Trump Hints At Firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller If He Investigates His Finances

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Donald Trump trashed Attorney General Jeff Sessions for not protecting him from the Russia investigation and hinted that he would fire special counsel Robert Mueller if he tries to investigate Trump or his families finances.

The New York Times reported on their interview with Trump:

Mr. Trump said Mr. Mueller was running an office rife with conflicts of interest and warned investigators against delving into matters too far afield from Russia. Mr. Trump never said he would order the Justice Department to fire Mr. Mueller, nor would he outline circumstances under which he might do so. But he left open the possibility as he expressed deep grievance over an investigation that has taken a political toll in the six months since he took office.

Asked if Mr. Mueller’s investigation would cross a red line if it expanded to look at his family’s finances beyond any relationship to Russia, Mr. Trump said, “I would say yes.” He would not say what he would do about it. “I think that’s a violation. Look, this is about Russia.”

What is interesting isn’t Trump demanding that Jeff Sessions take the bullet for him on Russia then complaining when he didn’t, but his claim that investigating his finances would be a “violation.” A violation of what exactly? Mueller has unlimited authority to investigate anything related to the Russia scandal, which would include Trump finances if money was a motivation behind the Russia relationship.

Trump was laying the groundwork, and testing out a justification for firing Mueller. Trump’s willingness to get rid of Mueller if he investigates Trump family finances is a giant red flag. Trump won’t release his tax returns. He has never provided detailed documentation of his financial dealings beyond voluntary self-written disclosure forms.

It looks like the President is hiding something, Judging from his comments during the interview, what Trump is hiding probably has something to do with financial ties to Russia.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

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Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association

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