https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/11-moments-mueller-investigated-for-obstruction-of-justice


As laid out in his report, special counsel Robert Mueller investigated 11 different incidents of possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump.

Mueller, whose full report with redactions was released Thursday, ultimately did not reach a final conclusion on the topic, saying the case raised “difficult issues” on whether the president should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. Instead, he presented multiple instances in which Trump’s actions were “capable of exerting undue influence over [the investigations].”

Here’s a look at the 11 specific obstruction-related actions that Mueller investigated and what the report found, along with a key passage for each section — and the page number in the PDF — to make reading the document easier.



11 moments Mueller investigated for obstruction of justice

1. What Trump knew and what he denied about Russia and WikiLeaks (pages 228-236)

2. Did the president try to cover up Michael Flynn’s phone calls with the Russian ambassador or protect him from prosecution? (pages 237-259)

3. Trump’s repeated urging of top administration officials to deny he was under investigation (pages 260- 273)

4. Why the president fired Comey (pages 274 – 289)

5. Trump’s efforts to fire Mueller (pages 289-302)

6. Did Trump direct the White House counsel to lie about his order to fire the special counsel? (pages 325-332)

7. Trump’s order to limit Mueller from investigating him (pages 303-310)

8.Trump’s push for Sessions to reverse his recusal and take over the investigation (pages 319-325)

9. The June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Trump officials and a Russian lawyer (pages 310-319)

10. Did the president witness tamper or offer pardons to Flynn, Manafort and an unnamed person? (pages 332-345)

11. Trump’s conduct with Michael Cohen (pages 346-368)

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/11-moments-mueller-investigated-for-obstruction-of-justice


As laid out in his report, special counsel Robert Mueller investigated 11 different incidents of possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump.

Mueller, whose full report with redactions was released Thursday, ultimately did not reach a final conclusion on the topic, saying the case raised “difficult issues” on whether the president should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. Instead, he presented multiple instances in which Trump’s actions were “capable of exerting undue influence over [the investigations].”

Here’s a look at the 11 specific obstruction-related actions that Mueller investigated and what the report found, along with a key passage for each section — and the page number in the PDF — to make reading the document easier.



11 moments Mueller investigated for obstruction of justice

1. What Trump knew and what he denied about Russia and WikiLeaks (pages 228-236)

2. Did the president try to cover up Michael Flynn’s phone calls with the Russian ambassador or protect him from prosecution? (pages 237-259)

3. Trump’s repeated urging of top administration officials to deny he was under investigation (pages 260- 273)

4. Why the president fired Comey (pages 274 – 289)

5. Trump’s efforts to fire Mueller (pages 289-302)

6. Did Trump direct the White House counsel to lie about his order to fire the special counsel? (pages 325-332)

7. Trump’s order to limit Mueller from investigating him (pages 303-310)

8.Trump’s push for Sessions to reverse his recusal and take over the investigation (pages 319-325)

9. The June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Trump officials and a Russian lawyer (pages 310-319)

10. Did the president witness tamper or offer pardons to Flynn, Manafort and an unnamed person? (pages 332-345)

11. Trump’s conduct with Michael Cohen (pages 346-368)

https://www.factcheck.org/2017/06/can-trump-fire-mueller/

Excerpt:> There’s yet another route the president could take, Neal Katyal, a professor of national security law at Georgetown University, wrote in a piece for the Washington Post on May 19: “Trump could order the special-counsel regulations repealed and then fire Mueller himself.”

Katyal said he would know, because back in 1999, he was tapped by then-Attorney General Janet Reno to head an internal working group on the issue of special counsel — and he helped write the regulations now being cited by Rosenstein.

“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,” Katyal wrote.

According to Goldsmith, “There are good constitutional arguments in support of this possibility. There are also countervailing arguments grounded in the principle that only the agency head that appoints the officer, and not the President, can remove the officer.”

“I will leave it to others to sort that out, but raise this final question: If Trump tries to blow through the regulation and fire Mueller himself, would DOJ or Mueller accept the termination or instead challenge and litigate the purported removal?” Goldsmith wrote.

{BTW, it was Don Jr. that had the meeting with the Russian lawyer in Trump Towers}


Here are some interesting views from differing legal experts:

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/26/trump-tried-to-fire-mueller-so-what-216539/

#30 is a beauty !!!!!!

Cont’d
16. Trump’s National Security Adviser Resigned for Lying About His Contacts With the Russian Ambassador

Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had to resign when it was publicly revealed that he had lied about his contacts with the Russian ambassador. It was later revealed that Flynn was a paid adviser for Russia. After Flynn’s lies were made public, he was forced to resign just 24 days into the Trump administration.

Flynn later invoked the 5th Amendment and refused to answer questions about his involvement with Russia unless he received immunity from prosecution. Ironically, Flynn had famously said at the Republican Convention that anyone who invoked the 5th Amendment or sought immunity had to be guilty of a crime.

