Trump says Mueller shouldn’t testify, as the administration moves toward war with Iran

Under oath last week, Attorney General William Barr told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that he had “no objection” to Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifying before Congress. And, a few days later, Donald Trump seemed to give his approval. When asked by a reporter what he felt about Mueller giving sworn testimony, the President responded that it should be “up to our attorney general“. Well, Donald Trump changed course today, after news broke that a tentative date had been set for the former FBI Director’s testimony. [The tentative date is May 15.] “Bob Mueller should not testify”, the President tweeted.

If it’s true, as Donald Trump has been suggesting for the past several weeks, that the Mueller investigation found “no collusion” and “no obstruction”, then why is it, do you think, that he doesn’t want Mueller to testify? I mean, if he really felt as though the report cleared him of any wrongdoing, as he’s been saying non-stop since Barr released his 4-page summary of the findings, why wouldn’t he want the report’s author to speak about it publicly, and put this whole thing to rest once and for all?

Of course he would, if that were there the case… But, as we now know, the Mueller report did not simply say “no collusion” and “no obstruction”, as Barr and Trump had repeatedly assured us. In fact, as we learned once the report became public, it said quite clearly that the Trump campaign “expected it would benefit electorally” from Russian election interference, and that members of the campaign had actively sought assistance from Moscow. Furthermore, the report laid out ten “episodes” of potential obstruction, suggesting that it should be up to Congress to make the ultimate decision as to whether or not the President should be prosecuted.

Congressman Adam Schiff, for what it’s worth, promised earlier today that, despite what the President has said, Mueller and former White House attorney Don McGahn will testify before Congress. “Barr’s testimony alone — designed to protect Trump — isn’t going to cut it,” the Congressman said. “They will testify. The American people deserve the truth.”

Meanwhile, though, it looks like the administration may be leading us into a Wag the Dog-like situation in Iran in hopes of getting the Mueller report out of the news once and for all. [Yes, I appreciate that this is probably just the incredibly bellicose John Bolton doing what he was born to do, but I think it’s interesting that the administration, which has otherwise kept him from starting foreign wars, seems to be playing along this time.]

If you thought that things were crazy before, just wait.

update: I was having second thoughts about my suggestion that the moving of a carrier group to Iran may have more to do with a desire to change the domestic news cycle than any real threat abroad, but then I saw a Reuters piece with the following… “A U.S. official said the forces ‘have been ordered to the region as a deterrence to what has been seen as potential preparations by Iranian forces and its proxies that may indicate possible attacks on U.S. forces in the region.’ The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the United States was not expecting any imminent attack on U.S. forces.” So, yeah, we’re apparently spending millions of dollars to move a carrier group into the region in spite of the fact that we’re “not expecting any imminent attack”… Here’s hoping the Iranians can’t be goaded into a skirmish.

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35 Comments

  1. Posted May 5, 2019 at 8:57 pm | Permalink

    In a normal world, it would be huge news if the President of the United States came out and said that the Special Counsel should be stopped from testifying, and, then, just shortly afterward, gave the word to send troops to a country where no threat exists.

    In today’s America, though, where we have a Commander-In-Chief who, in the past few days alone, defended the rights of fascists to engage in hate speech, tweeted out videos from a conspiracy theory website, and demanded that his investigators be investigated, it barely makes a ripple.

    There’s really just no more room for outrage… I mean, I don’t think I’m probably alone when I say that, by this point in the Trump presidency, I’ve just been worn down to the point where there’s not much left. I see the headlines about how Trump had an hour-long discussion with Putin during which the subject of election meddling wasn’t even mentioned, and it doesn’t even phase me. [As Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe said today, “Can you believe the world isn’t screaming about the fact that Trump talked to Putin about Mueller but refused to talk to Mueller about Putin?“] I see Trump quoted as saying “He knows that I am with him“, when asked about Kim Jong Un’s having fired projectiles toward Japan, and I can’t even summon the anger to respond with a weeping emoticon. I just click to the next story, knowing there’s something even worse waiting for me around the next corner.

  2. Posted May 5, 2019 at 8:58 pm | Permalink

    Yesterday, in an interview with the New York Times, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that she doesn’t trust Donald Trump to step down if he loses the 2020 election. And, today, Donald Trump retweets a post from Jerry Falwell, Jr, stating that he should get two extra years in the White House for having had to fight the DOJ’s deep state coup attempt.

