Trump’s Waco
The Times reports a lot of fervent endorsement of the choice of Mueller as Special Counsel.
Members of both parties view Mr. Mueller as one of the most credible law enforcement officials in the country. He served both Democratic and Republican presidents, from 2001 to 2013, and was asked by President Barack Obama to stay on beyond the normal 10-year term until Mr. Comey was appointed.
…
“He’s an absolutely superb choice,” said Kathryn Ruemmler, a former prosecutor and White House counsel under Mr. Obama. “He will just do a completely thorough investigation without regard to public pressure or political pressure.”
She added: “I cannot think of a better choice.”
John S. Pistole, who served as the F.B.I.’s deputy director under Mr. Mueller, also praised the appointment.
“You need an independent assessment of what the president has done, how he has done it and perhaps why he has done it,” said Mr. Pistole, who is now president of Anderson University in Indiana. “The appointment of Director Mueller is exactly what is needed to attempt to bring credibility to the White House when there are so many questions about the president’s actions and motives.”
The order to appoint Mr. Mueller was signed by Mr. Rosenstein on Wednesday, drawing on a regulation granting the attorney general the authority to appoint a special counsel for only the second time in history. The first time it was used was in 1999 by Janet Reno, who appointed Jack Danforth, a former Republican senator from Missouri, to lead an investigation into the botched federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Tex., in 1993 that killed 76 people.
People are pointing out that Trump could fire him. Am I naïve to think even Trump would see the problems with doing that?
He’ll possibly try to repeal the regulation as part of his ‘two-for-one’ deal, which could well strip the appointment of authority without explicitly firing anyone.
Although at further glance it appears it’s an ‘internal’ DOJ regulation, so it could even be done by Sessions without any kind of tainting blowing back on Congress.
I kinda hope that Trump will fire him, as I suspect that would finally light a fire under people to appoint a full independent investigation.
Up to now, the answer to the question “Is Trump stupid enough to ___________?” has always been “Yes.”
Trump and his entourage are constantly putting out fires.
Perhaps he missed his calling. Maybe he should dress up in a bear suit and call himself Smokey.
What would he have to lose?
Actually I was wrong that Trump can fire him; he can’t. That’s the main reason it’s a big deal. I learned that on the television machine.