Mueller Special Counsel: BuzzFeed Report On President Trump Telling His Lawyer To Lie Is Not Accurate

Daily Mail: Trump slams bombshell report that claimed he told Cohen to LIE to Congress after Mueller's office issued extraordinary DENIAL saying the story was 'not accurate', sparking the president to call it 'a great day for our country!'

* The special counsel's office issued a public statement disputing the accuracy of a news report saying Trump told his personal attorney Cohen to lie to Congress
* The statement by Robert Mueller's office on Friday night doesn't cite any specific errors
* Shortly after the statement was released Friday evening Trump retweeted a tweet which said: 'Sadly so many will never get the memo that it was fake!'
* Later the president tweeted that it was a 'very sad day for journalism, but a great day for our Country!' while slamming the news outlet
* Ben Smith, editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News, issued a statement saying 'We stand by our reporting and the sources who informed it'

The office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller has called the bombshell BuzzFeed report claiming President Donald Trump told his former lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress false, and Trump has also fired back.

'Remember it was Buzzfeed that released the totally discredited "Dossier," paid for by Crooked Hillary Clinton and the Democrats (as opposition research), on which the entire Russian probe is based!' he posted late Friday night.

'A very sad day for journalism, but a great day for our Country!'

He then followed that up by tweeting: 'Fake News is truly the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!'

The President's response comes after the special counsel's office issued a rare public statement disputing the accuracy of the news report saying that Trump told his personal attorney Cohen to lie to Congress.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: As this blog predicted earlier today. This BuzzFeed story and the entire main stream media's coverage of it since it was first released yesterday, coupled with many in Congress calling for an investigation and some even for the impeachment of President Trump, is bogus. BuzzFeed's reaction to this statement from the Special Counsel .... which is the first statement that the Special Counsel has ever released on its investigation .... is that they are still standing by their story. Am I surprised by this turn of events .... not really. This is just another example in a long list of Fake News from the main stream media.

More News On The Office Of Special Counsel Robert Mueller Disputing The BuzzFeed Report That President Trump Told His Lawyer To Lie To Congress

Mueller disputes accuracy of BuzzFeed report on Trump, Cohen -- AP
Mueller team disputes BuzzFeed report claiming Trump told Cohen to lie -- FOX News
Mueller breaks silence to dispute parts of bombshell report on Michael Cohen -- The Guardian
Buzzfeed's Trump lawyer report not accurate - Mueller's office -- BBC
BuzzFeed’s Trump Story Latest In Long List Of Russia Bombshells That Weren’t -- Daily Caller

President Trump's Lawyers Know What The Mueller Counsel Is Doing

Boston Globe/New York Times: Manafort lawyer is said to have briefed Trump attorneys

WASHINGTON — A lawyer for Paul Manafort, the president’s onetime campaign chairman, repeatedly briefed President Trump’s lawyers on his client’s discussions with federal investigators after Manafort agreed to cooperate with the special counsel, according to one of Trump’s lawyers and two other people familiar with the conversations.

The arrangement was highly unusual and inflamed tensions with Mueller’s office when prosecutors discovered it after Manafort began cooperating two months ago, the people said. Some legal specialists speculated it was a bid by Manafort for a presidential pardon even as he worked with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, in hopes of a lighter sentence.

Read more ....

Update: Manafort plea decision represents setback for Mueller (The Hill)

WNU Editor: I have been told that in the U.S. joint defense agreements are nothing new .... so this announcement of a joint defense agreement between Trump's lawyers and Manafort's news is not really news. But what is news is that we now know that Manafort's lawyers are telling President Trump's lawyers that the Mueller Counsel is trying to force their client to lie in his testimony. No wonder the Mueller counsel quickly stepped-up this weekend accusing Paul Manafort of breaking his plea deal. They have been exposed .... and to put it bluntly .... it looks like they have nothing on President Trump .... and definitely nothing on Russian collusion. I call this criminalizing politics .... something that President Trump is now pointing out .... Trump lashes out at Mueller probe: 'our Joe McCarthy era' (AFP)

The FBI Have Raided President Trump's Personal Lawyer Michael Cohen's Office

New York Times: F.B.I. Raids Office of Trump’s Longtime Lawyer Michael Cohen

The F.B.I. on Monday raided the office of President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, seizing records related to several topics including payments to a pornographic-film actress.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan obtained the search warrant after receiving a referral from the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, according to Mr. Cohen’s lawyer, who called the search “completely inappropriate and unnecessary.” The search does not appear to be directly related to Mr. Mueller’s investigation, but likely resulted from information he had uncovered and gave to prosecutors in New York.

“Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York executed a series of search warrants and seized the privileged communications between my client, Michael Cohen, and his clients,” said Stephen Ryan, his lawyer. “I have been advised by federal prosecutors that the New York action is, in part, a referral by the Office of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor: For someone who is supposedly cooperating with the Special Counsel .... this police raid tells me that they do not believe he has been truthful .... or .... he provided evidence of a crime hence the search warrant. To say that this raid is raising a lot of interesting questions is an understatement.

More News On The FBI Raiding President Trump's Personal Lawyer Michael Cohen's Office

FBI raids Trump lawyer's office -- The Hill
FBI seizes records related to Stormy Daniels in raid of Trump attorney Michael Cohen's office -- Washington Post
NYT: FBI raids Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's office -- CNN
FBI raids the office of Trump lawyer Michael Cohen -- NBC
FBI raids office of Michael Cohen, Trump's personal lawyer -- ABC News
FBI raids Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's office -- CBS News

China Fears That Special Counsel Robert Mueller Will Soon be Focusing On Them

Washington Times: Beijing fears anti-China sentiment in U.S. from Mueller investigation

The political hysteria sweeping Washington over allegations of Russian meddling in the presidential election is reverberating in China. The communist government is worried that a similar wave of anti-China sentiment will take hold in the United States.

According to China watchers in and out of government, what Beijing fears most is that special counsel Robert Mueller, the former FBI director, will add White House dealings with China to his investigation of Russian election meddling.

One main effort of the Chinese government is trying to tamp down the fallout from news reports that first surfaced in March revealing a company owned by the family of President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was planning to sell a stake in a Manhattan skyscraper to the Chinese state-connected insurance company Anbang for $400 million.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I am sure that Special Counsel Robert Mueller will be looking at the role that Russian money may have had in influencing President Trump or members of his team .... especially in New York City real estate. But the real money is not Russia .... its China .... and in my opinion it is probably one of the most under-reported stories (Chinese finance and investment in real estate) in American business today. My prediction .... the Chinese have every right to be concerned that the focus will soon be shifting to them.

President Trump: I Am 'Bothered' By The Close Friendship Of Special Counsel Robert Mueller And Former FBI Director Comey

FOX News: Trump says Comey-Mueller friendship 'bothersome'

President Trump on Friday called the investigation into allegations of Russia collusion and claims he obstructed justice “ridiculous” while saying special counsel Robert Mueller’s friendship with fired FBI Director James Comey “is very bothersome,” during a wide-ranging interview on “Fox & Friends” that also touched on his stalled legislative agenda and the health care debate.

“Robert Mueller is an honorable man and hopefully he’ll come up with an honorable conclusion,” Trump said, though he noted that Mueller and Comey were “very, very good friends” and also criticized the makeup of Mueller’s growing team of attorneys involved in the investigation.

“I can say that the people that have been hired are all Hillary Clinton supporters, some of them worked for Hillary Clinton,” Trump said. “I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous if you want to know the truth.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor: President Trump's concerns are valid .... and this blog has also mentioned it a few times .... how can a friend investigate a friend? Special Counsel Robert Mueller is a personal friend of former FBI Director Copmey who is now in the center of this investigation .... so how can Robert Mueller investigate him? I still have not gotten an answer on this one .... and the media is certainly not dwelling on it.

Update: WH says Trump has 'no intention' of firing Mueller, despite criticism (The Hill)

More News On President Trump Remarks That He Is 'Bothered' By The Close Friendship Of Special Counsel Robert Mueller And Former FBI Director Comey

Trump questions special counsel Mueller's objectivity -- The Hill
Trump: 'Bothersome' that special counsel Robert Mueller is 'very, very good friends with Comey' -- ABC News
Trump Says Mueller’s Friendship With Comey Is ‘Very Bothersome’ -- NBC
Trump calls Mueller-Comey relationship ‘very bothersome’ -- Politico
Trump questions impartiality of Russia investigation chief Robert Mueller -- The Guardian
Trump: 'We'll have to see' if Robert Mueller should step down from Russia investigation -- USA Today
Trump says ‘we’ll have to see’ if Mueller should step down from Russia probe -- Washington Post
Trump casts doubt on Russia investigator Mueller -- BBC

President Trump Asked His Top Intel Chiefs To Go Public That There Was No Evidence Of Russian Collusion

CNN: Intel chiefs tell investigators Trump suggested they refute collusion with Russians

(CNN)Two of the nation's top intelligence officials told Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team and Senate investigators, in separate meetings last week, that President Donald Trump suggested they say publicly there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russians, according to multiple sources.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Adm. Mike Rogers described their interactions with the President about the Russia investigation as odd and uncomfortable, but said they did not believe the President gave them orders to interfere, according to multiple sources familiar with their accounts.

Sources say both men went further than they did in June 7 public hearings, when they provided little detail about the interactions.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This is becoming old news. An anonymous source says that President Trump wanted his intel officials to go public that they had no evidence of Russian collusion with his campaign .... and these same officials respond by saying that they "felt uncomfortable" with the request .... but were under no pressure to proceed. OK .... so they were not under any pressure .... and this is news? President Trump is head of the executive .... he can do whatever he wants .... and in this case (just as in the case of former FBI Director Comey) President Trump chose not to order these officials to do so .... that is the story ... not what CNN is trying to spin.  This blog has been following this story since the beginning .... and I know recycled news when I see it .... and in this case the only thing that is different is that CNN is using two different names (Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Adm. Mike Rogers). As for President Trump .... I am beginning to understand why he has become frustrated. Your FBI Director and your own top intel officials are telling you that they have no evidence of collusion between your campaign and the Russians .... but they are not going to go public and say it .... while leaking to the press that the campaign is under investigation for collusion. Yup .... for any outsider (and Trump is an outsider) .... you cannot help but feel that Washington is nuts. A prediction .... if this CNN report is true .... it looks like the Special Counsel is trying to make a case for obstruction of justice .... but this is all moot .... these officials told everyone that they were not ordered by President Trump to do anything .... and that is not my definition of obstruction.

More News On The CNN Report That Says That President Trump Had Asked His Top Intel Chiefs To Go Public On Their Reports That There Was No Evidence Of Russian Collusion With His Campaign

U.S. intelligence chiefs say they did not feel pressured by Trump - CNN -- Reuters
Trump suggested top intel officials refute collusion with Russians: report -- The Hill
Intel officials say Trump wanted them to deny Russia collusion claims -- NYPost
Intelligence heads tell special counsel and Senate investigators Trump asked them to refute Russian collusion -- Daily Mail
Trump reportedly asked top intelligence officials to say there was no Russia collusion -- VOX News
Intelligence Officials Violated Donald Trump's Order By Not Publicly Refuting Russian Collusion, Report Says -- International Business Times

Some In The Media Are Now Wondering If Evidence Will Ever Be Found On Trump's Campaign Colluding With The Russians

Real Clear Politics: David Brooks: "Getting Uncomfortable" About Lack of Evidence Of Collusion Between Trump And Russia; "Getting Ahead Of Ourselves"

On Sunday's broadcast of 'Meet the Press' New York Times columnist David Brooks expressed slight concern that the Times and the /Washington Post might be "getting ahead of [themselves]" when it comes to assuming that they will find evidence that President Trump "colluded" with Russia during the 2016 campaign.

Brooks says he is "starting to feel uncomfortable" about the "lack of emerging evidence" to prove such a claim. He says he is concerned that he might have gotten "a little head of ourselves."

Read more ....

