Washington (AFP) - A lawyer for Donald Trump Sunday pushed back Sunday against reports that the special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election might be seeking to interview the president, saying it would happen only "over my dead body."
Rudy Giuliani said special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors could not be trusted to deal fairly with the president, suggesting they had trapped another witness into committing perjury.
Asked on "Fox News Sunday" about reports Mueller now wants a face-to-face interview to follow up on Trump's submission of written answers, Giuliani shot back: "Good luck. Good luck."
"Over my dead body."
Mueller's 19-month-long probe into possible Russian collusion with the Trump election campaign has led to dozens of indictments for federal crimes and several guilty pleas or convictions.
Regarding a separate federal inquiry into hush-money payments by Trump to two women alleging sexual encounters with him, Giuliani said they did not violate federal election law because, he said, they were intended to help Trump avoid embarrassing his family -- not to influence the 2016 election.
"I can produce witnesses that the president was concerned about how it would affect his children, his marriage," Giuliani told Fox.
"I know what he was concerned about. I can produce 20 witnesses to tell you what he was concerned about."
Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced last week to three years in prison in connection with the payments to an adult film star and a former Playboy model. Cohen said he regretted having helped the president carry out his "dirty deeds."
Trump, who first denied knowledge of the payments, then blamed them on bad advice from Cohen, posted an angry tweet Sunday blasting the FBI's handling of his former lawyer.
"Remember, Michael Cohen only became a 'Rat' after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable & unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE!"
The FBI had a legal warrant to raid Cohen's office.
Asked on Fox whether anyone had suggested to Cohen that he might receive a presidential pardon if he refused to testify against Trump, Giuliani said, "The liar can say whatever he wants. There will be no pardons."
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lol, Trump picked the best worst lawyer ever!!
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
He doesn't want our President to become another victim of entrapment like Flynn.
Entrapment? Flynn literally didn’t know lying to the FBI was a crime! Eww boy entrapment?? that’s rich 40. I’ll be back to remind you of all this later. I need to clean up my sprayed beer on the floor.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
He doesn't want our President to become another victim of entrapment like Flynn.
nobody entrapped Flynn.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Flynn has since said in a bombshell court filing that top FBI brass pressured him not to bring a lawyer to the interview, which prompted the federal judge overseeing the case to demand all relevant documents from Mueller's team for review. It remains technically possible for the judge to overturn Flynn's guilty plea if he finds that it was coerced, or would represent a miscarriage of justice.
The agents who interviewed Flynn at the White House in January 2017 -- including Strzok -- said they did not initially think Flynn was lying.
so let me get this straight. when investigators initially think somebody isn't lying, but then come across new information/evidence that shows that a person did indeed lie, they are suppose to ignore the information and go with their initial assessment?
lmfao. im bout to convert to a religion, just to pray to a god and be thankful you don't run any aspect of our justice department.
nevermind real procedures by the justice department, i take it conservatives never watched an episode of law & order.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
He doesn't want our President to become another victim of entrapment like Flynn.
nobody entrapped Flynn.
With all due respect you don't have enough information to make that determination.
apparently you didn't read the memo mueller dropped.
if it was entrapment, why did flynn still take the plea deal?
see, you and others keep trying to play games, but at the end of the day, innocent people at this high of a level, with powerful, well experienced lawyers, dont take plea deals if they did nothing wrong.
please, just stop it already. you and 40 are making yourselves look oblivious, clueless, and just downright foolish. have some respect for yourself.
Last edited by Swish; 12/16/1804:02 PM.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I asked you a question which you side stepped. Do you know the members of the special counsel and their past? Seems you don't or 100% trust every human being, which is foolish. I know you think Mueller is Jesus Christ himself.
