Yesterday Donald Trump said yet again that he is willing to testify to Robert Mueller.

Courtesy of CNN: 

President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he would still "like to" testify before special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia's 2016 election meddling as well as potential obstruction of justice charges. 

"Yes, I would like to," Trump told CNN's Jeff Zeleny during an event on new tariffs against China.

This is the second time that Trump has said this.

He said the same thing back in January.

Trump says he's "looking forward" to meeting Mueller's team in Russia probe https://t.co/kVdcoybW8Y pic.twitter.com/4BWFUR86tC

— POLITICO (@politico) January 25, 2018

After that Trump's lawyers walked the statement back.

But one of those lawyers was John Dowd, and he just quit in disgust, so maybe it's time to "Let Trump be Trump" as his campaign staff were fond of saying back in 2016.

And we certainly know that Mueller is prepared for this Q and A.

Hell he even has a list of questions he'd like to ask:   

The legal team of the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election has reportedly identified four main topic areas they hope to discuss with President Trump in a proposed sit-down interview. 

Investigators working for Robert Mueller want to ask Trump about a highly scrutinized 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Russians and several Trump campaign officials, his involvement in a misleading statement about his son's role in the meeting, and his firing of both his national security adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey, sources familiar with the situation told CNN. 

Mueller's investigators also hope to learn the extent of Trump's knowledge of the phone calls Flynn made with Russians before joining the White House. Flynn was fired for lying to the FBI about that communication.

Oh yeah, I would like to hear the answers to those questions as well.

Trump's attorneys will likely each take a leg so that Trump would have to drag them down the hallway to keep him from talking directly to Mueller's team, but I think that if somebody were to call him out on Twitter and suggest that he did not have the guts to face them, that Trump would have to take that bait.

Who do we think would be best to issue that challenge?

Joe Biden?

Hillary Clinton?

Or perhaps Rosie O'Donnell?

Trump lawyer says that his client is "very eager" to speak to Robert Mueller, but expresses concern it might be a "perjury trap."

Courtesy of CBS News:  

President Trump's attorney Ty Cobb says the president is "very eager" to speak to special counsel Robert Mueller for his Russia investigation. In an interview with CBS News' chief White House correspondent Major Garrett on this week's "The Takeout" podcast, Cobb said Mr. Trump wants to put the matter to rest, and he told Garrett there are "active discussions" about a special counsel interview, but no formal request has yet been made. 

It is Cobb's belief that the Mueller investigation will ultimately be immaterial to Mr. Trump and his presidency. Cobb said he expects it to be wrapped up in 4-6 weeks. 

"There's a big difference between a shooting star and a planet," Cobb told Garrett, referring to the big headlines for the legal issues of Papadopoulos, Manafort and Flynn. Cobb said he believes these pleas and indictment will not impact the president. 

"I think it's more than appropriate for the Mueller people to explore anything they're interested in," Cobb said. Cobb said he is focused on "getting the facts out." 

But despite this, he said he considers the investigation to be a drag on the presidency. "It's very difficult for him to do anything other than to fight for his place in history," Cobb said. 

Cobb said if Mueller did interview Mr. Trump, it could be a perjury trap -- that is, a situation in which his story does not match the evidence -- something Cobb said "foolish" was not to consider. But Cobb said he has known Mueller for a long time, and doesn't believe that is his aim.

Interesting term "perjury trap."

Is it a "trap" to ask somebody a question to which they then provide a false answer?

Because the simple solution to that is to not fucking lie to the Special Counsel.

But apparently Cobb realizes that his client cannot be expected to do that, so of course he is worried that he will perjure himself.

And do you know what? He is undoubtedly correct.

Steve Bannon spent eleven hours on the Hill yesterday refusing to answer questions even after receiving a subpoena.

MORE NEWS: Top Dem on the committee, @RepAdamSchiff, says after committee subpoenaed, Bannon’s lawyer contacted the White House, which “doubled down” on demand he not answer questions.

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 17, 2018

Courtesy of NBC News:  

Steve Bannon told lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election that the White House instructed him not to answer questions related to his tenure as a top White House adviser, prompting a rare subpoena to compel testimony, multiple congressional sources tell NBC News. 

The former Breitbart executive and now-spurned Trump confidante spent more than 11 hours on Capitol Hill to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, the first of three high-profile witnesses expected before the panel this week. 

