I don't believe Mueller's worry about looking political is about how he's concerned with his reputation or how it looks politically (like he's turned on the Republicans), so much as what that perception has the power to do. He knows that the senate is Republican, and can shoot down an impeachment in a blink of an eye. If it appears he's a shill for the Dems, they'll tune out what he has to say, instead of giving proper assessment of the information he presents. There will be those Republicans who actually listen, who haven't read the report who will sit up and take notice. But will their numbers be great enough to make a difference? The same can be said for his supporters. Some, even if he's subpoenaed will still think he's part of the deep state. It could cause more violence and upheaval.
I also think that being ex-military, he's accustomed to following what his superiors tell him to do. He doesn't have to agree, he just needs to follow orders. Right now, he's being told not to testify. These miscreants are defying subpoenas themselves, or telling others to be in contempt. Mueller can also be subpoenaed and then view it as someone above the rank of his boss as giving an order. Or he may even quit, and as a private citizen then have no restraints.
I've also wondered if he's not waiting for something, like the investigation of taxes or money laundering thru Deutche Bank to be a concrete case. There were still over a dozen cases farmed out to federal and state courts according to his report. Maybe he wants to make sure that there will be a way to charge Twittler once he's out of office on charges where the Republicans can't sweep it under the carpet.
I do think it's time for the house to start hearings to see if impeachment is warranted. I know most of us believe it's past time for impeachment proceedings to begin, but until you sway enough Senators, it's an exercise in futility. Too many haven't even read the report, so it's time they started hearing the contents while waiting on the financial records that will prove to be the straw that broke the camel's back.
I agree Cindy. I heard thta Mueller is retiring May 31. Has anyone else heard that? I believe he wants to testify closed door because he knows mango and his minions will have a twitter shit storm going if he testifies in public. I also agree they are waiting for the bank to release the financial records. I read somewhere that some of the records are already in the hand of the committee. I hope so. I also think Nancy is baiting him to see how far he will go. He is now badmouthing his political opponents to foreign dictators, hoping to see if one will take them out for him? Anyway I believe moron is on the brink of committing treason. He clearly is not inhis right mind. He made more than a few foopas in Japan. Acting like a spoiled baby sitting wiht his arm crossed a pout on his face in public. Can't wait to see how he handles the protestors in London. I have a friend who lives there and she says the protest is planned and will be big. Her majety will do nothing to stop the protest. Can you just see moron and his vile offspring calling themselves US royalty? His behavior or misbehavior will not sit well with the Windsors. Megan has been vocal against him so I doubt you will see her in their company. Although I'm sure the Princess Ivanka and stepford momma will try to badger Megan into a photo op with the baby. Good luck with that. Charles will put anend to that.
Has anyone else seen this article from the Guardian that claims that Mueller had 3 indictments sitting on his desk for DT but ultimately decided not to use them? I am going to look around and see if and other sources confirm this.
On Mueller retiring, I threw cards on him last night and half of the cards were about him looking forward to retirement.
I was disappointed in the reading and decided not to post it until I could get more of a handle on what I was seeing. I had not read anything about him retiring prior to doing the reading, but the cards kept talking about it. I'd also seen retirement in earlier readings I've done on him. Him looking forward to a life of play, relaxing, enjoyment with family, with wife.
I know the man has worked hard all his life, but I am surprised to see him just walk away like this. He reads as a methodical soldier who believes in military service and in doing his duty to his superiors. I asked how he feels about Barr and he is friendly. I also saw he was blocked from testifying and does not relish the idea of publicly testifying. He hopes to keep it to a closed door meeting.
The man reads as steely in determination. No wavering. Solid. Possibly rigid. But solid in what? I connected somewhat to Cindy's reading of him. I still can't get him. I believe he believes Trump to be a bad man. But he focuses fully on the legal process not on whether someone is in fact guilty. More later.
It would make sense that he would focus on the process. Also, if you believe in the process, I would think you would believe it will work out in the end, that those who are guilty would likely be found out during the "process". I have heard he wants to retire. I believe he knows that he needs to have time to relax with is family. HIs family likely desires that time with him as well .
What specifically bothers you Jeanne about the reading? Is he really walking away or is there not much more for him to do under the given circumstances?
Also, Cindy, I also feel similar thoughts and perceive the situation in a like manner.
Does anyone else get the sense that Mueller, like Joe Biden, is somewhat naive about how deep the rot runs in the GOP? Biden uses his decades-long Beltway friendships with Republican figures to back up his claim that the GOP is "basically fine" and that the Trump phenomenon is a transient blip on the radar. Meanwhile, Mueller is leaning on an old school belief that "the process" will sort things out without realizing that the current administration is trying to take a sledgehammer to that very process.
