Special Counsel Robert Mueller to Probe Trump-Russia Ties
Calling it as the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history, Trump has opposed the appointment of Robert Mueller as the special counsel.
By Rakesh Raman
As the probe into President Donald Trump’s secret rendezvous with the enemy nation Russia gathers momentum, a former FBI director Robert Mueller will act as the special counsel to handle the investigation.
Mueller, who was appointed in 2001 by President George W. Bush in FBI and retained by President Barack Obama, will oversee the investigation into Russia’s role during the 2016 presidential election.
Obviously, Trump is worried. Calling it as the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history, Trump opposed the appointment of Mueller as the special counsel.
This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2017
With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2017
Democrats, however, have welcomed the move that aims to unearth the truth behind Trump’s great affinity for Russia and its President Vladimir Putin.
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said, “It is obvious to the American people that the Russia-Trump investigation requires a special counsel and I am glad we finally have one.”
It is obvious to the American people that the Russia-Trump investigation requires a special counsel, & I am glad we finally have one.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 18, 2017
Similarly, Representative Ted Lieu welcomed the appointment of Mueller. “Today’s a good day for democracy,” he said.
Earlier this month, Lieu, along with Representatives Kathleen Rice and Stacey Plaskett, had sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein requesting the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate possible collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia.
Today’s a good day for Democracy. Thank you DOJ for following Title 28 of Code of Fed Regs & appointing Robert Mueller as Special Counsel!!! https://t.co/EoAfwOymVs
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 17, 2017
The Representatives – all former prosecutors – believed Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations compels Mr. Rosenstein to appoint a Special Counsel.
Trump-Russia Ties
It is largely believed that Putin helped Trump win the presidential election last year by hacking and releasing the election data that harmed Hillary Clinton in the election.
Although Trump has maintained that he has no relation with Putin or Russia, most believe that as usual he is telling a lie. If Trump has nothing to hide, he should immediately release his income tax returns which may carry the records of all his financial transactions with other countries – including Russia – for the past few years.
[ Trump Is Worried, as FBI May Leak Out Secret Trump Information ]
But despite demands from Democrats and Republicans, Trump has refused to release his tax returns without giving any logical reason. It is also possible that if he is pressed more, he may produce fake tax returns to hoodwink the Americans.
The probability of Trump-Russia ties is very high, as almost all top members – such as Michael Flynn and Jeff Sessions – in the Trump team have had secret meetings with Russian diplomats. Their discussions covered very sensitive issues to change American policies to benefit Russia as a quid pro quo for Russia’s help to Trump in the election.
Congressman Ted Lieu recently said that Russian hacking of American political organizations was multifaceted and brazen, with the goals of undermining faith in the U.S. democratic process and harming Secretary Clinton’s electability. “Putin and the Russian government developed a clear preference for Trump,” Lieu said.
Similarly, Senator Elizabeth Warren said that special prosecutor should hold a real, bipartisan, transparent Congressional investigation into Russia. She also said that Russia has compromising info about Trump.
Also, the Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has demanded that Russian grip on Trump must be exposed.
But there is a possibility that if Trump is caught, he will reject the findings of the investigation saying these are fake as he has been saying about the media reports that have revealed his shady deals with Russia.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a government’s National award-winning journalist and runs free school for deserving children under his NGO – RMN Foundation.
