OH DONALD...CAN YOU SAY, IMPEACHMENT?

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     In office less than four months...Donald Trump's presidency could be nearing an end.  Actually, it should be nearing an end.  And now...with the appointment of Robert Mueller as Special Counsel...if there is evidence to be found...of a crime by Trump or anybody else who was involved with his presidential campaign...Mueller will get to the truth.  This former FBI Director was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein - on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017 - to oversee and be in complete charge of the Justice Department's criminal investigation in to Russia's interference in to the presidential election of 2016.  It was Rosenstein's decision to select Mueller since Attorney General Jeff Sessions - on March 2nd - recused himself from any participation with the Russian probe because of his pre-election contacts with the Russian ambassador...a fact Sessions neglected to disclose to the U.S. Senate during his confirmation hearings.

     Bob Mueller has served our country with honor, dignity and integrity.  He commanded the FBI for twelve years under President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.  Nobody - besides J. Edgar Hoover - ever carried the FBI chief's badge so long.  Mueller is a retired military veteran...having spent three years in the U.S. Marine Corps...where he earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart during the Vietnam War.  Mueller is a distinguished American attorney who is revered by special agents and others at the FBI...and by Democrats and Republicans alike in Congress. Robert Mueller is the perfect choice...to get to the bottom of that...which are the Trump Administration scandals.  

     But Donald Trump is not at all happy with such a Special Counsel investigation. On Thursday, May 18th, he tweeted..."This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"  But in an exclusive interview with NBC News Chief Anchor Lester Holt - on Thursday, May 11th - Trump pushed for the Russian investigation to continue...and to be "absolutely done properly."  There's nobody better than Bob Mueller to accomplish this task properly.  But getting it done properly might just put Trump in the hot seat of House impeachment hearings and a Senate trial.  He and his Administration are going to be embroiled in controversy for perhaps many months, if not longer, while Mueller's investigation is ongoing.  This is not a witch hunt.  It's the American way to address a critical issue and to determine the definitive facts.  

     One of many questions to ask is this.  Since Bob Mueller could end up giving the Trump presidency a long life...or lead it towards a quick death...what if Trump decides to put the whammy on Mueller...and fire him...just as he did Jim Comey? There is no law that says the President cannot terminate the Special Counsel. Expect the unexpected with Donald Trump.  He might end up getting rid of Mueller, as well as the guy who appointed him...Rod Rosenstein.  But doing that would be a monumental mistake.  

     In a press conference in the East Room of The White House - on May 18th - Trump was grilled by reporters about the new Special Counsel and his investigation. But Trump wouldn't budge an inch.  Instead...he tightly grasped on to his assertion that "there's no collusion" with Russia.

     So how much stormy weather can Trump withstand?  With all the black clouds hovering over The White House, Trump has got to wonder when lightning is going to strike next.  And if that deadly bolt...will be zapped directly at him.  

     Nevertheless...it is apparent - through reports by both The New York Times and The Washington Post - that Trump could eventually be found guilty of obstruction of justice, as there seems to be much corruption in "Trumpland."  And there may end up being enough evidence to warrant a House of Representatives impeachment...a Senate conviction...and Trump's removal from office as President of the United States.

     Former FBI Director James Comey kept a paper trail that documented his meetings and telephone conversations with Trump.  On Tuesday, May 16th, The New York Times broke a story, which raises more questions about Trump's alleged involvement with Russian espionage.  The newspaper detailed that Comey penned a memo, which documented that Trump wanted the then FBI Director to put the kibosh on the Bureau's investigation of former National Security Adviser and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn.  Flynn is accused of being on Russia's payroll. There are also allegations that he was a Russian spy.

     To allow General Flynn to go scot-free - that is if he were to be found guilty in a court of law - would not be acceptable to most Americans.  However, if Flynn is the key to Donald Trump and any Russian interference with our election, then Flynn needs to be granted total immunity.  But only with the condition that he is fully able to provide the federal government with information necessary to reach a conclusion - whether positive or negative - about Trump and anyone else in his campaign or Administration.    

