Support the Arctic Sea Ice Forum and Blog

Author Topic: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation  (Read 172451 times)

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #950 on: November 06, 2018, 11:14:06 PM »
The arrest and questioning of Dmitry Rybolovlev could prove to be bad news for Trump should Mueller link Trump's sale of New York and Florida properties to Rybolovlev to Russian money laundering activities:

Title: "Russian Billionaire Rybolovlev Questioned by Police in Monaco"

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-06/russian-billionaire-rybolovlev-questioned-by-police-in-monaco

Extract: "Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev was detained for questioning Tuesday at the request of a Monaco judge in relation to a probe into corruption and influence peddling, his attorneys said, confirming a report by French newspaper Le Monde."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

Martin Gisser

  • Guest
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #951 on: November 07, 2018, 12:55:20 AM »
Why do you keep on promoting this conspiracy theorist and anti-Democratic dope, Neven ?

Don't worry, it's not for you, Rob. It's for those who have ears to hear.
and want to hear shit

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #952 on: November 07, 2018, 05:09:10 PM »
Just for the record, 'Mueller has powerful new House allies':

Title: "Mueller has powerful new House allies as he bears down on Trump"

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/07/mueller-house-democratic-majority-970325

Extract: "House Democrats say they’re also ready to act as a backstop if Trump follows through on more than 18 months of pent-up angst and fires Mueller or tries to meddle with the special counsel’s work through a major shakeup at the Justice Department.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has already pledged to make sure Mueller’s “documentation is preserved” and the likely next House speaker also holds in her back pocket the threat of launching impeachment hearings against Trump if the president tries to oust Mueller or if the special counsel’s investigators ultimately uncover a smoking gun involving criminal behavior.

Democrats are even prepping a break-glass scenario in case there’s a Nixon-era Saturday Night Massacre during which Trump fires his current DOJ leadership and tries to shutter the Mueller probe in the process. If that happens, senior Democratic officials say Mueller would likely get an immediate summons to Capitol Hill for nationally televised testimony about his findings."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

Buddy

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3379
  • Go DUCKS!!
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 49
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #953 on: November 07, 2018, 05:38:40 PM »
So who is going to throw the FIRST, high-inside fastball brush off pitch .... Mueller or Donnie?  You know it’s coming soon ....

FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Tor Bejnar

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 4606
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 879
  • Likes Given: 826
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #954 on: November 07, 2018, 05:59:46 PM »
Unfortunately (as far as I'm concerned), the Ds can do very little until January 3 (beyond bluster), which gives President Trump a huge window to do (what I might consider to be) mischief.  I'm sort of surprised something hasn't happened already.
Arctic ice is healthy for children and other living things because "we cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice"

Buddy

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3379
  • Go DUCKS!!
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 49
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #955 on: November 07, 2018, 06:06:02 PM »
It’s coming.  He has no choice.  The last thing he wants is for his guilt to be televised day-after-day-after day.

He will have to slow or derail Mueller before the new Congress is seated.  The next stage of RussiaGate will start soon.
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3379
  • Go DUCKS!!
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 49
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #956 on: November 07, 2018, 08:53:01 PM »
Trump throws the first “high inside fastball” and cans Sessions.  More fireworks to come shortly I am sure.

Next two months will be UGLY.....
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

vox_mundi

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 10165
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 3510
  • Likes Given: 745
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #957 on: November 07, 2018, 09:04:40 PM »
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/nov/07/midterm-elections-democrats-trump-republicans-house-latest-live

Attorney general Jeff Sessions exits Trump admin
Trump just announced on Twitter that Sessions is being replaced by his chief of staff Matthew Whitaker, who will serve as the acting attorney general.

“We thank attorney general Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! “Trump said. “A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.”

“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

sidd

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6774
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1047
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #958 on: November 07, 2018, 10:17:26 PM »
Looks like Whitaker is in as AG.

“So I could see a scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced with a recess appointment and that attorney general doesn’t fire Bob Mueller, but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigation grinds to almost a halt,” Whitaker said during an interview with CNN in July 2017.

Asked if that would be to dwindle the special counsel’s resources, Whitaker responded, “Right.”