WNU editor: No kidding. Editorial cartoonist Ramirez has IMHO the best take on this story so far (see the two cartoons below),

President Trump's Lawyer: 'The President Is Not Under Investigation For Obstruction'

Washington Post: Trump lawyer: The president is not under investigation for obstruction

A member of President Trump’s legal team said Sunday that Trump is not under investigation by the special counsel, an assessment at odds with a Washington Post report last week and seemingly with a tweet by Trump himself on Friday.

“Let me be very clear here, as it has been since the beginning, the president is not and has not been under investigation for obstruction,” lawyer Jay Sekulow said on “Meet the Press.”

The Post reported last week that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who was appointed to oversee the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election, is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: It makes me wonder if we are being trolled .... because on every Sunday morning news show President Trump's lawyer made it very clear that the President is not under investigation. So who told the Trump legal team that this is the case? And more importantly .... why did the President do the tweet on Friday? Did the President believe the Washington Post story and tweeted accordingly .... or did he screw up his message because of Twitter's 144 character limitation on what you can post .... or did he lapse into a covfefe moment. I leave this all it up to you .... the reader .... to figure this one up.

More News On President Trump's Lawyer Saying That 'The President Is Not Under Investigation For Obstruction'

Trump lawyer: President not under investigation in Russia probe -- Reuters
Trump attorney says president not under investigation -- AP
Trump ‘Is Not Under Investigation,’ His Lawyer Insists -- NYT
Trump lawyer says there’s ‘no investigation’ of the president -- Washington Times
Trump Not Under Investigation for Obstruction, Lawyer Says -- Bloomberg
Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow contradicts president on obstruction investigation -- The Guardian
Trump lawyer: President 'not under investigation' — no matter what Trump tweets -- Politico
Trump attorney: There's no investigation of the president, period -- The Hill
Trump lawyer says President isn't under investigation, despite tweets -- CNN
'Was this just mis-tweeted?': Anchors confront Trump lawyer who insists 'the president is not under investigation' -- Business Insider

This Is The Person Who Will Probably Be Overseeing The Special Counsel's Investigation Into President Trump

Philip Shenon, Politico: The Obscure Lawyer Who Might Become the Most Powerful Woman in Washington

If the deputy attorney general resigns or gets fired, oversight of the Trump-Russia investigation would fall to the Justice Department’s No. 3, Rachel Brand.

For someone on the job barely a month, Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand was already facing plenty of incoming fire from her critics. Her big problem now: Her ultimate boss, President Donald Trump, could soon be among them.

Senate Democrats who opposed her nomination to the No. 3 job at the Justice Department said her legal career reflected a tendency always to support Big Business against the little guy, and they questioned her commitment to civil liberties during her years in the department under President George W. Bush. She has a “heavily skewed pro-corporate agenda,” said Senator Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat. The 44-year-old Brand was confirmed to her job on a party-line Senate vote of 52 to 46. Compare that to the overwhelmingly bipartisan 94 to 6 vote for the No. 2 official in the department, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: As I had predicted in my commentary yesterday .... President Trump Admits That He Is Being Criminally Investigated For The Firing Of FBI Director Comey (June 16, 2017) .... she is raising concerns among opponents to President Trump that she may be the person who will be responsible for overseeing the Special Counsel's investigation into President Trump. As to what is my take .... I will not be surprised if does become responsible. When that happens ..... I do expect opposition to her  to intensify .... her confirmation as No. 3 at the Justice Department was overwhelmingly rejected by Democrats, and they have been making it very clear ever since that they simply do not want her there.

More News On The Justice Department’s No. 3, Rachel Brand

This is the Woman Who'd Take Over the Russia Probe -- US News and World Report
Meet Rachel Brand, who may soon oversee the Trump-Russia investigation -- VOX
Meet The DOJ Official Who Could Take Over The Trump Investigation -- Newsy
Meet DOJ's Rachel Brand: She'll Be A Russian Spy By Next Week -- Zero Hedge
5 Things to Know About Rachel Brand -- LMTOnline

President Trump's Allies Question The Impartiality Of Special Counsel Mueller

James Comey, left, and Barack Obama applaud outgoing FBI director Robert Mueller, right, June 21, 2013. Photo credit: NEWSCOM

The Hill: Trump allies on the offensive against Mueller

President Trump’s legal team and political allies have launched a preemptive strike against special counsel Robert Mueller.

