Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Getting Close

The Washington Post reports that the Mueller investigation has told Trump’s attorneys that he — Trump — is not currently the target of a criminal investigation.

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III informed President Trump’s attorneys last month that he is continuing to investigate the president but does not consider him a criminal target at this point, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

In private negotiations in early March about a possible presidential interview, Mueller described Trump as a subject of his investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Prosecutors view someone as a subject when that person has engaged in conduct that is under investigation but there is not sufficient evidence to bring charges.

Just because he’s not a target doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods by any means; Richard Nixon was an “unindicted co-conspirator” in Watergate and look what happened to him.

The special counsel also told Trump’s lawyers that he is preparing a report about the president’s actions while in office and potential obstruction of justice, according to two people with knowledge of the conversations.

Mueller reiterated the need to interview Trump — both to understand whether he had any corrupt intent to thwart the Russia investigation and to complete this portion of his probe, the people said.

Mueller’s description of the president’s status has sparked friction within Trump’s inner circle as his advisers have debated his legal standing. The president and some of his allies seized on the special counsel’s words as an assurance that Trump’s risk of criminal jeopardy is low. Other advisers, however, noted that subjects of investigations can easily become indicted targets — and expressed concern that the special prosecutor was baiting Trump into an interview that could put the president in legal peril.

By the time Mr. Mueller releases his report on the obstruction portion of the investigation — Robert Costa of the Washington Post reports that could happen in June or July — the interview with Trump may have already taken place.  Then once the report is released and they close in on Trump for lying to the grand jury — the guy can’t get through a take-out order without lying — he’ll fire Mueller, the shit will hit the fan, and even if Mueller is fired, the investigation will go on.