Mueller probe 'close to being completed' -acting U.S. attorney general

 

FILE PHOTO: Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs after briefing the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 20, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein/File Photo/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The probe of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, is wrapping up, Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker told reporters on Monday.

 

"I've been fully briefed on the investigation and I look forward to Director Mueller delivering the final report," he said at a press conference on U.S. charges against China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd."Right now the investigation is I think close to being completed and I hope that we can get the report from Director Mueller as soon as possible."

 

The investigation most recently ensnared a long-time confidant of President Donald Trump, political operative Roger Stone, and has led to the conviction of Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort.

 

Mueller has been tight-lipped about when the months of closed-door grand jury sessions and plea deals will conclude, leaving questions over how far into the White House his probe will reach and what will happen to his findings. Trump's nominee to fill the attorney general post permanently, William Barr, recently pledged to make public as much of the report as possible, saying Mueller is required to file it confidentially.

 

Russia denies any wrongdoing in the 2016 election. Trump has repeatedly said he was not involved in any collusion with Russia and has often referred to the probe as a "witch hunt."

 

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan and Sarah N. Lynch; Writing by Lisa Lambert; editing by Dan Grebler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-01-29

Mueller’s banging on the White House door, of course Trump appointed Acting AG would like us all to believe Mueller is about to wrap up his investigations.

Just sounds like another Trump mouthpiece trying to put pressure on Mueller. Not picked off the extended or immediate family yet then you will see the end is near.

I suspect this silly 2 year "probe" will show no concrete proof that Trump colluded with Russian players to cause Hillary to lose her election. What happens after that? Well, in light of the fact this witch hunt has not allowed Trump to effectively be President I think i would be fair to start Trump's first 4 year term again. These unhinged dems must learn to respect democratic principles such as the electoral process. The only real collusion I am aware of is Donna Brazille leaking thetelevised debate questions to Clinton - erm.. didn't notice a with hunt over that? 

 

 If anyone still thinks there is a smoking gun after Muellers hasty smackdown of the Buzzfeed fake news media, you are nuts.

It's hard to know what to make of this announcement.

Whitaker is totally unqualified for the job, would never have been confirmed by the senate for it, and is a known "trump" lackey, but on the other hand he does occupy the job and nobody in that job before has made such a definitive sounding statement about the timing of the report.

So I think it might be real. But if he's speaking the truth, we'll know soon enough.

Edited January 28, 20197 yr by Jingthing

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

The probe of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, is wrapping up, Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker told reporters on Monday.

 

Sounds familiar, hasn't this been said before? 

 

Actually someone (I think Rosenstein) said, back before the holidays, that it should be done by mid-February.

But then there is still the ongoing monkey business, will that be a separate case?  If so, there will still be redactions so as not to show their hand for the new case.

 

 

14 minutes ago, bendejo said:

 

Sounds familiar, hasn't this been said before? 

 

Actually someone (I think Rosenstein) said, back before the holidays, that it should be done by mid-February.

But then there is still the ongoing monkey business, will that be a separate case?  If so, there will still be redactions so as not to show their hand for the new case.

 

 

One thing that Mueller can do to keep the AG from burying the report is to outline his recommendations such as :

 

Trump should be indicted for X, Y, and Z.

Don Jr. should be indicted for  X, Y, and Z

Jared should be indicted for  X, Y, and Z

ETC.

 

If he had recommended this to the AG and he was told no then the AG must submit a written explanation to congress why the special consul's recommendations were not followed along with the supporting documentation submitted by Mueller. That way that part of the report will be released to congress and to the public.

1 minute ago, wayned said:

One thing that Mueller can do to keep the AG from burying the report is to outline his recommendations such as :

 

Trump should be indicted for X, Y, and Z.

Don Jr. should be indicted for  X, Y, and Z

Jared should be indicted for  X, Y, and Z

ETC.

 

If he had recommended this to the AG and he was told no then the AG must submit a written explanation to congress why the special consul's recommendations were not followed along with the supporting documentation submitted by Mueller. That way that part of the report will be released to congress and to the public.

I'm sure Mueller has already gamed this and has a plan so that whatever his recommendations are, they will be publicly known. If Mueller recommends criminal indictments as you suggest, the pressure on Trump would be tremendous in that case, and the pressure on the Republican Senate would be even more so. They would privately demand his resignation, but probably would never impeach, or if impeachment was started, would not convict.

 

In the event he did not resign, his Presidency would be crippled mired in this mess and limp along until 2020, and he would be remembered as the Richard Nixon who got away with it because of a Republican majority in the Senate.

 

That will come back to haunt the GOP in future elections.

We all know Donald is a dirty little monkey god what a dumpster fire of a president 

8 minutes ago, keemapoot said:

I'm sure Mueller has already gamed this and has a plan so that whatever his recommendations are, they will be publicly known. If Mueller recommends criminal indictments as you suggest, the pressure on Trump would be tremendous in that case, and the pressure on the Republican Senate would be even more so. They would privately demand his resignation, but probably would never impeach, or if impeachment was started, would not convict.

