upstream from here:
The search related to bank fraud allegations, according to a person briefed on the investigation, although the details remain unclear. Mr. Cohen’s lawyer said that the raid resulted from a referral from Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel leading the Trump-Russia investigation, but it was carried out by the office of Geoffrey S. Berman, the interim United States attorney for the Southern District of New York — suggesting its subject matter fell outside Mr. Mueller’s area of focus.
Mueller used Berman as a pawn to violate all sorts of rights that should’ve been afforded to Cohen. When the dust settles this will be the biggest attempt to subvert the rule of law in our nations history. I believe only God can sort this unlawful mess out. Mueller and Rosenstein do not worship the same God I Do obviously. I believe he will render justice soon. The SCOTUS is just itching to rule on this illegal seizure soon. President Trump should immediately have his attorney petition the SCOTUS ASAP.
Natacha = appeal to almighty authority. Civil mater better referred to FEC, but then Elloit Ness would not have any headlines for the week or points on the board.
Turley says Trump’s critics want him to fire Mueller because that will “put his very Presidency at risk.” While there may be some in that category, I submit his critics want to see the Special Counsel proceed in an orderly fashion and be allowed to complete his task. Of course, televised hearings like Watergate would be nice!
For those outraged about the raid on Cohen, the warrant did assert particular crimes including FEC violations and bank fraud. If they have been following the story closely they already know themselves that there is plenty of reason to suspect such activity. The FBI has a process to ensure that privileged information is never shown to the Federal Prosecutor (not Mueller) and there should be no fear that Trump’s rights are protected.
False claims by Trump and others that they “kicked in the door” or how unfair things are are reacting emotionally and not stating the facts. In response to those claiming “a witch hunt,” it appears based on the indictments and guilty pleas that “thar be witches!”
Unfortunately for America, it will get worse before it gets better. Following the money (which Mueller has done) will lead to uprooting Wilbur Ross in Treasury who was heavily involved in the Bank of Cyprus which laundered literally tons of Russian money. If Trump went crazy when Cohen’s office was raided, wait until they come for his son and son-in-law, maybe even Ivanka who along with Jared suspiciously avoided fraud charges related to some condos they made false representations about.
The Special Counsel is building a methodical case against a bunch of crooks and possibly traitors. For Trump, it won’t be simply a matter of what did he know and when did he know it, but can he possibly hide a history of financial crimes and the paper trail and his financial ties to Russia who presumably could reveal themselves at any moment which is why Trump has kowtowed before them for years now going back to the campaign. Even now the worst he’s done to Putin after all this time is a tweet!
So, don’t fire Mueller and rely on a feckless Congress to do what the last 15 months have shown they will not. Let the investigation proceed. Make the report public. Then let the show begin.
Let the law have it’s course, Then again most Americans have no faith in Paul Ryan and THIS congress to let the law have it’s course.
As long as we have Lawfare and not the rule of law, then most Americans should have no faith in anyone associated with our current political class.
Did you feel the same way when Judicial Watch threw everything but the kitchen sink against Obama and HRC? And have them tossed because they had no merit. That Republicans spent 10’s of millions dollars on dozens of house and senate hearings to get nada? This is not payback, this IS the rule of law.
Since Fishwings brought up Hillary, there were unusual “courtesies” extended in the Cheryl Mills-Hillary “attorney client privilege” issue, belatedly claimed when Mills put on her other hat as Hillary’s ” lawyer”.
As Hillary’s Chief of Staff, she was a key figure in the email investigation.
Then, as Hillary’s “legal counsel”, she is accorded unusual leeway.
The lack of consistency is these kinds of investigations does not go unnoticed.
Dowd’s “courtesy” in authoring damning tweets from Trump’s account? Cohen’s “courtesy” in drafting a non-disclosure agreement to benefit his client (days before the election), without informing his client?
Let’s go with the government’s attorneys on this one.
FishWings, Judicial Watch uses FOIA requests to get information. They have no special legal entanglement in government, cannot prosecute and are funded independently from the government. The FOIA requests are for information that should be in the public hands. Judicial Watch was not funded by the Republican Party and must remain separate from politics. They are a 501 (c) 3.
They obtain the release of all sorts of information, but the information that was hidden and not released even to Congress had to do with HRC so it behooves Judicial Watch to do their thing and make sure the public has access to that type of data.
The 8 years of Obama was significantly lacking transparency. Whether you are on the left or the right unless you despise civil liberties you should be applauding Judicial Watch and if you like encouraging them to get FOIA on any issue where the government is keeping secrets that should not be kept. It sounds as if you care more about your ideology than your civil liberties.
“[Trump] never should’ve been allowed to run.”