Rep. Mike Conway, R-Texas, who is overseeing the panel’s Russia probe, said they expect additional testimony from Bannon after further discussions with the White House over what lawmakers in both parties considered an overly broad claim of executive privilege.

However as confidant as this might have made the White House feel, sources claim that Bannon will not defy the Mueller subpoena.

Courtesy of the Daily Beast:  

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon broke some bad news to House investigators Tuesday, announcing that the White House had invoked executive privilege to keep him from answering many of their questions. 

But executive privilege—the president’s right to keep certain information from the public so he can have frank conversations with aides—will not keep Steve Bannon from sharing information with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, according to a person familiar with the situation. 

“Mueller will hear everything Bannon has to say,” said the source, who is familiar with Bannon’s thinking.

Not sure what game Bannon is playing here as it seems very unlikely that Trump will ever invite him back into the inner circle.

But we certainly know what game Robert Mueller is playing. He isn't.

And just today it was revealed that Bannon has reached a deal with the Mueller team.

Courtesy of CNN: 

Steve Bannon has struck a deal with special counsel Robert Mueller's team and will be interviewed by prosecutors instead of testifying before the grand jury, two people familiar with the process told CNN. He is expected to cooperate with the special counsel, the sources said.

It appears that Steve Bannon realizes that Mueller is not playing games as well. 

Steve Bannon is currently testifying before the House Intelligence Committee. Next up, Hope Hicks. Update!

Steve Bannon is on Capitol Hill to give private testimony to House Intel Committee in Russia probe: https://t.co/xsWc8V42Di

— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) January 16, 2018

Courtesy of AP:

Steve Bannon, the onetime close confidant to President Donald Trump, arrived early Tuesday for his interview before the House Intelligence Committee. 

His interview follows his spectacular fall from power after being quoted in a book that he sees the president’s son and others as engaging in “treasonous” behavior for taking a meeting with Russians during the 2016 campaign.

I imagine that Bannon is spilling his guts right now.

After all what more could he possibly lose at this point?

Next one the barrel is apparently Trump's side piece. (Oh come on! You know it's true.)

Courtesy of CNN:  

White House Communications Director Hope Hicks is expected to meet with the House Intelligence Committee as soon as this week, making her one of President Donald Trump's closest confidantes to be privately interviewed in the panel's Russia investigation, multiple sources with knowledge of the matter told CNN. 

Hicks, a trusted Trump aide for years, was one of then-candidate Trump's first hires as he put together an improbable run for the White House. During the campaign, she was often by Trump's side and attended nearly every rally, while she was in frequent communication with other senior officials as they plotted their tactics to win the White House. 

The House panel plans to interview her about any knowledge she has of contacts that occurred between other Trump associates and Russians. And she is bound to be questioned about other controversies as well, namely the White House's involvement in crafting a misleading response last summer once a June 2016 meeting between Russians and Donald Trump Jr. was revealed in the press. 

The meeting is expected to occur as soon as Friday, the sources said.

I know that Hope Hicks and Stephen Bannon have a potpourri of potentially damaging information about Trump and the campaign to share, but I still lack confidence that the House Intelligence Committee is actually interested in revealing that information.

I am much more interested in what Mueller and his team manage to squeeze out of these two.

And we just learned today that Mueller has issued a subpoena for Bannon to testify before a grand jury.

Courtesy of the New York Times:

Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist, was subpoenaed last week by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to testify before a grand jury as part of the investigation into possible links between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russia, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. 

The move marked the first time Mr. Mueller is known to have used a grand jury subpoena to seek information from a member of Mr. Trump’s inner circle. The special counsel’s office has used subpoenas before to seek information on Mr. Trump’s associates and their possible ties to Russia or other foreign governments. 
The subpoena could be a negotiating tactic. Mr. Mueller is likely to allow Mr. Bannon to forgo the grand jury appearance if he agrees to instead be questioned by investigators in the less formal setting of the special counsel’s offices about ties between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russia and about the president’s conduct in office, according to the person, who would not be named discussing the case. But it was not clear why Mr. Mueller treated Mr. Bannon differently than the dozen administration officials who were interviewed in the final months of last year and were never served with a subpoena.

Popcorn anyone?

Update: I stand corrected, Bannon was uncooperative until he was subpoenaed during the hearing.  

