As Mueller closes in, paranoia spreads in the White House

[workinclasszero]

As Mueller closes in, paranoia spreads in the White House
Jeff Sessions tries to purge FBI of Comey’s influence, while right-wingers spread outrageous conspiracy theories
HEATHER DIGBY PARTON 01.24.2018•7:15 AM

For those of us who follow the news through the mainstream media, Tuesday was a busy day for the Russia investigation. It started with Monday's late-breaking story from Axios, reporting that FBI Director Christopher Wray had threatened to quit after Attorney General Jeff Sessions exerted pressure on him to purge the agency of people the White House considers tainted by association with former director James Comey. Sessions even asked White House counsel Don McGahn what to do and was reportedly told to back off, since firing yet another FBI director wouldn't be a good look for the Trump administration.

The people the White House would like gone, notably FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and former chief legal counsel James A. Baker, may be witnesses to Trump's suspected obstruction of justice. That makes this a bigger story because it piles on even more suspicion about that possible crime. Apparently, special counsel Robert Mueller is looking at more than just the Comey firing and the Michael Flynn coverup. He may be concerned that the president and his staff are still seeking to obstruct justice.

Trump has also been furiously defaming Comey, McCabe, Baker and others at the FBI on Twitter for months, which lends credibility to the assumption that Sessions is acting as the president's personal henchman and trying to purge the FBI of anyone who might be a witness in the obstruction case.

https://www.salon.com/2018/01/24/as-mueller-closes-in-paranoia-spreads-white-house-seeks-deep-state-purge/

[dhol82]

1. Wonder how many will be coming back from Davos?

[workinclasszero]

2. The whole group should continue the trip

directly to mother Russia and seek asylum.

[dhol82]

3. Totally agree!

[Grammy23]

7. My first thought this morning... no joke....

tRump seems to have sped up his efforts to impose tariffs, executive orders, etc Get as much done as he can before Mueller drops the hammer on the whole cabal. Then plan a quick escape to Russia from Davos. Many of the key players will be there in Switzerland so the trip to Russia should be a piece of cake. I am curious how they will ditch the secret service.

If I was writing a novel I would let the tRump gang make a hasty escape (just ahead of Mueller’s net ensnaring all of them.) Then the story would shift to how they were all finally caught and brought to justice!

But the truth of the matter is I want to see every last one of the SOBs brought to justice without years on the lam. No side journey to Switzerland, Russia or some other safe haven. Just quick, certain justice and that they pay for their crimes in fines and many years behind bars in orange jumpsuits.....none of them custom made. All of them pay bazillion dollar fines and they should end up penniless and locked up for decades. Ain’t I a little stinker to want to see that?? I wonder if Ivanka will chafe at wearing orange??? Oh, the horror! 😱

[workinclasszero]

9. Kinda like this?

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. That is fantastic. I fell right into it.

[llmart]

44. Oh man, that's good!

That video is my dream of what would happen in the near future. Please say it's so.

[Wordilocks]

16. I love this!!!!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[cilla4progress]

21. I agree that trump's actions

are those of a desperate madman!

You know there will be many Russian oligarchs in Davos ...

[Alwaysna]

32. I hope they feed

Ivanka a high carb diet and the pounds pile on .

[lagomorph777]

15. I'd be OK with that.

Hell, let 'em keep the big shiny plane. Just revoke their passports and never let them return.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. Will Trump defect?

[dhol82]

28. Dont think so

He is narcissistic enough to think that nothing matters.

Not too sure about anybody else.
Leaving one’s country is a major step.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. I was being sarcastic. Of course he won't defect.

I just wish he would.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. I do not understand how firing witnesses would help a coverup.

They witnessed what happened, and screwing them over with a job loss would be even more motivation to testify. In fact, it gives them even more credence.

[Leith]

5. This Is tRump and His Minions

It's hard to lower your level of brain power to theirs and it hurts to try.

What is obvious to us is way beyond their ability.

[peggysue2]

6. I don't really get that either

As you said--they witnessed what they witnessed. And if they are called to testify as private citizens, what they witnessed is still relevant.

The only thing that makes sense to me is that The Donald is as vindictive as he is deranged. Even Melania said that if you punch Donald Trump, he'll strike back 3x over.

Only in this case, he's striking back after he's been mortally wounded. On his way down, I think his aim is borne out of sheer spite: he wants to destroy as many people and institutions as he can.

[NewJeffCT]

11. Trump has skated around the law his entire life

screwing over investors and small and mid sized businesses doing work for various Trump properties - why should he not continue doing what he thinks will help Trump in the here and now? If it lasts beyond a few news cycle, he'll just create a new distraction by attacking the press or some celebrity.