    We are living in a hell world, and it’s going to get much, much worse.

  3. Jean Henry
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 6:20 am | Permalink

    This is important re the growing potential for conflict with Iran: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/05/06/john-bolton-on-the-warpath

    I trust Filkins’ reporting. I doubt this was Trump’s idea but his political staff may go along with it for the reasons you state. At any rate, I feel confident we will engage Iran soon. And I’m completely depressed about it and incredibly sad for my Persian friends here with family in Iran.

  4. Dogmatic Dolt
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 6:44 am | Permalink

    Aloha, Worried about War? How unusual. The bi-partisan consensus is all for war with Iran and Venezuela. It is our humanitarian duty to blow these countries to smithereens. I wonder which candidate has unequivocally rejected the bi-partisan consensus on humanitarian regime change wars?

  5. Sad
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 7:09 am | Permalink

    That would be Mayor Pete…..

    He really is outstanding in this crowded field.

  6. Sad
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 7:18 am | Permalink

    Here Dolt is a tidbit from an article about Pete on his military stance. Brief but informative.

    As a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, he thinks there should be a higher standard for committing American troops overseas. He’s criticized the threat of sending ground troops to places such as Venezuela or Syria, though he would support targeted military action in Syria and targeted sanctions in Venezuela.

    “There has to be a pathway to ending endless war,” he told WMUR9 in New Hampshire.

    More broadly, he thinks America is losing credibility overseas and should re-establish itself as a world leader through diplomacy. The current policy of America first, he has said, is leaving America isolated.

    And Dolt. Hardly anyone even knows who Tulsi is.

    She needs to amp up her game.

  7. Anonymous
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 7:25 am | Permalink

    We are moving into Iran because we’ve noted “potential preparations” on their part to do something bad, is that right? Note that they said “potential preparations” and not “preparations.” What are “potential preparations”?

  8. John Brown
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 7:40 am | Permalink

    Nancy Pelosi will rot in hell for not starting impeachment proceedings when she had the chance before the Persian Gulf war.

  9. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 8:02 am | Permalink

    Remember when we were going to war with NK?

  10. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 8:23 am | Permalink

    “Bob Mueller should not testify”

    Thinking logically we know the dems/media hate what he demands. If he wanted Mueller to testify it would be simple to get them demanding it this way: just say the opposite of what he wants.

  11. Dogmatic Dolt
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 9:06 am | Permalink

    Aloha, you have to wonder which one of Trumps business entities and cronies are making a killing off of the stock market today after his tweets about his trade war. Insider dealing anyone? Since everyone has been focused on Russiagate/Mueller, the coming war with Eurasia has just kinda come up under the radar. And China of course is going to continue to buy Iranian oil. Does anyone think the is all interconnected?
    https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/trump-tweet-china-tariffs-throws-global-markets-tailspin-n1002261?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

  12. Dogmatic Dolt
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 10:24 am | Permalink

    Aloha Sad, This is a pretty good run down of the current status of Democratic candidates and who gets to be on the debate stage this summer. With 21 or 22 current candidates so far, Tulsi comes in at about 9.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUM0pZ5Fr2s

  13. Dogmatic Dolt
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 12:14 pm | Permalink

    Aloha, Just like old times. Summit Market not even open 6 months and the rapid fire sound of shots being fired once again provide background to the lawn work. 3 shots one victim in front of store, in ambulance unknown condition.

  14. Charley
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 2:49 pm | Permalink

    Do yu do zine reviews anymore; or just political rants? If so I can send you a complimentry copy of my zine for your consideration.

  15. John Brown
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 4:32 pm | Permalink

    Pompeo comes out in alignment with Putin and Exxon on Artic oil development. Long time readers will recall one of my hypothesis proposed that pootin, via Agent Orange, was trying to alienate USA Artic military alignment away from Canada in order to leave their Artic archeapeligo vulnerable for ruskie oil development. This has been inevitable since Exxon funded research determined the threshold at which maximally engineered oil rigs could withstand the severely reduced ice thickness was nearly reached. Look for push for first Article rigs next time we’re solidly over $100/barrel. Because ‘Merica.

