NY Times reports that Trump ordered WH Counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller back in June; McGahn, knowing this was a REALLY bad idea, refused and threatened to quit, and Trump backed down. Mueller found out about this from documents and interviews with WH staff. The WH staff, particularly the Press Secretary, has been lying to the American public about this since last June; while lying to the public is not illegal and has actually become a hallmark of this administration, it becomes problematic when you do it in an official investigation.
Although Trump immediately labeled it "fake news", neither his attorneys nor the WH has denied the story (perhaps because they know that Mueller knows), and it has since been confirmed by other news media. In a particularly bizarre on-air reversal, Sean Hannity claimed that the story was "fake news", then had to change that when the real Fox news reporters confirmed the story. Hannity's reaction was, "OK, so maybe he did try to fire him, but so what? That's his right."
No, Sean, it isn't - the president is not above the law, and for a highly paid talking head your lack of knowledge is appalling. Attempting to interfere in a federal investigation is obstruction of justice (18 USC 1503).
So here's the dilemma: if, when Mueller asks him about it, Trump admits it, he's admitting to obstruction (a felony). If Trump denies it, Mueller has evidence that he is lying - and lying to a federal prosecutor, whether or not under oath, is also a felony (18 USC 1001). And he cannot refuse to answer the question.
Rock, meet hard place. |
