Mueller is reportedly asking Trump about collusion, not obstruction

[orangecrush]

President Trump's lawyers are preparing answers to written questions from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, sources told CNN on Thursday.

The questions reportedly focus on collusion, and do not address obstruction of justice, a topic Trump's lawyers hoped to avoid. Mueller's office negotiated with Trump's legal team for months; investigators probing the Trump campaign's involvement in Russia's 2016 election interference were reportedly hoping for an in-person interview with Trump. The special counsel investigation decided last month that it would accept some answers in writing, perhaps returning to the issue of obstruction "at a later date."

Trump himself has said he is willing to answer any question in person, under oath, but his legal team has been working to limit the scope of the testimony, worried he might perjure himself during verbal responses. Neither Mueller's office nor Trump's team commented on whether the first round of questioning has officially begun — Trump attorney Jay Sekulow merely said they are "continuing discussions" with the probe. Read more at CNN. Summer Meza

http://theweek.com/speedreads/801510/mueller-...

Ruh - Roh!

[SHRED]

1. Is our system so weak...

...that a sitting President can't be compelled to testify under oath in person?

[triron]

5. I think congress has made him king.

[Hugin]

9. I think this is the only real part of this article.

"Mueller is reportedly asking Trump about collusion, not obstruction"
Reportedly? I call bullshit. Reported by whom? Ghouliani?

"President Trump's lawyers are preparing answers to written questions from Special Counsel Robert Mueller"
So? They've been preparing answers for months, but, so far, Mueller has not accepted the answers in written form.

[asiliveandbreathe]

18. I have become skeptical as well, when I read reports like this -

The questions reportedly focus on collusion, and do not address obstruction of justice, a topic Trump's lawyers hoped to avoid. - comical.....just so happens obstruction is a topic they hoped to avoid...ain't buying it...

A friends daughter worked for a company that writes op-eds..they are given a topic, a list of words to use, and walla....a story....

Mueller has thus far held his cards close to his vest.....he certainly isn't going to start now...

[orangecrush]

12. In Mueller I Trust.

The guy is a Grandmaster.

[Cosmocat]

16. Yes, it is

because the republican party has crossed over from just being an over bearingly partisan entity to being a full on fascist party.

[triron]

2. why written????

[orangecrush]

13. A Wonkette article

says no one can say they know what Mueller is up to.

The operation does not leak.


https://www.wonkette.com/anyone-who-claims-to-know-what-muellers-up-to-is-lying

[Hugin]

3. Leaked, no doubt, by the His Rumpuses' very own legal-ish team.

So, therefore... I don't believe a word of it.

[orangecrush]

14. Here is a good piece. Maybe.. or maybe not.

https://www.wonkette.com/anyone-who-claims-to-know-what-muellers-up-to-is-lying

[Bleacher Creature]

4. He essentially admitted to obstruction on national television.

I'm guessing Mueller has what he needs on that front.

[meadowlark5]

6. Right. There is probably plenty of evidence of obstruction

I think the collusion stuff, Mueller needs to try and find thought process and intent.

Though, if these are written answers, cheater will have his lawyers dictate what he says so it will not sound like intent.

[Cosmocat]

17. Yeah - I could prosecute the moron on obstruction

nm

[NewJeffCT]

7. I think the obstruction case is likely already near completion

and pretty much an open & shut case. So, Trump's testimony is likely not needed.

The written testimony on collusion will likely be used to compare & contrast to all the sworn statements from the battalion of flippers.

[orangecrush]

11. Exactly.

[bigtree]

8. this is actually a good sign

...it means the investigation isn't limited to these questions.

[orangecrush]

10. AGREE

[malaise]

15. He already has the Con

on obstruction

[unblock]

19. generally, you ask questions of witnesses far more often than you ask questions of targets.

asking questions of witnesses, even reluctant ones, is often productive.
asking questions of targets often isn't productive and often isn't necessary.


note also that in the obstruction case, that's likely alllll donnie. i'm not sure there's anyone else to charge in that case.

but collusion is by definition a cooperative effort, and there are quite a few people who could be charged, not just donnie but also his family, other white house and campaign personnel, and russians, too.

so it makes sense that mueller would ask questions where donnie could give information as a witness but not bother asking questions where he doesn't have much to offer as a witness.