Mueller Impanels a Grand Jury

Let's hope so.

But color me pessimistic.

The alt-right blogosphere is now buzzing with the meme that it would be inappropriate for Mueller's probe to investigate the president's financial dealings from 5 or 10 years ago.  Obviously there is great fear that Mueller will find money laundering and Foreign Practices Act violations and indications that Donald's "multi-billion dollar empire" is actually a couple hundred mil leveraged to the hilt.

Illegal behavior is prosecutable regardless of the station of the subject, and the president's pardon power is limited when it comes to family and associates.  If not by statute, then by Congress.  

Fox is reporting that Democrats are behind the probe, and the whole thing is a thinly-disguised effort to overthrow the election they lost.  We'll see if that spin gets any traction outside the Fox echo chamber.

Regardless, I fail to see an outcome that places Hillary in the Oval Office.

Is there any provision in the US for a special (off-date) election, or are you stuck working your way down the "line of succession" until you find someone who isn't being prosecuted?

The latter.

Unless somebody can prove that the vote count was tampered with.  

Which isn't even being alleged.  Votes may have been (probably WERE)  suppressed, but no evidence has emerged that any votes were changed.  Although it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

_Howard wrote:

Let's hope so.

If actions reveal where Mueller's secret probe is headed, today's report of a pre-dawn raid on Paul Manafort's home last month indicates some serious federal charges are coming.

Just announced, Monday 10/30 the Mueller probe will issue the first indictment(s) of their investigation.

No word as to whom, or how many.  Or if this will be an ongoing thing with more to follow (as seems likely).

Best guess: first up, Paul Manafort for perjury.

Quote :

The indictment against Manafort and Gates contains 12 counts: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.

 
Speculation is Mueller is hoping Manafort will flip, and turn state's evidence. As Papadopoulos already has.

You know who else was an "unregistered agent of a foreign principal"?  Don Jr.

Prosecutor to Trump: Shut Up or Face Gag Order From Russia Probe Special Counsel

Quote :

Attorney Nick Akerman, a prosecutor in the Watergate investigations, told Politico Friday that Mueller could issue a gagging order to prevent the president interfering with the investigation.

He warned that the president had defamed a potential government witness who is likely to be called in a federal trial.

“This could be grounds for Mueller to obtain a gag order on Trump,” Akerman said. “It would be unprecedented, but he is interfering with the government’s right to a fair trial.”

In order for a gag order to be imposed on the president, Mueller would have to have the request signed off by a federal judge who agreed that the president’s public statements risked prejudicing the case. The federal judge overseeing the criminal trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and business partner Rick Gates, who were indicted Monday, said she is inclined to impose a gag order in the case.

I bet you could run an interesting over-under on Trump's blood pressure if that happened.

It's not just collusion, but money laundering too that will bring down the Trump Empire.

NoCoPilot wrote:

Fox is reporting that Democrats are behind the probe, and the whole thing is a thinly-disguised effort to overthrow the election they lost.  We'll see if that spin gets any traction outside the Fox echo chamber.

It got A LOT of traction inside the Fox echo chamber, but none outside.

And now it's been conclusively disproven, thanks to Dianne Feinstein.

Which raises the interesting constitutional question: if BOTH Trump and Pence are indicted for high crimes and misdemeanors, does Paul Ryan assume the presidency?

I would assume not, since being indicted -- even convicted -- is not automatic grounds for removal.  That old 2/3 vote for impeachment is still the only process for removing a president.

And/or vice president.

And this Congress will not be impeaching anyone.

Especially since Ryan is universally despised within both houses of Congress.

Better and better.

The NRA Is Part of the Trump–Russia Scandal Now

I wonder if this is true.

Robert Mueller Makes Unexpected Shift: Trump’s Suspicious Michigan/Wisconsin Wins

Interesting speculation. But until Mueller delivers his report, everything is speculation.

Note though: Although the report says Mueller is looking into the possibility that voters in Wisconsin and Michigan were influenced by Russian-distributed fake news, even if this is proven true, it would not invalidate the election. Trump voters still voted for Trump.

I'm waiting for some evidence of vote count fraud, which I still think is a distinct possibility given the history of Diebold/Premier Election Solutions. Their hackability without any audit trail has been well documented. And you've gotta believe the Russians saw the same documentaries I did.

Now THAT would throw the last year into a fresh panic.

This just in: Mister  Mueller Makes Major Move.

Thirteen Russians indicted.

Are they within reach of the US Justice Dept.?

You mean the current Attorney Garden Gnome? I doubt that he gives a damn.

But the fact that they got indictments - which means that they have enough evidence to present a credible court case - is significant in itself.

More to the point, I guess, with foreign nationals officially charged with crimes by US justice dept now, that means any US citizens who had contact with any of these 13 Russians or their companies can now be charged as accessories to the underlying crimes, even if the Russians are never caught.

Trump may have some difficulty spinning this as "fake news," "made up" or "a witch hunt." His posse is right to be worried where this investigation is going.

Mueller must have the power to compel Donald to produce his income taxes.

Doing mine this weekend I came to the conclusion that Donald's must be an outloud hoot. Let's hope Mueller goes down that path. If nothing else the Orange Rodeo Clown could serve some time for tax evasion.

Frankly I’m surprised Mueller’s probe is taking so long to issue indictments to the principals involved.

But I have a theory why this is so.

I think it’s entirely possible that not only has Mueller uncovered felony behavior which would send most of the Trump Administration to jail, but he MAY have uncovered evidence of election fraud or tampering which would invalidate the election.

Which leaves him in a very sticky situation.

In fact, no good options exist. Invalidating his victory would lead to civil war. Re-running the election would lead to even more massive divisions. Descending the line of succession would create utter chaos.

What would you do?

Giuliani for some unfathomable reason thinks he can limit Trump's testimony in front of Mueller.  He wants two questions:

Rudy Giuliani wrote:

Was there some agreement with the Russians? Was there any meeting of Trump with the Russians?

Problem is: 1) All the meetings were to try to get "an agreement with the Russians," swapping damaging info on Hillary in exchange for lifting sanctions.  2) Trump sent emissaries.

Besides which, when you're under criminal indictment, you don't get to tell the prosecutor what to do -- no matter WHO you are.

And they say Rudy used to be a lawyer.  Must've been a long time ago, and must've forgotten a lot in the interim.  I wonder if he's even still licensed?

Won't be after this.

Trump's financial improprieties are coming back to bite him.  The first of many felony indictments and lawsuits.