From Lawfare, Susan Hennessey and Benjamin Wittes on Robert Mueller’s show of strength: A quick and dirty analysis. What it means: The indictment of Manafort and Gates. Why did Paul Manafort go to work for Trump? Trump group throws former campaign official Rick Gates under the bus after Bob Mueller indictment. What we know about Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, and George Papadopoulos. Which reactions to the Manafort indictment really matter. Trump’s personal attorney Jay Sekulow stops denying collusion with Russia and starts defending it. Will Manafort sing? If so, it may mark the beginning of the unraveling of this presidency. “Now this is how you make a ‘time for some game theory’ joke”.
It sure looks like there was collusion between the Trump operation and Russia. Facebook says Russian-backed election content reached 126 million Americans. “The Russians have succeeded beyond their wildest expectations”: James Clapper says President Trump is dead wrong about Russian interference in America’s elections — and they’re going to get away with it again, he warns.
Trump has trouble staying focused — and that was before the Mueller indictments. As Manafort and Gates are arrested, Trump doubles down on Clinton-Russia “scandal”. Mueller’s indictments get Rightbloggers salivating for arrest of Hillary Clinton. Look at how Fox News covered Manafort: “Meanwhile on Fox News” leaps to new heights of absurdity. This is how Republicans will try to distract you from Trump’s campaign manager being indicted.
Paul Ryan won’t let indictments stop him from cutting taxes on the rich. Staying silent may backfire spectacularly on Republican lawmakers. The Republican Party is gearing up for war on the rule of law. The question that matters now: What will Republicans do when Trump fires Mueller?
