Russia Investigation Heating Up

[cwolff]

I wonder why they used no-knock raids though. Did they suspect someone would try to destroy evidence? And if so how did they know that? Is someone in Trump's inner circle wearing a wire? Certainly sounds like it.

They took everyone's cell phones, or at least said they were in what December? And they did that because of leaks but it could also have been for bugging devices. I remember some talking head or article that said it's stressful in the WH because people are assuming that someone is wearing a wire.

This tweet below is related to the difference between being appointed by trump (which this guy wasn't but it's being reported that way) and being put in the job by Sessions. Just linking it in case anyone on the thread's interested.
https://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/sta...22521063526400

[Androidpk]

Here's my risky bet. Trump has severe schizophrenia and he's wearing a wire and aiding Mueller and the FBI against his other self.

[Fortybox]

Here's my risky bet. Trump has severe schizophrenia and he's wearing a wire and aiding Mueller and the FBI against his other self.

Better logic than time4fun.

[Androidpk]

Alan Dershowitz on the Michael Cohen raid: “It’s a tactic generally used against organized crime, against very serious, very serious criminals and lawyers who are operating outside of the protections of the law.”

[cwolff]

Here's my risky bet. Trump has severe schizophrenia and he's wearing a wire and aiding Mueller and the FBI against his other self.

My risky bet is that Mueller goes for the jugular legally, t's crossed and i's dotted, and trump shuts it down through some method that we've not even considered. Something brazen that shocks the nation. Publishing dirt on his opponents, Folding FBI into ICE or some such thing. An action that's BOLD and nation changing. So bold it stuns, even shocks the country. His base cheers and goes nuts like they just won the superbowl. The enthusiasm from this crowd and strategic bashing of Mueller getting shut down push others to finally go to the trump side because he's a "winner". Then the investigation dies, Dept. of Justice people find themselves on trial and trump becomes President until he passes away. President for life. At this point, I think this could be more probable than Mueller putting him away.

I'm counting on an "October surprise" to change everything.

[time4fun]

My risky bet is that Mueller goes for the jugular legally, t's crossed and i's dotted, and trump shuts it down through some method that we've not even considered. Something brazen that shocks the nation. Publishing dirt on his opponents, Folding FBI into ICE or some such thing. An action that's BOLD and nation changing. So bold it stuns, even shocks the country. His base cheers and goes nuts like they just won the superbowl. The enthusiasm from this crowd and strategic bashing of Mueller getting shut down push others to finally go to the trump side because he's a "winner". Then the investigation dies, Dept. of Justice people find themselves on trial and trump becomes President until he passes away. President for life. At this point, I think this could be more probable than Mueller putting him away.

I'm counting on an "October surprise" to change everything.

Yeah we're getting closer and closer to some ham-fisted attempt to shut this down.

He won't go for Mueller directly (he actually can't). He'll pressure Sessions to either fire Rosenstein or resign. Session is going to have to decide if he has any patriotism left in him.

Technically I think Trump could rewrite the regulations to allow him to fire Mueller directly- or knowing him to allow someone else who will do as he says to fire Mueller directly. That would be the bold thing no one has thought of.

If Congress has any sense left in it- they'll pass legislation to protect Mueller ASAP. That won't stop Trump from trying to replace Sessions or Rosenstein (which would give a more subtle way to effectively kill the investigation), but it would send a message that Congress is taking this seriously.

Which, of course, is why it won't happen.

[Androidpk]

Firing Mueller isn't exactly black and white in regards to the grand jury. IIRC Preet Bharara has said the grand jury could continue the investigation on their own, a runaway jury. The only person who has the authority to disband the grand jury is the judge who started it in the first place.

[time4fun]

The thing I don't understand is why on earth Republicans would want to set a precedent that allows a sitting President to effectively kill any investigation into them or anyone they want to protect.

Even if you don't think Trump did anything wrong- what about the next President who's under investigation? What if they're not?

It's just so short-sighted and dangerous. And for what, exactly? What possible short-term gain is worth jeopardizing the democracy of the US?

[time4fun]

Firing Mueller isn't exactly black and white in regards to the grand jury. IIRC Preet Bharara has said the grand jury could continue the investigation on their own, a runaway jury. The only person who has the authority to disband the grand jury is the judge who started it in the first place.

Part of why I think he'll go for Rosenstein through Sessions. The only way to effectively kill this is to make sure DoJ leadership is in a position to quash it.

I literally can't believe I'm having to have this conversation in earnest right now. I used to think we were so resilient to this kind of corruption, but we're just really not.

[cwolff]

The thing I don't understand is why on earth Republicans would want to set a precedent that allows a sitting President to effectively kill any investigation into them or anyone they want to protect.

Even if you don't think Trump did anything wrong- what about the next President who's under investigation? What if they're not?

It's just so short-sighted and dangerous. And for what, exactly? What possible short-term gain is worth jeopardizing the democracy of the US?

This has been my conspiracy theory for a year. They act as if they will never be out of power. They're going scorched earth on the dems, or trying to. When I think of the way Russia interfered and the results I can believe that they literally changed votes in hacked machines, where it counted and the Government thinks it's such a bombshell they deny that. What's the word on this, "They hacked the machines, but they didn't do anything. Just hacked it" It's a comforting thought to think that even though we were penetrated by an enemy that same enemy chose not to press their advantage and we have time to fix it. What if they know they don't have to worry about honest elections? That would explain their short term self destructive behavior.