1) The Mueller report analyzes several instances of potential obstruction of justice by President Trump related to the Russia investigation. 2) Some instances, like pressuring Comey and efforts to remove Mueller, provide substantive evidence meeting the elements of obstruction. However, other instances like claims about firing Comey are less clear. 3) Overall, the report does not exonerate the President but also does not conclude that crimes were committed due to Justice Department policy.
The russia hoax the illicit scheme to clear hillary clinton and frame donald ...Theotis Davis
Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett reveals the real story behind Hillary Clinton’s deep state collaborators in government and exposes their nefarious actions during and after the 2016 election.
The Russia Hoax reveals how persons within the FBI and Barack Obama’s Justice Department worked improperly to help elect Hillary Clinton and defeat Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
When this suspected effort failed, those same people appear to have pursued a contrived investigation of President Trump in an attempt to undo the election results and remove him as president.
The evidence suggests that partisans within the FBI and the Department of Justice, driven by personal animus and a misplaced sense of political righteousness, surreptitiously acted to subvert electoral democrapresi
A sociologist credited with predicting the fall of the Soviet Union has warned that US global power is in a phase of accelerated decline under the leadership of Donald Trump — and will collapse while the property mogul is the White House.
Norwegian professor Johan Galtung is known as the "founding father" of peace studies as a scientific subject and is recognised for correctly predicting numerous historical events, among them the Tiananmen Square uprising in China and the September 11 attacks.
He attracted controversy in 2000 when he predicted US global power would collapse by 2025.
President Donald Trump is facing a crisis he can’t manage with a tweet or a taunt.
The appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel overseeing the federal government’s Russia investigation has dramatically raised the legal and political stakes and put Trump’s young presidency in dangerous waters just four months after he was sworn into office.
White House and campaign records may be subpoenaed, and Trump’s presidential privilege to keep West Wing conversations private could be challenged. Current and former staffers will likely have to hire pricey lawyers and sit for interviews. Trump himself may have to answer questions.
This Unclassified Slide Deck provides an overview of the concept of Reflexive Control Doctrine as it is used as a national strategy by the Russian Federation. It describes exactly how and what was done to "influence" the election differentiating the from the notion of actual "collusion." Disinformation, misinformation, fake news as a campaign strategy is vastly different from actually affecting an outcome by active measures such as bribery, blackmail or hacking.
The russia hoax the illicit scheme to clear hillary clinton and frame donald ...Theotis Davis
Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett reveals the real story behind Hillary Clinton’s deep state collaborators in government and exposes their nefarious actions during and after the 2016 election.
The Russia Hoax reveals how persons within the FBI and Barack Obama’s Justice Department worked improperly to help elect Hillary Clinton and defeat Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
When this suspected effort failed, those same people appear to have pursued a contrived investigation of President Trump in an attempt to undo the election results and remove him as president.
The evidence suggests that partisans within the FBI and the Department of Justice, driven by personal animus and a misplaced sense of political righteousness, surreptitiously acted to subvert electoral democrapresi
A sociologist credited with predicting the fall of the Soviet Union has warned that US global power is in a phase of accelerated decline under the leadership of Donald Trump — and will collapse while the property mogul is the White House.
Norwegian professor Johan Galtung is known as the "founding father" of peace studies as a scientific subject and is recognised for correctly predicting numerous historical events, among them the Tiananmen Square uprising in China and the September 11 attacks.
He attracted controversy in 2000 when he predicted US global power would collapse by 2025.
President Donald Trump is facing a crisis he can’t manage with a tweet or a taunt.
The appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel overseeing the federal government’s Russia investigation has dramatically raised the legal and political stakes and put Trump’s young presidency in dangerous waters just four months after he was sworn into office.
White House and campaign records may be subpoenaed, and Trump’s presidential privilege to keep West Wing conversations private could be challenged. Current and former staffers will likely have to hire pricey lawyers and sit for interviews. Trump himself may have to answer questions.