[red dog 1]

23. + 1

And they called Ronald Reagan "The Teflon President"

[Elwood P Dowd]

18. They're trying to send a message

by punishing and threatening witnesses with their jobs and reputations. The message for others that might spill some beans is "we will make your life miserable if you rat on us".

[PunksMom]

41. Hes a bully

That’s what they do. I hope it catches up with him, because not only is he a horrible human being, but he’s making me & a lot of people physically sick!

[MGKrebs]

20. It doesn't make sense. But that's what you do in business I guess.

You have a problem employee, you fire them. It's what he does anyway. I really think he's that simple-minded.

[erronis]

30. Yes - better to have them all have a sip of some cocktail

prepared by the KGB master himself.

Of course, you'd want to vary the formula to not have them all dying of polonium poisoning simultaneously!

[Irish_Dem]

34. Trump would say they were disgruntled employees since he had to fire them for cause.

After being fired their testimony might seem diminished.

[Stardust1]

39. Because

He thinks this is a business and that he can fire anyone that rocks the boat without consequences. He also banks on the fact that he has enough power to do whatever he wants. "-You can grab 'em by the p*ssy.-"

[Juliusseizure]

45. A dictator's mindset is to get rid of enemies

And replace with loyalists or scare them into becoming loyalists. The GOP are loyalists. They didn't start out that way. So he's been successful.

The GOP has his back. So he has leverage and may be assuming Mueller is the only real deterrent to him browbeating Wray and others, or replacing them. Which may be one reason he wants the probe to end asap.

He seems desperate and stupid but I would not underestimate the danger he poses or abilities to influence people.

[politicaljunkie41910]

8. I hope he won't quit. What's the sniveling little whiny Keebler Bitch going to do? Fire you?

Jeff Sessions has no balls, so if it were me, I'd stay there until he put me out. Sessions is so in it up to his eyeballs, that certainly he has to know that this is not going to end well for him either. Between all the omissions he made on he security clearance form, his ass is headed to Sing Sing along with the Dotard. I don't think the Keebler Elf would do well in Sing Sing when he's some Bubba's Bitch so he'd better do what he can to save his own skin and let the Dotard do his own dirty work.

[DeminPennswoods]

12. Mueller building abuse of power case, too

I don't think the Trumpers realize that with every move of this ilk, they are helping Mueller build a very strong abuse of power case along with obstruction of justice, conspiracy and money laundering.

[ffr]

13. Only the paranoid need be paranoid. tRump should just go on tRump TV or radio

and straighten this whole thing out. After all, he is the master negotiator!

[SHRED]

14. I hope he doesn't start a nuke war over this

[hurple]

17. OK

So, all the witnesses are fired by Sessions.... They suddenly can't testify?

How stupid are these people?

[H2O Man]

19. Yes, indeed!

It's a thing of beauty!

Recommended.

[byronius]

22. Digby!

I love Heather Parton. She's the goddamned conscience of America.

I've followed her since she was no one, and I trust her opinion more than anyone's because of her scrupulous honesty and unflinching willingness to look at the difficult.

Great article.

[red dog 1]

24. K&R

[bpj62]

25. Business as usual

As post 11 said Trump has practiced this style of business his entire life. From NDA to not paying contractors for services provided. He dares you to sue him. I guarantee you that Trump truly believes that there was not any collusion with Rusdia because he thinks this is just the way business is done.To Trump and his family the Unuted States Government is just a giant ATM machine and they will take every last dime for themselves and thier friends and then they will walk away. This is what 4 business bankruptcies have taught him.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. It isn't paranoia when they really are out to get you.

[workinclasszero]

46. Good point

[OnDoutside]

29. I'm surprised no one is talking about the fact that Dana Boente is taking over from Baker at the FBI

[raven mad]

33. Scary.

I'm glad I live where I do...........

[BumRushDaShow]

35. But

can't you "see Russia from your house"?

[raven mad]

36. LOL! Sarah was a bit closer................

and lied a lot!

[BumRushDaShow]

37. Hee hee

[raven mad]

38. What can I say, friend? LOL! She was from Idaho or something..........

and it's closer (Russia) if your in Attu or Adak..............

[L. Coyote]

40. Anti-Mueller narratives that fell apart in last 24 hrs:

Judd Legum @JuddLegum --- 10 hours ago

Anti-Mueller narratives that fell apart in last 24 hrs:
1. Texts from two agents deleted to cover up plot against Trump. (Glitch impacted thousands of FBI agents, not two.)
2. FBI had “secret society” (Joke in one text.)
3. Nunes memo (Won’t share w/FBI, DOJ or Senate GOP.)

Link to tweet

[uponit7771]

42. Good, let them boil

[Xipe Totec]

43. The White House is in the hands of the Derp State. nt

[alfredo]

47. Trump, while in Davos will defect to Russia.

A man can dream, can't he?