Rep. Schiff said on Thursday (3/28/2019) that the evidence collected by the special counsel’s office demonstrated that President Donald Trump and his associates had behaved in a way that was unethical, corrupt and unpatriotic.
“My colleagues may think it’s OK that the Russians offered ‘dirt’ on a Democratic candidate for president as part of what was described as the Russian government’s effort to help the Trump campaign. You might think that’s OK,” Schiff said to Republican lawmakers during the hearing. “My colleagues might think it’s OK that when that was offered to the son of the president, who had a pivotal role in the campaign, that the president’s son did not call the FBI, he did not adamantly refuse that foreign help. No, instead that son said that he would ‘love’ the help of the Russians.”
“You might think it’s OK that he took that meeting. You might think it’s OK that Paul Manafort, the campaign chair, someone with great experience at running campaigns, took that meeting. You might think it’s OK that the president’s son-in-law also took that meeting. You might think it’s OK that they concealed it from the public.”
“You might think it’s OK that their only disappointment from that meeting was that the dirt they received on Hillary Clinton wasn’t better. You might think it’s OK that when it was discovered, a year later, they then lied about that meeting and said that it was about adoptions. You might think that it’s OK that it was reported that the president helped dictate that lie. You might think that’s OK. I don’t.
“You might think it’s OK that the campaign chairman of a presidential campaign would offer information about that campaign to a Russian oligarch in exchange for money or debt forgiveness. You might think that’s OK, I don’t,” Schiff continued, referring to reports that Manafort had offered briefings on the campaign to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
“You might think it’s OK that that campaign chairman offered polling data to someone linked to Russian intelligence. I don’t think that’s OK,” Schiff added, referring to court documents demonstrating that Manafort had met Konstantin Kilimnik, a suspected member of Russian intelligence, in Madrid and gave him polling data on the 2016 presidential election. ”
Link to rest of the transcript: newsweek.com
You folks don’t get it. Mueller wasn’t ever expected to save our democracy. But his leadership, decency, fairness, integrity, desire for truth restored our faith that the ‘rule of law’ was still possible. He was the reliable, dependable consummate professional that we could trust….
It’s Mr. Mueller’s trustworthiness that provides the North star for most Americans. His reputation for thoroughness tells us that he wrote his own conclusions/ summary to be included in final report but a partisan like AG Barr usurped Mr. Mueller’s words with his own summary…
Mr. Mueller is someone who’d never compromise his integrity and he’s smart. He saw President’s Roy Cohn riding in on his horse for the rescue, AG Barr. He had already started farming out parts of his work to about 7 other US Attorneys’ offices. He insured that his work continues…
Mr. Mueller is the one who gives us folks out here in the real world, confidence in the belief that the ‘rule of law’ is not dead. We are not succumbing to being gas-lighted by the likes of Mr. Barr to think otherwise. We know to accept no less than Mr. Mueller’s own words.
Here is the opinion piece that the Washington Post published…
On March 28, 2019 Paul Musgrave, an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst penned the following opinion piece, “Why were liberals so desperate to believe that Mueller would save democracy?” (“The myth of an easy fix to the nation’s problems is seductive.”)
Excerpts:
“The conclusion of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s report on his investigation of President Trump last weekend came as an anticlimax. Attorney General William P. Barr’s summary makes plain that while the report does not conclude that the president committed crimes, it does not exonerate him, either. Yet after month upon month of anticipation, the investigation had become so freighted that the non-release of a non-exoneration led the New York Times to headline its analysis, “A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency Is Lifted,” while The Washington Post reported that Hill Democrats were giving up on impeachment for now.”
“To understand why this nonevent was so significant, we have to examine the function that Mueller’s report served for Democrats while it was being written. Because they lacked any real power during most of the Trump administration to counter the trauma of the 2016 election and everything that’s come since then, the idea that Saint Robert would slay the orange dragon held appeal as a salvation myth. Trump’s opponents could remain hopeful that, even though they didn’t have the means to do it, somebody else would fix the almost impossible problem of how to oust a president they viewed as illegitimate and catastrophic.”
