Executive Privelege

[Arcangl86]

So congress can issue subpoenas any time they want to, spend millions of dollars without out any evidence of wrong doing? IOW go on a witch hunt as they have done for the past 2 years.

Yes. Congress is not a court of law, and oversight is about more than criminal wrongdoing.

 

[HannahT]

I've seen it already, I even started a thread about it on the day it was released: Here it is: The Mueller report is out. But there are at least 1,000 retractions. There's no reason why congress shouldn't be able to see the report in it's entirety.

Actually, Congress can see more of it. They have a protected area that they can go and read it. They just aren't going, and I'm not sure why.

They were told at the beginning that the grand jury material can't be released unless they go to court and get a subpoena to do that. They haven't done that either.

If they really wanted to see it in its entirety? They could. I'm not sure why they aren't doing that either.

 

[tulc]

So congress can issue subpoenas any time they want to, spend millions of dollars without out any evidence of wrong doing? IOW go on a witch hunt as they have done for the past 2 years.

...the irony in this post? It's actually off the charts. should we bring up:

or this:
Investigation into the 2012 Benghazi attack - Wikipedia
but I see what you're saying: why should the FBI do what it's supposed to do when somebody has a big "R" after their name? Those things are only for people who have "D" following their names.
tulc(is going to need a lot more coffee in just a minute)

 

[KCfromNC]

I just find it odd that after the president said this report showed “complete and total exoneration,” and when asked if the American public have a right to see it, he said "Let them see it," he now doesn't even want congress to see it in its entirety.

He did exactly the same thing with his tax returns. These are obviously the actions of a man who has a lot to hide.

So why the change of heart? Why would he do that?

Because he has a very tenuous relationship with truth.

 

[KCfromNC]

They were screaming for impeachment before Trump took office.

Huh? They're not even "screaming" for it now. They're just asking for the document which the President has claimed clears himself. Weird he's now opposing releasing that very document. Wonder what's changed?

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Huh? They're not even "screaming" for it now. They're just asking for the document which the President has claimed clears himself. Weird he's now opposing releasing that very document. Wonder what's changed?

I want to reply but the only thing that comes to mind is “Lock Her Up!” Benghazi!”, “Build the Wall!” and something relating to Obama and Soros.

 

[tonyj88]

Huh? They're not even "screaming" for it now. They're just asking for the document which the President has claimed clears himself. Weird he's now opposing releasing that very document. Wonder what's changed?

Fear? He's holding tight to both that document and his tax returns. We need to do that avengers-time-travel thing to grab that document before he exercises any snap privileges.

 

[whatbogsends]

I just find it odd that after the president said this report showed “complete and total exoneration,” and when asked if the American public have a right to see it, he said "Let them see it," he now doesn't even want congress to see it in its entirety.

Mr. President, does the American public have a right to see the Mueller report?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t mind. I mean, frankly, I told the House, “If you want, let them see it.”

When the report was going to be released, he said he wouldn't use executive privilege to prevent it from being released.

As he previewed the Mueller report on Thursday morning, Attorney General William Barr confirmed that Trump declined to assert executive privilege after White House lawyers reviewed the redacted version of the report.

“Following that review, the President confirmed that, in the interests of transparency and full disclosure to the American people, he would not assert privilege over the Special Counsel’s report,” he said.

So why the change of heart? Why would he do that?

Absolutely. Trump went back on his word, as he does time and again.

It's just like when Trump promised to release his tax returns, and is now fighting their release tooth and nail.

It's just like when Trump claimed he'd love to testify for the Mueller Investigation, and then subsequently refused to testify and even his written answers seemed extremely lacking. Answering "I don't remember" 30 times seems to be at odds with his claims of "I have the best memory in the world".

Trump couldn't talk about Mueller's investigation into Russian hacking and meddling without calling it a "witch hunt", despite the clear evidence of Russian interference which it found.

 

[rjs330]

Well it's nice we can at least all agree that this is Executive privilege abuse.
tulc(also isn't sure why something that "completely exonerates the President" needs to be hidden by the President)

Did you claim Obama's use of executive privilege was abuse? If not, what was your reason for not doing so? Did you also believe Bill Clintons use was abuse?

And just so you know this isn't whataboutism. I don't think Trump should use executive privilege on this report.

But one does have to wonder if those that claim it is an abuse of the power are motivated simply by ideology or by principle.

 

[rjs330]

He did exactly the same thing with his tax returns. These are obviously the actions of a man who has a lot to hide.