I like to look at people's past experiences to try and judge what their future actions will be. That's why I like to look into individuals on any counsel. I mean its inevitable to do so when half the FBI and Justice department have been proven as corrupt.
side stepped what? meuller is running the investigation.
your personal beef with whoever doesn't matter. you do understand that, right?
i dont think mueller is jesus christ because i dont believe in jesus christ to begin with. i don't pretend mueller is pefect, but TB, you really want to compare mueller with trump?
ok then, lets compare mueller, who served in vietnam, to cadet bone spurs. your move.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
so let me get this straight. when investigators initially think somebody isn't lying, but then come across new information/evidence that shows that a person did indeed lie, they are suppose to ignore the information and go with their initial assessment?
lmfao. im bout to convert to a religion, just to pray to a god and be thankful you don't run any aspect of our justice department.
nevermind real procedures by the justice department, i take it conservatives never watched an episode of law & order.
Let me ask you what happens to you and me when the cop denies us an attorney and doesn't read us the Miranda warning?
t doesn't matter whether an interrogation occurs in a jail, at the scene of a crime, on a busy downtown street, or the middle of an open field: If a person is in custody (deprived of his or her freedom of action in any significant way), the police must read the Miranda rights if they want to ask questions and use the answers as evidence at trial.
If someone is not in police custody, however, no Miranda warning is required and anything the person says can be used at trial. Police officers often avoid arresting people—and make it clear to them that they're free to go—precisely so they don't have to give the Miranda warning. Then they can arrest the suspect after getting the incriminating statement they wanted all along. (For more detail, see our article on the meaning of "custodial interrogation.")
again, i learned about this as a teenager. you're what? 60 something? and still don't know basic facts related to interactions with law enforcement?
thats white privilege for you.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
so let me get this straight. when investigators initially think somebody isn't lying, but then come across new information/evidence that shows that a person did indeed lie, they are suppose to ignore the information and go with their initial assessment?
lmfao. im bout to convert to a religion, just to pray to a god and be thankful you don't run any aspect of our justice department.
nevermind real procedures by the justice department, i take it conservatives never watched an episode of law & order.
Let me ask you what happens to you and me when the cop denies us an attorney and doesn't read us the Miranda warning?
Yep, case tossed and we walk.
Thank you Perry Mason. But nobody is denying anyone an attorney or not reading them Miranda rights when charged with these crimes.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
The documents also reveal that the decision to interview Flynn in early 2017 about contacts with the Russian ambassador was controversial within the Justice Department. One FBI document said then-Acting Attorney General Sally Yates “was not happy” when then-FBI Director James Comey informed her that the FBI planned to talk to Flynn. The report also said several unnamed people back at FBI headquarters “later argued about the FBI’s decision to interview Flynn.”
The documents – some of which are heavily redacted – were released in response to U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ordering prosecutors to hand over the government's files related to the FBI’s questioning of Flynn by Friday afternoon. The order came after Flynn's legal team said in a filing that the FBI discouraged Flynn from bringing a lawyer to the interview and agents never advised him false statements in that setting could constitute a crime. The newly released documents confirm those claims.
Entrapment! A violation of Flynn's Constitutional Rights!
i also noticed how you guys arent exactly arguing that a crime was being committed, but instead are whining about the speculation of how those crimes were uncovered.
you guys increasingly sound like the lawyers who defend rapist.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Except once again, The 302 report stated that Strzok and the other agent “both had the impression at the time that Flynn was not lying or did not think he was lying.”
McCabe's memo indicated he indeed discouraged Flynn from getting the White House counsel's office involved.
again, just because they initially thought he wasn't lying doesn't mean they should ignore future evidence that shows he was.
theres facts, and there's there's alternative facts. apparently you're still using kellyanne conway style of facts.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Trump might as well have 40 representing him. its gonna lead to the same result: clown shows.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
And again, lying is not a factor when Rights were denied.
Asked to describe how two FBI agents ended up at the White House to interview Flynn in January 2017, Comey, speaking to MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace during a forum discussion Sunday, said flatly: “I sent them.”
Comey went on to acknowledge the way the interview was set up – not through the White House counsel’s office, but arranged directly with Flynn – was not standard practice. He called it “something I probably wouldn't have done or maybe gotten away with in a more … organized administration.”
President Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, tweeted Friday that the documents are proof the FBI set a “perjury trap” for Flynn.
Flynn wasn't entrapped. if Flynn's lawyers can't even argue that successfully in court, what makes you think you have any chance in hell convincing me of that on a message board?
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I don't need to convince you of anything, only the Judge.
California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa told Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" that the FBI had "tricked" Flynn into not having a lawyer and had improperly "post-dated" documents to "morph" them into critical evidence against him. He promised Comey would face tough questioning about the episode.
He continued: "I would not be surprised a bit if the conviction of Flynn is overturned, because of the Justice Department and FBI's misconduct -- and that in fact, we go potentially all the way to the Supreme Court, with new protections -- when the FBI and the Department of Justice lies to someone and tricks them into making statements, and then charges them with a lie they entrapped them in. ... This kind of conduct we haven't seen in a long time."
funny that the open and shut case has been shut with a guilty plea.
but keep crying about entrapment that never happened.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
So Mr. Transparency doesn't want to talk to Mueller and he is going to try to fight to keep the report from being released to the public.
Subpoena Trump and take it all the way to the highest court if he doesn't want to talk. And if they are going to try to squelch the report, release it in court filings.
So Mr. Transparency doesn't want to talk to Mueller and he is going to try to fight to keep the report from being released to the public.
Subpoena Trump and take it all the way to the highest court if he doesn't want to talk. And if they are going to try to squelch the report, release it in court filings.
Cry all you want but going after President of the United States of America Donald Trump and trying to impeach him is political suicide for Democrats.
He will eat your lunch. Hate will only get you so far.
Just to remind everyone, a rat is somebody who gives incriminating evidence about someone to the feds.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
The stooges are not arguing Flynn or anyone is actually innocent. Right? They Are (without any facts or evidence) arguing trying to get people off based on technicalities. SMH
I'm increasingly discusted by the Trump faithful who parrot anything and everything to excuse and enable the criminal behavior and poor choices by Trump. For a group of xenophobic nationalists who get so hung up on branding illegal immigrants as Criminals, yet ignore so many flagrant abuses by their idiot in Chief.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
you got it right. they aren't claiming nothing wrong happened. they are still going with the technicality angle: that the crimes committed shouldn't have been discovered.
its quite pathetic.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Very obvious that Trump can't possibly keep him hole shut. Any Lawyer worth his salt would say the same thing. Putting this moron on the stand is counterproductive.
The stooges are not arguing Flynn or anyone is actually innocent. Right? They Are (without any facts or evidence) arguing trying to get people off based on technicalities. SMH
I'm increasingly discusted by the Trump faithful who parrot anything and everything to excuse and enable the criminal behavior and poor choices by Trump. For a group of xenophobic nationalists who get so hung up on branding illegal immigrants as Criminals, yet ignore so many flagrant abuses by their idiot in Chief.
You know, I'm not mad at the people who believed him, voted for him, and still want to believe him. BUT when they act like he is better than other presidents or they respect his rhetoric, name calling, and generally acting like a child I get a little heated. Those things and obvious racism set me off.
Just being honest here: Rudy won't let Mueller interview Trump because Trump can't so much as knock out a morning tweet without dropping off a lie or two.
He'd trip over himself so quickly that Mueller would be wise to carry a set of warm handcuffs into the interview - they won't cool down before they're wrapped around Trump's tiny little wrists.
I know Republicans HATE hearing it, but you know in your heart of hearts that Trump is a habitual liar and Rudy is knows damn well that he has to save Trump from himself.
oh without a doubt, thats what any lawyer would do.
what most lawyers won't do is get up on national tv, lie about things the media has readily available on paper, and make the most boneheaded comments any lawyer has ever made in a situation like this.
i mean think about it: the media has guiliani on tape now admitting that talks with the tower with regards to trump went on until nov 2016, even though it was talks were supposedly ended in jan 2016.
your lawyer isn't suppose to go out there and make things worse.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”