So.Much.Obstruction.Of.Justice.
The episode is known to special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors and is likely of interest to them . . .
“likely of interest” = understatement.
This is extremely bad, and goes a long way to nailing down the case for another Obstruction charge. Telling McGahn to stop Sessions from recusing himself regarding the Russian investigations because he needs Sessions to “protect” him? It really doesn’t get much clearer than that. Well, besides going on the air in a national televised interview and saying you fired the FBI Director because he was investigating you…but who would do something THAT stupid??
There is also a big problem concerning Dhillion, who, according to the same report, was trying to withhold information from Trump about whether or not Trump could fire Comey. VERY problematic, and pretty much guarantees that he gets a spot at the interview table with Mueller.
Both cases are also extremely troubling for a legal ethics standpoint. McGahn has an obligation to inform his client, the President, that the AG does not in fact exist to protect the President. But McGahn didn’t. Instead he went and held a highly unethical meeting to attempt to pressure Sessions into not recusing himself, after Sessions perjured himself before Congress(the first time, He has perjured himself several times by now).
Dhillion’s ethical problem is on the other end of the spectrum, but is no less troubling. He too has an obligation to give his client all possible legal alternatives. Purposefully withholding pertinent information in an attempt to stop his client from taking one of those alternatives (firing Comey) is a big no no.
Also note that neither of them have either executive privilege or attorney/client privilege with regards to these conversations and actions.
Two other people confirmed details of the conversation between McGahn and Sessions.
Not “fake news,” especially if there are two people willing to verify that this happened. As usual, it’s not normal, it’s not ethical and it can’t be allowed to continue. We truly have a lawless person sitting in the White House, and we have to hope that Mueller returns more indictments and that the enablers in Congress actually do their jobs. It’s a steep climb, but the preponderance of the evidence is overwhelming. Collusion? Probably. Obstruction of justice? Unquestionably.
This shows how utterly clueless trump is about the ethics of the legal profession. And his cluelessness of how government works. I suspect he’s not learned a damned thing from this.
Hopefully Mueller has interviewed that lawyer. He should also testify in public before the appropriate committees of Congress (for pop corn purposes).
I’m not a lawyer but I am wondering how many different actions pointing at obstruction are necessary for a charge to stick. How many fingers pointing at the same charge each from a different angle?
(snicker)
Mueller couldn’t have an easier time making a case for obstruction of justice.
And I love that Donnie wants a Roy Cohn when he abandoned the actual Roy Cohn as soon as he found out the man had AIDS.
"Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee."
Mind you I am NOT an attorney, last night both Toobin on CNN, and Rosenberg MSNBC made a slight distinction that WH counsel serves the office of the Presidency, rather than the individual holding office.
Is there an argument to be made that Dillon was acting in the best interest of the office? Or is deceit plain old deceit?
I know, right?! I am hopeful that is the work of a very skilled, experienced and methodical prosecutor offering an air tight case to a Grand Jury.
That was my first reaction, but I’m not sure. I’m not an expert on the law of obstruction, but I thought it would require a specific intent to obstruct inquiry into Trump, his family or his campaign’s involvement with the Russians. A general feeling that Sessions would protect Trump might not qualify. And I don’t know if there’s proof of the specific intent.
But, again, an impeachment proceeding is not a criminal trial, and the same standards are not necessary.
When will Mueller pull the trigger and charge Trump and some of his most egregious lackeys, like Cong. Nunes, of obstruction?
Ryan sided with Nunes against Rosenstein in their recent meeting, so Mueller will probably avoid the Californian Clod for a while yet.
But the story doesn’t say that. I strongly suspect that that was the reason for Trump’s order, but I don’t know that there’s proof.
Ryan is on dangerous ground if he aids Nunes in his obstruction by allowing a dog and pony show (harassing Hillary Clinton to distract from Trump’s treason and theft).
Deceit is plan old deceit. He arguably has a duty to tell the President that firing Comey could be illegal as its a “corrupt” act…i.e., that by so doing he is committing Obstruction. But he can’t withhold information from the President on the matter. His job is to provide legal guidance to the Presidency, including options he himself may strongly disagree with.
Its like a defense lawyer telling his client to plead guilty because he thinks the crime he committed is wrong, when the client is asking for strategies to be found not guilty. His personal feelings, or even knowledge, of his client’s guilt or innocence doesn’t matter, he has an obligation to defend his client to the best of his abilities.
I would guess that they were making that distinction (which is true), to make it clear that there is no attorney client privilege in these cases. It seems pretty clear in both cases, that Trump is asking for options to prevent himself from being prosecuted. Trump himself is not their client. The Presidency is.
Well, all impeachment can result in is removal from office. Mueller on the other hand can put people in jail. For a long time. And make 'em forfeit their money if laundering charges are included along with obstruction. I remain hopeful that Mueller has an airtight case for both
McGahn, only age 49, will now likely be indicted for obstruction, ultimately to face a bar hearing and be disbarred. In disgrace. His long career over. Totally over. For Trump.
Like a plague everyone who comes in contact with Trump is destroyed by Trump. All the way down and including his children.
"He will die in jail.’” - former NSA intelligence analyst John Schindler, quoting from a tweet he received, Feb. 2017.