Desperate Trump tries to stop Mueller yet again because it seems like he can always find a feeble legal argument to claim that “... given what is now known, due process demands, at a minimum, that the special counsel’s activity be paused”.
It’s unlikely that Trump actually read the above argument other than seeking a technically peripheral element that could delay justice. Far too many ‘what-ifs” considering that there’s been scant investigation of the FBI’s “anti-Clinton hatred” and no connection between Mueller and Crossfire, rendering the cloud more of a mist. It’s as much a “major” opinion piece as trying to indict a cow or the DC sewers in the death of Zachary Taylor.
What does this have to do with Mr. Mueller, who was appointed in May 2017 after President Trump fired Mr. Comey? The inspector general concludes that the pervasive bias “cast a cloud over the FBI investigations to which these employees were assigned,” including Crossfire. And if Crossfire was politically motivated, then its culmination, the appointment of a special counsel, inherited the taint. All special-counsel activities—investigations, plea deals, subpoenas, reports, indictments and convictions—are fruit of a poisonous tree, byproducts of a violation of due process. That Mr. Mueller and his staff had nothing to do with Crossfire’s origin offers no cure.
Note the now near daily blurting of “Witch Hunt” and the use of “disgrace” which always shows how disturbed Lord Dampnut has become on the ride home.
Keep freaking out, Don, it’s worse when FBI matters less-related to a Russia “witch hunt” have now made you spooked. Did you even read the ten page DoJ OIG report summary?
May 2016: A sit-down with Roger Stone
Weeks after Papadopoulos' meeting, another Russian national reached out to another Trump campaign staffer hoping to discuss potentially damaging information about Clinton.
The outreach made its way to Trump campaign aide Michael Caputo, who spent years working in Russia in the 1990s and runs a communications firm with his Russian business partner.
Caputo says he referred the man to Stone, who in turn says the Russian
asked for $2 million from Trump in exchange for unspecified dirt about Clinton.
Stone denies accepting any deal and has alleged that the Russian was an FBI informant. The man, who called himself Henry Greenberg, has previously claimed in court filings that he once worked as an FBI informant, though he told The Washington Post he wasn't acting on the FBI's behalf when he met Stone.
Despite the meeting that came to light recently, Stone had repeatedly insisted that he was clear of Russian connections.
- "I have no ties to Russia," Stone said in January 2017.
- "I have no Russian contacts," he said in February 2017.
- "I myself had no contacts or communications with the Russian state, Russian intelligence or anyone fronting for them or acting as intermediaries for them," Stone said in March 2017.
- In September 2017 testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, which conducted its own investigation into Russian meddling, Stone said he "never had any communication with any Russians or individuals fronting for Russians, in connection with the 2016 presidential election."
As for Caputo, his role came to light two years after it happened because he forgot and only remembered while preparing for his interview with special counsel Robert Mueller, according to his lawyer Dennis Vacco.
"During the course of our preparation for that interview... his recollection was refreshed regarding one brief interaction with a Russian national in May of 2016," Caputo's lawyer wrote.
On Sunday, The Washington Post reported that Trump aide Michael Caputo set up a secret, non-disclosed meeting between Trump advisor Roger Stone and a Russian national offering “dirt” on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Tur played a November 2017 clip where she interviewed Caputo, and he claimed to have never talked to any Russians about the 2016 presidential campaign.