1ClassyLady 68F
3121 posts
3/24/2019 7:32 pm
The Mueller probe was money well spent


Republicans are gloating. Democrats are despondent. If there’s a common thread among reactions to the first glimpse into the Mueller report, it’s a sense that it was much ado about nothing.

But the Mueller investigation was necessary and well worth the cost, no matter what the outcome. Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller special counsel on May 17, 2017 with a specific purpose: To determine what role Russian interference played in the 2016 presidential election.

President Trump has repeatedly mischaracterized the Mueller inquiry as a “witch hunt.” Trump is wrong. The Russians clearly did attempt to influence the outcome of the election, preferring Trump over his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Americans deserve to know exactly what the Russians did, why they did it, how effective they were—and who worked with them.

Mueller’s headline finding is that Trump did not conspire with the Russians, according to a synopsis of Mueller’s findings provided by Attorney General William Barr. Assuming that’s true, all Americans—Republicans, Democrats, everybody—should be relieved. The US president did not work with a hostile foreign government to undermine the will of American voters.

Trump’s odd display of obsequiousness toward Russian president Vladimir Putin—at the same time Trump was seeking a business deal in Moscow—raised obvious and troubling questions. Was Trump offering Putin favorable treatment from the US government, in exchange for something that benefited Trump personally? Did Putin have something on him?

Without the Mueller investigation, we’d never know. But now we do know. Being able to close the book on that should end one of the scarier episodes in modern US history and reassure voters their government isn’t compromised in this one tangible way.

Muller also revealed that Trump’s former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, was a crook who abused the powers of his office the moment he set foot in it. Mueller exposed the deep corruption of Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, and Manafort’s longtime No. 2, Rick Gates. Mueller laid the groundwork for the conviction of Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who’s going to jail soon for fraud, tax evasion and campaign-finance felonies. Mueller explained how Russian operatives exploited gaps on Facebook and Twitter in an effort to manipulate American voters, create dissension and help get Trump elected. We don’t often get definitive, trustworthy outcomes in Washington. For once, we did.

Mueller may have uncovered much more we don’t yet know about. While Barr told Congress the Mueller probe found no conspiracy between Trump and Russia, he left the door open regarding other charges of wrongdoing. “While this report does not conclude that the president committed, a crime,” Barr wrote, “it also does not exonerate him.”

Trump is clearly complicit in the hush-money payments Cohen arranged to two women Trump had affairs with. If Cohen’s going to jail for those felonies, what about Trump? There are other lingering questions about Trump’s personal and business tax payments, his scammy charity and the profits his business might be making thanks to his position as president. It’s possible Mueller found incriminating evidence regarding Trump, but chose not to prosecute on his own, instead handing his findings to traditional channels in the Justice Department, particularly the US attorney for the Southern District of New York. If so, the whole affair is far from over.

Even with the all-clear on Russia, the Mueller probe has hurt Trump. Seven Trump associates have been convicted of crimes or indicted, and Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, has supposedly provided further leads. Trump can claim a win on Russia, but Mueller has exposed a griftiness at the core of Trump’s operation, and provided evidence to back it up.

The whole Mueller probe could end up costing around $35 million, at most. That might sound like a lot, but it’s just 0.6% of the $5.7 billion Trump wanted as a border wall down payment when he shut down the government late last year. Independent-counsel investigations into Bill Clinton in the 1990s cost roughly twice what Mueller’s probe will end up costing, and lasted for 8 years. On top of that, the Manafort conviction forced the forfeiture of $42 million in fines and penalties, generating a positive net return for the Mueller probe, if you run the numbers that way.



Honesty is the best policy.


1ClassyLady 68F
3289 posts
3/26/2019 1:18 am

Neither Robert Mueller nor William Barr said "Trump is totally exonerated from 'Obstruction of Justice' but Trump did."

Trump wants revenge and wants Republicans to investigate Obama, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, ... that involve in this Russia probe. Trump suspected Obama used the CCTV camera on his Trump Tower in New York before. Hillary's email deletion, James Comey's was about to read British secret agent, Christopher Steele wrote Trump dossier. Trump fired Comey. Mueller said "NOT enough evidence", but didn't say total exoneration on "obstruction of Justice".

I don't know how many pages of Mueller's report but the newly appointed Attorney General, William Barr, only wrote 4 pages in summary. Do you think four pages is enough to describe Mueller's full report?? I wonder Barr took the words out of content for Republican president Trump wants to hear??

Did Bob Mueller investigate Trump income tax returns? How the "hash money" of $130,000 been paid? Was it come from his package or campaign donation??

Today is the best day for Trump, not only "TOTALLY EXONERATION" but also the attorney of the porn star Stormy Daniels Michael Avenatti has been charged for extortion to Nike

Prosecutors in California and New York have filed federal charges against Michael Avenatti, the one time lawyer for ex porn star Stormy Daniels on Monday afternoon.

Federal attorneys contend Avenatti and a co-conspirator tried to extort $20 million from sneaker company Nike, threatening to release what he called on Twitter ‘a major high school/college basketball scandal’ allegedly perpetrated by the sportswear giant.

He was arrested in New York shortly after sending the tweet.

So, Trump is happy today.




Honesty is the best policy.


1ClassyLady 68F
3289 posts
3/25/2019 11:55 am

    Quoting  :

The next election day is 2nd Tuesday in November 2020. Meanwhile he has more than 1 and 1/2 years in White House or more. The inauguration day is 1/20/2021 for next president, whoever.



Honesty is the best policy.


1ClassyLady 68F
3289 posts
3/24/2019 8:37 pm

Mueller report: No collusion, but vindication remains elusive for President Donald Trump.

Attorney General, William Barr is appointed by President Trump in 2019, NOT elected by American people. Trump mocked, humiliated and fired Jeff Sessions then appointed William Barr to DOJ.

Mueller finds no proof of Trump collusion with Russia; AG Barr says evidence 'not sufficient' to prosecute.

Mueller did not find Trump campaign "conspired" with Russia. Mueller did not determine whether or not Trump obstructed justice.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation "did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities" during the 2016 campaign, he wrote in his final report. Attorney General William Barr summarized the report's findings in a letter to lawmakers Sunday.

President Trump declared victory shortly after the summary was released, claiming it was a "complete and total exoneration."



Honesty is the best policy.