Mueller needs to wrap it up, looks like.

[Honeycombe8]

If there's going to be a chance of completing the investigation at all and issuing a report, he has to do it soon. If he waits much longer, the investigation will be ended (or cut off at the knees), and any report he issues won't be released to the public. Maybe not even to Congress as a whole, just to the investigation committees, and designated classified.

Trump will then tell everyone it exonerates him completely of anything and everything, and he may release some flattering excerpts as backup.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. He knows what he's doing - better than we do.

And I have no doubt that he has some kind of contingency plan in case of Trump's interference.

[Honeycombe8]

3. You're probably right. But I'm very worried.

I'm sure he has a plan, with Rosenstein, anticipating Trump's sudden cutting the investigation off, firing either or both of them, or the like.

And of course, we want the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

But if it gets cut off, all this is for naught.

[janx]

14. Trump vows to rid Justice Department of 'lingering stench'

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/21/politics/donald-trump-rod-rosenstein-lingering-stench/index.html




It sure sounds like it. But if he gets rid of Rosenstein, protests are going to erupt all over this country.

[Honeycombe8]

18. Protests don't matter, except to express our disapproval or outrage.

But it's unconnected to policy.

What matters is whether Republicans in Congress would do anything about it. Doesn't look like they would, since some of them have made steps to get rid of Rosenstein or damage him, as I recall.

[LandOfHopeAndDreams]

2. Nobody Is Going To Tell Mueller What To Do

Based upon his actions thus far, I don't see any of them altering their course of action. If Drumpf wants to fire them, he will. Mueller is going to do what he wants, when he wants.

Hopefully he has a contingency plan ready to go in case something happens, but it's not something we'll know until then.

[Honeycombe8]

19. Well, no. He has a boss: Rosenstein (or Rosenstein's replacement).

Mueller didn't appoint himself or dictate his directive. The govt, thru Rosenstein, did that.

Rosenstein or his replacement could fire Mueller tomorrow, or change his directive.

If he has a kill button to execute in an emergency, it would be one approved by Rosenstein. Mueller can't or won't do anything not authorized by Rosenstein (or his replacement). The transference of charges to the states for Manafort & Cohen, for example....Mueller went to Rosenstein for approval for that.

Mueller is not a lone wolf. He serves at the pleasure of the deputy AG.

I would bet money that Rosenstein & Mueller have discussed what to do in the event Rosenstein is suddenly fired.

[bdamomma]

4. Mr. Mueller

is not stupid, he knows what he is doing, and also his full team. He has knowledge of investigating thugs.

[Fred Sanders]

5. No rush anymore...Mueller already has an ocean of evidence locked up. Beyond reasonable doubt.

Modern investigation is not like investigations in the 90's...technology has speeded up the process immensely, which is why I ignore the time it takes to indictment history of other political investigations.

Can you imagine collating and going through hundreds of thousands of documents without modern technology to court level admissibility?

[Honeycombe8]

9. My concern is that there won't be anyone around to write, or receive, his report.

I don't think the Republicans in Congress will receive it or publish it. Or act on it.

Maybe he's got a Plan B in the can, should anything happen to him.

[manor321]

6. It won't be soon

Too much work left to do.

[elfin]

7. Mueller must have a Plan B figured out a long time ago

My fervent hope.

Can't figure out why the Times published NOW. Did they rush it without enough research? Another poster suggested they were played.

My stomach is in knots. I want this to END.

[OnDoutside]

15. We've seen some of it already, in passing some elements of the states, beyond the reach of Trump. I

wouldn't doubt that if this went nuclear, others (including foreign intel agencies) would make sure lots of stuff would be leaked.

[ooky]

8. I have confidence in Mueller

that he will be ready if suddenly fired. I don't see all the work he has done going for naught. The question in my mind is what the Republicans will do to supress his findings.

[Honeycombe8]

10. That's my worry..the Repubs.

Trump's team is trying to act on this before the mid-terms, so they can shut it down and not release or act on any findings. The Repubs in Congress will assist with that.

Without Rosenstein, I don't know of anyone who will protect the investigation and let the public know what the results are. As far as I know, Mueller is powerless to issue a report for the public or anyone besides the Deputy AG, whoever that is.

[Garrett78]

11. Far less complex investigations have lasted for several years. What's this one at? Less than 1.5 yrs

[Honeycombe8]

12. I understand that. But WE are not in control. Mueller is not in control.

Rosenstein is in danger of being fired. When he is, the Mueller investigation is effectively OVER.

[HipChick]

13. But not the State investigations..

[Honeycombe8]

16. Ohhhhh...I forgot about those. Phew!

At least we have SOMETHING, in a worst case scenario.

But as others have said, Mueller & Rosenstein probably have a Nuclear Day plan.

[LiberalFighter]

17. Mueller is taking care of business.

Even if Trump removes Mueller he has a kill button that will activate anything that has not already been put in the chute.