This Unclassified Slide Deck provides an overview of the concept of Reflexive Control Doctrine as it is used as a national strategy by the Russian Federation. It describes exactly how and what was done to "influence" the election differentiating the from the notion of actual "collusion." Disinformation, misinformation, fake news as a campaign strategy is vastly different from actually affecting an outcome by active measures such as bribery, blackmail or hacking.
Special Report: In the Watergate era, liberals warned about U.S. intelligence agencies manipulating U.S. politics, but now Trump-hatred has blinded many of them to this danger becoming real, as ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern notes. Russia-gate is becoming FBI-gate, thanks to the official release of unguarded text messages between loose-lipped FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok and his garrulous girlfriend, FBI lawyer Lisa Page. (Ten illustrative texts from their exchange appear at the end of this article.)
"The Talk About Trump" covers the ways in which boisterous businessman Donald Trump has impacted the presidential race in traditional and social media. Not only has he turned up the volume; he's also managed to change the topic of conversation.
The fifth edition of the PEORIA Project, "The Year in Echoes" looks back at the year in political conversations and seeks to find the winners and losers in the battle to get campaign messages heard and echoed by the general public. This report includes all social and mainstream media conversations of the 2016 election from March 15, 2015 to January 17, 2016.
Presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have not yet staked a claim to the online supporters of their felled opponents according to a new Public Echoes Of Rhetoric In America (PEORIA) Project report.
Donald Trump refuses to shake Angela Merkel's handSusana Gallardo
Donald Trump refused to shake hands with Angela Merkel as a first meeting between the two leaders, which was postponed from Tuesday because of snow, got off to a distinctly frosty start.
The German chancellor and US president posed for the press in the Oval Office, and photographers could be heard calling for the two to shake hands. Mrs Merkel turned and smiled at her host, asking him: "Do you want to have a handshake?"
But Mr Trump, who had appeared to hold hands with Theresa May, the Prime Minister, when they walked together during her White House visit in January, looked down at the floor and avoided all eye-contact with his guest.
Digital Forensics: Using Social and Online Tools to Find Great Stories – ONA19Online News Association
Notable figures, like all of us, exhibit specific, personalized behavior online, creating internet footprints visible to anyone via ethical and public digital sleuthing. Join this session to learn how to uncover likes, follows and timestamps, set up alerts and bots and dig around with digital tools.
Chapter 4 - Basic Requirements of Good Stories - JNL-1102 - Reporting and Wri...Linda Austin
This presentation is on Chapter 4 - Basic Requirements of Good Stories from "Reporting and Writing News: A Basic Handbook" by Peter Eng and Jeff Hodson. It was prepared by Professor Linda Austin for her JNL-1102 Reporting and Writing I students at the National Management College in Yangon, Myanmar, in June 2015.
A Tale of Two Kyles: How Ad Data Exposed My ID TheftKyle J. Britt
In 2010 my identity was stolen. I first realized it thanks to a targeted ad. But ever since then, my identity is tangled up with another real Kyle Britt. You wouldn’t believe how hard that is to fix.
The Biggest Indictments, Guilty Pleas and Dramas in the Russia InvestigationJonathan Underwood
The Russia investigation has provided a barrage of headlines, court cases, tweets and speculation since before the last presidential election. Despite the clamor, several key events stand out. Here are the milestones that have shaped the investigation — and rattled the White House.
Source: latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-mueller-russia-timeline-20190308-story.html
Special Report: In the Watergate era, liberals warned about U.S. intelligence agencies manipulating U.S. politics, but now Trump-hatred has blinded many of them to this danger becoming real, as ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern notes. Russia-gate is becoming FBI-gate, thanks to the official release of unguarded text messages between loose-lipped FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok and his garrulous girlfriend, FBI lawyer Lisa Page. (Ten illustrative texts from their exchange appear at the end of this article.)
"The Talk About Trump" covers the ways in which boisterous businessman Donald Trump has impacted the presidential race in traditional and social media. Not only has he turned up the volume; he's also managed to change the topic of conversation.
The fifth edition of the PEORIA Project, "The Year in Echoes" looks back at the year in political conversations and seeks to find the winners and losers in the battle to get campaign messages heard and echoed by the general public. This report includes all social and mainstream media conversations of the 2016 election from March 15, 2015 to January 17, 2016.
Presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have not yet staked a claim to the online supporters of their felled opponents according to a new Public Echoes Of Rhetoric In America (PEORIA) Project report.
Donald Trump refuses to shake Angela Merkel's handSusana Gallardo
Donald Trump refused to shake hands with Angela Merkel as a first meeting between the two leaders, which was postponed from Tuesday because of snow, got off to a distinctly frosty start.
The German chancellor and US president posed for the press in the Oval Office, and photographers could be heard calling for the two to shake hands. Mrs Merkel turned and smiled at her host, asking him: "Do you want to have a handshake?"
But Mr Trump, who had appeared to hold hands with Theresa May, the Prime Minister, when they walked together during her White House visit in January, looked down at the floor and avoided all eye-contact with his guest.
Digital Forensics: Using Social and Online Tools to Find Great Stories – ONA19Online News Association
Notable figures, like all of us, exhibit specific, personalized behavior online, creating internet footprints visible to anyone via ethical and public digital sleuthing. Join this session to learn how to uncover likes, follows and timestamps, set up alerts and bots and dig around with digital tools.
Chapter 4 - Basic Requirements of Good Stories - JNL-1102 - Reporting and Wri...Linda Austin
This presentation is on Chapter 4 - Basic Requirements of Good Stories from "Reporting and Writing News: A Basic Handbook" by Peter Eng and Jeff Hodson. It was prepared by Professor Linda Austin for her JNL-1102 Reporting and Writing I students at the National Management College in Yangon, Myanmar, in June 2015.
A Tale of Two Kyles: How Ad Data Exposed My ID TheftKyle J. Britt
In 2010 my identity was stolen. I first realized it thanks to a targeted ad. But ever since then, my identity is tangled up with another real Kyle Britt. You wouldn’t believe how hard that is to fix.
The Biggest Indictments, Guilty Pleas and Dramas in the Russia InvestigationJonathan Underwood
The Russia investigation has provided a barrage of headlines, court cases, tweets and speculation since before the last presidential election. Despite the clamor, several key events stand out. Here are the milestones that have shaped the investigation — and rattled the White House.
Source: latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-mueller-russia-timeline-20190308-story.html
SLUM RIGHTS
Professor Upendra Baxi examines whether the Delhi High Court ruling endorsing natural justice and the rule of law for slum dwellers be expanded to include the rest of the country
Bombshell Revelation of US and Saudi Culpability in Creating ISIS Ignored by ...Chris Helweg
, the Qatari story would be totally ignored by the American mainstream media. In fact, not a single major outlet in the United States ran the story, though there were a few English-language articles in the Middle East. The only appearances in the U.S. were alternative media like Zero Hedge, the Ron Paul Institute, Antiwar.com, and a few others, mostly bloggers picking up from Zero Hedge.
Donald Trump pleads not guilty to classified documents chargesGoogle trending news
Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Trump’s lawyers asked for a jury trial during the former president’s arraignment Tuesday at a federal courthouse in Miami. “We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” Trump attorney Todd Blanche told the judge.
During the hearing, Trump sat hunched over with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. He did not speak.
Trump’s aide and co-defendant, Walt Nauta, was also arrested, fingerprinted and processed. He had an initial appearance Tuesday but will not be arraigned until June 27.
Here’s what else happened at Tuesday’s hearing, which ended after roughly 45 minutes:
Trump pleads not guilty to all 37 charges in classified documents caseAhmad Khalil
Former President Donald Trump has entered a plea of not guilty to all 37 charges leveled against him in a high-profile classified documents case. The charges, stemming from the alleged mishandling of sensitive information during his tenure, have sent shockwaves through the political landscape. Trump's legal team asserts his innocence and vows to vigorously defend him against the allegations. The trial is expected to draw significant attention as the legal battle unfolds
President-Elect Trump and the Power of TwitterSMED Tests
Buzzfeed News claimed to have obtained quotes from a European Intelligence source predicting that Trump’s incessant use of Twitter to rant about everything from politics to celebrities would cause American Intelligence-sharing allies to begin filtering the information given to the Trump-party.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony ...haseebwaraich215
Google News article (they tend to be much shorter!), I can offer a glimpse into the diverse news landscape you'd find on Google News. Here's a breakdown of some potential categories and headlines:
**World News:**
* **Headline:** Landmark Climate Deal Reached at UN Summit (800 words): This article explores the details of a newly agreed-upon international agreement to combat climate change. It dives into specific emissions reduction targets, timelines, and financial aid for developing nations. It also examines potential challenges and the global impact of this deal.
