Trump seems determined to show 'corrupt intent'

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President Trump’s lack of self-control has never been so apparent. At a time when reports suggest that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III is looking at tweets for evidence of “corrupt intent’ — a necessary element of the crime of obstruction of justice — Trump serves up tweets that evidence corrupt intent.
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...what does it show? It shows a man rattled by the trial of his former campaign chairman who did considerable business with Kremlin and now is facing a full unveiling of his finances and possible conviction for serious crimes. That, like the prosecution of former national security adviser Michael T. Flynn for lying about phone calls with the Russians during the transition, has been something Trump has tried frantically to avoid. And it is the desire to avoid scrutiny of his associates — for what they might reveal about him or his campaign — that is at the heart of a possible obstruction charge.
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Now that an actual trial is underway, multiple indictments have been obtained and plea deals have been struck, there is no question that Trump is seeking to shut down a set of active, valid cases. No longer do we need to debate whether interfering with an FBI investigation can be obstruction; we now have the president of the United States trying to shut down the trial (one of two) of his former campaign chairman. If Mueller cannot make out an obstruction claim now, I’d be very surprised. - WaPo