Tornado Alley (PROG)

[fuagf]

Part 90, some of Russian meddling, and related, material from F6 big ones. These from
Saturday, 12/30/17, headed, Coming soon, Christmas at the Vice President's Residence
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=137304863

This triple header takes us close to one third in

Mueller eyes Trump’s pivotal “18 days” before firing Flynn
The Beat With Ari Melber
12/11/17
NBC News exclusively reports Special Counsel Bob Mueller questions suggest a focus on potential Trump
Obstruction. Sources say Mueller wants to know when Trump learned Flynn lied to the FBI. Duration: 6:07
©2017 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/mueller-eyes-trump-s-pivotal-18-days-before-firing-flynn-1114311747793

*

Trump aide who coined “coffee boy” defense admits some exaggeration

The Beat With Ari Melber
12/11/17
Former Trump Adviser Michael Caputo famously called George Papadopoulos a ‘coffee boy’, but new reporting
from the Washington Post reveals top Greek officials saw him as a high-ranking Trump staffer. Duration: 5:32
©2017 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/trump-aide-who-coined-coffee-boy-defense-admits-some-exaggeration-1114311747934 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4tbwZzxXgE [with comments]

*

Why are you contributing to this false narrative?
The Beat With Ari Melber
12/11/17
Former Federal Prosecutor Paul Butler, and Former Trump aide Michael Caputo, who famously called
George Papadopoulos a ‘coffee boy’ tussle over who is creating a “false narrative” Duration: 1:28
©2017 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/why-are-you-contributing-to-this-false-narrative-1114314307876

Just into the second third

Did President Trump tell Flynn to lie to the FBI?

All In with Chris Hayes
12/11/17
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is examining the period before Flynn's firing,
according to NBC News, focusing on what the president knew and when. Duration: 7:06
©2017 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/did-president-trump-tell-flynn-to-lie-to-the-fbi-1114358339591 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzBPvI_32E4 [with comments]

Bit farther down

When did Donald Trump know that Mike Flynn lied to the FBI?

The Rachel Maddow Show
12/11/17
Rachel Maddow looks at new reporting by NBC News into Robert Mueller's apparent focus on the question of Donald Trump's obstruction of justice
in the Flynn case, what Trump knew, when he knew it, and what it means for the story the White House has told about Pence. Duration: 12:22
©2017 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/when-did-donald-trump-know-that-mike-flynn-lied-to-the-fbi-1114430531647 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWyZJjU177s [with comments]

Into the second half

Why Mueller is focusing on the Trump-Flynn timeline

The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
12/12/17
A new NBC News exclusive report finds that Russia Special Counsel Robert Mueller is focusing on an 18-day
period in the early days of the Trump presidency. Julia Ainsley and Jeremy Bash discuss. Duration: 5:14
©2017 NBCNews.com
[originally aired December 11, 2017]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/why-mueller-is-focusing-on-the-trump-flynn-timeline-1114461252002

From "stashed December 11, 2017:"

Focus on Flynn, Trump timeline suggests obstruction is on Mueller’s mind
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/18-crucial-days-what-did-president-know-when-did-he-n828261
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/amp/18-crucial-days-what-did-president-know-when-did-he-n828261

Trump Will Have A Hard Time Stopping The Russia Investigation — Even If He Fires Mueller
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trump-will-have-a-hard-time-stopping-the-russia-investigation-even-if-he-fires-mueller/

