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Trump said he was 'fucked' and his presidency over upon Mueller's appointment – live Trump said he was 'fucked' and his presidency over upon Mueller's appointment – live
(32 minutes later)
Mueller floats evidence in his report that Trump was personally involved in discussions over the WikiLeaks dumps of Democratic emails hacked by Russia.
The report says that when WikiLeaks began publishing emails stolen from the Democratic National Convention in July 2016, Trump’s campaign aides “reacted with enthusiasm to reports of the hacks”.
“[REDACTED] discussed with campaign officials that WikiLeaks would release the hacked material. Some witnesses said that Trump himself discussed the upcoming releases.”
Rick Gates, Trump’s former deputy campaign manager, told Mueller that in the summer of 2016, a few months before the presidential election: “The campaign was planning a communications strategy based on the possible release of Clinton emails by WikiLeaks”.
In Fox News land, there is nothing which damages Trump in this slew of disclosures, says Guardian fellow Lauren Aratani, who has been watching the right-wing news channel.
Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump’s personal legal team, declared victory during an interview with host Bill Hemmer this afternoon. But.. Giuliani seemed to be relying on, in his words, it being “very, very hard to make an obstruction case”.
“We’re very, very happy. It’s a clear victory,” Giuliani said.
Look at page two of the report, [Mueller] says two statements: ‘He says we can’t conclude the president has commit a crime, but we can’t exonerate him.’ Well, nobody is asking to exonerate him. The reality is that the overarching principal of obstruction law is very, very hard to make an obstruction case, that there’s an underlying crime, so you have to assume the president is innocent, which he is.
Hemmer asked Giuliani why Mueller didn’t make a call on obstruction of justice. Giuliani offered this:
I suspect he had a disagreement amongst his staff. The attorney general today laid out the classic view of obstruction. I had many debates with him. What the independent special counsel’s office is doing was trying to extend that statute beyond their reach.
After Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were indicted by a grand jury on multiple felony counts Manafort told Gates he had spoken to Trump’s personal counsel, and said: “We’ll be taken care of.”
The word “pardon” is not explicitly mentioned, but Mueller writes that Manafort told Gates he “had talked to the president’s personal counsel and they were ‘going to take care of us’”.
Manafort also told Gates it was stupid to plead, saying that he had been in touch with the president’s personal counsel and repeating that they should “sit tight” and “we’ll be taken care of.”
That snippet is on page 123 of Vol 2 of the report.
The Mueller report says that in June 2017, Trump directed told his White House counsel to call acting attorney general Rod Rosenstein and order him to fire Robert Mueller, Trump saying: “Mueller has to go.”
Don McGahn, the counsel, refused, deciding he would rather resign than trigger what he regarded as a potential “Saturday Night Massacre” – of Watergate firings fame.
According to the Mueller report, Trump twice told McGahn to order Rosenstein to fire Mueller, saying Mueller had “conflicts that precluded him from serving as special counsel”.
McGahn, who left the White House in October 2018, recalled the president telling him:
“Call Rod, tell Rod that Mueller has conflicts and can’t be special counsel.”
McGahn also recalled Trump telling him: “Mueller has to go” and: “Call me back when you do it.”
The incident is detailed on page 85 and 86 of Vol 2 of the report.
We heard Barr say earlier this morning that Mueller divides the second half of his report into 10 episodes of possible obstruction of justice by Trump. In fact, the special counsel lists 11 key issues, which he headlines as:We heard Barr say earlier this morning that Mueller divides the second half of his report into 10 episodes of possible obstruction of justice by Trump. In fact, the special counsel lists 11 key issues, which he headlines as:
1) How the Trump campaign reacted to reports that Russia was trying to interfere with the 2016 presidential election on Trump’s behalf, including response to WikiLeaks’ dump of emails1) How the Trump campaign reacted to reports that Russia was trying to interfere with the 2016 presidential election on Trump’s behalf, including response to WikiLeaks’ dump of emails
2) How Trump behaved over the investigation into his first national security adviser Michael Flynn2) How Trump behaved over the investigation into his first national security adviser Michael Flynn
3) Trump’s reaction to the start of the FBI’s investigation into potential links with Russia, including when he asked the then FBI director James Comey to “lift the cloud” over his presidency3) Trump’s reaction to the start of the FBI’s investigation into potential links with Russia, including when he asked the then FBI director James Comey to “lift the cloud” over his presidency
4) The firing of Comey4) The firing of Comey
5) Trump’s efforts to have Mueller himself fired – a particularly ironic episode given the report’s author5) Trump’s efforts to have Mueller himself fired – a particularly ironic episode given the report’s author
6) The president’s on-going attempts to curtail Mueller’s investigation and limit its remit6) The president’s on-going attempts to curtail Mueller’s investigation and limit its remit
7) Trump’s efforts to prevent details becoming public of the notorious Trump Tower meeting in June 2016 between his son Don Jr, son-in-law Jared Kusher and Paul Manafort with a group of Russians peddling dirt on Hillary Clinton7) Trump’s efforts to prevent details becoming public of the notorious Trump Tower meeting in June 2016 between his son Don Jr, son-in-law Jared Kusher and Paul Manafort with a group of Russians peddling dirt on Hillary Clinton
8) The president’s bid to force Jeff Sessions, the then attorney general, to reverse his decision to recuse himself from the Russia inquiry and take back the reins of the investigation8) The president’s bid to force Jeff Sessions, the then attorney general, to reverse his decision to recuse himself from the Russia inquiry and take back the reins of the investigation
9) A new detail this: How Trump not only ordered then White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller in June 2017, he then went on to order McGahn publicly to deny that he had told him to do so. (McGahn refused to do either.)9) A new detail this: How Trump not only ordered then White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller in June 2017, he then went on to order McGahn publicly to deny that he had told him to do so. (McGahn refused to do either.)
