Folks, don't get too excited too soon

[jmowreader]

I know: indictments are coming down tomorrow, people (if such they be) in the Trump White House are going to prison, there are going to be convictions and impeachments...

We've been here before. In 2005, AUSA Patrick Fitzgerald was investigating the Bush White House over the Valerie Plame scandal, and got one scalp - relatively low-level functionary Lewis "Scooter" Libby. He didn't get Cheney, he didn't get Bush, and there was no joy in Mudville that night.

We're all going to be very happy if they frog-march Trump and his family tomorrow morning. But don't get frustrated if all they get is Manafort, Bannon, or one of the other low-level consiglieres surrounding General Secretary Trump. We still have time, and Trump's is running short.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. I agree.

I remember all too well the excitement over Fitzmas. Which turned out to be nothing. I honestly think that these indictments will likewise prove to be nothing. Oh, lord, I hope I'm wrong.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Manafort is actually a pretty big frog, and so is Flynn.

I wouldn't expect anyone bigger than those two to be indicted - yet. But their Russian connections and funny money goings on - especially Manafort's real estate dealings and connections with dodgy banks - could lead right to the Trump Crime Family.

[MaryMagdaline]

5. Agreed

And they already had an investigation open on Manafort from years ago. Not as if they had to start from scratch.

[Loyd]

3. From the Ground Up

That's how the best prosecutors build their cases.

[MaryMagdaline]

4. There was no paper trail then

Banking violations can be proven. Bad things go on with your bank account, can't be anyone else but you. Scooter Libby would not give up Cheney. Different type of case.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

6. Thanks for posting what I was already thinking

I believe it's already been reported that Manafort was told to expect an indictment, so I'm betting it's him.

Maybe Flynn. Maybe Carter Page (who took the 5th the other day). I do not think we will be seeing or hearing names like Kushner, Don Jr. or Trump.

I'll also be curious to see if the charges really have much, if anything, to do with Russian collusion. I'm wondering if Muller found far more mundane illegal financial activity.

[brettdale]

7. If they get Manafort or Bannon

I will be barring up in the commentary box (as we say here)

That would be huge!!!!

[Awsi Dooger]

8. I remember the Fitzmas Eve threads

This is many multiples of that but I'm not confident anything attached to Trump can be proven

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. Manafort would be nice. Flynn would be nice.

Seeing Bannon or Cheeto, Jr. on the list would REALLY be nice.

But I'm not expecting anything yuge out of this round. Even if none of the above names are on the list, I figure Mueller knows what he's doing.

No, Rump (probably) won't be indicted. But he WILL go apeshit nonetheless, and it could be glorious.

[pnwmom]

10. Manafort, Flynn, Flynn Jr, Bannon, Page, Cohen, Sater -- there are LOTS

of good possible first steps.

This will be like an organized crime investigation -- from the bottom up.

[C Moon]

11. As I said in another post, I'm not holding my breath. I've become numb to this country.

Money runs it, and I don't have anymore faith in our system—not even Mueller. I was excited at first with tomorrow's forthcoming news, but I just keep reminding myself that the rich run this country, and they ARE above the law.