Ultimately, Flynn plead guilty to lying to the FBI and agreed to cooperate with the Russia investigation.

17. Trump Adviser Michael Flynn Lied to the Pentagon About His Russian Contacts in 2016

Mike Flynn misled Pentagon investigators about his income from Russian companies and about his contacts with Russian officials when he applied for a renewal of his top-secret security clearance. Flynn also failed to disclose that he was a foreign agent lobbying on behalf of Turkey while he was working for the Trump campaign.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
18. Trump’s First Secretary of State Had Major Business Interests in Russia

Donald Trump appointed Rex Tillerson, the head of ExxonMobil, as secretary of State. Tillerson’s company stands to make billions of dollars if US sanctions on Russia were lifted and they were allowed to proceed with their oil production contracts with Russian companies.

Tillerson has a huge personal incentive to lift those sanctions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, President Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, President Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak
TASS
19. Trump Revealed Classified Information to the Russians and Likely Exposed Sources of Secret US Intelligence

In early May, 2017, Trump shared highly classified information with the Russian foreign minister that likely exposed top secret sources of US intelligence. Trump spokesmen first denied, then acknowledged the leak of classified intelligence and gave differing explanations of the extent of information shared.

A few days later, Trump publicly revealed that the classified information came from Israeli intelligence, which could have endangered Israeli intelligence assets.

21-links-between-trump-and-russia-that-you-probably-didnt-know-about
20.Trump Committed Obstruction of Justice by Firing the FBI Director to Thwart the Russia Investigation

By Trump’s own admission, he fired FBI Director James Comey over the Russia investigation. Trump even bragged to Russian officials in the Oval office that pressure has been taken off of him since he fired FBI Director Comey.

Trump asked for a pledge of personal loyalty from FBI Director, James Comey. It wasn’t long after Comey refused that he was fired.

21. New FBI Director Would Profit if Us Sanctions on Russia Are Lifted

Christopher Wray, Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, works at a law firm that represents the same Russian oil company that had a $500 billion oil drilling venture with Exxon-Mobil when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was its CEO.

Each of the companies stand to make large profits if US sanctions against Russia are lifted, as Trump has hinted he will do.

22. Trump Made a $60 Million Profit When a Russian Friend of Vladimir Putin Bought His House in Florida

A few years before becoming president, powerful Russian businessman (and friend of Vladimir Putin) Dmitry Rybolovlev bought a house in Florida from Trump for $100 million, which was $60 million more that Trump paid for that same property just 2 years earlier.

Because he paid such an outlandish price for the property, Rybolovlev stands virtually no realistic chance of making a profit or breaking even on this investment.

23. Trump Appointed the Banker Who Brokered His $100 Million Deal as His Secretary of Commerce

Wilber Ross was the banker who handled the questionable transaction between Donald Trump and Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev. Trump has now appointed Ross to be his Secretary of Commerce.

24. John Brennan Said the Multitude of Contacts Between the Trump Campaign and Russia Justifies a Further Investigation by Congress

Former CIA Director John Brennan told House Russia investigators that Russia brazenly interfered in US elections, including actively contacting members of President Donald Trump's campaign.

25. Trump Has Frequently Contradicted Himself About How Well He Knows Vladimir Putin

Since announcing his campaign for the presidency, Donald Trump often contradicted himself, alternately claiming to know Vladimir Putin quite well and having a good relationship with him, then claiming that he did not know Putin and had no relationship at all with him.


26. Another Trump Campaign Adviser Pled Guilty to Lying to the FBI About the Campaign’s Ties to Russia

A foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump during the campaign, George Papadopoulos, had contacted a Russian known as “The Professor” (yes, seriously), in order to obtain information harmful to Hillary Clinton. Papadopoulos initially lied to the FBI about these contacts. In October, 2017, he pled guilty to lying to the FBI in order to get his cooperation with the Russia investigation.

27. President Trump Fired Both His Secretary of State and His National Security Adviser Right After They Criticized Russia

On March 12, 2018, for the first time in his tenure as Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson issued a scathing criticism of Russia for their involvement in the murder of a private citizen in Great Britain. Within 24 hours, Tillerson was fired by Donald Trump.

On March 15, 2018, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster called for serious action against Russia for their atrocities in Syria. Within hours, sources in the White House said that President Trump was planning to remove McMaster at the NSA. A few days later, Trump announced that John Bolton would replace McMaster as the new National Security Adviser.

28. Trump Seized the Notes From His Interpreter After His Private Meeting With Putin

During Trump's private 2017 meeting with Putin, he did not allow the Secretary of State or any diplomats to attend. Only Trump’s Interpreter was present. After the meeting, Trump seized the interpreter's notes so no record of the meeting would exist.

Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told CNN that he never claimed there was "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told CNN that he never claimed there was "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia.
29. Trump’s Lawyer Tacitly Admitted There Was Collusion Between the Trump Campaign and Russia

In a CNN interview, Rudy Giuliani claimed he never said there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. He only would say there was “no evidence” that Trump himself conspired with the Russians to hack the DNC computers.

30. Trump’s Version of the Truth Has Changed Repeatedly Over a 2 Year Period

President Trump's spokes people have changed their story many times since the Russia investigation began. Here’s the progression we’ve seen from Trump and his defenders over the past 2 years.

“Russia never interfered in the 2016 election.”
“OK Russia interfered but they didn’t try to help Trump win.”
“OK Russia interfered to help Trump, but the Trump campaign had no contact with Russia.”
“OK just one person had contact with Russia but there was no collusion.”
“OK many Trump people had contacts with Russia but they never lied about their Russian contacts.
“OK they did lie about their contacts with Russia but they never asked Russia to get dirt on Hillary Clinton.”
“OK they did ask for dirt on Hillary but they never talked about lifting sanctions on Russia.”
“OK they did discuss lifting sanctions but they didn’t try to cover it up.”
"OK they did try to cover it up, but they didn't give Russia any information to help them influence the election so there was no collusion.
"OK they did give Russia valuable data to help them interfere in our election.
“OK collusion just isn’t a crime.”
31. Trump Adviser George Papadopoulos Pleaded Guilty to Lying to the FBI About the Campaign’s Ties to Russia

George Papadopoulos, who served as a foreign policy adviser for Donald Trump, admitted that he lied to the FBI regarding their investigation into the Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Papadopoulos lied about meeting with a Russian official who was offering information about Hillary Clinton to help Trump win the election.

Is That It?

This list will likely continue to grow longer when it is updated with new connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. Check back here from time to time to see any new discoveries of contacts between Trump and Russia

This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.

** This list will likely continue to grow longer when it is updated with new connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. ***

And let us not forget the statement made by Eric trump about not caring about
U.S. Banks because they (the trumps) get all of their money from
Russia.

So , remind me again who is being lied to?

#30 is a beauty !!!!!!

Cont’d
16. Trump’s National Security Adviser Resigned for Lying About His Contacts With the Russian Ambassador

Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had to resign when it was publicly revealed that he had lied about his contacts with the Russian ambassador. It was later revealed that Flynn was a paid adviser for Russia. After Flynn’s lies were made public, he was forced to resign just 24 days into the Trump administration.

Flynn later invoked the 5th Amendment and refused to answer questions about his involvement with Russia unless he received immunity from prosecution. Ironically, Flynn had famously said at the Republican Convention that anyone who invoked the 5th Amendment or sought immunity had to be guilty of a crime.

Ultimately, Flynn plead guilty to lying to the FBI and agreed to cooperate with the Russia investigation.

17. Trump Adviser Michael Flynn Lied to the Pentagon About His Russian Contacts in 2016

Mike Flynn misled Pentagon investigators about his income from Russian companies and about his contacts with Russian officials when he applied for a renewal of his top-secret security clearance. Flynn also failed to disclose that he was a foreign agent lobbying on behalf of Turkey while he was working for the Trump campaign.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
18. Trump’s First Secretary of State Had Major Business Interests in Russia

Donald Trump appointed Rex Tillerson, the head of ExxonMobil, as secretary of State. Tillerson’s company stands to make billions of dollars if US sanctions on Russia were lifted and they were allowed to proceed with their oil production contracts with Russian companies.

Tillerson has a huge personal incentive to lift those sanctions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, President Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, President Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak
TASS
19. Trump Revealed Classified Information to the Russians and Likely Exposed Sources of Secret US Intelligence

In early May, 2017, Trump shared highly classified information with the Russian foreign minister that likely exposed top secret sources of US intelligence. Trump spokesmen first denied, then acknowledged the leak of classified intelligence and gave differing explanations of the extent of information shared.

A few days later, Trump publicly revealed that the classified information came from Israeli intelligence, which could have endangered Israeli intelligence assets.

21-links-between-trump-and-russia-that-you-probably-didnt-know-about
20.Trump Committed Obstruction of Justice by Firing the FBI Director to Thwart the Russia Investigation

By Trump’s own admission, he fired FBI Director James Comey over the Russia investigation. Trump even bragged to Russian officials in the Oval office that pressure has been taken off of him since he fired FBI Director Comey.

Trump asked for a pledge of personal loyalty from FBI Director, James Comey. It wasn’t long after Comey refused that he was fired.

21. New FBI Director Would Profit if Us Sanctions on Russia Are Lifted

Christopher Wray, Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, works at a law firm that represents the same Russian oil company that had a $500 billion oil drilling venture with Exxon-Mobil when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was its CEO.

