The Robert Mueller Investigation

[Mdhorn 5,948]

1 hour ago, Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand said:

1 hour ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Figgie Balls is not happy.

Well, now she's banging people for toilet wine and smokes and that's the best deal she's going to get.  

[conVINCEd 21,469]

It kind of offends me that politicians would sell themselves out for a mediocre russian whore.  There are russian whores you could tempt me with, but she doesn’t make the cut.

[MaybeACoordinator 8,349]

25 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

It kind of offends me that politicians would sell themselves out for a mediocre russian whore.  There are russian whores you could tempt me with, but she doesn’t make the cut.

My dad -- a Texan long resident in Tennessee -- has always been amazed at how cheap Tennessee politicians are to buy.

"Mr Governor, my son needs a pardon. He didn't mean to shoot that clerk at the Kwik Mart."

"Hmmm...Murder is a serious crime, but you boy's prison record is mighty fine, and he's been in a whole two years now..."

"Yes sir, Mr Governor..."

"But murder is murder, and I've got bills to pay. It's gonna set you back some, but we'll get your boy out if you are willing to play ball..."

"Anything Mr Governor..."

"Alright then. $50. Cash. Unmarked bills."

 

 

 

 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

37 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

It kind of offends me that politicians would sell themselves out for a mediocre russian whore.  There are russian whores you could tempt me with, but she doesn’t make the cut.

I honestly feel kinda bad for her.  She really went above and beyond the call of duty for her country.

She had unbelievable success at pegging the power circles of the GOP, especially given what she was working with.

We’re going to rightfully prosecute her but let’s not forget who the real criminals are here.  The traitors that knowingly went along her and betrayed the United States.

[Nivek 16,923]

It kind of offends me that politicians would sell themselves out for a mediocre russian whore.  There are russian whores you could tempt me with, but she doesn’t make the cut.

You have to understand that if anything above a 7 talked to them most of those gop dipshits would have jizzed their pants. If it was a 9, they would have dropped dead. Putin sent in the right tool for the job. #5.

[brown water 3,777]

38 minutes ago, MaybeACoordinator said:

My dad -- a Texan long resident in Tennessee -- has always been amazed at how cheap Tennessee politicians are to buy.

"Mr Governor, my son needs a pardon. He didn't mean to shoot that clerk at the Kwik Mart."

"Hmmm...Murder is a serious crime, but you boy's prison record is mighty fine, and he's been in a whole two years now..."

"Yes sir, Mr Governor..."

"But murder is murder, and I've got bills to pay. It's gonna set you back some, but we'll get your boy out if you are willing to play ball..."

"Anything Mr Governor..."

"Alright then. $50. Cash. Unmarked bills."

 

 

 

 

[NWBuck 8,552]

30 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

She had unbelievable success at pegging the power circles of the GOP, especially given what she was working with. 

Ummm... What websites were you reading during your sabbatical? 

#NTTAWWT 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

Well this is remarkable 

 

[jimmyjazz 45,899]

Swalwell is probably right here, but perhaps he could exercise a little more restraint?  I know, Trump, I get it, but still.

[TwiceHorn 31,450]

Twitter, man, twitter.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

32 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Swalwell is probably right here, but perhaps he could exercise a little more restraint?  I know, Trump, I get it, but still.

Seems like the time to exercise restraint has elapsed.   They are running a full blown coordinated coverup.  We need more Swalwells, not less IMO.

Call their bullshit out 24/7.

[TwiceHorn 31,450]

22 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

There’s a lot missing in the Papadopoulos story.  You have to remember he was arrested July 27, 2017 but no one knew about it until the plea agreement on October 5th.  

They must have put the fear of god in him to collect more information on others during that two month period in order to get that plea agreement.

What he was able to collect, no one knows but it had to be enough to save him from hard time.

At least that’s my speculation.

Well, the government is asking for a guideline sentence, which is max six months, apparently.  So we can conclude from that that his lying wasn't so obnoxious as to trigger anything close to the five year statutory maximum.

