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Trump, Declassification, and Leverage
American Thinker ^ | 10-10-2018 | Mark Wauck

Posted on 10/10/2018 4:56:06 AM PDT by servo1969

Let's start with the domestic front of the Russia hoax. Sundance at Conservative Tree House has an excellent post up: "President Trump and DAG Rod Rosenstein - "No Collusion", No Immediate Worries..." The overall theme is one that's dear to Sundance's heart: leverage.

-snip-

There is now a concrete storyline backed by irrefutable evidence: The FBI allowed itself to take political opposition research created by one party to defeat another in an election, treated it like actionable intelligence, presented it to the court as substantiated, and then used it to justify spying on an adviser for the campaign of that party's duly chosen nominee for president in the final days of a presidential election.

-snip-

Rosenstein is the key because he created the special counsel part of the hoax and because – as a result of A.G. Sessions's recusal – he remains in charge of the special counsel operation.  Rosenstein can exercise as much or as little control over Mueller as he wants.  Trump's threat of declassification of the "origination material" gives Trump complete leverage over Rosenstein and therefore over Mueller.

Trump's leverage ensures that Rosenstein will very much want to restrain Mueller.  If Rosenstein wants to restrain Mueller, Mueller will be restrained.  This may explain why we are now seeing key members of Mueller's team leaving and returning to their old jobs.  The importance of this is that Mueller has posed the greatest threat to the Trump administration, the greatest annoyance.  That threat is now defanged for the immediate future.  If Mueller steps out of line, boom!  Declassification.  By putting declassification on hold, Trump maintains his leverage.  And Congress continues to investigate and slowly reveal the truth.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: coup; declassification; fbi; fisa; hoax; impeach; impeachment; mueller; rosenstein; russia; sessions; trump

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
1 posted on 10/10/2018 4:56:07 AM PDT by servo1969
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To: servo1969

I have a different take. It is simply unacceptable that our employees do not follow the directions received from the president, and sabotage and entrapment are punishable offenses as well.


2 posted on 10/10/2018 4:59:22 AM PDT by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: servo1969

Trump should not try to play clever political games with the Democrats concerning declassification. They are much better at these types of games; Machiavelli is a part of their nature. Trump should simply stand on the truth and declassify now.


3 posted on 10/10/2018 5:07:53 AM PDT by Socon-Econ
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To: RKV

I am starting to realize Trump may have a very different approach to all this. He spent decades dealing with corrupt politicians and women making false accusations at critical times. He seems to not be interested in punishing his attackers. In essence, when you stop looking forward and divert resources and time into revenge you are just letting your enemies get you to fight a battle you have already won. “Living well is the best revenge.” “Make your enemies destroy themselves by hating you”. I really think he has no intention of punishing the people we have watched commit crimes and, really, he shouldln’t. That isn’t his job it is someone else’s and they just aren’t doing i t for whatever reason.


4 posted on 10/10/2018 5:10:54 AM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.B)
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To: RKV

In this case, I think Trump has the NSA arrange the intelligence...then has Kelly brief Rosenstein on an impending security investigation (which would not only prove the entrapment campaign, but also remove his authority over Mueller). This leads Rosenstein to realize that there’s actual jail-time for him once such an investigation is completed.

But Trump opens the door and says....now, you can work for me and regulate Mueller....with the final report coming only to you and never going anywhere else. The odds of Mueller touching any Trump family member now? Zero.

I think Rosenstein....as long as he performs for Trump...will get to retire on schedule and avoid any federal jail-time. Mueller also grasps this whole thing and has to wonder if there is any reason to continue the fake investigation.


5 posted on 10/10/2018 5:11:43 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: pepsionice

Nice try, but no. The odds of state prosecutors touching the Trump family and the families of senior members of his administration are 100%. And Trump cannot pardon state crimes. This needs to get ugly, and the sooner the better. There is no bargaining with these peeps.


6 posted on 10/10/2018 5:15:12 AM PDT by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: servo1969

Yeah, we know all that. Let’s get to the “frog marching” part.


7 posted on 10/10/2018 5:37:38 AM PDT by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: servo1969

I purchased and am reading “Spygate” right now. A similar book came out a day or two prior. Less than a month to the election. IMHO declassification is coming within a couple of weeks.


9 posted on 10/10/2018 7:31:56 AM PDT by jdsteel (Americans are Dreamers too!!)
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To: RKV
"And Trump cannot pardon state crimes."

Really?? And you base this on what??

10 posted on 10/10/2018 8:50:54 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel and NRA Life Member)
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To: Wonder Warthog

Dude, get to know the law a bit. K? The Pres can only pardon state crimes. Article II, Section 2, US Constitution. This is not hard.


11 posted on 10/10/2018 9:25:11 AM PDT by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: RKV

correction - only pardon FEDERAL crimes.


12 posted on 10/10/2018 9:25:37 AM PDT by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: RKV
"Dude, get to know the law a bit."

I'm a chemist, not a lawyer. I asked a simple question and you decided to be a jerk.

13 posted on 10/10/2018 9:50:29 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel and NRA Life Member)
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To: Wonder Warthog

Get a mirror to find the jerk.


14 posted on 10/10/2018 10:18:51 AM PDT by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: servo1969

Leverage? For what one has to ask? Wouldn’t he get far more mileage by releasing the unredacted FISA application documents and influence the midterm elections? Seems to me he would.


15 posted on 10/10/2018 10:23:09 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Wonder Warthog

Well to be honest here, your statement could have been taken as being a sardonic question. But he is correct, Presidential pardon applies only to Federal crimes, not state crimes. But he too could have exercised some restraint in his response. Emotions get the best of us sometimes. Best just to shake it off and realize we are all on the same team and do not need to fight among ourselves.


16 posted on 10/10/2018 10:31:27 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: ping jockey

Everyone keeps hanging their hats on the “sealed indictiments”. I have no confidence that any of these “sealed indictments” have anything to do with the deep state. Most likely they are drug related when you look at the filings across the states. That’s where Sessions’ focus has been all along. He’s not pursuing anything related to politicians.


17 posted on 10/10/2018 10:55:52 AM PDT by damper99 (pu)
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To: Robert DeLong
Best just to shake it off and realize we are all on the same team and do not need to fight among ourselves.

Don't be silly, of course we do. 😀

18 posted on 10/10/2018 11:37:56 AM PDT by itsahoot (Welcome to the New USA where Islam is a religion of peace and Christianity is a mental disorder.)
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To: Robert DeLong

You take all the fun out of it!


19 posted on 10/10/2018 9:09:05 PM PDT by gdc61
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To: gdc61

That’s me, the kill joy. 8>)


20 posted on 10/11/2018 5:38:47 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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