04 December 2018

Endgame

Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who leads the criminal investigation into Donald Trump and his associates, has signaled to some attorneys representing possible defendants that the investigation is in its final phases.

That has led to intense speculation that a final set of indictments are coming very soon. And there are increasing signs Trump's family members will be included and possibly the President himself.

At USA Today, a former federal prosecutor wrote an interesting piece yesterday (link here) with the title "Mueller is building a conspiracy case that's likely to ensnare Trump and his family."

The author notes how Trump's lies about doing business with Russia may doom him. He writes:

"For those who long wondered why throughout the presidential campaign Trump could not bring himself to say a critical word about Russian President Vladimir Putin, we now know the answer: Trump was hoping to do business in Russia, and doing so would require the approval of Putin. The putative Moscow project helps provide motive for Trump to have curried favor with Putin."

And this is the money quote: "Once Trump repeatedly and publicly denied having any business interests in Russia, Putin had leverage over Trump, because he knew this claim was an easily disprovable lie."

The writer then details other examples where Trump is in legal jeopardy. For instance, publicly talking about pardoning his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who faces sentencing in federal court, could be prosecuted as witness tampering.

And, Trump's own family members -- specifically his son Don Jr. and his son-in-law Jared Kushner -- may have committed perjury to cover up Russian business connections. Did they do this with the President's encouragement?

Of course, when this endgame will play out is anyone's guess. Will it before Christmas or after? Watching the headlines daily may give us more clues. Stay tuned.

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