Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

7 facts you have to remember when Donald Trump attacks the Mueller probe

Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large

Updated 12:00 PM EST, Thu November 29, 2018


(CNN) At 6:54 a.m. on Thursday, President Donald Trump continued his onslaught against special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
He tweeted:

"Did you ever see an investigation more in search of a crime? At the same time Mueller and the Angry Democrats aren't even looking at the atrocious, and perhaps subversive, crimes that were committed by Crooked Hillary Clinton and the Democrats. A total disgrace!"

Then, at 7:16 a.m., he added:

"When will this illegal Joseph McCarthy style Witch Hunt, one that has shattered so many innocent lives, ever end-or will it just go on forever? After wasting more than $40,000,000 (is that possible?), it has proven only one thing-there was NO Collusion with Russia. So Ridiculous!"

This is, of course, standard fare for Trump -- although the pace of his attacks have ramped up of late as Mueller appears to be tightening his grip on those close to Trump.

Amid Trump's rhetorical rapid-fire, it's easy to lose sight of the actual facts here. And those facts paint a very different picture from the one Trump is trying to push.

Here are just a few of those facts. (And you should check out this terrific database on the Russia investigation from CNN's Russia team. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/politics/russia-investigations/#/charges )

1. There have been 192 criminal charges brought by Mueller.

2. With Michael Cohen pleading guilty to lying to congressional investigators about his ties to Russia on Thursday, there are now seven people who have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the Mueller probe.

3. Among those seven are: Cohen (Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer), Paul Manafort (former Trump campaign chairman), Rick Gates (former deputy campaign chairman) and Michael Flynn (former national security adviser). These are not low-level underlings.

4. Manafort, who is accused of breaking his plea deal by lying to Mueller's team, was convicted by a jury of his peers for his pre-Trump campaign work with the Ukrainian government.

5. Mueller was appointed as special counsel on May 17, 2017. That's 18 months ago. That's far shorter than other high-profile special investigations like it -- including Whitewater and Iran Contra, both of which lasted more than six years.

6. The direct costs that Congress has allocated for the special counsel's office is $10.4 million for fiscal year 2017 and $10.4 million for fiscal year 2018, which runs through September 2019. So the direct cost of the investigation could -- if the probe last until next September -- be north of $20 million. Not $40 million.

7. Three people -- Alex van der Zwaan, Richard Pinedo and George Papadopoulos -- have been sentenced to prison as a result of the Mueller investigation



https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/11/29/politics/donald-trump-mueller-investigation/index.html

yhtomit Loc: Port Land. Oregon

1. Any collusion charges???
2. Yep he lied about contacting Russian citizens about a canceled(well documented) project.
3. All three caught in perjury traps not connected to collusion...
4. Boy, good job! Got him before the campaign began. Wow! Good job.
5. Timeline clarification. Needed that!
6. Thank you for detailing the cost of a witch hunt. If only they used this money to pursue prosecution of admitted
colluders like the hilarity and heck mueller for delivering uranium samples to the Russians for the uranium one scandal.
7. Sentenced for being victims of perjury trap. No collusion....

Nice try. 7 nothing burgers and counting.... your not very skilled when it comes to spreading propaganda...

Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

Your brain is a nothingburger! BTW, have you heard the news today?

“November 19, 2018: the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency!”

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

Benghazi was much more of an investigation looking for a crime. You do remember Benghazi? In whitewater what Clinton was convicted of hadn't even happened when the investigation started. Why do you think Republicans should operate on one set of rules (if they follow any rules at all) and Democrats should have to work by another? Is that what your constitution tells you? Or, are you listening to what comes out of your gut too.

EyeSawYou

LOL you nuts have been saying that for almost 2 years now lol. Pure conspiracy that you are addicted to that never pans out.

yhtomit Loc: Port Land. Oregon

Yes!!!!! What channel did you see it on? What happened for you?
Sigh... I hate to inform you that today is November 29th, 2018....
You hang in there big guy.

yhtomit Loc: Port Land. Oregon

I believe it's called a "two tiered justice system". Democrat heavy, even when republicans are in charge.
Rules? Who, what, where, why, which side? Hmmm...

yhtomit Loc: Port Land. Oregon

By jove I think you're on to something. Well put.

Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

Pay attention to today’s news!

Keep up, buddy.

Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

That’s what I said—quoted from TV interview—today, November 29, 2018 is the beginning of the end of the trump presidency.

I am hanging in there, little guy, you keep up.

EyeSawYou

What does todays "news" have anything to do with what I said?

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

He's trying, but he's pretty busy digging up threads that have been dead a year or more.

skylane5sp Loc: Puyallup, WA

Hey Tward, why don't you get your panties in a bunch over Clapper lying to Congress? Brennan lying to Congress? Comey lying to Congress?
All on multiple occasions. I expect you will perform your typical meaningless word salad justification of the hypocrisy and double standard.

EyeSawYou

You just hate failed threads being brought up lol, you just encouraged me to dig up more thank you. lol

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

That's why when you post that dumpster, it's you it brings to mind.