     The New York Times says that in Comey's memo...he writes what Trump allegedly told him...which was..."I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go."  Reaction to those words was strong by Independent Senator Angus King of Maine...who caucuses with the Democrats.  Senator King told Hardball host Chris Matthews on his May 16th MSNBC program...that Trump's remark to Comey about Flynn "certainly appear to meet the definition in the (obstruction of justice) statute."  It should be noted, however - as this column is published - that nobody at The New York Times has actually seen the February 14th memo, but that - according to the newspaper - an associate of Comey's read part of it to their reporter.

     The information released so far...about James Comey's memo...could indicate a command by the President of the United States to the FBI Director...not a request. Depending on the inflection of Trump's voice...when he allegedly spoke the aforementioned quote...it sounds as if Trump could have been issuing a direct order...and not simply making a suggestion.

     Prior to The New York Times article about the Comey memo...The Washington Post - on Monday, May 15th - reported that Donald Trump divulged highly classified intelligence information to the Russian Foreign Minister and the Russian Ambassador during a very chummy White House meeting on Wednesday, May 10th.  The Post says Trump revealed details of an ISIS threat...describing terrorists who could smuggle explosives on airplanes by using laptop computers.  After National Security Adviser and U.S. Army Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster categorically called The Washington Post story "false"...Trump - on May 16th - defended himself by tweeting that he has the "absolute right" to share information with Russia.  Trump admitted to giving Russian officials "facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety."

     Although legal experts and Constitutional scholars have reportedly stated that it is lawful for Trump - as President - to declassify certain U.S. intelligence...it is being debated that he does not have the right to disclose intelligence information that was confidentially provided to the United States by one of our allies.

     Later on May 16th, The New York Times reported that it was Israel that gave the ISIS-related intelligence to Trump.  Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told NBC's Today show that Trump's actions "threaten our credibility in dealing with partners and allies, who provide extraordinarily valuable and sensitive information.  There may be no law broken, but the rules and norms have clearly been crossed here."

     Meanwhile...Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee told reporters on Capitol Hill..."To compromise a source is something that you just don't do.  And that's why we keep the information that we get from intelligence sources so close, as to prevent that from happening."

     Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island criticized Trump by saying his "recklessness with sensitive information is deeply disturbing and clearly problematic."

     And Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York says Trump may have "badly damaged our national security" with his release of classified intelligence to the Russians.

     No matter what...Donald Trump has performed irresponsibly.  And - as I have written for nearly two years - he is unfit and incompetent to serve as America's Commander-In-Chief and the leader of the free world.  Trump has proven time and time again...that he is more concerned about his relationship with Russia than he is with the people of the United States.  

     The United States Constitution defines "treason" as "giving aid and comfort to the enemy."  The secrets that Trump loudly whispered to his Kremlin cronies had been closely guarded until he opened up to the Russians.  That could - according to many Constitutional scholars - be considered treason.  I will, therefore, remind you that it was Donald Trump - who for nearly a year-and-a-half - chastised Hillary Clinton...by wrongly blaming the former Secretary of State for being "stupid" and "negligent" with regard to "classified secrets" when she used a private e-mail server. At campaign rallies, Trump would lead voters in chants of "lock her up."  And on July 6th, 2016...Trump tweeted..."Crooked Hillary Clinton and her team were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.  Not fit!"

     But there is no proof whatsoever that Mrs. Clinton exposed classified information to anyone...especially not to an adversary of the United States.  Certainly, she didn't share secrets from an American ally to an enemy of our country.  

     Donald Trump has caused chaos across our nation...and he has done so in such a short period of time.  It is chilling to think that the President of the United States revealed sensitive information to Russia...and not only admits that he did, but that he believes it is a perfectly acceptable practice.  Wait until allies, other than Israel, want to confidentially communicate vital intelligence with the American federal government, but decide against it because they can't trust Trump and his big mouth.

     Russia is in bed with Syria and Iran.  Iran is a huge threat - perhaps the biggest threat - to Israel in the Middle East region.  Why the hell would Trump provide Vladimir Putin's people with classified information that was privately given to him by Israel?  It's mind-boggling.  And yet...General McMaster says it was "wholly appropriate" for Trump to do so.  I suppose he's just as nuts as Trump.

