U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller subpoenas Trump business for Russia, other documents - NYT

[webfact]

U.S. special counsel subpoenas Trump business for Russia, other documents - NYT

 

FILE PHOTO: Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs after briefing members of the U.S. Senate on his investigation into potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., June 21, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has subpoenaed the Trump Organization for documents, including some related to Russia, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing two people briefed on the matter.

 

Details of the subpoena were not available, the newspaper said. The Trump Organization, which U.S. President Donald Trump ran with his family before he entered the White House, played down the significance of any subpoena, a lawyer saying on Thursday that the company has told the public since July that it is being cooperative with the special counsel's investigation.

 

Mueller is investigating Russian attempts to influence the 2016 U.S. election, and potential collusion by Trump aides. Russia has denied U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusion that it meddled in the election and Trump has said there was no collusion between his campaign and Moscow officials.

 

Mueller has charged several Trump associates and more than a dozen Russians.

 

Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment on the Times report about a subpoena, which was the first known time Mueller had demanded materials directly related to Trump’s businesses.

 

The S&P 500 ended slightly lower on Thursday in choppy trade as strong jobs and manufacturing data was balanced by the Times report on Mueller's subpoena.

 

"This is old news and our assistance and cooperation with the various investigations remains the same today," New York lawyer Alan Futerfas, who represents the Trump Organization in the Russia probe, said in a statement.

 

Futerfas also represents Donald Trump Jr. and other Trump Organization officers and employees.

 

Congressional committees also have been investigating Russia and the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

 

The White House declined to comment specifically on the report and referred questions to the Trump Organization.

 

"We're going to continue to fully cooperate. Out of respect for the special counsel, we're not going to comment," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

 

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld, Doina Chiacu and James Oliphant; editing by Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-16

[Boon Mee]

The Witch Hunt goes on & on.

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line" 

[kamahele]

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The Witch Hunt goes on & on.

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line" 

Who cares about Trump's red line. Mueller doesn't work for Trump.

[Chomper Higgot]

This is just the starter, wait until Eric Schneiderman makes his moves against Trump - State charges not federal charges, so no 'Presidential Pardons' coming over the hill.

 

'The whole three ringed circus is coming down'.

[Berkshire]

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The Witch Hunt goes on & on.

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line" 

Aren't you Trump guys even a little bit concerned that Trump's relationship with Russia has caused a major conflict of interest regarding US policy towards Russia?  You may not notice, but everyone else does....

 

[As with all matters relating to Russia, Trump had been mysteriously reluctant to take any position or make any statement that might be construed as hostile to Putin. Trump has gushed with praise for the Russian President, even condemning the United States rather than criticize Putin, and looking downright uncomfortable whenever forced to challenge him.]

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/15/opinions/why-trump-a-pussycat-in-criticizing-putin-ghitis/index.html

[Chomper Higgot]

11 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Aren't you Trump guys even a little bit concerned that Trump's relationship with Russia has caused a major conflict of interest regarding US policy towards Russia?  You may not notice, but everyone else does....

 

It is far worse than that Berkshire.

 

Congress passed a bipartisan bill of sanctions on Russia in response to Russia's meddling in the 2016 US election - Trump refuses to sign bill into law.

 

The FBI, CIA, NRA and Congressional Committees have all concluded that Russia meddled in the 2016 election, continue to meddle in US politics and are fully expected to meddle in the 2018 mid-terms.

 

Trump has refused to give any orders or instructions to the US security services to counter the full expectation of Russian meddling in the mid-terms. 

 

Trump is clearly failing in his duty to protect the US in favour of Russia.

 

Mueller is on Trump's treachery, Schneiderman is on Trump's financial crimes. 

 

'The whole three ringed circus is coming down'.

 

 

[zaphod reborn]

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The Witch Hunt goes on & on.

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line" 

No red line.  There is now evidence that Trump was in negotiations with a Russian oligarch to build a Trump Towers in Moscow.  In fact, known Russian agent and convicted felon, Felix Sater, was Trump's liaison in prior efforts to build the tower, and apparently intends to continue such efforts (http://www.newsweek.com/sater-trump-moscow-build-president-841514) once Trump is out of office (which will be much sooner than you think).

 

Sater is already going down for his role in the Bayrock theft/fraud/money laundering scandal.  The Trump Towers project collapsed in early 2016, following the invasions of Crimea and Ukraine, when Obama slapped sanctions against Russia and the oligarch in negotiations with Sater for the Trump Tower Moscow.  It's no surprise that Putin and Trump colluded for help in the election in exchange for lifting the sanctions.  If you connect the dots, you see why no "red line" has been crossed.  

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

Aren't you Trump guys even a little bit concerned that Trump's relationship with Russia has caused a major conflict of interest regarding US policy towards Russia?  You may not notice, but everyone else does....

 

[As with all matters relating to Russia, Trump had been mysteriously reluctant to take any position or make any statement that might be construed as hostile to Putin. Trump has gushed with praise for the Russian President, even condemning the United States rather than criticize Putin, and looking downright uncomfortable whenever forced to challenge him.]

