Today's Episode: Trump Vs. Obstruction
I'm really not sure what the legal requirements are for a charge of "obstruction of justice," may be, but publicly declaring an ongoing investigation by the Justice Department to be a politically motivated witch hunt, and calling for an end to said investigation when you are the POTUS. Still, this does get a little weird, since there is a question as to what a government official can say as a Private Citizen, and what should be taken as being said with the authority (and potential menace) of an official government position. It is certainly my impression that traditionally public officials seek to avoid commentary that may get close to that line. Trump however is not beholden to such traditions. So apparently amongst Trump's tweets this morning was this one.
This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further. Bob Mueller is totally conflicted, and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA!
Giuliani later went on record as saying that this tweet was one where Trump was expressing his opinions, rather than giving specific directions to Sessions.
ABC is reporting that Trump got riled up because Mueller wants to ask Trump about obstruction of justice. Trump has been claiming that there has been no collusion with Russia during his campaign, and even gone as far as saying that even if there were, collusion is not a crime. He has made some denials about obstruction of justice in the past, but has also been on the record as saying he got rid of the head of the F.B.I. because the F.B.I. head was "crazy, a real nut job." He added "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off." Those comments were made the day after the firing when Trump was meeting with Russian officials.
Giuliani has expressed that if Mueller wants to have an on the record interview with Trump, there can be no questions regarding obstruction of justice.
So, is declaring the investigation a witch hunt, and that Jeff Sessions should stop it an act of obstruction? The fun part here is that it seems pretty clear that even if it is, there isn't going to be a criminal case, pretty much reinforcing the reality that the President is "above the law." Nixon tried that defense himself, but back then it didn't look like it was going to fly, so he resigned. Today though, well we shall see what the Mueller report says (assuming that the investigation isn't killed before a report is completed).
- Trump Charity lawsuit by New York Attorney General
- FBI investigation (it keeps being called a Russian Collusion investigation, but I'm pretty sure more to it than that at this point)
- North Korea
- The Space Force
- The Border Wall
- Alien Children Detention/family separation
- Presidential Pardons
- Civil War Monuments
- Muslim Travel Ban
- China Tariffs/Trade
- Canada-G7 Tariffs/Trade
- NAFTA
- Puerto Rico response
- Military Parade in Washington
- World Trade Organization
- Covfefe Syndrome
- NATO
- Russia/Putin relationship
Giuliani still there as Lawyer
John F. Kelly still there as Chief of Staff - 6-29-2018 Trump says "Things Happen."
Jeff Sessions still there as Attorney General
Sarah Huckabee Sanders still there as Press Secretary, rumors continue to be denied.
Mike Pompeo - Secretary of State
John Bolton - National Security Advisor
Marc Short - White House Legislative Affairs Director - no denial of plans regarding his departure prior to the 2018 midterms.
Kirstjen Nielsen - Homeland Security Secretary
Joe Hagin - White House deputy Chief of Staff is resigning.- reported June 19th
Scott Pruitt - EPA Director - Resigned 7-5-2018
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