Aides to President Donald Trump are looking for ways to hamstring and delegitimize special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, according to Thursday night reports in the New York Times and Washington Post.
The reports show that Trump is still fuming and obsessing over the Russia investigation, which continues to dominate headlines almost daily. The President fired James Comey as FBI director, partially out of unhappiness with the Russia probe, precipitating Mueller’s hiring as the special counsel. He’s also openly expressed his anger with Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recusal from the investigation, signaling that Trump is unhappy with his lack of control over its progress.
It’s against that backdrop that his aides are looking for ways to derail and discredit Mueller’s investigation, possibly building an argument for firing the special counsel.
Trump’s aides have been looking into the backgrounds of Mueller’s team for conflicts of interest they can use to discredit Mueller or possibly to fire him, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the effort. They are looking at past campaign donations and clients, as well as at Mueller’s relationship with Comey, per the New York Times.
The President has also asked about his power to pardon his aides, his family, and himself, the Washington Post reported, citing an unnamed source familiar with the effort. Another source told the Post that Trump’s aides have been discussing pardons amongst themselves.
Trump was recently set off by reports that Mueller is looking into his past finances, and Trump was particularly “disturbed after learning Mueller would be able to access several years of his tax returns,” the Washington Post reported.
Jay Sekulow, a member of Trump’s outside legal team, complained to the Washington Post about a Bloomberg News report that Mueller’s team is looking into some of Trump’s real estate deals.
“They’re talking about real estate transactions in Palm Beach several years ago,” Sekulow said. “In our view, this is far outside the scope of a legitimate investigation.”
The Thursday night reports follow a Wednesday interview with the New York Times during which Trump voiced concern about the possibility of Mueller’s team looking at his financial records. But Trump stopped short of telling the Times that such a move would prompt him to fire the special counsel.
Sekulow told the Washington Post that Trump wants to make sure Mueller is staying within the bounds of the Russia probe.
“The fact is that the president is concerned about conflicts that exist within the special counsel’s office and any changes in the scope of the investigation,” Sekulow told the Post. “The scope is going to have to stay within his mandate. If there’s drifting, we’re going to object.”
Can you say “obstruction of justice”? I can. Congress can’t.
That’s pure b.s.! Mueller has no mandate nor limit to what he can investigate and Trump’s dunce of a lawyer well knows that. I think that Trump and his camp followers have just about reached the limit of what even many of his supporters believe. The appointment of this special counsel (SC) was a brilliant move to unmask not only the Russia connection but potential money laundering that now looks to have gone on for at least the last decade. In fact, the SC’s office now to Trump’s chagrin is doing everything he doesn’t want them to look into.
Whatta chump!
Smart move, Donald! I’d do the same thing. If I am ever on trial for murder, I’ll make sure I have someone put a paper bag of flaming dog doo-doo on the front porch of the prosecuting attorney, with a card saying, “With Love, Dommyluc XOXOXO!”. I am sure that will endear me to him greatly. Hell, I’ll probably get off with a light sentence of 46 consecutive life terms.
They’re desperately trying to win in the court of public (Trumpster) opinion.
This and Drumpfie’s talk of pardons are just showing how bad it’s gonna get.
They still can’t seem to understand that his base can’t save him. I honestly think Trump truly believes that 97.8% of the voters in 2016 cast their ballots for him. And the other 2.2% were illegal aliens voting for Hillary.
If Trump tries to win in the court of public opinion, he’ll get a death sentence.
And it’s also nice to know his brand is finished. Chocolate-covered cat dropping will be more popular.