No surprise to me. I've long assumed he was acting in Russia's interests. I'll soon be sick of the bs about "the deep state" that this news will spawn. In the end, it's all gonna come crashing down for Trump and his criminal empire. We're all gonna learn that he sold us out, methinks....
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/us/politics/fbi-trump-russia-inquiry.html
I’m a little more skeptical and here’s why:
Going back to the Paul Manafort’s idiotic lawyers releasing accidentally redacted information, he could have (a) been sending that information as a way to coordinate efforts with Russian intelligence and/or (b) been sending that information as a way to “show off.” He was deeply in debt with Russian oligarchs and could have merely been trying to show that Trump was still a contender in the race and that maintaining access to him through Manafort would prove beneficial to Russian oligarchs (and help Manafort settle some of his debts).
I’m sure the Trump team will try and make the case for option (b). And that this was solely done by Manafort and not authorized by Trump. I’m sure trump will give Manafort the “Cohen Treatment.” “Oh I had no idea Paul was doing xyz... you’ll have to ask him!”
However, it doesn’t mean that both weren’t happening either. I could see Manafort trying to save his own skin while knowing that the information he funneled to Russia would be used for illegal purposes.
Now as far as the Mueller report goes:
I’m skeptical that it’ll ultimately bring Trump down. He can’t be indicted without being impeached. Barr hasn’t shown a willingness to indict a sitting president. In fact, he’s written just the opposite. So trump needs to be impeached.
Republicans control the senate. I see no evidence that McConnell would allow an impeachment vote. And I see no evidence that the cult previously known as the “GOP” would ever vote to impeach.
Trump could literally invite Putin to his rallies, campaign in 2020 in Russian, and swim ala Scrooge McDuck in a pool full of dollar bills meant for furloughed government workers and 35 percent of this country would cheer him on.
Trump, together with Fox News and am radio has successfully built up a personality cult. Republicans will endure a treasonous president for
*checks notes*
Tax cuts and deregulation
Judges
So I don’t see this as being very impactful. I think most of us are already there. We know Trump is guilty. But we also know that even if the House successfully impeaches the Senate won’t convict.
Democrats will have to beat him in 2020 imo. And Sadly, if Trump wins re-election, The statutes of limitation on some of his other crimes will have passed.