@Baba: I'm somewhat skeptical of Woodward's claims that Mueller ever drew up obstruction of justice indictments against T. I get that Woodward is a respected author and all, but in the current political environment where things are moving fast and everyone has something to say, even respected authors are cutting corners when it comes to verifying their source.
Coyote,
I don't know whether it's naiveté or denial. "T won't get in," and he got in. "It can't happen here," and it's happening here. During the time leading up to the 2016 election, even Obama kept saying "I have faith in the American people." And I did love how Obama spoke to our higher angels. While it's true that Hillary won the popular vote, it's still pretty shocking that so many people voted for T.
Biden is holding on to a time when he could argue with the Reps, then make a deal and have dinner with them afterwards. Likeable Joe can't imagine that, deep down inside, that still isn't the case. We're not there anymore. And I really can't figure out Mueller. I've stopped trying.
I also think sometimes arrogance prevents us from recognizing the truth. Or maybe it's just the horror of it all. Denial can be foolishly comforting.
I just saw that Mueller is going to make a public statement today at 11am EST. Apparently, he will speak but not take any questions.
I am so tired of being disappointed. I don’t even know what to expect.
I agree Baba. I am really nervous about this news conference. Th eWH wouldn't allow it if it was going to be hurtful to the moron. Hopefully he will make a statement of intent that he will testify or that he is leaving the DOJ. Don't know but I agree I am so tired of being disappointed. Moron and his minions are pushing the envelope. His statements in Japan were borderline treason. What US president bad mouths a former vice-president to a hostile dictator much less sells weapons to a hostile regeme without the approval of the nation? Take bets some of the money for those weapons goes into the Crookfamily coffers.
I threw a few cards and did a quick reading and got the following results:
How does RM feel about making an announcement: does not like it, but will do his duty
Will he testify in public? He is torn and it will cost him friendships
Will justice be set in motion by what is happening today? Yes
How will we feel after his announcement? We will have to manage our expectations and be patient. Certain things have to happen before the ultimate outcome is set in motion.
Will this further justice under the circumstances? There is imbalance, impatience and lack of harmony. We have to be patient and strive towards restoring balance.
Will our democracy survive the current situation? Yes, all will be well
How does T feel about this? stressed, will lose money
I decided to make use of the nervous energy that the upcoming announcement caused and use this as practice.
Thanks for weighing in, baba. You have been a huge help during these hard times. Patience is the greatest virtue.
When I read Mueller I see he feels he’s done his job and is leaving us with the report. Cards on the AG are that he has urged the press conference and he feels it will help his position.
Yes I also see from my cards that the Orange Con hates when the subject is raised because he knows he’s a crook. So he is not happy about any reminders.
The information showing some of his crimes is in the report although when, if ever, we will see the unredacted version remains a mystery.
I hope Pelosi impeaches.
Well, so much for that.
Key points of Mueller's statement:
- Unconstitutional to indict a sitting president [it's actually DoJ policy, never established by SCOTUS].
- The report speaks for itself.
- Retiring.
- Will not testify, in fact does not want to discuss this publicly ever again.
- He reiterated that his office could not establish that the president didn't commit a crime, but that it wasn't his office's job to make that determination.
- Russia did interfere in 2016 elections but collusion could not be established.
Poor Bob just went from hero to zero. This leaves the mango and his minions open for an all out autocracy. Bob just demeanded in my eyes the House of Representatives. He is a true Republican soldier and Billy Barrs main man. History will not be kind to him.
That’s not how I interpreted what he said. He basically said, everything that you need to make this right is in the report. They didn’t choose their words lightly. He indicated that he did everything that he could given the constraints of the DOJ policies and that the only group with the power to act now is congress. He also openly reiterated that he did not clear the president. Congress needs to act now.
Baba, I think you're spot on. This will continue to unfold and develop into something devastating for Twitler. Maybe that's wishful thinking on my part but I don't think so.
Also, remember the judge-ordered release of the Flynn material.
I interpreted what he said differently too Baba. He clearly noted the constraints he faced, and the parameters he had to work within. He wasn't allowed by DOJ rules to indict a sitting president, and it is not fair to say someone committed a crime when they won't be able to defend themselves via due process. He is playing by the rules he was hired under. He clearly said "If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not committed a crime, we would have said so."