True Republicans that I know, the ones that still have their convictions of being a republican and NOT Trumpsters have always thought that Pence would get in sooner or later. They knew he was a con-man from the get go. Ryan and McConnell have used him to a tee.
Pence- the Kochs’ unpopular Governor from Indiana.
You madam are clearly not from Indiana
USA Today, Indy Star and Politico all documented Pence’s lack of popularity in Indiana.
He should have been allowed to run, but public pressure to reveal his taxes would have ended this charade long ago.
I have said many times on this site and others that Trump is a con-man and he will get caught. And he will drag down the Republican party with it.
Done, done, and done!
https://twitter.com/RWPUSA/status/983725834165981184
Trump is looking for an excuse to fire Mueller.
So the President can’t look for an excuse to fire Mueller but Mueller can look for an excuse to fire the President.
Okey dokey.
His tax returns are irrelevant.
We will likely find that out in the near future, although I think it more likely they find tax fraud than his confession of his Russian income.
The IRS has all of Trump’s tax returns. If there was any dirt in them, the Lois Lerners in that agency would have passed them to Bezos / Sulzberger. I tend to doubt Cohen is the custodian of the business ledgers of the Trump Organization.
And no clue why you’d suspect Cohen of tax fraud.
Again, the justification for these raids would be to seek information on an ongoing criminal conspiracy between Cohen and Trump which was not delineated in privileged communications.
Trump has been audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies for decades. This happens a lot to people with a lot of money and multiple business enterprises. Why do you think suddenly someone will find tax fraud when the IRS and other governmental agencies haven’t found it to date?
Enigma said, “He should have been allowed to run, but public pressure to reveal his taxes would have ended this charade long ago.”
You’re right, of course, Enigma. I was just trying to make Trump eat his own words.
Enigma, surprising as it might seem I agree with your first sentence. As far as your second sentence I didn’t vote for him in the primary (my mistake) but in the general election, I didn’t care one bit about seeing his 1040. The IRS has audited him multiple times and has never been able to find anything substantially wrong with his filings. If the IRS can’t find something wrong, what will I find? The American public voted knowing many things about Trump they may not have liked, but they knew more about HRC’s problems they didn’t like so Trump won and to date has done a good job.
If the IRS can’t find something wrong, what will I find?
The point was for Democratic media-vermin to locate little cherries which could be used to write hit pieces and craft campaign ads. Every once in a while, something truly embarrassing arises from tax returns. There was a candidate for Governor of Iowa a while back (one Roxanne Conlon) who spent much of her campaign distracting by attempting to explain why she had had no tax liability whatsoever. There have been over the year several politicos who simply weren’t filing. David DInkins was one, Harold Washington was another, Lynn Yaekel was another. With the advent of such things as the Alternative Minimum Tax, and with Trump’s very obtrusive public presence, neither phenomenon is likely in his case.
Since he didn’t release his returns, the drill has been to use that as a talking point.
The IRS drill is just an easy talking point the ignorant can use while thinking they appear smart.
https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/983668453809762305
If this relates to Stormy-ass Daniels payment, then Muler could have simply referred this to Federal Election Commission be be dealt with as a civil matter, instead of criminal referral to Rosenstein/FBI. Gestapo tactics have been used against Flynn, Manafort, and now Cohen. Trump is right to be furious and correct with comparison to Hilary Clinton matters where she given honor system treatment and proceeded to destroy evidence. Any objective side-by-side comparison points to this being unfair and excessive misuse of power by Muler and Rosenstein.
Bill Martin, it is possible that Mueller is painstakingly attempting to corroborate classified signal intelligence that the NSA would rather not risk being disclosed through any public legal proceedings. The assumption that such signal intelligence does not exist is just as hasty as the assumption that it does exist.
11 months so far, no probable cause to start with, no leak about any criminal behavior by Trump. You use the word “painstakingly”, perhaps better characterized as “nitpicking” in search of any “crime” to put points on the board. Why no doors knocked down regarding Clinton-financed Russian dossier which is the best example of Russian collusion identified so far.
When you say, “no probable cause to start with,” the appointment of the Special Counsel was not targeted at Trump personally but included the concern about coordination between the Trump Campaign and Russia to affect our election. Probable cause might include the dozen or so people affiliated with the campaign that had secret meetings with Russians that they also lied about, some to the FBI.
Also, no doors were knocked down in this case despite what Trump says. There’s a high bar to clear when raiding an attorneys office and no one with knowledge of the facts is suggesting the Federal Prosecutor didn’t follow every single step required by law.
The dossier did not begin the investigation, a drunken Trump associate bragging in a bar did that. Can the answer to any bad behavior alleged against Trump really be Clinton or Obama?
