Trump calls special counsel Russia probe 'greatest witch hunt' in U.S. history

[webfact]

Trump calls special counsel Russia probe 'greatest witch hunt' in U.S. history

By Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to questions from the media as he meets with Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos (not pictured) in the Oval Office in Washington, DC, U.S., May 18, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday assailed the Justice Department's appointment of a special counsel to probe possible ties between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, calling it "the single greatest witch hunt" in U.S. history and a move that "hurts our country terribly."

 

Trump also said he was close to selecting a new FBI director to replace James Comey, who he fired last week, and that former senator and one-time Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman was among the top candidates.

 

Trump's defiant comments stood in contrast to his measured statement on Wednesday night after former FBI chief Robert Mueller was named as special counsel, in which he said "a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know - there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity."

 

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller after a succession of jarring developments that brought to a boil questions over Russia's alleged meddling in the election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign.

 

They included Trump's firing of Comey, reports that Trump had previously pressured Comey to end a probe of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and Trump discussing sensitive information on Islamic State with Russia's foreign minister.

 

The Republican president decried the naming of a special counsel, by an official he himself appointed.

 

"With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed!" Trump wrote in Twitter postings on Thursday morning. He did not offer any evidence of such acts in his reference to Democratic former President Barack Obama and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

 

"This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" added Trump.

 

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar responded, "This is a truth hunt."

 

Trump later told news anchors at the White House that Mueller's appointment was a "very, very negative thing," adding, "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country."

 

U.S. stocks recovered ground on Thursday as upbeat economic data emboldened investors to return to the market, a day after Wall Street saw the biggest selloff in eight months on worries the political turmoil could undermine Trump initiatives such as tax cuts that investors see as favouring economic growth.

 

Rosenstein, the No. 2 Justice Department official, named Mueller amid mounting pressure in Congress for an independent investigation beyond existing FBI and congressional probes into the Russia issue.

 

Rosenstein briefed U.S. senators on Thursday, but made no public comments. Afterward, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters that "everything he said was that you need to treat this investigation as if it may be a criminal investigation."

 

ROSENSTEIN LETTER

 

The White House initially said last week that a letter Rosenstein wrote accusing Comey of missteps as FBI director, including his handling of an election-year probe into Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, was what prompted Trump to fire Comey. Trump later said he had already decided to dismiss him and was thinking of "this Russia thing."

 

Rosenstein told senators that he knew Comey would be fired before he wrote his letter, Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill said.

 

Democrats and Trump's fellow Republicans widely praised Mueller's appointment. But Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Comey should still appear before congressional committees that have invited him to testify.

 

Top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi said an independent commission to investigate the Russia matter was still needed to guard against White House interference.

 

Russia has denied U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusion that it interfered in the election campaign to try to tilt the vote in Trump's favour. Trump has long bristled at the notion that Russia played any role in his November election victory.

 

A key issue Mueller may have to tackle is whether Trump has committed obstruction of justice, an offence that could be used in any effort in the Republican-led Congress to impeach him and remove him from office.

 

Trump cited displeasure with the FBI's Russia probe as a factor in dismissing Comey. In addition, Comey wrote a memo detailing Trump's comments to him in February saying "I hope you can let this go," referring to the Flynn probe, a source who saw the memo said on Tuesday.

 

Asked about the potential that there had been obstruction of justice, Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters the special counsel will "follow the facts where ever they may lead" and that "it is premature to prejudge anything at this point."

 

Flynn's contacts with Russians during the campaign, as well as his work for the Turkish government, are under investigation. He was fired as national security adviser in February after it emerged he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations with Russia's ambassador to Washington in December.

 

Flynn and other Trump campaign advisers were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 calls and emails during the last seven months of the presidential race, Reuters reported on Thursday.

 

The House Intelligence Committee requested more documents from the Justice Department and FBI related to its Russia probe and announced that former CIA Director John Brennan would testify in public before the panel on Tuesday to answer questions about Russian involvement in the election.

