AXIOS REPORTING ROSENSTEIN HAS RESIGNED

CNN live

Manu Raju ‏ Verified account

@mkraju Following Following @mkraju

With Rosenstein out, Noel Francisco, the solicitor general, would take on oversight of the Mueller probe. How this would impact the Mueller probe is unknown.

What a lot of ups and downs we're experiencing.

This must mean that Mueller will be fired soon, which will energize anti-Trump voters but also squelch the investigation into Trump's conspiracy. Let's hope that the various pieces of info find their way out through leaks and state-level investigations and trials.

What a fucking shitfest. Fucking trump needs to resign. I wonder why he didn't wait to be fired and force trump's hand?

Rosenstein got Comey booted. Now he's being booted. Wonder who wrote a Rosenstein-type "Comey is unfit" memo about Rosenstein this time.

Wow, the Trump admin was pretty quiet about this over the weekend, but they must have been pouring on the pressure behind the scenes.

MSNBC: Rosenstein headed to White House, summoned there. WH saying he will resign, Rosenstein says he won't and that the WH must fire him.

Annie Linskey ‏ Verified account

@AnnieLinskey 1m1 minute ago

FWIW, Rod Rosenstein has definitely turned off his cell phone.

Great. Just great.

Hope the NYT is happy now.

YIKES

All this after Manafort starts cooperating...

R6, "poring" - don't make Trump's error LOL. Precision of language.

FUCK The New York Times, I really hope they DO go broke, hope every single person cancels their subscription today

The New York Times doing Trump's work for him. Congratulations!

The Times was embarrassed by NBC and another outlet's report that Rosenstein was being sarcastic. Now the Times has caused this.

Oh shit. No wonder tRump has been quiet on Twitter this morning.

Surely Mueller planned for this. Let's not assume the game is over yet.

The CNN banner said he was expecting to be fired.

There is a big chance this will negatively affect the mid terms, right? I mean the Repugs causing all this chaos and upheaval. How can anyone sane vote for them? Right? RIGHT??

OK Mueller, get the Dead Mans Switch ready.........

Haberman is thrilled, I'm sure.

R18 There has been mentions that Mueller has planned for this eventuality.

Trump is at The UN today in NY and he NEVER fires anyone in person. So expect the worst. Pence or Kelly will do it.

OK, Fuck Halberstam too, Fuck Trump, Fuck McConnell, Fuck Lindsay, FUCK NUNES, FUCK CHAFFETZ, Fuck them all.

Here we are, this is the juncture, what happens now?

Mueller needs to protect the files. Trump will go after them. Send them somewhere safe, where they can be taken up again by investigators installed by a Democratic House.

Now he can't get unemployment. Big dummy

Mueller, file those indictments.

Schmidt at the Times, who wrote the article, no doubt heard the "Rosenstein was being sarcastic" angle, but ran with the "he was serious" angle for a bigger story. If it was just sarcasm, there'd be no story. Haberman probably advised him to, in her NY Post alum way, to go for the sensational angle.

No one here knows what Meuller knows/has planned for, so it's all conjecture. I certainly hope that Meuller has at least one Plan B given that his status is in jeopardy.

The Mueller report to the deputy attorney general needs to become public. We paid for it - we deserve to read it. There's unlikely any imminent national security issues in it.

So Axios reporting Rosenstein is going to resign MSNBC says he says he will have to be fired.

Which is it?

Fuck

I can't not imagine that he will resign. Why should he?

I think we just don't know yet, r32.

He shouldn't resign - forcing Trump to fire him might add to the obstruction of justice case.

Let’s not assume the worst. Maybe Noel Francisco will be just as good?

Tasneem N

@TasneemN

rod rosenstein has resigned/been fired/is expected to be fired/will not quit/ will leave his job / will refuse to go quietly into the night without a fight/ will be at happy hour along with the rest of us tonight

This week is going to be wild

And what happened to the whole... Drumpf can't fire Rosenstein, Sessions has to do it, idea?