 

In the event he did not resign, his Presidency would be crippled mired in this mess and limp along until 2020, and he would be remembered as the Richard Nixon who got away with it because of a Republican majority in the Senate.

 

That will come back to haunt the GOP in future elections.

Yep! And I have read that there are a number of unsealed indictments registered in the DC court.  They might not be related to the Mueller investigation, but who knows.

6 minutes ago, wayned said:

Yep! And I have read that there are a number of unsealed indictments registered in the DC court.  They might not be related to the Mueller investigation, but who knows.

 

Yes sealed indictments for criminality already uncovered at various stages of this smorgasbord of criminality by Trump associates. Ticking time bombs timed to explode the minute Trump is no longer (under the protecting of being) the President.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

Edited January 29, 20197 yr by keemapoot

I doubt that any of the unsealed indictments are for Trump do to the existing DOJ policy.  But others in his family and immediate circle should be worried.  The Stone indictment was sealed an just unsealed last week when Mueller got tired of listening to his BS.  I suspect that the judge will putt a gag order on him tomorrow!

I think Muller is basically an honest man trying his best to do the job he was hired to do. The problem may be the pressure to find something or anything to justify more than two years of investigating and millions of dollars. Simply concluding that there is no evidence for collusion, for example, would make is seem like the time and money were wasted. That's why the investigation has started to branch out into very peripheral areas and involving peripheral players like Roger Stone and his ilk. He's gotta have SOMETHING to show for his efforts, even if it is just a very minor scalp or two.

1 minute ago, Hanaguma said:

I think Muller is basically an honest man trying his best to do the job he was hired to do. The problem may be the pressure to find something or anything to justify more than two years of investigating and millions of dollars. Simply concluding that there is no evidence for collusion, for example, would make is seem like the time and money were wasted. That's why the investigation has started to branch out into very peripheral areas and involving peripheral players like Roger Stone and his ilk. He's gotta have SOMETHING to show for his efforts, even if it is just a very minor scalp or two.

 

Ya... makes sense to me... Certainly, Trump's longtime personal attorney, Trump's former campaign chairman, former deputy campaign chairman and former National Security Advisor would be considered by most folks as "minor scalps"...

 

When you're dealing with scumbag liars like Trump and Manafort, you've got to peel the onion in layers, starting with the peripheral players and working your way to the core... We're not to the core yet.

 

I agree but disagree!  Mueller is a federal prosecutor and if he breaks into someone's place to investigate a drug deal he just doesn't step over the dead body in the middle of the living room floor, he has to act!

Edited January 29, 20197 yr by wayned

Troll post and replies removed.  

59 minutes ago, Tug said:

We all know Donald is a dirty little monkey god what a dumpster fire of a president 

I'd like to protest on behalf of the monkey and dumpster fire association.  However, my colleague at the flea circus and train wreck society is willing to take him.

Edited January 29, 20197 yr by ballpoint

2 hours ago, webfact said:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The probe of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, is wrapping up, Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker told reporters on Monday.

That's encouraging!

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

I think Muller is basically an honest man trying his best to do the job he was hired to do. The problem may be the pressure to find something or anything to justify more than two years of investigating and millions of dollars. Simply concluding that there is no evidence for collusion, for example, would make is seem like the time and money were wasted. That's why the investigation has started to branch out into very peripheral areas and involving peripheral players like Roger Stone and his ilk. He's gotta have SOMETHING to show for his efforts, even if it is just a very minor scalp or two.

Do you think they are waiting for Barr to be confirmed to present it(report)?

Edited January 29, 20197 yr by riclag

2 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I suspect this silly 2 year "probe" will show no concrete proof that Trump colluded with Russian players to cause Hillary to lose her election. What happens after that? Well, in light of the fact this witch hunt has not allowed Trump to effectively be President I think i would be fair to start Trump's first 4 year term again. These unhinged dems must learn to respect democratic principles such as the electoral process. The only real collusion I am aware of is Donna Brazille leaking thetelevised debate questions to Clinton - erm.. didn't notice a with hunt over that? 

 

 If anyone still thinks there is a smoking gun after Muellers hasty smackdown of the Buzzfeed fake news media, you are nuts.

Mueller is a republican. 

3 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I suspect this silly 2 year "probe" will show no concrete proof that Trump colluded with Russian players to cause Hillary to lose her election. What happens after that? Well, in light of the fact this witch hunt has not allowed Trump to effectively be President I think i would be fair to start Trump's first 4 year term again. These unhinged dems must learn to respect democratic principles such as the electoral process. The only real collusion I am aware of is Donna Brazille leaking thetelevised debate questions to Clinton - erm.. didn't notice a with hunt over that? 

 

 If anyone still thinks there is a smoking gun after Muellers hasty smackdown of the Buzzfeed fake news media, you are nuts.

What do you do when you are not trolling?

This "probe" as you term it has resulted in charges against 35 persons (some of whom are Russians) and has more than paid for itself in terms of fines, siezed assets and unpaid taxes that have been imposed on the criminals who have plead guilty so far.