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/15/opinions/why-trump-a-pussycat-in-criticizing-putin-ghitis/index.html

I am quite convinced, that during one of Tiny Dons trips to Russia, well before he became the deflector in chief, he was offered several escorts by Putin, brought to his five star hotel suite. A freebie. And he accepted. Don is a sex freak. Would he be able to say no to five gorgeous women, who were pretending to want him? I do not think he would have the willpower, nor the discrimination to say no. King Vlad deliberately inserted a couple of gals that looked to be of legal age, but in reality were 15 years old, knowing that the US laws prohibited a man from having sex with a woman under the age of 18, anywhere in the world. Trump was filmed with the group, and Vlad got his blackmail tape. That is what Vlad does. He has been doing it his whole career. And Trump would not have been savvy enough to figure that out. He got duped. Vlad showed him the tape, and now, Don is doing everything in his power to suck up to Vlad. It is just speculation, but it makes sense. 

 

His base will tolerate just about any moral depravity from this man, in order to further their agenda. Same with the so called religious right. But, when it comes to statutory rape (admittedly a bizarre term for having sex with willing, underage girls, not that I condone it, on any level) I do not think they would stand by him. Nor would congress and the senate. He would be thrown under the bus in a nanosecond. And the American people would rejoice! There would be parades in the streets. The world would rejoice. Nobody would miss him. Well, his base might, but they would be angry that he was finally discovered to have crossed that very broad line, and they would finally have to admit, that some acts are just too much, and that morality matters, on some level. 

 

Tiny DT. The art of moving America backwards, and lowering the quality of life for the average American. 

The art of I cannot make a deal to save my life. 

The art of losing talent in droves, and replacing them with sycophantic fools, devoid of talent or experience. Like The appointment of Lynne Patton, a wedding planner and longtime Trump family associate, to head the Housing and Urban Development's office for New York and New Jersey, and the talk show host that he just appointed as a chief economic advisor, because he talk smooth and looks good on TV. Good one Don.

 

The art of not being able to fill vacancies, and leading a nation, without the help of key appointees. The Trump administration will usher in the second quarter of its presidential term with hundreds of vacancies still left to fill in departments throughout the administration. According to the Washington Post and Partnership for Public Service, only 241 key positions requiring Senate confirmation — out of 633 — have been confirmed as of Jan. 18, with 244 positions still without a nominee. The 633 key positions are a small portion of over 1,200 total positions requiring Senate confirmation, the Post noted. Trump’s sluggish staffing stands in stark contrast to his predecessors. According to the Post, Trump had 301 total confirmed nominees by Jan. 18, as compared with 452 confirmations by former President Barack Obama, 493 by George W. Bush and 471 by Bill Clinton at the same point in their terms. 

 

Edited March 16, 2018 by spidermike007

[Silurian]

5 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The Witch Hunt goes on & on.

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line" 

 

Yet another typical clueless "hit and run" mouth flatulence that is to be expected from a Donald bot supporter. Just reiterate Tweets from the oh so revered one.

 

*sigh*

 

 

Edited March 16, 2018 by Silurian

[FritsSikkink]

5 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The Witch Hunt goes on & on.

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line" 

You are right, Trump can be compared to a Witch.

Mueller is entitled to look into anything he thinks is important to the case. Trump has been doing business in Russia, which he has sometimes denied and other times bragged about. Getting money from organized crime in Russia can get a person receptive of blackmail. 

[mtls2005]

5 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line"

 

If there's nothing to hide why the need to draw a "red line"?

 

"Following the money" between Russia and The Trump Organization would seem to be fundamental to determining if/how The Kremlin was able to work in favor of one candidate.

 

If there is truly nothing to hide then just release the tax returns. This would go a long way towards clearing Trump...or not.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2018 by mtls2005

[Jingthing]

Mueller better move faster. "trump" is in firing mode. Sessions isn't safe either. 

[mtls2005]

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Mueller better move faster. "trump" is in firing mode. Sessions isn't safe either. 

 

There was a rumor that Ted Cruz might replace Sessions but don't think they want to risk another Republican Senate seat?

 

I'm thinking Rudy Guiliani? Assuming Mr. Loaf, or Mr. Busey are otherwise unavailable.

 

 

Edited March 16, 2018 by mtls2005

[Chomper Higgot]

14 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

There was a rumor that Ted Cruz might replace Sessions but don't think they want to risk another Republican Senate seat?

 

I'm thinking Rudy Guiliani?

 

 

Guiliani is already under investigation by Mueller.

[Berkshire]

18 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

There was a rumor that Ted Cruz might replace Sessions but don't think they want to risk another Republican Senate seat?

 

I'm thinking Rudy Guiliani? Assuming Mr. Loaf, or Mr. Busey are otherwise unavailable.

 

 

I've read that Pruitt, the scumbag EPA guy, wants the AG job.  That guy is total slime with no integrity and would fire Mueller in a NY minute. 

[Opl]

6 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The Witch Hunt goes on & on.

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line" 

 

Boon Me, in fact you are not a real Trump supporter, you are an anti-Trump troller, and you're excellent at it

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

"This is old news and our assistance and cooperation with the various investigations remains the same today,"

All previous requests were asked informally.

