Ex-federal prosecutor taunts Trump to fire Mueller in order to make next special counsels obstructi

[marble falls]

Ex-federal prosecutor taunts Trump to fire Mueller in order to make next special counsel’s obstruction case easier
Tom Boggioni

27 Jan 2018 at 13:07 ET

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/01/ex-federal-prosecutor-taunts-trump-fire-mueller-order-make-next-special-counsels-obstruction-case-easier/

Appearing on MSNBC on Saturday morning, a former federal prosecutor was sanguine about reports that President Donald Trump may yet fire special counsel Robert Mueller, saying that — instead of having a chilling effect on the investigation — the president will be handing the replacement counsel a gift of obstruction charges.

Speaking with MSNBC host Alex Witt, former prosecutor Cynthia Alksne said Mueller is so deep into an obstruction case against Trump that firing the special counsel would make the case a mortal lock.

“Last night on ‘The 11th hour with Brian Williams,’ you said ‘we all should keep our eye on the ball,'” Witt recalled. “What did you mean when you talked about these latest developments about Mueller What did you mean by that?”

“Well, I think there are two things at play here that we should stay focused on,” Alksne began. “First, there is an obstruction case. But let’s remember why there is an obstruction case. That’s what is important to remember. Why is he willing to go to these lengths to protect himself from the FBI and Mueller to keep them from finding out about Russian money and Russian influence on the election?”

“The second thing is, in all the hysteria of ‘oh, no, Mueller is going to be fired,’ we’re so far into this, your viewers should know, it doesn’t matter,” she explained. “If he fires him, it adds to the obstruction case and all the evidence being collected is still collected. It’s not like he sits in a little room with a green eye-shade. It’s not as if, if he’s fired, all the evidence leaves with him in a briefcase. This is all recorded information — the FBI agents take notes, they file them, the grand jury hears testimony, the documents are collected, and somebody else will step into his shoes.”

“So there’s no reason to be in a panic that if Mueller is fired — I mean, there’s Constitutional issue. But from a legal point of view in terms of worry about if the investigation will crumble, it will not if Mueller is fired,” she assured the host. “It’s going to be all right. We’re still going to go forward. Whatever they’ve found out, we’re going to find out, and then everybody can make a determination about what happened.”

“Well, that’s backed up by Senator Warner (D-VA), quoting what he said, ‘these are not the actions of an individual that has nothing to hide,'” host Witt added.

Watch the video below via MSNBC:

[Beartracks]

1. Trump's interest in firing Mueller belies his "understanding" of how these things work.

Trump, as an egotistical narcissist, naturally assumes that Mueller's work must be based on a personal vendetta against him, and Trump's instinct is that firing Mueller makes the whole thing go away. With Trump, everything is personal. That's probably why he was never the "successful businessman" he claims to be: the usual adage is that decisions aren't personal, "they're just business" -- but with Trump, it's the opposite.

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[LiberalLovinLug]

2. I guess the only question would be

What if he, with the help of the GOP co-conspirators, simply replace him with a stooge? Who then, even amidst the loud rumble of protest from both aisles, says he has looked at all the evidence, and will not recommend any further action. And furthermore, all the so-called evidence shall be immediately destroyed for the sake of National Security.

Yes there'd be riots on the streets (hopefully!). Yes the Dems on the hill would send out a few strongly worded letters. Yes even ex-GOP stalwards would go on 'fake news' shows and decry it. But to what end?

Fox News and thousands of RW propaganda outlets would be cheering all day and night over it, with their "See? We told you! Na na na na na!. Nothing to see here, now lets just hope the Democrats will give up this obvious and proven witch hunt and start to work with Republicans on making our country great again!!!"

Seriously, what is the recourse on that? They also own the SCOTUS don't forget.

[BigmanPigman]

5. During Watergate when there was the Sat Night Massacre

The FBI went right over to where all the documentation, etc was being kept while they were working on the investigation and sealed the room in the early morning hours. I am sure that their evidence is soooooo backed up that it would take years to find it all, let alone attempt to destroy it or derail the investigation.

Also, half the country wants to see him impeached so there would be a huge backlash. If you want to see a sea of pink hat wearing, angry people across the country, this would do the trick. And it wouldn't be only 3 or 4 million people either. Many different, assorted hats will be worn by tons of angry Americans that have never even protested before. The Resistance is on top of this and they have plans ready to be implemented within hours of any really big BS by the GOP or Moron's cabal is announced.

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. You're probably right

I'm just paranoid. Just as this whole clusterfuck is a new situation, I fear there may also be an unprecedented attack back. Different than Watergate in the way that many prominent Republicans in the House and Senate could very well be in on it and have everything to lose. Also different is the fake news conditioning that millions have undergone for decades, and continuing. That one doesn't simply turn on Walter Cronkite and take his word for what's going on anymore. Each side goes to the source that will tell them what they want to hear. I will say that for our side it is based on facts, but still plenty of opinion and speculation. But for them, they are fed false CTs and extremist rhetoric, and attempted character assassination of Mueller and his aids. There is almost half the country that thinks its all a witch hunt and I'll bet a lot of them are prepared to go to battle (and they have most of the guns) if their messiah is brought down.

My fear is that these guilty Republicans may very well just allow to turn a blind eye to any mass protests. And copies of the evidence, even if ordered destroyed, might very well be secreted away, but if no one in the majority in government orders it to be used, and they just appoint stooges in positions where that authority lies, then what really is to stop them? Mass protests can be stopped by the armed forces if ordered. Next may be the network news stations being taken down for "inciting riots". Who knows? Its all unprecedented.

But maybe I just got up on the wrong side of the bed. I'm sure none of that would happen.

[BigmanPigman]

9. Be emotionally and mentally prepared for anything.

My sister told me that since not much has changed that the expected "blue wave" during the midterms could be easily stopped by the Mercers and Kochs, the NRA, the Religious Right and Fux Ruse let alone the Russians are still doing what they have been without the GOP controlled govt even trying to stop them. And don't forget social media. Twitter and Fuckerberg say they are "trying" to put changes into place but that is BS. A guy who was his mentor for a long while was on Real Time and told Bill Maher that social media hasn't done anything that is in the slightest bit a deterrent in allowing false info to influence and effect all their users.

The Dems have to get volunteers to hit the sidewalks and knock on doors, call people and get drivers to help people to get to the polls to vote in the midterms. It is our only chance at winning and possibly have impeachment proceedings.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. I wonder

If Trump fires Mueller, I believe he's unable to speak publicly of his work anymore, since it's classified. If a replacement makes the unilateral decision to merely shelve the investigation until after Trump's term in office, I'm not sure how the work continues. Barring impeachment, I think it'll be hard by design to pick it up again in 3 to 8 years.

[aeromanKC]

6. Prison is prison

Prison is prison whether it comes from Schneiderman or Mueller either way Trump is f*****!!!

[marble falls]

7. Trump may or may not be able to switch engineers but the train has left the station and the track...

goes one direction. As you say, "Trump is f*****!!!"