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Brookings Institute Releases 108 Page Report Which Concludes That Donald Trump Obstructed Justice In Russia Probe

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  johnrussell  •  9 years ago  •  15 comments

Brookings Institute Releases 108 Page Report Which Concludes That Donald Trump Obstructed Justice In Russia Probe

Conclusion

In our estimation, the public discourse surrounding President Trump’s course of conduct,
including the firing of FBI Director Comey, has lacked a detailed exploration of Trump’s possible
obstruction of justice. That may be due to the necessarily piecemeal and delayed manner of
disclosures about the relevant facts. It also may be the product of the cacophony of voices that
dominate our news cycles—ones that can be too varied and conflicting to make a lasting
impression. Our goal in this paper has been to inform the conversation by collecting the relevant
facts and allegations (at least as we know them) and engaging in a rigorous and sustained
analysis of the legal consequences that might flow from them. In that regard, the analysis herein
is likely similar to that undertaken behind closed doors by the special counsel and his team on a
daily basis. We of course recognize that their investigation is ongoing, and many facts are still to
be determined.

With that caveat, our review of the facts and the law leads us to the view that the
president likely obstructed justice. Should that conclusion be borne out, we believe he will be
held to account under one or another of the vehicles we have outlined, for no one is above the
law in our system. Accountability will have significant consequences for the functioning of our
democracy. We offer this paper as a framework to evaluate the facts and the investigation as
they develop, and to help prepare for the turbulence that may well lie ahead.

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/presidential-obstruction-of-justice-the-case-of-donald-j-trump-final.pdf


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Rex Block
Freshman Silent
1  Rex Block    9 years ago

It's more likely that Comey and Loretta Lynch obstructed justice, considering the conspiracy being arranged between Bubba Billy Boy Clinton and LL sitting on the tarmac that day.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.1  seeder  JohnRussell  replied to  Rex Block @1    9 years ago

Your ignorance fueled speculations carry no weight here. 

 
 
 
Capt. Cave Man
Freshman Silent
1.1.1  Capt. Cave Man  replied to  JohnRussell @1.1    9 years ago

neither does your meaningless report.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.1.2  seeder  JohnRussell  replied to  Capt. Cave Man @1.1.1    9 years ago

lol. The report is written by three experts in criminal law. Don't you think Mueller is using similar experts and has access to the same information that this report uses?  They will reach the same conclusions unless political pressure intervenes. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2  seeder  JohnRussell  replied to  Rex Block @1    9 years ago

"Attempts to stop an investigation represent a common form of obstruction. Demanding the loyalty of an individual involved in an investigation, requesting that individual’s help to end the investigation, and then ultimately firing that person to accomplish that goal are the type of acts that have frequently resulted in obstruction convictions, as we detail. In addition, to the extent conduct could be characterized as threatening, intimidating, or corruptly persuading witnesses, that too may provide additional grounds for obstruction charges.


While those defending the president may claim that expressing a “hope” that an investigation will end is too vague to constitute obstruction, we show that such language is sufficient to do so. In that regard, it is material that former FBI Director James Comey interpreted the president’s “hope” that he would drop the investigation into Flynn as an instruction to drop the case. That Comey ignored that instruction is beside the point under applicable law. We also note that potentially misleading conduct and possible cover-up attempts
could serve as further evidence of obstruction. Here, such actions may include fabricating an initial justification for firing Comey, directing Donald Trump Jr.’s inaccurate statements about the purpose of his meeting with a Russian lawyer during the president’s campaign, tweeting that Comey “better hope there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations,” despite having “no idea” whether such tapes existed, and repeatedly denouncing the validity of the investigations."

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
2  seeder  JohnRussell    9 years ago

Can Mueller, would Mueller, avoid such obvious conclusions?

Would Mueller want it on his conscience or his record that he let Trump off the hook, when the case against him was so easily made? 

 
 
 
arkpdx
Professor Quiet
3  arkpdx    9 years ago

Brookings Institute Releases 108 Page Report Which Concludes That Donald Trump Obstructed Justice In Russia Probe"

Big surprise coming from a group described it as the "nation's pre-eminent liberal think tank" 

 
 
 
Rmando
Sophomore Silent
4  Rmando    9 years ago

But I thought it was supposed to be the 25th Amendment... no wait, collusion with Russia... Or was it something to do with his tax returns? I can't keep all the nutcase conspiracies straight.

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Participates
4.1  Dulay  replied to  Rmando @4    9 years ago
But I thought it was supposed to be the 25th Amendment... no wait, collusion with Russia... Or was it something to do with his tax returns? I can't keep all the nutcase conspiracies straight.

But you were doing so well at listing the plethora of avenues through which Trump can be 'convinced' to leave office. Now as to obstruction of justice, that is the avenue of impeachment and we all know that the GOP House hasn't the stomach for holding 45 accountable. 

 
 
 
Cerenkov
Professor Silent
4.2  Cerenkov  replied to  Rmando @4    9 years ago

It's confusing. I think liberals take acid to sort it out.

 
 
 
Rmando
Sophomore Silent
5  Rmando    9 years ago

I suppose they could impeach him- if they ever find any proof. But then again the Dems couldn't bring themselves to vote for impeachment for Clinton even though there was actual DNA evidence he perjured himself.

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Guide
6  Jeremy Retired in NC    9 years ago

The people doing the real investigation has had 10 months to find proof.  So far, they have none.  Now keep in mind these same people have cleared the Vegas shooter of ISIS ties in less that 24 hours.  

The Dems keep chasing their tails on this whole collusion bs that they have made themselves dizzy.

 
 

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