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

H2O Man

(73,336 posts)
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 05:19 PM Aug 2018

Don McGahn

The New York Times story about Don McGahn's cooperating with Mr. Mueller's investigation is outstanding news. On its surface, just the fact that McGahn believed that Trump was planning to try to pin all charges of obstruction of justice on him suggests that McGahn, too, sees connections between the Trump-Russian scandal and Watergate. The Nixon White House counsel, John Dean, recognized that the president was planning to blame him for the Watergate cover-up.

But it is far better than that. Though the media hasn't commented on this – yet – keep in mind that it was McGahn who told Trump not to issue the document of why Trump was firing James Comey. Trump and Stephen Miller had authored that original text, which would be replaced by the Sessions and Rosenstein papers.

Keep in mind that Mr. Mueller has a copy of the Trump-Miller paper. He has surely discussed it with McGahn. And asked him exactly why McGahn insisted it not be released, and instead had the baloney about Trump's being upset about how Mr. Comey treated Hillary Clinton.

I'd wager that Mr. Mueller will talk to McGahn about Trump's targeting Mr. Brennan and the others that he blames for investigating the Trump-Russian scandal.

Here is a Newsweek article:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/msn/don-mcgahn-gave-mueller-valuable-obstruction-info/ar-BBM6339



45 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Don McGahn (Original Post) H2O Man Aug 2018 OP
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Aug 2018 #1
Thank you! H2O Man Aug 2018 #12
Regarding Trump's emotional outbursts, Uncle Joe Aug 2018 #22
Trump probably likes being referred to as King Kong Native Aug 2018 #34
Oh yes malaise Aug 2018 #2
Have you seen H2O Man Aug 2018 #13
Some on MS malaise Aug 2018 #21
McGahn and Priebus PJMcK Aug 2018 #3
Great point! H2O Man Aug 2018 #15
(wink) PJMcK Aug 2018 #30
Zing! Excellent point! InAbLuEsTaTe Aug 2018 #29
Those guys aren't going to take a fall for Trump (n/t) PJMcK Aug 2018 #31
Yes this is excellent news coeur_de_lion Aug 2018 #4
Right! H2O Man Aug 2018 #17
The burglary was digital, the burglars were Russian and they were not caught in time. Marcuse Aug 2018 #44
McGahn is the lynch pin of the the entire affair. jaysunb Aug 2018 #5
And this is why it's so important that we prosecute the guilty even when it isn't politically meadowlander Aug 2018 #45
Wonder if trump tried or got McGahn to sign a NDA Nevilledog Aug 2018 #6
It wouldn't matter if he did, McGahn works for the US Government FakeNoose Aug 2018 #8
I readily agree the NDA would be worthless. Nevilledog Aug 2018 #10
It would be more evidence of Chump trying to obstruct justice. MoonRiver Aug 2018 #35
I think he actually thinks his tantrums are helping him NastyRiffraff Aug 2018 #40
Thanks! I stole it from somebody here, but can't remember who. MoonRiver Aug 2018 #42
True. Nevilledog Aug 2018 #41
Thank you. pwb Aug 2018 #7
K&R... spanone Aug 2018 #9
Hopeful K&R! n/t OneGrassRoot Aug 2018 #11
K&R 2naSalit Aug 2018 #14
Another K&R Duppers Aug 2018 #16
Yes! K&R mountain grammy Aug 2018 #18
The traitor is going around and telling everyone that he told him to cooperate............ turbinetree Aug 2018 #19
Is there one decent person...,. dawnie51 Aug 2018 #20
Yeah, I want to see all of them taken down. Trump, Pence, Kelly, the entire cesspool. nt Blue_true Aug 2018 #23
There is no honor among thieves. Exhibit 20481. GoCubsGo Aug 2018 #24
You're right he's a scumbag, but he's smarter than the rest FakeNoose Aug 2018 #33
Wonder if McGhan is mic'd up uponit7771 Aug 2018 #25
I predict a new word in our vocabulary DUgosh Aug 2018 #28
Great news... bagimin Aug 2018 #26
Excellent. K&R ooky Aug 2018 #27
Ruse... czarjak Aug 2018 #32
K&R berni_mccoy Aug 2018 #36
McGahn was Roger Stone's blocker at the FEC for some time pecosbob Aug 2018 #37
It is difficult to respect saidsimplesimon Aug 2018 #38
Do we KNOW that's what McGahn thought? Grasswire2 Aug 2018 #39
KR NT ProudProgressiveNow Aug 2018 #43

H2O Man

(73,336 posts)
12. Thank you!
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 07:21 PM
Aug 2018

I like that McGahn calls Trump "King Kong" behind his back, when Trump has emotional outbursts. I suspect that Mr. Mueller enjoyed hearing about exactly what causes these melt-downs.

Native

(5,935 posts)
34. Trump probably likes being referred to as King Kong
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 10:06 AM
Aug 2018

Simply because of the use of the word King. Closest he'll ever get to the real thing.

PJMcK

(21,923 posts)
3. McGahn and Priebus
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 05:33 PM
Aug 2018

Both of them told Robert Mueller that they informed Trump that Michael Flynn was under investigation by the FBI one day before Trump asked James Comey to let Flynn off the hook. Since Trump knew about the investigation, his actions the next day interfered with the FBI and constitute obstruction.