Sources say Bannon told by WH not to answer questions before House Intel Cmte about the White House and the transition. Did not assert executive privilege. Committee subpoenas him during the meeting to comply while in the hearing.

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 16, 2018

Mueller Time Update: Special Counsel questions Jared Kushner about meeting with Russian ambassador as new evidence points to deal with Michael Flynn.

Courtesy of the New York Times:

President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, met this month with investigators working for Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, and answered questions about a meeting with a Russian ambassador during the presidential transition, according to a person briefed on the investigation. 

The questions focused on a meeting in December between Mr. Kushner, the ambassador and Michael T. Flynn, who at the time was the president’s incoming national security adviser, the person said on Wednesday. 

Prosecutors also asked Mr. Kushner about other interactions between Mr. Flynn and the Russian government, the person briefed on the investigation said. 

It appears that Mueller's team is now zeroing in on the meetings that may provide the most evidence of collusion, and this one becomes even more interesting when you read this about Flynn's upcoming grand jury testimony.

Courtesy of CNN:  

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team has postponed an anticipated grand jury testimony linked to his investigation into Michael Flynn amid growing indications of possible plea deal discussions. 

Additional witnesses were expected to be questioned soon including a public relations consultant hired by Flynn's lobbying firm who was given an early December date deadline to appear before the grand jury, according to a person at the company. 

Ahead of the delay, the impression was that the testimony needed to happen soon, the source said. 

"Time seems to be of the essence," said the source at Sphere Consulting, the PR firm where the consultant worked. 

The grand jury testimony was postponed, the person said, with no reason given. There could be many reasons for a delay, including scheduling issues.

One of which is of course a plea deal which would mean that Flynn is spilling his guts and that Mueller is comparing his testimony against that provided by Kushner in those recent meetings. 

There has been quite a lot of talk about a possible subpoena headed Kushner's way in the near future, and it appears that may not have been such idle gossip.

It also appears that this investigation is in no way going to be over anytime soon, so I guess we can all look forward to watching Trump "blow a gasket."

Robert Mueller now has his sights set on Trump's newest communications director Hope Hicks.

Courtesy of Politico: 

President Donald Trump’s longtime aide and current communications director, Hope Hicks, is scheduled to speak with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team in mid-November, following the president’s trip to Asia, multiple people familiar with the schedule told POLITICO. 

Mueller’s team is also expected to interview three or four other current White House officials as early as this week, according to an administration official. 

Mueller’s team already has interviewed former aides, including Trump’s first chief of staff Reince Priebus and former press secretary Sean Spicer. But the latest round of interviews appears to mark a new phase of the investigation — hauling in current administration officials for daylong depositions. 

“Nothing about recent events alters the White House’s commitment to fully cooperate with the office of the special counsel,” White House lawyer Ty Cobb, said Tuesday in an interview. 

The White House currently expects Mueller to wrap up his interviews by Thanksgiving.

Oh I am absolutely certain that Hope Hicks knows all sorts of juicy details about Donald Trump behind the scenes.

Gee, I wonder who will be indicted based on information she shares?

Attorney General Jeff Sessions WILL testify during an open hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee tomorrow. Popcorn anyone?

Uh oh.

Courtesy of Politico: 

Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify in an open hearing Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee on his role in the unfolding Russia investigation, according to congressional and Justice Department officials. 

Sessions informed Congress over the weekend that he will appear before the intelligence committee, rather than before previously scheduled hearings regarding funding for the Justice Department. 

The attorney general is facing increased scrutiny from lawmakers after former FBI Director James Comey testified last week that he knew details about Sessions before his recusal from the Russia probe that would make his involvement in the investigation “problematic.”

Oh man this is great news. 

If Sessions perjures himself before the entire country, the pressure will be immense for him to be fired.

Well I know what I'm going to be doing.

Yep.

Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn seeking immunity, has "a story to tell." Update!

A statement by counsel to General Flynn. pic.twitter.com/JQs90OI2OY

— Robert Kelner (@robkelner) March 30, 2017

Courtesy of HuffPo: 

Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who briefly served as national security adviser to President Donald Trump, is seeking immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying to those conducting investigations into the president’s ties to Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. 

According to the report, Flynn made the offer to the FBI, the House intelligence committee and the Senate intelligence committee. All three entities are currently investigating whether Trump’s associates had contact with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential campaign. According to the Wall Street Journal, none of them have yet accepted Flynn’s offer. 

