Pecker Problems (Mueller+ Investigation Thread v. 21)

[SBJJ]

But they must disclose it, according to the law. Trump did not.

So either he broke the law by making Cohen contribute or he broke the law by contributing and concealing it.

Not disclosing it is like a fine. Happens frequently

 

[44nutman]

"On May 10, the day after firing Comey, Trump told the Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and foreign minister Sergey Lavrov that the former FBI Director was “crazy, a real nut job,” and bragged that firing Comey had “taken off” the “great pressure” the Russia investigation created. On May 11, Trump told NBC’s Lester Holt that he had planned to fire Comey regardless of Rosenstein’s conclusion, and that he was considering “this Russia thing” when he decided to do so...."

Is that true or not?

Cut out the middle man, and send that question to Dershowitz.

 

[zebby23]

Can't wait until we saw those Trump taxes.

 

[Andy Capp]

I don't understand why people allow the subject to be shifted.

... Anyways, there's a lot of speculation that Mueller's office will be issuing a statement of some sort this week. Rumors.

I'm betting it turns into nada.

I suspect the opposite, being Friday and all. Isn't that usually when the metaphorical shoes drop?
Edit: although it's probably wishful thinking. No harm in that though, imo.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

Can't wait until we saw those Trump taxes.

We will never see them as surely as Donald Trump can lie daily and get away with it

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

I suspect the opposite, being Friday and all. Isn't that usually when the metaphorical shoes drop?

Friendly bet?
I call it wild rumor and the day will pass quietly, at least afa that

 

[Cake4Breakfast]

This is a mischaracterization of Trump's interview with Lester Holt.

In that interview, Trump gave his reasons for firing Comey:

Comey is a "grandstander", a "showboat", is "incompetent", "is the wrong man for that position" and the FBI was "in turmoil" under Comey's watch.

Then he noted that "there was no good time to [fire Comey]" because it would look bad no matter when the firing occurred and that it was okay to fire Comey before the conclusion of the Russia investigation because "this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story. It's an excuse by the Democrats for losing an election that they should have won. "

Holt: Are you angry with Mr. Comey because of his Russia investigation?

Trump: I just want someone who is competent. I am a big fan of the FBI.

Holt: Were you a fan of Comey taking up that investigation?

Trump: Look. As far as I'm concerned, I want that thing to be absolutely done properly. When I [fired Comey], I said "I probably, maybe will confuse people. Maybe I'll expand the length of the investigation. But I have to do the right thing for the American people. He's the wrong man for that position. "

Come on now, you are just parroting what Trump's team is saying about this (e.g., what Caputo was saying on TV last night).

Sure, Trump said those things about Comey later in the interview (which contradicted the big show he put on with Comey for the cameras, where Trump looked like he was seeing one of his grandchildren, with his arms open for a hug and his lips puckered. Comey sure didn't look like a "showboat", but looked quite uncomfortable being in the spotlight), but it doesn't change what Trump said earlier, bringing up the "Russia thing" in his stream of consciousness answer about how he was going to fire Comey regardless of what Rosenstein said, contradicting what his team (including Pence) had been peddling about Rosenstein being the brains behind Comey's firing. And let's not forget that what Trump was telling Lavrov and Kislyak, in the White House, was a paraphrase of what everyone heard Trump saying to Holt in that interview, and that firing Comey "relieved great pressure."

 

[Andy Capp]

This is quite interesting:
The tensions around Don McGahn’s exit and the Mueller investigation, explained

"McGahn was involved in at least four matters related to President Trump that Mueller is investigating."

"Just days after Trump became president, the FBI questioned his new national security adviser, Michael Flynn, about contacts he’d had with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the transition. Flynn’s answers did not match what intelligence intercepts from surveillance of Kislyak showed — suggesting he’d lied to the FBI and perhaps to administration officials like Vice President Mike Pence as well.

Don McGahn was the first White House official to learn about this problem. Sally Yates — the Obama holdover serving as acting attorney general while Jeff Sessions was awaiting confirmation — extensively briefed McGahn on Flynn’s interview, on January 26 and 27. McGahn then briefed other White House officials, including Trump, on what he’d learned.

Yet the White House took a curiously long time to act on this seemingly damning information. Eighteen days passed between McGahn’s first briefing and Flynn’s firing, and Mueller reportedly wants to know why."

"...Sessions came under public pressure to recuse himself from any handling of the investigation into Russian interference.

But Trump very much did not want Sessions to recuse himself. So he told McGahn to tell Sessions that. McGahn did so, urging the attorney general to remain in charge of the probe, according to the New York Times. Sessions, however, recused himself anyway."

"...McGahn and his White House counsel’s office were also involved to some extent in deliberations over firing Comey — for instance, his team researched the legality of the president firing the FBI director beforehand."

"...Finally, just about a month after Mueller was appointed special counsel, Trump reportedly tried to have him fired — and told Don McGahnto make it happen. But according to the New York Times, McGahn simply did not act on this presidential instruction, and Trump moved on."

And there's more about McGahn's role as White House Counsel. I think it's a good read.

 

[Andy Capp]

Friendly bet?
I call it wild rumor and the day will pass quietly, at least afa that

Ummmm... how friendly? I did say it might be wishful thinking.
Ok, sig bet for a month. Today is a good day for it; I suggest that it ought to be a quote from one of our more intellectually challenged members. The crazier the better. But I like your sig so it should be an add on rather than a replacement. Keeping it all friendly like.

