Here’s the grand jury opinion:
http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/sites/dcd/files/17-mc-2336_MEM_OP_REDACTED%20FOR%20UNSEALING_20171030.pdf
This is a matter of national importance. The United States, through the Special Counsel’s
Office (“SCO”), is investigating foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election and
potential collusion in those efforts by American citizens.
Check out those redactions!
Enidigm
5373
Be careful about putting all our eggs in this basket.
There is a possible outcome i can foresee here where everything is exposed in weeks and months of court, the relevant parties found guilty; but Trump just pardons everyone anyway and the Republicans shuffle their feet and post “deeply disappointed” tweets and then get back to cutting taxes and healthcare and hoping nobody notices what just happened. And the effect of that outcome will be to institutionalize corruption in the executive.
What we’re witnessing is whether the system can survive the increasingly unilateral executive branch that’s been created over the last three decades or so. And it’s being so tested by an American Nero.
Yeah, I don’t love this ‘Mueller will save us’ idea that’s floating around.
I don’t think without Congressional support there is a real lever against Trump, and without voters changing the Congressional makeup won’t either.
It comes right back to the citizens, in the end. We’ve become a nation of dumbasses, and this is exactly what we deserve.
What other baskets are there?
Agreed. I think it’s highly probable that Mueller will get a lot of convictions. Hell, everyone involved is in politics and will lie automatically, so he can probably fill a federal prison with all the people he can get on the classic “lying to federal investigators” felony charge.
I’m less sure he will actually lay out anything that proves foreign collusion to bolster the Trump campaign in a manner than can tarnish the President. Everything can be handwaved off as a rogue underling acting in isolation unless some really good evidence turns up that it was a conspiracy known to all top campaign staff.
IMHO, it’s not “Mueller will save us”, it’s Mueller as an instrument of the Law will save us"
Are we a nation of laws or of men? Optimist that I am, I’ll continue to believe the former.
RichVR
5379
I have to. For my own sanity.
Agreed. Between this and the “nothing matters” crowd, I’ll stand on this side.
Strong work by Mueller’s team, IMHO.
That last paragraph is a doozy.
Keep in mind that’s a transcript of verbal comments to reporters. So if the wording looks funny and unprofessional for a statement from a lawyer that’s why.
Menzo
5386
There is some question about whether Trump can pardon someone in an attempt to obstruct justice. It would create a real Constitutional crisis because if so, it would nullify other parts of the Constitution.
Um, what? Manafort worked for Yanukovich, not the pro-Europeans.
I’d love to hear Manafort’s lawyer’s explanation for that least paragraph.
JMR
5389
This. I know we’re far from being out of the woods but I will use this day as a respite from the constant worry of America getting flushed down the toilet.
POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE
I’ll raise you a Boxer :)
In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of ev’ry glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
“I am leaving, I am leaving”
But the fighter still remains, mmm mmm