     Donald Trump spilled the beans to Putin's pals less than 24 hours after he fired James Comey as FBI Director...which was on Tuesday, May 9th.  In that interview with NBC's Lester Holt on May 11th, Trump did not hold back on expressing that Russia was on his mind when he terminated Comey from his job...which some legal experts believe can be considered obstruction of justice.  After all...Comey had been leading an investigation in to Russia's meddling in our 2016 election.  Comey testified before the House Intelligence Committee on March 20th and noted...that since July 2016...he was "authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts."

     Let's review Comey's statement that he was "investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government."  Who was the centerpiece...and the head...of the Trump campaign?  It was Donald Trump.  So despite the fact that Trump told Lester Holt that Comey assured him - on three separate occasions - that he (Trump) was not personally under investigation by the FBI...it seems clear to me - based on Comey's carefully crafted words - that Trump indeed was part of the FBI probe.  Therefore, by firing Comey as FBI Director...while he was smack dab in the middle of an investigation that included Trump himself...many Constitutional lawyers nationwide are insisting that Trump obstructed justice.

     Donald Trump admitted to Lester Holt..."In fact, when I decided to just do it (fire Comey)...I said to myself, I said...'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story.  It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.'"  Thus, the investigation allegedly tying Trump and/or his campaign to the Russian's interference with our election...was one of the reasons Trump fired the FBI boss.  And his words above demonstrate that Trump's focus - when he dismissed Comey - was on the Russian probe.  Nevertheless, Trump told Lester Holt that he "never" asked Comey to drop the investigation.

     Also in his NBC News interview with Lester Holt...Trump claimed that he was going to fire Comey months ago.  But in his news conference on May 18th, Trump flip-flopped again about the circumstances that led to Comey's termination.  He went back to the original story from May 9th that Comey was given the boot based on a recommendation in a lengthy letter to Trump from Rod Rosenstein.  But Trump told Lester Holt that the Deputy Attorney General's letter was not what swayed him to dismiss Comey as FBI Director.  Trump has lied so much in the last four months...if he was Pinocchio...his nose would be a mile long.

     But there are even more developments with this part of the story.  NBC News reports that Rosenstein - on May 18th - during a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill...informed all one-hundred U.S. Senators...that he was completely aware of Donald Trump's decision to fire Comey...before he wrote Trump the letter...in which he advised him to dismiss the FBI Director...because Rosenstein had lost confidence in him.  What a way to run a country!

     On Friday, May 12th - in a tweet that looks and smells like a threat - Donald Trump wrote..."James Comey better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!"  Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois tagged Trump's tweet...a "thinly veiled threat" that "could be construed as threatening a witness in this investigation, which is another violation of federal law." And Senator Blumenthal contends..."There is so much that smacks of obstruction of justice that is swirling around this dismissal and the meetings that preceded it."  

     Let's recall that in other remarks to NBC's Lester Holt, it was unmistakable that Trump was basically bribing Comey...a felony.  Pledge loyalty to me and keep your job.  That is not a quote, but the crux of Trump's remark.  And if you watch the NBC News interview, that is essentially what Trump said. The bottom line is that James Comey's loyalty as FBI Director was to the Constitution of the United States.  Too bad he didn't have similar loyalty to the Department of Justice's regulations.  If he had, Comey never would have written that letter to Congress - eleven days before the election - which unfortunately cost Hillary Clinton the presidency.

     Democrats and Republicans are on the same page...that if Trump does have recorded conversations with Comey - stashed away somewhere in The White House or elsewhere - he needs to present them to Congress.  On Sunday, May 14th, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told NBC News Political Director and the Moderator of Meet The Press Chuck Todd..."If there are any tapes, they need to be turned over."

     But when reporters on May 15th asked White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer about any tapes, he repeated the same rehearsed answer over and over again.  "I think I made it clear that the President has nothing further on that.  I made it clear what the President's position is on that issue."  And when asked if Trump would cooperate with Congress...by furnishing the Legislative Branch's request for any such recordings...Spicer echoed the same response.