Ok so let me understand correctly: drunken banter in a bar is the “bar” for starting a special counsel investigation that utilizes Gestapo tactics? The point about Clinton is that the financing of the multi-million dollar dossier is the biggest smoking gun regarding collusion with no corresponding Gestapo tactics in pursuit of that. Yet we see Flynn squeezed, Manafort bullied, and now Cohen harassed for a bimbo payment that is a fraction of the multi-million dollar collusion between Clinton camp and Russia. Threats to son, door locks picked, guns drawn – c’mon – this stinks.
Bill Martin,…
I think this was explained earlier…this investigation is about uncovering something illegal that may have occured with interactions between the Trump campaign and Russia.
We don’t know the “probable cause” justification for the raid on Cohen, but it appears to be related to recent questioning of Cohen about his payment to Stormy Daniels which could somehow involve Russia.
See how this all “neatly” ties together?
All joking aside, the sooner that the justification of “probable cause” is revealed, the better.
The high level of confidence, expresses by some here, that law enforcement and prosecutors would not engage in questionable activities is not necessarily universal.
“expressed”, not “expresses
Tom, I fear our country has gone soft. Since when do we rollover and blindly appeal to authority? This abuse of process should be appalling to everybody on left and right. Picking and choosing when civil liberties apply based on politics is just plain wrong. This stinks.
Actually, the Special Counsel was required because the Attorney General had to recuse himself because he was one of those who had secret meetings with Russians and lied about them.
Flynn was squeezed because among other things he was on Turkey’s payroll having accepted $15 million from them while also negotiating with Russia about the sanctions, in direct opposition to the current US government.
Manafort is being “bullied” because he’s committed enough crimes where he’s likely to spend “the rest of his life in prison” according to the judge supervising his bail.
Cohen isn’t currently being harrassed for a “bimbo payment” but for FEC Violations and bank fraud.
BTW, Flynn’s son is also a crook and that he’s walking free is perhaps a testament to too much leniency. Door locks picked (Manafort) is what you do when you have a no-knock warrant. Guns drawn, I don’t know that any were pointed at anyone but that might be the protocol when you don’t know what the response will be when you confront criminals.
Enigma,…,
Until and unless the warrant for the Cohen raid is released, we don’t know the basis for the “probable cause”.
I don’t know what the previous convictions against Manafort and Cohen might have been that indicates that law enforcement was “confronting criminals”, but if any suspect in any investigation is deemed a potential threat, then to be on the safe side maybe SWAT-style raids will be the standard.
Historically, they’re not used in investigations of white collar crimes involving political figures.
In Manafort’s case, he’s basically an extension of the Russian mob and it seems the protocol would be appropriate. I don’t especially regard potentially treasonous conspiracy with a foreign power as white-collar crime.
If authorities had reason to believe that Manafort’s home was a stronghold, defended by Russian mobsters, then the type of raid conducted would not be questioned.
It’sa variation of the “I feared for my life” kind of cover story that’s virtually automatic in cases of questionable police shootings.
Except they didn’t actually shoot anybody which hardly makes it comparable to questionable shootings.
Tom, enigma creates facts not in existence. Secret meetings mean the meetings were secret. They weren’t as their meetings were in public places without any attempt made to be hidden.
Enigma accuses Trump of being a racist because at age 21 Trump’s father was on the street where some racists were marching. Present on the street were anti-racists, racists, people that lived there, people that wandered through etc. Enigma pointed to a news article as proof (dated 1928) which proved nothing at all. No one is even sure the Fred Trump that may have been there was actually Fred Trump, Trump’s father. Fred Trump was accused of nothing. From that 1928 news report, Enigma concludes Trump has to be a racist.
Enigma is totally untrustworthy and filled with untrue facts. He will play the race card or any trick he can to promote his personal defunct ideology.
I’m waiting for Enigma to accuse Fred Trump of having perpetrated the Ocoee massacre.
You’re chuffering about a 90 year old arrest from which no criminal charges were ever derived, even for disorderly conduct. This matters to you and 200-odd homicides a year in Baltimore are a matter of no interest whatsoever.
You missed the point, Enigma.
This has to do with exaggerating the nqture of a threat….your bringing in the “Russian mob” as some sort of justification for the Manafort raid is a real strech, where yourl’re bending over backward trying to suggest that Manafort’s alleged ties to the Russian mob were the justification for that raid.
There is no evidence that Manafort presented a physical threat.
That same kind of “cover story” can be used in other ways, as in exaggerating the actual threat level as a defense against a questionable shooting by a LEO.
If you have anyting to support your “Russian mob” threat to justify the use of a no-knock raid in the Manafort case, I’d like to see it.