“The plot line into which Democrats cast Mueller’s investigation came right out of a legal procedural. The star of this show was supposed to have been an upright lawman, who — with his impeccable credentials as an investigator, a prosecutor and a Republican to boot — would prove Trump’s villainy and deliver him to justice.”
Gronda Morin 
when the full report becomes available, which I have always said needs to be released, what will you and other democrats say if it found no reasonable evidence for calusion? I’m just curious about this.
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There is already so much fact-based evidence that Trump and his campaign staff did commit crimes during the campaign … listen again to Adam Schiff’s speech about the Trump towers meeting … that I cannot imagine a point at which I would declare Trump to be innocent of any crime. The term ‘collusion’ is hazy, and thus I avoid it, preferring instead corruption, obstruction of justice, criminal intent to interfere with an election, etc. I never shy away from saying that I’m wrong when I am, but in this case, we’ve already seen enough to know that Trump, Junior, Kushner and others broke the law. If not, why were there some 34 indictments issued by Mueller? Why are Manafort and Cohen sitting in jail cells today?
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Oh I agree and if the president were truly innocent, why would he have tried to obstruct the investigation.
corruption isn’t anything new, every president and politician has his or her share of this less than stellar quality as sad as it is, some in larger degree than others.
Admitting that one is wrong when it is proven so is an admirable characteristic but I just wonder how many people will also take that path, if it turns out to be the case, at least to one degree or another?
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I don’t know, for I don’t see it happening that he is proven innocent. But, to the point, you’re right … all of us at some point form an opinion that we find it difficult to dislodge. We’ll just have to wait and see. Personally, I hope that the democrats will continue to investigate Trump, for I do believe he is guilty of at the very least, impeachable crimes. But I would also like to see them focus on unity within the party, and on issues, platforms, rather than engaging in verbal battles. Take the high road, rather than wallow with the pigs. Sigh.
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wow, here’s an interesting take on this whole thing with Russia.
He is absolutely right that both parties have been bought and that they no longer represent the people.
https://1earthunite.wordpress.com/2019/04/03/jimmy-dore-the-us-is-a-mafia-state/
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One small detail that you probably weren’t aware of, for it was a logo on the screen that you couldn’t have seen, is the source of the video clip. RT … Russian Times. And 1EarthUnited, whom I like on a personal level, is very much pro-Putin.
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Dear Jill,
She is a Russian troll. Xena who has access to my account because she has been a mentor to me and she’s very computer savvy, researched this for me and warned me. I have been thrashing anything she writes.
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Yes, I remember that from your post a few months ago. I don’t read her blog. Thus far, her comments on my own posts have been 95% innocuous, so I’ve had no problem with her, and she has always been respectful. But, when I saw where Scott got the info he was sharing, red flags went up in my head.
Hugs!!!
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Dear Jill,
Why do you think I was believing SKLawlor was a Russian Troll?
Hugs, Gronda
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I can understand that, but I still say he’s harmless … he just likes to stir the pot every now and then.
Hugs!!!
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Dear Jill,
I’m treating him accordingly.
Hugs, Gronda
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Dear SKLawlor,
You are buying the GOP framing of collusion. I’ve not bought this talking point.
If you read my posts. I’ve been consistently concerned that the president’s judgement is compromised because of his financial dependence on his having access to Russian monies. I have the worry that because of his financial ties to Russia, he would feel obligated to promote Russian interests even at the expense of US national security priorities. His financial obligations to Russian financial institutions and other foreign governments would not allow him to pass the most basic FBI’s background security check to qualify him to be a dog catcher for our US government and yet, he’s our president.
There is no way that President Trump will have been granted a clean bill of health by Mr. Mueller. I have no doubt that the report will be devastating. I make this assessment on not what I’m wishing for but on reality.