10) Trump’s behavior towards Flynn after the latter began cooperating with investigators, including asking Flynn to give him a “heads up” if he knew “information that implicates the President”.10) Trump’s behavior towards Flynn after the latter began cooperating with investigators, including asking Flynn to give him a “heads up” if he knew “information that implicates the President”.
11) The president’s conduct towards his longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, particularly after Cohen “flipped” and began cooperating with Mueller.11) The president’s conduct towards his longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, particularly after Cohen “flipped” and began cooperating with Mueller.
•Robert Mueller described 10 instances in which Donald Trump engaged in potential obstruction of justice and suggested that Congress might prosecute the acts as crimes, though Mueller stopped short of recommending such a prosecution.•Robert Mueller described 10 instances in which Donald Trump engaged in potential obstruction of justice and suggested that Congress might prosecute the acts as crimes, though Mueller stopped short of recommending such a prosecution.
•Mueller went much further than attorney general Bill Barr has suggested, the special counsel pointing to serious wrongdoing on Trump’s part that could amount to criminal activity. Mueller said that had his team concluded that the president had committed no crime, they would have said so. Instead, Mueller wrote: “Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment.”•Mueller went much further than attorney general Bill Barr has suggested, the special counsel pointing to serious wrongdoing on Trump’s part that could amount to criminal activity. Mueller said that had his team concluded that the president had committed no crime, they would have said so. Instead, Mueller wrote: “Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment.”
•Mueller’s investigation found that “in some instances, the [Trump] campaign was receptive” to Russian offers of help in the presidential election. In other instances campaign officials “shied away”, Mueller wrote. “Ultimately, the investigation did not establish that the campaign co-ordinated or conspired with the Russian government in its election interference activities,” the report says.•Mueller’s investigation found that “in some instances, the [Trump] campaign was receptive” to Russian offers of help in the presidential election. In other instances campaign officials “shied away”, Mueller wrote. “Ultimately, the investigation did not establish that the campaign co-ordinated or conspired with the Russian government in its election interference activities,” the report says.
•Trump believed he was “fucked” and his presidency over when Robert Mueller was appointed. According to notes kept by Jody Hunt, who served as Sessions’ chief of staff, Trump’s reaction to Mueller’s appointment was as follows: “The President slumped back in his chair and said, ‘Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.’”•Trump believed he was “fucked” and his presidency over when Robert Mueller was appointed. According to notes kept by Jody Hunt, who served as Sessions’ chief of staff, Trump’s reaction to Mueller’s appointment was as follows: “The President slumped back in his chair and said, ‘Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.’”
Page 52 of the report has a heading: “Contacts with the campaign about WikiLeaks”, but there are a tantalizing number of redactions over the following six pages.Page 52 of the report has a heading: “Contacts with the campaign about WikiLeaks”, but there are a tantalizing number of redactions over the following six pages.
There is a reference to Ted Malloch, a London-based American academic: “Malloch recalled that [Jerome] Corsi also suggested that individuals in the ‘orbit’ of UK politician Nigel Farage might be able to contact [Julian] Assange and asked if Malloch knew them.There is a reference to Ted Malloch, a London-based American academic: “Malloch recalled that [Jerome] Corsi also suggested that individuals in the ‘orbit’ of UK politician Nigel Farage might be able to contact [Julian] Assange and asked if Malloch knew them.
Malloch told Corsi that he would think about the request but made no actual attempt to connect Corsi with Assange. But some passages on the page are blacked out.Malloch told Corsi that he would think about the request but made no actual attempt to connect Corsi with Assange. But some passages on the page are blacked out.
