It doesn't matter what is being investigated - it is illegal to obstruct a legal investigation.

[kentuck]

It doesn't matter if Barney Fife is investigating littering and disturbing the peace. It is illegal to obstruct that investigation.

People like Jonathan Turley are asking, "Obstructing what?" What crime has been committed?

It doesn't matter if it is found that no crime was committed. It is still illegal to obstruct the investigation.

This is no small matter. It is a cover-up and conspiracy of the highest magnitude. We are investigating the extent of the Russian involvement in our last election and whether or not there were individuals that colluded with the Russians.

That is what is being obstructed.

Got it?

[MFM008]

1. I know

I'm hearing some idiot saying ignorance is an excuse for this gas bag maggot.
He just didn't" know how things are supposed to go
Coz he's not a politician."....
Just heard it on Morning Joke.

[kentuck]

3. They are using every excuse in the world for this criminal.

Is he the only person in America that does not know better?

[PJMcK]

4. Trump should hire this guy as his advisor

Steve Martin's album, "Comedy Is Not Pretty," has the perfect advice for Trump:

[SticksnStones]

2. The counterpoint on CNN was

If a grand jury hadn't been already convened then he wasn't technically obstructing something.

And the needle is threaded ~

SMDH

[Lee-Lee]

7. That's not true at all

Cases get investigated long before anything is ever presented to a Grand Jury. In fact the whole point of the Grand Jury is to present the findings of your investigation and they determine if it's enough grounds to issue an indictment.

[SticksnStones]

10. Oh, I certainly wasn't taking that position

Just noting that oppositional talking heads think they have a plausible narrative for Trump NOT being impeached and removed from office...

Heads gonna talk ~

[brooklynite]

5. No, you're wrong...

It is illegal to KNOWINGLY obstruct a CRIMINAL investigation.

Turley is applying a strict legal test here. It is not clear that a law violation crime had occurred at this time the request to drop the Flynn investigation occurred, OR that Trump knew that to be the case.

[kentuck]

6. Ignorance of the law is no excuse...

...or legitimate defense. A crime does not have to be proven in a court of law to obstruct an investigation. We disagree.

To pretend Trump did not know is in itself an obstruction of the law, in my opinion.

[uponit7771]

12. +1, and the "knowingly" part should be left up to a jury

[Adrahil]

13. Yeah, no.... I think Tribe is right here...

Saying "I didn't KNOW it was illegal to abuse my power and try to stop investigations against me or my associates" is a weak-ass defense for a man who President of the United States. He has a White House Counsel, and an entire Deportment of Justice to give him legal advice.

You can apply the "known or should have known" standard here. Trump is used to breaking the rules and papering it over with money. He's just surprised that he can't continue his small-time crime boss act in the White House.

[wishstar]

8. Trump & Co knew though that Flynn had initially lied to FBI and criminal investigation was involved

Sally Flynn told WH in January about Flynn's problems regarding the Kislyak calls and gave them access to details of his FBI interview in which he allegedly lied about talking to Kislyak about sanctions but then changed his story to FBI when he realized they must have a tape. Without revealing classified info, her testimony was very clear that Flynn had substantial legal problems that FBI was investigating.

They also knew Flynn could have run afoul of technicalities of federal regulations involving his payments from Turkish and Russian entitities, as Elijah Cummings had notified them in November of potential Flynn conflicts of interest and supposedly Flynn himself had mentioned some of his Turkish lobbying actions to transition back in Nov..

So I don't see how people can claim innocence and no clear obstruction of justice when Trump was trying to get FBI to go easy on Flynn and trying to influence the other intelligence officials with regards to the investigation. He directed other WH officials such as Priebus to also contact govt officials regarding investigation in order to publicly whitewash the matter.

[kentuck]

9. It is a crime to lie to the FBI.

Period.

[uponit7771]

11. Goes to prove that few Trumpers are going to admit they were wrong. People don't like admitted to...

... being flim flammed by a flim flammer.

I thought Turley lost his damn mind this morning