There's a problem with Mueller

[Egnever]

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/17/mueller-clients-special-prosecutor-238532

Robert Mueller could face one significant issue with his appointment as special counsel to lead the Justice Department's investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump's presidential campaign: The law firm he's worked at since 2014 has represented several prominent players in Trump's bid for the White House.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Trump's daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are all clients of WilmerHale, the firm Mueller is leaving to assume the position of special prosecutor overseeing the high-profile Russia election probe.

ugh

[C_U_L8R]

1. WilmerHale is a huge firm

Mueller himself didn't represent the Trumps
and besides, he's leaving the firm to
so there's no question. I just don't see
a big problem here.

[Egnever]

6. I get that

doesn't change the optics of it and if by some chance he comes back with no wrongdoing from Trump people are going to point at it.

[enough]

2. This could undercut the argument against Joe Lieberman as FBI Director,

that Lieberman has been working for a law firm that works for Trump.

[Egnever]

3. Yup it is an issue for both of them.

[uponit7771]

4. crap

[Doreen]

10. First word that came to my mind also.

[Eliot Rosewater]

13. Nah, one guy is an honest, decent and credible person, the other is Joe Lieberman

This deal where the "good guys" are compared to the "bad guys" makes no sense, but it is done all the time, I know.

There are not two sides anymore, there is the group trying to destroy the country, and the group not.

[Egnever]

16. Agree that Mueller has an impeccable record

While Lieberman is a dirtbag.

I am actually quite happy with Mueller as the pick but this does create optics issues.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Doesn't sound like much of a problem

In addition to getting what should be an easy-to-obtain waiver from the one-year cooling-off period:

WilmerHale co-managing director Robert Novick said he could not comment on the government ethics rules, but he said Mueller didn't play any part in the firm's work for Manafort, Ivanka Trump or Kushner.

"He had absolutely nothing to do with any of those representations," Novick told POLITICO Wednesday night.

[Egnever]

8. Unless he comes back with no wrongdoing from the Trump team

then it is going to look pretty suspect even if it isn't.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Mueller has never looked suspect in his career

You're reaching, Eg.

[Egnever]

12. I actually have faith he will do a thorough investigation

That said if by some wild chance he exonerates the Cheeto. This is going to open up all kinds of conspiracy theories.

Meanwhile the argument against Lieberman is being made based on almost the same thing. Don't see how it can be an issue for one and not the other.

At the very least it undercuts the argument against Lieberman.

[BeyondGeography]

19. The strongest argument against Lieberman IMO is that he has no federal law enforcement experience

and will be seen as politicizing the Bureau. Of course, that won't matter to the R's, but it will to the 30K some-odd employees at the Bureau.

Anyway, move the discussion to the point most people care about, i.e., relative qualifications (Mueller v. Lieberman) and there's no discussion. This appointment is on very solid ground.

[geek tragedy]

7. WilmerHale isn't a small boutique firm, it has hundreds and hundreds of lawyers

It's one of the 2-3 most politically connected law firms with a big regulatory practice.

[mulsh]

11. Here's an article from the Post outling the issues and the probable result of the review.

[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-department-will-review-possible-ethics-conflicts-involving-muellers-former-law-firm/2017/05/18/fff63f00-3bfa-11e7-a058-ddbb23|

[Egnever]

14. link takes me to a page not found.

[justiceischeap]

15. It comes down to reputation.

Mueller has, by all standards, an impeachable reputation for fairness and justice.

[Egnever]

17. This I agree with

I am actually quite happy with him as the choice. That said this issue does worry me.

[PJMcK]

18. Mr. Mueller resigned from his law firm the day he accepted the special counsel (n/t)

[mhw]

20. And Lieberman has ties to Trump crime family also, thru his Law Firm.

No one with ties to anything "trump", in any outside way, should be on this investigattion

[emulatorloo]

21. No, there's a problem with Politico. Mueller has a stellar rep.

I don't know why you think he's part of a cover-up.

Politico is funded by conservative Republicans. They aren't a horrible source, but one needs to read them with a bit of skepticism.

[niyad]

22. knew there was going to be some kind of problem. thanks for the information.