Short of credible information that Russian mobsters were gaurdinging Manafort’s house, alleged ties to the Russian mob did not pose a threat to those conducting the raid.
he’s basically an extension of the Russian mob
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/%2522Citation_needed%2522.jpg&imgrefurl=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%2522Citation_needed%2522.jpg&h=2448&w=3264&tbnid=y2L-gcSw7M4cnM:&tbnh=194&tbnw=259&usg=__XmC8CQuhWi0mCyaI0lGTV27Ps8g%3D&vet=1&docid=3ryKpWHM7UDZlM
That was funny!
https://www.thedailybeast.com/mueller-reveals-new-manafort-link-to-organized-crime
Why is Mueller leaking to the press?
If that is the case regarding Flynn and Manafort, then why were those issues not referred to Rosenstein as being outside the scope of Muler investigation? Instead Muler retroactively requested and was granted expanded scope by Rosenstein so that Muler could put points on the board. The Stormy Daniels payment should have simply been referred to FEC as a civil matter. But then no points on board for Muler and no cheap headlines for FBI who cannot even intercept school shooter in FL (Oh I am sorry, were we supposed to forget about that by now?).
Besides the FEC matter there was also bank fraud which was still clearly an FBI matter although Mueller did refer it out to the Southern District of New York which handles Manhattan. It looks like the exact thing he was supposed to do.
Enigma, you couldn’t find the video last time and told me so. I reposted it so you could see it but never heard back so I will post it again in case you forgot.
Allan, this what I got, most of which relate to Saturday Night Live sketches. Why don’t you just tell me in your words what this video is supposed to convince me of?
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThRb9x-RieI&w=640&h=390]
About 5 results (0.55 seconds)
Search Results
Amazon Echo – SNL – YouTube
Video for [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThRb9x-RieI&w=640&h=390]▶ 2:41
May 13, 2017 – Uploaded by Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live. … The Amazon Echo Silver is specifically designed for the greatest generation (Kenan …
Missing: thrb9x riei&w 640&h 390
Close Encounter – SNL – YouTube
Video for [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThRb9x-RieI&w=640&h=390]▶ 5:47
Dec 6, 2015 – Uploaded by Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live. … Three people (Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Ryan Gosling) share very different stories …
Missing: thrb9x riei&w
Another Close Encounter – SNL – YouTube
Video for [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThRb9x-RieI&w=640&h=390]▶ 6:21
Sep 30, 2017 – Uploaded by Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live. … Three alien abductees (Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong) are again …
Missing: thrb9x riei&w
Welcome to Hell – SNL – YouTube
Video for [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThRb9x-RieI&w=640&h=390]▶ 3:20
Dec 2, 2017 – Uploaded by Saturday Night Live
Women (Saoirse Ronan, Cecily Strong, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Leslie Jones, Melissa Villaseñor) address …
Missing: thrb9x riei&w 640&h 390
Creating Saturday Night Live: Control Room – YouTube
Video for [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThRb9x-RieI&w=640&h=390]▶ 7:54
Oct 23, 2017 – Uploaded by Saturday Night Live
Director Don Roy King and crew share how an episode goes from script to stage. #SNL #SNL43 Get more SNL …
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Convince? No way. I just wanted to provide you with something a bit more upbeat than the typical racist memes you wish to indulge yourself with.
Mr. Larry Elder is the one who is doing all the talking.
I’ve heard/ read Larry Elder on several occasions, upbeat I think not. He’s entitled to a point of view. Not long ago some people looked to Ben Carson as the latest voice saying what they wanted to hear. I think he’s revealed himself to be totally out of his league once he stepped outside of medicine. Nice dining room set he blamed on his wife!
“I’ve heard/ read Larry Elder on several occasions, upbeat I think not. ”
Enigma, are you illiterate? I didn’t comment on Elder being upbeat or anything else about Elder. I provided you with a singular video that was upbeat and even more so when compared to your moronic plays on race.
I could say, “the sky is blue” and you would cry racism. Troll on.
Enigma writes: “I could say, “the sky is blue” and you would cry racism.”
Following that remark you would add that Trump said the sky is dark so maybe it will rain. To that you would say dark= black; rain=bad; and you then would conclude that Trump is a racist.
See!
“See!”
That is right. Take note of exactly what was said.
A 90-year-old article of a 21-Year-old kid where nothing racist was demonstrated convinced you that 90 years later Donald Trump had to be a racist. That claim of racism by you belongs at Ripley’s. One can only laugh at the conclusions you draw.
Fortunately, my actual words are on record and we don’t have to rely upon what you say they were. Troll on.
“Fortunately, my actual words are on record and we don’t have to rely on what you say they were.”
