But Trump wasn't likely to face criminal charges anyway. This is a political fight not a legal one. They are not arguing before a judge they are arguing in the court of public opinion. Assume for argument's sake that collusion is not a crime but that Trump did "collude with Russia" in some ways to help with his campaign. If Mueller could prove that collusion it would look very bad politically, it would derail his presidential agenda, and probably lead to impeachment. Impeachment is a political not a legal process and Congress decides what a "High Crime and Misdemeanor" is. Even still, they would not impeach him for a non-crime. They would say Mueller proved that he lied to the country about the collusion, and therefor he probably did obstruct justice or did use his office to intimidate witnesses and investigators, and was derelict of his duties as POTUS.
Mueller is behaving quite cynically. With regard to his investigation of Trump, Mueller is pretty much free to stretch, bend and break his legal ethics because as long he does not bring an indictment, there will be no presiding judge to rule on the legality of the evidence nor to sanction Mueller for breaking his oath. Mueller's raid on Cohen is a great example of Mueller stretching too far. A client has to be free to say almost anything to his attorney - he could even admit to a heinous crime - and these conversations cannot be used as evidence. Pretty much the only way to break atty-client privilege is if the client tells the attorney in advance that he is going to commit a crime, or if the attorney was involved in a crime with his client. But even then, it would only break the privilege with regard to evidence of the crime they did together. Any other activity the client told the attorney about unrelated crimes would remain protected.
In the case of Cohen I am hard pressed to understand what the crime is that allows him to break his legal duty to defend his client or how Cohen was involved in that crime. It would be a big stretch to argue that "knowing or agreeing that his son should attend a meeting to discuss Russian provided 'dirt'" is a crime. Even for DJTJ, just showing up, even if he expected to discuss "dirt", would be a stretch. Maybe DJTJ could be accused of some kind of conspiracy to break campaign laws, but he didn't know what was going to be presented before he got there, so there is no way he could know if it would be criminal. He'd have to go to find out what was on offer before he could know it was prohibited. And besides, we now know that there was no dirt to provide; the person who invited DJTJ to the meeting only told him they had dirt in order to lure him into a conversation about the Maginstky Act. So, no dirt, no quid pro quo, no crime.
This buzz about Cohen testifying Trump knew about the tower meeting is a violation of atty-client ethics. If Mueller took it before a judge both Mueller and Cohen would face possible disbarment. But Mueller isn't going to use Cohen's evidence in a courtroom. He is just trying to pressure Trump and make him look as bad as possible in the eyes of the public. It is mostly red meat for the anti-Trump zombies. Mueller can break the rules of evidence gathering, suppresses Trump's right to legal representation, intimidates Cohen into breaking his oath and more, and there is no way to sanction him for it and only one way to stop it: fire him. As far as investigating POTUS personally, Mueller is free to behave like a snake in the grass, without any accountability, as long as he doesn't use the improperly/illegally obtained evidence in a court of law.
collusion isn’t a crime. conspiracy is a crime. collusion is a weasel word the democrats are hiding behind.
They both have said exactly the same things both statements are also correct. By the way it isn’t a crime so can the article refute that? What contradiction is there saying both that you didn’t do something and that it doesn’t happen to be a crime in any event.
Nothing contradictory in those statements at all.
“I didn’t do it. But even if it had done it, it’s not against the law.”
Leftists are such ignorant asswipes!! I’m so glad I no longer know any of them in person.
If Collusion is a crime, then Obama should have gone to prison for his European tour during his first campaign. All those foreign endorsements. Remember Rudy warning at the GOP convention that Obama would come back with European ideas.
What about all the foreigners that funded Obama campaign that the Obama campaign refused to collect data on, because it would show illegal contributions from foriegners.
If Collusion is a crime, then Obama should have gone to prison for his European tour during his first campaign. All those foreign endorsements. Remember Rudy warning at the GOP convention that Obama would come back with European ideas.
What about all the foreigners that funded Obama campaign that the Obama campaign refused to collect data on, because it would show illegal contributions from foriegners.
Ummmm Trump publicly months ago pointed out “collusion” is not a crime.
Does anyone here not believe that if Dems take House Trump won’t be impeached? Of course he will. That is as much of a certainty as the Sun rising in the East.
Trump himself used to claim: “it’s not a crime......but there was no collusion. “
Step 2: Even if he did do it, it isn't even a crime.
Step 3: This is no longer an investigation, but outright harassment for political points.
Not sure how much clearer it can be.
Quit talking about “collusion” & “conspiracy”. They both imply something sinister.
Opposition research is all it was and all it should be called.
To a liberal, they think that means Trump admits guilt. They’ve reached so far they’ve fallen over.
This article is one of the worst pieces of spin hack jobs I’ve ever seen.
So sick of this line.
Who cares if Mueller registered as a Republican 30 years ago? The Republican President from 30 years ago, GHWB, voted against Trump and for Hillary in 2016.
Rosenstein probably voted for Hillary, too.
Of course, we know why. It's all they've got to hold onto.
THIS article by one of many an enemy of our civilization CNBC is attempting to make ancient news modern again. We were told in 2016 that collusion “WAS NOT A CRIME” by none other than retired Judge Andrew Napolitano during many appearances on FOX, mostly the Varney program in the mornings.
THIS article is reviving that fact to try to make it sound as though Rudy Giuliani is trying to side step the importance of the finding by claiming what we were all told almost two years ago.
THIS article is basically a leftist tactic to smear, and a tactic as old, and worn as they come.
Mueller was installed for two reasons: 1. Help Democrats win back the House and freeze the Trump agenda, 2. Help Democrats defeat Trump in 2020. “Crimes” are totally irrelevant. Lawrence Walsh indicted Cap Weinberger 3 days before the 1992 election. The case was thrown out by the judge, but the damage to H.W. Bush was already done.
I dont know what his stratedgy is but he is talking too much and either he mispeaks or they interpret his words in error... but he makes me nervous.
Two separate Statements of Fact. Facts confuse Leftists.
Mueller will imply that President Trump colluded with Putin, but actual charges will be attempted for obstruction of justice. The outcome will be something like:
1.) Un-indicted co-conspirator
2.) Charges of perjury; lying to the FBI
That is how (politicized) federal prosecutors roll. Just ask Scooter Libby and Martha Stewart.
Thought for the day. Just under 20% of Russians voted for a socialist or communist in the last election. Here according to Gallup, around 37% of Americans call themselves socialist, and over half of millenials do.
All of the leadership of the largest party in America is socialist.
All this “Russia interferring” is nothing but American socialists furious at Russia for heading down the road of nationalism, resurgent christianity, and stopping the perversion of homosexuality as a social force.