  16. John Brown
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    https://www.alternet.org/2019/05/mike-pompeo-actually-just-cheered-the-new-opportunities-presented-by-the-arctics-melting-ice-sheets/

  17. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted May 6, 2019 at 5:25 pm | Permalink

    A conspiracy hypothesist: it’s like a conspiracy theorist but probably farther from the truth. Theories by nature actually offer an explanation for a phenomenon that seems to work. You are just making shit up to prop up your busted narrative. I told you all a narrative is is lies you tell yourself. Look what happened. Every single thing about “agent orange” going down for being a “russkie stooge” (do you listen to yourself? Damn, that is dim) you now have to EAT just like I said you would.

  18. Jean Henry
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 7:50 am | Permalink

    Today, I hope HW is right.

  19. Dogmatic Dolt
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    Aloha, the war with Eurasia continues on the economic front. The US is engaging in obvious market manipulation as they head to the Friday deadline on trade talks with China. As Zero Hedge points out,” White House new trading strategy: deny trade deal is dead during US hours sending US stocks higher, confirm no deal ahead of China open crashing Shanghai Composite”. The China economy will prove to be much more resilient than the morons who are calling the shots in the US realize. If talks break down, we may no longer be able to off shore our inflation—have folks been watching the ever increasing cost of basic food items? Then I see today that DTE prices are going up. If we are unable to recycle our huge surplus of dollars through China, then our economy will have to absorb them through inflationary price increases.

    One bright spot, our new Governor has appointed a local Ypsilantian as Director of the Unemployment Agency. Steve Gray is a great appointment for working folks. I’ve known him for nearly 20 years. He will do all in his power to ensure the law is followed and our unemployed brothers and sisters get the benefits they are entitled too.

  20. John Brown
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 12:46 pm | Permalink

    HW is never right. This isnt theory, its a business plan. The hypothesis part only pertains to the manipulation of the traitorous Agent Orange.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2015/jun/16/drilling-oil-gas-arctic-alaska

    Further there’s ample public material regarding challenges made at the UN to Canada’s claimed exclusive economic zone which currently include the entire area bound by its many islands. The entire Northwest passage is currently under Canadian control, but only thanks to the US providing the muscle. Russia and China want free reign in the region. Agent Orange will give it.

    John Brown’s posee includes a Canadian Special Forces Ninja specializing in “Hand-to-hand” combat training. According to him Canadians have long feared rogue US leadership throwing them under the “icebreaker”.

  21. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 2:35 pm | Permalink

    That article doesn’t even mention Russia trying to drill Canadian oil. You claim to have a posse but you can’t even spell it. Your people sold out our uranium. Boom boom boom. It’s so easy to put you on your ass every single time.

  22. Trump 2020
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 3:42 pm | Permalink

    Donald Trump is the only man capable of saving American oil from Russia. He has done more to make America 100% oil self sufficient than any other President in history. Without Donald Trump, Russia would have all our oil.

  23. Frosted Flakes
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 4:45 pm | Permalink

    Chuck Norris is basically my best friend. He is on my sofa right now. We are waiting for Steven Seagal to come over so we can work on our nunchuck skills and bow-hunting skills, before it gets dark.

  24. Dogmatic Dolt
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    Aloha, no most of you could care less, but the Senate failed to over ride Trumps veto stopping the US war in Yemen. Wonder what HW, FF, and EOS think. As Tulsi says, “Our leaders, beginning with Pres. Trump, should be serving the interests of the American people, not foreign governments—like the theocratic dictatorship of Saudi Arabia. Such self-serving powerful politicians are selling out America’s interests for Saudi blood money. Shameless.”

  25. Frosted Flakes
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 5:42 pm | Permalink

    I don’t support our assisting Saudi Arabia generally, but especially in Yemen. As I commented to you several days ago I am disappointed.

    I appreciate what Tulsi has been saying very much.

  26. Dogmatic Dolt
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 6:01 pm | Permalink

    Aloha, FF if only there were more like you. I know people give you lots of shit, but you are a thoughtful person. A little over my head some times, but being a dolt I expect that.

