The Plot Thickens

Submitted by ub on

US Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III a GOP member is reportedly preparing to interview Republican President Donald J. Trump in connection with the Russia probe. Trump's lawyers are negotiating the terms of an interview with the special counsel's team and want Trump to provide some testimony face-to-face with investigators and the rest of a written statement.

Mueller seeks to question Trump about Flynn and Comey departures http://wapo.st/2n5EOKD?tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.edadc561785f

Also, new developments with Sessions, and FBI independence. The Department of Justice has confirmed that Jeff Sessions was interviewed by the special counsel's team for several hours last week. Jeff Sessions is a potentially important witness given his role as a key Trump surrogate on the campaign trail and his direct involvement in the firing of FBI Director James Comey. Sessions questioned in Russia probe, Trump may be up soon https://www.apnews.com/48a4922ba1554feb80799068eba15859

Another day with additional political shockwaves. Day of bombshells takes Mueller probe to critical point @CNNPolitics http://cnn.it/2GaDQWc

Meanwhile, FBI Director Christopher Wray threatened to resign recently after he was pressured by Attorney General Sessions, at the direction of President Donald Trump, to fire deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, according to informed sources. Sessions and the White House reportedly backed down because they did not want to stir up another political controversy involving FBI independence.

Scoop: FBI director threatened to resign amid Trump, Sessions pressure https://www.axios.com/scoop-sessions-fbi-trump-christopher-wray-877adb3…

Tensions, sure, but no resignation threat. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/tensions-between…

An impossible spot for Wray in a fight with more rounds to come. Power and Integrity at the FBI: Chris Wray Stands Up to the President and the Attorney General http://www.lawfareblog.com/power-and-integrity-fbi-chris-wray-stands-pr…

Remember the introduction of #Trump Alternative Facts. How did Attorney General Jeff Sessions circumvent Homeland Security analysts to produce a report on terrorism? Team Trump Bypassed DHS Analysts to Produce Bogus Terror Report http://thebea.st/2n0UgIA?source=twitter&via=desktop

New academic research confirms there is virtually no link between immigration rates and crime. http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-criminol-032317-09…

How the Trump administration’s immigration enforcers are targeting activists. http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-criminol-032317-09…