President Trump ordered the firing last June of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation, according to four people told of the matter, but ultimately backed down after the White House counsel threatened to resign rather than carry out the directive. [snip]
After receiving the president’s order to fire Mr. Mueller, the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, refused to ask the Justice Department to dismiss the special counsel, saying he would quit instead, the people said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a continuing investigation.
Mr. McGahn disagreed with the president’s case and told senior White House officials that firing Mr. Mueller would have a catastrophic effect on Mr. Trump’s presidency. Mr. McGahn also told White House officials that Mr. Trump would not follow through on the dismissal on his own. The president then backed off. (our emphasis)The obvious speculation is that this information is coming out now because McGahn is cooperating with the Mueller investigation, at least to a point. McGahn is seen as being in a highly vulnerable position, given his role in the firing of James Comey, what he knew about Michael Flynn's lying to the FBI, and the discussions around whether Confederate Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III should recuse himself from the investigation.
Former U.S. Attorney Renato Mariotti has a long read about how this latest piece of information fits into the story that Mueller has been piecing together:
All of this, taken together, greatly strengthens the case that Trump had “corrupt” intent when he fired Comey. That said, there is still a lot we don’t know. For example, according to the New York Times, Mueller has an early draft of a letter drafted by Trump aide Stephen Miller at Trump’s direction offering an unvarnished view of Trump’s thinking regarding the firing of Comey. The Times and Post also reported that McGahn expressed concerns to Trump about the letter, and the Times noted that McGahn gave Miller a marked-up copy of the letter, highlighting sections that he wanted removed. [snip]
While we don’t know all of the evidence, Thursday’s revelation suggests it is likely Mueller will conclude that Trump obstructed justice. Some conservative legal commentators have argued that Trump’s constitutional authority to fire personnel and end investigations is so vast that he cannot obstruct justice as a legal matter. Most legal scholars find that argument unpersuasive, but it is an academic point—not one that is decisive—because Mueller has pressed forward in investigating the firing of Comey as obstruction of justice and the power of Congress to impeach Trump goes beyond the text of any statute.Those around Rump, like McGahn, know full well he's an undisciplined incompetent whose sense of loyalty goes one way. When the chips are down and they're facing potential conspiracy charges, they're not going to go to jail to save his *239- pound* ass. See, Flynn, Michael, and Papadopoulos, George.
BONUS: Prime Rump fluffer Sean Hannity was whiplashed last night "reporting" on the McGahn bombshell -- and hilarity ensued --