FFS people....its Jonathan Swan....hes on par with Maggie Habermann and Mike Schmidt....take it with a grain of salt until its CONFIRMED. Because everyone is apocalyptic, doesnt mean its happening.....yet.

It's being confirmed everywhere r41. Rosenstein is out.

What is Noel Francisco's background?

[quote]If Rosenstein is fired, Noel Francisco may be next to oversee Mueller: A clerk for Scalia, he worked for Bush during the Florida recount and has been skeptical of special counsel probes in the past

r42....NO its NOT confirmed.....people are jumping on the Axios report....like the NYT article.....NOTHING is confirmed and everyone is speculating.

WaPo reporting. Their wording is he offered to resign.

R29 - Schmidt reported was the Justice Department spokeswoman said about sarcasm. However other sources claimed it was not a sarcastic statement. Try reading more than the headline.

Either Trump is marching towards winning vs. the investigation, or he's compounding the shitstorm that's going to hit him, by committing obstruction of a grander, "meta" scale.

This isn't good either. Doubtful he would recuse:

[quote]Solicitor General Noel Francisco. Francisco, however, is probably recused from the Russia investigation (at a minimum), because Jones Day, his former firm, represents the Trump Campaign (unless there's been a change). NF has recused from all SCOTUS cases ...

He is in no way winning, R48.

Of course Trump would do this now.

It's one of the few things he can do to wipe the Kavanaugh rapey stuff off cable news.

He's running out of diversionary tactics. The next one will be a military attack.

R47, I didn't deny that others said it wasn't sarcasm - that's the main claim of the article, that there are people in the room, like McCabe, who insist that Rosenstein said it in earnest.

I read the article...

What I'm saying is that others who were in the room said Rosenstein was being sarcastic, and the Times didn't cover that - they only said a spokesperson said that.

In the event that Mueller is fired (I’m not assuming that will happen; there’s no good reason for it), can the Democrats re-appoint him after midterms? I don’t even remember who was responsible for Mueller’s appointment in the first place.

It amazes me that in a world where his campaign manager and personal attorney are going to prison people would say he is "winning" r48.

Aaron Blake of the Washington Post:

"Fired" vs. "resigned" MATTERS.

Why? Federal Vacancies Reform Act gives Trump power to appoint an Acting AG if it's a resignation.

If he's fired? It's murkier.

Rosenstein appointed him r53. It was a probe started by the Justice Department.

And Trump isn't going to fire Mueller, he would have done it by now.

Associated Press is reporting that he's expecting to be fired. AP is straight news with no bias and has a presence in the White House.

More Renato Mariotti Retweeted Christina Wilkie

Trump can appoint Whitaker (or someone else) to take over Rosenstein's job and oversee the Mueller investigation if Rosenstein resigns. If Rosenstein doesn't resign, it's not clear to me that Trump has the authority to do so under the Vacancies Act.

The timing of all of this seems really fucking bizarre.

This story the NYT printed came out a year after the events supposedly happened. They must have been working with IQ45 to release it now just so they could get Rosenstein out.

Why now?

I just tuned into MSNBC and they're saying Rosenstein has been summoned to the White House. They are speculating he will be fired. Trump isn't there, he's at the UN in NY. Fucker! If there is a firing, Mueller should issue an indictment to Junior immediately.

Don't resign Rosenstein. Let the fucker fire you.

So that's it then. The US is finished now?

For R53 and everyone:

[quote] The special counsel appointment on May 17, 2017, followed a series of events that included Trump's firing of FBI director James Comey and Comey's allegation that Trump asked him to drop an FBI investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael T. Flynn.[28] Deputy Attorney General, Rod Rosenstein, in his role as Acting Attorney General for matters related to the campaign due to the recusal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, appointed Mueller, a former Director of the FBI, to serve as Special Counsel for the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). The authority for the investigation is to examine Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, including exploring any links or coordination between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and the Russian government, "and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation",[29] and any other matters within the scope of 28 CFR 600.4 – Jurisdiction.[30]

No, R62/Boris. Still more to go. Sorry to disappoint you.