It gets complicated to explain but to prosecute successfully someone at the high standard of “guilt beyond a reasonable doubt” for conspiracy charges and/ or obstruction of justice charges without ever having interviewed the suspect / President Trump, makes a successful prosecution, very unlikely. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot of evidence that portrays a very unflattering picture of corruption, fraud, deceit, etc.
Suppose you see a sign that says sales on shoes up to 75%. Most savvy consumers know that the up to 75% Ad probably means that most items on sale will not be discounted by 75%. You know that from experience.
Lawyers look at documents in a similar way. They will have noted the words in the Barr summary, which includes two of Mueller’s direct quotes: “did not establish” and “did not exonerate.” Lawyers will know that those two phrases actually hint at the opposite of a complete Trump vindication.
Then there is Mr. Mueller’s reputation for integrity, competency and thoroughness which tells most of us that he wrote his own summary and conclusions. That Mr. Barr would substitute his own summary tells many of us that the Barr report is extremely suspect.
I’m choosing to believe what ever Mr. Mueller has to say but I won’t accept anything less.
Hugs, Gronda
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without ever having interviewed the suspect / President Trump — This is a biggie! If tRumpsky is as guiltless as he would like us to believe, why would he not willingly provide time and effort to meet with Mueller? Instead, he had his lawyers draw up written answers which, no doubt, contained enough legalese to ensure “he said” nothing incriminating.
And this takes me to another point which I’ve made numerous times … if he’s not guilty, why all the fuss? Why all the denials? Silence, they say, is golden. Yet, for all his love of gold, he seemed unable to acquire any this time.
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Dear Nan,
You hit the nail on the peg. There has to be a reason/ explanation as to why the FBI’s Special Counsel Robert Mueller never was able to get this one-on-one interview. There has to be a story behind this. In addition, I want access to the written answers that he provided to Mr. Mueller’s list of questions.
Your point that President Trump has consistently acted the way a guilty man acts, is well taken
Hugs, Gronda
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Let the damn republicans gloat today if they wish, for at some point they will have to eat their words. I very much like Adam Schiff’s speech … no, I’m not okay with any of that. If the republicans are, then they have confirmed what I’ve said for some time now … they are corrupt and greedy and have no interest in truth or justice.
Hugs!
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Dear Jill and Mary,
You are right on the monies. There is no way that President Trump has clean hands regarding whatever comes out in the wash regarding the FBI’s Trump-Russia probe.
Remember that list that the House Intel Committee Chair Rep Adam Schiff just clicked off, a lot of what he stated was very factually based but a lot of what was listed as unseemly, corrupt behaviors aren’t criminal in nature
That has been what has driven some of us, me, nuts. For example, why did Gen, Flynn lie to FBI about meetings/ contacts with Russians as his taking these actions weren’t criminal acts. This happened over and over again. Why was he lying when he didn’t have to put himself at risk with the FBI?
Having financial ties to Russia may not be smart business as folks know there is the downside, as Russia is well known as being managed like an organized crime syndicate. If an individual owes monies to Russian entities, they are owned by Russia but having financial ties with Russians is not necessarily a criminal act.
What many of us, including Mr. Mueller, would be worried about, is President Trump being a Russian asset living in the WH where his judgment is so compromised to where he exhibits divided loyalties, which is lot of what we’ve been observing for 2 yrs.
But, the above was going on long before he decided to run for the US presidency.
Now put yourself in the shoes of the Russians. There is this GOP candidate who has sold his soul to the Russian government ages ago. He is your guy. What wouldn’t you do to help get this guy elected as the US president, which is what happened.
Technically there may very well have been no direct coordinated conspiracy orchestrated between President Trump, his campaign associates and Russian operatives to help him win. But it is ALSO true, that the Russians were highly motivated to help their guy get elected as the 45th US president and President Trump was thrilled to accept their help. This scenario does not amount to a criminal conspiracy case but it doesn’t paint a picture of the kind of man we want to see living in the WH.
I’m not exaggerating when I assert that if Donald Trump were applying for any gov. position except as US president, he couldn’t pass the most basic FBI security background check. That’s why reviewing his financial dealings with all foreign entities is crucial. This is why Mr. Mueller can’t give President Trump a clean bill of health.
