Mattis must have taken him to the wood shed

Totally incompetent fool.

Bad ideas never really die in the Trump administration. Once the firestorm subsides, expect them to try a another approach with a somewhat lower profile. That's how they roll.

and others involved in passing the Magnitsky Act.

...and likely shook on it in the meeting.

But of course, he was really doing something even more insidious here.

Having those two offered up to Russian 'investigators' would complete Putin's self-obliging narrative that the issue here is really about Hillary's servers, and not about Russian hacking into our election.

Interesting, isn't it, how Trump's own ongoing narrative is practically the same. Given that he doesn't have the sense Putin gave him, it's not likely it's something he came up with himself.

Following through on that would have created a cultural flashpoint and opportunity for Dems to show real character and courage, not to mention get serious media attention. Imagine a standoff between Browder/McFaul/another Magnitsky person's supporters and authorities. Moreover, even if they were ultimately gotten to by Putin, they would become martyrs or "Mandela's". Not a winning move by Trump or the GOP.

That is what I would watch for.

Browder pointed out this morning that Putin would have to talk to Theresa May.

I am surprised Putin is this ignorant.

[link:https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/politics/senate-votes-republicans-russia/index.html|

How often these days will we get a unanimous vote out of this Senate?

How exactly does trump think this would go down?. Here's exactly what would happen: whoever drew the short straws to "interview" the Russian Intelligence officers would be required to go to Russia where they would certainly be at legitimate physical risk. These 12 Russians, who are already under indictment, would be represented by attorneys and would receive Miranda warnings....... Once they were read to them and asked if they'd be willing to be interviewed the only response would be "Nyet".

The other part of this insanity would be Putin requiring the U.S. to send McFaul TO Russia whereupon he would be disappeared. Even if you were to ignore such a little thing like diplomatic immunity and this was allowed to happen.......WE WOULD RECEIVE NO BENEFIT!. Those Russians will never set foot on US soil.

Another example of dipshit's great negotiating skills.