**NYT- OBSTRUCTION-Trump wanted his crony put in charge of Michael Cohen case despite his recusal**

[DemocratSinceBirth]

WASHINGTON — As federal prosecutors in Manhattan gathered evidence late last year about President Trump’s role in silencing women with hush payments during the 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump called Matthew G. Whitaker, his newly installed attorney general, with a question. He asked whether Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York and a Trump ally, could be put in charge of the widening investigation, according to several American officials with direct knowledge of the call.

Mr. Whitaker, who had privately told associates that part of his role at the Justice Department was to “jump on a grenade” for the president, knew he could not put Mr. Berman in charge, since Mr. Berman had already recused himself from the investigation. The president soon soured on Mr. Whitaker, as he often does with his aides, and complained about his inability to pull levers at the Justice Department that could make the president’s many legal problems go away.

Trying to install a perceived loyalist atop a widening inquiry is a familiar tactic for Mr. Trump, who has been struggling to beat back the investigations that have consumed his presidency. His efforts have exposed him to accusations of obstruction of justice as Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, finishes his work investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Mr. Trump’s public war on the inquiry has gone on long enough that it is no longer shocking. Mr. Trump rages almost daily to his 58 million Twitter followers that Mr. Mueller is on a “witch hunt” and has adopted the language of Mafia bosses by calling those who cooperate with the special counsel “rats.” His lawyer talks openly about a strategy to smear and discredit the special counsel investigation. The president’s allies in Congress and the conservative media warn of an insidious plot inside the Justice Department and the F.B. I to subvert a democratically elected president.

...

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/us/politics/trump-investigations.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

How can I rid myself of these meddlesome investigators?

[NewJeffCT]

1. who is his crony?

Barr? Whitaker?

[marylandblue]

4. U S Attorney for SDNY who recused.

Now I guess Trump will ask Barr the same thing. This story leaked to block Barr from doing that.

[fleur-de-lisa]

5. Geoffrey S. Berman

"He asked whether Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York and a Trump ally, could be put in charge of the widening investigation, according to several American officials with direct knowledge of the call."

[duforsure]

2. Looks like Whitaker may have lied

And now may be a co-conspirator to obstruct justice .

[PJMcK]

3. Context would be helpful (n/t)

[Achilleaze]

6. Can't Putin pull some strings for the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief?

I mean, what's the point of the republicans selling-out America if the kremlin ain't going to come through in the clinch?

[VOX]

7. Props for the Bobby Fuller Four's "I Fought the Law."

The rock classic was written by Sonny Curtis, who also recorded it in 1959 when he joined the Crickets, taking the place of the late Buddy Holly on guitar. The song went nowhere.

But the BFF cover, released in December, 1965 had traction and made it into the national Top Ten.

Every garage-band guitarist in America struggled to play that chord lead; none that I knew could master it.

And the additional problems for #45 are appreciated as well!