Letter to Mueller from Trump Lawyers Declares Dictatorship

[orangecrush]

Am I reading this wrong?

Did I miss something?

"A confidential letter obtained by The New York Times shows President Trump's personal lawyers making the case to special counsel Robert Mueller that the president cannot obstruct justice. The memo further went on to state that Mueller cannot force him to testify.

A memo dated January 29, 2018, argues that the Constitution gives the president vast authority to, for instance, fire FBI Director James Comey, and even argues that the president cannot obstruct justice by terminating an investigation. The never-before-seen memo makes a broad case for the executive autonomy of the commander-in-chief, as the president's lawyers argue a sitting president cannot be subpoenaed. The memo is titled," Re: Request for testimony on alleged obstruction of justice," The New York Times reports.


"It remains our position that the president's actions here, by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer, could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired," writes John Dowd, the president's former personal attorney who left the team in March.

CBS News chief White House correspondent Major Garrett reported in April that Rudy Giuliani and other members of the president's legal team met with special counsel Mueller that month to discuss a possible interview. "

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/report-in-memo-to-mueller-trumps-lawyers-argue-he-could-not-have-obstructed-justice/

[SummerSnow]

1. King Trump...

[orangecrush]

3. I would love to know

what Mueller and teams reaction to this will be.

[triron]

20. was: it already happened.

[dameatball]

2. I doubt this is true, but just in case......

Mitch McConnell can be compelled to testify
Paul Ryan " " " " " " " "
Any number of others

[orangecrush]

4. Yes

But they are attempting to define the presidency as absolute power.

[dameatball]

5. correct. This is a big deal.

[orangecrush]

8. quite so.

It freaked me.

I'm rather suprised (and alarmed) this board is not exploding over this.

[Exotica]

19. I am too

[Adrahil]

6. That is not an understatement

If accepted, it means the President, and anyone he chooses, is immune from federal law. Further the President can use Federal law enforcement to attack his enemies.

[orangecrush]

7. Exactly

it literally declares a dictatorship.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

9. Don't get MAD, people!......Become ACTIVISTS!!!!!

Now more than ever, we all must do out part to thwart this DICKtator wanna-be. Congressional Republicans who do not speak out or provide the checks and balances regarding the unlawfulness of Trump, will be targeted for defeat.

Get to town halls. Get in the faces of your Senators and Representatives with questions they cannot evade. Film them. We have to hold everyone accountable for the actions of this man.

[orangecrush]

10. I believe a dead man switch

is in place if Trump kills the investigation, both on Muellers part, and on a national take it to the street level.

[Exotica]

18. Let's game this out (I am so glad you are doing these posts, btw)

Correct me if I am wrong, but if Trump fires Mueller, ignores any SCOTUS rulings, is impeached by the House in 2019 (provided we take it back in 2018) but then there simply is not 67 votes in the Senate to convict and remove, what can we do?

The max Senate seats we can end up with is 53 (that is sweeping anything remotely in play, including Texas). That leaves us 14 votes short. Let's say that all this happens and we end up with 7 to 10 Republicans voting to convict. We are still 4 to 7 votes short.

What can, at that point, stop Trump? The country (if all this happens) will be on knife's edge, a tinderbox. One horrid incident away from massive civil violence (from both sides).

Trump can simply ignore the SCOTUS, as they have no enforcement physical power (think Stalin's famous retort to Churchill 'How many divisions does the Vatican have?'). We could shut down the government (as we would have both chambers of Congress) but that could backfire and Trump would just try and issue executive orders nullifying Congress.

If we take this all to the most extreme levels I can imagine, the only thing that could stop him would be a military coup d'état. That is unthinkable, our democracy would never recover from that breach,and the military may side with Trump anyway.

I am scared shitless at this point. No joke, no internet-typed 'cowering' in terror, I mean I can actually see this all playing out.

The only way this ends well will be if we get 67 votes to convict and remove.
I think we end up with 51 seats btw, after the 2018 outcome.

[Still In Wisconsin]

11. I don't think there's any other way to read this

He’s saying that the President is above the rule of law. How is that anything other than tyranny? How much of a leap would it be from there to, say, indefinitely postponing elections?

[ProudMNDemocrat]

12. That would be like saying.....Fuck You US Constitution.....

Trump: I was only kidding when I swore to uphold the Constitution before CJ Roberts.

Congressional Republicans: We are powerless to stop him.

Get active people!

[jalan48]

13. The continued expansion of executive power. Congress is abdicating its responsibility.

[Akacia]

14. Reminds me of what Stephen Miller said

something about he will not be questioned or something. I cannot remember the exact words he used just remember it chilled me to the bone. I hate what is happening in our Country.

[Grammy23]

15. Honestly, the pretzel logic it takes to get to that conclusion actually makes my head spin.

I imagine tRump and his team of lawyers sitting in a conference room kicking around different ideas that will save his sorry ass. Of course, this happened months ago. No wonder Dowd left the team. So would anyone who has a grain of sense.

[orangecrush]

16. agree whoieheartedly.

[lastlib]

17. 'Der Feuhrer IS the Law'....

how can der Feuhrer obstruct himself?? "Eet ees dee Investigation that obstructs justeese! Sieg Heil!!"

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. How Trump sees himself, and how the world sees him:

Trump:



The world: