Trump is so stupid: Admits to Obstruction... again

[_Kevin Graham]

In a 'self-defeating and self-incriminating' slipup, Trump just indicated he installed Matthew Whitaker to kill the Russia probe

- President Donald Trump indicated Wednesday that he replaced former Attorney General Jeff Sessions with former US Attorney Matthew Whitaker because he wants Whitaker to hamper the Russia investigation.

- Speaking to The Daily Caller, Trump called Whitaker "somebody that's very respected" and tacked on, "As far as I'm concerned, this is an investigation that should have never been brought."

- The statement is reminiscent of Trump's admission to NBC's Lester Holt last year that he ousted then FBI director James Comey because of the Russia investigation.

- "What is so unusual about Trump is that he publicly forecasts his motivation in a way that is self-defeating and self-incriminating," one DOJ veteran told INSIDER.

- Trump's interview with The Daily Caller comes after a series of bombshell developments in the Russia investigation, indicating that the president is increasingly worried about what the special counsel Robert Mueller has.

[_Res Ipsa]

I think that’s really a stretch. Whenever Trump is asked about anything remotely related to Mueller’s investigation, he launches into the same diatribe. Blah blah blah witch hunt. Blah blah blah angry democrats on Mueller’s team. Blah blah blah no collusion. Blah blah blah never should have been brought. I think that’s all he was doing here. I don’t see anything in what he said that could be fairly characterized as an admission of obstruction.

[_Dr Exiled]

I agree. Merely commenting on how he feels about the investigation or installing Whitaker is not obstruction no matter how much one wants it to be.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/obstruction_of_justice

In any event it started with a dubious fisa application and hasn't found anything of substance after 1 1/2 years. How about we shut it down? Giving Trump air time for tabloid like issues feeds his popularity. How about beating him on the issues? Reduce our militarism and maybe the fascist leader will weaken?

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Down in the article, which I'm betting KG didn't read since he's basically a spambot, a prosecutor said it's basically a 'tell', using a poker metaphor.

The upside is the GOP and some of its base isn't supportive of this appointment and Trump's attempt to get rid of Mueller. Check out this PAC, or whatever they're calling it:

https://www.ruleoflawrepublicans.com/

Here's their commercial they ran on FOX:

https://www.crowdpac.com/campaigns/3853 ... ule-of-law

Fun times.

- Doc

[_Kevin Graham]

So the defense is that Trump says stupid crap that is irrelevant to his point all the time so maybe he was just rambling incoherently again?

[_Res Ipsa]

So the defense is that Trump says stupid ____ that is irrelevant to his point all the time so maybe he was just rambling incoherently again?

Close. What he said isn’t irrelevant given the criticism the appointment has received. It’s just that Trump has a set spiel that he launches into whenever the conversation touches on the investigation. That’s what this looks like to me.

[_Kevin Graham]

In the context of his remark he is clearly in the mindset of explaining why he chose Whitaker. The interview went from a question about Chris Christie to suddenly Trump talking about the illegitimacy of the Russia investigation. The investigation wasn't the issue until Trump made it the issue.

THE DAILY CALLER: Could you tell us where your thinking is currently on the attorney general position? I know you’re happy with Matthew Whitaker, do you have any names? Chris Christie ...

President: Matthew Whitaker is a very respected man. He’s — and he’s, very importantly, he’s respected within DOJ. I heard he got a very good decision, I haven’t seen it. Kellyanne, did I hear that?

WHITE HOUSE ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY: 20 pages.

President: A 20-page?

THE DAILY CALLER: It just came out right before this, sir.

President: Well, I heard it was a very strong opinion. Uh, which is good. But [Whitaker] is just somebody that’s very respected.

I knew him only as he pertained, you know, as he was with Jeff Sessions. And, you know, look, as far as I’m concerned this is an investigation that should have never been brought. It should have never been had.

It’s something that should have never been brought. It’s an illegal investigation. And you know, it’s very interesting because when you talk about not Senate confirmed, well, Mueller’s not Senate confirmed.