     If there are recorded tapes of conversations between Trump and Comey, it is imperative that they immediately be given to the Senate, the House of Representatives and Special Counsel Bob Mueller.  And whatever memos Comey has...also need to be handed over to Mueller and both chambers of Congress.

     I have to wonder if James Comey specifically wrote the discussed memo - as well as other messages and notes - in order to build an obstruction of justice case against Donald Trump.  After all...Comey testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, May 3rd...and confessed that he felt "mildy nauseous" about the possibility that he affected the election between Hillary Clinton and Trump. It was Comey's infamous letter to Congress that became such a hotbed of controversy.  That letter indicated that there were new e-mails that might have shown possible wrongdoing by Secretary Clinton.  Such e-mails were merely duplicates of others that had been previously reviewed by the FBI and, therefore, did not suggest in any way that Mrs. Clinton was guilty of any illegal activity.  It is likely that Comey realized...that he was patently wrong last October...by writing such a correspondence to Congress...which undeniably had an impact on the election.  But despite Secretary Clinton's innocence..."The Donald" can't help but tweet more and more "Trumpian trash" against Mrs. Clinton.  In yet another tweet on May 18th, Trump wrote..."With all the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign and Obama Administration, there was never a Special Counsel appointed!"  For Trump to continue attacking Hillary Clinton - or President Obama, for that matter - six-and-a-half months after the election...is immeasurably immature...and it divides the country even more.

     The Comey memo could also be a way for the former top cop to cover his own butt.  If Trump was seeking a quid pro quo...and was looking for a trade-off - in other words, Comey's job in exchange for killing the investigation on Michael Flynn...(or, for that matter, possible links between Trump and Russia) - then such a memo from Comey could easily give him the ammunition to take down Trump...should Trump attempt to throw Comey under the bus.  Make no bones about it...that's exactly what Trump is now doing.  But I doubt Trump's evil tricks will be successful against the former FBI Director.

     The official White House statement remains...Trump "never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn."  Trump reiterated that comment at his May 18th press conference.

     Americans must be certain if James Comey was fired because he was getting too close to digging up dirt that would metaphorically bury Donald Trump and his presidency.  We must know - as Senator Chuck Schumer stated on the Senate floor on May 17th - if Trump "pressured" Comey to shut down the investigation of General Flynn and/or any probe in to Trump and his campaign regarding ties to Russia. Americans must know for sure...if Donald Trump was involved in a collusion plot with Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin...to interfere with our election of November 8th, 2016.

     So these questions stand.  Why has Trump been so protective of Michael Flynn? What smut does Flynn have on Trump?  And what does Flynn know about possible connections that Trump has with Russia?

     The credibility of Donald Trump and his entire White House staff is gone.  It's out the window.  There is no credibility at all.  And there is nobody in The West Wing who can be trusted.

     For many months...I have entertained in columns...that the Trump scandals are reminiscent - in numerous ways - to Watergate.  And now...Senator John McCain has reached the same conclusion.  The Arizona Republican has called Trump's actions to be of "Watergate size and scale."

     On Saturday, May 13th, I tweeted..."The ghost of Richard Nixon (known as Donald Trump) walks the halls of The White House as he haunts both it and our country."

     If Trump follows the path of President Nixon...he will resign the presidency before Congress can impeach and convict him.  Or will Donald Trump not even wait until impeachment is looming?  Will he, one day - sooner rather than later - be so pissed-off with politics...so fed-up with being President...that he throws in the towel and tells the nation that he's finished?  "Stick a fork in me.  I'm done."  Will Trump turn to Mike Pence one morning and say he's had enough?  "It's yours.  I don't want it anymore.  I'm going back to my company."  Or...is Donald Trump so egotistically narcissistic...and so paranoid and delusional...that he'll not leave unless he's forced out?

     On Friday, May 19th, Trump will board Air Force One for his first international trip since taking the oath of office as President. His voyage will take him to five countries and he will meet with dozens of world leaders.  Perhaps Trump will order his pilot to divert the presidential plane to Russia. If we're lucky...Donald Trump will decide to stay in Moscow...never to return to Washington, DC.

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

     "We'll talk again." 

The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions.  Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.

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