But it also says he did not render substantial cooperation to the government, despite some effort on his part to do so, so they aren't cutting him any special breaks.

I suppose there could be some off-the-record agreement whereby he is cooperating and really delivering the goods.  But it seems like the government might have a candor problem with these particular papers, if that is the case.  Wouldn't be the first time, I suppose, but would be surprising for Mueller, I think.

The reason for the secrecy of the whole mess seems to be their attempt to apprehend "the Professor," which he was unhelpful in doing.  They apparently wanted to keep it under wraps so as to avoid alerting the Professor.

Edited August 19, 2018 by TwiceHorn

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

Good points.  Papadopoulos is worthless.

[Gil Bang 25,944]

He just brought the donuts

[triplehorn 2,664]

Cohen, Trump's Ex-Lawyer, Investigated for Bank Fraud in Excess of $20 Million

Source NYT:

“Federal authorities investigating whether President Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, committed bank and tax fraud have zeroed in on well over $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that he and his family own, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Investigators are also examining whether Mr. Cohen violated campaign finance or other laws by helping to arrange financial deals to secure the silence of women who said they had affairs with Mr. Trump. The inquiry has entered the final stage and prosecutors are considering filing charges by the end of August, two of the people said. 

Any criminal charges against Mr. Cohen would deal a significant blow to the president. Mr. Cohen, 52, worked for the president’s company, the Trump Organization, for more than a decade. He was one of Mr. Trump’s most loyal and visible aides and called himself the president’s personal lawyer after Mr. Trump took office. 

The bank loans under scrutiny, the total of which has not been previously reported, came from two financial institutions in the New York region that have catered to the taxi industry, Sterling National Bank and the Melrose Credit Union, according to business records and people with knowledge of the matter, including a banker who reviewed the transactions.”

- trumps personal atty as of earlier this year and recent RNC deputy national finance chair.

Edited August 19, 2018 by triplehorn

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

Every time I read an article titled, “Micheal Cohen is under investigation for...” 

I read it as “Donald Trump is under investigation for the same thing”

 

 

[jimmyjazz 45,899]

13 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Seems like the time to exercise restraint has elapsed.   They are running a full blown coordinated coverup.  We need more Swalwells, not less IMO.

Call their bullshit out 24/7.

I'm talking method, not message.  Emojis?  Really?  Act the part.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

25 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

I'm talking method, not message.  Emojis?  Really?  Act the part.

As someone that refuses to use Emojis in all aspects of communication, I see your point.

However, when a Congressman is trolling a traitor on Twitter that is likely to be indicted in the next year or two, I will let the Emojis slide.

And Caputo is a traitor.

Edited August 20, 2018 by Hugo Stiglitz

[Mdhorn 5,948]

4 hours ago, triplehorn said:

Cohen, Trump's Ex-Lawyer, Investigated for Bank Fraud in Excess of $20 Million

Source NYT:

“Federal authorities investigating whether President Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, committed bank and tax fraud have zeroed in on well over $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that he and his family own, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Investigators are also examining whether Mr. Cohen violated campaign finance or other laws by helping to arrange financial deals to secure the silence of women who said they had affairs with Mr. Trump. The inquiry has entered the final stage and prosecutors are considering filing charges by the end of August, two of the people said. 

Any criminal charges against Mr. Cohen would deal a significant blow to the president. Mr. Cohen, 52, worked for the president’s company, the Trump Organization, for more than a decade. He was one of Mr. Trump’s most loyal and visible aides and called himself the president’s personal lawyer after Mr. Trump took office. 

The bank loans under scrutiny, the total of which has not been previously reported, came from two financial institutions in the New York region that have catered to the taxi industry, Sterling National Bank and the Melrose Credit Union, according to business records and people with knowledge of the matter, including a banker who reviewed the transactions.”

- trumps personal atty as of earlier this year and recent RNC deputy national finance chair.

what's beautiful about this is location--NY.  Going to get more bang for the buck on this one.  