THE DAILY CALLER: Right.

President: He’s heading this whole big thing, he’s not Senate confirmed.

So anyway, I have a lot of respect for Matt Whitaker, based primarily on reputation. And I think he’s really — I think a lot of people are starting to come out very much in favor of him during this period of time.

THE DAILY CALLER: What about who will eventually replace him, sir?

President: Well, I’m looking at a lot of people. I have been called by so many people wanting that job. We have some great people. In the meantime, I think Matt’s going to do a fantastic job.

[_Res Ipsa]

I agree. Merely commenting on how he feels about the investigation or installing Whitaker is not obstruction no matter how much one wants it to be.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/obstruction_of_justice

In any event it started with a dubious fisa application and hasn't found anything of substance after 1 1/2 years. How about we shut it down? Giving Trump air time for tabloid like issues feeds his popularity. How about beating him on the issues? Reduce our militarism and maybe the fascist leader will weaken?

I don’t think we can call the FISA application dubious given that we don’t know much of what was presented to the FISA court. The purpose of the investigation is to figure out the scope of what the Russians did to interfere with the 2016 elections. The information in the two indictments of Russians lays out at least part of that. The next step — figuring out what role, if any, Trump campaign officials played in connection with the Russian efforts is what’s happening now. But keep in mind, the President cut a deal with Mueller’s team to answer written questions almost 10 months ago, but he only got around to answering them this week. So, a significant amount of delay has been caused by the President himself.

The thing about an investigation is that you don’t know what it’s found until it’s completed. The fact that Mueller hasn’t indicted anyone for conspiring with the Russians to date doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have sufficient evidence today to do so. Given the way investigations unfold, the notion that we should kill the investigation today because Mueller hasn’t indicted anyone yet for being complicit with the Russians makes no sense.

[_Res Ipsa]

In the context of his remark he is clearly in the mindset of explaining why he chose Whitaker. The interview went from a question about Chris Christie to suddenly Trump talking about the illegitimacy of the Russia investigation. The investigation wasn't the issue until Trump made it the issue.

THE DAILY CALLER: Could you tell us where your thinking is currently on the attorney general position? I know you’re happy with Matthew Whitaker, do you have any names? Chris Christie ...

President: Matthew Whitaker is a very respected man. He’s — and he’s, very importantly, he’s respected within DOJ. I heard he got a very good decision, I haven’t seen it. Kellyanne, did I hear that?

WHITE HOUSE ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY: 20 pages.

President: A 20-page?

THE DAILY CALLER: It just came out right before this, sir.

President: Well, I heard it was a very strong opinion. Uh, which is good. But [Whitaker] is just somebody that’s very respected.

I knew him only as he pertained, you know, as he was with Jeff Sessions. And, you know, look, as far as I’m concerned this is an investigation that should have never been brought. It should have never been had.

It’s something that should have never been brought. It’s an illegal investigation. And you know, it’s very interesting because when you talk about not Senate confirmed, well, Mueller’s not Senate confirmed.

THE DAILY CALLER: Right.

President: He’s heading this whole big thing, he’s not Senate confirmed.

So anyway, I have a lot of respect for Matt Whitaker, based primarily on reputation. And I think he’s really — I think a lot of people are starting to come out very much in favor of him during this period of time.

THE DAILY CALLER: What about who will eventually replace him, sir?

President: Well, I’m looking at a lot of people. I have been called by so many people wanting that job. We have some great people. In the meantime, I think Matt’s going to do a fantastic job.

Ever since Trump appointed Whittaker, he’d been asked if he’d done so to kill Mueller’s investigation. So of course the two subjects are linked in his mind — just like they’re linked in yours and everyone else’s. It’s not an admission of anything other than an awareness of what the press and public are talking about.

I mean, read the whole interview. It reads like an exercise in free association.

[_Dr Exiled]

If Trump fires Mueller or prevents him from doing his job, there may be a case of obstruction. But merely hiring Whitaker seems like the client that wants to sue when there is merely a potential problem in the future. This exchange doesn't add anything to this.