may be donald trump Glad Robert Mueller is dead. But the president’s efforts to exorcize the ghosts of Russiagate are more alive than ever.
In recent weeks and months, the president and administration officials have focused on those involved in the years-long investigation into Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and the Trump campaign’s ties to Moscow.
This past weekend, the Justice Department hired pitbull lawyer Joe DiGenova, whose firm took on clients in Mueller’s investigation — and almost represented Trump — to help prosecute Trump’s former followers. And Trump last week urged House Republicans to expand the FBI’s intelligence collection authority, even as he renewed attacks against former officials for using that authority to investigate their associates in 2016.
Then there was the surprise $1.25 million settlement between the Trump administration and 2016 Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, who found herself at the center of a court-ordered surveillance scandal that has echoed for years. The developments follow a similar agreement between the DOJ and former national security adviser Mike Flynn, whose guilty plea in 2016 to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia helped spur a broader investigation.
In September, Trump ordered the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, choosing the prosecutor who would ultimately try to bring the ill-fated indictment.
And in recent days, it appears that the Justice Department has made a push to bring the accelerator allegations against john brennanThe head of the Obama-era CIA and a vocal Trump critic.
In short, what’s old is new again and another of Trump’s truisms, circa 2015, prevails: “When people treat me wrong, I don’t let them forget“
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “The Russia fraud was one of the largest political scandals in American history and a clear attempt to subvert the will of the American people.” “The American people must always remember everyone who participated in this despicable fraud, including many in the mainstream media who thoughtlessly promoted the Democrats’ distorted narrative.”
Another twist: The change in Russia is taking place against the backdrop of another favorite Trump technique: Attorney General Jockeying for an apprentice-style Justice Department pick after the ouster of Pam Bondi. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer who is serving in the AG role on an “acting” basis, has moved quickly to temper Trump’s thirst for retribution on several fronts.
Blanche wanted to know why her first move after Bondi’s departure was to hire DiGenova along with DOJ colleagues to refute forcefullyA conservative reporter claims that Blanche had blocked DiGenova’s appointment for a year.
“Enough with the clickbait,”DOJ Rapid Response X Account PostedAdding a joker emoji for good measure. Blanche also posed for pictures with DiGenova and also posted a on social mediaAdding “Welcome to the fight, Joe!”
But speaking to reporters this week, Blanch was vague about the punishment for DiGenova, 81, who served as U.S. attorney under President Ronald Reagan. “He has been in this business for decades, and when we had the opportunity to ask him to join the team and help, he jumped at the chance,” said Blanch.
The fate of the effort to revisit Russiagate remains unclear. It appears the early rush for the grand jury in Washington, D.C. has faltered Summons reportedly withdrawn And the slow interview process is going on.
