Trump signed a secret waiver that could have major implications for the Mueller investigation

[turbinetree]

Noel Francisco's former employer represents Trump's campaign in the Russia probe. He's still next in line to oversee special counsel Robert Mueller.

FRANK DALE
NOV 3, 2018, 6:32 AM

With Tuesday’s midterm elections just days away and media coverage being dominated by polls and campaign rallies, including speeches by President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama, you may have missed a development that could have major implications for special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility (CREW) revealed on Friday that Trump signed a secret waiver to prevent Solicitor General Noel Francisco, the man who “built his law practice as if his primary goal was to troll the libs” and is poised to oversee Mueller’s probe if Trump fires Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, from having to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.

Trump’s campaign is represented by Francisco’s former law firm, Jones Day, in Mueller’s investigation, which has racked up more than 100 criminal charges against dozens of people, including guilty pleas from Trump’s former national security adviser, former campaign manager, and multiple former campaign advisers.

The president signed an Executive Order shortly after taking office in 2017 that he claimed would strengthen ethics rules in government. CREW explained why that should have caused Francisco to recuse himself from the Russia probe.


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https://thinkprogress.org/donald-trump-robert-mueller-russia-investigation-special-counsel-noel-francisco-rod-rosenstein-bf9353160f62/



-snip-

And reported by Rachel Maddow last night on her show

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017518614

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017518611



And the Federalist Society ..................just keeps popping up...............fuck the Constitution could be there Mantra.............

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

1. IMO Mueller should've acted by now. Things like this is why.

Ever notice D's have to follow procedure to a T, but repubs can lie, cheat, steal, and there's never any repercussions bc they know we follow the rules, and they just break them ahead of the outcome. GET CRACKING ON WED BOB MUELLER> Time isnt a luxury any more...and hasnt been for a year or so. Get it started, and put fine points on it later. Pretty simple. Otherwise it gives the gop time for sabotage. Never forget Muellers a repub too. Regardless...he's a repub too. I know ZERO good repubs. We have absolutely ALL our eggs in two baskets...tuesday, and mueller. It's getting real skimpy. And its only our entire country and history at stake, and thats no exaggeration.

[JI7]

2. what do you want him to do ? even if he had video showing trump shoot someone the republicans would

do nothing . he has admitted to sexual assault and they supported a child predator for the senate.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

3. Prosecute someone.

pretty GD simple. Stop the red mafia. Pretty simple. How much rope do YOU want to give the guy? Romes burning.

[Recursion]

11. He's prosecuted a lot of people

The problem is he can't prosecute the President, and Congress won't act against the President no matter what he presents them.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

12. Sure...sure.

So don't even try right? I said wed. Either way...we have laws. If they aren't going to apply to everyone...everyday, then what good are they?
We wont know until we try. It's not like Mueller only has been working on one charge. There's been a target rich environment.

[Squinch]

4. In what friggin' world does trump have the right to circumvent the law by signing a "waiver."

If the man has a conflict of interest, he has a conflict of interest, no matter what the asshole puts his name on.

I hate these people. Most of all for what they are trying to do to the rule of law.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

6. +1

[treestar]

7. You can waive a conflict of your lawyer

Say your lawyer represented you on a contract and now is set to represent the other side to that contract on some other matter. If you don't care, you can waive that and let the lawyer represent that other side.

The problem here is that it is not simply two sides. The Solicitor General worked for a firm that represented Agent Orange and so their conflict stays with him. So he can't "go against" Agent Orange by working to prosecute him? And Agent Orange now "waives" that conflict? It seems it is more "the People" (the "client" for a prosecution&quot for whom the conflict is a problem. "The People" don't waive the conflict.

[bronxiteforever]

19. Brilliant analysis. +1

[Deb]

5. I believe there is a sty of rutting pigs behind the WH.

[dalton99a]

8. Kick

[dchill]

9. Bastards.

[The Liberal Lion]

10. folks, trump could give a fine flying fuck about what is legal and what isn't

Get ready. That's all I'm going to say.

[gordianot]

13. An ethical waiver for the truly unethical.

In essence Trump can just beg his own pardon.

[Generic Brad]

14. Not so secret anymore

Trumpers are like bad James Bond villains. Instead of just doing their evil deeds, they have to explain how smart they are before they execute their plans - which sets the stage to circumvent it.

[paleotn]

18. Yep. And anyone with half a brain has already gamed this out.

Pretty safe to assume Mueller and company have a plan to handle this. The Trumpkins and the fascist right are greedy and trashy. No one ever said they were very bright.

[infullview]

15. What I think they're up to

I see this as all about timing. Right after the election tRump will fire Sessions and install his shill who will then try to bury the Mueller report. That will leave the now Dem controlled house to do there own investigation without the Bennifit of all that Murller has done. Mueller and Rosenstein should should make the report public after the election before tRump has time to act. Once the report is in the hands of any representative it can be held onto through the lame duck session and then released

[Samhain Beltane]

16. Mueller's findings will come out regardless

Your people's (not the punditocracy's) reaction shall determine the ultimate outcome.

[paleotn]

17. Orwellian, isn't it. The "Federalist Society".

They're more reminescent of fascist groups in 1930's America. More like the Fecalist Society to me.