4183

In which we learn about other GOP congressmen over which Moscow has unhealthy influence

4184
4185

I was thinking the same thing. Trump is so cheap and loyalty is really only a one way street to him.
So any of the mid-level aides have huge incentive to rat him out, even if they really aren’t guilty of a crime.

4186

Financial records filed last year in the secretive tax haven of Cyprus, where Paul J. Manafort kept bank accounts during his years working in Ukraine and investing with a Russian oligarch, indicate that he had been in debt to pro-Russia interests by as much as $17 million before he joined Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign in March 2016.

The money appears to have been owed by shell companies connected to Mr. Manafort’s business activities in Ukraine when he worked as a consultant to the pro-Russia Party of Regions. The Cyprus documents obtained by The New York Times include audited financial statements for the companies, which were part of a complex web of more than a dozen entities that transferred millions of dollars among them in the form of loans, payments and fees.

4187

Even better it was roughly equal to the amount he received in payment from that Pro-Russian party in Ukraine.

4188

So will anything substantive come from this or will it be what’s your favorite color? and what do you think about Hillary’s missing emails?

4189

Never mind. Bad tweeting.

4190

Dear Leader said in his NYT interview yesterday that if Mueller looks into his business finances it will be crossing a red line. 12 hours later…

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-20/mueller-is-said-to-expand-probe-to-trump-business-transactions

4191

This for sure is going to end with Mueller’s firing by someone, at Trump’s demand. Trump is going to push congressional leadership to the breaking point.

4192

…going to push congressional leadership to their troubled point.

4193

They are going to be super-duper concerned if that happens.

4194

Not to kick a man while he’s down, but who’s going to be the barometer for troubled-ness in the Senate with McCain out? Does that fall to Lindsey Graham?

4195

double secret regrettable

4196

Let the brow-furrowing and grimacing commence!

4197

Sasse, probably.

4198

“Yes, you can search my car if you have to, officer. Just don’t look in the trunk.”

Trump sure is a savvy fellow.

4199

It’s right up there with Junior’s excuse…

“Well sure your honor, I solicited sex from that undercover officer, but no sex was had.”

“Case Dismissed!”

4200

Well, Graham was someone that Comey trusted, for what that’s worth.

4201

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s lawyers and aides are scouring the professional and political backgrounds of investigators hired by the special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, looking for conflicts of interest they could use to discredit the investigation — or even build a case to fire Mr. Mueller or get some members of his team recused, according to three people with knowledge of the research effort.

The search for potential conflicts is wide-ranging. It includes scrutinizing donations to Democratic candidates, investigators’ past clients and Mr. Mueller’s relationship with James B. Comey, whose firing as F.B.I. director is part of the special counsel’s investigation.

The effort to investigate the investigators is another sign of a looming showdown between Mr. Trump and Mr. Mueller, who has assembled a team of high-powered prosecutors and agents to examine whether any of Mr. Trump’s advisers aided Russia’s campaign to disrupt last year’s presidential election.

Some of the investigators have vast experience prosecuting financial malfeasance, and the prospect that Mr. Mueller’s inquiry could evolve into an expansive examination of Mr. Trump’s financial history has stoked fears among the president’s aides. Both Mr. Trump and his aides have said publicly they are watching closely to ensure Mr. Mueller’s investigation remains narrowly focused on last year’s election.

4202