The thread where we meet to discuss the unfolding Trump administration catastrophe, but end up discussing adoptions from Russia

[illegitimateMortificadospawn]

If we can get our hands free to type from the constant facepalming, we should be able to post on this topic.

Continuation of the previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2968382-The-one-where-Trump-just-cant-stop-being-Trump

Trump’s legal team declined to comment on the issue. But one adviser said the president has simply expressed a curiosity in understanding the reach of his pardoning authority, as well as the limits of Mueller’s investigation.

“This is not in the context of, ‘I can’t wait to pardon myself,’ ” a close adviser said.

He's just being constitutionally-curious

Good thread here (sorry I can't copy it across)

@SethAbramson
(THREAD) Tonight it was revealed that Trump and his attorneys are busy creating a "pardon strategy." Want to know what it is? I'll tell you.

mobile.twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/888237971278888960

"He's just being constitutionally-curious"

For the first time in his life-time.

Major Garrett @MajorCBS
News: Marc Kasowitz out as @POTUS attorney - legal team now Cobb, Sekulow & Dowd. Sounds like a law firm but is not. Corrallo has resigned.

dumdum that's what makes it such an incredible cover - what an interesting topic to choose to look into when's he's shown no prior interest in anything that doesn't have his name liberally sprinkled across the page

www.politico.com/story/2017/07/20/trumps-public-russia-comments-could-cause-legal-problems-240775

This pardoning issue... very interesting.

Firstly, anyone who is pardoned has to accept the pardon and by doing is, it is an admission of guilt. Investigating pardons before the investigation is over??! Is he stupid...

Secondly it's a grey area as to whether he can pardon himself, that would be a constitutional issue.

Thirdly this...
" If pardoned, person can no longer claim their 5th amendment rights & then MUST answer questions" so Trump does not have a get out of jail free card whatever he thinks.

Even by enquiring about this, Trump is showing he is guilty, when is he going to get bored of this and resign? Trouble is... his hugely inflated yet fragile ego won't let him walk away. Apparently Mueller is expecting to be fired by Trump, it will be no surprise, and if that happens, impeachment becomes more of a possibility. I hope Trump is shitting himself.

Preet Bharara
Preet Bharara @PreetBharara
If Mueller is fired, will Congress pass a new independent counsel statute? 1/X
If Mueller is fired, will any high-level DOJ officials resign in protest? 2/X
If Mueller is fired, will an independent U.S. Attorney somewhere continue some or all of the Office of Special Counsel's investigations?
If Mueller is fired, do Trump & allies realize he will forever appear guilty of a crime even if the Special Counsel may not have found one?
If Mueller is fired, how quickly will President Erdogan of Turkey congratulate @realDonaldTrump with "Well done, young grasshopper"?
Final: If Mueller is fired, then does rule of law matter at all anymore or only personal loyalty, public flattery and private gain? MAGA?

Oh yes he would!

That extract from the Russian book of world domination is really scary - Putin really is ticking things off the list.

Where are the Democrats? Why are they not lined up outside Kushner's, Trump Jr's (et al) doors shouting "Lock them up!"?

Interesting perspective from New Zealand press

www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11893401

I think that, at this time, the Democrats are doing well by staying low.
They're letting the Administration sink themselves and letting the press expose them.
They have filed for impeachment and are voting against GOP'S legislation attempts, thus highlighting their divisions (also because GOP won't move enough towards the Democrats and prefers to pander to their extreme right members).

If Democrats were shouting lock the up now, it would polarise their positions and voters would be more defensive, because it would seem something cooked up by Democrats.

Apparently Mueller is expecting to be fired by Trump, it will be no surprise, and if that happens, impeachment becomes more of a possibility.

If Mueller is fired, that would give news organisations such as WaPo the green light to publish what they are currently holding back at Mueller's request?

Would anyone act on alleged direct evidence of Trump's engagement with Russia during the election? Or would it, after Mueller's firing, be normalised just like every other revelation.

It says something that Mueller's firing is now an expected event. We won't be shocked. This is not Watergate where the firing led to Nixon's resignation.

The NYT interview may appear to be the ramblings of an inarticulate President, but these people are very cleverly setting the stage for what happens next and neutralising the shock factor.

From my limited understanding, things aren't looking so great in Poland either.

Cas Mudde 🤘
Cas Mudde 🤘 @CasMudde
Very dark observations on ongoing attacks on Polish democracy by my friend @KubikJan - hopefully PiS bluntness will create shock response 🇵🇱

Why it maybe a good idea for the Democrats to stay low at this time.

The great C.J. Cregg and her WW boys.

It's possible someone knows they'd have a better chance with Congress than with a special prosecutor, even if it looks bad.

Kasowitz is out?

Lordy.

@MaggieNYT. Scaramucci expected to be named comms director in coming days - open question whether Priebus tries to stop it.

Scaramucci is close w Don Jr, Jared and Ivanka like him, POTUS likes how he defends him on TV

A few things - Scaramucci move is also a blow to Spicer, who has sought to have comms director report to him, as Dubke did. No chance here

It's real. It could also get undone by Priebus, who helped tank Scaramucci from OPL. That's what he's saying.

@Lweji WW ❤️

www.axios.com/trump-expected-to-make-scaramucci-communications-director-2462822930.html

Scaramucci does sound like exactly the sort of name the comms director for an evil super villain would have.

Fox gets sillier by the day. See, I do post from all sources!

Fox News‏Verified account @FoxNews 6m6 minutes ago
More
California conservative flees to Texas, hopes others join him

Yes Lewji I guess I know that's the case. I just feel so frustrated as it seems Scrotus and his enablers are able to 'get away' with saying and name-calling what they want. Aargh!

The whole thing about if you get a pardon then you lose your 5th amendments rights is a fairly moot point with any of the Trump administration as they will just outright lie and obfuscate anyway.

Trump wouldn't have the self control to take the 5th.

They would have to give him something to bite on to stop him blabbing.

But a pardon would have to be for a specific thing that someone is convicted, or at least charged, for, or could it work for any crimes?

I don't think you can pardon yourself. Previously, Nixon was pardoned by the following President, IIANM.