[Mdhorn 5,948]

3 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Every time I read an article titled, “Micheal Cohen is under investigation for...” 

I read it as “Donald Trump is under investigation for the same thing”

 

 

Bingo!  Pay to play.  

[WhatTheBuck 28,776]

5 hours ago, triplehorn said:

Cohen, Trump's Ex-Lawyer, Investigated for Bank Fraud in Excess of $20 Million

Source NYT:

“Federal authorities investigating whether President Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, committed bank and tax fraud have zeroed in on well over $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that he and his family own, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Investigators are also examining whether Mr. Cohen violated campaign finance or other laws by helping to arrange financial deals to secure the silence of women who said they had affairs with Mr. Trump. The inquiry has entered the final stage and prosecutors are considering filing charges by the end of August, two of the people said. 

Any criminal charges against Mr. Cohen would deal a significant blow to the president. Mr. Cohen, 52, worked for the president’s company, the Trump Organization, for more than a decade. He was one of Mr. Trump’s most loyal and visible aides and called himself the president’s personal lawyer after Mr. Trump took office. 

The bank loans under scrutiny, the total of which has not been previously reported, came from two financial institutions in the New York region that have catered to the taxi industry, Sterling National Bank and the Melrose Credit Union, according to business records and people with knowledge of the matter, including a banker who reviewed the transactions.”

- trumps personal atty as of earlier this year and recent RNC deputy national finance chair.

"Any criminal charges against Mr. Cohen would deal a significant blow to the president."

Yeah...I'll believe that when I see it. 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are questioning whether national security adviser John Bolton’s ties to Russia were properly vetted before he joined the White House this year.

In a letter to White House chief of staff John Kelly, Democrats cite recent reports indicating that Bolton worked with a Russian woman who was charged last month for failing to register as an agent of a foreign power in the U.S.

In their telling, Bolton “worked directly with a Russian citizen who has now been charged by federal prosecutors with infiltrating [the NRA] and spying against the United States for years.” 

“Given the alarming and unprecedented nature of these revelations — and the high-level position of trust Mr. Bolton now holds — we request that you produce documents relating to whether Mr. Bolton reported his previous work with this alleged Russian spy on his security clearance forms or other White House vetting materials prior to President Trump appointing him to his current position,” Reps. Elijah Cummings of Maryland and Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts wrote.

The lawmakers are asking for documents to be produced by Sept. 4 by the White House, National Security Council and FBI.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council did not immediately respond for comment. 

Bolton, who was named national security adviser in April, was appointed to lead the NRA’s Subcommittee on International Affairs in 2011. He appeared by video at a 2013 roundtable forum on gun rights that was organized by Maria Butina, who was arrested last month for acting as a Russian agent inside the U.S. In the video, Bolton encouraged Russia to amend its constitution to expand gun rights. 

The Justice Department alleges that Butina sought to “arrange introductions to U.S. persons having influence in American politics, including an organization promoting gun rights, for the purpose of advancing the agenda of the Russian Federation.”

Butina, who pleaded not guilty, was relocated to a jail in Alexandria, Virginia, over the weekend.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/20/john-bolton-russia-connections-hosue-democrats-789451

[Chad Fuck 17,670]

I'll bet he gave her a mustache ride for tree-fiddy.

[Pescado_Rojo 19,416]

John Bolton looks like an aggy large animal vet. I can picture him in starched wranglers and a khaki shirt, sitting on a tailgate and telling naggar jokes at a stock sale. 

[David Dennison 18,854]

John Bolton will be the first Trump official to have his clearance revoked by the next Democratic president.

They should also cut Trump off from all sensitive information, even though presidents technically don't have security clearances.

[atomheartbevo 89,649]

23 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

They should also cut Trump off from all sensitive information, even though presidents technically don't have security clearances.

Good sir! Are you somehow implying that Trump reads his security briefings?

