Trump's lawyers argued president could not have obstructed Russia probe - NYT

 

U.S. President Donald Trump departs the White House in Washington for a weekend trip to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, U.S., June 1, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's lawyers argued in a letter to the special counsel investigating Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election that the president could not have obstructed the probe given the powers granted to him by the U.S. Constitution, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

 

In the Jan. 29 letter to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Trump's lawyers contended that the Constitution gives the president the power to "terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon," and that meant he could not illegally obstruct the investigation, the Times reported.

 

The 20-page letter was a response to repeated requests by Mueller's office asking to interview Trump. Negotiations between Trump's lawyers and the special counsel on a possible interview have continued since.

 

As part of his investigation, Mueller is looking into the possibility the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow and that Trump subsequently tried to obstruct the probe.

 

Russia has denied any interference and Trump has repeatedly said there was no collusion or obstruction.

 

Mueller's office declined to comment, while the White House and the two attorneys who wrote the letter, Jay Sekulow and John Dowd, did not reply to requests for comment. Dowd left the president's legal team in March.

 

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who became Trump's lead lawyer in April, said last month that he wanted any interview of Trump to be limited in scope and length, suggesting it to be only 2-1/2 hours and not under oath.

 

If the president does not consent to an interview and Mueller instead subpoenas him, the interpretation of executive powers by Trump's lawyers would likely be tested in court if they decided to fight the subpoena.

 

In arguing that Trump has the power to end an investigation or pardon people, his lawyers left open the possibility that they were referring only to a probe into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and not necessarily an investigation of the president, the New York Times said.

 

Trump took what appeared to be a pre-emptive swipe at the New York Times report shortly before it ran in a tweet that questioned whether Mueller's office or the Justice Department leaked letters from his lawyers.

 

"When will this very expensive Witch Hunt Hoax ever end?" Trump said in the tweet.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-03

This is nothing more than the Nixon defense;

 

"Well, when the President does it, that means that it is not illegal." 

 

It was BS then and it is BS now.

 

 

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Well, when the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.

 

 

Unless Michael Cohen (or some other SIGINT captures) recorded Trump directing him to work with Russians or block the investigation, Trump will not be subject to a legal challenge. And I can't see him ever being convicted in the Senate, assuming he was impeached by the House. But I think he'll also hand the reins over to Pence in 2020.

Even President follow law!

Trump's lawyers worst nightmare would be an hours long interview of Trump by Mueller.  They know that it would be almost impossible for Trump to tell the truth for any extended period of time!  Mueller doesn't need to prove that Trump was guilty of conspiracy, he can just get Trump to perjure himself.

 

?

22 minutes ago, otherstuff1957 said:

Trump's lawyers worst nightmare would be an hours long interview of Trump by Mueller.  They know that it would be almost impossible for Trump to tell the truth for any extended period of time!  Mueller doesn't need to prove that Trump was guilty of conspiracy, he can just get Trump to perjure himself.

 

?

I suspect they are far more concerned Trump might just tell the truth in some deranged fit of hubris.

 

Trump has never in his life been called to account, he thinks he’s bulletproof.

PT  Queen's exaggeration swagger is a defense attorney nightmare. Must deligitimize the whole witch hunt .The only thing he is guilty of is using Russian Salad dressing on his cheeseburgers .

1 minute ago, riclag said:

PT  Queen's exaggeration swagger is a defense attorney nightmare. Must deligitimize the whole witch hunt .The only thing he is guilty of is using Russian Salad dressing on his cheeseburgers .

And you know he’s not guilty because?

 

Certainly not because you have any knowledge of the investigation findings.

1 hour ago, otherstuff1957 said:

Trump's lawyers worst nightmare would be an hours long interview of Trump by Mueller.  They know that it would be almost impossible for Trump to tell the truth for any extended period of time!  Mueller doesn't need to prove that Trump was guilty of conspiracy, he can just get Trump to perjure himself.

 

?

 

Quote

It takes a lot for a lawyer to call one of his own clients a liar. But that's how Donald Trump's attorneys felt about him.

 

According to a deposition from Trump's 1992 bankruptcy hearing, his lawyers said that they would always meet with the real estate mogul in pairs, so he couldn't backtrack on them.

