Thursday, August 03, 2017

Special Counsel Robert Mueller impanels Grand Jury to investigate Russia's interference in 2016 election. This is big!

Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal: 

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in Washington to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, a sign that his inquiry is growing in intensity and entering a new phase, according to people familiar with the matter. 

The grand jury, which began its work in recent weeks, signals that Mr. Mueller’s inquiry will likely continue for months. Mr. Mueller is investigating Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election and whether President Donald Trump’s campaign or associates colluded with the Kremlin as part of that effort.

Grand juries are powerful investigative tools that allow prosecutors to subpoena documents, put witnesses under oath and seek indictments, if there is evidence of a crime. Legal experts said that the decision by Mr. Mueller to impanel a grand jury suggests he believes he will need to subpoena records and take testimony from witnesses. 

“This is yet a further sign that there is a long-term, large-scale series of prosecutions being contemplated and being pursued by the special counsel,” said Stephen I. Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas. “If there was already a grand jury in Alexandria looking at Flynn, there would be no need to reinvent the wheel for the same guy. This suggests that the investigation is bigger and wider than Flynn, perhaps substantially so.” 

As I texted back to my friend earlier today, shit just got real!

According to this Wall Street Journal article Mueller did NOT simply use an already existing Grand Jury for this investigation, he impaneled his own specifically focused on the Russia probe.

Also keep in mind that when appearing before a Grand Jury witnesses and defendants are not allowed to bring their lawyers in with them. Which means that the risk of perjury is very high.

Now keep in mind the folks that are likely to be called before this Grand Jury, and their difficult relationship with telling the truth.

I think that if Trump was seriously considering the idea of firing Robert Mueller that it is too late for that now, especially now that there are Senators introducing a bipartisan bill to protect his investigation.

The horse is already out of the barn, as my father might say.

58 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:17 PM

    Tangled web connects Russian oligarch money to GOP campaigns

    ...Donald Trump and the political action committees for Mitch McConnell, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, John Kasich and John McCain accepted $7.35 million in contributions from a Ukrainian-born oligarch who is the business partner of two of Russian president Vladimir Putin's favorite oligarchs and a Russian government bank.

    During the 2015-2016 election season, Ukrainian-born billionaire Leonid "Len" Blavatnik contributed $6.35 million to leading Republican candidates and incumbent senators. Mitch McConnell was the top recipient of Blavatnik's donations, collecting $2.5 million for his GOP Senate Leadership Fund under the names of two of Blavatnik's holding companies, Access Industries and AI Altep Holdings, according to Federal Election Commission documents and OpenSecrets.org.

    https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/03/tangled-web-connects-russian-oligarch-money-gop-campaigns

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:56 PM

      And, the web continues to expand! Those Republicans in the U.S. Congress, Trump and Pence are bad, bad boys!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:33 PM

      Here is some more...

      https://newrepublic.com/article/143586/trumps-russian-laundromat-trump-tower-luxury-high-rises-dirty-money-international-crime-syndicate

      Delete
  2. And while the Trump administration and the Death Party are going down in flames, what does the Governor of West Virginia decide to do so soon after his 2016 election?

    He's going to switch parties and become a Republican.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jim-justice-republican-party_us_59837d48e4b0cb15b1bd662c?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

    "Gov. Jim Justice will announce he’s joining the Republican Party during a rally with President Donald Trump on Thursday evening. Justice was elected as a Democrat in 2016, defeating Republican Bill Cole."

    You just can't fix stupid.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dinty4:53 PM

      He's switched back and forth in the past, most recently in 2015 IIRC

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:18 AM

      Something to do with being bankrupt and getting bailed out by Russians.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous4:23 PM

    The Trumpian “Dealmaker” Myth Is Finally, Truly Dead

    Leaked transcripts of Trump’s phone call with the Australian prime minister reveal the profound depths of the president’s ignorance.

    https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/08/the-trumpian-dealmaker-myth-is-finally-truly-dead

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous4:27 PM

    The 'Ivanka Fund' drops Ivanka

    https://www.devex.com/news/the-ivanka-fund-drops-ivanka-90706

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL.

