You are right for once Roger, he cannot tell the truth...

[pbmus]

Link to tweet

[unblock]

1. Here's the thing about a "perjury trap": there are *two* ways out of it

First, you could simply tell the truth.

Second, you could lie, and when you get charged with perjury, simply assert your "perjury trap" defense.

You might even be able to refuse to answer the question, I don't know the specifics of grand jury testimony procedures and it may depend on the question.

Point is, it seems silly to prematurely suggest that some or all of Mueller's questions would constitute a violation of proper prosecutorial procedures and policies.

There's no doubt that there at least are *some* questions mueller could ask that are proper and relevant to the investigation. So let him ask those and then complain if he asks others that aren't appropriate.

[pbmus]

2. I cannot imagine the Mueller team playing with a perjury trap...

They are all the best of the best prosecutors and with the evidence they are gathering, and have gathered, the evidence will be enough...

And when he pleads the fifth, game over...checkmate...

[unblock]

4. pleading the fifth does not help the prosecution.

it provides a hint that they're on the right track, but they can't use that as evidence against him.

*politically*, it *might* be damaging, but in this environment, it might not be.

keep in mind that sometimes innocent people properly take the fifth.
not saying that applies to donnie's situation, but i am saying that taking the fifth is not, or at least should not, be as damaging as many people here seem to think it is or ought to be.

properly, legally, if someone takes the fifth, the whole question and non-answer should be completely ignored.


it's only outside of the legal proceedings where the public can draw inferences, keeping in mind that those inferences might be wrong.


in any event, if donnie takes the fifth, i can't see it doing much further damage to his already pathetic poll numbers.
the guy who got elected without releasing his income taxes is not getting impeached for refusing to answer questions.

if he gets impeached, it will be for a serious crime or for making the stock market tank -- much further than it recently has.

[Mr. Ected]

3. Mueller has no reason to go on a fishing expedition

He's already trolled the seas and has accumulated a feast of a catch.

He just wants Trump to join him at the table to appreciate together the vastness of his bounty and then to pile it high on Trump.

The relevance of Trump's words won't be in the form of corroborating facts and other witness testimony. It'll be to drill down deep and unveil Trump's motivations, his state of mind, his rationales for taking the measures he did.

And no matter how well counseled he is, Trump will never be able to stay on script for the duration of an interview.

[unblock]

5. exactly. the whole "perjury trap" talking point stems from the fantasy that there were no crimes.

even if people are convinced that donnie himself is completely innocent, it's idiotic to assume that he can't have pertinent testimony to offer a grand jury regarding the investigation of crimes that happened around him, around his campaign, involving people he knows.

it's only when you're somehow convinced that there were no crimes that the "perjury trap" nonsense makes any sense at all.

well, that and the fact that that's basically how they attacked bill clinton. so they're worried about having their own tactics used against them.


er, by a republican prosecutor....

[FuzzyRabbit]

6. Trump is screwed if he is questioned under oath by Mueller.

Trump doesn't know how not to lie.

If he is questioned by Mueller, he will lie. He doesn't know how to tell the truth. Perhaps he doesn't even know the difference.