[retread 2,951]

Only the parts where you can color inside the lines.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

1 hour ago, David Dennison said:

John Bolton will be the first Trump official to have his clearance revoked by the next Democratic president.

Not sure why we should believe John Bolton has passed his security clearance background check yet. 

[David Dennison 18,854]

22 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Not sure why we should believe John Bolton has passed his security clearance background check yet. 

He's the National Security Advisor.

He's got security clearance.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

Anastasia Vashukevich, who also uses the name Nastya Rybka, pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting and conspiracy to solicit in a court appearance in the Thai resort city of Pattaya to prepare for her trial along with seven co-defendants. Lawyers will submit legal submissions at another hearing next week at which the court is expected to set a date for testimony to begin.

Vashukevich, Russian self-styled sex guru Alexander Kirillov and six other people were arrested at a sex training seminar in Pattaya in February and have been in custody ever since. All the defendants, who could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, pleaded not guilty.

Vashukevich told The Associated Press that she had turned over audio recordings to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, whose conversations about election interference she claimed to have taped.

She has said she provided "escort" services to Deripaska, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and who has links to Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign manager now being tried in the United States on money laundering and other charges.

Speaking to an AP reporter in the courtroom in Pattaya, Vashukevich said she had promised Deripaska she would no longer speak on the matter, and that he had already promised her something in return for not making that evidence public.

"He promised me a little something already," Vashukevich said. "If he do that then there will be no problem, but if he don't ..." she said with a shrug and a smile.

She also shrugged and smiled when asked if she had kept her own copies of the information she recorded, which she said comprised "some audio, some video."

Asked what the material showed, she said, "You'd have to ask Deripaska."

Vashukevich created world headlines when she was first detained because she claimed to have audio recordings of Deripaska that provided evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.

She appealed to America for help and for asylum, through a letter to the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, but provided no proof of her claims. At a hearing in April, she seemed to switch allegiances, making a public apology to Deripaska and saying it was the Americans, not the Russians, who were persecuting her.

A judge at the Pattaya Provincial Court declared Monday that if the seminar included people having sexual intercourse or arranged for people to have sex, it would be considered illegal by Thai law even if there was mutual consent.

Pattaya is internationally notorious as a destination for sex tourists.

Kirillov, who led the seminar in a meeting room at a Pattaya hotel, told the judge that the seminar taught the art of seduction and did not include sex or make any arrangements for sexual partners.

He said the course taught its students "how to impress girls" and "how to get girls' numbers," and did not involve sexual arrangements.

"We are not sure about Thai law, but in Russia this is not a criminal case," he told the judge.

The prosecutor showed the defendants a photo that he said showed some of the students having sex as part of the course.

Kirillov's response was that the photos were "private" and taken after the seminar, when a group of students went to a bar in Pattaya to put their lessons to the test.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/escort-oligarch-now-tapes-russia-interference-57278714

[Kyrie Eleison 9,312]

[Anastasis 23,469]

The most shocking aspect of that situation is that running a sex workshop in Thailand is illegal. 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

 

[Biff Tannen 45,673]

22 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

The most shocking aspect of that situation is that running a sex workshop in Thailand is illegal. 

Is it sad that this is almost exactly what I immediately thought as well?

[Pescado_Rojo 19,416]

41 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

The most shocking aspect of that situation is that running a sex workshop in Thailand is illegal. 

Probably more like Running a sex workshop without paying off the right people is illegal. 

[HenryJames 66,041]

 

[Longhorn_Fan68 33,869]

1 hour ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

 

intredasting

[WhatTheBuck 28,776]

3 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Good sir! Are you somehow implying that Trump reads his security briefings?

You could've stopped at "reads."

[Francisco 2.0 32,389]

The. Best. Lawyers.

 

 

[Brisketexan 105,095]

 

Holy.

Crap.

 

It’s hard to imagine a lawyer that stupid. But 1) I don’t have to imagine it, it’s real, and 2) they represent the President of the United States.

 

Someone needs to end this simulation, it’s getting wildly unrealistic.