I was talking about your other words and then provided another example. I admit between your accusations of racism you occasionally delve into nonracist discussion though always on the lookout to inject racism into the discussion.
Republican men throw women under the bus. It’s what they do.
“Republican men throw women under the bus. It’s what they do.”
It sounds like your husband was a Republican and you are what is left.
I’m wagering that his period of cohabitation with LInda ended with him running screaming across the state line.
Sounds like Bridget Kelley and Gov. Grifty’s wife.
Agreed, any problem with Manafort’s business could be referred to the Criminal Division. The thing is, Rosenstein and Mueller are collaborators. The former is not critically distant from the latter.
Actually, the Special Counsel was required because the Attorney General had to recuse himself because he was one of those who had secret meetings with Russians and lied about them.
He didn’t and he didn’t. He’d crossed paths with the Russian Ambassador during his time in Congress and spoken to him about matters extraneous to the campaign. The question posed to him was a syntactical labyrinth as well. It’s not difficult to find Democratic members of Congress who’ve had such contacts with the Russian ambassador and two were exposed when this issue came up. ‘Networking’ is what ambassadors get paid to do.
I have no doubt the Russian Ambassador was doing exactly what he was paid to do, spying for his government being part of his role. As for Sessions; did he have secret meetings with Russians. If that would be meetings he never disclosed, even when asked. I would say that meets the definition.
By declaring that the question(s) posed to him under oath by Senators Franken and Leahy. It’s hard to see what he couldn’t comprehend?
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., asked: “Several of the President-elect’s nominees or senior advisers have Russian ties. Have you been in contact with anyone connected to any part of the Russian government about the 2016 election, either before or after election day?”
Sessions responded, in total: “No.”
The operative phrase in this discussion is “about the 2016 election”.
Your ability to interpret statements is a mess. According to your quote if Sessions didn’t discuss the 2016 election no meetings or anything else matter. The correct answer is “no.”
he was one of those who had secret meetings with Russians and lied about them.
This is a lie you keep repeating.
Stop me anywhere you disagree.
1. He had meetings with Russians including the Russian Ambassador (a known spy) twice.
2. He failed to disclose those meetings, in testimony before Congress and in filings to obtain Top Secret Clearance (SF-86 forms) where he was asked to list ANY meetings with foreign agents.
3. Until the meetings were reported in the press, we never heard anything about them because they were.. secret.
4. When he denied having them… he lied.
5. It was a big enough deal that when he consulted ethics people in the Justice Dept., they recommended he recuse himself.
I’ll keep repeating all of those things because every one of them is true.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/watch-frankens-tense-exchange-with-sessions-about-the-2016-campaign/2017/10/18/f4e216ee-b421-11e7-9b93-b97043e57a22_video.html?utm_term=.43ca0e96484c
Here is the discussion here. Sessions was asked about the campaign and the preface of the question made specific reference to ongoing communications between the campaign and Russian operators. You keep contending that he was ‘lying’ because he’d crossed paths with the Russian Ambassador, as had other members of Congress. Ambassadors network and foreign governments represent the interests of their government to U.S. officials, including members of Congress. Sen. McCaskill also attended events hosted by the Russian ambassador, among god knows how many others.
Stop lying.
The SF-86 form isn’t nearly as forgiving as you are. It doesn’t ask about meetings you feel are important, it asks about all of them. Sessions lied, as die Kushner and others. Their inability to tell the truth doesn’t make me a liar.
Enigma writes: “The SF-86 form isn’t nearly as forgiving as you are. It doesn’t ask about meetings you feel are important, it asks about all of them.”
I think what you are saying is pure BS. I don’t think that form asks about any meetings what so ever rather it asks about associations not including trivial ones. You are a poseur and a liar.
The SF-86 form is 127 pages long. You expect me to believe you’re intimately familiar with it?
Enigma has no shame.
Correction to Martin- It’s referred to as the Steele Dossier.
German Khan’s son-in-law and his attempt to destroy evidence. …Martin appreciates that the law firm prevented it and is cooperating with Mueller.
Turley said:
“Trump attacked Sessions, Rosenstein, Mueller, and Comey during a meeting on the Syrian conflict. Many people swallowed hard at this line “We’ll see what happens. Many people have said, ‘you should fire him.’ Again, they found nothing and in finding nothing that’s a big statement.””
Yet Prof. Turley failed to mention anything about the raid on his long-time attorney’s office being the subject of the conversation in which he made that statement. Just a little effort at providing context would have been nice. I was really quite surprised not to see comments from Turley about the raid and the dangers of violating attorney-client privilege to get a scalp.
Ah, but we did get the story about the stolen roof in Louisiana.
