This may be the most direct Donald Trump has been about his desire for the Mueller investigation to come to an end.
..This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further. Bob Mueller is totally conflicted, and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2018
Let’s fact check that tweet. It’s hard to know where to start. First and foremost Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the investigation. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is heading it up.
Sessions is recused. Trump is calling on a recused official to unrecuse himself to stop an investigation, just as Trump's former fixer signals he will tell the investigation Trump approved of a meeting w/ a Russian rep as part of a secret Kremlin plot to help his campaign. https://t.co/1YYZUlNOWJ
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) August 1, 2018
What adds to the case that the President's statement is an attempt to obstruct justice is that:
President Trump directed his statement to the person who is RECUSED from overseeing the investigation due to long-standing, unequivocal Justice Department policies. https://t.co/mkthrQAxxL
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) August 1, 2018
Second, it’s hard to say it’s a witch hunt when there have already been so many indictments.
The Mueller-Rosenstein investigation is making progress at record speed: 35 indictments, 5 guilty pleas & Trump’s campaign chairman on trial. @realDonaldTrump's statements this morning are just another attempt to make the American people look at his latest shiny object. https://t.co/WRx6dIG82J
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 1, 2018
With Trump once again saying "Russian collusion with the Trump Campaign … is a TOTAL HOAX," here's a reminder of this nugget from the recent indictments of those 12 Russian intel officials –> pic.twitter.com/sGc7zyiPS2
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) August 1, 2018
As for the “angry Democrats” comment, Mueller is a Republican as are many people on his staff.
The investigation is headed by Robert Mueller, a Republican.
Robert Mueller was appointed by Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Republican appointed by Donald Trump.
— Morten Øverbye (@morten) August 1, 2018
More than the tweet itself today, it’s important to read between the lines and think about whether Trump is laying the groundwork to eventually fire Mueller.
Recall that congressional Republicans have repeatedly insisted that Mueller protection legislation is unnecessary because Trump would not fire Mueller. https://t.co/od6ZtaHl4E
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) August 1, 2018
Something else to consider is whether tweets like today will actually be used against Trump in the very investigation he wants to end.
Mueller is investigating whether @realDonaldTrump’s used Twitter to intimidate or pressure Jeff Sessions: https://t.co/pUTT83EciI
Today, @realDonaldTrump uses Twitter to pressure Sessions to end the Russia investigation: https://t.co/K6DwIlfvZT
— Michael D. Shear (@shearm) August 1, 2018
There’s a weird kind of genius to Trump just constantly tweeting demands to end an investigation into his campaign. If the same statements were leaked secret memos it would be a huge scandal, but by being so brazen people get used to the idea that it’s just what he does.
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) August 1, 2018
