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As long as Robert Mueller is a special counsel with a charter of investigating the President, has an unlimited budget, the full support of the DOJ and many in Congress, and the full time dedication of the media to his cause, his threat should not be dismissed.

Here is an article that describes the thinking of some of those he is up against, and how they are planning to take down the President.

https://www.salon.com/2017/12/02/mueller-has-a-roadmap-and-the-end-game-is-nigh/

I personally think it's rather outlandish, but the media and many Congressmen would quickly go all in if Mueller released something like this in his final report. Would that be enough, I doubt it, but no one knows for sure. There are even some that believe that Trump may even be betrayed by his inner circle, such as those that advised him to fire Flynn, which started this whole mess. Do I believe that, not necessarily, but I do consider it proof that we really just don't know. It's not even clear how hard Trump himself is willing to fight, as you just highlighted.

There are a handful of very good posters here at FR - you included. Yet, each person has their own different strengths and areas of focus.

I tend to look forward, viewing the long arc of history through the prism of generational cycles, each repeating the same thematic points. Others are very good detectives sifting through reams of details (eg Sundance), while some exhibit a preference for 'failure analysis' ie after-the-fact investigatory commissions.

My fault is becoming impatient with those who prefer to make sure any fires are really out. I co-wrote a series of technical book years ago, and my co-author used to laugh, saying I only needed one data point to discern a trend.

So, in this instance, I've already mentally checked out with respect to Mueller, et al. I don't even really find any more fascination with the attempted DOJ/FBI coup. Where my interest lies in determining whether Trump wants to join Washington & Lincoln as the next most important president in US history. (I was a freshly minted college grad when I had a chance to attend RR's '84 election night party. Let me say that Reagan, as great as he was, was no Trump.)

In that regard, how the (cold) civil war is prosecuted is what piques my interest. As a devout atheist, I'm highly agnostic as to the outcome of the US experiment. Unlike others who may tend to display emotional attachment, if Trump exhibits any discernible tendency towards leniency, then I feel we can logically conclude that the republic is over.

If that's the case, then a strategy oriented towards asset preservation, political silence and a mind set geared towards self-preservation is in order. OTOH, if Trump shows any indication towards recognizing this particular cross-road in history, and his potential role in setting a course for generations to come, then I will be happy to man the ramparts and engage in the great information war to help shape public opinion and gain the backing of the 3%.