 

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball, Susan Heavey, David Alexander and Amanda Becker; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-19

[Carib]

Me thinks Trump grabbed himself by the p*ssy and is not exactly making it all great again, but what a show !

[Andaman Al]

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

"This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" added Trump.

Compared to HRC with Benghazi and E-mails this hasn't even warmed up yet. How does it feel Trump? Lock him up, Lock him up ! Isn't karma a bitch.

[WaywardWind]

34 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

Compared to HRC with Benghazi and E-mails this hasn't even warmed up yet. How does it feel Trump? Lock him up, Lock him up ! Isn't karma a bitch.

Don't leave out Trump's very own six year witch hunt to prove that Obama was born in Kenya...

[maewang99]

a new problem.... new.... 

it doesn't pay to spend any time thinking about anything he says...... 100%.

 

he's delusional at times. 

not just an OUTSIDER that needs to be vomited out. 

he's ENDLESSLY mucking up the folks up and down the ranks who have serious things to do.





 

[Credo]

I can just see Bill and Hillary sitting on a couch, holding hands and recalling the good ol' days.   

 

I think that Trump has no idea what a bumpy ride he is in for.   Most branches of law enforcement are like a pack of hounds after a fox.   Best of luck with keeping up with them, as they sniff every change in the wind, turn over every rock, and jump every hurdle.

 

I don't think it much matters if they like or dislike Trump, they will be pursuing every lead.   

 

If people thought Trump was having trouble getting anything done before, it will be a lot more difficult now and loyalty toward him and his administration will be diminished even more than it already is.   

 

 

[mtls2005]

Trump said yesterday... 

 

President Trump insisted that there was no collusion between his presidential campaign and Russian officials, though he added, “I can only speak for myself.”

 

Interesting addition there at the end.

 

 

 

[Andaman Al]

22 minutes ago, Credo said:

I can just see Bill and Hillary sitting on a couch, holding hands and recalling the good ol' days.   

 

I think that Trump has no idea what a bumpy ride he is in for.   Most branches of law enforcement are like a pack of hounds after a fox.   Best of luck with keeping up with them, as they sniff every change in the wind, turn over every rock, and jump every hurdle.

 

I don't think it much matters if they like or dislike Trump, they will be pursuing every lead.   

 

If people thought Trump was having trouble getting anything done before, it will be a lot more difficult now and loyalty toward him and his administration will be diminished even more than it already is.   

 

 

Good post. I guess most people realise now that Trump is not going to last the distance, so just imagine the career prospects if you are the investigator that actually brings him down. In 2016 when the Dems get back in who knows what dizzy heights you would be promoted to. Law enforcement will indeed leave no stone unturned and there is so much under stones from Trumps earlier years that Trump needs to be concerned.

[tonray]

I have Trump fatigue....we need 2020 to come really fast. And please Repubs and Dems give us some candidates who are not the same old retreads and partisan hacks....please. This is getting absurd now and Trump is the result of both parties failing to serve America....

[sirineou]

A witch hunt?

Simple way to solve this problem.

We apply the witch test on him.

Tie a bunch of heavy rocks on him and throw him  in a lake, if he floats he is a witch, if he sinks and drowns , he is not one and we will feel real bad for him. 

Well not really

[Peterw42]

40 minutes ago, tonray said:

I have Trump fatigue....we need 2020 to come really fast. And please Repubs and Dems give us some candidates who are not the same old retreads and partisan hacks....please. This is getting absurd now and Trump is the result of both parties failing to serve America....

Yes, its a case of there was a political vacuum and something filled it. 

I blame Hollywood and the American media for perpetuating this myth that one person has the power and makes all the decisions. Leader of the free world, most powerful man on the planet etc. The POTUS is an all powerful demigod, its just not true.

Congress, the judiciary and the states run America. People vote for there representatives and they run policy, legislation etc.

 

[tonray]

It really starts with getting better people to run for Congress. Congress has had an under 25% approval rating but greater than 90% of all representatives and Senators win re-election. That right there tells you that something is drastically wrong with the system...it has been rigged. They don't represent us, they represent only their own interests.