Trump’s backers are furious about a story that appeared Wednesday in The Washington Post, in which five anonymous sources alleged that the president is the target of an obstruction of justice investigation for allegedly trying to bury an FBI probe into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

The timing of that story, which was published on Trump’s birthday and a week after the White House believed the president had moved beyond allegations of collusion with Russia in the presidential election, was viewed by Trump’s allies as evidence that the story was planted by law enforcement officials to ensure a shadow of suspicion would remain.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Well .... these Trump allies do have the deck stacked against them .... How Will Trump Deal With a Stacked Deck? (Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard). Even the Republican establishment is supporting Robert Muellar .... having no trouble with a Special Counsel heading a criminal investigation against the man who fired his friend .... GOP Lawmakers: Don't Fire Robert Mueller (US News and World Report).

President Trump Admits That He Is Being Criminally Investigated For The Firing Of FBI Director Comey

I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 16, 2017

The Hill: Trump: 'I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director'

President Trump on Friday said he was “being investigated” for firing FBI Director James Comey "by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director."

The tweet was one of several sent by Trump early Friday morning. He concluded the investigation tweet with the comment: "Witch Hunt."

While the president’s tweet had the appearance of confirming he is under federal investigation for possible obstruction of justice, it’s not clear what information he used to back up comments.

It wasn't immediately clear who Trump was referring to, though it is likely Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Rosenstein penned a memo last month raising concerns about Comey’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation that the White House used to justify his firing.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: So .... President Trump is now being investigated by a Special Counsel who has stacked his team of lawyers with heavy Democrat/Clinton/Obama donors .... and who are now leaking information to the press on a daily basis. This is going top be fun. Not surprising .... the Justice administration official who is being criticised by President Trump and who created this situation in the first place is now realising that he better bail out .... Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein acknowledges he may need to recuse himself from Russia probe, sources say (ABC News). As to who will replace Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein .... this is where it gets interesting .... that will go to Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand .... a Donald Trump appointee and a judicial conservative who was confirmed by the Senate (52-48) along party lines. Here is an easy prediction .... if she becomes responsible for the Russian probe .... which is probably what is going to happen .... expect the media and the Democrats to go to war against her.

Update: More on Rachel Brand here .... Meet DOJ's Rachel Brand: She'll Be A Russian Spy By Next Week (Zero Hedge).

More News On President Trump Admitting That He Is Now Being Criminally Investigated For The Firing Of FBI Director Comey

Trump confirms he’s under investigation -- AP
Trump Acknowledges He Is Under Investigation in Russia Inquiry -- NYT
Trump Confirms FBI Probe, Blames ‘Witch Hunt’ on ‘Man Who Told Me To Fire’ Comey -- NBC
Trump appears to confirm that he's facing obstruction probe -- Politico
Trump says he is being investigated over Comey firing -- CNN
Trump tweets that he's "being investigated for firing the FBI director" -- CBS
The key questions raised by one 111-character Trump tweet -- Washington Post

He (President Trump) Is Clearly In A Furious Mood. Is Now The Time To Appoint A Special Counsel To Investigate Hillary Clinton's Email Scandal?

Why is that Hillary Clintons family and Dems dealings with Russia are not looked at, but my non-dealings are?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2017

Crooked H destroyed phones w/ hammer, 'bleached' emails, & had husband meet w/AG days before she was cleared- & they talk about obstruction?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2017

WNU Editor: More from Zero Hedge .... Furious Trump Lashes Out In Afternoon Tweetstorm (Zero Hedge).

The best part of Zero Hedge's post is the last paragraph ....

.... Of course, until someone within the Trump administration or Republican Party smartens up and calls for the appointment of a 'Special Counsel' to look into Hillary's email scandal, something that should have been done long ago, and not for retaliatory reasons but simply due to Comey's and AG Lynch's blatant mishandling of the investigation (a point which Deputy AG Rosenstein obviously agreed with), the Democrats have no reason to calm their mass hysteria. Then, and only then, do we suspect that Hillary might just be able to 'convince' her party to exercise some form of reasonable judgement.