Scott Adams call for firing, and discusses the protests and violence that will result:
Turley: Did not address the issue of the government agents raiding a lawyers office and stealing documents. Oh, year. They went to some dork judge and got a warrant.
Folks. A lawyer has many clients. They confide in the lawyer. The phone records and paperwork is sacrosanct. This is America. Not Russia. Readers: What if your lawyer’s office was looted like this. Your Last Will and testament is gone. Your papers concerning the adoption of your child are gone. The Trust you created to give a scholarship to a child has been stolen.
The pigs went in with guns drawn.
It is time to rebel. We are dealing with Redcoats.
“The attorney-client privilege protects most communications between clients and their lawyers. But, according to the crime-fraud exception to the privilege, a client’s communication to her attorney isn’t privileged if she made it with the intention of committing or covering up a crime or fraud.”
The Crime-Fraud Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege | Nolo.com
God Bless America!
wildbill99, Trump’s denial of any knowledge of Cohen’s payment to Daniels may have helped Rosenstein assign Mueller’s referral to Berman by effectively denying the attorney-client privilege in Trump’s own words.
Trump’s two biggest enemies are his ignorance and his big fat pie hole.
https://twitter.com/PreetBharara/status/983682986242658305
Muler had discretion as to how to deal with this i.e. civil matter to be referred to Federal Election Commission or criminal matter referred to FBI generating Elliot Ness type headlines. Muler looking to make big splash and has lost the discipline to stay in the lane of his mandate. You can argue that he referred it, but then I would argue he referred it criminally to blood-thirsty zealots instead of civil referral to FEC. Looks like Muler is keeping score and wants to rack up point totals with fringe player/actions criminal indictments.
Rosenstein’s decision–not Mueller’s. Meanwhile, the Federal Election Commission does not investigate bank fraud. Mueller must have uncovered sufficient evidence of bank fraud to cause Rosenstein to assign the case to Berman who convinced a judge there was probable cause for a search warrant. Your remark about blood-thirsty zealots is hyperbole.
L4D,..
I think at least part of the issue is “the John Edwards scenario”, where Cohen could face charges that his payment to Daniels was an undisclosed, illegal campaign contribution.
I don’t know if the FEC is still a viable, functioning agency…that is debatable…but this is at least partially an issue of alleged violation of campaign finance laws.
Ptom, it is admittedly possible that bank fraud might be a means of making an illegal campaign donation. And yet, that would be a weak reason to expect the FEC investigating bank fraud.
I didn’t claim that there was bank fraud, or that I expected the FEC to investigate in that area.
Bases on what HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REPORTED, it looks like Cohen ” paid off” Daniels to benefit the Trump campaign….that was the area I said “should be” handled by the FEC ( if we had a functioning FEC)
“based on”
Gestapo tactics used on Flynn, Manafort and now Cohen are unheard of. Did bank fraud really need to be investigated? Do we reward sleazeballs like Stormy Daniels attorney with such zeal? This stinks.
Bill Martin, your use of the words “Gestapo tactics” is hyperbole. With respect to Flynn and Manafort, or with respect to Cohen on matters other than Stormy Daniels, you might want to consider the previously mentioned possibility that Mueller might know things that can never be entered into evidence in a public legal proceeding. Such a possibility might lead you to entertain a different opinion of Mueller’s motives, actions and character.
Anyone who thinks an invasion of the Presidents personal attorneys information needs to have their head examined. There is no good reason to seize all the personal information unless you are a zealot trying to get financial information that President Trump refuses to release. Mueller is an inflated ego trying to be famous before he retires again. Mueller will go down as the over achiever that amounted to nothing. He claims to be a military hero, I say you are remembered by the last thing you do. He will be a washed up piece of partisan Hillary protecting dirt. As a Veteran, I am ashamed of his actions and would never condone his open handed slap on our constitution. Or his peeing all over the law protecting citizens from “unlawful search and seizure”. He makes the USA look like a third world train wreck. All you Democrats who think differently remember this “Democrats do not have original thoughts, they are followers”. Never met a Great Democrat Leader. There are many Great Democrat “Yes men and women”. Go President Trump and God Bless the USA!
Dork judge? Do you have personal knowledge of the judge? Did you read the evidence provided to the “dork judge”?
Of course not😂!
Marco, Mueller’s referral to Berman had to go through Rosenstein. This was Rosenstein’s decision–not Mueller’s. Even so, Mueller must have uncovered sufficient evidence to support probable cause that a crime may have been committed and that further evidence of that crime might be discovered through execution of a search warrant. Most likely that crime is fraud of one sort or another. The judge may also have signed off on the warrant to prevent tampering with the suspected evidence to be seized in the search.