I have to admit that Trump's timing is impeccable....this conveniently shifts the conversation to Rosenstein and lessens the focus on the Kavanaugh stuff

Someone at the White House leaked the "wear a wire" non-story to Michael Schmidt, so Trump would have ammunition to fire Rosenstein.

Nice work, Schmidt. Another Judith Miller.

My guess is that this is the WH claiming someone has resigned when they haven't, again. It seems to be status quo for Trump, I guess hoping the fired person will go along with the scheme.

If this thread clutched their pearls any tighter, everyone's palms would bleed...

If he resigns...I am cancelling NYT! I hope its more fake trump news and Rosenstein has not resigned.

Fuck! I want to be in a coma for the rest of dump's term..

Cancel anyway, R69. The NYT is bad enough for giving Trump, as R66 said, cover (however flimsy) for firing RR and ending the investigation.

The WH will offer Rosenstein a bigly payday, hook him up with a cushy consulting job, and thank him for his service and offer to resign, which they are so very, very sad to accept.

And, if he doesn't take that offer, well. There are other ways to get him to fall in line.

R69, go to the Post. The Times is totally corrupted by Haberman et al. They're too close to Trump -- becoming an outlet for the dictator's BS.

Right R65! Shifting focus.. that's what he does!

Leakers everywhere in Washington and all of politics I guess. Everybody's leaking all over the place; it's like a damn slip n slide.

My confidence in those representing us is at an all time low.

R69, dump that subscription!

Michael Schmidt sounds like HE (and his managing editors) was part of a conspiracy with Trump operatives to establish a set-up. If true, that's quite unethical for a newsper, the NYT, to do so.

Wow BBC World News is covering this live.

newspaper*

Rosenstein's been the bulwark protecting Mueller's investigation.

Rosenstein is out, replace by ... possibly someone who clerked for Scalia and hates special investigations.

Ok... Where do we go from here?

Who can you trust anymore??

R81, has there ever been anyone outside family who's absolutely trustworthy? I don't know...

[quote]Ok... Where do we go from here?

Directly to Dems winning the House and starting bona-fide investigations.

[quote]Rosenstein is out, replace by ... possibly someone who clerked for Scalia and hates special investigations.

Whose former firm is now representing Dotard.

43 days until midterms.

Haha.. even some family members, you can't trust R82.. lol.

Jonathan Swan of Axios::

"Yes - the latest line out of the Justice Department is that Rosenstein “offered” his resignation to Kelly but it hasn’t been officially accepted."

This November's election is the MOST important election in our lives. We're fighting for our lives now.

43 days feels like a year from now. FUCK.

Rick Wilson:

Come on, Twitter Nixon. Step into the trap.

Nadler says resigning is the same as being fired because Rosenstein is under a lot of pressure to resign. I don't think so... I hope Rosenstein forces Trump (Kelly) to fire him.

R90, I don't see the trap... I heard about it, but I don't get it.

Maybe the whole thing was planned so Trump could fire Mueller?

It's better if he's fired.

Don't be a wuss. Let the scum fire him.

WaPo's Josh Dawsey:

Remember famous incident where Sessions offered to resign after Trump berated him. Then dragged back into White House from his SUV by Pence, Priebus, etc. Resignation eventually was not accepted. Just a reminder that it's often fluid/crazy with this White House.

The difference between resigning and being fired is the Vacancies Act. If he resigns, it's easier for Trump to install his replacement.

Rosenstein stand firm... let the jerk fire you, then..

I hope he forces him to fire him too.

The NYT writer is bragging on Twitter. Asshole.

On the advise of fellow pearl clutchers , I just cancelled the NYT

Unless Democrats win big in the midterms, governmental agencies will succomb to a dictatorial entity. Vlad Putty must be pleased with what's happening to the U.S. justice system and intelligence services.