In an op-ed for CNN, Whitaker wrote: “Mueller has come up to a red line in the Russia 2016 election-meddling investigation that he is dangerously close to crossing.”


https://apnews.com/bf2d24bc798e42409d5ef66f484361da

sidd

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #959 on: November 07, 2018, 10:17:48 PM »
Trump has bypassed Deputy AG Rosenstein in favor of Mueller critic (& Trump loyalist) Whitaker as Acting AG:

Title: "Meet acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, a critic of the Mueller investigation"

https://www.axios.com/matthew-whitaker-doj-attorney-general-trump-2b6881af-4fab-4944-a434-a7ecfcb45a26.html

Extract: "President Trump has tapped Justice Department chief of staff Matthew Whitaker to serve as acting attorney general in the wake of Jeff Sessions' resignation until a permanent replacement is made.

Why it matters: The DOJ oversees Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential Russian collusion during the 2016 elections. Traditionally, the Senate-confirmed deputy attorney general, in this case Rod Rosenstein, would step in as acting Attorney General in the event of a top vacancy. Trump has instead chosen his own pick, which is likely to raise questions about whether the White House seeks to have Whitaker take a more hard-lined stance on the investigation. Whittaker has spoken unfavorably about the investigation, writing in a CNN op-ed last year that the investigation was "going too far" and risked becoming a "mere witch hunt" if Mueller began looking into Trump's finances.

The background: Whitaker was formerly a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa and ran for Senate in Iowa in 2014, but lost in a primary to Joni Ernst. He played college football at the University of Iowa, where he also played tight end and went to the Rose Bowl.

•   Whitaker is considered a Trump loyalist, and "has served as what one White House aide called a 'balm' on the relationship between the president and the Justice Department," the New York Times' Katie Benner and Maggie Haberman have reported.
•   White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has called Whitaker the White House's " eyes and ears" into the DOJ, per the Times.
•   He's been floated before — as a replacement for Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein and White House counsel Don McGahn.

What to watch: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has already called for Whitaker's recusal from the Mueller probe. We're likely to see more of this from Democrats who will soon gain the power of subpoena in the House, as they won the majority last night, and are expected to launch a slew of investigations of their own into Trump and Russia relations."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #960 on: November 07, 2018, 10:50:00 PM »
While Trump is under investigation, he should not be allowed to appoint the Acting AG (Whitaker) to be in charge of that investigation.  Protests are in order:

Title: "DOJ: Acting AG to take over oversight of Russia probe"

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/415591-acting-ag-to-take-over-oversight-of-russia-probe

Extract: "President Trump's pick to replace ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to take over oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed Wednesday.

"The Acting Attorney General is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice," DOJ spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said in a statement to The Hill.

The move means that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will no longer oversee the federal Russia investigation, which he has looked over since Sessions recused himself early last year due to his work on Trump's campaign."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

Buddy

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3379
  • Go DUCKS!!
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 49
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #961 on: November 07, 2018, 10:52:19 PM »
There will be a lot of people to keep an eye on in coming days and weeks ... but two I am watching closely are:

1). Lindsay Graham
2). General Mattis

Lindsay Graham is being politically blackmailed by Trump.  There is something that Trump is holding over Graham to cause such a shift in Graham’s stance.  A “good crook” gets people involved that he can control.  Some people can be controlled via greed, some people because they have no spine, and some people have to be blackmailed.  Graham is in that latter category.

Mattis:  The only person in the administration with ethics.  What is Mattis going to do.  Trump has to know he can’t trust Mattis to be corrupt like he can with others around Trump.  How/when does Mattis leave office?  Under what conditions?  Mattis knows what Trump is doing .... now, what is he going to do about it?  Mattis has loyalty to COUNTRY ... not to Trump ... and Trump knows that.