      I said that Trump would poison his own brand. He still has to lose everything but I think he's on his way.

      On so many levels, Trump's presidency is a lesson in be careful what you wish for.

      Delete
  5. As long as Trump has his phone it's never too late. All he has to do is tweet his pardons and it's a done deal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:52 PM

      He should tweet "I resign" today.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:00 PM

      nope...

      Delete
  6. Anonymous4:32 PM

    So tRump is in West Virginia getting his ego stoked by some of the nation's poorest, most uneducated and unhealthy people in the country and he tells them that Mueller should be investigating Hillary's 'lost emails.' Unreal!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:58 PM

      He won the electoral college but he can not resist smearing Hillary Clinton as he spins lies about his self.
      Trump smeared Mueller too. His supporters will believe anything.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:20 AM

      How INCREDIBLY sick is it that this cretin goes on campaign style rallies to stroke his ego, while his presidency is imploding. He is a very, very sick fuck and he is making us sick.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous4:40 PM

    I am not popping any champagne corks just yet .
    However,this is encouraging news.
    Vive le resistance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:49 PM

      Yea I like Americans. They are arnry and can kick some ads! Especially when they do things together. Watch out! Thank you God! Grin.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous4:48 PM

    How Bill Browder was hunted by Russian authorities

    Bill Browder, grandson of Communist Party USA leader Earl Browder, is chief executive of Hermitage Capital Management, an investment firm that reaped enormous profits after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Browder, a harsh critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, now is being hunted by Russian authorities. Points interviewed him by phone from London ahead of his appearance before the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth on Wednesday.

    https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/02/point-person-qa-bill-browder-hunted-russian-authorities

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous4:51 PM

    Michael Flynn details previously undisclosed paid speaking engagements, business positions, and income

    Russian hackers reportedly discussed how to steal Clinton's emails and transfer them to Michael Flynn

    http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-hackers-michael-flynn-hillary-clinton-emails-2017-6

    http://www.businessinsider.com/michael-flynn-details-tie-to-data-firm-transition-pay-2017-8

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dinty4:52 PM

    This chart should give some insight as to what the chances of indictment are:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/11/24/the-single-chart-that-shows-that-grand-juries-indict-99-99-percent-of-the-time/?utm_term=.f2fba64ae46b

    (hint: it's 99.9%)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:01 PM

      Woo-hoo!!!! Make America Mobless Again!!!

      Delete
  11. Anonymous4:57 PM

    Secret Service vacates Trump Tower command post in lease dispute with president’s company

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-vacates-trump-tower-command-post-in-lease-dispute-with-presidents-company/2017/08/03/7338de16-785d-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:56 PM

      Oh, come on 6:51. Stop bomblasting Lisa. She's paid her dues. She may be the only one standing up to this thug. He's trying to become our first dictator. Cripes. Wake up. This shithead in the White House doesn't want to let go of the presidency already, and he's riling up his asshole base with "they" "we", and "ours".
      I tell ya all, I am becoming physically sick of Donald Trump. He is not a happy soul. Every day, it's something with this man. And it's not about America, it's about him.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous5:09 PM

    Trump can’t make recess appointments thanks to Alaska Republican he attacked

    Amid concerns that President Donald Trump may try to fill positions while Congress in in recess for August, the Senate moved to ensure he’s unable to do just that.

    According to The Hill, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) (who Trump attacked earlier this year) wrapped up the Senate’s session by locking in nine “pro-forma” sessions — incredibly brief sessions that sometimes only last a few minutes — during their summer break.

    In doing so, she ensured that “the Senate will be in session every three business days throughout the August recess,”

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/trump-cant-make-recess-appointments-thanks-to-alaska-republican-he-attacked/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:31 PM

      lol.

      Lisa.



      Welcome to the big leagues Mr Orange!


      Paybacks can be a beyotch!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:51 PM

      You mean thank you Frank.
      She's still too wet behind the ears. She asked Daddy.