Assange was arrested last week, and the US is seeking his extradition over allegations he conspired with former US military analyst Chelsea Manning to download classified databases.Assange was arrested last week, and the US is seeking his extradition over allegations he conspired with former US military analyst Chelsea Manning to download classified databases.
Earlier the House judiciary committee asked Robert Mueller to testify, and now the House intelligence committee, chaired by Adam Schiff, wants in on the act:Earlier the House judiciary committee asked Robert Mueller to testify, and now the House intelligence committee, chaired by Adam Schiff, wants in on the act:
The House Intelligence Committee has formally invited Special Counsel Mueller to testify on the counterintelligence investigation.After a two year investigation, the public deserves the facts, not Attorney General Barr’s political spin. pic.twitter.com/PWIXvl7MLvThe House Intelligence Committee has formally invited Special Counsel Mueller to testify on the counterintelligence investigation.After a two year investigation, the public deserves the facts, not Attorney General Barr’s political spin. pic.twitter.com/PWIXvl7MLv
Mueller is going to be busy...Mueller is going to be busy...
Trump is hosting a Wounded Warrior event at the White House today. He says he is having a “good day”:Trump is hosting a Wounded Warrior event at the White House today. He says he is having a “good day”:
“They’re having a good day, I’m having a good day too. It’s called no collusion, no obstruction,” Trump said.“We do have to get to the bottom of these things, I will say. And this should never happen, I say in front of my friends, Wounded Warriors, but i just call them warriors ... we just shook hands and they look great.”“This should never happen to another president again, this hoax. It should never happen to another president again. Thank you.”“They’re having a good day, I’m having a good day too. It’s called no collusion, no obstruction,” Trump said.“We do have to get to the bottom of these things, I will say. And this should never happen, I say in front of my friends, Wounded Warriors, but i just call them warriors ... we just shook hands and they look great.”“This should never happen to another president again, this hoax. It should never happen to another president again. Thank you.”
Trump believed he was “fucked” when Robert Mueller was appointed, according to this snippet spotted by Politico’s Dan Diamond:Trump believed he was “fucked” when Robert Mueller was appointed, according to this snippet spotted by Politico’s Dan Diamond:
Trump’s reported reaction when he was told Mueller was appointed: “This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.” pic.twitter.com/J1AN9SGM7OTrump’s reported reaction when he was told Mueller was appointed: “This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.” pic.twitter.com/J1AN9SGM7O
That’s on page 290, if you’re also reading the report.That’s on page 290, if you’re also reading the report.
In his introduction to the second part of his report, on obstruction of justice, Robert Mueller goes much further than attorney general Bill Barr has suggested and points to serious wrongdoing on Trump’s part that could amount to criminal activity.In his introduction to the second part of his report, on obstruction of justice, Robert Mueller goes much further than attorney general Bill Barr has suggested and points to serious wrongdoing on Trump’s part that could amount to criminal activity.
Mueller states that had his team concluded that the president had committed no crime, they would have said so. Instead, Mueller writes:Mueller states that had his team concluded that the president had committed no crime, they would have said so. Instead, Mueller writes:
Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment.Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment.
There’s more trouble for Trump in the next sentence. Mueller alludes to having found “evidence about the president’s actions and intent” that “prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred”. Mueller adds:There’s more trouble for Trump in the next sentence. Mueller alludes to having found “evidence about the president’s actions and intent” that “prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred”. Mueller adds:
“Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”“Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
Mueller’s investigation found that “in some instances, the [Trump] campaign was receptive” to Russian offers of help in the presidential election, according to the report.
The special counsel also found that the Trump campaign “expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts”.
From page 179 of the report, if you’re reading along:
In sum the investigation established multiple links between Trump campaign officials and individuals tied to the Russian government.
Those links included Russian offers of assistance to the campaign. In some instances, the campaign was receptive to the offer, while in other instances the campaign officials shied away.
Ultimately, the investigation did not establish that the campaign co-ordinated or conspired with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”
Here is the full sentence quoted selectively by Barr in his summary when reporting that Mueller did not find a Trump-Russia conspiracy. pic.twitter.com/m4vpK2bfjQ
The Department of Justice has published Robert Mueller’s report.
It’s here.
More to follow.
Donald Trump has done a tweet ripping off Game of Thrones.
pic.twitter.com/222atp7wuB
(Of course, we now know that Mueller’s report identified 10 episodes of potential obstruction, all involving Trump, but Barr decided the instances “did not amount to obstruction as a matter of law”.)
One part of Bill Barr’s comments that is likely to be the subject of hot debate relates to the obstruction of justice piece of the Mueller report. The attorney general said 10 episodes of potential obstruction, all involving Trump, had been identified in the report.