  27. stupid hick
    Posted May 7, 2019 at 11:07 pm | Permalink

    “Aloha, you have to wonder which one of Trumps business entities and cronies are making a killing off of the stock market today after his tweets about his trade war. Insider dealing anyone?”

    This is the kind of “opportunity” that would motivate Trump, not “servant leadership” or “loving and helping others as Jesus taught in the great commandment”.

  28. Daily Beast
    Posted May 8, 2019 at 6:08 am | Permalink

    The House Intelligence Committee’s Democratic chairman and Republican ranking member are threatening to hit the DOJ with a rare bipartisan subpoena if the department doesn’t hand over testimony and briefing materials produced by Mueller’s investigation.

  29. John Brown
    Posted May 8, 2019 at 6:26 am | Permalink

    Stephen Seagal is a serial sex assaulter who professes his love of pootin. So that checks out that FF would identify with him. My Canadian Ninja’s 18 yr old daughter would literally kick the shit out his fat geriatric ass.

    Chuck Norris is a Republican, so by definition a fraud.

    Get outta your moms basement and you’d meet some people with skills. But you have to have some skills yourself to run in those circles….

  30. Frosted Flakes
    Posted May 8, 2019 at 10:24 am | Permalink

    Sounds to me like Fake John Brown believes he has some sweet skills.

    Maybe you should try to put Steven Seagal in a body bag, Johnny. Yeaaaah!

  31. Dogmatic Dolt
    Posted May 8, 2019 at 11:23 am | Permalink

    Under the new Georgia law, a woman who miscarries could be liable for second-degree murder. If prosecutors can prove that she is somehow responsible, she can be imprisoned for 30 years. A woman who travels out of Georgia to obtain a legal abortion elsewhere could still be prosecuted under the new law, and imprisoned for up to ten years. This is a pretty interesting article on some of the unintended consequences of “fetal personhood” that Georgia just made law. I particularly like the need to release any pregnant woman from prison–after all if the fetus is a “person” what right do we have to deprive it of its liberty and incarcerate it. I also wonder, does Georgia intend to count fetuses for representation purposes in Congress.
    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/05/hb-481-georgia-law-criminalizes-abortion-subjects-women-to-life-in-prison.html?fbclid=IwAR1h_M7-91_FHiyF1qX4lSjXcIbUXTtwVGelV3eTWRKkXpfz38rFvCYYELs

  32. Trump 2020
    Posted May 8, 2019 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    Trump is messenger for abortion, he will stop baby deaths because GOD sent him to protect the unborn will be ILLEGAL before 2020 and abortionists put to death because the archangel MICHAEL Pence make sound with TRUMP because bible say so, immigrants too they shall be expelled from great country of ours to go back to where they came from so no babies here because anchor baby scam to get food stamps. stop giving money to illegals! Trump solve debt problem by get rid of illegals.

    Exodus 21:22-25 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[a] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

  33. John Brown
    Posted May 8, 2019 at 12:44 pm | Permalink

    FF, I think you’d need a pool cover to wrap up that bloated ruskie sellout pootin loving POS. Hell, he might be Agent Orange’s 400 lb guy, hacking from his bed in the Kremlin basement. Or as we call them, a typical republican.

  34. John Schindler by proxy
    Posted May 8, 2019 at 2:27 pm | Permalink

    John Bolton is threatening Iran with war and destruction, based on dodgy intelligence, to get Trump the money he needs to get reelected in 2020, and thereby avoid dying in jail.

    We better hope Tehran knows this is all just one more cynical Trumpian ploy.

  35. Meta
    Posted May 14, 2019 at 9:56 am | Permalink

    Salon: National security officials detail plan to deploy up to 120,000 troops to Iran

    President Donald Trump’s administration is weighing military options against Iran that could even include war, according to a new report.

    Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan detailed a plan last week at a gathering of national security officials, which includes deploying up to 120,000 armed forces to the Middle East, according to the New York Times. The hypothetical plan would reportedly be implemented if Tehran speeds up its nuclear weapons program — or in the event American troops are attacked by Iran. It is mainly a revision of previous plans, with updates allegedly called for by administration hawks led by Trump’s National Security Adviser John Bolton.

    Read more:
    https://www.salon.com/2019/05/14/national-security-officials-detail-plan-to-deploy-up-to-120000-troops-to-iran-report/

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