Unanswered question hangs over the GOP’s anti-Mueller offensive
Promoting a piece from a far-right pundit yesterday, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said yesterday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller “has got some explaining to do.” It was a timely reminder that when it comes to the Trump-Russia scandal, many Republicans have begun turning their fire, not on the White House or its benefactors in Putin’s government, but on the official overseeing the investigation.
GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee, for example, appeared desperate last week to tear Mueller down. Several congressional Republicans have also called for Mueller’s resignation. Conservative media, meanwhile, has become almost hysterical in targeting the special counsel, eager to discredit the entire probe.
Clearly, Mueller’s investigation is causing some of Donald Trump’s allies to panic, and their fears are well grounded. It’s hardly unreasonable to think the Russia scandal poses an existential threat to this presidency – a threat made more potent following the arrests of Trump’s former national security advisor, campaign chairman, and others.
The Washington Post’s E.J. Dionne today touched on a question that too often goes unasked.
Because we are inured to extreme partisanship and to the political right’s habit of rejecting inconvenient facts, we risk overlooking the profound political crisis that a Trumpified Republican Party could create. And the conflagration may come sooner rather than later, as Mueller zeroes in on Trump and his inner circle.
Only recently, it was widely assumed that if Trump fired Mueller, many Republicans would rise up to defend our institutions. Now, many in the party are laying the groundwork for justifying a coverup. This is a recipe for lawlessness.
There was a point earlier this year in which Mueller, a Republican and a former FBI director, received bipartisan praise. With him at the helm, the political establishment declared in unison, there was reason to feel confidence in the integrity of the investigation.
But as the threats to Trump’s presidency have grown more serious, so too has the GOP’s willingness to attack Mueller. Trump’s conservative media allies have begun practically begging the president to fire the special counsel before Mueller brings down the White House.
So what happens if he does?
Trump, by his own admission, already fired a sitting FBI director in order to help derail the investigation into the Russia scandal. At the urging of his far-right allies, the president may very well consider doing the same thing with Mueller in order to, as Trump put it to Russian officials, relieve the “pressure” of the scandal.
Greg Sargent had a good piece on this last week, explaining that every congressional Republican should go on the record responding to a straightforward question: “If President Trump tries to remove special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, would you view that as an impeachable offense?”
There’s nothing rhetorical about this. The White House hasn’t hinted that Mueller’s ouster is on the table, but Trump has warned about various “red lines” that he expects the special counsel to honor. That was before congressional Republicans and the GOP’s media allies began characterizing Mueller as Public Enemy #1.
When Nixon pulled his Saturday Night Massacre and fired the official overseeing the Watergate scandal, it was the beginning of the end of his presidency. It’s in the public’s interest to know whether Trump would seek a similar fate under similar circumstances, or whether Congress’ Republican majority would applaud the radical escalation.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/unanswered-question-hangs-over-the-gops-anti-mueller-offensive

This big development in the Mueller probe could put Trump in danger
On Jan. 24, President Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, lied to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador during the transition. On Jan. 26, the White House was informed that Flynn had misled top Trump officials about those contacts. On Feb. 13, Trump fired Flynn.
One big question now is: Did any of Trump’s top officials — or Trump himself — direct Flynn to lie to the FBI about these contacts? This question appears to be of interest to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, according to new NBC News reporting out this morning.
[...]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/12/11/this-big-development-in-the-mueller-probe-could-put-trump-in-danger/?utm_term=.00a50087a502

Fox News hosts' outrage against Mueller hits the wrong target
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/10/opinions/fox-outrage-mueller-opinion-obeidallah/index.html

The attacks on Mueller push us closer to the precipice
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-attacks-on-mueller-push-us-closer-to-the-precipice/2017/12/10/97762606-dddb-11e7-89e8-edec16379010_story.html

Here's why Trump probably won't try to get rid of Mueller
http://theweek.com/speedreads/742646/heres-why-trump-probably-wont-try-rid-mueller

Ex-Trump aides expect Bannon to be questioned by Mueller: report
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/364232-ex-trump-aides-expect-bannon-to-be-questioned-by-mueller-report

It’s time to ask every Republican this question about Trump and Mueller
December 4, 2017
In coming days and weeks, we should all do whatever we can to ensure that every Republican member of Congress, in town hall meetings, via social media and during scrums with reporters, is asked the following question:
If President Trump tries to remove special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, would you view that as an impeachable offense?
[...]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/12/04/its-time-to-ask-every-republican-this-question-about-trump-and-mueller/

Mueller Starts Coming for Team Trump
First arrests in special counsel's Russiagate probe are Paul Manafort and Rick Gates
October 30, 2017
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/mueller-starts-coming-for-team-trump-w510426
.. more: https://www.google.com/search?q=mueller

As Russia probes progress, one name is missing: Bannon's
People close to the probe say the former campaign and White House strategist will be a key witness for prosecutors and Hill investigators.
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/11/bannon-trump-russia-probe-288862

Former Flynn associate says phone records contradict whistleblower's account
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/11/michael-flynn-inauguration-day-text-290167

After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running
the FBI, its reputation is in Tatters - worst in History! But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness.
3 Dec 2017
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/937305615218696193

Deputy FBI Director to testify behind closed doors of House Intelligence Committee - Andrew McCabe
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/11/deputy-fbi-director-to-testify-behind-closed-doors-house-intelligence-committee.html

Democrats seek alleged evidence of anti-Clinton 'bias' at the FBI
Amid GOP attacks on the bureau, House Democrats say the FBI's real prejudice was against their party's 2016 presidential nominee.
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/11/democrast-anti-clinton-bias-fbi-290475
.. more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dOmMrL49rTPHSVMkEnmmg95PENFaM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en