He then went on to say that he and his deputy Rod Rosenstein had disagreed with Mueller over his legal thinking. They “felt that some of the episodes examined did not amount to obstruction as a matter of law”.
That is a big flashing light as to what to watch for when the redacted report is finally released, probably within the next hour. Bear in mind that Barr is not a neutral player in the obstruction game.
Months before Trump handpicked him as attorney general, Barr took it upon himself to draw up a memo for senior justice officials in which he argued that Mueller’s investigation into obstruction was “fatally flawed”. Trump, he said, was totally within his powers to fire the then FBI director James Comey.
This is likely to be a powerful line of inquiry once the report comes out, and in the days and weeks ahead: what were the legal differences of opinion between Mueller and Barr over the 10 episodes of potential obstruction laid out in the report?
How serious were those disagreements? And what does it reveal about why Barr took it upon himself to conclude that there was insufficient evidence to justify an obstruction charge – something that Mueller himself declined to do.
Guardian US’s reporting fellow, Lauren Aratani, is keeping an eye on the Fox News reaction to Barr’s presser and, later, Mueller’s report.
There seems to be a cheery vibe over there. And why wouldn’t there be! Barr has just told us Trump did nothing wrong!
Lauren reports that this was the take of Fox chief national correspondent Ed Henry:
As we talk about this back and forth, let’s just have a time-out and remember that William Barr, the attorney general, is now saying directly that a narrative pushed by the Democrats is false. The collusion in the Trump campaign, the White House and the Russians [... ]You heard William Barr say that again and again.
Let’s not forget, we haven’t heard from the Democrats because they haven’t seen the full report [...] But [Representative] Adam Schiff and the House Democrats, for two years, they’ve been accusing, claiming they have evidence of collusion. The attorney general of the United States is again saying definitively that is not true.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer put out a joint statement earlier, reiterating Jerrold Nadler’s call for Mueller to appear before Congress and laying into Bill Barr’s performance today.
(Take a deep breath because this is a long sentence):
Attorney General Barr’s regrettably partisan handling of the Mueller report, including his slanted March 24 summary letter, his irresponsible testimony before Congress last week, and his indefensible plan to spin the report in a press conference [...] – hours before he allows the public or Congress to see it – have resulted in a crisis of confidence in his independence and impartiality.
Jerrold Nadler, chair of the House Judiciary committee, has written to Robert Mueller, asking him to appear “as soon as possible”.
“I request your testimony before the judiciary committee as soon as possible – but, in any event, no later than May 23 2019,” Nadler wrote.
It is clear Congress and the American people must hear from Special Counsel Robert Mueller in person to better understand his findings. We are now requesting Mueller to appear before @HouseJudiciary as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/Mmo6PA4KPt
Russia has responded to the impending publication of the Mueller report. It seems the Kremlin isn’t that bothered:
“This is not an issue for us,” said Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, when asked if Moscow was concerned about the imminent release of Mueller’s report.
“It is not a thing that interests us or causes us concern… We have plenty of other important, interesting, fruitful, and constructive things to do. That’s what we prefer to focus on.”
Thanks to the Guardian’s Marc Bennetts for that snippet.
Maybe Rudy Giuliani ought to worry about his job as Donald Trump’s personal lawyer. William Barr seemingly just auditioned to replace him. His press conference was a performance that appeared to be aimed at an audience of one.
The attorney general sought to tug at the heart strings, telling how Trump “faced an unprecedented situation” as federal agents and prosecutors scrutinized his conduct before and after taking office and the media speculated personal culpability. The president “was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents, and fueled by illegal leaks”, Barr said.
To many ears, these sounds like lame excuses for Trump’s own “unprecedented” and unhinged attacks on Mueller and the FBI. Barr went on to claim that the White House “fully cooperated” with the special counsel’s investigation. Yet Trump himself did not agree to be interviewed, apparently on advice that he would likely incriminate himself.
Barr’s performance will have confirmed the worst fears of Democrats that he is an apologist for the president. It will also have gone down very well at the White House, perhaps even better than an episode of Fox and Friends. Once again, the world got to see the Barr report and was left wondering what lurks in the Mueller report.
Some reaction from political journalists:
Barr seems to have set a new legal standard for a president who is frustrated with an investigation into his conduct. Anger and frustration can now be the basis for lashing out at a probe of alleged wrongdoing in the White House.
Imagine how frustrated Nixon was during Watergate when he suffered many many leaks (remember Deep Throat?) and political attacks. Yet he was still impeached for, inter alia, obstruction of justice. https://t.co/6BLOegFfjf
The press conference ended after Barr was asked if there was any impropriety in him pre-spinning the report. (An aide announced mid-question that it'd be the last question.) Barr simply said "no."