* **Headline:** Tensions Rise on Korean Peninsula After Missile Launch (500 words): This report analyzes the recent launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea. It explores potential reasons behind the launch, reactions from South Korea and international powers, and the potential for further escalation.
**Science & Technology:**
* **Headline:** Breakthrough in Fusion Energy Research Paves Way for Clean Power (700 words): This piece delves into a significant development in nuclear fusion research, a potential source of clean and limitless energy. It explains the scientific advancements, the challenges that remain, and the potential timeline for commercial applications.
* **Headline:** AI Makes Strides in Personalized Medicine (400 words): This article explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. It discusses how AI can analyze vast amounts of medical data to personalize treatment plans, identify disease risks, and even assist in drug discovery.
**Business & Finance:**
* **Headline:** Global Economy Shows Signs of Rebound After Pandemic Lows (600 words): This report provides an analysis of the current state of the global economy. It examines key indicators like GDP growth, unemployment rates, and inflation, and discusses factors driving the recovery process. It also explores potential risks and uncertainties on the horizon.
* **Headline:** Tech Startup IPO Makes Billions in Record-Breaking Debut (300 words): This piece focuses on the highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of a hot new tech company. It details the company's business model, the size of the IPO, and the impact on the stock market.
**Local News (based on your location):**
* **Headline:** City Council Approves Funding for New Community Center (400 words): This article reports on a recent decision by the local city council to allocate funds for the construction of a new community center. It explores the planned features of the center, its benefits for the community, and potential concerns from residents.
* **Headline:** Local School District Implements New Mental Health Resources (200 words): This piece highlights the introduction of new programs and initiatives by the school district to support the mental health of students. It specifies the resources being offered and how they aim to create a more supportive learning environment.
Mit seiner sieben Seiten langen Stellungnahme untermauerte Comey aber vor allem Vorwürfe gegen Trump, die bisher nur in Medienberichten erhoben worden waren.
Donald Trump pleads not guilty to classified documents charges _ CNN Politics...MazharIqbal62785
Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Trump’s lawyers asked for a jury trial during the former president’s arraignment Tuesday at a federal courthouse in Miami. “We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” Trump attorney Todd Blanche told the judge.
Military Commissions details LtCol Thomas Jasper as Detailed Defense CounselThomas (Tom) Jasper
Military Commissions Trial Judiciary, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Notice of the Chief Defense Counsel's detailing of LtCol Thomas F. Jasper, Jr. USMC, as Detailed Defense Counsel for Abd Al Hadi Al-Iraqi on 6 August 2014 in the case of United States v. Hadi al Iraqi (10026)
ASHWINI KUMAR UPADHYAY v/s Union of India.pptxshweeta209
transfer of the P.I.L filed by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in Delhi High Court to Supreme Court.
on the issue of UNIFORM MARRIAGE AGE of men and women.
In 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs established a committee led by Prof. (Dr.) Ranbir Singh, former Vice Chancellor of National Law University (NLU), Delhi. This committee was tasked with reviewing the three codes of criminal law. The primary objective of the committee was to propose comprehensive reforms to the country’s criminal laws in a manner that is both principled and effective.
The committee’s focus was on ensuring the safety and security of individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole. Throughout its deliberations, the committee aimed to uphold constitutional values such as justice, dignity, and the intrinsic value of each individual. Their goal was to recommend amendments to the criminal laws that align with these values and priorities.