      Delete
    3. On top of blocking Zinke's interior dept appointees as Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous5:11 PM

    CNN’s Jake Tapper destroys Trump: Russia seems like the only one that can control the president

    ...“In Trump’s view, bad relations with Russia are the fault of the Republican-led U.S. Congress, not Putin,” Tapper said. “This is not even getting to adversaries who have been murdered, or the Russian-made missile that downed Malaysia Airlines flight 17, killing almost 300 crew and passengers.”

    “To our knowledge, while President Trump has attacked everyone from Don Lemon to the cast of Hamilton, he has never had any word about Vladimir Putin,” Tapper said.

    “You know, give the Kremlin credit for this, if for nothing else: While no one on the president’s staff, or in his cabinet or in his family seems able to exert any control over the president the way they’d like, the way they would like, the Russians seem to have figured something out,” Tapper concluded.

    
Watch the video below, via CNN:

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/cnns-jake-tapper-destroys-trump-russia-seems-like-the-only-one-that-can-control-the-president/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:48 PM

      Say it, Jake, he's a butt boy!

      Delete
  14. Anonymous5:48 PM

    "Shit just got real". Shit's been getting real for at least 4 of his 6 months of office yet nothing ever really gets "real".

    I'm not holding my breath. The powers that be in this country got this idiot into office for some reason and they are not allowing anyone to get rid of him.

    If he wasn't proving to be a "useful idiot" to the American oligarchy that truly runs the government behind the scenes he'd have never been elected.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:17 PM

      I totally agree. Something doesn't smell right.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:27 PM

      Not getting excited yet, either. We will see what happens. Not holding my breath

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:45 PM

      They're gearing up for another 9/11, I swear. Not a conspiracy theorist by any means but you just have to watch and pay attention to what they're doing.

      Hope I'm wrong, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous7:14 PM

      "Powers that be" my tuchus. The victim-mentality American reich/rightwing wanted a bully spokesperson. Add in sme GOP gerrymandering, and they got the orange shitgibbon of their wet dreams.May they rot in hell with him. Yes, they are deplorable and despicable. And damned.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous8:05 PM

      645 You mean like Pearl Harbor? History. Rinse. Repeat.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:03 PM

      Oh, come on, peeps. Do you also believe in The Illuminati?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous4:22 AM

      6:45 I feel ya. I believe it too.
      False flag, don't fall for it.
      Poor useless fucks, it's their only hope.
      Too many of us are on to them though.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous6:19 PM

    This is off topic, but check out Lisa Murkowski out maneuvering Trump and blocking him from making any recess appointments. Stellar!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:07 PM

      Be thankful for a Frank full of advice on how to do that maneuver.

      Delete
    2. She also screwed Pruitt via her committee.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4:35 AM

      If only Sarah Palin had run for Ak senator!

      Delete
  16. Anonymous6:23 PM

    Donald Trump has a been a liar and a crook his whole too-long life. There's no way there isn't a mountain of dirt around him, just no way.

    I feel sorry for the Mueller team, they must be working day and night and surely often get depressed at the scope of the so-called president's criminality.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous6:32 PM

    And the racist bully T.Rump's racist, bully buddy BiBi also looks to be facing charges. Can't wait t'il they both are sent to jail where they belong - to meet Bully Bubba.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous7:14 PM

    Another small point that makes this grand jury really, really important -- this investigation had been in the hands of a grand jury empaneled by the US District Court for Eastern Virginia.

    Now, the grand jury has been moved from EVA to the District of Columbia. This means the grand jury will be reviewing potentially illegal actions that occurred in DC . . . and what would those illegal actions be? How about OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE by firing the FBI Director when he will not kill an investigation on Flynn . . . and who did that?

    ReplyDelete
  19. a. j. billings7:17 PM

    O/T, but damn big news!

    http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/345261-senate-blocks-trump-from-making-recess-appointments-over-break


    Senate blocks Trump from making recess appointments over break!!!

    **Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)***, doing wrap up for the entire Senate, locked in nine "pro-forma" sessions — brief meetings that normally last roughly a minute.