The problem is .... I do not think Hillary Clinton has any more pull in the Democrat Party to change the direction that they are going right now.

More Leaks From the Special Counsel's Office Investigating President Trump

President Trump and White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Washington Post: Special counsel is investigating Jared Kushner’s business dealings

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III is investigating the finances and business dealings of Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, as part of the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to officials familiar with the matter.

FBI agents and federal prosecutors have also been examining the financial dealings of other Trump associates, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Carter Page, who was listed as a foreign-policy adviser for the campaign.

The Washington Post previously reported that investigators were scrutinizing meetings that Kushner held with Russians in December — first with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and then with Sergey Gorkov, the head of a state-owned Russian development bank. At the time of that report, it was not clear that the FBI was investigating Kushner’s business dealings.

The officials who described the financial focus of the investigation spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Read more ....

Update #1: Special counsel investigating Kushner business dealings: report (The Hill)
Update #2: Special counsel Mueller reportedly probing finance, business deals of Trump aide Jared Kushner (CNBC)

WNU Editor: Just after saying that more leaks from the Special Counsel's office would only destroy the credibility of the Trump investigation (previous post) .... we now have another leak from the Special Counsel's office. But unlike yesterday where there was no response from the Special Counsel's office, the spokesperson for the Special Counsel was quick to issue a statement this ecvening ....

.... Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment for this article but said that “the Special Counsel’s Office has undertaken stringent controls to prohibit unauthorized disclosures and will deal severely with any member who engages in this conduct.”

It is obvious to me that these "stringent controls" have failed. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller now has a choice knowing too well that these leaks are destroying the credibility of his investigation .... those options are (1) drop this part of the investigation, or (2) failing to find the person responsible for these leaks ....  he will have no choice but to fire his entire staff.

Update #3: Fake news from the Washington Post? This story is eerily similar to a Washington Post story last month .... Breaking: Jared Kushner now a focus in Russia investigation (May 25, 2017. Washington Post).

Can Someone Be Charged For Obstruction Of Justice Over A Fraud?

U.S. President Donald Trump waits to greet Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos in the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., May 18, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Andrew C. McCarthy, NRO: Can You Obstruct a Fraud?

Maybe Trump objected to the fraudulent notion, which Comey led the world to believe, that Trump was under investigation for collusion.

On March 30, 2017, by his own account, then-FBI director James Comey told President Donald Trump that Trump himself was not under investigation — the third time he had given him that assurance. In fact, Comey told Trump that he had just assured members of Congress that Trump was not a suspect under investigation.

Think about that.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Exactly .... think about that. If Congress knew in March that President Trump was not under investigation .... why did they and their allies in the media push an entirely different story .... that there is/was an investigation that Trump colluded with the Russians.

Think about that .... and then read the rest of Andrew C. McCarthy's post.

On a side note .... Stephen L. Carter at Bloomberg is saying what I said last night that leaks from the Special Counsel's office is destroying the investigation .... Leakers Mess With the Trump Investigation (Stephen L. Carter, Bloomberg). The only thing that I would add now is that it is too late .... the entire process has already been tainted. I expect more leaks from the Special Counsel's office .... the only thing that I would then want to know is what will President Trump do.

On another side note .... earlier today I expressed my outrage over this "poisonous" New York Times editorial .... New York Times Editor's Uses Yesterday's Shooting Of GOP Congressmen To Attack Sarah Palin. The New York Times has since issued a "correction" .... but the damage has already been done. Some are now pushing Sarah Palin to sue the New York Times .... Sarah Palin Threatens Lawsuit Against New York Times for ‘Libel and Slander’ (Washington Free Beacon). And while I know that such lawsuits are difficult to prosecute in the U.S. .... IMHO she does have a good case, and I hope that she proceeds.