Subsequently, in February, the committee successfully submitted its recommendations regarding amendments to the criminal law. These recommendations are intended to serve as a foundation for enhancing the current legal framework, promoting safety and security, and upholding the constitutional principles of justice, dignity, and the inherent worth of every individual.
RIGHTS OF VICTIM EDITED PRESENTATION(SAIF JAVED).pptxOmGod1
Victims of crime have a range of rights designed to ensure their protection, support, and participation in the justice system. These rights include the right to be treated with dignity and respect, the right to be informed about the progress of their case, and the right to be heard during legal proceedings. Victims are entitled to protection from intimidation and harm, access to support services such as counseling and medical care, and the right to restitution from the offender. Additionally, many jurisdictions provide victims with the right to participate in parole hearings and the right to privacy to protect their personal information from public disclosure. These rights aim to acknowledge the impact of crime on victims and to provide them with the necessary resources and involvement in the judicial process.
PRECEDENT AS A SOURCE OF LAW (SAIF JAVED).pptxOmGod1
Precedent, or stare decisis, is a cornerstone of common law systems where past judicial decisions guide future cases, ensuring consistency and predictability in the legal system. Binding precedents from higher courts must be followed by lower courts, while persuasive precedents may influence but are not obligatory. This principle promotes fairness and efficiency, allowing for the evolution of the law as higher courts can overrule outdated decisions. Despite criticisms of rigidity and complexity, precedent ensures similar cases are treated alike, balancing stability with flexibility in judicial decision-making.
A "File Trademark" is a legal term referring to the registration of a unique symbol, logo, or name used to identify and distinguish products or services. This process provides legal protection, granting exclusive rights to the trademark owner, and helps prevent unauthorized use by competitors.
Visit Now: https://www.tumblr.com/trademark-quick/751620857551634432/ensure-legal-protection-file-your-trademark-with?source=share
ALL EYES ON RAFAH BUT WHY Explain more.pdf46adnanshahzad
All eyes on Rafah: But why?. The Rafah border crossing, a crucial point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, often finds itself at the center of global attention. As we explore the significance of Rafah, we’ll uncover why all eyes are on Rafah and the complexities surrounding this pivotal region.
INTRODUCTION
What makes Rafah so significant that it captures global attention? The phrase ‘All eyes are on Rafah’ resonates not just with those in the region but with people worldwide who recognize its strategic, humanitarian, and political importance. In this guide, we will delve into the factors that make Rafah a focal point for international interest, examining its historical context, humanitarian challenges, and political dimensions.
NATURE, ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.pptxanvithaav
These slides helps the student of international law to understand what is the nature of international law? and how international law was originated and developed?.
The slides was well structured along with the highlighted points for better understanding .
WINDING UP of COMPANY, Modes of DissolutionKHURRAMWALI
Winding up, also known as liquidation, refers to the legal and financial process of dissolving a company. It involves ceasing operations, selling assets, settling debts, and ultimately removing the company from the official business registry.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects of winding up:
Reasons for Winding Up:
Insolvency: This is the most common reason, where the company cannot pay its debts. Creditors may initiate a compulsory winding up to recover their dues.
Voluntary Closure: The owners may decide to close the company due to reasons like reaching business goals, facing losses, or merging with another company.
Deadlock: If shareholders or directors cannot agree on how to run the company, a court may order a winding up.
Types of Winding Up:
Voluntary Winding Up: This is initiated by the company's shareholders through a resolution passed by a majority vote. There are two main types:
Members' Voluntary Winding Up: The company is solvent (has enough assets to pay off its debts) and shareholders will receive any remaining assets after debts are settled.
Creditors' Voluntary Winding Up: The company is insolvent and creditors will be prioritized in receiving payment from the sale of assets.
Compulsory Winding Up: This is initiated by a court order, typically at the request of creditors, government agencies, or even by the company itself if it's insolvent.
Process of Winding Up:
Appointment of Liquidator: A qualified professional is appointed to oversee the winding-up process. They are responsible for selling assets, paying off debts, and distributing any remaining funds.
Cease Trading: The company stops its regular business operations.
