Who Knows Where We're Going?

Somebody knows, but I don't think it's the pundits. And I know it isn't me. The fact that we got where we are is flabbergasting enough.

pourmecoffee is on a roll this morning.

I don't think it's going to go like that. I could be wrong. He might start handing out pardons. (And he won't be the first one to pardon relatives and buddies.) I don't think he's going to fire Mueller.

Currently, the discussions of pardoning authority by Trump’s legal team are purely theoretical, according to two people familiar with the ongoing conversations. But if Trump pardoned himself in the face of the ongoing Mueller investigation, it would set off a legal and political firestorm, first around the question of whether a president can use the constitutional pardon power in that way.

“This is a fiercely debated but unresolved legal question,” said Brian C. Kalt, a constitutional law expert at Michigan State University who has written extensively on the question.

  WaPo

[P]ardon authority extends to federal criminal prosecution but not to state level or impeachment inquiries.

[...]

Some of President Trump’s lawyers are exploring ways to limit or undercut special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s Russia investigation.
[...]

Trump has asked his advisers about his power to pardon aides, family members and even himself in connection with the probe, according to [a person familiar with the efforts]. A second person said Trump’s lawyers have been discussing the president’s pardoning powers among themselves.

[...]

are actively compiling a list of Mueller’s alleged potential conflicts of interest.

[...]

Responding to this story on Friday after it was published late Thursday, one of Trump’s attorneys, John Dowd, said it was “not true” and “nonsense.”

That may be, but John Dowd is also the lawyer who said Mueller didn't have authority to investigate Trump's business dealings, so I wouldn't put a lot of stock in what Dowd has to say.

“The President’s lawyers are cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller on behalf of the President,” he said.

As much as they have to.

Trump has been fuming about the probe in recent weeks as he has been informed about the legal questions that he and his family could face. His primary frustration centers on why allegations that his campaign coordinated with Russia should spread into scrutinizing many years of Trump dealmaking.

Wasn't expecting that, I guess. He better get out the pardon forms.

He has told aides he was especially disturbed after learning Mueller would be able to access several years of his tax returns.

“If any state does not want to share this information, one has to wonder what they’re worried about?” the president asked rhetorically. “What are they worried about? There’s something, there always is.”

Further adding to the challenges facing Trump’s outside lawyers, the team’s spokesman, Mark Corallo, resigned on Thursday. Corallo confirmed Friday that he has resigned but declined to comment further.

Trouble, right here in River City. (I've quoted the attorney troubles from this article in another post.)

The president’s legal representatives have also identified what they allege are several conflicts of interest facing Mueller, such as donations to Democrats by some of his prosecutors.

Another potential conflict claim is an allegation that Mueller and Trump National Golf Club in Northern Virginia had a dispute over membership fees when Mueller resigned as a member in 2011, two White House advisers said. A spokesman for Mueller said there was no dispute when Mueller, who was FBI director at the time, left the club.

Another Republican in touch with the administration described the public steps as part of a broader effort aimed at “laying the groundwork to fire” Mueller.

“Who attacks their entire Justice Department?” this person said. “It’s insane.”

  WAPo

I think that pretty much says it all.