Top Republican congressman calls for Mueller to resign as special counsel

[IAMX 3,055]

A senior Arizona congressman is calling on Robert Mueller, special counsel for the Justice Department’s investigation into Russia’s election meddling, to resign.

 

Rep. Trent Franks, a Republican who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement Tuesday that Mueller is in violation of the law that prohibits Mueller from serving as a special counsel if he has a conflict of interest.

Mueller and former FBI Director James Comey have been longtime allies dating back to 2003 when the men both worked in Washington, Mueller as the FBI Director and Comey as Deputy Attorney General. Franks cited the pair’s relationship as a reason for Mueller to be disqualified from the probe.

“Bob Mueller is in clear violation of federal code and must resign to maintain the integrity of the investigation into alleged Russian ties,” Franks said. “Those who worked under them have attested he and Jim Comey possess a close friendship, and they have delivered on-the-record statements effusing praise of one another.

 “Until Mueller resigns, he will be in clear violation of the law, a reality that fundamentally undermines his role as Special Counsel and attending ability to execute the law,” Franks said.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/01/top-republican-congressman-calls-for-mueller-to-resign-as-special-counsel.html

 

Sure makes those impeachment threats seem more hilarious. 

 

Let's see here..  clear bias.. conflicts of interests..  using my reverse lefty to English translator used for the Obama presidency..  that comes out as "squeaky clean and scandal free". 

[smilesammich 10,727]

can't believe that mueller is looking into trump financials. and sessions hasn't resigned yet? did not read the statement prezzy trump wrote for trump jr? it's the adoptions, silly. comey just wasn't enough.

 

[IAMX 3,055]

Quote

 

Trent Franks: Mueller must resign from Russia probe because of long friendship with Comey

Federal law prevents the special counsel from serving if the person has a conflict of interest

 

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/1/robert-mueller-must-resign-russia-probe-due-james-/

Quote

 

A Republican congressman is calling on Special Counsel Robert Mueller to resign from his role leading the Russia investigation, citing the investigator’s friendship with former FBI Director James B. Comey.

Rep. Trent Franks said Mr. Mueller’s relationship with Mr. Comey should make him ineligible to lead a probe of Russian interference in the presidential election and any possible coordination with the Trump campaign — the investigation includes whether the president fired the FBI director in an effort to undermine the investigation.

“Those who worked under them have attested he and Jim Comey possess a close friendship, and they have delivered on-the-record statements effusing praise of one another,” Mr. Franks, Arizona Republican, said in a statement issued Tuesday. “No one knows Mr. Mueller’s true intentions, but neither can anyone dispute that he now clearly appears to be a partisan arbiter of justice.”

Mr. Franks, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, cited federal law that prevents the special counsel from serving in the role if the person has a conflict of interest. In Mr. Mueller’s case, the lawmaker said that conflict is “a personal relationship with any person substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation.”

 

 

Conflicts of interest aplenty.

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

What federal code section is being violated?

 

I could see a conflict of interest if Trump and Mueller were close friends but why does Mueller and Comey being good friends cause a conflict of interest.  Mueller is not investigating Comey.

[CaliCat 3,957]

3 minutes ago, CarlosAndSveta said:

What federal code section is being violated?

 

I could see a conflict of interest if Trump and Mueller were close friends but why does Mueller and Comey being good friends cause a conflict of interest.  Mueller is not investigating Comey.

 

The conflict is that Trump doesn't like him. 

 

 

[IAMX 3,055]

8 minutes ago, CarlosAndSveta said:

What federal code section is being violated?

 

I could see a conflict of interest if Trump and Mueller were close friends but why does Mueller and Comey being good friends cause a conflict of interest.  Mueller is not investigating Comey.

Quote

 

The Act defined two categories of "covered persons" - [1) "mandatory" covered persons and (2) "discretionary" covered persons. Mandatory covered persons were those persons for whom a conflict of interest was presumed to exist by virtue of their close relationship to the President, DOJ or Attorney General. These included the President, Vice President, Cabinet, the Executive Office of the President, and high-level officials in DOJ, the CIA, IRS and the President's National election campaign.  The Act required that an Independent Counsel be appointed to conduct any investigations regarding such mandatory covered persons.

Discretionary coverage, by contrast, allowed the AG to seek an independent counsel to investigate allegations regarding officials not considered "mandatory covered persons" if he felt that such an independent investigation would be appropriate. Such discretionary coverage was available for members of Congress when appointing an independent counsel would be "in the public interest" or for any person if the AG determined that investigation or prosecution of that person by DOJ could result in a personal, financial, or political conflict of interest.

