Donald Trump hits the panic button
The trial of Paul Manafort started on Monday. Also, on Monday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller made several additional referrals to the Southern District of New York, this time of Democrats who allegedly did not register as foreign agents. In the meantime, Donald J. Trump is busily tweeting. Something has him very nervous, and it would appear that another shoe is about to drop that will not be good for him or his family. Trump has tweeted:
“‘FBI Agent Peter Strzok (on the Mueller team) should have recused himself on day one. He was out to STOP THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP. He needed an insurance policy. Those are illegal, improper goals, trying to influence the Election. He should never, ever been allowed to remain in the FBI while he himself was being investigated. This is a real issue. It won’t go into a Mueller Report because Mueller is going to protect these guys. Mueller has an interest in creating the illusion of objectivity around his investigation.’ ALAN DERSHOWITZ….”
Trump then took the step that might be the first instance where he specifically called for the end of the investigation, tweeting: “This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further. Bob Mueller is totally conflicted, and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA!”
Trump would not be Trump without incorrectly talking about his campaign (one he lost by 3 million votes, and likely higher with provisional ballots, other issues): “Russian Collusion with the Trump Campaign, one of the most successful in history, is a TOTAL HOAX. The Democrats paid for the phony and discredited Dossier which was, along with Comey, McCabe, Strzok and his lover, the lovely Lisa Page, used to begin the Witch Hunt. Disgraceful!”
Something has Trump spooked, and it’s likely this – the evidence is growing, the proof is coming out, that while he may not have “colluded,” he appears to have conspired and aided and abetted a foreign government’s takeover of the White House. We can expect Trump to become ever more panicked and ever more irrational in the days and weeks ahead, particularly now that Mueller is actively seeking an interview with him.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.