DOJ Appoints Special Counsel In Russia Probe

This is just breaking. I'll be back with a source. Looks like the DOJ has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as Special Counsel to head up the Russia probe.

EDIT:

CBS News - Robert Mueller appointed special counsel

Former FBI director Robert Mueller will be named special counsel to investigate Russia's interference in the presidential election and the Trump administration, CBS News has learned.

ABC News - Robert Mueller appointed special counsel to oversee probe into Russia's interference in 2016 election

The United States Department of Justice has announced that a special counsel has been appointed to investigate Russian interference into last year's presidential election.

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller was assigned by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to "oversee the previously-confirmed FBI investigation of Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election, and related matters."

In a statement, Rosenstein said, "My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted. I have made no such determination. What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances, the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command."

Mueller will have 60 days to put together a budget for resources to conduct the investigation and that budget must be approved by Rosenstein. Attorney General Jeff Sessions previously recused himself from all matters related to the presidential campaig

Well there it is. A Special Counsel has been appointed. Expect this to ease some tensions as this is one thing that numerous, particularly Democratic, members of Congress have been asking for and there will also be a immediate lull as Mueller ramps up.

a reply to: theantediluvian

Cool beans.

This should shut the liberals up for about 30 seconds.

Not a Special Prosecutor?

Oh, that's right... that woukd require actual evidence of a prosecutable offense.

Good choice.

Mueller should be OK with both sides.

Inevitable... Among a long list of future inevitabilities.

First order of business - subpoena Seth Rich computer and DNC servers.

Good on the DOJ, we can safely say this amount of transparency would've never happened in the Obummer admin and never did.

This is great. Now can people stop screaming about Comey being fired? This is what was wanted from the beginning anyway.

KoooooLL History !

Domestic wiretapping investigation

Director Mueller, along with Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey, offered to resign from office in March 2004 if the White House overruled a Department of Justice finding that domestic wiretapping without a court warrant was unconstitutional. Attorney General John D. Ashcroft denied his consent to attempts by White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and White House Counsel Alberto R. Gonzales to waive the Justice Department ruling and permit the domestic warrantless eavesdropping program to proceed. On March 12, 2004, President George W. Bush gave his support to changes in the program sufficient to satisfy the concerns of Mueller, Ashcroft and Comey. The extent of the National Security Agency's domestic warrantless eavesdropping under the President's Surveillance Program is still largely unknown.

a reply to: theantediluvian

Good news. Let's get past all of the political back and forth and find the truths of the matter.

We will see what we will see.

So I guess this win the lottery for today's daily news dump.

originally posted by: Blaine91555
Good choice.

Mueller should be OK with both sides.

I agree, I think that Mueller has broad bipartisan appeal and a good reputation.

originally posted by: ColdWisdom
a reply to: theantediluvian

Cool beans.

This should shut the liberals up for about 30 seconds.

Actually studies suggest the attention span of a typical liberal is around 20 seconds. About the time of an average Viagra advertisement.

Another ATS member pointed this out earlier that if this much attention was payed to the corruption in the last few administrations both Clinton(the rapey one), Bush, and Obama would have been impeached. I tend to agree with that statement.

a reply to: FauxMulder

F it, I feel better if that counts for anything.

I wonder what will Mueller find in old records under Obama while looking into Trump Russian affair after all Trump has not been president as long as Obama was.

The secrets that will never get to know.

originally posted by: theantediluvian
a reply to: FauxMulder

F it, I feel better if that counts for anything.

haha! Hopefully this will be the final showdown in the Russia saga. Both sides just shook hands before the big game. We'll either finally put it to bed or be discussing the ramifications of it for years to come now.

The Final Countdown

a reply to: FauxMulder

We can hope that's how it goes because right now most of what DC does is more like this:

a reply to: theantediluvian

So if he finds nothing implicating Trump how long do we think it will take Democrats to turn on Mueller?

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: theantediluvian

So if he finds nothing implicating Trump how long do we think it will take Democrats to turn on Mueller?

Not long.

But if he does find something, how long iron clad will it have to be before hard-core Trump supporters will accept it?

This investigation should time time restrained to 1 year. If nothing comes up in 1 year, the investigation should be terminated.