Notification of Creditors: Creditors are informed about the winding up and invited to submit their claims.
Sale of Assets: The company's assets are sold to generate cash to pay off creditors.
Payment of Debts: Creditors are paid according to a set order of priority, with secured creditors receiving payment before unsecured creditors.
Distribution to Shareholders: If there are any remaining funds after all debts are settled, they are distributed to shareholders according to their ownership stake.
Dissolution: Once all claims are settled and distributions made, the company is officially dissolved and removed from the business register.
Impact of Winding Up:
Employees: Employees will likely lose their jobs during the winding-up process.
Creditors: Creditors may not recover their debts in full, especially if the company is insolvent.
Shareholders: Shareholders may not receive any payout if the company's debts exceed its assets.
Winding up is a complex legal and financial process that can have significant consequences for all parties involved. It's important to seek professional legal and financial advice when considering winding up a company.
Responsibilities of the office bearers while registering multi-state cooperat...Finlaw Consultancy Pvt Ltd
Introduction-
The process of register multi-state cooperative society in India is governed by the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. This process requires the office bearers to undertake several crucial responsibilities to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks. The key office bearers typically include the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, along with other elected members of the managing committee. Their responsibilities encompass administrative, legal, and financial duties essential for the successful registration and operation of the society.
2. Preliminary
Comments
• Explicit rejection of the “binary” to “prosecute/decline”
• Feels bound by DOJ Policy Not to Indict a Sitting President
• Explains logic: doing so would “"impermissibly undermine
the capacity of the executive branch to perform its
constitutionally assigned functions."
• Explicit comment: “a president does not have immunity
when he leaves office.”
• Difficulty in declaring that crimes were committed because:
• ordinary channels for clearing one's name are unavailable in
this case
• the consequences of a recommendation would extend
"beyond the realm of criminal justice."
3. Evidence & Credibility
None of the “fake news” was fake. The Mueller
team found all the revelations against Trump
credible relying on “general principles, including
reasons to lie, good memory, opportunity to
observe events, corroboration, and
contradictions.”
The Mueller team had the power to subpoena
Trump and refrained "in view of the substantial
delay that such an investigative step would likely
produce at a late stage in our investigation."
Also, even w/o his testimony, they had enough
evidence "to understand relevant events.”
4. The Money Shot:
If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts
that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of
justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the
applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that
judgment. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude
that the President committed a crime, it also does not
exonerate him.
6. KEEP IN MIND:
The part of the report that discusses Trump's reaction to the Russian
hacks and his instructions to Cohen and Manafort in this respect is
heavily redacted.
Trump reached out to the intelligence community asking them to
publicly deny the Steele Memo after it leaked through Buzzfeed.
During the campaign, Trump repeatedly denied links
to Russia, denied that the leaks were coming from
Russia, and denied that he or other campaign officials
sought any information from Russians. As per Vol. I,
the Mueller team found these denials to be false.
7. • In Jan 2017, Flynn lied to Pence about meeting
Kislyak. When Trump found out, he summoned
Comey, then FBI director, and told him that he
needed "loyalty." He then proceeded to fire
Flynn and commented to an outside advisor,
"now that we fired Flynn, the Russia thing is
over."
• Later that evening, Trump summoned Comey
to a one-on-one meeting, telling Comey, "I
hope you can see your way to letting this go."
• Trump proceeded to ask Deputy National
Security Advisor McFarland for a letter saying
that Trump did not order Flynn to meet Kislyak.
McFarland declined because he did not know if
it was true and didn't want that to look like a
quid-pro-quo favor for his Ambassadorship.
• As Sessions began to consider recusing himself,
Trump asked White House counsel McGahn to
instruct Sessions not to recuse, and after
Sessions' recusal, took Sessions aside and
asked him to "unrecuse."
8. • On May 3, Comey testified in a
congressional hearing, refusing to
say that Trump himself was under
investigation. Within days, he was
terminated. Trump claimed that
the termination was unrelated to
the testimony, but the timeline
does not bear this out.