Each of the companies stand to make large profits if US sanctions against Russia are lifted, as Trump has hinted he will do.

22. Trump Made a $60 Million Profit When a Russian Friend of Vladimir Putin Bought His House in Florida

A few years before becoming president, powerful Russian businessman (and friend of Vladimir Putin) Dmitry Rybolovlev bought a house in Florida from Trump for $100 million, which was $60 million more that Trump paid for that same property just 2 years earlier.

Because he paid such an outlandish price for the property, Rybolovlev stands virtually no realistic chance of making a profit or breaking even on this investment.

23. Trump Appointed the Banker Who Brokered His $100 Million Deal as His Secretary of Commerce

Wilber Ross was the banker who handled the questionable transaction between Donald Trump and Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev. Trump has now appointed Ross to be his Secretary of Commerce.

24. John Brennan Said the Multitude of Contacts Between the Trump Campaign and Russia Justifies a Further Investigation by Congress

Former CIA Director John Brennan told House Russia investigators that Russia brazenly interfered in US elections, including actively contacting members of President Donald Trump's campaign.

25. Trump Has Frequently Contradicted Himself About How Well He Knows Vladimir Putin

Since announcing his campaign for the presidency, Donald Trump often contradicted himself, alternately claiming to know Vladimir Putin quite well and having a good relationship with him, then claiming that he did not know Putin and had no relationship at all with him.


26. Another Trump Campaign Adviser Pled Guilty to Lying to the FBI About the Campaign’s Ties to Russia

A foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump during the campaign, George Papadopoulos, had contacted a Russian known as “The Professor” (yes, seriously), in order to obtain information harmful to Hillary Clinton. Papadopoulos initially lied to the FBI about these contacts. In October, 2017, he pled guilty to lying to the FBI in order to get his cooperation with the Russia investigation.

27. President Trump Fired Both His Secretary of State and His National Security Adviser Right After They Criticized Russia

On March 12, 2018, for the first time in his tenure as Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson issued a scathing criticism of Russia for their involvement in the murder of a private citizen in Great Britain. Within 24 hours, Tillerson was fired by Donald Trump.

On March 15, 2018, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster called for serious action against Russia for their atrocities in Syria. Within hours, sources in the White House said that President Trump was planning to remove McMaster at the NSA. A few days later, Trump announced that John Bolton would replace McMaster as the new National Security Adviser.

28. Trump Seized the Notes From His Interpreter After His Private Meeting With Putin

During Trump's private 2017 meeting with Putin, he did not allow the Secretary of State or any diplomats to attend. Only Trump’s Interpreter was present. After the meeting, Trump seized the interpreter's notes so no record of the meeting would exist.

Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told CNN that he never claimed there was "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told CNN that he never claimed there was "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia.
29. Trump’s Lawyer Tacitly Admitted There Was Collusion Between the Trump Campaign and Russia

In a CNN interview, Rudy Giuliani claimed he never said there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. He only would say there was “no evidence” that Trump himself conspired with the Russians to hack the DNC computers.

30. Trump’s Version of the Truth Has Changed Repeatedly Over a 2 Year Period

President Trump's spokes people have changed their story many times since the Russia investigation began. Here’s the progression we’ve seen from Trump and his defenders over the past 2 years.

“Russia never interfered in the 2016 election.”
“OK Russia interfered but they didn’t try to help Trump win.”
“OK Russia interfered to help Trump, but the Trump campaign had no contact with Russia.”
“OK just one person had contact with Russia but there was no collusion.”
“OK many Trump people had contacts with Russia but they never lied about their Russian contacts.
“OK they did lie about their contacts with Russia but they never asked Russia to get dirt on Hillary Clinton.”
“OK they did ask for dirt on Hillary but they never talked about lifting sanctions on Russia.”
“OK they did discuss lifting sanctions but they didn’t try to cover it up.”
"OK they did try to cover it up, but they didn't give Russia any information to help them influence the election so there was no collusion.
"OK they did give Russia valuable data to help them interfere in our election.
“OK collusion just isn’t a crime.”
31. Trump Adviser George Papadopoulos Pleaded Guilty to Lying to the FBI About the Campaign’s Ties to Russia

George Papadopoulos, who served as a foreign policy adviser for Donald Trump, admitted that he lied to the FBI regarding their investigation into the Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Papadopoulos lied about meeting with a Russian official who was offering information about Hillary Clinton to help Trump win the election.

Is That It?

This list will likely continue to grow longer when it is updated with new connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. Check back here from time to time to see any new discoveries of contacts between Trump and Russia

This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.

** This list will likely continue to grow longer when it is updated with new connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. ***

And let us not forget the statement made by Eric trump about not caring about
U.S. Banks because they (the trumps) get all of their money from
Russia.

So , remind me again who is being lied to?