As I’m sure you know, Trump’s supporter’s get very upset whenever Trump has a very bad day.
Marco, Mueller’s referral to Berman had to go through Rosenstein. T
Rosenstein’s refusal to follow the law and provide a specific commission to Mueller demonstrates that he is Mueller’s collaborator, not Mueller’s supervisor.
totally agree
Mr Trump cannot be allowed to serve as President if Cohen’s records reveal serious criminal activities. Good job Mr Mueller!. The investigation is, indeed, a witch hunt, but a necessary witch hunt. Trump supporters may excuse and accept depraved and criminal activity, but the majority in this country and the rest of the world do not.
The more domestic turmoil generated by Mr Trump, the better, if it distracts this administration from heinous attacks on other parts of the world. Dropping bombs on populated areas in a foreign country is always wrong.
Dropping bombs is what worries me when it comes to Trump.
Mr Trump cannot be allowed to serve as President if Cohen’s records reveal serious criminal activities.
Thank you Captain Obvious. The problem for the anti-Trumpers is they began with Mr. Trump cannot be allowed to serve as President. If I recall correctly, Watergate began with a crime that led to an investigation. Mueller and company began with an investigation looking for a crime. Why? Because, as you say, Mr. Trump cannot be allowed… Now if you put on your Captain’s hat again, were there crimes committed that are too obvious to ignore? They are so obviously in need of an independent investigation that I won’t even need to list them. Put it this way, had Mr. Trump done any of them, he wouldn’t have been impeached because he would never have been elected.
The investigation is, indeed, a witch hunt, but a necessary witch hunt.
Why? Is this how we are supposed to handle election losses? Think it through; this will not be our last election cycle.
https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/983618416404643840
You Democrats are very good at hiding you political leanings. How many conservatives prosecutors are in the NY district? None, would be the answer. Trump was told by RINO’s to hire Berman and he should have known eventually he would show his true face. I hope someone like the law breaking Mueller raids your place some day. Maybe they will seize all your personal information between you and your attorney. Democrats have no interest in investigating real crimes by Hillary, the FBI or the DOJ. God will win this battle and many people will have egg on their faces. Mueller is not a man who acts like a Christian or a law biding prosecutor. Being a Democrat means you are taking orders from someone, you are a follower and not a leader. If we look into Mueller’s emails and phone records we will find who is giving him orders. Would you like to guess who that might be? I can guarantee it was not President Trump. What Mueller did is way out of bounds and he will be on the receiving end of real justice some day. He will be checked by the SCOTUS soon. Didn’t he get overturned by the SCOTUS already? Oh, we do not mention that if we are a Democrat do we? Democrats are the scab that continues to cover lawlessness and crooked shady back room deals.
Like everything else Hillary Clinton (The Dossier) is involved in, the reputation of Mueller, Lynch, Clapper, Brennan, Mccabe (The Liar) et al will be destroyed by the time this is all said and done. Hillary will be untouched and those that went to bat for her will have their reputations destroyed.
Stormy was not involved in da dossier. Those were T rump’s Ruski hookers. You need to start keeping up
Dream on.
Don’t mess with the Marine. You won’t live long enough to regret it.
Translation:
Can’t defend the imbecile Trump so let’s talk about the Clintons and/or President Obama,
Are you claiming that Hillary ordered the raid on Cohen’s office ???????
Nope, those people are right to criticize a “roving commission” prosecutor using the rule of law recklessly and contrary to the national interest. Special prosecutors like supreme court justices read the newspaper and need a little impetus to pause to consider how they look to the public to whom they will one day return. Nobody in power should be free from censors. Were I advising Trump, I would suggest he do exactly what he’s doing but not fire the guy. Let the public do that for you in the only court that truly matters in a democracy.
Mespo,..
– I haven’t seen this aspect brought up in scanning these comments, but the sites raided likely had files for hundreds of clients/ cases.
I’m wondering if they basically pack up everything and clean out his office(s), or if they sort through all of Cohen’s files, then decide what the warrant allows them to cart off.
It would seem that the issue of attorney-client privilege could go well beyond the issue of Cohen-Trump attorney-client privilege.
It is a big issue and anything extraneous in those files should be suppressed in any subsequent proceeding.
Hundreds of clients? Did Cohen work for anybody besides Trump?
Jay S..
-The sparse bio info I’ve seen about Cohen indicates that he got his JD in 1991, and started with the Trump Organization in 2011.
I don’t know if he worked exclusively for Trump since then, but working for Trump he probably was involved in a LOT of cases on behalf of Trump.
And he probably had a lot of information about a lot of people in his files, whether or not they were within the Trump Org.
It looks like he was in private practice and dabbled in politics in the 1991-2011 period.