Later, when Comey admitted that there was an FBI
investigation on Russia, Trump reached out to National Security
Advisors asking them what they could do to dispel this
suggestion. Despite McGahn's advice to the contrary, he also
reached out twice personally to Comey.
9. • On May 17, Rosenstein appointed Mueller special
counsel. Trump reacted by telling advisors that this
was "the end of [his] presidency." He first demanded
that Sessions resign (but then did not accept his
resignation.)
• Trump then argued that Mueller had a conflict of
interest, but his advisors told him that claim was
meritless.
• When Mueller announced that Trump was a target,
the latter called McGahn at home and asked him to
fire Mueller. Fearful of starting a Saturday Night
Massacre, McGahn resigned, instead.
10. • Two days after the conversation
w/McGahn, Trump met with Corey
Lewandowski, asking him to relay a
message to Sessions, who as you recall had
recused himself.
• Lewandowski was to instruct Sessions to
issue a public announcement that,
notwithstanding his recusal, Trump had
done nothing wrong, and to instruct the
Special Counsel to redirect the focus of the
investigation toward "future elections."
• Lewandowski told Trump he understood
the message, but did not want to relay it
himself, so he asked senior White House
official Rick Dearborn to do it. Dearborn
didn't want to do it either and did not relay
the message.
• In the meantime, while Trump was waiting
for Lewandowski to relay the message to
Sessions, Trump went on a twitter tirade,
criticizing Sessions and implying that firing
Sessions was imminent.
11. • In the summer of 2017, news of the
meeting at Trump Tower leaked to the
press. On numerous occasions, Trump
instructed aides not to reveal any
information about the meeting and
expressed confidence that the
information would not leak on its own.
• When Trump Jr. issued a statement about
the meeting, Trump (the father) edited
out what we know to be true: that the
campaign was promised incriminatory
information on Clinton. The edited
statement stated that the meeting was
about adoptions of Russian children.
• Trump's lawyer subsequently denied to
the press that Trump played any role in
crafting or editing Trump Jr.'s statement.
12. • In Summer 2017, Trump made several efforts to
reach out to Sessions and convince him to
"unrecuse" himself. Trump met with Sessions at the
Oval Office and asked him to "take [a] look" at
investigating Clinton.
• When Flynn pleaded guilty and collaborated with
the Mueller investigation, Trump called Sessions
again and told him that, if he "unrecused" himself,
he would be "a hero". Sessions did not "unrecuse"
himself.
13. • In early 2018, the media revealed the story
behind McGahn's resignation. Trump
directed White House officials to tell
McGahn to publicly deny that Trump had
ordered McGahn to sack Mueller. McGahn
refused to publicly deny this, saying that
the reports were factually accurate.
• Subsequently, Trump summoned McGahn
to the Oval Office and pressured him to
deny the reports, interrogating him about
what he had told Mueller. McGahn told the
investigation team later that he got a sense
that the President was "testing his mettle."
14. • When Flynn started to collaborate
with the Government, Trump
reached out to him and asked him
for a "heads up" if he learned
"information that implicates the
President."
• Flynn informed Trump that he was
unable to cooperate with this
request. Trump's personal counsel
said he would make sure that the
President knew that Flynn
expressed "hostility" toward the
President.
15. • During Manafort's trial, Trump praised
Manafort for not "flipping" (pleading
guilty and cooperating with the
investigation team), saying among
other things that "flipping" "ought to
be illegal."
16. • In 2017, as explained in Vol. I, Michael Cohen falsely
testified before Congress that Trump's involvement in the
Trump Tower Moscow project ended long before the
campaign (when in fact it continued well into 2016.)
Trump praised Cohen for his testimony.
• In April 2018 the FBI raided Cohen's home. Trump
encouraged him to "stay strong" and relayed messages of
support. Cohen reached out to Rudy Giuliani to discuss the
possibility of a pardon.
• When Cohen started cooperating with the investigation in
Summer 2018, Trump turned on him, called him a "rat",
and suggested that his family members had committed
crimes.
17. Flynn's resignation and Trump’s pressure on Comey
Trump's effort to
procure false
reports about
Flynn, and
especially the 1-on-
1 conversations
w/Comey, count as
"obstructive acts".
