White House counsel was 'fed up' with Trump - source

[rooster59]

White House counsel was 'fed up' with Trump - source

By Karen Freifeld

 

FILE PHOTO: Don McGahn, lawyer and Trump advisor, exits following a meeting of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's national finance team at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City, U.S., June 9, 2016.REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - White House Counsel Donald McGahn threatened to quit last June because he was "fed up" after President Donald Trump insisted he take steps to remove the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

 

The New York Times reported on Thursday that Trump backed down from his order to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller after McGahn said he would resign rather than follow the directive, citing four people told of the matter

Trump on Friday denied the report.

 

"Fake news, folks, fake news," the president told reporters when asked about the report in Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum of business and political leaders.

 

If Trump did try to fire Mueller, it could strengthen a case for obstruction of justice against the president based on whether he had "corrupt intent" in trying to hinder Mueller's investigation, legal experts said.

 

A person familiar with the situation told Reuters Trump sought to have Mueller removed over what the president perceived as conflicts of interest. These included Mueller's relationship with James Comey, who succeeded Mueller as FBI director until Trump fired him in May, and Mueller's resignation from one of Trump's golf clubs over a fee dispute in 2011, other people said.

 

The person told Reuters on Friday that Trump asked McGahn to raise what he said were Mueller's conflicts with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein because the president thought they were serious enough to remove Mueller.

 

Rosenstein appointed Mueller after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation and is the official overseeing the special counsel.

 

McGahn, who could not be reached for comment, did not discuss the issue with Rosenstein and threatened to quit when Trump continued to insist that he do so, the person said.

 

The lawyer did not issue an ultimatum directly to the president but told then White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and then chief strategist Steve Bannon he wanted to quit because he was "fed up with the president," the person said.

 

The source added that it was possible Bannon and Priebus did not know all the details of the Trump's discussions with McGahn about Mueller at that time.

 

Neither Bannon nor Preibus could be reached for comment.

 

Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment on the report.

 

White House lawyer Ty Cobb, who is representing the presidency in the Mueller probe, declined comment, citing respect for special counsel.

 

Trump could be questioned about the incident by Mueller's team, which sources say has been negotiating with the president's personal lawyers about a possible interview in the coming weeks.

 

Moscow has denied the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies that it meddled in the election to help Trump. Mueller's office is also investigating potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, something that Trump has repeatedly denied.

 

According to sources, the special counsel has asked other witnesses about whether Trump has tried to obstruct justice by, for instance, firing Comey, who previously headed the Russia investigation as FBI Director.

 

To build a criminal obstruction of justice case, federal law requires prosecutors to show that a person acted with an improper, or "corrupt," intent, such as protecting himself or those close to him.

 

Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago, said moving to fire Mueller would further strengthen an obstruction case against Trump.

 

"Even after he knows that he is being looked at for obstruction of justice and has seen legal analysts talk about obstruction with the Comey firing he is still moving forward and doing what he can to influence that investigation," Mariotti said.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-27

[thaibeachlovers]

6 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

a person familiar with the matter

Always, "a source", never a name. 

Considering how many stories from un named "sources" have been wrong, papers reporting such are just tarnishing their reputation.

[simple1]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Always, "a source", never a name. 

Considering how many stories from un named "sources" have been wrong, papers reporting such are just tarnishing their reputation.

Journalists do not disclose their sources without permission. Let's wait and see how the investigations unfolds, it has been estimated by 11/2018 matters should be a lot clearer

 

Mr. Mueller learned about the episode in recent months as his investigators interviewed current and former senior White House officials in his inquiry into whether the president obstructed justice.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/us/politics/trump-mueller-special-counsel-russia.html

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

30 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Journalists do not disclose their sources without permission. Let's wait and see how the investigations unfolds, it has been estimated by 11/2018 matters should be a lot clearer

 

Mr. Mueller learned about the episode in recent months as his investigators interviewed current and former senior White House officials in his inquiry into whether the president obstructed justice.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/us/politics/trump-mueller-special-counsel-russia.html

 

 

Soooo, lots of leaks about irrelevant things for the media to get hysterical about, and not a single leak proving the Trump campaign actually colluded with Russians.

Hmmmmm.

 

in his inquiry into whether the president obstructed justice.

That's not what the inquiry is about.

 

Let's wait and see how the investigations unfolds

Edited January 27, 2018 by thaibeachlovers

[simple1]

15 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Soooo, lots of leaks about irrelevant things for the media to get hysterical about, and not a single leak proving the Trump campaign actually colluded with Russians.

Hmmmmm.

 

in his inquiry into whether the president obstructed justice.

That's not what the inquiry is about.

 

Let's wait and see how the investigations unfolds

Some nonsense posted - no surprise.

Obstruction of Justice is one of the lines of enquiry.

Allegations Trump wanted to fire Mueller is not irrelevant.

Kindly do not snip content which changes context of my post.

[thaibeachlovers]

12 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Some nonsense posted - no surprise.

Obstruction of Justice is one of the lines of enquiry.

Allegations Trump wanted to fire Mueller is not irrelevant.

Kindly do not snip content which changes context of my post.

Bye.

 

Edited January 27, 2018 by thaibeachlovers

[Boon Mee]

Right.