[jerojero]

His description matches himself, that is as the greatest moron to become president in history!

[jerojero]

I have Trump fatigue....we need 2020 to come really fast. And please Repubs and Dems give us some candidates who are not the same old retreads and partisan hacks....please. This is getting absurd now and Trump is the result of both parties failing to serve America....

No waiting for 2020. Impeachment will happen before end of this year. Trump will continue to shoot off his mouth and himself in the foot. He's an absolute disgrace.

[tonray]

3 minutes ago, jerojero said:

No waiting for 2020. Impeachment will happen before end of this year. Trump will continue to shoot off his mouth and himself in the foot. He's an absolute disgrace.

I disagree but really the DEMS would do far better with Trump at the helm in blunting the right's agenda. With him gone and Pence in place...if they cannot wrest control in 2018, the agenda will be implemented at lightening speed. Trump's ineffectiveness and impulsiveness are the DEM's main weapon against policy right now.

[mtls2005]

Who knew snowflakes came in orange?

[phantomfiddler]

It would appear that a very large percentage of Americans are really messed up and acting in a completely juvenile manner. The man won the election, why not just let him get on with doing the things he said he intended to do ? Where has democracy gone ? Grow up !

[mtls2005]

why not just let him get on with doing the things he said he intended to do ?

 

Who is preventing him from getting on and doing the things he said he'd do? Is press scrutiny too distracting for him? Until he resigns, finishes his term, passes away or is removed from office, he is free to lead the Executive branch, and the Republican Party.

 

So he should stop acting like a petulant 3rd grader (everyone hates me, the other kids did the same thing, etc.) and get on with building his big, beautiful wall.

 

 

[pegman]

32 minutes ago, tonray said:

I disagree but really the DEMS would do far better with Trump at the helm in blunting the right's agenda. With him gone and Pence in place...if they cannot wrest control in 2018, the agenda will be implemented at lightening speed. Trump's ineffectiveness and impulsiveness are the DEM's main weapon against policy right now.

Exactly, the Democrats would be smart to drag this out. Appearrently the investigative team can go where ever the uncovered facts take them. With Trump that could mean a pretty wide range of malfeasance. This will drag on as if it were never ending. The daily speculation will be stupendous. The Democrats will treat Trump as a Lame Duck and will obstruct everything. You got your judge Republicans but that's all you will be getting. Who will want to get near a guy who could very well end up in jail.

[Peterw42]

99% of the things Trump talks about are things he has "No power to decide", Congress and the party that controls Congress decides.

"I am going to build a wall" is not his decision to make, its a policy announcement at best. Contrary to popular opinion, he doesn't have the power to make decisions, he makes broad policy announcements that may or may not have the backing of his party and ultimately Congress. 

The President is not an all powerful demigod, he is the talking head for the Government and the party in power.

Trump didn't make the decision to repeal and replace Obamacare (he announced it), he didn't write the new legislation (the party did), he didn't vote the new legislation (Congress did), He wont be enacting the new legislation (the states and the Judiciary etc will do that).

 

The president conducts the orchestra, he doesn't write the music, he doesn't play the instruments, he doesn't do the musical arrangement, and he doesn't decide what the orchestra plays.

 

He can have a personal opinion about the Russia probe, as a conductor may have an opinion about people looking for the out of tune violinist in the orchestra.

[tonray]

13 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

It would appear that a very large percentage of Americans are really messed up and acting in a completely juvenile manner. The man won the election, why not just let him get on with doing the things he said he intended to do ? Where has democracy gone ? Grow up !

Because he lied about just about everything he said he would do. He is a fraud. A liar. A poor executive with minimal skills for the job that's why. 

[pegman]

15 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

It would appear that a very large percentage of Americans are really messed up and acting in a completely juvenile manner. The man won the election, why not just let him get on with doing the things he said he intended to do ? Where has democracy gone ? Grow up !

It is not democracy to collude with an enemy state to undermine your election opponent. LOCK HIM UP!!!!

