The only people that Mueller has to convince is the US Congress.

[kentuck]

The DOJ will meet with the Gang of Eight in the next few days. Their plan is to give them information they had not yet heard about.

Trump can carry on his PR war, in an attempt to keep his base and use them as leverage against the Republicans running for re-election, but in the end, the US Congress will decide if he is worthy of remaining in office. It is their decision.

We do not know how much evidence Mueller and the DOJ are willing to give to the Leaders in the Gang of Eight? But if it is over-whelming, they will have little choice but to act.

The time is nigh...

[lame54]

1. If they are not forced...

Don't count on them to act

[PSPS]

2. "Convince?" They know, but just don't want to do anything about it because they're on the pad too.

[kentuck]

4. In time, that too, will be exposed.

The time for hiding in the bushes is about over, in my opinion.

[ProudLib72]

3. Yeah, Nunes will have little choice but to run to the Don and tell all immediately

I have ZERO faith in the R side.

[kentuck]

6. Do you think Mueller and Rosenstein do not know that?

I have to believe that there are things going on behind the scenes that we do not know about.

[ProudLib72]

9. Oh, they know it all too well

That's why I think you are right to question just how much intel they will be presenting. But let's suppose that the DOJ gives them overwhelming evidence of a crime. With Rs in control of congress, I doubt they will act. The time for them to act was way back before the 2016 election when Obama's people approached them with intel about Russian involvement. They made their choice then, and are sticking to it until they lose their majority.

[kentuck]

11. Some, a few, have been singing a different song here lately...

Trey Gowdy and Paul Ryan, for a couple.

I'm certain there are others.

It all depends on what evidence Mueller has of wrongdoing or crimes.

[ProudLib72]

15. It is very difficult to tell

These last few weeks we've seen the WH trying to discredit the DOJ and FBI. The Rs in congress could try to follow that route to protect the president (and themselves). On the other hand, as you mentioned, a few have begun to sing a different tune (wasn't it Gowdy who recently made a statement in support of the DOJ and FBI?).

There is a delicate balance that must be preserved in the lead up to the mid-terms. Too much one way and they lose the confidence of the extreme right. Too much the other way and they lose the confidence of the moderates. Call me a pessimist, but I see maintaining this balance as their motivation more than doing what is right for the country.

[kentuck]

17. But they will not be making their decision in silence.

If there are high crimes and misdemeanors, we will find out about them. It's not like there is no price to pay to cover up crimes in high places..

[BlueJac]

5. Gang of eight...

sounds like a bunch of crooks, if there are Republicans in leadership roles it is a waste of time. Someone would have to bring some BALLS for the Republicans!

[oberliner]

7. Republicans control Congress

They will never vote to impeach Trump.

[kentuck]

8. They control Congress for now.

We don't know who might control it after November?

If the evidence were over-whelming and Democrats did not impeach, it would be a crime - a cover-up. We would have to think that some Republicans might vote with the Democrats if the charges were criminal or part of a high crime or misdemeanor.

It could not go unpunished. It would not be acceptable to a majority of Americans.

[oberliner]

12. Good point

I just don't think there is a chance of Republicans voting to impeach Trump. If the blue wave comes in the midterms, then circumstances could be different.

[kentuck]

18. I think we are looking at it from a purely political perspective .

When we have to look at it from a criminal perspective also.

We cannot ignore high crimes and misdemeanors .

Republicans will not be able to ignore them either - no matter how much they might want to ignore them. It will not be possible.

[MineralMan]

10. There are circumstances under which the current Congress might

impeach and convict Trump. They have Pence as a fallback, after all, and Trump is often inconvenient for them. What circumstances? Well, circumstances that make Congress members look bad enough would do the trick, I think. Republicans will act in their own interests, if push comes to shove.

[kentuck]

13. I think you are right.

They will act in their own interest. They will not surrender their seats of power for Donald Trump. If the "circumstances" are bad enough to make members of Congress look bad, if the information is exposed, and it will be exposed, then Democrats in the Senate would only need 16-18 Republicans to join them.

It may not be as impossible as some might think?

[MineralMan]

14. Well, it will depend on what Mueller reports.

There are a number of Republicans in Congress who are tired of Trump's solo flying. He's encroaching on their own power, and that can be very dangerous. If there is a good enough excuse to impeach and remove him, I think they might take that step.

The 2018 election promises to be a big jolt to Republican's power in Congress. That won't do, from their perspective. That's the worst possible scenario, in their minds. With a large number of GOP House members bailing, including Paul Ryan, the recognition of the danger of November of this year is real and palpable for many.

They'll shed Trump if they think that will protect their phony baloney jobs. Most of them don't like him, in the first place. He has upset the apple cart too many times for their liking.

[kentuck]

16. Yep. It depends on what cards Mueller is holding.

And how much he is willing to show the leaders in both Parties?

Sometimes, the truth is undeniable.