Donald Trump for the umpteenth time lashed out at Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller on Twitter on August 1, 2018 calling for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the Mueller investigation. Presumably, Trump forgot that Sessions recused himself from the Mueller investigation and has no legal authority to end it. That didn’t stop Trump from tweeting about it. Trumps’ tweet stated that Sessions should stop this “rigged witch hunt right now.” From a legal standpoint, the tweet could be viewed as further possible evidence of obstruction of justice. If Trump is attempting to impede and prevent a lawful investigation from continuing, that could amount to obstruction of justice. Donald Trump appears to be particularly feeling the heat this week with the start of Paul Manafort’s trial, Michael Cohen tape revelations, Facebook’s announcement of new fake Russian accounts and the ongoing attempts by Mueller to interview Trump. While Manafort’s trial is about tax evasion, money … [Read more...] about Trump Expresses Desperation Over Mueller Investigation
Donald Trump
No Slam Dunk for Mueller in Manafort Trial
All political eyes and ears are on the start of Paul Manafort’s criminal trial for tax evasion, money laundering and an assortment of other money crimes. Paul Manafort is the former chairman for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Jury selection is underway today. If this were a card game, special prosecutor Robert Mueller has held his playing cards closely to his chest to prevent tipping his hand. Until the start of the trial, we do not know what the evidence will show. The indictment spells out what the prosecution intends to prove. Once witnesses take the stand and documents are presented, we will know the hand that Manafort and Mueller have been dealt. As for timing, the actual start of the trial with opening statements may not take place on the first day. There is never a magical formula to predict the time that it will take to pick a jury. Having tried many complex trials lasting weeks and months, it is never an easy guess. And this case is further complicated by the … [Read more...] about No Slam Dunk for Mueller in Manafort Trial
A Study in Patriotism: Trump versus Colin Kaepernick
Just in time for the start of the NFL football season with preseason in August, 2018, the issue of the players’ kneeling during the national anthem begins a new again. Recently, the Miami Dolphins owners stated that the team intends to punish players who kneel or otherwise protest during the national anthem with up to a four game suspension and fines, according to documents obtained by USA Today. However, the team owner later retracted the statement and proposed plans for suspension or penalties. The local media covered the Dolphins intentions before there was the retraction. Meanwhile the New York jets took the opposite approach by emphatically stating the opposite of no intention to fine players for their right to peaceful protest under the First Amendment. Previously, the NFL intended to institute a policy of sanctions and requiring that players stand for the anthem—before the NFL Players Association (“NFLPA”) filed a grievance. The filing of the grievance resulted in … [Read more...] about A Study in Patriotism: Trump versus Colin Kaepernick
Stormy Daniels was no Media Storm
Everyone anticipated that the 60 Minutes interview of Stormy Daniels about her affair with Donald Trump would be a major blowout. I even have friends living in Vancouver, Canada call to say they would be watching. But Stormy’s interview was quite underwhelming by all accounts. Her attorney had stated that she would be a credible witness. Well credibility, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Ms. Daniels’ (not her real name) credibility on her account of meeting with Donald Trump and having unprotected sex with him while in a hotel room on their first meeting, rang true. Her demeanor and tone of voice in speaking sounded as if she were telling the story to a girlfriend—instead of to Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes. I have no doubt that she met Trump in a hotel room, flirted with him, had conversation and ultimately had unprotected sex with him—albeit she said that she was not attracted to him. Her statement that Trump told her she reminded him of his daughter also rang … [Read more...] about Stormy Daniels was no Media Storm
Please No More Sam Nunberg Circus as Breaking News
Anyone, who turned on cable news TV at any time on Monday, couldn’t help but see a defiant Sam Nunberg, a former Trump aide, ranting and raving about his refusal to appear before a grand jury to testify pursuant to a subpoena. Nunberg, appearing possibly inebriated or at least smelling of alcohol according to CNN’s Erin Burnett, speculated about Trump, Roger Stone and other parties involved in the Russian-Trump investigation. Whenever did speculation become breaking news? I wonder who on the major cable news outlets thought Nunberg’s hours long coverage was appropriate. As I watched Nunberg, I wondered what the world must now think of the U.S. While we do have very good reason to be concerned about an Russian involvement or interference in our election, we do not have a good reason to air every possible aspect as breaking news. And Nunberg appears in the category of non-breaking news given the non-substance of his interview. I do think there are journalists that would not have … [Read more...] about Please No More Sam Nunberg Circus as Breaking News
Ban the Assault Weapons Elephant in the Room
On the same day that Florida House lawmakers’ committee voted to arm some teachers, a Georgia social studies teacher was arrested for bringing a gun to school, firing it, barricading himself and causing students to run to avoid being stuck and possibly killed. According to Dalton, Georgia police, the teacher, Randall Davidson will face charges of aggravated assault, carrying a weapon on school grounds, terroristic threats, reckless conduct, possession of gun during commission of a crime, and disrupting a public school. Following the Parkland, Florida school shooting that killed 17 persons, Donald Trump proposed that teachers should be provided with incentives to be armed with guns in the classroom. A Florida House committee responded to the Parkland school shootings by approving a bill that would raise the minimum age to buy any gun, require a three-day waiting period for rifle purchases and create a program that could allow some teachers to carry concealed weapons in the … [Read more...] about Ban the Assault Weapons Elephant in the Room