Mueller Almost Done With Obstruction Part of Trump Probe, Sources Say

[DonViejo]

Source: Bloomberg News




By Chris Strohm and Shannon Pettypiece
January 25, 2018, 4:00 AM EST Updated on January 25, 2018, 11:27 AM EST

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is moving at a far faster pace than previously known and appears to be wrapping up at least one key part of his investigation -- whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice, according to current and former U.S. officials.

Mueller has quietly moved closer to those around Trump by interviewing Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, National Security Agency Director Michael Rogers, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and former FBI Director James Comey in recent weeks, officials said. His team has also interviewed CIA Director Mike Pompeo, NBC News reported.

Those high-level officials all have some degree of knowledge about events surrounding Trump’s decisions to fire Comey and Michael Flynn, his first national security adviser.

“Clearly the names that are coming out now indicate that we’re into the obstruction of justice side of it,” said Stanley Twardy, a former U.S. attorney for Connecticut who’s now a white-collar criminal defense lawyer at the law firm Day Pitney LLP. “He’s now getting people who are closest to the president, closest to the issues.”

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-25/mueller-said-to-be-near-end-of-obstruction-part-of-trump-probe

[OliverQ]

1. How can it be almost done when Trump and Republicans

are committing more obstruction every day?

[unblock]

6. something prosecutors often wrestle with in ongoing investigations of criminal organizations.

fresh crimes committed daily, indeed.

but at some point, you say, we've got enough to obtain a solid conviction, and you run with it, hopefully preventing future crimes.

[lagomorph777]

14. 'the obstruction part of the Trump probe'

...It doesn't say anything about the new probe into obstruction by Dustbin Nunes, Gowdy Doody, RonJon, Lyin' Ryan, et al.

[Freethinker65]

2. He obviously obstructed, and will continue to flaunt and obstruct justice

Last edited Thu Jan 25, 2018, 06:49 PM - Edit history (1)

Unfortunately, the current GOP controlled legislature has no interest in currently pursuing any action.

.

[lagomorph777]

15. 'flout'

Sorry - 'flaunt' for 'flout' is a pet peeve.

[Freethinker65]

17. Actually I believe in looking at the definition for both, that they both work

But thanks for making me look it up.

"To show off or display" or to "show defiance" is what I was trying to say more than merely "openly disregard". My comma was misplaced.

I often see "foundering" used here on du when I would have used "floundering"...I had to look that one up too. My son often corrects me on "lesser" vs. "fewer" and ("further" vs. "farther" especially when I am talking).

So again, thanks for your comment (though the emoji was probably not necessary).

[FBaggins]

3. That appears to be where his reported topics for Trump are

Not sure at this point whether that's good news or bad news.

[getagrip_already]

4. yeah, and the sky is blue.....

These articles tell us nothing. Every talking head has spun this story for weeks.

Fact is, nobody who actually knows is talking. These are all guesses.

I find it hard to believe muehler would move on obstruction without addressing russia. He pretty much needs to drop all the turds in the bowl at once. He will only get one shot at interviewing trump. If he is doing it now, he is close on financial and conspiracy with russia.

He knows this is really a political charge for an impeachment audience. At least as far as trump goes.

And he isn't going to indict junior and company on one set of charges now and come back again later. He knows trump will probably just shut him down as soon as he drops the obstruction charges.

Trump knows he won't be impeached with conviction. There aren't enough senators to convict, and he knows that. No matter what he does. So ending the investigation once the first wave of charges hits won't hurt him any more than the charges themselves.

He can at least bury the criminal prosecutions.

[yurbud]

5. I hope he brings in a lot more than obstruction

[Ccarmona]

7. There will be more than Obstruction

There will be RICO/Money Laundering Which I Think will come from the NY AG. That will not allow DT to pardon anyone or stop Testimony by claiming Executive Privilege

And I predict, which doesn’t take much knowledge to do so, that DT will perjure Himself when he speaks to Mueller, which will lead to additional charges.

[jaysunb]

18. I totally agree and think that a bargain will be struck that includes his resignation. n/t

[samnsara]

8. now on to the money laundering!

[AJT]

9. Hope there's more than obstruction. There needs to be conspiracy charges.

[C_U_L8R]

10. Every time Mueller thinks he's done...

Trump does something stupid and goes on obstructing !!
He's an endless f'ing gift to Mueller.

[aeromanKC]

11. No worries prison time can always be added to Trump's crimes later

State RICO prison time spends just the same.

[MontanaMama]

12. Question:

So when Mueller has completed the investigation, I'm assuming there will be a report? Who gets that report first? If the investigation states that there was obstruction and/or conspiracy, will charges be filed? If so, by whom? Sorry if this has been explained already. I'm on DU every day and I, like so many of you are biting my nails to the quick waiting for this investigation to bring the results we so sorely want and need to end this nightmare...I am unclear as to what will happen when the investigation is "over". And, when I say "over" I understand that as long as Tangeranus and Co. keep obstructing daily, this could go on for years.

[erronis]

13. I would absolutely love to have access to the information gathered. How/what/who/etc.

We are all now engaged in an open-sourced exposure of public information that can be linked into very convincing webs of influence and power. Some of the "public" information was expected to be too hard to gather so the targeted individuals and organizations did not go deep enough under cover.

Between the ICIJ and other groups that are getting this information into the public's and analysts' hands, it will be possible to link influence between shadow groups, off-shores, US and foreign politicians, lobbyists.

My hopes are that the various governments around the world can start to use this to prosecute those that don't follow the national laws. Of course, in RUSSRia or the US the laws are subverted to meet their leaders needs.

But if a large part of Europe, South America, Africa, Asia can start to clamp down on illegal money/drug/favor/power trading it will ultimately benefit people of poor countries like the US.

[BigmanPigman]

16. Preet Bharara said the same thing yesterday on CNN.

He is the former US Attorney from NY the the Fucking Moron fired. There are other investigations of course...like collusion, money laundering and about 6 other things that we know of and more that we are not even aware of yet. He is experienced and feels that this part of the investigation (obstruction) is likely reaching its final stage due to the people Mueller is speaking with.