    Looks like little hands 3 year old Tantrum Trump won't get to appoint any judges or fire AG Sessions over his SEVENTEEN DAY LONG GOLF VACATION!

    Just reading around today, now the thought is among some strategists and Dems is to NOT IMPEACH Trump, even if house & Senate went Dem in 2018.

    Reason being by keeping Toddler Trump in office, that locks out Pence from his Christian Taliban bullshit, and it keeps all of Trumps scandal crap on the front page every day.

    New Democrat would be facing Trump in 2020 election

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The only problem with that is we still have Trump's deplorable cabinet members and heads of all departments dismantling the country through deregulating and other means.

      It's not just what Trump says and does, it's the people he puts in charge.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:33 AM

      If trump is not legally president, pence is not VP. Next.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous7:42 PM

    On Brian Williams tonight I want to applaud Steve Schmidt for being so articulate about Donald Trump. Eugene Robinson is spot on also.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:31 AM

      Good for Robinson and Schmidt. Schmidt can finally open up. He must feel guilty since he could only partially open up about the McCain/Palin ticket.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous7:59 PM

    Sad to see that red faces Trump reading word for word what the teleprompter had for him to say. All written from the "great" mind of Steven Bannon no doubt.
    Why do they protect him? It's because they had one shady foot in the White House, and they want to stay there until America is fully broken down then they can let Putin in the front door. You see and hear how pouty Donny and Tillerson are that they can't appease Putie. It's blatant and disgusting.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous8:01 PM

    Trump's a fucking idiot. I grew up next to and lived in the Okefenokee Swamp for years. You want to drain the swamp? Well, you'd better know where all the alligators are, 'cause that's THEIR home, and they are smart, wily, and very much evolved to thrive there. And they are fully capable of drowning you in shallow water. And you'd best know them better than they know you, 'cause they will stalk you 'til they get you.

    I watched a 12 foot gator climb a 10 foot chain link fence.

    He should've left the swamp reference out of it, 'cause he doesn't know swamps or alligators.

    GeorgiaPeach

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous8:49 PM

    Governor Who Switched Parties For Trump Owes Millions In Taxes After Deal With Russian Company

    As the swift and forceful response from the Democratic Governor’s Association noted, Justice just so happens to owe millions in unpaid taxes after a deal with a Russian coal company.

    The full statement:

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/08/03/governor-switched-parties-trump-owes-millions-taxes-deal-russian-company.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shit. Another one dealing with the Russians?

      Delete
  24. Anonymous11:37 PM

    Newsweek Just Roasted “Lazy” Trump With This Devastating Cover
    http://washingtonjournal.com/2017/08/03/newsweek-just-roasted-lazy-trump-devastating-cover/

    --
    Full article -
    TRUMP, AMERICA'S BOY KING: GOLF AND TELEVISION WON'T MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
    http://www.newsweek.com/2017/08/11/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-gop-white-house-potus-bannon-643996.html

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous4:50 AM

    Unless it is a fake photo at rally in w Virginia, it still amazes me to see ANYONE donating money for trump defense fund. He goes there like the lousy tv celebraty that he is and throws a few insults and big lies out and hateful fox brainless clap and throw their dollars at him? With a illegitimate rigged election and a liar occupying the white house for now, how do we explain to our youth right from wrong? Communism vs socialism. Freedom vs Enslavement. Telling the truth vs lies. Honesty and Humanity. Community vs division. Hate vs Love. Peace vs War. Reality vs Fiction. Good vs Bad. Our children must see that our Constitution, laws and rules apply even to those sitting at the top. Even corporations, So? OVERTURN CITIZEN UNITED AND GET THE LOBBYIST, MONEY AND LIARS OUT OF OUR ELECTIONS.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous7:09 AM

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/interior-dept-watchdog-launches-probe-zinke-calls-alaska-senators

    "GOP Sen. Says Trump Admin Threatened Alaska Lawmakers Over Repeal Vote"

    ReplyDelete
  27. Very big. Also, not coincidental that this news broke the same day as Netanyahu aid news did. Obama was very correct to sanction when he did.

    ReplyDelete

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