Flynn’s attorney, Robert Kelner, confirmed in a statement that “discussions have taken place” with both committees, but declined to provide details on what those discussions entailed. 

“General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit,” Kelner wrote. “Out of respect for the Committees, we will not comment right now on the details of discussions between counsel for General Flynn and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, other than to confirm that those discussions have taken place.”

While Flynn’s attorney didn’t explicitly confirm Flynn’s request for immunity, he argued that his client is the target of “unfounded allegations” and “outrageous claims,” and should not be blamed for seeking “assurances” prior to agreeing to testimony. 

“No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution,” he said.

Oh now we're talking!

There have long been rumors that Flynn had cut a deal to spill his guts, and now it looks as if this is confirmation that he is looking to do exactly that.

Somehow I don't think that Donald Trump understands what this could mean to his presidency.

Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2017

Yeah, right.

Update: It looks like Flynn's request for immunity was denied.

NEW: Immunity for Flynn is "not on the table," a senior Hill source tells @KenDilanianNBC, and immunity request was denied.

— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) March 31, 2017

I think that means that the intelligence folks already know what he knows.

Does NOT sound good for Trump. 

Apparently Congressman Darrell Issa works for Rush Limbaugh.

"What am I supposed to do here Rush?"

Courtesy of Politico:  

Rush Limbaugh on Wednesday charged that House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa went soft on IRS official Lois Lerner. 

“Issa basically let her get away with it,” the conservative talk show host said, according to a transcript. “She’s gone. He looked clueless, like didn’t know what was going on, didn’t know how to deal with this.” 

Limbaugh’s comments came after the House Oversight Committee held hearings concerning reports that the IRS had targeted conservative groups with extra scrutiny. Lerner, the director of the IRS division in question, tapped her Fifth Amendment rights to not incriminate herself at the hearing, declining to answer further questions after asserting that she had done nothing wrong in an opening statement. Later on Wednesday, Issa said Lerner will be called before the committee again, telling POLITICO that the Fifth Amendment doesn’t hold after she gave a statement. 

“When I asked her her questions from the very beginning, I did so so she could assert her rights prior to any statement,” Issa (R-Calif.) said. “She chose not to do so — so she waived.”

NO, she DIDN'T waive anything! As Lawrence O'Donnell had pointed out on his show last night her initial statements do not negate her ability to plead the fifth.

And what is more the Congress, which is bulging at the seams with politicians who have law degrees, undoubtedly KNOW THAT!

So WHY is Issa threatening to bring Lerner back?

Because the average conservative is too stupid to understand the law, and they get their information from this asshole:

After IRS official Lois Lerner pleaded the Fifth Amendment during Wednesday afternoon’s House committee hearings on the agency’s intentional targeting of conservative groups, Rush Limbaugh took to bashing the woman as someone “filled with rage” who he can easily envision as a sadomasochist. 

“I can see her with whips and chains. This is not a happy woman. This is a woman that is running around filled with rage. And they all are, folks. They’re angry all the time. They’re never satisfied. And no matter what they get, it’s never enough, they always want more. They exist in a permanent state of being enraged.”

I am assuming that this "they" who Limbaugh keeps referring to are either liberals or women, or perhaps a combination of the two. Either way it indicates an incredible amount of prejudice and lack of intelligence. And yet THIS is the go to guy when Republicans politicians need advice on what to do.

So Issa, terrified of upsetting millions of paint chip eaters, is going to call  Lois Lerner back in front of the committee.

Gee I wonder how she will respond?

Can you say "Waste of government time and resources?" I knew that you could.

Probably one of the most concise cases in support of marriage equality that you will ever hear. And it is delivered by a sixth grader!

Courtesy of Crooks and Liars:

The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings Thursday evening on a bill that would make marriage equality the law of the land in Rhode Island, bringing the state into line with the rest of New England. The hearings lasted until 5:00 am, and many advocates and opponents gave testimony. 

But the person who stole the show was a sixth-grader. Matthew Lannon, a 12-year-old who has two moms gave a powerful voice to America's youth in his testimony before the committee, delivering the most clear and concise case for marriage equality you could ask for from anyone, at any age.

Damn what is with these incredibly intelligent children these days?

We had that nine year old explaining the universe yesterday and now today we have this young man explaining the importance of allowing people in love to marry.  Personally I think it is about time for all of us old folks to step aside and just let these kids take over.