Jonathan Swan is a pos BernieBro Trump dump licker.

Axios has a lot of Republican sources so take their reporting with a grain of salt.

And keep in mind Rosenstein is a Republican.

The NYTimes writer needs to be ruined.

It's all Trump really knows how to do (and all the Powers That Be will let him do). When people crow about all the amazing things Tweety has done in less than two years, all you can say is he fired a bunch of people.

R97 — what’s he saying? For those of us who don’t have Twitter.

This article is from April, but explores all the potential avenues/outcomes.

[quote]What happens if Trump fires Rosenstein?

--- The easiest way for Trump to fire Mueller is to order someone else to do it — and the most obvious person to start with is Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who stepped in to oversee the federal probe into the Trump campaign’s ties with Russia after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself last year.

--- No matter how it is accomplished, a drive by Trump to oust Mueller could trigger a mass exodus of officials from the Justice Department and of White House lawyers. There is also the risk of a political conflagration in Congress, although it’s still not clear how far Trump can go before a substantial contingent of Republican lawmakers would break with him publicly.

[bold]1. Trump could dump Sessions, too[/bold]

--- Trump could simultaneously force out Sessions — a frequent target of his angry tirades — and use his presidential authority under the 1998 Vacancies Reform Act to install an acting attorney general who, unlike Sessions, wouldn’t have to recuse from the Russia probe — and could dismiss Mueller.

--- If Trump decides to fire Rosenstein despite the existential risk to his presidency, the resulting vacuum in oversight of the Trump-Russia probe could be filled in different ways.

[bold]2. Trump could override the established succession plan to replace Rosenstein[/bold]

--- Trump could leave Sessions in his role and just replace Rosenstein using the same mechanism, which may allow him to appoint anyone who holds a Senate-confirmed post anywhere in the executive branch — including any Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney or any Cabinet member.

--- The catch? There have been conflicting opinions about whether the president can override an established succession plan inside federal agencies. In 2001, George W. Bush White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales issued a memo saying the Justice Department’s own succession policies take precedence over presidential decisions, but Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel reversed that view in 2007. That would open up the possibility of legal challenges, including potentially from Mueller himself.

--- One sign that Trump may be willing to go this route: He already did it in 2017, when he appointed U.S. Attorney Dana Boente as acting attorney general after firing Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, an Obama holdover, for refusing to defend his travel ban order.

[bold]3. Trump could also just follow the Justice Department’s own succession plan.[/bold]

---The first person up would normally be the Justice Department’s No. 3 official, the associate attorney general. (This position did not exist in 1973.)

--- Trouble is, that position has been vacant since Trump appointee Rachel Brand resigned in February to take a job at Walmart. Because the acting associate attorney general, Jesse Panuccio, isn’t confirmed, he doesn’t have the authority to fire Mueller — and Trump hasn’t even nominated anyone yet to replace Brand.

Yeah the only way Americans can show they care about what is happening to their country is voting the GOP out of control of Congress. If we don't, then we are saying this is okay. Anyone who doesn't vote truly doesn't care about the country.

Trump is "waiting for all the facts" about Rosenstein before he decides if he fires him.

Trump wouldn't know "FACTS" even they came and hit him on the face.

From the same POLITICO article CONT'D

[bold]Under the existing order, those in line to inherit oversight of the Trump-Russia probe are:[/bold]

Title: Solicitor General

Name: Noel Francisco

Metadata: When Nixon sought to fire Watergate prosecutor Cox in 1973, the deed was ultimately done by the person serving in this position, Robert Bork. Francisco is a well-respected, experienced Supreme Court litigator who served in the White House counsel’s office and the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel under President George W. Bush. Francisco was confirmed to the solicitor general post, 50-47, last September. He’s a committed conservative who has dutifully defended Trump’s policies in court, but it’s unclear how he would respond if confronted with a presidential demand to fire Mueller.

