4344

And anyone he tries to appoint will pretty much be forced to recuse himself as well prior to confirmation. There is no way Trump wins if he fires Sessions.

4345

Keep in mind that Sessions recused himself from the investigation, so he can’t really fire Mueller. He has to leave his position for Mueller to go away, at this point. Since Mueller seemingly is closing in on both of them, it’s in their best interests to figure out a way to get rid of him ASAP.

4346

July 25, 2017 testimony to Congress. Browder is a guy who rebelled against his father, the head of the American Communist party by becoming a big hedge fun guy. He’s the guy who worked with Magnitsky, the lawyer who was imprisoned and killed for bitching about $230 mil unpaid Russian taxes (2009).

It has an interesting bit on how Putin began happily fighting the oligarchs, but then claims Putin turned around and demanded 50% of the stolen loot. At that point Browder was an enemy of Putin.

4347

Right. That’s exactly my point. It’s no coincidence that Trump’s main complaint is that Sessions recused himself. He’s pissed that “his” guy is no longer available to protect him from the investigation. Trump wants to replace him with someone loyal to him that doesn’t have the same conflict of interest to require recusal. But he knows that if he straight up fires him, he may lose the support of the legislative branch which ultimately holds all the cards in his continued presidency. Hence the passive aggressive Tweets. He’s hoping Sessions will resign.

4348

It’s simply unbelievable that Trump specifically says the reason he wants to fire his own attorney general because he recused himself from the Russia investigation. Totally fine! Everything is totally fine in America!

4349

So far, I haven’t seen any evidence of this.

4350

Me either. But if he fires a second senior official on grounds that are obviously related to influencing the Russia investigation in his favor, it starts to become a possibility.

4351

https://twitter.com/jesseberney/status/889879133731377152

4352

Meanwhile, the Cold War becomes a Troll War…

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-26/russia-says-new-u-s-sanctions-killing-chances-for-improved-ties?utm_campaign=pol&utm_medium=bd&utm_source=applenews

“We all want this to become law before we leave here for the recess,” Corker told reporters in Washington. He added: “The White House doesn’t like this bill. The State Department doesn’t like this bill. This bill is going to become law, OK.”

Trump will sign the law because “he’s a prisoner of Congress and anti-Russian hysteria,” Alexei Pushkov, a senator in Russia’s upper house of parliament, said

4353

In 2008, according to court records, Manafort’s firm was involved with Firtash in a plan to redevelop the Drake Hotel for $850 million. Firtash’s company planned to invest more than $100 million, the records say.

One of the other partners working with Manafort on the deal was the former exclusive broker for Fred Trump’s properties, Brad Zackson. Fred Trump is the now-deceased father of Donald Trump.

Eventually, documents show, Firtash’s investment company transferred $25 million into escrow to further the project.

Also in 2008, according to a State Department cable posted by WikiLeaks, Firtash told U.S. Ambassador William Taylor that he got his start in business with the permission of one of Russia’s most well-known organized crime bosses, Semion Mogilevich. But Firtash claimed to Taylor that he was forced to deal with such people.

4354

I’m pretty sure if Trump read this story, he’d want to be even more like Putin. This sounds like his dream come true.

4355

It looks like Sessions won’t be replaced any time soon.

4356

Trump is fully capable of leaving the position empty, turning on Rosenstein next, and getting someone placed ‘acting’ the position to fire Mueller.

4357

Yeah, basically Chuck Grassley just said: “Hey, fire him if you want, but that gets you 6 months of Ron Rosenstein as your AG. Let me know.”

4358

Trumpertantrum incoming on twitter?

4359

Hillary Clinton’s upcoming book will double down on Russia’s interference and James Comey’s involvement in her stunning election defeat, according to sources familiar with the memoir.

Privately, Clinton has told friends and longtime associates that she “wants the whole story out there” as she rushes to tweak and put the finishing touches on the book due out in September.

“She really believes that’s why she lost, and she wants to explain why in no uncertain terms,” one longtime ally said. “She wants the whole story out there from her own perspective. I think a lot of people are going to be really surprised by how much she reveals.”

The ally said the book of personal essays will be a “bombshell.”

4360

Hate to say this but I think Hillary is just poison for the Democrats. I wish she would just keep quiet until the 2018 elections are over.

4361

Agreed, unless she were to also release new important intel.

4362

Sadly it would be FAKE INTEL.

4363

Just once, I’d like a former candidate to write a book called Preaching to the Choir.