We have been following this Sam Nunberg story all afternoon. I think he’s now on his fifth interview of the afternoon, which we’re watching right now. Here are a few takeaways.
First, over the course of these interviews, Nunberg has consistently escalated his accusations against Donald Trump. Just a few moments ago, he said this: “You know, I know Bob Mueller. I know that whole team, and they’re right and they probably have something on Trump, trump did something pretty bad, if I understood them.”
“You know, I know Bob Mueller. I know that whole team, and they’re right and they probably have something on Trump, trump did something pretty bad, if I understood them.” (rough trans) pic.twitter.com/n655LLxNX6
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) March 5, 2018
I’m not sure whether he’s just getting more punchy as this goes on or whether the real story is bleeding through.
What’s been pretty clear from the start is that Nunberg’s real concern seems to be not Trump but protecting Roger Stone, which he’s pretty upfront about.
Here is one other thing.
From the first interview, when Nunberg talks about how unreasonable it is to make him search through and produce all these emails, the name he mentions most is Steve Bannon. Almost every time. But here’s the key thing: Nunberg left the campaign either in late summer or early fall 2015. Steven Bannon joined the campaign about exactly a year later. What emails are we talking about? When were they in contact so much? They can clearly talk or email even though they’re not working on the same campaign. But Nunberg’s focus on Bannon stuck out to me like a sore thumb.
During one interview I believe Nunberg said that he’d never even spoken to Bannon before – not until he spoke to him the first time a week or so ago. But then in this last interview he said he communicates with him every day. “I communicate with [Bannon and Stone] every day.” Later he said “15 times a day.”
“I communicate with [Bannon and Stone] every day.” pic.twitter.com/8opZkk9IMA
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) March 5, 2018
Some of this may just be sloppiness. I totally believe he talks to Roger Stone nonstop. My best guess is that he’s protecting Roger Stone and it’s really just that. That’s consistent with his escalating accusations and attacks against Donald Trump. But truly, who knows?
