Robert Mueller, Former F.B.I. Director, Is Named Special Counsel for Russia Investigation

Trump's lawyers want him not to do interview with Mueller in Russia inquiry: NYT

President Donald Trump's lawyers want him to refuse to be interviewed by Robert Mueller in the ongoing investigation involving Russia and other possible areas of criminal activity. He may refuse, but the investigation isn't going away.

It's not surprising that Trump's lawyers probably believe he is so erratic and unhinged that he'll self-incriminate. But it's pretty shameful.

“Lawyers for President Trump have advised him against sitting down for a wide-ranging interview with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III,” reports the New York Times, citing 'four people briefed on the matter.'

What may be ahead: a “months long court battle over whether the president must answer questions under oath.”

 

This approach has never occurred to me.

Trump will not be allowing the release of the rebuttal memo without neutering it.

Muddying the water is the point. Soon, Trump will refuse to be interviewed by Mueller. He will rely on this memo to make the case that the investigation is illegitimate. Democrats will howl, of course, but the people who want to believe him will justify themselves in doing so by either believing the memo or by saying that no one can know what to believe because everything is so confusing.

 

the dizzying height of intellectual dishonesty; the National Review pretends that these developments have not happened,

in less than 6 months, mueller has already issued 4 indictments, w 2 guilty pleads, w a third one (Gates) in the works​

 

I don't want just any infraction. Perjury or simple obstruction would be a bit insufficient. He'd have to find money laundering or conspiracy for me to be satisfied. The ardent fans being referenced here must be somebody else, but I feel like I'm getting painted with the same brush.

So, I'm supposed to believe that contradicting and undermining the foreign policy of the sitting president is simply bad form? That seeking the cooperation of foreign spies to win an election is just amateurish? That receiving significant financial benefits from power players around the globe that do so with the intention of influencing the president's policy is just unseemly? I think in their urgings that I not over-react to the news, they completely under-react. There are reasons we have the Logan Act, the Emoluments Clause, and laws against conspiracy. Sober-minded writing doesn't really camouflage that National Review is still just rationalizing Trump.

 

BOB MUELLER’S INVESTIGATION IS LARGER—AND FURTHER ALONG—THAN YOU THINK

https://www.wired.com/story/bob-muellers-investigation-is-largerand-further-alongthan-you-think/

 

Unless I’m wrong, there’s no requirement to disclose gifts given if not claiming a deduction for that gift. It’s incumbent on the gift recipient to report that on their taxes.

 

He might have deducted it as a business expense or loss.

And thats not what a gift is.

 

Mariotti is a lawyer (and candidate for IL Attorney General). And he was referring to Cohen's tax return. You do have to file a form 709 for large financial gifts and even pay taxes if they exceed $14k I believe. I also think you have to show it was a gift, not a loan nor a payment for something.

 

I guess the next question... how many other women did Cohen pay off out of his own pocket for trump? Bannon estimated there were maybe a hundred women on the campaign trail (in Fire and Fury) that Cohen had to pay off.

 

The incredible levels of deceit, corruptness, and ineptitude that supporters of this Dullard-in-Chief are willing to condone, accept, and justify is just stunning.

 

To me, it's a lot more disappointing as an American than Trump himself or his election. It's the water carriers that make me think less of this land. We knew Trump. We knew people were desperate to vote for change, (and yes, we knew there some desperate racists thrown in as well), but I didn't know some of the otherwise decent, at one time self-respecting Republicans could mutate into creatures who would do and say what they're doing for this horrible, rudderless, narcissist. It's not at all necessary to achieve their policies. But there it is: literally support or vouch for anyone saying anything and doing anything as long as they are not a democrat. Not a very good recipe for a sane outcome.

 

GOP have always been hypocrites for the most part, their party principles currently are based on hypocrisy.

 

I could not have said this any better. It's exactly my thoughts articulated.

I would like to throw in the fact that people out there tried to justify voting for Clinton because of their disdain for Trump is not good enough. She was an awful candidate (as has been stated by many intelligent people here)

 

These are dark times. The degree with which we're seeing sacred institutions attacked - the FBI, the CIA, the Justice Department, the State Department, the Judicial system - not to mention the attack on the press - is disturbing. And the fact that most Republicans now trust Putin more than our own intelligence agencies is forbearing.

Could this be how America falls from Superpower status? Russia lost the cold war but one the information one. And China leap frogs to the new leader of the free world.

 

Ouch. That truth actually hurts a bit, not me really, but the people I know.

It makes me sad.