Is Trump Afraid of Mueller’s Report?

There are many questions about the U.S. president’s actions and words regarding Robert Mueller’s investigation and the case against Paul Manafort

U.S President Donald Trump and his political and legal teams are intensifying the attacks against the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller in connection with possible Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election in 2016. This is an obvious sign of the increasing concern among Trump’s allies who believe that Mueller’s findings could seriously damage the president’s reputation, as reported by CNN. This week Trump sent a clear appeal to Attorney General Jeff Sessions to terminate the investigation.

“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,” wrote Trump in a Twitter message, adding: “Bob Mueller is totally conflicted and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA.”

This whirlpool of excitement happened a week after it became clear that the president’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, is ready to inform Mueller that the then-presidential candidate knew about his son’s meeting with a Russian lawyer in Trump Tower. Trump denies everything that is known about the meeting.

His Twitter message coincided with the beginning of the trial against Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. This could strengthen public confidence in the investigation by the special counsel, who could also reach an agreement with Manafort to cooperate if he were subjected to stronger pressure to do so.

Trump’s words leave his lawyers and subordinates in a chaotic situation. While the special counsel is trying to establish whether there is a corrupt motive related to the obstruction of justice in any of the president’s actions, they themselves might also be brought to justice.

In the very same week, several of the president’s legal representatives including the former mayor and current attorney of Trump, Rudy Giuliani, began to publicly ask whether a possible secret deal between Trump and Russia is in fact a crime. These reflections sparked an outpouring of speculation about whether Giuliani understands that there is evidence which supports the theory of Russian interference, as found by Mueller, and whether the attorney is trying to dispel the possible impact of what is happening before the midterm elections in November.

On Wednesday Giuliani raised the stakes again, warning that, unfortunately, the upcoming elections would be held under the shadow of the investigation. His comment was clearly part of the efforts of Trump’s team to motivate the president’s supporters to turn out for the elections in order to prevent a resurgence of the “blue wave,” which could help the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives.

It is expected that Mueller will submit a report with evidence that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will be forced to send to Congress for a vote of no confidence. It is unlikely that the Republicans would turn against the president, especially after Trump went to great lengths to convince his supporters that Mueller’s campaign is acting corruptly and unfairly, and that he is apparently biased. History may look different if the Democrats win November’s midterm elections.

As no one outside Mueller’s inner circle knows what evidence has been gathered against Trump and how much there is, and few people who are not within the president’s circle of associates have a clear idea of the potential impact, it is impossible to say with certainty what prompted current developments in support of the president.

Trump’s Twitter messages prompted the public to start paying attention to the president’s previous actions in relation to the charges of secret negotiations with Russia and the resurfaced case of former FBI Director James Comey who, fired by Trump, was also investigating this. This increases the doubts about Trump’s intention to put an end to the saga of the investigation. Giuliani and White House representatives, including White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, argue that the president is only “exercising the right to freedom of speech and is giving an opinion on the issue.”*

The reason for Trump’s latest intervention in Mueller’s case is unclear, but it is evident that the president is worried about the collapse in his relationship with Cohen amid increasing speculation that his sole confidant may agree to strike a deal if he is charged. Although the White House states that the trial for tax evasion against Manafort, who stashed money in foreign accounts, has nothing to do with Trump, the president’s Twitter messages prove otherwise. According to some sources familiar with the case, if Trump is trying to oppose the investigation, he is afraid of the possible disclosures that may see the light of day.

*Editor’s note: The original quotation, accurately translated, could not be verified.