It Begins: Special Counsel Mueller Files First Charges In Russia Investigation

FBI Director Robert Mueller listens as he testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 13, 2013, as the House Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing on the FBI. Mueller is nearing the end of his 12 ... FBI Director Robert Mueller listens as he testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 13, 2013, as the House Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing on the FBI. Mueller is nearing the end of his 12 years as head of the law enforcement agency that is conducting high-profile investigations of the Boston Marathon bombings, the attacks in Benghazi, Libya, and leaks of classified government information. The committee's chairman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said when it comes to national security leaks, it's important to balance the need to protect secrecy with the need to let the news media do their job. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Special counsel Robert Mueller, backed by a federal grand jury, has filed the first charges in his investigation into the Trump campaign and administration’s dealings with Russia, according to a report Friday night by CNN later confirmed by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. At least one individual could be taken into custody as early as Monday. Both the names of the person or person and the charges filed against them remain for now under a judge’s seal.

Mueller—who was appointed by the Justice Department in May in the wake of Trump firing FBI Director James Comey and boasting to Russian officials about it—has since then conducted a broad investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether Trump or anyone his network colluded with Russia or attempted to obstruct the investigation.

That broad mandate has led him to explore the foreign lobbying work of Trump’s campaign associates, the many White House officials involved in the decision to fire Comey, and the Trump Organization’s foreign businesses dealings. 

Friday’s announcement marks the first official charges filed as a result of the investigation, which Trump has repeatedly dismissed as a “witch hunt.”

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  1. A Tom Petty lyric seems to fit here - “The way-ay-ting is the hardest part.” Certainly for the perp, but for me as well.

    Actually the whole chorus speaks to how I am feeling:

    “The waiting is the hardest part
    Every day you see one more card
    You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
    The waiting is the hardest part”

  2. Trump loyalists are melting down on Twitter. I’ve copied and pasted some choice bits below.

    Hannity:

    Guess;Mueller and Media working hand in hand. Media to be tipped off. Mueller was FBI Director Who knew of Russian crimes before Uranium one

    Left needs a dramatic change in the narrative!! Uranium One, Fusion GPS dossier, all out this week. This is a distraction! TICK TOCK…

    This has been a HORRIBLE week for Mueller, Special Counsel’s office. THIS IS ALL A DISTRACTION. Monday I’ll have the details. TICK TOCK…!

    Gorka:

    The fact Ds don’t believe Mueller has clear conflicts of interest speaks volumes for their motives. This is about power, nothing else

    DOJ/IRS case re tea party orgs is just a microcosm of why 2016 happened. Obama administration was weaponizing government against opponents

    At what point does Amnesia & Plausible Deniability become Perjury & Obstruction Of Justice

    I guess that both ex- G-Men have forgotten that the ‘I’ in the @FBI motto stands for INTEGRITY.

    If this man’s team executes warrants this weekend he should stripped of his authority by @realDonaldTrump. Then HE should be investigated.

    Stone:

    When AT&T aquires Time Warner the house cleaning at CNN of human excrement like @donlemon @jaketapper & dumbfuck @ananavarro will be swift

    If Carl Bernstein says something the overwhelming odds are that it’s false lied about Watergate lying lying now

    @donlemon there r no credible “fact-checks” that clear the Clinton’s on Uranium. Even the people at CNN say u are a buffoon behind you back

    No .@CharlesBlow YOU Lie- u have no cried [sic, probably credibility] you fast talking arrogant fake news piece of shit !

    .@donlemon you come across on tv as a dull witted arrogant partyboi. You lie constantly and no one who knows you thinks you r bright

    .@donlemon must be confronted, humiliated, mocked and punished. Dumber than dog shit.

    .@donlemon stop lying about about the Clinton’s and Uranium you ignorant lying covksucker !!! You fake news you dumb piece of shit.

    .@jaketapper must be held accountable for his lies and very severely punished

    Breaking : Mueller indicts @PaulManafort’S maid for tearing labels of sofa cushions

    Yeah I hear Deep State stooge is indicting Manafort’s driver for double parking, u little shithead

  3. Love Gorka’s “comeback”

    At what point does Amnesia & Plausible Deniability become Perjury & Obstruction Of Justice

    Sebaceous, I think we’ve gotten there.

  4. Damn. This is going to be the longest weekend ever.

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