Hugs, Gronda
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Ahhhh … but while some of the things he has done may not be technically criminal, they are certainly not proper behaviour for the leader of a nation. And I include in that his sexual endeavors such as paying a hooker to keep her mouth shut, as well as his Russian connections and the thousands of lies he has told. Is he impeachable? Oh yeah, there is more than adequate reason for impeachment, however we all know that it cannot happen with the demographics of today’s Congress. As far as I’m concerned, Mitch McConnell and his band of thugs are as guilty for whatever happens next as Trump is … well, almost anyway.
Hugs!
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The very fact there are people who hang onto tRumpsky’s every word, applauding/laughing at his vile language, condoning his threats of violence against his opponents, accepting his repetitive lies as truth … is a sickening picture of the ugliness he has generated in this country.
I have NEVER wished harm on any person in my life. I may have sent foul language and swear words in their direction, but never physical harm. However …😠
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Dear Nan,
I literally pray for God to somehow use President Trump for the good of our country as this could be classified in the miracle making category. I just want our country to be healed from all the harm and pain this man has caused.
I want his cooties gone from the White House.
Hugs, Gronda
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I’ve never disliked (ok hated) anyone in my entire life, like I do trump. The influence he has had over a third or more of our citizens, is appalling and it shows all to clearly, we have a lot of cruel hateful bullies living among us.
And even if was was proved beyond a shadow of a doubt about innocence of collusion or obstruction, it doesn’t change a thing about what a despicable, horrible insidious person he is and what a danger he poses to the future of our country and perhaps the world at large.
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Dear Mary,
I addressed a very lengthy comment to both you and Jill, We are all operating on the same page as to how we feel about the president’s leadership. There is no doubt in my mind that he’s unfit for this job. I will never forgive those GOP officials who helped to get him elected and who continue to enable him.
There’s a reason women will be voting against him in droves in 2020. Today I was listening to a right wing pundit as to how GOP women will return to the fold. They don’t get that women are disgusted with the lot of them..
Hugs, Gronda
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Well, but look at all those crazy women at the trump rallies
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Dear Mary,
I’m afraid that there lots of crazy women and men in this country. There’s not much that we can do about this reality.
Hugs, Gronda
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Gronda, Americans must demand the Mueller report recognizing some of it must be redacted. My guess is the GOP does not want the report as it can only go downhill from the marketing mesaage of complete exoneration, which is not true.
Also, I would encourage people to reach out to Lindsey Graham and Kevin McCarthy. The message to the former is are you sure you want to poke the bear and ask FBI and CIA people under oath about why they started the investigation. The ancillary question is you do remember your boss is a not truthful.
As for McCarthy, we should share our disappointment for his denigration of Adam Schiff, one of the more honorable people in Congress. Emulating the President to attack Schiff is beneath poor form. Like with poking the bear, Schiff pushed back with the truth. It should be noted Trump called Schiff a “pencil-neck” last night. Really?
Keith
Keith
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Dear Keith,
I intend to devote next week to contacting many of our US congressional lawmakers including Lindsey Graham and Kevin McCarthy. There are several key issues that I want to address. One is that I don’t want to see games being played with our having complete access to the Mueller report with the minimum possible being redacted instead of GOP trying to get the most possible that they can get away with, redacted.
I will be asking what GOP members on the Intel Committee had hoped to gain by disparaging the House Intel chair who has finally shown the courage to execute the committee’s oversight duties that they had been refusing to do for 2 years.
I want to ask what their plans are to address climate change and what their plan are to replace the ACA that they’re attempting to kill. I will ask if they want the reputation for being part of a party of no new ideas beyond providing tax cuts for rich folks and deregulation measures where nothing else matters.
Hugs, Gronda
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will you be posting their responses to those questions?
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Dear SKLawlor,
I’ll be posting a blog on this if I get any answers.
Hugs, Gronda
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