Who is the 'source'?

Sounds like more disinformation and deflection coming from the Democrats due to the soon-to-be exposed FBI meddling in the last election. 

[ricklev]

Deplorable.

 

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

the only irrelevant statements are all coming from Trump. The only fake news is FOX.

 

When most news agencies make a mistake they spend far more energy on retractions. Trump and FOX never admit to their lies and keep repeating them even when confronted with the facts.

 

If you believe otherwise you are either brainwashed or have far greater personal problems to deal with.

 

There is no such thing as alternate facts!!!!!

 

[wolfmanjack]

hannity said fox confirmed the story after crying it was fake news then immediately switched to a car crash video.

 

[Redline]

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Right.

Who is the 'source'?

Sounds like more disinformation and deflection coming from the Democrats due to the soon-to-be exposed FBI meddling in the last election. 

Really it's all happening from my deep state control center here in Thailand.  If you want to convert, we have unlimited food and girls.  All nationalities welcome.  Any spies will be "disappeared".  You can find us in the deep web!

[IAMHERE]

"Who is the 'source'?"   

 

Russians  again is my best guess, those bad men are everywhere.

[Spike1938]

22 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Right.

Who is the 'source'?

Sounds like more disinformation and deflection coming from the Democrats due to the soon-to-be exposed FBI meddling in the last election. 

This has thoroughly been debunked. You and other Trump supporters can twist and spin but in the end all that will happen is you will get dizzy. There are enough incidents, starting with Trump's own admission that he fired Comey because of Russian investigation, to show attempts at obstruction. Whether there will be enough hard evidence to prove obstruction we will have to wait for Mueller's investigation to end. As I heard someone once say: "only the good Lord knows the facts, I would like to give you some evidence."

 

[boomerangutang]

On 1/27/2018 at 11:47 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Soooo, lots of leaks about irrelevant things for the media to get hysterical about, and not a single leak proving the Trump campaign actually colluded with Russians. Hmmmmm.  in his inquiry into whether the president obstructed justice. That's not what the inquiry is about. Let's wait and see how the investigations unfolds

One of many indications that Trump and his cabal colluded with Russians:

in late 2016, Flynn was secretly conversing with high-ups from Russia (maybe Putin himself) ....offering to ease sanctions against Russia.  There is no way Flynn would be making such offers to the Russkies without the blessings of boss Trump.  

 

And then there are the dozens of proofs of obstruction of Justice. . . . . . .

 

23 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Right. Who is the 'source'? Sounds like more disinformation and deflection coming from the Democrats due to the soon-to-be exposed FBI meddling in the last election. 

We get it:  From Trump fans' perspective, any news which doesn't lavish praise on Trump is 'fake news.'  That sort of deflection got old very early.   Now, when Trump says 'fake news,' everyone knows it's true - even hard-rightists know Trump is a lying vindictive SOB.

[billd766]

20 hours ago, Redline said:

Really it's all happening from my deep state control center here in Thailand.  If you want to convert, we have unlimited food and girls.  All nationalities welcome.  Any spies will be "disappeared".  You can find us in the deep web!

 

What is the salary and perks and can I work from home?

 

At the moment I am a part time spy for the emperor Ming the Merciless from the planet Mong but I should be able to get your work done on my days o9ff.

Edited January 28, 2018 by billd766
Added extra text

[Redline]

15 hours ago, billd766 said:

 

What is the salary and perks and can I work from home?

 

At the moment I am a part time spy for the emperor Ming the Merciless from the planet Mong but I should be able to get your work done on my days o9ff.

Just free girls and food.  Both good, but can contain fat at times 

[mrwebb8825]

On 1/27/2018 at 10:59 AM, rooster59 said:

citing four people told of the matter

That about sums up the validity of this story.

[billd766]

7 hours ago, Redline said:

Just free girls and food.  Both good, but can contain fat at times 

 

OK. I can live with that. Where do I sign up?

[spidermike007]

Of course he was fed up with the deflector in chief. Why would he not be fed up with this man? Even his wife is fed up with him, if her body language is any indication. She appears to be enjoying being first lady, about as much as Trump is enjoying the presidency. When the plebs do not obey, when he masses disagree, when the commoners show their distaste, when people do not love him, it is a bad day for Mr. Thin Skin. 

 

I wish he has fired Mueller. It might have been the end of him. Relax. He will end it himself. Just give him enough rope. A man cannot shoot himself in the foot too often, without becoming crippled. 

Edited January 29, 2018 by spidermike007

[Redline]

On 1/29/2018 at 11:43 AM, billd766 said:

 

OK. I can live with that. Where do I sign up?

First step is to take a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts (no plain glazed) to the local police station.  They will give you the next step in the process, written on the back of a Hillary for President napkin...

Later it will require an MRI, which you will be reimbursed for 

[ilostmypassword]

On 1/27/2018 at 11:08 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Always, "a source", never a name. 

Considering how many stories from un named "sources" have been wrong, papers reporting such are just tarnishing their reputation.

How many exactly? Or even approximately? And what percentage do the constitute of the total number of stories. It's actually a vanishingly small percentage. Something like your assertions the validity of which vanish upon even a cursory examination.