I’m not going to link to the NYT story that is front page news on HuffPo and TPM, DK and other sites. I’m not linking to it because I do not feel it should be shared.
Basically, anonymous sources claim that, just weeks into his tenure as Deputy AG, Rosenstein supposedly brought up the issue of using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, and joked about wearing a wire.
There’s a lot in the story that smells suspicious to me. First of all, Rosenstein is described as being “animated” in his discussion of the idea in a group with a bunch of Trump officials.
PUHLEEZE . .have you EVER heard Rosenstein speak? He’s always measured and calm and the least animated speaker ever.
Secondly, these “anonymous sources” may well be WH hacks trying to set Rosenstein up to be fired, immediately after Sessions is fired, which is something Trump has wanted to do for a long time.
Thirdly, the Republicans are having a VERY BAD WEEK. The “witch hunt defense” — the last refuge of those with no defense — is crumbling under the weight of the numerous indictments and guilty pleas Mueller has obtained.
The “Kavanaugh’s Doppleganger” defense that was brought out as an “AHA!” Idea to allow the GOP to admit Blasey Ford was assaulted but deny it could possibly be Kavanaugh, has boomeranged, and its authors are rightfully fearing lawsuits by the third party libeled and defamed.
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, far from remaining meekly silent, is determined to speak, although the details of when and where remain uncertain. (Who knows, if the GOP remains obdurate maybe Dr. Blasey can have a “separate but fair” hearing on 60 Minutes or some other venerable news program.)
The White House is desperate for a distraction and a change in the news cycle.
The details of the NYT story are suspicious. First of all there’s no way Rosenstein would suggest that seriously within just a few weeks of being hired. Secondly, IF he were to have considered it, he would have to have gone through THE VICE PRESIDENT, who is not one of the “officials” alleged to have been part of the dicsussion (and without him the discussion makes no sense).
The 25th Amendment states (Emphasis added):
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
The anonymous NYT story doesn’t mention the VP. There’s no way Rosenstein, even if he were to consider doing such a thing two weeks after being hired, would not absolutely positively know WHO and HOW such a request had to take place. None of the people mentioned would be the ones who could bring such a scheme to fruition. Why would Rosenstein, that most measured of career bureaucrats, mouth off two weeks into his job with a bunch of people who would not be the ones needed?
So let’s all take a step backwards and examine what possible motive the White House has for “leaking” this with anonymous sources to the NYT:
- Trump has been itching to fire Sessions and shut down Rosenstein and Mueller in the process.
- Michael Cohen and Manafort have flipped and are cooperating “fully and completely” with the Mueller investigation, as well as with the various States whose laws have been implicated.
- Kavanaugh’s nomination, which two weeks ago seemed like a done deal, is now looking like pretty much all of the Don’s deals.
- Mueller’s focus has moved steadily up the food chain —. All the peripheral people have been indicted or pled guilty. Who is left on the food chain? Eric and Junior; Jarvanka; Pence; and the big Enchilada himself.
- The NYT “Anonymous” OpEd (which I still think is from Pence’s office) brought the issue of the 25th Amendment front and center.
- The timing is really suspicious — this happend supposedly in May of 2017 right after RR was hired and these leakers just now found an outlet to leak to?
- NUNES . . . Fill in the blanks yourselves I don’t have time to list all the ways Nunes has been carrying water for Trump to shut down Mueller. Mueller I hope has something on Nunes and McConnell and Ryan and the rest of the GOP Leadership, but we have no idea yet whether my dreams will come true on Mueller taking out the entire corrupt GOP Leadership.
What’s left on the chess board for Trump to play? Not much. The only option he has now is the “nuclear option”— FIRE EVERYONE — Here’s the Trump thinking [sic] that likely motivates this:
- Sessions is a thorn in Trump’s side . . . He’s been angling to fire him (DESPITE the fact that Sessions has executed Trump’s horrible soul killing agenda better than any other lackey). Trump doesn’t like him because he’s small and speaks funny and doesn’t look like an Attorney General who will “defend’ Trump from everything.
- Trump thinks he can use this NYT story to demand that Sessions fire Rosenstein. If Sessions refuses, Sessions gets fired, and Trump then fires Rosenstein and Mueller either directly or through his catspaw . .whoever he places in the AG position. Maybe the existing Solicitor General, who has already been confirmed.
- The end game: FIRE SESSIONS, ROSENSTEIN AND MUELLER and claim they were all part of the DSC (Deep State Conspiracy) and that these “patriots” who leaked the story anonymously to the NYT will be rewarded .
- The Mueller Investigation gets shut down and the results buried. (I don’t agree that this would happen at this point but Trump may not understand that his saying “Off with their heads” isn’t enough to stop the process.
I have followed Rod Rosenstein very closely in the last year. I followed him because at first I had real concerns about his being a Trump Appointee and a lifelong Republican. I found that he and Mueller are one.
None of this sounds at all credible to me. Rosenstein is too smart, too professional . . .he’s cut from the same cloth as Mueller.
If you can’t imagine Mueller doing this then don’t imagine Rosenstein doing this.
I was shocked at the “BREAKING” headlines about Rosenstein — but after reading the NYT story I have come to look at it as a ruse — planted to allow Trump to do what he’s been itching to do since Day ONE: SHUT MUELLER DOWN.
We need to be extra vigilant right now and make sure the media narrative doesn’t get “highjacked.” Let’s stay on message and not take the “bait” without further proof. Rosenstein may get fired for this, but if so we need to be prepared to support him and Mueller and demand that all the facts be released.