Pressure is now on Donnie BIG TIME ....
« Last Edit: November 08, 2018, 12:11:27 AM by Buddy »
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #962 on: November 07, 2018, 11:37:34 PM »
Did Trump put Whitaker in charge of the Mueller investigation now in order to try to protect Don Jr.?  If so that is illegal obstruction of justice:

Title: "Donald Trump Jr. Expecting to Be Indicted by Mueller Soon"

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/donald-trump-jr-expecting-to-be-indicted-by-mueller-soon.html

Extract: "Politico drops the news this morning that Trump Jr. “has told friends in recent weeks that he believes he could be indicted.”"
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #963 on: November 08, 2018, 04:17:32 PM »
As one of the top priorities of psychopaths is to minimize the risk of detection, and now that Trump has pushed aside both Sessions and Rosenstein within a three hour window; I suspect 'The Donald' will slow down the pace of his modern equivalent of Nixon's 'Saturday Night Massacre', by instructing Whitaker to order Mueller to provide Whitaker with a thorough written briefing of all aspects of Mueller's investigation.  Then Whitaker may be ordered to pass this information covertly on to Trump's legal team so that they can: a) hedge their responses to Mueller's questions; b) sign mutual legal defense agreements with any key co-conspirators so that they can share this intelligence; and c) can provide guidance back to Whitaker as to how to effectively sideline Mueller's continuing investigation.  Then when Whitaker's actions to sideline Mueller put him at sufficient risk of legal charges of obstruction of justice, Trump can nominate Whitaker's permanent replacement and push his approval through the GOP controlled Senate.
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #964 on: November 08, 2018, 04:48:06 PM »
Apparently, GOP voters like leaders who say one thing and then do another:

Title: "‘Coward’ Lindsey Graham Called Out For Empty Vow To Unleash ‘Holy Hell’ On Trump"

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lindsey-graham-donald-trump-jeff-sessions-holy-hell_us_5be3f53fe4b0e8438893e219

Extract: "The South Carolina senator once warned the president not to fire Jeff Sessions. Now, he’s singing a different tune.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) once vowed that there would be “holy hell to pay” if President Donald Trump ever fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Yet when Sessions got the boot on Wednesday ― his letter said he resigned at the president’s request ― Graham offered a different message.

“I look forward to working with President Trump to find a confirmable, worthy successor so that we can start a new chapter at the Department of Justice and deal with both the opportunities and challenges our nation faces,” he said in a statement online."
« Last Edit: November 08, 2018, 05:59:45 PM by AbruptSLR »
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #965 on: November 08, 2018, 06:00:08 PM »
While citing a number of possible ways that Whitaker may act to disrupt the Mueller investigation, the linked op/ed piece nots that Whitaker could simply rescind the DOJ regulation under which Mueller was appointed:

Title: "Sessions’s replacement can destroy Mueller probe — without having to fire anyone"

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/415665-sessions-replacement-can-destroy-mueller-probe-without-having-to-fire

Extract: "The solicitor general, Robert Bork, finally agreed to do Nixon’s bidding. This prompted a political backlash, as well as a court decision declaring the firing unlawful. Months later, a Democrat-controlled Congress filed articles of impeachment. Nixon resigned before the case for impeachment went to trial in the Senate.

Interestingly, Bork did another thing after the firing: He rescinded the Department of Justice regulations establishing the procedures for appointing a special prosecutor in the first place.

What does all of this mean for Whitaker’s power over Mueller going forward? Like the law that governed the Nixon special prosecutor’s appointment, if Whitaker rescinded the regulation altogether, there would be no “higher” law to stop him.

It’s not readily evident whether in that event Mueller’s ongoing investigation would evaporate along with it — or whether the existing probe would be “grandfathered in” somehow. But it doesn’t really matter. If things get to that point, team Trump will have surely figured out a way to put a final nail in the coffin."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

SteveMDFP

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2476
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 583
  • Likes Given: 42
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #966 on: November 08, 2018, 06:05:52 PM »
... I suspect 'The Donald' will slow down the pace of his modern equivalent of Nixon's 'Saturday Night Massacre', by instructing Whitaker to order Mueller to provide Whitaker with a thorough written briefing of all aspects of Mueller's investigation.  Then Whitaker may be ordered to pass this information covertly on to Trump's legal team so that they can: a) hedge their responses to Mueller's questions; b) sign mutual legal defense agreements with any key co-conspirators so that they can share this intelligence; and c) can provide guidance back to Whitaker as to how to effectively sideline Mueller's continuing investigation.  Then when Whitaker's actions to sideline Mueller put him at sufficient risk of legal charges of obstruction of justice, Trump can nominate Whitaker's permanent replacement and push his approval through the GOP controlled Senate.