A subpoena makes those requests formal. Hence, any omission, ie., from previous submittals, in response to the subpoena would constitute obstruction of justice - a crime.

 

If the previous submissions are identical with the subpoena submittals, Mueller has a legal-proof baseline against which testimonies and other documents can be validated. And in the reverse, testimonies and other documents (ie., emails identifying documents that are missing from submittals under subpoena) can be used to invalidate subpoena submittals as obstruction of justice/perjury - crimes.

 

"old news" might prove to be irrelevant, if not dangerous or Trump.

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The Trump Organization, which U.S. President Donald Trump ran with his family before he entered the White House, played down the significance of any subpoena

"his family" is falling apart.

Vanessa Trump filed for divorce from Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump's eldest son.

“After 12 years of marriage, we have decided to go our separate ways,”

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/us/trump-jr-divorce-vanessa.html

The timing of this announcement to just "go our separate ways" seems very coincidental to Muller's further push into the Trump Organization finances. Certainly the splitting of any community assets during the 12-year marriage would benefit the family should Jr. be indicted by federal and/or state prosecution.

 

[Scott]

Off-topic post and reply removed. 

[Trouble]

Seems like fiction abounds here on TV when it comes to Trump.  Lots of stories with little to back them up. Good work guys.  

[Opl]

36 minutes ago, Trouble said:

Seems like fiction abounds here on TV when it comes to Trump.  Lots of stories with little to back them up. Good work guys.  

 

DT has  a long-term fear of being poisoned..and he is right,  poisoned russian spy in London could be a warning to those involved in the russian election interference - good work Putin.  

[Redline]

20 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The Witch Hunt goes on & on.

Believe Mueller has crossed another "Red Line" 

I guess you’re out of the loop ?

[Srikcir]

When I hear/see "crossing a Red line" I picture Mueller stepping over Trump lying on the floor in front of Mueller's office door.

[mrwebb8825]

Seems the Opioid epidemic has nothing on the Trumpioid epidemic going on in here. Any business dealings prior to becoming a candidate has nothing to do with the so called "collusion investigation". All business dealings after becoming a candidate were handled by the board and didn't involve President Trump.

Mueller has all but admitted he's wasted millions and come up empty so he's desperately trying to find anything at all to justify his fragile existence.

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, mrwebb8825 said:

All business dealings after becoming a candidate were handled by the board and didn't involve President Trump.

Regardless, Trump has not divested his holdings in the Trump Organization nor put his holdings in a blind trust.

[jcsmith]

1 hour ago, mrwebb8825 said:

All business dealings after becoming a candidate were handled by the board and didn't involve President Trump.

Mueller has all but admitted he's wasted millions and come up empty so he's desperately trying to find anything at all to justify his fragile existence.

So much misinformation in one post. From Ivanka using the white house to promote her products, to Trump spending 1/3 of his time on his own properties where he charges hundreds of thousands for memberships, and from foreign officials spending large amounts of money on Trump properties. To at least 4 foreign nations trying to figure out how to exploit Kushner's financial issues, to a foreign country overpaying for a troubled Kushner property which they have not done anything with a year later. To Trump claiming he has no dealings in Russia while he is in the middle of trying to close a deal for a Trump Tower Moscow during the election. 

 

Mueller has all but admitted he's wasted millions? Really? At least 5 guilty pleas, and at least 17 other indictments. It's obvious that he has an obstruction case on Trump already. He doesn't want to charge him with that though until he closes the rest of his investigations. That includes both business dealings, Russia dealings, and possible campaign violations. Cambridge Analytica is also certainly on that radar. Trump who promised to talk to Mueller months tried to mail back summarized answers to his questions written by his lawyers. And all signs since receiving those questions are that he is trying to sway public opinion to justify firing Mueller. That's obviously working on his base, as can be witnessed in this thread.

The larger question though is what is Trump trying to hide. He's obviously obstructed and continuing to obstruct. But what is he obstructing. Even if no collusion were found, he's covering up something that is likely criminal. 

Edited March 20, 2018 by jcsmith

[mtls2005]

1 hour ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Any business dealings prior to becoming a candidate has nothing to do with the so called "collusion investigation".

 

Sounds like something one might see on RT?

 

Any "business" dealings between Trump, family, those involved in the campaign at any time may point to collusion.

 

 

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Sounds like something one might see on RT?

 

...

 

Exactly. The sad part is that when people hear big and they're repeated, many of them get worn down and soak them in. 

[mrwebb8825]

17 minutes ago, jcsmith said:

Mueller has all but admitted he's wasted millions? Really? At least 5 guilty pleas, and at least 17 other indictments.

Flynn, Popadopolus <-sp), Page (3) and 13 indictments against Russians who are using them for toilet paper. 

[jcsmith]

15 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Flynn, Popadopolus <-sp), Page (3) and 13 indictments against Russians who are using them for toilet paper. 

There are also guilty pleas by Richard Pinedo and Alex van der Swaan. The upcoming Manafort trial and multiple Russian entities.