[atomheartbevo 89,649]

4 hours ago, Anastasis said:

The most shocking aspect of that situation is that running a sex workshop in Thailand is illegal. 

No, the most shocking aspect is that she’s still alive. 

[jimmyjazz 45,899]

Wait . . . "White House attorneys" . . . McGahn is the attorney for the Office of the President . . . Sekulow and Giuliani are Trump's personal attorneys.  Those two guys committed this fuckup?

[atomheartbevo 89,649]

24 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Wait . . . "White House attorneys" . . . McGahn is the attorney for the Office of the President . . . Sekulow and Giuliani are Trump's personal attorneys.  Those two guys committed this fuckup?

The Best People.  

[Pescado_Rojo 19,416]

These fucking idiots think this is a widget sale. "Just get the deal done and we'll true-up later!" 

Fucking imbeciles. 

[TwiceHorn 31,450]

26 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Wait . . . "White House attorneys" . . . McGahn is the attorney for the Office of the President . . . Sekulow and Giuliani are Trump's personal attorneys.  Those two guys committed this fuckup?

I saw something earlier blaming it on the dearly departed Cobb and Dowd.

 

Still stupid as fuck.

 

I might guess that some of these guys have become rainmakers, and like many rainmakers, don't know shit about the day-to-day, technical practice of law anymore.  They're good for schmoozing and soundbites.  Take away their sharp associates and they're not worth a bucket of warm spit.

[triplehorn 2,664]

1 hour ago, jimmyjazz said:

Wait . . . "White House attorneys" . . . McGahn is the attorney for the Office of the President . . . Sekulow and Giuliani are Trump's personal attorneys.  Those two guys committed this fuckup?

 

34 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

I saw something earlier blaming it on the dearly departed Cobb and Dowd.

Recall from Sept 2017:

Trump Lawyers Clash Over How Much to Cooperate With Russia Inquiry

Quote

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s legal team is wrestling with how much to cooperate with the special counsel looking into Russian election interference, an internal debate that led to an angry confrontation last week between two White House lawyers and that could shape the course of the investigation.

At the heart of the clash is an issue that has challenged multiple presidents during high-stakes Washington investigations: how to handle the demands of investigators without surrendering the institutional prerogatives of the office of the presidency. Similar conflicts during the Watergate and Monica S. Lewinsky scandals resulted in court rulings that limited a president’s right to confidentiality.

The debate in Mr. Trump’s West Wing has pitted Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, against Ty Cobb, a lawyer brought in to manage the response to the investigation. Mr. Cobb has argued for turning over as many of the emails and documents requested by the special counsel as possible in hopes of quickly ending the investigation — or at least its focus on Mr. Trump.

 

cont. (long)

Spoiler

Mr. McGahn supports cooperation, but has expressed worry about setting a precedent that would weaken the White House long after Mr. Trump’s tenure is over. He is described as particularly concerned about whether the president will invoke executive or attorney-client privilege to limit how forthcoming Mr. McGahn could be if he himself is interviewed by the special counsel as requested.

The friction escalated in recent days after Mr. Cobb was overheard by a reporter for The New York Times discussing the dispute during a lunchtime conversation at a popular Washington steakhouse. Mr. Cobb was heard talking about a White House lawyer he deemed “a McGahn spy” and saying Mr. McGahn had “a couple documents locked in a safe” that he seemed to suggest he wanted access to. He also mentioned a colleague whom he blamed for “some of these earlier leaks,” and who he said “tried to push Jared out,” meaning Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, who has been a previous source of dispute for the legal team.

After The Times contacted the White House about the situation, Mr. McGahn privately erupted at Mr. Cobb, according to people informed about the confrontation who asked not to be named describing internal matters. John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, sharply reprimanded Mr. Cobb for his indiscretion, the people said.

