No one seems to talk about Trump using his *personal* lawyer to deal with a foreign government.

[Kablooie]

As president he doesn't tell Zelensky to deal with a government representative.
He tells him to deal with Giuliani, his personal lawyer who does not work for the government.
Giuliani just works for Trump personally and only answers to him, not anyone in the State Department.

And also the telling bizarreness of using the Attorney General to do work that normally would the State Department or CIA purview.

It all stinks to high heaven, does it not?

[Marie Marie]

1. Yes it does and that is some kind of special stench.

The kind that stays in your nose long after you've left the area.

[Shrike47]

2. I've been wondering the same thing. Cooperate with his personal attorney? That's key to me.

This is clearly on his personal behalf, not of behalf of Americans, although we get to pay for it.

[GReedDiamond]

3. Not to mention RudyPootPutin going on Hannity's Fux show...

...and claiming he was on a mission for the State Dept.

Which the State Dept subsequently denied.

[Whiskeytide]

7. But ... but ... it's on his phone!! Rudy needs to get ...

... a spoliation warning letter right away.

[Hekate]

4. "No one"? I've watched several commenters & reporters on MSNBC & Rudy is right at the top...

Rudy is getting quite the share of comment this past week and more, because the little jerk is all over FOX yapping about his importance to his boss, and helping dig the hole deeper.

[Kablooie]

5. Yes, they talk about Rudy but not the fact that

he's not a government employee or US representative in any way.

He represents Trump as a person, not as the president.

[Hekate]

8. No, that is *exactly* how they describe him: Private citizen. No official government connection.

Just a thug doing the Boss Thug's bidding.

Don't know how you missed it. In fact, Steve Kornacki and his guest are talking about it this very minute. Trump doesn't even understand the distinction between Giuliani and Barr.

[athena]

9. He understands it very well, in fact.

There is no difference, effectively, between Giuliani and Barr. Barr is as much Trump's personal lawyer as Giuliani is.

(Not disagreeing with you, just pointing out the disgusting irony of what this administration, with the help of Republicans in Congress, has done to the justice department.)

[Skittles]

6. overshadowed by his use of his *personal* attorney general

[John1956PA]

10. Anderson Cooper said "nobody with a straight face" would say sending RG was proper. n/t

[NCLefty]

11. Sure, it stinks. Dems will know if it's a legal issue, and include it in the articles if possible or

go after Rudy separately. I don't think it will be overlooked if Dems have jurisdiction/standing.

[lindysalsagal]

12. I've been saying this to the tv for weeks: RG isn't a gov rep! He's not sworn, he's not supervised.

He doesn't answer to any office. He's rogue. Might as well send in ronald mcdonald or the 3 stooges. Gangsters always use "cutouts" so they can deny it later. Why would any other government even listen to the fool? The other governments must think we're a lawless banana republic at this point.

If we had anyone left at state department, or enough ambassadors, they'd be wondering wtf they're doing sitting around in foreign countries when the potus ignores them and sends in his personal goons.

[phylny]

13. I did hear it three times on SiriusXM yesterday.

Twice on Progress, once on POTUS.