Something like this may well be Trump's plan.  I'm skeptical that Whitaker would be this much of a patsy.  This course of action sounds like plain obstruction of justice.  He's surely aware that past Attorneys General have served time in prison for obstruction.  More likely, Whitaker would just scale back resources available to Mueller.

It may make little difference now.  Mueller has massive piles of information collected, and his office has recently dismissed some of his hired attorneys--likely for completion of work at hand.

Note that technically, Mueller's grand jury(ies) don't answer to Mueller, he answers to them.  A grand jury can issue indictments and subpoenas regardless of Whitaker's wishes.  They just need to be a little gutsy to do this.  I would surmise that Mueller has educated them to be gutsy in their decisions, in preparation for our current situation.

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #967 on: November 08, 2018, 06:41:10 PM »
Something like this may well be Trump's plan.  I'm skeptical that Whitaker would be this much of a patsy.  This course of action sounds like plain obstruction of justice.  He's surely aware that past Attorneys General have served time in prison for obstruction.  More likely, Whitaker would just scale back resources available to Mueller.

It may make little difference now.  Mueller has massive piles of information collected, and his office has recently dismissed some of his hired attorneys--likely for completion of work at hand.

Note that technically, Mueller's grand jury(ies) don't answer to Mueller, he answers to them.  A grand jury can issue indictments and subpoenas regardless of Whitaker's wishes.  They just need to be a little gutsy to do this.  I would surmise that Mueller has educated them to be gutsy in their decisions, in preparation for our current situation.

While I certainly hope that you are correct, it would be difficult to indict Whitaker for the covert transmission of information to Team Trump, if no one can produce evidence of such a transmission.
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #968 on: November 08, 2018, 08:39:51 PM »
Stone may be a key part of any conspiracy charges:

Title: "Trump reviewing his answers to Mueller as he changes who oversees the Russia investigation"

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/08/politics/trump-reviewing-answers-mueller/index.html

Extract: "As recently as a month ago, Mueller asked Trump's lawyers to produce call and visitor logs related to Stone from Trump Tower in New York, according to a source briefed on the matter. The request at this late stage of the investigation came as something of a surprise to lawyers involved, given that the Mueller team has been focused for months on Stone and his activities before the 2016 election.

The President and his lawyers have been aiming to return answers to Mueller's questions later this month, according to one source familiar with the matter. No final decision on an in-person interview has been made."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #969 on: November 08, 2018, 09:12:56 PM »
The 2018 blue wave has convinced House Democrats that their base expect them to put up a good fight against Team Trump's shenanigans, and Nancy Pelosi isn't wasting any time in getting their battle plan in order.  I also note that America loves a fighter, and I believe that that is exactly the game face that the 'Team House Democrats' are going to show:

Title: "Pelosi schedules call with Dems on Sessions firing"

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/08/pelosi-call-sessions-firing-976566

Extract: "House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday scheduled an emergency conference call with her caucus to discuss President Donald Trump’s firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, underscoring Democrats’ concern with a move that will likely consume their attention when they take power in January.

Pelosi has invited the incoming chairmen of investigatory committees to present to Democratic incumbents as well as newly-elected candidates on Thursday afternoon. It’s an effort to get everyone on the same page and lay out what lawmakers know and don’t know, according to a source familiar with the plans for the phone call.

House Democrats immediately called for Whitaker to recuse himself, something the Washington Post reported he would not do.

Incoming House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson will brief members on the call."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #970 on: November 09, 2018, 11:43:24 PM »
As a reminder, Cohn has already pleaded guilty for these payments, and it appears that Trump was a complicit in these criminal acts:

Title: "Trump Personally Facilitated Hush Money Payments To Stormy Daniels And Karen McDougal: WSJ"

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-wsj-payments-stormy-daniels-karen-mcdougal_us_5be5d3a4e4b0769d24cce81c

Extract: "In October 2016, when discussing making a payment to Daniels, Trump told his then-attorney Michael Cohen to “get it done.”"