Mr. Cobb sought to defuse the conflict in an interview over the weekend, praising Mr. McGahn as a superb lawyer. “He has been very helpful to me, and whenever we have differences of opinion, we have been able to work them out professionally and reach consensus,” Mr. Cobb said. “We have different roles. He has a much fuller plate. But we’re both devoted to this White House and getting as much done on behalf of the presidency as possible.”

The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, is investigating connections between Russia and Mr. Trump and his associates, including whether they conspired to influence last year’s election. Mr. Mueller is also looking into whether Mr. Trump’s decision to fire James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director initially leading the investigation, constitutes obstruction of justice. He has asked the White House for emails and documents related to these matters, and Mr. Cobb has organized the requests into 13 categories, but officials would not describe them in more detail. So far, officials said the White House has not turned down any request.

Mr. Trump’s aides said they were scrambling to respond to the requests to avoid a subpoena that might make it look as if the White House was not cooperating. Mr. Cobb hoped to turn over a trove of documents this week, according to people close to the legal team.

Mr. Cobb argues that the best strategy is to be as forthcoming as possible, even erring on the side of inclusion when it comes to producing documents, because he maintains the evidence will show Mr. Trump did nothing wrong. Mr. McGahn has told colleagues that he is concerned that Mr. Cobb’s liberal approach could limit any later assertion of executive privilege. He has also blamed Mr. Cobb for the slow collection of documents.

Complicating the situation is that Mr. McGahn himself is a likely witness. Mr. Mueller wants to interview him about Mr. Comey’s dismissal and the White House’s handling of questions about a June 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer said to be offering incriminating information about Hillary Clinton.

Mr. McGahn is willing to meet with investigators and answer questions, but his lawyer, Bill Burck, has asked Mr. Cobb to tell him whether the president wants to assert either attorney-client or executive privilege, according to lawyers close to the case. Mr. McGahn could face legal jeopardy or lose his law license should he run afoul of rules governing which communications he can divulge. He did not respond to requests for comment.

During the 1998 investigation into whether President Bill Clintoncommitted perjury and obstruction of justice to cover up an affair with Ms. Lewinsky, an appeals court ruled that government lawyers do not enjoy the same attorney-client privilege as private lawyers and that prosecutors in some circumstances can compel a White House lawyer to testify.

Mr. Trump’s legal team has been a caldron of rivalry and intrigue since the beginning. His first private lawyer, Marc E. Kasowitz, grew alienated from the White House in part over friction with Mr. Kushner. The lawyer was unhappy that Mr. Kushner was talking with his father-in-law about the investigation without involving the legal team.

At one point, the private lawyers explored whether Mr. Kushner should resign because he was involved in the investigation, The Wall Street Journal reported. People close to the situation confirmed that talking points were drawn up to explain such a resignation, although it was not clear how directly the issue was raised with Mr. Trump.

Mr. Kasowitz was eventually pushed to the side, and Mr. Trump elevated John Dowd, a Washington lawyer with extensive experience in high-profile political cases, to take the lead as his personal lawyer. At the same time, Mr. Trump decided he needed someone inside the White House to manage the official response since Mr. McGahn, whose professional experience is mostly in election law, already handles a vast array of issues from executive orders to judicial appointments.

Mr. McGahn’s first choices turned down the job, in part out of concern that Mr. Trump would not follow legal advice. Eventually, Mr. Dowd introduced Mr. Trump to Mr. Cobb, another veteran Washington lawyer known for his high energy and expansive, curly mustache, and he was tapped as special counsel to the president, much to Mr. McGahn’s chagrin.

Tension between the two comes as life in the White House is shadowed by the investigation. Not only do Mr. Trump, Mr. Kushner and Mr. McGahn all have lawyers, but so do other senior officials. The uncertainty has grown to the point that White House officials privately express fear that colleagues may be wearing a wire to surreptitiously record conversations for Mr. Mueller.

Admirers said Mr. Cobb has developed a rapport with the president and does not report to Mr. McGahn, who they believe feels insecure about his place in Mr. Trump’s orbit. Mr. McGahn’s supporters argue that Mr. Cobb is wildly over-optimistic to think he can steer the investigation away from the president, given that Mr. Mueller has now hired 17 prosecutors.

