Double Whammy

Two significant Donald Trump-related stories broke yesterday afternoon. Both potentially signal the President is in for even more troubling times in the near future.

First, NBC broke the news that Special Counsel Robert Mueller has enough evidence to bring criminal charges in the Michael Flynn investigation (link here).

To refresh your memory, Flynn was a close advisor to Trump during his campaign who was selected as his National Security Advisor early in the transition. Flynn, however, resigned after only twenty-four days in office when it was revealed he had lied about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States, among other charges.

Whether yesterday's news means Flynn himself will be charged and/or his associates remains to be seen. Flynn's adult son is also known to be under investigation, so his father may be more willing to cut a deal with prosecutors to save his son's bacon.

This development could mean new indictments will be unsealed this week or that Flynn is cooperating with the criminal investigation and providing evidence against Trump and his circle.

Second, a few hours later yesterday, The New York Times broke the story that Wilbur Ross, Trump's Secretary of Commerce, still holds previously undisclosed investments in a company with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin's family and trusted associates (link here).

Some of those Russian associates are subject to legal sanctions by the U.S. government. Further, Ross failed to disclose these affiliations in documents he was legally required to file.

The Ross news is such a new development that the repercussions are still uncertain. Ross is currently traveling to Asia with Trump, which makes these revelations all the more embarrassing, particularly given the Commerce Secretary was scheduled, as of this writing, to meet with Putin himself.

This should be a very interesting week. Stay tuned.