Mr. Mueller already knows the depth of Trump's guilt. He must be many months ahead of what we know from the press.

coeur_de_lion

(3,666 posts)
4. Yes this is excellent news
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 05:34 PM
Aug 2018

And very surprising to me anyway.

He doesn't want to end up like John Dean so he is singing like a bird.

I wish this would hurry and wrap up but I know it's a many headed serpent.

Like Watergate? No this is ever so much worse.

H2O Man

(73,336 posts)
17. Right!
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 07:25 PM
Aug 2018

McGahn met with investigators three times, for a total of about thirty hours. Thirty hours!

And you are correct: it is worse than Watergate.

Marcuse

(7,402 posts)
44. The burglary was digital, the burglars were Russian and they were not caught in time.
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 05:19 PM
Aug 2018

Vodkagate. A much greater impairment to American Democracy than was Watergate.

jaysunb

(11,856 posts)
5. McGahn is the lynch pin of the the entire affair.
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 05:41 PM
Aug 2018

Dumb Trump still hasn't figured out that McGahn is the lawyer for the Office of the Presidency and not Trumps personal attorney. This will be the nail that will end the virus that's infected the White House and country. Even the compliant Congress will not be able to look the other way.

I'm sure it's not lost on McGahn that John Dean did hard time along with 48 others.

As my Mother used to say, " you may get by, but you won't get away." I just worry about all the damage that will be done in the meantime.

meadowlander

(4,363 posts)
45. And this is why it's so important that we prosecute the guilty even when it isn't politically
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 05:32 PM
Aug 2018

expedient. Please take note, democrats who are already lining up to say "We need to move on" and "Our nation needs to heal."

Because in 20 years we want President Kanye West's White House Counsel to look back and say "you know, my predecessor pulled shit like this and ended up in jail for it... maybe I need to consider stepping up and acting with some integrity here."

If we had gone after criminal Bush enablers the way we should have, we wouldn't be wasting time debating whether or not Brett Kavanaugh should sit on the Supreme Court or a woman who destroyed evidence on the CIA's torture program (Gina Haspel) should ultimately head the CIA.

FakeNoose

(32,362 posts)
8. It wouldn't matter if he did, McGahn works for the US Government
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 06:12 PM
Aug 2018

...and not for Trump. If he signed an NDA (I doubt it) it's not worth the paper it's printed on.
Mr. McGahn already knows it too, I'm sure. He's a pretty smart lawyer and far smarter than Cheeto.

Nevilledog

(50,695 posts)
10. I readily agree the NDA would be worthless.
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 06:19 PM
Aug 2018

Apparently trump doesn't. Just a random thought and imagining how that conversation would go down.

MoonRiver

(36,926 posts)
35. It would be more evidence of Chump trying to obstruct justice.
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 10:37 AM
Aug 2018

The Idiot will never figure out that his outbursts and tantrums only hurt HIM.

NastyRiffraff

(12,448 posts)
40. I think he actually thinks his tantrums are helping him
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 01:12 PM
Aug 2018

Yes, he's that delusional.

BTW, I love your spinning Trump baby!

Nevilledog

(50,695 posts)
41. True.
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 01:17 PM
Aug 2018

I honestly believe he thinks NDA's are somehow foolproof. My guess is he's never been challenged on them before and he just cannot understand why they don't apply.

turbinetree

(24,635 posts)
19. The traitor is going around and telling everyone that he told him to cooperate............
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 07:42 PM
Aug 2018

don't think so:

http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/402497-trump-claims-he-instructed-mcgahn-to-cooperate-with-mueller


https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/18/17752056/don-mcgahn-white-house-counsel-trump-mueller


He has volunteered...................big fucking difference............traitor..............big fucking difference................your fucked......................just ask John Dean................


Traitor trump said this: he "allowed"....................they don't have a choice traitor

I allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn, and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel," he tweeted Saturday evening.



November 2018 cannot get here fast enough......................vote

dawnie51

(959 posts)
20. Is there one decent person...,.
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 07:59 PM
Aug 2018

in this entire saga? I think not. A collection of liars, grifters, self-serving hypocrites. I feel no warmth for McGahn; he is no friend to any of us, and has worked tirelessly to further Dump's agenda. He's attempting to save himself, while still participating daily in the felonious activities. Nasty, disgusting people.

GoCubsGo

(32,061 posts)
24. There is no honor among thieves. Exhibit 20481.
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 08:58 PM
Aug 2018

McGahn is as big a dirt bag as the rest of them. He is just covering his own ass here. But, if it helps to get rid of the scumbag traitor that currently occupies the White House, then so be it. It would be a small step toward redemption.

FakeNoose

(32,362 posts)
33. You're right he's a scumbag, but he's smarter than the rest
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 03:21 AM
Aug 2018

Nobody is calling McGahn a patriot, but it sure seems like he has steered clear of the Russians. He understands how to keep himself out of trouble, and he's trying to give good advice to Cheeto. Whether or not Cheeto is listening, eh, who knows?

saidsimplesimon

(7,888 posts)
38. It is difficult to respect
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 12:08 PM
Aug 2018

rumpies' sycophants who only stand up when he throws them under the bus. The ship is sailing toward criminal charges, with or without you.

Grasswire2

(13,564 posts)
39. Do we KNOW that's what McGahn thought?
Sun Aug 19, 2018, 12:22 PM
Aug 2018

Or is this what Maggie Haberman THINKS that's what McGahn thought? Do we have confirmation somehow?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Don McGahn