Even Donald Trump’s lawyers think he’s a habitual liar

https://www.salon.com/2016/10/07/even-donald-trumps-lawyers-think-hes-a-habitual-liar/

 

Commentary: My lawyers got Trump to admit 30 times, under oath, that he lied

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-lies-under-oath-20170612-story.html

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

And you know he’s not guilty because?

 

Certainly not because you have any knowledge of the investigation findings.

It would of been out in the papers along time ago ,just like everything else that's been leaked.

1 hour ago, riclag said:

It would of been out in the papers along time ago ,just like everything else that's been leaked.

There have been near zero leaks from the Investigation. 

 

Regardless, the investigation shall issue its findings once it is completed. 

 

So don't go wandering off when the report comes out. We're going to have fun discussing it.

More on this in the link below, including:

 

"Ultimately, Trump’s lawyers argued that the president should not be compelled to sit for an interview to assist Mueller’s effort, arguing that the White House provided full access to documents and interviews with other senior staff that was sufficient to answer Mueller’s questions about Trump’s actions.

“The President’s prime function as the Chief Executive ought not be hampered by requests for interview. Having him testify demeans the Office of the President before the world,” they wrote."

Even for lawyers, they show some gall in writing the italicised part.  Trump has already de-meaned the office of the President to such an extent that there is no "mean" left to be de-'d.  It is at zero mean already, if not negative.  The next president will need to spend the majority of his term re-meaning the office before the world welcomes them back as a trusted ally.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/in-secret-memo-trump’s-lawyers-argued-he-has-complete-power-over-justice-investigations-and-could-not-have-committed-obstruction/ar-AAy9CxY?ocid=spartanntp

53 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There have been near zero leaks from the Investigation. 

This is the crux of the matter, and if you look at Ballpoint's post above you can see that this leak will be used as yet more ammo against Mueller and Co. BUT the fact is that Mueller's team are completely watertight, so who has the leak come from? It must be from one of Trump's team and remembering the not so distant past it could well be Trump himself. He has done it before many times so why would this particular Leopard change his spots? The answer is..he wouldn't.

Edited June 3, 20188 yr by Andaman Al

2 hours ago, riclag said:

It would of been out in the papers along time ago ,just like everything else that's been leaked.

It has been, you just ignore it all

3 hours ago, riclag said:

It would of been out in the papers along time ago ,just like everything else that's been leaked.

 

leaks coming from Trump aren't fake news so I'll share the good news :

"The leaked memo from Trump’s lawyers to Mueller reveals that Trump’s legal defense is that the president is above the law and can’t be subpoenaed or prosecuted."

but Trump is innocent, so where is the problem?  

https://www.politicususa.com/2018/06/02/bombshell-leaked-memo-shows-why-trumps-legal-defense-is-a-threat-to-democracy.html

 

Edited June 3, 20188 yr by Opl

No Donald you are not above the law 

Trump's  Lawyers " argue" ?

Not  categorically   deny?

Oh  ! Of course ! Keep  the argument  going,  keep  the bonus  arriving !   lol

Quote

Donald Trump probably has the power to pardon himself in the Russia collusion affair but does not intend to do so, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani says.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44348991

 

Well he is not going to do that today, but we all know how that guy changes his mind more often than his under pants...

 

Question is if he does can the next incumbent of the White House un-pardon him???

Edited June 3, 20188 yr by Basil B

"Rudy Giuliani Just Got Trump To Impeach Himself. The reason why Giuliani’s belief that Trump can pardon himself is akin to self-impeachment is that a pardon has to come with an admission of guilt. "

https://www.politicususa.com/2018/06/03/rudy-giuliani-trump-impeach-himself.html

 

1 hour ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Trump's  Lawyers " argue" ?

Not  categorically   deny?

Oh  ! Of course ! Keep  the argument  going,  keep  the bonus  arriving !   lol

Seems many of his legal team have stopped denying his involvement as they could not know if he had or not, and no longer take his word for it... Rudy is intelligent enough to realise the writing is on the wall, it is only time and he will soon start to distance himself from the "Ticking Time Bomb".

Edited June 3, 20188 yr by Basil B

8 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

9 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There have been near zero leaks from the Investigation. 