President Trump Responds To Reports That He Is Under Investigation For 'Obstruction Of Justice'

They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2017

You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history - led by some very bad and conflicted people! #MAGA

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2017

The Hill: Trump: 'You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history'

President Trump on Thursday again decried the investigation into Russian election meddling, saying Americans are watching "the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history."

"You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history — led by some very bad and conflicted people! #MAGA," Trump tweeted Thursday, using the hashtag for this campaign slogan, "Make American Great Again."

Trump has in the past referred to the Russia probe as a witch hunt.

In a tweet last month — following the naming of a special counsel to lead the Russia investigation — he tweeted: "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history."

Read more ....

More News On President Trump's Response To Reports That He Is Under Investigation For 'Obstruction Of Justice'

Trump lashes out over probe into possible obstruction of justice -- Reuters
Trump tweets obstruction of justice reports are "phony" -- CBS
Trump attacks reports he’s under investigation as ‘phony’ -- Politico
Trump Mocks Investigators Over ‘Phony Collusion’ Story -- NYT
Trump: Mueller Obstruction of Justice Probe ‘Phony’ ‘Witch Hunt’ -- US News and World Report

Washington Post: President Trump Is Being Investigated For Obstruction Of Justice By The Special Counsel

Washington Post: Special counsel is investigating Trump for possible obstruction of justice, officials say

The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice, officials said.

The move by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to investigate Trump’s conduct marks a major turning point in the nearly year-old FBI investigation, which until recently focused on Russian meddling during the presidential campaign and on whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Investigators have also been looking for any evidence of possible financial crimes among Trump associates, officials said.

Trump had received private assurances from then-FBI Director James B. Comey starting in January that he was not personally under investigation. Officials say that changed shortly after Comey’s firing.

Five people briefed on the interview requests, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said that Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Rogers’s recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett, agreed to be interviewed by Mueller’s investigators as early as this week. The investigation has been cloaked in secrecy, and it is unclear how many others have been questioned by the FBI.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: As I had predicted after the Comey testimony .... they have no evidence on Trump colluding with the Russians .... but to keep the story alive the next step will be to pursue obstruction of justice charges against the President. The big surprise about this Washington Post story (at least for me) is that I expected a few weeks before this "change in the investigation" would have been announced by the press .... I never thought that it would be this quick. But what is even more worrisome than this story is that this leak to the Washington Post could only have come from Robert Mueller's office .... thereby raising some serious questions not only on the integrity of the investigation, but more importantly .... on the integrity of Robert Mueller himself. Over the weekend a number of people raised some serious questions on the impartiality of Robert Mueller, and was he the right person to run such an investigation in view of his friendship with former FBI Director Comey. After reading the above Washington Post story .... a story that could have only come from him or someone very close to him .... I can say that that I am now having some serious doubts on his ability to run this investigation fairly. My prediction .... there is going to be a firestorm Thursday morning from President Trump's supporters that Robert Mueller should be fired .... and there will be a firestorm from those who oppose the President that he should not. But by having this firestorm .... even before the investigation has begun .... guarantees that whatever report or recommendation that Robert Muellar finally releases .... it will be discredited as being politically motivated. The only question that I would love to have an answer to right now is .... what possessed Robert Muellar's office to do this leak to the Washington Post in the first place.

Update: A reader has emailed me that this report is from the Washington Post .... and they are using an anonymous source. For all we know .... it could be fake news. I did think about it, but what convinced me that it is not is the reaction from Robert Muellar's office itself .... they have not responded. It is almost as if they are searching for the right answer to give.

More News On The Washington Posts Report That President Trump Is Being Investigated For Obstruction Of Justice By Special Counsel Mueller

Reports: Mueller probe now includes investigation of Trump for obstruction of justice -- Politico
Mueller Seeks to Talk to Intelligence Officials, Hinting at Inquiry of Trump -- New York Times
Trump under investigation for obstruction of justice: report -- The Hill
Trump Reportedly Being Investigated for Possible Obstruction of Justice -- NBC
Mueller investigating Trump for obstruction of justice, Washington Post reports -- CNN
Report: Trump Under Investigation For Possible Obstruction Of Justice -- NPR
Mueller requesting interviews with top intel officials: reports -- The Hill