 

http://www.lecs-center.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=230%3Aon-special-prosecutors-usa&catid=44%3Aevents&lang=en

 

You're welcome.

[IAMX 3,055]

And also, per that link..

 

Quote

(c) conclude that under the circumstances the public interest would not be
served by appointment of a special counsel and that the matter can be
handled by the AG reaches this conclusion, the AG may direct that
appropriate steps be taken to mitigate the conflict, such as recusal of
particular officials.

 

Which means Mueller can be axed given this conflict of interest and it's perfectly fine.

 

Or, using my lefty to English translator.. impeach!

[IAMX 3,055]

Quote

 

Trump or Congress can still block Robert Mueller. I know. I wrote the rules.

 

Appointing special counsel Robert Mueller to probe Russian meddling in the 2016 election (and any possible ties to President Trump’s campaign) was the only choice the Justice Department had. This is the best way to deal with the conflicts and potential conflicts of interest these matters posed. In fact, the special-counsel regulations under which Mueller was appointed were written precisely to address a situation like this one. I would know; I wrote them, in 1999.

But it’s also a highly imperfect solution, because it doesn’t foreclose the possibility of political interference in the investigation. The rules provide only so much protection: Congress, Trump and the Justice Department still have the power to stymie (or even terminate) Mueller’s inquiry.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/05/19/politics-could-still-block-muellers-investigation-i-know-i-wrote-the-rules/

 

Hope the AG, whoever that is, has the nuts to pull the trigger and fire him and appoint someone else.

Edited August 1, 2017 by IAMX

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

19 minutes ago, CarlosAndSveta said:

What federal code section is being violated?

 

I could see a conflict of interest if Trump and Mueller were close friends but why does Mueller and Comey being good friends cause a conflict of interest.  Mueller is not investigating Comey.

He should investigate Comey for violation of the Federal Nut Job  act 

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

1 hour ago, IAMX said:

And also, per that link..

 

 

Which means Mueller can be axed given this conflict of interest and it's perfectly fine.

 

Or, using my lefty to English translator.. impeach!

Here is what the Code of Regulations actually says:

 

28 CFR 600.2 - Alternatives available to the Attorney General.

 

Quote

§ 600.2 Alternatives available to the Attorney General.

 

When matters are brought to the attention of the Attorney General that might warrant consideration of appointment of a Special Counsel, the Attorney General may:

 

(a) Appoint a Special Counsel;

 

(b) Direct that an initial investigation, consisting of such factual inquiry or legal research as the Attorney General deems appropriate, be conducted in order to better inform the decision; or

 

(c) Conclude that under the circumstances of the matter, the public interest would not be served by removing the investigation from the normal processes of the Department, and that the appropriate component of the Department should handle the matter. If the Attorney General reaches this conclusion, he or she may direct that appropriate steps be taken to mitigate any conflicts of interest, such as recusal of particular officials.

Paragraph (c) only says that the AG may forgo appointing a special counsel but he must make sure any conflicts of interest between the investigating officials and those being investigated are mitigated.  Again, Mueller is not investigating Comey.  He was appointed to finish the investigation started by Comey into alleged Russian hacking during the 2016 election.

Edited August 1, 2017 by CarlosAndSveta

[IAMX 3,055]

Just now, CarlosAndSveta said:

Here is what the Code of Regulations actually says:

 

Paragraph (c) only says that the AG may forgo appointing a special counsel but he must make sure any conflicts of interest between the investigating officials and those being investigated are mitigated.  Again, Mueller is not investigating Comey.  He was appointed to finish the investigation started by Comey into alleged Russian hacking during the 2016 election.

Doesn't matter who the target is, but it pertains to Trump, it pertains to Comey.. a prosecutor would be looking into Trump, there's a clear conflict of interest here between Mueller and Comey that would damage the reputability of any investigation since they have a close relationship and Comey's firing is under the scope of the investigation. It seems you're all by yourself in your interpretation.

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

Just now, IAMX said:

Doesn't matter who the target is, but it pertains to Trump, it pertains to Comey.. a prosecutor would be looking into Trump, there's a clear conflict of interest here between Mueller and Comey that would damage the reputability of any investigation since they have a close relationship and Comey's firing is under the scope of the investigation. It seems you're all by yourself in your interpretation.

I guess we will just disagree.  We'll see if Mueller gets removed under this provision.

[IAMX 3,055]

Just now, CarlosAndSveta said:

I guess we will just disagree.  We'll see if Mueller gets removed under this provision.

I sure hope so. Well deserved.

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

50 minutes ago, IAMX said:

I sure hope so. Well deserved.