Posted on 06/11/2017 9:02:13 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Whether they were just close professional friends, or consider themselves personally friendly, the fact is that they are not at arms length. This relationship, at least as reported, appears to be much more than the routine interactions you might expect two law enforcement officers to have had in the regular course of business.
Something doesn’t seem right here. Comey manipulated the system into getting his friend appointed Special Counsel, and now that friend will be investigating matters in which Comey is a key witness. More than that, Comey’s own actions in leaking government property raise legal issues as to whether Comey himself violated the law.
Even assuming Mueller is able to separate his past with Comey from his present investigation, that relationship damages the whole purpose of having a Special Counsel who is completely independent in fact and appearance.
In a truly independent investigation, friends shouldn’t be investigating friends. Mueller should step aside to remove the taint on the Special Counsel investigation created by friend and witness James Comey.
(Excerpt) Read more at legalinsurrection.com ...
Absolutely, now if only they will do that.
I believe that on June 8, the Justice Department issued a statement showing that Mr. Sessions' recusel was required under 28 CFR 45.2, primarily because he was closely affiliated with the Trump campaign which was under investigation. After reading the actual law on the subject, it is apparent that he would have needed to recuse himself whether or not he had met with a Russian ambassador. It was his position with a political campaign subject to investigation that was the determining factor.
On the subject of recusel, it is interesting to note how many time recent AG have recused themselves.
Reno - 2
Mukasey - 2
Gonzales - 2
Ashcraft - 3
Holder - 4
Lynch - 0 ?
Sessions - 1
the text:
no employee shall participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution if he has a personal or political relationship with: (1) Any person or organization substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation or prosecution; or (2) Any person or organization which he knows has a specific and substantial interest that would be directly affected by the outcome of the investigation or prosecution.
Trump has never been under investigation, at least not until Comey and Mueller ginned up something over Comey's firing and Trump's comments to Comey about Flynn. This was confirmed three times by Comey.
There has been a counterintelligence investigation into supposed Russian hacking of the DNC and Podesta and other entities.
As a part of the counterintelligence investigation, the intelligence agencies looked at contacts between Russian officials and people associated with the Trump campaign. After months and months of this by partisan Obama hacks in the intel agencies, they STILL could not find the basis to initiate a criminal investigation of Trump or anyone associated with his campaign having to do with the Russian hacking.
There has been NO criminal investigation of Trump people with respect to Russian hacking that would at the outset invoke a question as to whether 28 CFR 45.2 applies here.
There does appear to be some type of criminal investigation going on in the EDVA as to Mike Flynn's registration as a foreign agent for Turkey and perhaps as to Manafort's activities in Ukraine from years ago. There are rumors that they may be investigating Flynn for misstatements to the FBI.
One could argue about whether Sessions had some sort of relationship with Flynn or Manafort sufficient to warrant recusal into these matters.
But there was not prior to the appointment of the Special Counsel a criminal investigation of the Trump campaign related to Russian hacking. So there was no basis for a recusal by Sessions under 28 CFR 45.2, and it was premature.
Now, today, there are legitimate questions as to whether Sessions should recuse related to presumably criminal investigations ginned up by Comey and Mueller over Trump's firing of Comey and comments regarding Flynn. But none of that had happened at the time Sessions recused himself.
Also, Rosenstein's appointment letter of Mueller was inappropriately vague and insufficiently connected to a probable crime for investigation. Having a "link" with Russia is not a crime. If there was to be a Special Counsel, then the appointment letter should have specifically referred to criminal hacking allegedly by the Russians and the investigation of any actual crimes such as conspiracy that may have occurred related thereto.
Mueller is another one of Bush Jr disaster appointment, asking terrorists for advice, something he perhaps learned in College to do.
He will stake his stupid reputation on going after Trump, Nifonging the whole thing. That is all he has got in this, damn national security just as it was then when he talked to islamists
My assessment was based on the explanation given by the Justice Department in their June 8 memo. At this time, the only real information we have is that President Trump himself was not under investigation. There were what I would consider spurious allegation about the campaign and I assume they were investigated, which with Mr. Sessions’ position with the campaign would require his recusel. I only know what I read and, at this point, I suspect that 99.9 percent of that is inaccurate. I just don’t know what .1 percent is true.
In any event, AG Sessions will be testifying on Tuesday and I am sure he will give a more detailed explanation of his recusel at that time.
Oh, those were the days!
You are correct that firing Mueller (and Rosenstein) MIGHT lead to impeachment, but leaving him in place WILL lead to impeachment, without question.
Every day that he is left in place makes Trump’s situation worse.
He and Rosenstein have to go, and go now.
What a choice, both deadly, but there is no obvious way out of the trap now that the Rats with Rosenstein’s aid have set the trap. Somehow forcing Mueller out of office because of his conflict of interest with Comey would be a way, but that requires Mueller to do the honorable thing and resign. I don’t think that is going to happen.
It’s President Trump to you. And you might want to take your own advice and shut up for 5 minutes.
Yeah..because it really makes sense for Jr to say the opposite of trump on this matter
Ari Fleisher has some advise. Trump should take it.
Btw read trumps 170 plus page depo on the case he lost.. and maybe you will finally get why he should vet what he says about anything to do with this Investigation
Did it ever occur to you - in between denigrating the president and telling him to shut up - that perhaps his people should check in with him first before they tweet or speak and NOT the other way around? But then that’s the way an Ever-Trumper thinks who respects the president.
Why do you bring Ari Fleischer into it? He didn’t vote for Trump and doesn’t have his best interests at heart.
Again, stop running down PRESIDENT Trump.
Dont blame me..it is his son who is contradicting him...and he could get pulled into it as to whether trump said it to him.
Just another reason why people involved should shut up during an InvestigAtion. Ari points out why.
You don’t take your own advice to shut up. Tell me, are you in constant contact with poor President Trump on Twitter - beguiling him with your brilliant, non-stop analysis?
You should have no problem with a lawyer vetting trump on all matters related to this Investigation.
Not sure why you think trump shouldn’t worry and should say anything he wants.
It is not prudent
Whenever I read threats like this I always find myself hoping and praying that Trump himself family members and or cabinet members are part of Free Republic and read this and take heed
I doubt Rummy Chick’s on Twitter.
She sure has been on FR enough to get on my last damn nerve, though.
...must be paid by the post.
We need to put a knowledgable non-commie in charge of the investigation. Someone like Pooty-Poot.
You can scroll right past my posts. I had someone who has been a prosecutor and a defense lawyer send me a PM as to why the best advice is for Trump to keep quiet and have things vetted by the lawyers.
I cant quite figure out why so many people here dont understand why this is a good idea.
Thanks for the gratuitous advice.
I don’t come here to scroll past half a thread because of blabbering twits.
If you ARE paid to post here, best change names or find a new gig.
Rofl
Who would pay me to post info that is advantageous to trump..lolol.
You do know the other side doesnt want trump to vet his tweets? They want him to wildly post
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