It’s most likely unattainable to rank Donald Trump scandals. We’d be right here all day! But that is undoubtedly one of many greatest from a rule of legislation perspective. It’s simply, you recognize, a bit late to the sport. But you recognize what? We learn about it now!
OK, so let’s rewind. Remember the Mueller Probe? Prosecutor Robert Mueller was tapped as a particular counsel to research any potential collusion between brokers of the Russian authorities and Donald Trump. It was an essential mission as a result of we don’t ever need individuals in workplace when they’re in any respect beholden to international pursuits. What Russia desires and what America wants are far completely different prospects — particularly with a crooked killer like Vladimir Putin in cost over there.
But what did Mueller really discover? Well, that’s an enormous space of controversy…
The Mueller Report
If you’ll recall, Trump mentioned it was TOTAL EXONERATION. That was after his handpicked Attorney General Bill Barr launched his abstract letter of the Mueller Report to the general public. That abstract completely made it sound like Mueller discovered no crimes.
But the reality is Mueller discovered loads of crimes. He filed legal costs towards 34 people and three companies, most of them Russian brokers. The report said clearly that Russia had completely acted to place their thumb on the dimensions for Trump — however that collusion on the Trump aspect couldn’t be confirmed. However, the report additionally mentioned the rationale collusion couldn’t be confirmed is due to all of the obstruction of justice. On that finish, six Trump marketing campaign associates — George Papadopoulos, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, and Roger Stone — had been charged with crimes from mendacity to Congress to witness tampering. Not precisely the nothingburger Barr led Americans to consider.
Related: Mueller Explains That Yes, Trump Committed Crimes
As as to if Trump dedicated obstruction of justice? Basically Mueller mentioned they couldn’t flat-out accuse him as a result of they weren’t allowed to cost him. The crew despatched it to Congress to question. But Congress wouldn’t impeach as a result of Mueller didn’t flat-out accuse him. It was a silly mess. And Trump used the chaos to declare victory, calling the entire thing a hoax.
The Actual Witch Hunt
It wasn’t sufficient for Trump to only inform everybody he was the sufferer of a deep state conspiracy. He wished it in writing. He wished costs filed. So he received Bill Barr to discredit the primary probe. Barr assigned one other investigator to research the primary investigation. We know, this sounds extremely foolish, we are able to’t assist it that is our authorities proper now.
Barr tapped prosecutor John Durham to search out any impropriety within the Trump-Russia probe. His job was ostensibly to ensure the legislation was adopted. But in actuality, in accordance with a brand new New York Times exposé, Barr and Durham had been working collectively to strive dig up any grime they may. Remember, the entire level of a particular counsel is that they’re speculated to be unbiased — to ensure nothing is politically motivated, it’s all about justice. So Barr and Durham consuming Scotch collectively in again rooms whereas making an attempt to show a conspiracy that didn’t exist is already offsides. But it will get worse. So much worse.
Apparently Barr had been suspicious of the Mueller probe from earlier than he was even made AG. So he was beginning with the conclusion that it was a large deep state conspiracy after which simply making an attempt arduous to show it — as a substitute of going the place the details led. And holy crap, the place the details led…
Italy
OK, so bear in mind Barr believed every part about Trump getting assist from Russia was a lie. So as a result of a number of intelligence companies had confirmed it, he suspected the NSA, the CIA, and British intelligence had all colluded to lie. He and Durham even flew collectively to the UK and to Italy to attempt to persuade them to publicly backtrack on all of their intelligence findings.
The factor is, they didn’t have any motive to do this. Their findings had been strong. British intelligence had been really PISSED that that they had been accused of mendacity. (The American model of pissed, which means ANGRY — not drunk.) But Italy did provide the investigation some assist. They had data relating to the then-President — “a potentially explosive tip linking Mr. Trump to certain suspected financial crimes.”