 

There has been no aspect of this investigation that has prevented Trump from being president. He seems to be doing a good job at that all on his own. Mueller has not held press conferences or made accusations. Mueller is not unhinged, nor is he a "dem" - he is a life-long Republican. 

 

The issue is precisely the democratic process and whether a foreign entity, namely Russia, interfered in it. The investigation has made no comments beyond that and the fact that quite a few Russians are under indictment.

 

The issue with Donna Brazile was about her leaking questions coming up in townhall debates with H Clinton. Brazile was fired by CNN for that and has admitted what she did both on TV and in her memoirs. What she did was unethical but not illegal. And she was not colluding with a foreign hostile power. There is a world of difference between providing advance notice of questions the candidate will be asked in an upcoming event and looking for looking for "compromat" on the opponent.

3 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I suspect this silly 2 year "probe" will show no concrete proof that Trump colluded with Russian players to cause Hillary to lose her election. What happens after that? Well, in light of the fact this witch hunt has not allowed Trump to effectively be President I think i would be fair to start Trump's first 4 year term again. These unhinged dems must learn to respect democratic principles such as the electoral process. The only real collusion I am aware of is Donna Brazille leaking thetelevised debate questions to Clinton - erm.. didn't notice a with hunt over that? 

 

 If anyone still thinks there is a smoking gun after Muellers hasty smackdown of the Buzzfeed fake news media, you are nuts.

Thank Christ for that! If he had been able to Preside "effectively" - then your country would have been irreversably destroyed by now. Consider yourself lucky that you don't have another Civil war! 

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

I think Muller is basically an honest man trying his best to do the job he was hired to do. The problem may be the pressure to find something or anything to justify more than two years of investigating and millions of dollars. Simply concluding that there is no evidence for collusion, for example, would make is seem like the time and money were wasted. That's why the investigation has started to branch out into very peripheral areas and involving peripheral players like Roger Stone and his ilk. He's gotta have SOMETHING to show for his efforts, even if it is just a very minor scalp or two.

There is no money wasted at all, they have impounded more than what the investigation costs. It has put people in prison, will put a couple more in prison and made a profit.

How much has this exercise cost the taxpayer so far ? Mueller and his accomplices are receiving huge stipends and very generous expenses.

6 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

How much has this exercise cost the taxpayer so far ? Mueller and his accomplices are receiving huge stipends and very generous expenses.

That's total BS, he is a federal employee and the expenses are tightly controlled, especially in this case.  It is estimated that it has cost a total of 25 million so far, that's  0.43859% of the 5.7 billion that trump wants for his wall!

5 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I suspect this silly 2 year "probe" will show no concrete proof that Trump colluded with Russian players to cause Hillary to lose her election. What happens after that? Well, in light of the fact this witch hunt has not allowed Trump to effectively be President I think i would be fair to start Trump's first 4 year term again. These unhinged dems must learn to respect democratic principles such as the electoral process. The only real collusion I am aware of is Donna Brazille leaking thetelevised debate questions to Clinton - erm.. didn't notice a with hunt over that? 

 

 If anyone still thinks there is a smoking gun after Muellers hasty smackdown of the Buzzfeed fake news media, you are nuts.

How's the weather in Saint Petersburg these days?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_the_2016_United_States_elections

28 minutes ago, wayned said:

That's total BS, he is a federal employee and the expenses are tightly controlled, especially in this case.  It is estimated that it has cost a total of 25 million so far, that's  0.43859% of the 5.7 billion that trump wants for his wall!

yep

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/trump-tweet-mueller-probe-usd40-million-fact-check-paul-manafort.html

2 hours ago, Proboscis said:

What do you do when you are not trolling?

This "probe" as you term it has resulted in charges against 35 persons (some of whom are Russians) and has more than paid for itself in terms of fines, siezed assets and unpaid taxes that have been imposed on the criminals who have plead guilty so far.

 Flame ignored.

 

 Can you remind us all exactly how these charges against 35 people show that Trump colluded with Russian players to explicitly cause the rightful winner(Hillary) to lose the 2016 election? I don't care about lies, financial irregularities, buying alcohol without valid ID or jaywalking. That is what this witch hunt is about - I hate to have to remind you.

5 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Well, in light of the fact this witch hunt has not allowed Trump to effectively be President I think i would be fair to start Trump's first 4 year term again. These unhinged dems must learn to respect democratic principles such as the electoral process.

Why not declare him President for Life? That would show the unhinged Dems, now wouldn't it?

6 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

 Flame ignored.

 

 Can you remind us all exactly how these charges against 35 people show that Trump colluded with Russian players to explicitly cause the rightful winner(Hillary) to lose the 2016 election? I don't care about lies, financial irregularities, buying alcohol without valid ID or jaywalking. That is what this witch hunt is about - I hate to have to remind you.

You’ll get your answer from Mueller when he’s ready to make his report.

 

In the meantime enjoy whatever peace of mind to have left, you’ve got some upsetting news headed your way.