He used a home equity line of credit to pay Stormy? Liquidity?
When all over he should just literally pardon everyone.
https://twitter.com/OrinKerr/status/965405220304859136
SW Mom,..
That same “unusual leverage” in criminal investigations that involve political figures has existed before in previous investigations.
But I can’t think of a similar case where there were no-knock SWAT-style raids, or where the offices of a political target’s lawyer was raided.
That’s a distinction Orin Kerr fails to address.
This is a coup. Mueller and everyone connected needs to be investigated
I’d rather have the turnip than the rotten fruit we had the past 8 years.
Practicing attorneys (I am one) in the area of Federal law, agree – he should fire Mueller. It is well within his power to do.
https://youtu.be/cfHAiIq-Yeo
My understanding is that either Sessions (or Rosenstein if Sessions recuses himself) would have to fire Mueller. Am I wrong?
Cordially, Bill
No. You’re not wrong, wildbill99. Turley knows that Rosenstein had to have made the decision to assign Mueller’s referral to Berman. That’s why Turley raised the specter of a Saturday night massacre scenario. One presumes.
Legal Eagle,…
I don’t know if Trump will fire Sessions or Rosenstein or both, but if he is going to do it, I’d expect him to do it soon .
If Trump is going to exploit the backlash against the tactics used in the Cohen raid, I think he’d do it very soon, or not at all.
I don’t think either Sessions or Rosenstein would comply with an order from Trump to fire Mueller, and I’ve speculated before that the #3 DOJ official who recently resigned “got out of the way” to avoid a scenario where it could fall in her lap.
I agree, Tom, but I am 99% certain he won’t. For those of us surmising (which is all any of us, including Turley, can do at this point), we are surmising that Trump is well aware the upcoming IG report and grand jury indictments will bring the Mueller nonsense to its proper conclusion.
Trump may, or may not, know (since he is both the head of DOJ/FBI but is also the “victim” in a conspiracy) specifics of what is forthcoming from Horowitiz/Huber. Lost in yesterdays news was the assignment of U.S. Attorney John Lausch, brought in to facilitate the production of documents from Horowitz/Huber to the House Judiciary Committee.
Trump has shown far greater restraint than most Americans would have, and I would expect he will continue to do so.
Putin’s restraint is being tested. Nothing to show for his investment. Can’t use his leverage.
It’s time to stop talkin’ and start chalkin’!
Time to grab the bull by the horns.
If Congress doesn’t have the b—s to impeach Obama and his treasonous “deep state” DOJ/FBI,
Congress won’t have the b—s to impeach the President.
In any case, it’s time for Congress to —- or get off the pot.
The People, the Sovereign, will impeach or uphold the President and Congress in November.
Wake up Mr. President.
The barbarians are at the gate.
The Caravan is coming and it’s
Not through Mexico.
The witch-hunt will continue.
Problem is, they keep finding witches (and warlocks).
Problem is, you spin doctors and the MSM keep SAYING they “keep finding” witches when they actually find nothing at all.
Problem is, the witches they “keep finding” are more phantom and faux now than they were a few centuries ago.
Witch Hunt – definition – mass hysteria.
Would it be okay with you if Obergruppenfuhrer as his Waffen-SS staff investigated your entire life in every facet and aspect, in search of anything resembling any form of “crime?”
Oops. You stepped on your neighbor’s lawn – that’s criminal trespass. Skip your turn and “Go Directly to Jail.”
Jay S.,,
– The witches are out there….they still meet every month to put the whammy on Trump.
That’s what got some of us so rattled when one frequent commentator here started talking about “curses”.😧
Our President did not say he would fire Mueller.
Shannon,…
Not “yet”…Trump isn’t the most predictable guy😉, so I wouldn’t rule it out.
The turnip has created a load of do or die situations: China trade war, North Korea meeting, Stormy Daniels, Mueller interview, etc. It will be interesting to see just how tough he is. So far it looks like a lot of slithering, lying, distracting, chaos creating, etc is in store. There’s simply no there, there.
Trump is an ignorant and debased effin’ moron (Thanks Rex!). He is manifestly capable of firing Mueller, because there is no act of stupidity that he is not capable of.
Look like XI (from the horses mouth himself) is going to open up the chinese economy to US investment and lower tariffs. Huge Trump Win. Looks like North Korea wants to denuclearize, Another huge win for Trump. Add another 250K US manufacturing jobs last year, another huge Trump win. Gorusch – win. US Embassy to Jerusalem – win. NATO countries paying their fair share – win, ISIS destroyed – win
And Isaac you lump Stormy Daniels (generated to embarrass the president) and Mueller (fabricated witch hunt) in with those accomplishments… so petty
Even turnips get lucky..