General Discussion

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(108,485 posts) Fri Nov 24, 2017, 09:25 PM Nov 2017

The smearing of Meuller begins

As he investigates Trump's aides, special counsel's record shows surprising flaws

WASHINGTON - When he was named special counsel in May, Robert S. Mueller III was hailed as the ideal lawman - deeply experienced, strait-laced and nonpartisan - to investigate whether President Donald Trump's campaign had helped with Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The accolades squared with Mueller's valor as a Marine rifle platoon commander in Vietnam and his integrity as a federal prosecutor, a senior Justice Department official and FBI director from 2001 to 2013, the longest tenure since J. Edgar Hoover. He was praised by former courtroom allies and opponents, and by Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

But at 73, Mueller's record also shows a man of fallible judgment who can be slow to alter his chosen course. At times, he has intimidated or provoked resentment among subordinates. And his tenacious yet linear approach to evaluating evidence led him to fumble the biggest U.S. terrorism investigation since 9/11.

Now, as he leads a sprawling investigation aimed at the White House, Mueller's prosecutorial discretion looms over the Trump presidency.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/as-he-investigates-trumps-aides-special-counsels-record-shows-surprising-flaws/ar-BBFBf8N?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=edgsp

12 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The smearing of Meuller begins (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 2017 OP

Post removed Post removed Nov 2017 #1

to be expected...russia will be working overtime spanone Nov 2017 #2

OMG! Mueller once scratched his ass when a woman was present! ProudLib72 Nov 2017 #3

At this rate... renegade000 Nov 2017 #4

So he's stubborn and demanding. On him, those flaws look good. n/t pnwmom Nov 2017 #5

Thought the same thing... and there's a problem with that? InAbLuEsTaTe Nov 2017 #8

If you're wondering what the 'biggest U.S. terrorism investigation since 9/11' is... Princess Turandot Nov 2017 #6

It shows they really had to dig to find anything remotely negative about Mueller. n/t pnwmom Nov 2017 #9

+1, "he was a good guy" means they don't have anything of substance uponit7771 Nov 2017 #12

this article was in the LA Times today.... dhill926 Nov 2017 #7

The 9/11 investigation gave me concerns about Mueller JonLP24 Nov 2017 #10

please spell his name correctly Skittles Nov 2017 #11

Response to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Post removed

spanone

(135,950 posts)

2. to be expected...russia will be working overtime

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Fri Nov 24, 2017, 09:56 PM

Nov 2017

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)

3. OMG! Mueller once scratched his ass when a woman was present!

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Fri Nov 24, 2017, 10:01 PM

Nov 2017

I am getting sick to death of all this smear campaign bullshit.

renegade000

(2,301 posts)

4. At this rate...

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Fri Nov 24, 2017, 10:03 PM

Nov 2017

George Papadopoulos is going to accuse Mueller of grabbing his butt while being fitted with a wire...

pnwmom

(109,025 posts)

5. So he's stubborn and demanding. On him, those flaws look good. n/t

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Fri Nov 24, 2017, 10:18 PM

Nov 2017

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,128 posts)

8. Thought the same thing... and there's a problem with that?

Reply to pnwmom (Reply #5)

Sat Nov 25, 2017, 01:12 AM

Nov 2017

Princess Turandot

(4,791 posts)

6. If you're wondering what the 'biggest U.S. terrorism investigation since 9/11' is...

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Fri Nov 24, 2017, 10:21 PM

Nov 2017

he's referring to the anthrax-laced letters. The author of the article wrote a book on the anthrax investigation in 2011. He might have an ax to grind.

Then there's this 'gem', which appears to be completely unrelated to the task at hand. He's referring to Mueller's time as a homicide prosecutor in the District of Columbia, in a cold case squad in the mid-1990's. The article also says absolutely nothing about his actual record there.

Building cases often entailed forging trust with victims, witnesses and suspects. Relating to both the sympathetic and the unsavory did not play to Mueller's strengths.

"He was a gruff guy, and a lot of times, there wasn't much warmth or ability to really build a bond or connect with a victim-witness," said the same investigator. "There's times when you've got to bond with the suspect to get what you need. His personality wasn't necessarily the best for that."

Nor was Mueller an easy fit with juries in Washington, especially in the freewheeling local Superior Court, where decorum is typically below what judges demand in U.S. District Court.

"In D.C. Superior Court, it's a bit like meatball surgery. It's a bit like a M.A.S.H. unit - it's the unexpected," said one of Mueller's former colleagues. "His strength was not as a M.A.S.H. unit trial lawyer."

I suspect Mr. Mueller has no need to 'bond' with Paul Manafort or the TrumpLunks.