 

[waiguoren]

But they must disclose it, according to the law. Trump did not.

I don't see why people refuse to agree with this...

It's THE LAW.

If it was actually a campaign contribution (a big "if"), then it would be a disclosure violation. Just nothing on the scale of the Obama campaign, and certainly nothing to get riled up about.

 

[Cake4Breakfast]

If it was actually a campaign contribution (a big "if"), then it would be a disclosure violation. Just nothing on the scale of the Obama campaign, and certainly nothing to get riled up about.

And come on now with the "bbbut Obama stuff"

 

[zebby23]

This is quite interesting:
The tensions around Don McGahn’s exit and the Mueller investigation, explained

"McGahn was involved in at least four matters related to President Trump that Mueller is investigating."

"Just days after Trump became president, the FBI questioned his new national security adviser, Michael Flynn, about contacts he’d had with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the transition. Flynn’s answers did not match what intelligence intercepts from surveillance of Kislyak showed — suggesting he’d lied to the FBI and perhaps to administration officials like Vice President Mike Pence as well.

Don McGahn was the first White House official to learn about this problem. Sally Yates — the Obama holdover serving as acting attorney general while Jeff Sessions was awaiting confirmation — extensively briefed McGahn on Flynn’s interview, on January 26 and 27. McGahn then briefed other White House officials, including Trump, on what he’d learned.

Yet the White House took a curiously long time to act on this seemingly damning information. Eighteen days passed between McGahn’s first briefing and Flynn’s firing, and Mueller reportedly wants to know why."

"...Sessions came under public pressure to recuse himself from any handling of the investigation into Russian interference.

But Trump very much did not want Sessions to recuse himself. So he told McGahn to tell Sessions that. McGahn did so, urging the attorney general to remain in charge of the probe, according to the New York Times. Sessions, however, recused himself anyway."

"...McGahn and his White House counsel’s office were also involved to some extent in deliberations over firing Comey — for instance, his team researched the legality of the president firing the FBI director beforehand."

"...Finally, just about a month after Mueller was appointed special counsel, Trump reportedly tried to have him fired — and told Don McGahnto make it happen. But according to the New York Times, McGahn simply did not act on this presidential instruction, and Trump moved on."

And there's more about McGahn's role as White House Counsel. I think it's a good read.

It’s amusing watching Trumpers defend all these allegations that we already know of. I’m willing to bet know 5% of what Mueller knows and that’s what scares Trump and his bots

 

[Ophydian]

Friendly bet?
I call it wild rumor and the day will pass quietly, at least afa that

I agree with the statements, every time something major has come out of the investigation it’s been a surprise. There has never been a time where the rumors have been true or if they are true they aren’t validated until weeks later.

 

[Strychnine]

If it was actually a campaign contribution (a big "if"), then it would be a disclosure violation. Just nothing on the scale of the Obama campaign, and certainly nothing to get riled up about.

I was going to respond but, the vid that @Cake4Breakfast linked puts it more succinctly.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

Ummmm... how friendly?

Any bet we might make is completely between two awesome people only.

I did say it might be wishful thinking.

Oh, we share that. I'm betting against my interest.

Ok, sig bet for a month. Today is a good day for it; I suggest that it ought to be a quote from one of our more intellectually challenged members. The crazier the better. But I like your sig so it should be an add on rather than a replacement. Keeping it all friendly like.

Fo sho. I only meant until the end of the day, and hadn't considered any stakes.
Over a month I think you'd be pretty likely to win.
If he don't say nothing today, I'm guessing he'll hold off until after the election.

 

[waiguoren]

Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about a blowjob.

Trump has lied about multiple sex acts, then lied about covering it up, and how he covered up, and convinced another individual to commit crimes for him in order to conceal his lies.

Republicans have set a precedent they're unwilling to hold themselves to.

I would guess that most of the representatives and senators who voted to impeach President Clinton are no longer serving.

You already tried that line of argument before and it was debunked.

More than 25 of the most senior GOP Congressmen served either in the House or the Senate during Clinton's impeachment proceedings.

The full House votes on impeachment, not just the leadership. I'll estimate that less than 25% of the current GOP House members were serving when President Clinton was impeached. Therefore it's inaccurate for you to accuse "the Republicans" of having a double standard on this issue.

 

[waiguoren]

The only reason Trump hasn't lied under oath is because his legal council is forbidding him from testifying under oath.

That's pure speculation.

They don't need a perjury trap, just a microphone. Trump can't help himself when it comes to telling lies.

Telling lies != perjury. For one thing, perjury requires materiality.

 

[waiguoren]

Except he didn't spend his own money.

I assume you're referring to the Trump Organization. Do we have a firm source on this?

 

[waiguoren]

"On May 10, the day after firing Comey, Trump told the Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and foreign minister Sergey Lavrov that the former FBI Director was “crazy, a real nut job,” and bragged that firing Comey had “taken off” the “great pressure” the Russia investigation created. On May 11, Trump told NBC’s Lester Holt that he had planned to fire Comey regardless of Rosenstein’s conclusion, and that he was considering “this Russia thing” when he decided to do so...."

Is that true or not?

The last part is a mischaracterization, as I already explained.

As for the anonymous leak of the alleged transcript of a secret conversation---I think you should know better than to judge what actually was said based on a few chopped up quotations. No reasonable person would even try to judge without at least seeing the full transcript.

 

[ShadowRun]

Champion of the Middle Class.

Didn't you see that other thread there is no more middle class