Special counsel is investigating Trump for possible obstruction of justice, officials say

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice, officials said.

The move by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III to investigate Trump’s own conduct marks a major turning point in the nearly year-old FBI investigation, which until recently focused on Russian meddling during the presidential campaign and on whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Investigators have also been looking for any evidence of possible financial crimes among Trump associates, officials said.

Trump had received private assurances from former FBI Director James B. Comey starting in January that he was not personally under investigation. Officials say that changed shortly after Comey’s firing.

Five people briefed on the requests, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Adm. Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Rogers’ recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett, agreed to be interviewed by Mueller’s investigators as early as this week. The investigation has been cloaked in secrecy and it’s unclear how many others have been questioned by the FBI.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/special-counsel-is-investigating-trump-for-possible-obstruction-of-justice/2017/06/14/9ce02506-5131-11e7-b064-828ba60fbb98_story.html

---

Happy birthday!

[JenniferJuniper]

1. Guess the moron never heard about the coverup

being worse than the crime.

Of course, that question remains. What is he trying to cover up exactly?

[marylandblue]

2. "financial crimes among Trump associates"

Seems to say it all.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. There's plenty of that

In fact I think most of what was done was for financial reasons and the "tip" of the election their way was to obtain an in-kind "favor" (lifting of sanctions) to facilitate the money transfers.

[Hekate]

22. In this case the crime is worse than the coverup: an electronic Pearl Harbor & 9-11 rolled into one

Oh, they'll get him for money laundering. That they will. And I hope he gets a cell near Bernie Madoff.

I'm still amazed at how prescient my doctor was last November when I had my physical and was stll in shock. He said with absolute certainty that Trump would be impeached for money laundering, but I just couldn't see it at the time.

I do hope and pray that the perps in the hijacking of the election are rounded up, and our democracy made whole.

[L. Coyote]

4. Zero surprise there.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Keith was on it before "it" was "it"!

[herding cats]

6. I said it here on DU before Keith.

Right after the hearing it was obvious.

[L. Coyote]

7. I said it as soon as Comey was fired, before a special counsel was designated.

Now 30,000 views later: Trump's New Impeachable Offenses: Obstruction of Justice, Conspiracy, Abuse of Power

[herding cats]

21. .

You nailed it.

[oasis]

8. Dan Coats will be interviewed by special counsel and he'd better talk.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. And from was suggested by Burr yesterday

Rogers talked in closed session but apparently Coats either hasn't had his closed session yet or didn't want to testify in one.

[oasis]

14. Trump privately urged Coats and Rogers to help cover up.

They both know it, and each man knows the other knows it.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Would be interesting to see

if they bail while they can.

[janx]

26. Both of them are tight-lipped for a reason. It comes with the territory.

I am not at all surprised to learn that Rogers was willing to talk in a closed session. Coats will probably do the same when the time comes.

[DeminPennswoods]

11. Lying to the FBI isn't some joke offense, either

Former PA state treasurer Barbara Hafer was convicted of it when she lied about an event that happened 10 years before her interview.

Link: http://fox43.com/2017/06/09/former-pa-treasurer-barbara-hafer-pleads-guilty-in-federal-court/

Verdict carries up to 5 yrs in jail and/or $250,000 fine.

[oasis]

15. Let the singing begin.

[jpak]

10. Happy Birthday Mr. President

[Honeycombe8]

12. Is this a leak or an official announcement?

The Special Counsel's office isn't leaking, is it?

Sounds like the Special Counsel is double-daring Trump to fire Mueller.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. The double-dare

was the first thing that came to my mind - notably the timing of it. I doubt the Special Counsel would publicly declare what they were doing.

[FailureToCommunicate]

17. The best, most beautiful birthday cake

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Needs another scoop

[FakeNoose]

36. Better eat it fast Mr. President*

Whoops! Too late.