Yesterday the Supreme Court heard arguments on California's gay marriage ban. As of right now I don't know exactly what they will decide but I think it is clear that regardless of what they decide the ban on gay marriage, in ANY state, is not going to stand for too much longer.

Not with kids like Matthew Lannon rushing toward adulthood that's for sure.

HIllary Clinton testifying about Benghazi. Update!

I am right now watching Hillary testifying, and she is kicking some serious ass.

I personally believe this is a witch hunt, but the Secretary of State is handling it with poise and seriousness. She even goes into more detail with her answers than the committee is asking for.

Here is her opening statement. I will have more later, but you all can treat this as an open thread if you so desire.

Update: Here is the live stream.
Live stream videos at Ustream My favorite part so far, courtesy of the Atlantic Wire:

Clinton getting angry as Johnson continues to harp on Rice. She lean forward in her chair and raises her voice when Johnson tries to challenge her on misleading info. "We had four dead Americans!... Whether it was attack preplanned by terrorists or it because of a guy out for a walk one night .. what difference does it make?"

And you Senator Johnson have JUST been taken to school!

Update 2: In case you missed it.

I really cannot watch this clip often enough.

Update 2: And they're done. Hillary is walking out of the chamber picking bits of Senator from between her teeth. Now she is going to the House for the second course.

Silly Republicans, committee hearings are for grownups!

Olbermann points out the serious message contained in Stephen Colbert's comedic testimony on behalf of migrant farm workers before Congress.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sarah Palin could testify today!

According to MSNBC Sarah is at the courthouse right now and could testify at any minute.

I have cleared my calendar to keep an eye on this today.  If any of you fine folks hear anything or get a hot tip please send it my way and I will try to stay as current as possible.

Update:  Palin is indeed on the witness stand right now.

Update2:

 Sarah Palin has taken the stand at the trial of a former University of Tennessee student accused of hacking into her email account.

Palin told jurors she was on the 2008 campaign trail in Michigan when she first learned from a news report that her email had been hacked. She said the account and a Blackberry were the main ways she communicated with her family while she was campaigning as the Republican vice-presidential nominee.

Pretty straight forward and boring so far.  I cannot imagine that Sarah can make it through her testimony without lying at least once.  By the way, does anybody know if the defense has cross examined any of the witnesses yet?  If they have not then the good stuff is still coming.

Update 3:  A little more information available from the Washington Post:

The former Alaska governor said she used the "gov.palin" Yahoo! account and a red Blackberry almost exclusively to communicate with her family in Alaska while she was campaigning as the Republican vice presidential nominee.

Palin told jurors that she only returned to her home in Wasilla, Alaska, once during the campaign to speak at the ceremony when her son deployed to Iraq. (We are checking but I actually think she came back more times than just once.)

Palin's husband, Todd, listened as she testified. Their daughter Bristol testified earlier this week that she got harassing calls and text messages after screen shots of e-mail from the account revealed her cell phone number.

MSNBC is reporting much more, including the fact that Sarah still claims she did not have a land line in her Wasilla home, that she blames the e-mail disclosure for starting the rumors about Trig not being her son (Not true we were on that the DAY she was nominated), that Todd and she were having affairs (Also not true. That information was swirling way before her nomination and came to light nationally when the National Enquirer wrote their piece), and that it invaded the privacy of her friends and family. (Okay I will give that one to her.)

Next Tuesday Palin will be sitting in a courtroom and testifying under oath. What I would not give to be in that courtroom!

From the AP:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A man charged with hacking Sarah Palin's e-mail will go on trial April 20 in Knoxville and an attorney for the former Alaska governor says she will testify.

The judge in the felony case against David Kernell denied a defense request that prospective jurors answer a questionnaire to see if they have "strongly held opinions" about Palin.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips denied the request at a Wednesday hearing, saying there is no reason to treat prospective jurors differently from other cases. He said they will have the opportunity to say if they don't believe they can be fair.

I kind of understand the defense attorney's concerns, it would seem like Tennessee would be Palin country. I am not surprised at the judge's ruling however.

I am very interested in hearing what takes place in this courtroom. I understand that Kernell's attorney Wade Davies is quite gifted and I am excited at the possibility he will catch Palin in a lie under oath.

That would be awesome!

Let's keep our fingers crossed.