Day 147: Trump is being investigated for obstructing justice

The news comes just days after Trump declared “total and complete vindication” that he was not being personally investigated.

In his letter firing former FBI director James Comey, Donald Trump wrote, in part:

While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.

After Comey’s congressional testimony, Trump declared himself totally exonerated about the lack of investigation into him personally.

How quickly things can change.

The Washington Post reported yesterday that Trump is now under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller for obstruction of justice related to firing Comey.

Trump had received private assurances from then-FBI Director James B. Comey starting in January that he was not personally under investigation. Officials say that changed shortly after Comey’s firing.

Five people briefed on the interview requests, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said that Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Rogers’s recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett, agreed to be interviewed by Mueller’s investigators as early as this week. The investigation has been cloaked in secrecy, and it is unclear how many others have been questioned by the FBI.

Trump’s team blasted the leak of that information, but didn’t deny its veracity. This morning, Trump all but confirmed the truth to the Post’s story.

The president of the United States is now personally under investigation for obstruction of justice. That obstruction investigation relates to him potentially covering up key members of his election team colluding with a foreign nation to impinge upon the U.S. democratic process.

To say that this would be substantially bigger than scandals plaguing Bill Clinton or Richard Nixon is an all-time understatement. Mueller is investigating crimes related to potentially treasonous activities that were concealed by the leader of the free world. What this investigation reveals, as well as how Republicans react to a potential criminal finding, will largely shape the U.S. republic as we currently know it.

147 days in, 1315 to go

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