///

Title: Assistant Attorney General for Office of Legal Counsel

Name: Steven Engel

Metadata: A former clerk to Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, Engel served as the No. 2 official in OLC under President George W. Bush. Engel was a partner at the law firm Dechert, before being confirmed by the Senate last November, 51-47.

///

Title: Assistant Attorney General for National Security

Name: John Demers

Metadata: Demers served as a top attorney in Justice’s National Security Division in the years after it was created in 2006. He was a top lawyer at Boeing before being confirmed to his current job on a voice vote in February 2018.

Rosenstein "expects" to be fired after being summoned to the White House.

R98 what did you tell them was the reason?

I think anyone who is registered and fails to vote this fall ought to be shamed and shunned. And I mean anyone.

And under cover of this shitshow, Kavanaugh gets confirmed...

POLITICO article CONT'D

[bold]Under the existing order, those in line to inherit oversight of the Trump-Russia probe are:[/bold]

Title: Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Division

Name: Vacant

Metadata: Position has been open since the beginning of the Trump administration. Trump nominated former Sessions Senate aide Brian Benczkowski last June and again in January. Acting official is John Cronan.

///

Title: Assistant Attorney General for Civil Division

Name: Vacant

Metadata: Position has been open since the beginning of the Trump administration. Trump nominated Sessions’ former chief of staff, Jody Hunt, last December and again in January. Acting official is Chad Readler.

///

Title: Assistant Attorney General for Environmental and Natural Resources Division

Name: Vacant

Metadata: Position has been open since the beginning of the Trump administration. Last June, Trump nominated a former No. 2 in Justice’s environmental division under President George W. Bush, Jeffrey Clark. He was renominated in January. Acting official is Jeffrey Wood.

With the Justice Department’s succession list exhausted, the provisions of an executive order Trump issued in March 2017 would kick in, offering up a new list of potential stand-ins.

Title: U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

Name: Vacant

Metadata: Dana Boente, a holdover from the Obama administration, served in this position through late January, when he moved over to become general counsel at the FBI. Trump has not nominated a replacement. Acting official is Tracy Doherty-McCormick.

///

Title: U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of North Carolina

Name: Robert Higdon Jr.

Metadata: Higdon was nominated by Trump last August and confirmed to the job the following month. A longtime Justice Department prosecutor in Washington and North Carolina, Higdon was co-lead counsel for the government in the 2012 trial of former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) over alleged campaign financial violations related to payments directed to a woman he secretly had an affair with. Jurors acquitted Edwards on one count and deadlocked on five others.

///

Title: U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas

Name: Erin Nealy Cox

Metadata: Trump nominated Cox to this post in September. She was confirmed in November. Cox previously worked as a prosecutor in the same office and later served in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy under President George W. Bush. Cox also did stints working for consulting firms Stroz Friedberg and McKinsey & Co.

[bold]The consequences[/bold]

Any of these moves would almost certainly guarantee an immediate political backlash, and Trump would likely face a legal imbroglio if Mueller or others challenge his dismissal in court.

Even without Mueller, the Russia investigation and prosecutions could continue, through other Justice Department channels — including the Southern District of New York, which oversaw the Cohen raid this week.

If Trump managed to shut down those investigations, state attorneys general like New York’s Eric Schneiderman might reactivate their currently dormant inquiries into the actions of Trump and his associates.

A removal of Mueller could also spur Congress to act, possibly through legislation aimed at restoring him to his post, although that, too, would face legal uncertainty. Or Trump could face the worst-case scenario: impeachment. That, in turn, might prompt him to again follow in Nixon’s footsteps and choose resignation.

I will just leave this here in case anyone is interested:

I read where it was Page, the female FBI agent involved with Strzok, who took Rosenstein seriously. Maybe she’s the source for the NYT story. Regardless, seems like irresponsible journalism or journalism with a political mission...

I hope John Kelly and Rosenstein just have a lovely "chat" and he survives another day.