The suspicion within the legal team seemed evident in the lunch conversation Mr. Cobb had last week with Mr. Dowd at BLT Steak, not far from the White House and a few doors down from The Times’s office. A reporter who happened to be at the next table heard Mr. Cobb describing varying views of how to respond to Mr. Mueller’s requests for documents.

“The White House counsel’s office is being very conservative with this stuff,” Mr. Cobb told Mr. Dowd. “Our view is we’re not hiding anything.” Referring to Mr. McGahn, he added, “He’s got a couple documents locked in a safe.”

Mr. Cobb expressed concern about another White House lawyer he did not name. “I’ve got some reservations about one of them,” Mr. Cobb said. “I think he’s like a McGahn spy.”

While Mr. Cobb advocated turning over documents to Mr. Mueller, he seemed sensitive to the argument that they should not necessarily be provided to congressional committees investigating the Russia matter. “If we give it to Mueller, there is no reason for it to ever get to the Hill,” he said.

Mr. Cobb also discussed the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting — and the White House’s response to it — saying that “there was no perception that there was an exchange.”

In the interview over the weekend, Mr. Cobb emphasized respect for Mr. McGahn. “Don McGahn is an exceptional professional,” he said. “He’s done a superior job of building and managing a White House counsel’s office that deals with a wide variety of issues effectively every day. He works hard and is highly regarded, and his lawyering skills are excellent.”

Mr. Cobb acknowledged that the two approach the investigation from different perspectives. His role, he said, was “working as hard as I can every day to assist and fully cooperate with the special counsel’s office, and that cooperation is ongoing at a substantial pace.”

Contacted separately, Mr. Dowd emphasized that the lunch conversation was not critical of Mr. McGahn. “Don McGahn is doing a terrific job and our needs are an extra load,” he said in an email. “We understand and respect the time it has taken to gather the material and review it. Nothing we said reflected adversely upon Don McGahn.”

He said tension over how to respond to document requests was normal. “Assertions of privilege are the exception to the rule that the law is entitled to every man’s evidence, and in this instance it is critical in our judgment that the president be fully transparent with the special counsel in this inquiry,” Mr. Dowd said. “All this is getting worked out in a professional manner.”

 

key passage:

"Mr. Cobb argues that the best strategy is to be as forthcoming as possible, even erring on the side of inclusion when it comes to producing documents, because he maintains the evidence will show Mr. Trump did nothing wrong. Mr. McGahn has told colleagues that he is concerned that Mr. Cobb’s liberal approach could limit any later assertion of executive privilege. He has also blamed Mr. Cobb for the slow collection of documents.

Complicating the situation is that Mr. McGahn himself is a likely witness. Mr. Mueller wants to interview him about Mr. Comey’s dismissal and the White House’s handling of questions about a June 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer said to be offering incriminating information about Hillary Clinton.

Mr. McGahn is willing to meet with investigators and answer questions, but his lawyer, Bill Burck, has asked Mr. Cobb to tell him whether the president wants to assert either attorney-client or executive privilege, according to lawyers close to the case. Mr. McGahn could face legal jeopardy or lose his law license should he run afoul of rules governing which communications he can divulge. He did not respond to requests for comment."

 

Sounds like Cobb may have green lighted McGahn openly talking to Mueller, which he did, truthfully and extensively, well before Rudy, Sekulow et. al. arrived.

[Biff Tannen 45,673]

super lulz

[Mapache 1,117]

5 hours ago, WhatTheBuck said:

You could've stopped at "reads."

He's not even good at pretending to read

 

[triplehorn 2,664]

The bluster over 'perjury traps', 'he said, she said', "truth isn't truth" and Trump interviewing w Mueller probably relates in large part to avoiding being exposed in contrast to everything of substance they got from McGahn.  

[SizzleChest 8,283]

6 hours ago, HenryJames said: