Trump's moment of truth

[DonViejo]

Jonathan Swan


Responding to questions from Robert Mueller is President Trump’s literal moment of truth.

Why it matters: Over his decades in public life, Trump has faced scant — if any — serious consequences for saying things that are not true. However, right now, in putting together his answers for the special counsel, that all changes.

Trump told reporters yesterday that he had finished, but not submitted, his answers for Mueller:

"My lawyers aren’t working on that. I’m working on that. I write the answers. My lawyers don’t write answers; I write answers."

"I was asked a series of questions. I’ve answered them very easily. Very easily. I’m sure they’re tricked up, because, you know, they like to catch people — 'Gee, you know, was the weather sunny or was it rainy?' 'He said it may have been a good day; it was rainy, therefore he told a lie. He perjured himself.'"

"OK? So you have to always be careful when you answer questions with people that probably have bad intentions."

It’s evident that Trump is acutely aware of the high price he would pay if he lies to the special counsel. His concern about that is entirely grounded in fact, and that’s why the process has dragged on for many months.

We don't know what Trump has written as answers to these questions. But it’s hard to imagine Trump would tell Mueller anything that would incriminate himself or his family. Without direct knowledge of the contents of his answers, we feel on safe ground saying Trump isn’t handing Mueller any huge bombshells.

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https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-robert-mueller-investigation-questions-888c6956-ea10-40f1-a625-2e8ab092c4ea.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. And now he owns those answers. He can't blame them on the lawyers.

If Mueller claims he lied he can't just say "Oh, my lawyers wrote that, it wasn't me," because he's publicly stated that he, his very own self, wrote them. "My lawyers don’t write answers; I write answers."

Being Trump's lawyer must be the worst job in the world. Whatever they're getting paid, they're spending on Maalox.

[empedocles]

2. The irony is, that however 'truthful' trumps written responses were,

he can't help but lie again, [as his attorney confessed to Mueller], and will be found guilty.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Catch-22, sort of...

If he lies, it's perjury. And it's pretty certain Mueller knows enough and has enough evidence to prove that.

If he tells the truth, he's admitting to committing crimes.

Good prosecutors make a living by putting criminals into no-win situations, thus forcing them to admit the truth.