This was directly
related to
concerns about
criminal exposure
for Flynn (="official
proceeding.")
Corrupt intent:
Trump's demeanor
in pressuring
Comey suggests he
knew he was not
doing something
that was above
board.
18. Pressure on Comey and others in the intelligence
community to end the investigation
Trump's conversations
about this, through
McGahn and others,
were not interpreted
as inappropriate
efforts to end the
investigation.
There was a nexus
to official
proceedings that
would follow
disclosures about
the involvement
with Russia.
The nature of the
pressure on
intelligence officials
does not clearly
reveal corrupt
intent.
19. Firing Comey and claiming this was unrelated to Russia
This would qualify
as an obstructive
act if the
anticipated effect
was ending the
investigation, which
is unclear here.
Nexus: There is
some connection
this is related to
the proceedings
against Flynn.
Corrupt intent: The
evidence supports the
idea that the firing
was aimed at
protecting the
president and that the
other reasons were
merely pretextual.
20. Efforts to remove Mueller through McGahn
and others
This is clearly an
"obstructive act" to
terminate Muller.
Corrupt intent:
Substantive
evidence links this
to an effort to end
the investigation
and not to
aboveboard
behavior.
Nexus: There is a
clear nexus
between the effort
to remove Mueller
and the desire to
end the
investigation.
21. Efforts to curtail the investigation through
Lewandowski, Sessions, etc:
Corrupt intent:
Provable through
Trump's 1-on-1
meeting with
Lewandowski.
Nexus: This was
directly related to
the Mueller grand
jury.
Obstructive acts:
Trump's directives
show that he was
trying to push
Sessions to deviate
the Mueller
investigation.
22. Trump's efforts to cover up the Trump Tower
meeting
Obstructive act -
there's no strong
evidence that this
was more than a
press strategy.
Nexus: unclear. Corrupt intent:
Unclear from these
facts if it's merely a
press strategy.
23. Trump's efforts to "unrecuse" Sessions and
have him take control of the investigation
Obstructive act b/c
clearly aimed at
terminating the
Russia investigation.
Nexus to the Russia
investigation is
clear.
Corrupt intent: "a
reasonable
inference" on
Trump's side was
that Sessions would
"play a protective
role."
24. Trump tries to get McGahn to lie that he
wasn't ordered to fire Mueller
Obstructive intent:
Duh - he's trying to
get McGahn to
create a false
record.
Nexus: It was
foreseeable that
McGann would
testify about these
matters, so there's
a connection to the
Russia investigation.
Corrupt intent: an
effort to influence
McGahn's account
in order to deflect
or prevent further
scrutiny of Trump.
25. Trump's statements to Flynn and Manafort in the
context of the criminal proceedings against them
Obstructive act in
the sense that his
statements could
influence the jury.
Nexus to both trials. Intent: because of Atty-
client privilege issues, we
don't exactly know what
Giuliani did when
threatening Flynn and
whether he properly
represented Trump's
opinion.
26. Trump's about-face toward Cohen (praise then
excoriation when Cohen cooperated w/the Feds.)
Obstructive act:
Trump knew that
Cohen provided
false testimony but
no proof that he
procured said false
testimony.
Proceeding:
Cohen's testimony
at investigations.
Intent: There's
evidence to support
the inference that he
hoped Cohen would
falsely testify, but not
enough to suggest he
procured the false
testimony.
28. Generally Speaking
• The report cautiously suggests that Trump might have just
been upset because the Russia investigation (which, as per
Part I, stops short of arguing conspiracy) cast doubt on his
legitimacy as president.
• Much of the confusion comes from the fact that when Trump
engages in coercive behavior, pressure, etc., technically that
is within his purview as President.
• There were multiple efforts to exert undue influence, but
they were largely unsuccessful (this, I think, is a legal
mistake, because obstruction of justice does not require
success, merely an attempt.)
• In general, federal law advances a broad definition of
obstruction.
• Also, other obstruction statutes might be relevant to Trump's
conduct, including tampering with witnesses.