Former FBI Director Is Named Special Counsel for Russia Investigation

Special prosecutor Robert S. Mueller III

The corrupt and possible treasonous train wreck that is the Trump/Pence regime may be getting closer to having the proverbial wheels come off with Der Trumpenführer and his West Wing sycophants facing either criminal indictments and/or, in the case of Trump - and if we are lucky, Pence too - impeachment.  Today a special prosecutor was named by deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein (Jeff Sessions because of his own Russia problems as recused himself).  The appointee is Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, who is lauded by both Democrats and Republicans alike.  To be honest, my sense of deja vu just ticked up by a huge margin.  Add to this another breaking story that Trump and his counsel were told BEFORE Trump appointed Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser, that Flynn was under FBI investigation.  The New York Times reports on these developments.  Here are excerpts:

The Justice Department appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, as special counsel on Wednesday to oversee the investigation into ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russian officials, dramatically raising the legal and political stakes in an affair that has threatened to engulf Mr. Trump’s 118-day-old presidency.

The decision, by the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, came after a cascade of damaging developments for Mr. Trump in recent days, including his abrupt dismissal of the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, and the subsequent disclosure that Mr. Trump asked Mr. Comey to drop the investigation of his former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn.

Mr. Rosenstein, who wrote a memo that the White House initially cited as the rationale for Mr. Comey’s dismissal, had been under escalating pressure from Democrats, and even some Republicans, to appoint a special counsel.

By appointing Mr. Mueller, a former federal prosecutor with an unblemished reputation who once stood up to President George W. Bush on the legality of his domestic wiretapping program, Mr. Rosenstein could alleviate questions about the government’s capacity to investigate the swirl of questions surrounding the Trump campaign and the Russians.

Mr. Rosenstein said in a statement that he concluded that “it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authorities and appoint a special counsel to assume responsibility for this matter.”

Mr. Rosenstein’s announcement came on a day when Republican lawmakers joined calls for Mr. Comey to testify publicly, with some committee chairmen requesting he appear before their panels and share more information about his encounters with Mr. Trump. Lawmakers also asked the F.B.I. to turn over the memo that Mr. Comey is said to have written that suggested the president asked him to quash the investigation into Mr. Flynn.

As a special counsel, Mr. Mueller can choose whether to consult with or inform the Justice Department about his investigation as it goes forward. He is authorized to investigate “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump,” according to Mr. Rosenstein’s order naming him to the post, as well as other matters that “may arise directly from the investigation.” He is also empowered to press criminal charges, and he can request additional resources subject to the review of an assistant attorney general.

Mr. Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions were notified only after Mr. Rosenstein signed the order on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr. Mueller’s appointment was hailed by Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, who view him as one of the most credible law enforcement officials in the country.

Senator Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican and a member of the Judiciary Committee, said Mr. Mueller’s “record, character, and trustworthiness have been lauded for decades by Republicans and Democrats alike.”

Senator Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland and the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the “choice of Robert Mueller was solid and shows the seriousness Mr. Rosenstein brought to this decision. Rather than ‘make this go away’, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein has taken an important step toward restoring the credibility of the D.O.J. and F.B.I. in this most serious matter.”

The appointment is certain to soothe nerves at the F.B.I., where agents have felt under siege amid Mr. Comey’s firing and Mr. Trump’s repeated criticism of the Russia investigation. 

Let's hope that this appointment marks the beginning of the end of the Trump/Pence regime.