Yeah. You learn that proper. Italy had some form of proof that TRUMP HAD COMMITTED MORE CRIMES. The investigation meant to reveal Mueller had inadvertently simply stumbled onto extra Trump accusations. We imply, there are simply so many…
Related: Trump Confused Rape Accuser E. Jean Carroll For Ex-Wife Marla Maples In Deposition!
Apparently it was a very good tip, too. According to the Times, Barr and Durham “decided that the tip was too serious and credible to ignore.” So what did they do? Well, in addition to being unbiased, a particular counsel can be speculated to be targeted. Just one single investigation, on this case wanting into the Mueller probe. But we guess Barr couldn’t danger extra individuals discovering out about YET ANOTHER Trump scandal when he was bending over backwards making an attempt to guard the person… as a result of he assigned that investigation to Durham, too! What occurred to THAT investigation? We can’t say for positive that it was swept underneath the rug, however right here’s what the Times wrote after their thorough investigation:
“Mr. Durham never filed charges, and it remains unclear what level of an investigation it was, what steps he took, what he learned and whether anyone at the White House ever found out.”
The NYT crew by no means even came upon what the monetary crimes had been! So if Durham was advised to make it disappear, he did a very good job.
Lying To America
OK, so this takes us again to what Barr mentioned in his BS letter concerning the Mueller report. Remember how he completely mislead Americans? Heck, he didn’t even embody a single full sentence from the Mueller report itself in his abstract. Like when a critic calls a film “an incredible waste of time” and so they simply placed on the poster “…Incredible”!
Well, the subterfuge continued right here. See, the information did get out that Durham had been given additional powers of legal prosecution. Various sources had discovered he was investigating legal exercise. But bear in mind, the particular counsel is just supposed to research ONE CASE. And since everybody knew he was investigating the Mueller probe, that information was an enormous reward to Trump and his supporters. The conspiracy theorists had been vindicated; they now knew the Trump-Russia investigation was a hoax, and other people had been going to jail for it…
Except it wasn’t a hoax. The legal investigation was, but once more, into Trump. Even after they had been making an attempt to guard him they couldn’t assist however journey over crimes.
Barr, after all, did nothing to dissuade any of this public conjecture. He stayed silent. And it’s not like that was his factor, preserving quiet and carrying an enormous stick. No, he spoke out when he might wrongfoot the American individuals. In December 2019, the inspector normal accomplished its personal investigation into the Trump-Russia investigation. It confirmed the probe was on the extent, and that it had began — as had been beforehand reported — after an Australian diplomat’s tip that Trump advisor George Papadopoulos knew upfront that Russia was going to launch some hacked Democrat emails (suggesting that he knew concerning the plan and the advantageous launch date for it). Just minutes earlier than that report, Barr did launch a press release… identical to with the Mueller report, he received there first and implied the precise reverse of the reality. He mentioned the FBI began their investigation”on the thinnest of suspicions that, in my opinion, had been inadequate.” So yeah, he speaks when he desires to. But within the case of individuals getting the incorrect thought concerning the Trump-Russia case? Yeah, he shut proper up then.
The easy conclusion is that Barr wished the American individuals to consider, as he did, no matter proof, that Trump was harmless and the whole Trump-Russia investigation was a hoax. In truth, the Times additionally revealed that proper earlier than the 2020 election, he tried to get Durham to publicly suggest Hillary Clinton was going to be in bother for the Trump-Russia “hoax”. JFC.
Sadly, it principally labored. Very few individuals have the time to learn the Mueller Report, or the IG’s report, not to mention the rather more difficult New York Times one. But you recognize what your aunt and uncle do have time to do? Listen to Fox News pundits. And learn Trump tweets (or Truths we guess). They hear TOTAL EXONERATION, they hear TRUMP-RUSSIA HOAX, they hear HILLARY CLINTON, and so they don’t hear the rest. They hear the lie.
It’s like Mark Twain mentioned:
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”
Only Mark Twain by no means did say that. But it takes a hell of loads longer to clarify how that quote most likely received misattributed than it does to say Twain mentioned it. And that’s the entire level. Sigh.