UPDATE 2:35 pm EST
It is always risky to predict the opposition’s moves, as you run the risk of egg on your face if you’re wrong. I’m going to do it anyway, in part because the #TrumpIsNotAboveTheLaw coalition that is organizing a mass protest in the event of a White House attempt to shut down the Mueller investigation agrees with me, according to one of the organizers, demolade.
More on that below. First, here are the signs I see that tRUmp and his enablers could move to shut down the Mueller investigation this or next week:
1) tRUmp actually tried to fire Mueller last June, so we know he’s willing.
2) #1 was leaked last week: either (I think) a warning from USA loyalists in the WH that he’s planning it again, or a trial balloon by WH traitors.
3) The investigation is closing in, interviewing people who were or still are tRUmp’s highest subordinates.
4) Mueller is planning to interview tRUmp himself in 2 or 3 weeks as of last week.
5) tRUmp is talking about knee-capping the investigation by firing the DAG [Daily Beast]:
President Trump has privately complained about wanting to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein... sources familiar with the situation quoted Trump as saying, “Let’s fire him,” and “Let’s get rid of him...”
6) The RW noise machine and Putinbots are ramping up their #releasethememo campaign, which was likely designed to provide tRUmp a cover to shut down the Mueller investigation. (Read the whole diary and the whole WaPo story to get the full sense).
Supplemental: this morning’s Washington Post story has Republicans in Congress divided on whether legislation to protect Mueller is necessary.
Breaking from NYTimes: the much-ballyhooed memo tries to make Rosenstein’s extension of a FISA warrant against Carter Page, after Trump became president, into a scandal. Translation: “you weren’t sufficiently personally loyal to Dear Leader.” Guess that’s their idea of a scandal. But it’s clearly aimed at Rosenstein.
See Mark Sumner’s excellent interpretive story here.
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Protest plans have likely already made a difference
Matt Scharfstein 🇺🇸 @MattAsherS — 5:47 PM - 27 Jan 2018
Trump and Republicans are trying to get the Nunes memo released because they think it'll create a casus belli to fire DAG Rosenstein and knee-cap Mueller's probe WITHOUT having to actually fire Mueller, an act they know will incite mass peaceful protests.
Yesterday, the leaders of #TrumpIsNotAboveTheLaw alliance (MoveOn, Indivisible, Women’s March, Public Citizen, DailyKos and many more) held a meeting. Demolade attended, and reports that organizers agreed that their rapid response plans might well have discouraged a White House move to shut down the investigation in December, but the risk has increased again and action is needed right now. Specifically: call your Representative and Senators to demand they pass legislation to protect the Mueller investigation.
Senate [per Time]:
Sponsored by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, the Special Counsel Integrity Act would only permit the firing of a special counsel in the event of “misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, or conflict of interest.”
Sponsored by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, the Special Counsel Independence Protection Act that would require an extensive judicial process to do so.
House:
Special Counsel Integrity Act, sponsored by Democrat John Conyers, parallel to Tillis-Coons above.
Trusted, Reliable, Unquestioned Method of Procedure Special Counsel Act, sponsored by Democrat Sheila Lee.
Demolade recommends putting pressure on Senator Tillis in particular, as he’s backing off, no doubt due to pressure from other places. So if you’re one of his North Carolina constituents and even if you’re not, call (202) 224-6342.
Phone numbers for all Senate offices here. Find your House Rep here.
Burn up those phones TO PRESERVE RULE OF LAW.
Demonstration Preparation
The #TrumpIsNotAboveTheLaw alliance has not changed its trigger for calling the mass protest (Mueller firing), but can “in a moment” if Rosenstein is fired instead, demolade says. People are still registering and venues are still being added. If you haven’t already registered for a demonstration in your area, click here. (Or if you prefer not to register, just show up.) If there isn’t one already (unlikely!), it’s easy to create one. Materials here. To receive a text alert, text “ALERT” to 668366. Media, click here.
Current map (which has so many venues that it took forever for me to load):
Final note from Demolade
The collective feeling by the group leaders… is the same as yours: this week and next is the time to make a lot of noise. As you note, they have a lot of great templates on the website including some for letters to the Editor. So, we should diary, call, write to papers, call some more, help the Dems get these bills through the House and Senate, call the sponsors of the bills, etc.
I can’t see how it isn’t a good idea to be prepared, especially since the “Mueller Rapid Response” preparations may have helped save him then—just knowing people were planning for it and calling. The same tactic, we hope, will work to prevent all this ‘plan B’ nonsense that they are pulling now.
Select previous diaries:
Second diary (by smoothnmellow, Dec. 17) — commentary from Twitter on what tRUmp might do other than just firing Mueller, since he technically can’t.
See also this recent Storified thread by Eric Columbus from yesterday on Mueller’s legal constraints; it relates.
Third diary (by Im a frayed knot, Dec. 19) — not arranged as part of the series but an excellent resource: six rules for successful civil disobedience. MUST READ if you’re planning to do that.
Huge thanks to DEMOLADE for information and encouragement.
Please share to make the loudest noise possible.
#RESIST!
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