Yes, it is not in the constitution that you can't indict a sitting president, but he presented the DOJ stipulation that it is. He's working within the framework he was constrained by. He's now no longer a DOJ employee. He has no intention of speaking again on the matter as he's a private citizen. What is needed is in the report. However, I believe that if he were to be subpoenaed, he would comply, as it is in his nature to follow the law.
He's telling congress there's some there there, and they need to act, as it is out of his jurisdiction to do so. He's telling those that haven't read the report, that they need to. He's refuting their talking point that he said there was no collusion, no obstruction. It's a sound bite they can't erase and twist to their own meaning. Listen to how he says they indicted co-conspirators, because that was permissible under DOJ rules and regs.
I get the feeling that he's reticent to do more for a few reasons. First he'll be at the center of a firestorm, which is not how he envisioned his golden years. He was head of the FBI and had faded into the background before being asked to undertake this job. He wants peace that back-yet he stepped up to the mike to make himself heard-read the report-he didn't indict because he wasn't allowed, not because there was no case. He states in the report that no one is above the law. Second, he has had friends -like Barr- who have played fast and loose with the issues, and once everything is exposed, he'd rather not be the one swinging the axe. He knows that when the chips fall, there will be a number of his party that will not fare well. I think he'd prefer that Congress police their own instead of having to play the heavy himself.
He's not only telling congress that they need to take up the mantle, but that they need to pass laws so that no crook can be in the Oval Office, and no one has the right to shield them from the law. I get that the laws in place are there to protect the president, and for valid reasons. No president who has to make the decision to send troops into battle should be able to be charged with murder. This is one of the reasons such laws exist. However, these same laws shouldn't be used as loopholes for an individual who believes that it means they can do whatever they want and not have to worry about being charged with a crime. By clearly stating that his hands are tied -he's allowed to investigate as special council-but not indict- he's telling congress that it's time to close those loopholes legislatively. What good is it to have a new sheriff in town if they aren't allowed to charge criminals with crimes?
He could have closed the office, and resigned quietly (tho it still would have been in the news), but he's telling his fellow party members that they need to take note of what his work encompassed. He knows the Dems read it.
That’s not how I interpreted what he said. He basically said, everything that you need to make this right is in the report. They didn’t choose their words lightly. He indicated that he did everything that he could given the constraints of the DOJ policies and that the only group with the power to act now is congress. He also openly reiterated that he did not clear the president. Congress needs to act now.
Baba, agree with you. It's in the report. I read the report. It shows impeachable offenses. It doesn't show everything. It doesn't follow Trump's money, as far as I could tell. Buit it shows clear obstruction of justice by the President. I don't know how much clearer it could get. It also shows circumstantial evidence for coordination with the Russians. Perhaps Mueller felt he didn't have enough to indict on conspiracy. But then again, he never interviewed the president or his kids.
And this is the redacted version.
The Trump campaign met with the Russians. The Trump campaign shared polling data with the Russians. The Trump campaign members welcomed damaging information from the Russians on Clinton. They never interviewed Trump or his kids so the report is incomplete. They never studied his tax records and bank records so the report is incomplete. But there's enough in there to convict Trump of obstruction of justice.
Pelosi needs to move forward with impeachment. If she does not, I feel she will regret it. It won't be pretty for the dems whether they do or do not impeach, because the Rethugs will be out there firing in their ugly fake news way.
But the House needs to use the report the way it was meant to be used -- to bring charges forward. The Senate won't convict, but at least Trump's crimes will be in the news throughout the whole proceeding. FOX will block and spin it, but at least half the country will have the full story in the news.
It's not that Mueller is a zero. They made the decision that he isn't going to be the president's prosecutor. He took a limited view of his job, the view he was handed by the AG - that he was the investigator . And well, he's not the hero we need right now. We need Pelosi to do her job.
Here's the Mueller statement. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/us/politics/mueller-transcript.html
I was with a client when it was released so I am just reading it now. I thought he was speaking at 5 pm EST, but I think that was supposed to read 5 pm CET (Central European Time).
I just heard that because Mueller was hired as special counsel, not as special prosecutor, he saw his job strictly as an investigator. Just gather the facts, and bring those to Congress. However … Mueller’s special counsel investigation was able to bring about indictments of 34 individuals. Eight have pled guilty to or have been convicted of felonies, including five Trump associates and campaign officials. But of course, we’re constantly reminded of the DOJ rules -- ConDon can’t be touched. And even though there were indictments of T’s associates, there’s no proof of a conspiracy, according to Mueller.
And to make things even more swampy, what about ConDon’s kids?
I’m speechless. Pelosi had better get moving.