Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Nevermypresident

(781 posts)
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 06:30 PM Jan 2019

Well, well, well... So I was NOT crazy to think something didn't smell right.

I wrote the following late Saturday night, after the WaPo story came out re: BuzzFeed article:
snipped

"Am I crazy to think the possibility exists that Whitiker "encouraged" Rosenstein to call Mueller's team to ensure a response/denial would be made public by the Special Counsel's Office, refuting BuzzFeed's reporting? (Of note: I remember Comey stating (before he was fired) in an open congressional hearing that some reporting about the investigation had not been accurate - but I don't remember him releasing a statement to the press saying any particular article was not accurate. In fact, I believe he made the point that he couldn't do that because then those stories he didn't refute would be taken as gospel, and he didn't want to set that precedent.)

With my tinfoil hat securely on my head, I do wonder if this unusual step (Rosenstein's office calling Mueller yesterday "to inquire if the special counsel planned any kind of a response" was because of the explosive effect this BuzzFeed bombshell story had and the amped up dialogue about impeachment? This Washington Post story implies that this Rosenstein phone call to Mueller wasn't preceded by earlier calls by Rosenstein asking Mueller if the story was accurate or not."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2248310

NOW:




And




And





WTF?!? What's the REAL story and who's pulling who's strings?!! The stench is even stronger today...


11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

LEW

(1,072 posts)
1. I like you had second and third thoughts
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 06:38 PM
Jan 2019

about this....I for one, do not find anything wrong or out of bounds with your thinking..

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
2. Crux of BuzzFeed story was trump told Cohen to lie. IMO, Mueller said that they have no evidence of
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 07:00 PM
Jan 2019

that. His office said it bluntly, "Not Accurate."

Yeah, I know, some folks think "not accurate" could mean the date was wrong, the federal office (SDNY, not Mueller) was wrong, Mueller's team didn't leak anything, etc. But I think Mueller is saying, Nope we don't have evidence of trump telling Cohen to lie. For that reason, the BF story is wrong on the essential fact.

If Mueller had evidence trump told Cohen to lie, I think Mueller would have told Giuliani, Rosenstein, Whitaker, trump, or whoever approached his office, to pound sand.

If Mueller's office came up with some "not accurate" statement to appease trump, Whitaker, etc. -- when they DO HAVE evidence trump told Cohen to lie -- then, this whole investigation is a scam and will likely end like Fitzmas.

I don't think trump had to tell Cohen to lie, Cohen was a long-time fixer and knew what to do. It may well be that trump's kids told Cohen to lie. But, I really don't think Mueller has any evidence that trump said "lie" based upon the statement. That's why he said "Not Accurate."

Now, there is a whole lot of other stuff they have on trump, at least I hope so. Won't be happy with a few folks like Manafort and Cohen doing time if trump or, at a minimum, some family members, do not.

Question now is, will Mueller take forever to issue a report such that trump finishes out this term. Or will something happen to remove trump before he can do more damage. To me, it's looking more like trump will finish out his term, come up with some excuse not to run again, and will never do a day behind bars because there is no locality in this country where a jury could be impaneled without a few white winger trumpsters who think it's their patriotic duty to vote for acquittal.

The BF story, and the quick reaction to remove trump from office because of it (I'm guilty too), didn't help the situation. It's time for Mueller to issue a preliminary report, turn it over to the House, and bring this thing to a head -- whether it directly implicates trump in something that will cause some GOPer Senators to approach trump to resign, or whether it gives trump enough cover to claim he did nothing wrong.

It's time to get this over with, however it goes -- trump run out on a rail, or trump finishing his term saying Mueller didn't find anything of substance. Too much needs to be done in this country.

Pepsidog

(6,252 posts)
8. Larry O'Donnel was right,Dems have House now so can't go off 1/2 cocked and run with BF story unless
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 08:55 PM
Jan 2019

it was 100% correct. To much at stake, so Mueller issued statement that BF was off somehow. Let’s make sure we know for sure before making any impetuous moves. Hard to believe Mueller investigation isn’t anything but pure. Mueller is one of our last lines of defense. 2020 is the absolute last line of defense. We lose them our republic is gone.

Scruffy1

(3,239 posts)
10. Except he didn't have to tell Cohen to lie to be guilty.
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 09:24 PM
Jan 2019

If he was in the loop and knew it was lie its a conspiracy. I think Muellar was just not give the public the idea that Trump had to actually be caught gving instructions to be guilty. It would be raising the bar for conviction. The "public" doesn't know squat about legalese. We all the time see that someone is pronouced "innocent" in the press. There is no such thing in law. It's called not guilty. I think Mueller also wanted to show his organization is not leaking. He never said the conclusion was wrong just the evidence used. I'm thinking that they've got Jr. cold and want to run up conspiracy on the dad. We won't really know for sure until the report is issued and even then it will be a fight to get the information from Barr. He is going to delay and obfuscate for as long as possible in order to give time for a resignation deal because GOP does not want an impeachment showcase that might expose matters beyond the Special prosecuters mandate like hacking voting electronic voting. The Russian interference is just the tip of the iceberg. This is why I'm strongly for impeachment. If the house impeaches there has to be trial in the Senate and its an open process that could lead to many other crimes besides the Russian investigation.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
11. That conspiracy stuff won't carry much weight in this Senate or among white wing voters. In fact,
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 10:16 PM
Jan 2019

I doubt they would even care if trump did tell Cohen to lie, and it's on tape. No jury will ever convict trump.

If Mueller wanted to protect his organization from leaking charges, he would have responded to some of the other "according to sources close to the investigation" reports.

I would like to see the Senate trial; but unless something happens soon, it won't happen before 2020. And unless there's more than conjecture about some big conspiracy, it might hurt Democrats.

Whatever, it is time to throw it all out and see where it lands.

Nevermypresident

(781 posts)
3. Botton Line: is trump, his attorneys, aides, etc.interfering with
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 07:10 PM
Jan 2019

Mueller's investigation and/or public perception of it? Is Whitaker doing what we feared?

lanlady

(7,133 posts)
4. I had my doubts too because
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 07:16 PM
Jan 2019

not even the Trump White House is dumb enough to suborn perjury and leave an email trail.

Separation

(1,975 posts)
5. Ill pass the tinfoil along with ya.
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 07:19 PM
Jan 2019

People need to realize that Mueller falls under the DOJ, and trump just appointed a new yes man to lead the office. The days to protect Mueller have long since sailed. Now that Trump has his yes man, they control what it being said. Once they control the messaging, they control everything.


People are still treating Trump like he is a politician. He is not and never was one. He has always been a shady ass businessman that has used his money and power to get what he wants. Ive been watching a series on PBS about this, Stalin, Sadam Hussein, etc. all started their careers as criminals. Unless people start treating Trump as one of these historic leaders, we will have an interesting History subject in 60-70 years from now.

helpisontheway

(5,004 posts)
9. Exactly why I don't trust Mueller..If he was gonna issue a statement then it should have been clear
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 09:03 PM
Jan 2019

wording. Mueller met with Trump for a job after he was elected. He wanted to work for that an after he saw exactly who Trump was during the campaign. I do not trust any Republicans.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Well, well, well... So I ...