Because he has a very tenuous relationship with truth.

I'm kind of tired over the tax return thing. This is another fishing expedition. The IRS would have already done something if there was anything Trump did to violate the tax laws.

 

[Speedwell]

I'm kind of tired over the tax return thing. This is another fishing expedition. The IRS would have already done something if there was anything Trump did to violate the tax laws.

No one is supposing that possible violations of tax laws is all there is to it. Trump is at the head of a large and complex financial organisation with substantial foreign entanglements. Given that he is not just your ordinary real estate con man but President of the US, there are serious national security implications.

 

[Michael]

Absolutely. Trump went back on his word, as he does time and again.

It's just like when Trump promised to release his tax returns, and is now fighting their release tooth and nail.

It's just like when Trump claimed he'd love to testify for the Mueller Investigation, and then subsequently refused to testify and even his written answers seemed extremely lacking. Answering "I don't remember" 30 times seems to be at odds with his claims of "I have the best memory in the world".

Trump couldn't talk about Mueller's investigation into Russian hacking and meddling without calling it a "witch hunt", despite the clear evidence of Russian interference which it found.

I agree with you on most of your points, but I have some personal reservations about releasing the *whole* Mueller report, particularly anything that explains to the Russians how we figured out their interference and their methods. Releasing such information will only help the Russians get better at circumventing our internal security.

 

[Michael]

Absolutely. Trump went back on his word, as he does time and again.

It's just like when Trump promised to release his tax returns, and is now fighting their release tooth and nail.

It's just like when Trump claimed he'd love to testify for the Mueller Investigation, and then subsequently refused to testify and even his written answers seemed extremely lacking. Answering "I don't remember" 30 times seems to be at odds with his claims of "I have the best memory in the world".

Trump couldn't talk about Mueller's investigation into Russian hacking and meddling without calling it a "witch hunt", despite the clear evidence of Russian interference which it found.

I agree with you on most of your points, but I have some personal reservations about releasing the *whole* Mueller report, particularly anything that explains to the Russians how we figured out their interference and their methods. Releasing such information will only help the Russians get better at circumventing our internal security.

 

[Speedwell]

I agree with you on most of your points, but I have some personal reservations about releasing the *whole* Mueller report, particularly anything that explains to the Russians how we figured out their interference and their methods. Releasing such information will only help the Russians get better at circumventing our internal security.

Of course, but I see no reason for refusing to release to House committee members who are cleared for that sort of thing.

 

[Michael]

Of course, but I see no reason for refusing to release to House committee members who are cleared for that sort of thing.

Meh. They should be able to go in and read it from a secure location, but the information should not leave the room with them in printed form, otherwise it will get leaked sooner or later by someone. That would only help Putin.

 

[Hank77]

Did you claim Obama's use of executive privilege was abuse? If not, what was your reason for not doing so? Did you also believe Bill Clintons use was abuse?

And just so you know this isn't whataboutism. I don't think Trump should use executive privilege on this report.

But one does have to wonder if those that claim it is an abuse of the power are motivated simply by ideology or by principle.

It appears the Trump is using Executive Privilege to obstruct a Congressional investigation. When did Obama, Clinton, or another any other President use the privilege in that way?

 

[iluvatar5150]

I'm kind of tired over the tax return thing. This is another fishing expedition. The IRS would have already done something if there was anything Trump did to violate the tax laws.

That isn't a given at all. Not only has the IRS been chronically under-staffed, but the earlier NYT piece kicked up a bunch of stuff that it looks like the IRS missed in past decades.

 

[Michael]

It appears the Trump is using Executive Privilege to obstruct a Congressional investigation. When did Obama, Clinton, or another any other President use the privilege in that way?

When did any President refuse to release their tax returns?

 

[Michael]

That isn't a given at all. Not only has the IRS been chronically under-staffed, but the earlier NYT piece kicked up a bunch of stuff that it looks like the IRS missed in past decades.

Trump's biggest fear is that the moment he releases his current tax returns they will be open to scrutiny and his "questionable" write offs will get public attention. Then the IRS will be forced to go after him. We'll also find out who's been lending him money recently and it can't be any banks from the West because he's burned them all too many times. It's almost certain that Russia has been bankrolling his business for the last decade.

 

[Hank77]

When did any President refuse to release their tax returns?

Are you saying that neither Obama or Clinton, or in fact any other President use Exe. Priv. to obstruct a Congressional investigation?