The Collusion Illusion   

Part 2 of 4

   Who done it? In 2016, James Comey told us he decided not to refer Hillary Clinton for possible prosecution, when he was required by law to lay the FBI "matter" on the desk of Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch. She later told the House that she in fact made the decision not to press charges, though she had given the impression that she would defer to the FBI. 

   Comey's FBI destroyed its own evidence - laptops of two Clinton aides. 

   After the president fired him, Comey unlawfully leaked personal memos - legally government records - a felony. Content, not markings, make the difference. He admitted that his purpose was to see a special counsel appointed.

   Rod Rosenstein, new assistant attorney general, in 2017 wrote a report on Comey's (unsatisfactory?) record. Democrats loved Comey in summer 2016, hated him in October, but loved him again after Trump fired him. Contrary to media reports, by firing Comey, Trump did not end ongoing investigations.  

    

   And we think California is a bit loony.

You can't investigate sins, only federal crimes.

- Alan Dershowitz

   May 17, 2017, the day after Robert Mueller, former justice official and FBI director, interviewed with President Trump - presumably for Comey's job - Rosenstein appointed Mueller to be special counsel. He was to investigate Russian meddling in the election - a counter-intelligence case, not criminal.

   The Washington Post first used the word "collusion," which became the ongoing word of choice in the media and among Democrats. The Trump team's interactions with Russians, and other nations, was typical of previous administrations. International contacts are important. Collusion is not a crime, although if traitorous, it should be. 

   Rosenstein gave Mueller a vague, blank check to investigate non-criminal matters. He did not use the word collusion. August 2, Rosenstein sent a second, secret memo to Mueller, ordering an investigation into Paul Manafort. Oh, wait.

   Mueller had Manafort's home raided the previous week, July 26. Oops! 

   When a federal judge threatened to dismiss the Manafort case, Mueller revealed the secret memo as his "authority." 

Next week: More on Mueller