DemDaily: Watergate Doubletake
May 24, 2017
It is no surprise that the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate Russia's ties to the Trump Campaign is drawing comparisons to Watergate, the 1973 political scandal that ended with the resignation of then President Richard Nixon.
Russia-gate and Watergate?
Trump's recent firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was heading up the Russian investigation, and revelations that the President attempted earlier to personally squelch the probe of his own actions, paint a similar picture - with the final act yet to be played out.
| The Special Counsel is authorized to pursue "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation." |
Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russian inquiry, leaving the Comey firing to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who did so on Trump's orders. But Trump's subsequent, damaging admissions left Rosenstein little choice but to acquiesce to calls for a Special Counsel to oversee the case.
Rosenstein's choice of respected former FBI Director Robert Mueller, which was unknown to Trump until the hour before the announcement, has been applauded by both sides of the aisle -- but has not deterred the temperamental tweeter from trying to discredit the investigation which he claims "hurts our country."
As Special Counsel Mueller will have the power to subpoena documents and interview the President as a part of the probe.
Some have expressed concerns the Special Counsel directive is too narrow and would prevent Mueller from pursuing other potential criminal acts outside the scope of his stated authority.
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"The Attorney General may remove a Special Counsel for misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or for other good cause, including violation of Departmental policies."
-- Section 600.7 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations
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There is also a question of who has authority to fire Mueller, with many claiming the current statute gives Trump, through the Attorney General, that authority.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller (Pic: Elizabeth Brockway/Daily Beast)
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Sources: ABC, Daily Beast, CNN, KTLA, Lawfare