Edit, see also:

Title: "Trump involved in 'nearly every step' of hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal: WSJ"

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/09/trump-involved-in-nearly-every-step-of-hush-money-payments-to-stormy-daniels-and-karen-mcdougal-wsj.html

Extract: "The newspaper, citing dozens of interviews and documents, also reports that Trump may have violated federal campaign-finance laws through his participation in the deals."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #971 on: November 10, 2018, 12:44:11 AM »
It is conceivable that the FBI could name Whitaker as a co-defendant in the possible criminal charges being investigated for this case:

Title: "FBI investigating Florida company Trump's acting AG was involved in: report"

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/416014-fbi-investigating-florida-company-trumps-acting-ag-was-involved-in?__twitter_impression=true

Extract: "The FBI is reportedly conducting a criminal investigation into a company accused by the federal government of scamming aspiring inventors while new acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker served on its advisory board.

The Journal noted that the FTC’s action against the firm was a civil proceeding and that an FBI investigation indicates authorities may be looking into possible criminal charges."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

sidd

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6774
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1047
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #972 on: November 10, 2018, 12:54:00 AM »
More clarity coming in Meller case: Judge orders plaintiffs and defendants to brief on effect of Sessions replacement

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/09/mueller-sessions-whitaker-doj-shakeup-979657

sidd

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #973 on: November 10, 2018, 05:37:00 PM »
I encourage the Senate Democrats to file a lawsuit over Trump's appoint of Whitaker as the Acting AG:

Title: "Senate Democrats weigh lawsuit over Trump Justice Department appointment"

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia/senate-democrats-weigh-lawsuit-over-trump-justice-department-appointment-idUSKCN1NE1QJ

Extract: "U.S. Senate Democrats are considering legal action over President Donald Trump’s appointment of a new acting attorney general, congressional sources said on Friday, as some outside experts called the move unconstitutional."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #974 on: November 10, 2018, 05:45:48 PM »
With such evidence, it seems to me that the Senate Democrats would have a good case in any lawsuit that they filed that Trump's appointment of Whitaker as the Acting AG was indeed unconstitutional:

Title: "Exclusive: Trump loyalist Matthew Whitaker was counseling the White House on investigating Clinton"

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/11/9/18080656/matthew-whitaker-trump-hillary-clinton-sessions-attorney-general

Extract: "Matthew Whitaker, whom President Donald Trump named as his acting attorney general on Wednesday, privately provided advice to the president last year on how the White House might be able to pressure the Justice Department to investigate the president’s political adversaries, Vox has learned."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #975 on: November 10, 2018, 07:50:14 PM »
The linked NYT article provides several reasons that the Senate Democrats should file a lawsuit challenging Trump's appointment of Whitaker as Acting AG:

Title: "Matthew Whitaker: An Attack Dog With Ambition Beyond Protecting Trump"

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/matthew-whitaker-an-attack-dog-with-ambition-beyond-protecting-trump/ar-BBPxhJ5?ocid=spartandhp

Extract: "President Trump first noticed Matthew G. Whitaker on CNN in the summer of 2017 and liked what he saw — a partisan defender who insisted there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. So that July, the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, interviewed Mr. Whitaker about joining the president’s team as a legal attack dog against the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III.

At that point, the White House passed, leaving Mr. Whitaker, 49, to continue his media tour, writing on CNN’s website that Mr. Mueller’s investigation — which he had once called “crazy” — had gone too far.

Fifteen months later, the attack dog is in charge. With little ceremony on Wednesday, Mr. Trump ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions and put Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Sessions’s chief of staff, in charge of the Justice Department — and Mr. Mueller’s Russia investigation."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

TerryM

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6002
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #976 on: November 10, 2018, 11:11:52 PM »
Such legal actions would of course be decided at the level of the Supreme Court, a court that now has a broad right wing majority.


Expecting judicial support from the court as it now stands is beyond foolish, and with Justice Ginsburg hospitalized, the failure of the much heralded "Blue Wave" - "Blue Tsunami" may be felt for many decades.


Terry

SteveMDFP

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2476
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 583
  • Likes Given: 42
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #977 on: November 10, 2018, 11:34:16 PM »
Such legal actions would of course be decided at the level of the Supreme Court, a court that now has a broad right wing majority.


Expecting judicial support from the court as it now stands is beyond foolish, and with Justice Ginsburg hospitalized, the failure of the much heralded "Blue Wave" - "Blue Tsunami" may be felt for many decades.