This is the crux of the matter, and if you look at Ballpoint's post above you can see that this leak will be used as yet more ammo against Mueller and Co. BUT the fact is that Mueller's team are completely watertight, so who has the leak come from? It must be from one of Trump's team and remembering the not so distant past it could well be Trump himself. He has done it before many times so why would this particular Leopard change his spots? The answer is..he wouldn't.

Well we didn't have to wait long did we ! Here on cue is Trump suggesting that the lawyers letters were leaked by Mueller or the DOJ.

 

"When will this very expensive Witch Hunt Hoax ever end?" Trump said in the tweet.

 

"When you are in your proper place, Mr. World-class Criminal, namely in a tiny cell or between 6 pieces of (cheap) wood", tweeted the civilized world back.

2 hours ago, JulesMad said:

"When will this very expensive Witch Hunt Hoax ever end?" Trump said in the tweet.

 

"When you are in your proper place, Mr. World-class Criminal, namely in a tiny cell or between 6 pieces of (cheap) wood", tweeted the civilized world back.

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm quite sure The Donald is out of his depth here. When he became president he was sure he would have absolute power, but since then he's been finding out that he doesn't. And now he's wondering what the hell went wrong and what he can do to save his hide.

14 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

It has been, you just ignore it all

Show me the indictment for collusion or obstruction of anything that involves PT or Candidate Mr. Trump . Process crimes  don't count for the Russian Interference.If their was indisputable evidence and the Dems or Mueller had it, it would behoove them to get it out expeditiously.The wakco left rally cry has been, Get him out now, the sooner the better and spare the country and the world further harm. 

  Can you imagine the outrage and damnation if PT pushed the Nuke button on NK ,while all along the Dems and Mueller had the goods on PT.

   No its 1-1/2 years of political rubbish, all consisting of Facebook and Tweeter malcontents, dissing HC and the Dems.

5 hours ago, JulesMad said:

"When you are in your proper place, Mr. World-class Criminal, namely in a tiny cell or between 6 pieces of (cheap) wood", tweeted the civilized world back.

Can't indite a sitting POTUS my friend,wishful thinking.The thing he's guilty of is not being PC and his telling it like it is brash NY/Queens swagger. 

1 hour ago, riclag said:

Show me the indictment for collusion or obstruction of anything that involves PT or Candidate Mr. Trump . Process crimes  don't count for the Russian Interference.If their was indisputable evidence and the Dems or Mueller had it, it would behoove them to get it out expeditiously.The wakco left rally cry has been, Get him out now, the sooner the better and spare the country and the world further harm. 

  Can you imagine the outrage and damnation if PT pushed the Nuke button on NK ,while all along the Dems and Mueller had the goods on PT.

   No its 1-1/2 years of political rubbish, all consisting of Facebook and Tweeter malcontents, dissing HC and the Dems.

So SAD

On 6/3/2018 at 1:16 PM, riclag said:

It would of been out in the papers along time ago ,just like everything else that's been leaked.

You're assuming that it's the Justice Dept. doing the leaking.

13 hours ago, Opl said:

"Rudy Giuliani Just Got Trump To Impeach Himself. The reason why Giuliani’s belief that Trump can pardon himself is akin to self-impeachment is that a pardon has to come with an admission of guilt. "

https://www.politicususa.com/2018/06/03/rudy-giuliani-trump-impeach-himself.html

 

I don't believe that the Constitution says a pardon has to come with an admission of guilt. A self-pardon may be construed as such, but that's not the same thing.

Sounds like a Jedi mind trick...these aren't the criminals you're looking for (waves hand)...Republicans mindlessly repeat the statement.

6 hours ago, riclag said:

Can't indite a sitting POTUS my friend,wishful thinking.The thing he's guilty of is not being PC and his telling it like it is brash NY/Queens swagger. 

There is no legal precedent for indicting a sitting president, but then neither is there legal precedent against doing so.

 

And you wish us to forget the President cannot pardon anyone on State crimes.

 

So jus like your arguments against their being findings of Trump’s criminality, your arguments against his indictment are wishful thinking on your part.

 

The truth will (despite Trump’s best efforts) out.