Posted on 01/10/2019 4:02:09 PM PST by Mariner
Washington (CNN)As special counsel Robert Mueller wraps up his Russia probe, investigators have focused on conflicting public statements by President Donald Trump and his team that could be seen as an effort to influence witnesses and obstruct justice, according to people familiar with the investigation.
The line of questioning adds to indications that Mueller views false or misleading statements to the press or to the public as obstruction of justice. That could set up a potential flashpoint with the White House and the Trump legal team should that become part of any final report from the Mueller investigation.
Mueller hasn't addressed the issue publicly, but prosecutors have dropped hints that they view public statements as possibly key in influencing witnesses.
Court filings from the plea of Michael Cohen, the President's former personal lawyer, included allegations related to false public statements -- not usually considered illegal since they aren't made directly to investigators. A December sentencing memo filed by Mueller's office notes that Cohen's lies were amplified in public statements, "including to other potential witnesses." The memo said this was done partly "in the hopes of limiting the investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election -- an issue of heightened national interest."
The President's legal team took notice of the Cohen plea documents and believe the special counsel is pursuing a thin legal theory when it comes to potentially criminalizing public statements, a source briefed on the matter said. They believe the President's comments are protected under the First Amendment and that there's a difference between a plea deal and the President's position, which is to fight the allegations.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
As soon as you see multiple authors listed on an article -- especially one posted on CNN -- you know it is 100% bullsh!t.
Does anyone think William Barr holds this silly legal theory? LOL.
Mueller, carrying contraband across the transom of America.
The Leftist Cartel has him bought and paid for.
Isn’t it funny (well not really) how he found so many things to investigate, but couldn’t find one interesting thing involving the Clintons, the Left, or himself?
This guy is a mule for the Left.
I would seriously doubt it.
He may or may not be exactly who we want, but there are limits to how low a person will go.
Translation: under current law, no obstruction of justice.
Set that precedent and all those swamp creatures can be impeached. How about indicting MSM for lying with fake news which influences witnesses. What is the difference between a lie and an honest mistake.... I guess it is up to those doing the listening.
Dumbasses. It’s not possible for Trump to interfere with his subordinates. Doj, and special counsel work directly under him. He can fire them, he can direct them to begin or end an investigation. And he can overturn the product of their investigations with his pardon power. So how exactly can he obstruct?
Is Hillary ever mentioned?
This farce is all centered around the fiction that DOJ and it’s minor Bureau called The Bureau of Investigation are independent of the president. Absolutely nothing could be further from the truth, or more unconstitutional.
Unless the new Attorney General has asserted his authority, the two snakes probably have in mind that Mueller will shortly turn over his report to Rosenstein and Rosenstein will quickly turn it over to the democrats on his way out the door.
Time to apply the Comey doctrine...was there intent?
What, getting FISA court approval on the basis of a fake dossier (according to Ed Woodward, “garbage”) is not obstruction of justice in and of itself?
Can you imagine Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the impeachment panel? There will be all sorts of loudmouths on that panel. They will make up all sorts of allegations and won’t limit themselves to Mueller’s report.
More putrid horseshit from the Communist Nutjob Network.
Time for the “mule” to be skinned - preferably alive, and with a dull knife.
Can you imagine today’s “Americans” doing anything about it?
Scrubbin Bob should read the excellent short story "What I Saw At The Coup".
He should also start practising holding his breath for long periods of time.
“Can you imagine Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the impeachment panel? There will be all sorts of loudmouths on that panel. They will make up all sorts of allegations and won’t limit themselves to Mueller’s report.”
That’s one of the reasons I’m hoping for an Impeachment Vote!
Rosenstein can’t. He’s required to turn it over to the attorney general
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