[Hekate]

19. Birthday cake fall down go boom

[BumRushDaShow]

20. LOL

[Kingofalldems]

23. Waiting for someone to jump in and claim this is fake news.

[BumRushDaShow]

24. MSNBC has been covering

both Tweety and now Chris Hayes.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

27. Happy birthday, Mr. Pretzelnit; happy birthday to you.

Last edited Thu Jun 15, 2017, 09:17 AM - Edit history (1)

[BumRushDaShow]

28. I was going to post that video earlier but then

didn't want to associate Drumpf with JFK.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

29. I know what you mean, but the schadenfreude of this thing's happening on his bd.

It's so rich. Like the richest cake ever.

[BumRushDaShow]

30. !!

Topped with gold leaf.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

31. Two scoops, please. For me. NT

[BumRushDaShow]

32. Here ya go with some gold leaf sprinkles

[RussBLib]

33. Happy Birthday Pinhead!

Best present ever!

I've been wondering if and how we might get periodic updates from Mueller's office.

[chelsea0011]

34. Mueller....nice work, but you are about to be fired.

[BumRushDaShow]

35. HE may say f-it and do it too.

He is known for temper tantrums.

[FakeNoose]

37. If Cheeto 45 fires Bobby 3 Sticks

... then it's proof positive that he's obstructing justice. That makes it a slam-dunk.

Congress will immediately start an independent special investigation and Schiff has already said they will hire Mueller and his band of Untouchables. They've got Trump boxed now. He'd better get some good lawyers, not the bozos who are giving him all the bad advice.

[Stuart G]

39. k and r...nt

[elmac]

40. Per MSNBC just now

Times is saying that its not an investigation, mueller is just asking a few questions about tRump, not officially under investigation. WTF?

[BumRushDaShow]

41. One of the WaPo authors indicated

that their sources had told them that they had "opened a file" on Drumpf, which basically means he is being looked at - and specifically related to the obstruction to justice piece.

The NYT story says this -

[*** Mueller Seeks to Talk to Intelligence Officials, Hinting at Inquiry of Trump

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT and MATT APUZZO JUNE 14, 2017

WASHINGTON — The special counsel examining Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election has requested interviews with three high-ranking current or former intelligence officials in the latest indication that he will investigate whether President Trump obstructed justice, a person briefed on the investigation said on Wednesday.

The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, wants to question Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence; Adm. Michael S. Rogers, the head of the National Security Agency; and Richard Ledgett, the former N.S.A. deputy director.

None of the men were involved with Mr. Trump’s campaign. But recent news media reports have raised questions about whether Mr. Trump requested their help in trying to get James B. Comey, then the F.B.I. director, to end an investigation into Mr. Trump’s former national security adviser. Last week, Mr. Coats and Admiral Rogers declined to answer questions before Congress about the matter.

Mr. Mueller’s office has also asked the N.S.A. for any documents or notes related to the agency’s interactions with the White House as part of the Russia investigation, according to an intelligence official.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/us/politics/mueller-trump-special-counsel-investigation.html ***]

[elmac]

42. thanks for posting nt

[furtheradu]

43. Thanks for this! nt

[Eugene]

44. NYT: Mueller Seeks to Talk to Intelligence Officials, Hinting at Inquiry of Trump

Source: New York Times

Mueller Seeks to Talk to Intelligence Officials, Hinting at Inquiry of Trump

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT and MATT APUZZO JUNE 14, 2017

WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel examining Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, has requested interviews with three high-ranking current or former intelligence officials, the latest indication that he will investigate whether President Trump obstructed justice, a person briefed on the investigation said on Wednesday.

Mr. Mueller wants to question Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence; Adm. Michael S. Rogers, the head of the National Security Agency; and Richard Ledgett, the former N.S.A. deputy director.

None of the men were involved with Mr. Trump’s campaign. But recent news reports have raised questions about whether Mr. Trump requested their help in trying to get James B. Comey, then the F.B.I. director, to end an investigation into the president’s former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn. Last week, Mr. Coats and Admiral Rogers declined to answer questions before Congress about the matter.

Mr. Mueller’s office has also asked the N.S.A. for any documents or notes related to the agency’s interactions with the White House as part of the Russia investigation, according to an intelligence official.

The Washington Post first reported on Wednesday that Mr. Mueller had requested the interviews with the intelligence officials.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/us/politics/mueller-trump-special-counsel-investigation.html