[smotherb]

1 hour ago, phantomfiddler said:

It would appear that a very large percentage of Americans are really messed up and acting in a completely juvenile manner. The man won the election, why not just let him get on with doing the things he said he intended to do ? Where has democracy gone ? Grow up !

You seem to have missed the obvious; part of this investigation surrounds whether or not the election was adversely influenced and whether Trump's actions are counter to his constitutional obligations.

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, phantomfiddler said:

It would appear that a very large percentage of Americans are really messed up and acting in a completely juvenile manner. The man won the election, why not just let him get on with doing the things he said he intended to do ? Where has democracy gone ? Grow up !

"The man won the election, why not just let him get on with doing the things he said he intended to do ?"

Really?  Trump is doing the things he said he intended to do?  No major U-turns there?

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

99% of the things Trump talks about are things he has "No power to decide", Congress and the party that controls Congress decides.

"I am going to build a wall" is not his decision to make, its a policy announcement at best. Contrary to popular opinion, he doesn't have the power to make decisions, he makes broad policy announcements that may or may not have the backing of his party and ultimately Congress. 

The President is not an all powerful demigod, he is the talking head for the Government and the party in power.

Trump didn't make the decision to repeal and replace Obamacare (he announced it), he didn't write the new legislation (the party did), he didn't vote the new legislation (Congress did), He wont be enacting the new legislation (the states and the Judiciary etc will do that).

 

The president conducts the orchestra, he doesn't write the music, he doesn't play the instruments, he doesn't do the musical arrangement, and he doesn't decide what the orchestra plays.

 

He can have a personal opinion about the Russia probe, as a conductor may have an opinion about people looking for the out of tune violinist in the orchestra.

 

[Grouse]

43 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

"The man won the election, why not just let him get on with doing the things he said he intended to do ?"

Really?  Trump is doing the things he said he intended to do?  No major U-turns there?

How about this?

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-flynn-russia-investigation-white-house-return-come-back-latest-news-a7743836.html

 

The man is unwell...,

[Credo]

The ones being persecuted are the American public.   

[ilostmypassword]

2 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

99% of the things Trump talks about are things he has "No power to decide", Congress and the party that controls Congress decides.

"I am going to build a wall" is not his decision to make, its a policy announcement at best. Contrary to popular opinion, he doesn't have the power to make decisions, he makes broad policy announcements that may or may not have the backing of his party and ultimately Congress. 

The President is not an all powerful demigod, he is the talking head for the Government and the party in power.

Trump didn't make the decision to repeal and replace Obamacare (he announced it), he didn't write the new legislation (the party did), he didn't vote the new legislation (Congress did), He wont be enacting the new legislation (the states and the Judiciary etc will do that).

 

The president conducts the orchestra, he doesn't write the music, he doesn't play the instruments, he doesn't do the musical arrangement, and he doesn't decide what the orchestra plays.

 

He can have a personal opinion about the Russia probe, as a conductor may have an opinion about people looking for the out of tune violinist in the orchestra.

Yes, if only the President had the power to stop legislation from passing.  Maybe we could call it the veto.  That would give him lots of leverage. If only the USA had a constitution and in that document he was given such a power.  

[Yann55]

calling it "the single greatest witch hunt" in U.S. history and a move that "hurts our country terribly."

 

1/ This guy obviously confuses the history of a country and his own, but then he confuses just about everything with everything else, so no big surprise here,

 

2/ To my knowledge the one thing that 'hurts our country terribly' at the moment is the Donald himself.

[Yann55]

24 minutes ago, Credo said:

The ones being persecuted are the American public.   

... A significant percentage of whom must be masochists, then, since they elected their persecutor to his present position.

 

After only a hundred days of Trump-at-the-White-House, I wonder how many of those who voted for him are now biting their nails in anger, frustration and regret.

 

I do understand that a large proportion were just voting against Hillary, and I certainly don't blame them for that, but when you choose the devil to avoid the devil, you still end up electing the devil.