General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhere does the Mueller investigation go from here and how does it end?
Seriously, I doubt that any Republican leaders will go to jail, not even Devin Nunes.
Just like in Watergate, there will be a large percentage of Republicans that will deny whatever facts are laid on the table. They will live the rest of their lives in denial of the truth.
If the investigation plays out the way it now looks with the facts that we already have, the Republican establishment will request that Donald Trump resign from office, soon after the mid-term elections. As much as we would like to see justice served and Donald Trump led away in handcuffs, it isn't going to happen.
Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan will escape without any criminal charges against them. Their only penalties will be political. But, it may be enough to get them out of power for the rest of their political lives? However, they are building a very rocky road for the Republican Party for the short-term future. But, they recovered from Watergate and they will recover from Trump.
In the end, Bob Mueller will be looking more for a political solution than a criminal one, in my opinion. Very few people will go to jail. Many will claim ignorance about the events with which they were involved. Republicans will continue to lie to themselves.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)unless money trail is established that bought favors from McConnel and/or Ryan, there is no criminal activity. With trump inner circle, what will nail many is lying to federal officials undertaking an investigation. With trump and his family, it will be money laundering.
The political aspect will be russian colluding with trump and trump's inner circle to win 2016....and that will have a political solution. 2018 and 2020 elections and possible impeachment and removal from office.
No change in tactics from mueller. He investigates, gathers evidence and witnesses and goes up the food chain. Takes time and he does it textbook style same way he brought down the mafia. No difference at all
bearsfootball516
(6,377 posts)People here often want to see masses of Republican leaders led away to jail cells. As much as I would enjoy that as well, it's not going to happen.
Manafort might actually spend life in prision if he doesnt flip, but hes the only one. Everyone else is cutting plea deals and will spend a year in jail, then be released.
The political futures of Trump, Trump Jr, Kushner, Ivanka, etc will be damaged, but none of them will ever sniff a jail cell.
kentuck
(111,094 posts)... and look at all the illegal wars and torture and "free speech" zones, etc, and very few were prosecuted for anything.