Terry

I'm not so sure that conservative justices would automatically approve Whitaker's appointment.  Depends on whether these "conservatives" are principled, or are partisan whores.  See:

"Some—including Justice Clarence Thomas—have argued that an acting principal officer must be appointed in conformance with the Appointments Clause, i.e., by and with the advice and consent of the Senate: “Appointing principal officers under the FVRA ... raises grave constitutional concerns because the Appointments Clause forbids the President to appoint principal officers without the advice and consent of the Senate.”

Matthew Whitaker's Appointment as Acting Attorney General: Three Lingering Questions
https://www.lawfareblog.com/matthew-whitakers-appointment-acting-attorney-general-three-lingering-questions

Maybe Justice Thomas has such concerns only when a Democratic President does the appointing.  Maybe he's actually principled and non-partisan in his opinion.   We may soon find out.

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #978 on: November 11, 2018, 03:23:32 AM »
...
I'm not so sure that conservative justices would automatically approve Whitaker's appointment.  Depends on whether these "conservatives" are principled, or are partisan whores.
...

SteveMDFP,

The linked Slate article cites many reasons that make me believe that you are correct and that the Senate Democrats would win if the file a lawsuit to get Whitaker removed as the Acting AG:

Title: "Matthew Whitaker’s Appointment as Acting Attorney General Is Illegal"

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/11/matthew-whitaker-jeff-sessions-replacement-illegal.html

Extract: "As Thomas wrote in 2017, the judiciary cannot ignore the law’s “check on executive power for the sake of administrative convenience or efficiency.” If Whitaker can’t legally serve as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government, it’s the duty of the courts to toss him out."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #979 on: November 11, 2018, 04:43:05 PM »
The linked article provides still more evidence that Acting AG Whitaker is little more than an alt-right tool, who should be removed (by the courts) from his current responsibility for making sure that federal laws are not violated:

Title: "Whitaker said he supports state's rights to nullify federal law"

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/09/politics/matthew-whitaker-nullification/index.html

Extract: "Matthew Whitaker, the new acting attorney general, has said that states have the right to nullify federal law, but that they need the political courage to do so."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #980 on: November 11, 2018, 11:39:50 PM »
When the Democrats take control of the House the first week in January 2019, Trump will be held accountable for such violations of the campaign finance law:

Title: "An Open-and-Shut Violation of Campaign-Finance Law"

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/did-trumps-deal-ami-break-campaign-finance-laws/575569/

Extract: "The relevant law is favorable to candidates.  But it appears Trump still managed to violate it".

“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

litesong

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 395
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 20
  • Likes Given: 33
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #981 on: November 12, 2018, 04:47:51 AM »
The arrest and questioning of Dmitry Rybolovlev could prove to be bad news for Trump should Mueller link Trump's sale of New York and Florida properties to Rybolovlev to Russian money laundering activities:
Yes, yes. Rachael Maddow showed the details of "don'T rump", wilbur ross, deutsche bank, bank of cyprus, putin & putin's billionaires, ALL--- "gang of thieves", beginning February 2017. With the 2019 democrat-controlled House Investigations, all this will be known "officially". Maddow's reports let everyone know...... 'cept fer "don'T rump" re-pubic-lick-uns.

AbruptSLR

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 19703
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 2268
  • Likes Given: 286
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #982 on: November 12, 2018, 07:49:40 PM »
Hopefully, Whitaker will learn from the long string of patsy's that Trump has thrown under the bus; and restrain himself from interfering in the Mueller Investigation:

Title: "“This Could Tarnish Whitaker for Life”: How Far Will Matthew Whitaker Go to Prove His Loyalty?"

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/11/how-far-will-matthew-whitaker-go-to-prove-his-loyalty#~o

Extract: "Justice Department ethics laws are toothless, and a constitutional challenge would be a nightmare. In the meantime, sources say, the most powerful force preventing Matthew Whitaker from blowing up the Mueller probe may be Whitaker himself."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

Neven

  • Administrator
  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 9470
    • View Profile
    • Arctic Sea Ice Blog
  • Liked: 1333
  • Likes Given: 617
Re: Mueller Investigation & Cohen Investigation
« Reply #983 on: November 12, 2018, 09:21:41 PM »
To be continued here.
The enemy is within
Don't confuse me with him

E. Smith