jimnyc
12-05-2017, 01:46 PM
Right off the bat, this writer proclaims that Trump either colluded with Russia, or tried very hard to do so. He states this factually, with zero proof whatsoever in a huge investigation. Nothing. Then it's onto the obstruction of justice. :rolleyes: Speaks of quashing the probe somehow, because he's frantic. In all of this from day one, I haven't seen him work hard at all to stop folks from investigating.
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What Is Trump So Desperately Trying to Cover Up?
WASHINGTON -- We know that President Trump and his campaign either colluded with the Russian effort to undermine U.S. democracy or tried mightily to do so. We know that Trump has apparently obstructed justice to try to halt investigation into what happened. What we don't know is whether Congress, in the end, will do its sworn duty to protect the Constitution.
We also don't know what else special counsel Robert Mueller might have discovered, especially about the Trump family's international financial dealings. Or what Mueller might be learning from Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty Friday to lying to the FBI and is cooperating with investigators. Or how far Trump, who is increasingly frantic, might yet go to squash the Mueller probe.
It is true that there is no federal statute against "collusion." But a specific law is not necessary for citizens and their representatives in Congress to make a judgment: Is it acceptable for a presidential candidate and officials of his campaign to encourage an adversarial foreign power's efforts to meddle in the U.S. election process -- and then seek to reward that foreign power by easing sanctions? Yes or no?
I'm no fan of conspiracy theories, which usually fall apart under scrutiny; and I'm not interested in carrying water for the Democratic Party, which should have been able to beat Trump, who was manifestly unqualified and unfit, no matter what the Russians did. But what we have learned thus far is truly shocking.
Last July, Trump issued a public plea: "I will tell you this, Russia: If you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing." He was referring to deleted material from the private email server Hillary Clinton used when she was secretary of state. Previously, according to U.S. intelligence officials, state-sponsored Russian hackers had obtained thousands of private emails from the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, and the material was being released in a manner clearly intended to damage the Clinton campaign.
We now know that in June, three of the most important figures in the Trump campaign -- Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr.; his son-in-law, Jared Kushner; and his campaign chairman, Paul Manafort -- had eagerly met with a Kremlin-tied lawyer who promised to share damaging information the Russian government had on Clinton. We also know that in April, another go-between had promised Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos "thousands of emails" containing "dirt" on Clinton.
Did anyone report these shady approaches to the FBI? No.
Rest - https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/12/05/what_is_trump_so_desperately_trying_to_cover_up_13 5688.html
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What Is Trump So Desperately Trying to Cover Up?
WASHINGTON -- We know that President Trump and his campaign either colluded with the Russian effort to undermine U.S. democracy or tried mightily to do so. We know that Trump has apparently obstructed justice to try to halt investigation into what happened. What we don't know is whether Congress, in the end, will do its sworn duty to protect the Constitution.
We also don't know what else special counsel Robert Mueller might have discovered, especially about the Trump family's international financial dealings. Or what Mueller might be learning from Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty Friday to lying to the FBI and is cooperating with investigators. Or how far Trump, who is increasingly frantic, might yet go to squash the Mueller probe.
It is true that there is no federal statute against "collusion." But a specific law is not necessary for citizens and their representatives in Congress to make a judgment: Is it acceptable for a presidential candidate and officials of his campaign to encourage an adversarial foreign power's efforts to meddle in the U.S. election process -- and then seek to reward that foreign power by easing sanctions? Yes or no?
I'm no fan of conspiracy theories, which usually fall apart under scrutiny; and I'm not interested in carrying water for the Democratic Party, which should have been able to beat Trump, who was manifestly unqualified and unfit, no matter what the Russians did. But what we have learned thus far is truly shocking.
Last July, Trump issued a public plea: "I will tell you this, Russia: If you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing." He was referring to deleted material from the private email server Hillary Clinton used when she was secretary of state. Previously, according to U.S. intelligence officials, state-sponsored Russian hackers had obtained thousands of private emails from the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, and the material was being released in a manner clearly intended to damage the Clinton campaign.
We now know that in June, three of the most important figures in the Trump campaign -- Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr.; his son-in-law, Jared Kushner; and his campaign chairman, Paul Manafort -- had eagerly met with a Kremlin-tied lawyer who promised to share damaging information the Russian government had on Clinton. We also know that in April, another go-between had promised Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos "thousands of emails" containing "dirt" on Clinton.
Did anyone report these shady approaches to the FBI? No.
Rest - https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/12/05/what_is_trump_so_desperately_trying_to_cover_up_13 5688.html