Mueller's Evidence Establishes Probable Cause For At Least 4 Trump Obstruction Charges

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New legal analysis from Law Works shows that the Mueller Report establishes probable cause to believe that President Trump committed obstruction of justice in at least four of the thirteen actions reviewed by the Special Counsel. Mueller himself stopped short of announcing that the evidence amounts to probable cause but wrote: “If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state.” [Volume II, Page 8]

1. Trump’s efforts to remove Special Counsel Mueller:

Yes: According to the Mueller report, “Substantial evidence indicates that the President’s attempts to remove the Special Counsel were linked to the Special Counsel’s oversight of investigations that involved the President’s conduct—and, most immediately, to reports that the President was being investigated for potential obstruction of justice.”

2. Trump’s efforts to curtail the Special Counsel’s investigation:

Yes: According to the Mueller report, “Substantial evidence indicates that the President’s efforts to have Sessions limit the scope of the Special Counsel’s investigation to future election interference was intended to prevent further investigative scrutiny of the President’s and his campaign’s conduct.”

3. Trump’s potential witness tampering regarding Manafort:

Yes: According to the Mueller report, “Evidence concerning the President’s conduct towards Manafort indicates that the President intended to encourage Manafort not to cooperate with the government.”

Mueller concluded “the President intended Manafort to believe that he could receive a pardon” in exchange for not cooperating with the investigation. “Evidence concerning the President’s conduct towards Manafort indicates that the President intended to encourage Manafort to not cooperate with the government. Before Manafort was convicted, the President repeatedly stated that Manafort had been treated unfairly . One day after Manafort was convicted on eight felony charges and potentially faced a lengthy prison term , the President said that Manafort was “a brave man ” for refusing to “break” and that “flipping” “almost ought to be outlawed.” At the same time, although the President had privately told aides he did not like Manafort, he publicly called Mana fort “a good man” and said he had a “wonderful family.” And when the President was asked whether he was considering a pardon for Manafort , the President did not respond directly and instead said he had “great respect for what [Manafort]’s done, in terms of what he’s gone through.” The President added that “so me of the charges they threw against him, every consultant, every lobbyist in Washington probably does.” In light of the President’s counsel’s previous statements that the investigations “might get cleaned up with some presidential pardons” and that a pardon would be possible if the President “come[s] to the conclusion that you have been treated unfairly,” the evidence supports the inference that the President intended Manafort to believe that he could receive a pardon, which would make cooperation with the government as a means of obtaining a lesser sentence unnecessary.” [Volume II, Page 132]

4. Trump’s potential witness tampering regarding Cohen:

Yes: According to the Mueller report, “[T]here is evidence that could support the inference that the President intended to discourage Cohen from cooperating with the government because Cohen’s information would shed adverse light on the President’s campaign-period conduct and statements.”

MORE:
https://lawworksaction.org/posts/law-works-legal-analysis-of-redacted-report-muellers-evidence-establishes-probable-cause-for-at-least-4-trump-obstruction-charges/