If there's another Saturday Night Massacre, I hope the Dems win the Senate from it.

They sure have managed to change the subject from Kavanaugh.

Nonetheless, the Kavanaugh saga continues.

[quote]I hope John Kelly and Rosenstein just have a lovely "chat" and he survives another day.

Reality TV drama on the political stage.

R117 - but Kavanagh isn't going away...the situation is getting worse.

Michael D. Shear ‏ Verified account

@shearm 1h1 hour ago More BREAKING -- Rod Rosenstein expected to leave his job as second in command at the Justice Department - and person in charge of Russia probe -- after the NY Times revealed his discussions about taping the president and the use of 25th amendment to oust him.

If it IS just a chat then we'll know it was distraction and nothing more.

R111... Exactly...

R121 is the most precise summary of what has happened here. This is all because of the NYT story.

[quote]And under cover of this shitshow, Kavanaugh gets confirmed...

Yes, I'm sure the thousands of Democratic staffers on The Hill will now just drop everything to do with Kavanaugh.

It would be very damaging if Trump fired anyone BEFORE the midterms.

But then Trump seems to revel in damage and chaos.

People are always so quick to use this "distraction" defense, looking for conspiracies when there isn't one. The Trump Whitehouse isn't that competent in the first place.

And it is particularly silly in this case, the Kavanaugh situation isn't going anywhere.

Yes, please drop this "It's a distraction! Democrats are too stupid to track two things at once!" nonsense.

Andrew McCabe, former FBI Acting Director, on Monday released a statement denying he was involved in providing information to the media regarding the “events following [FBI Director James] Comey’s firing.”

Why would Rosenstein meet with Kelly? Wouldn’t he be meeting with Sessions instead if he wanted to resign?

Robert Costa:

a new sliver of information on Rosenstein: He was likely going to face invite from House cmmtes this week to testify under oath about McCabe conversations and private comments about Trump, per top GOP official involved in the talks this weekend...

Politicians such as that sashaying Lindsey Graham demanding that there must be a Special Counsel to investigate the Justice Dept./FBI, has made this agency more vulnerable. The truth is Graham and cohorts need investgated about their PACs receiving huge cash from oligarchs with ties to the Russian government. Graham has his hands directly into enabling all Trump does. He's way too much given microphones and camera coverage.

His position is appointed by the President r130.

Latest sources are saying it seems like Rosenstein isn't going away. Maybe they realized they don't need this bad press so close to the midterms.

Kelly usually does the dirty work, doesn’t he? He fired Omarosa. Trump never does it and can’t as is in New York. Not that O = RR.

[quote]This November's election is the MOST important election in our lives. We're fighting for our lives now.

And yet most young people can't spare 30 minutes out of their schedules to vote every 2 years, yet they have time to sit in a coffee shop for hours doing nothing.

Jeff Sessions is admired in Alabama by conservatives. They will not take his firing well. Also, a lot of Senators like Sessions personally, including some Democrats who disagree with his policy positions.

The thing is their window is closing. They can either wield their axe now or wait until after the election when every move is under scrutiny of a democratic house and possibly senate.

Trump never fires people to their face r135, his "you're fired!" Tagline is a fake as everything else about him. He doesn't have the balls, people throughout his political career have either been fired via tweet or by an underling.

But but but MAGA Haberman told us Trump didn't even care about the Times article!

It. Will. Work. Out. It is a ridiculously over- used trope- "It is always Darkest before the Dawn", but every Dark and Dirty fight that was worth a damn in my life got no-hands barred, nasty, ugly towards the bitter end. And then Victory. It's True in business, health, whatever. Provided you're on the side of truth.

It's been Darkest for almost two years now, R141. And it doesn't seem to have an ending in sight.

[Quote]And it doesn't seem to have an ending in sight.

It's called the election. Up to us to save ourselves.

The entire media shitshow of the past few weeks can be tied directly to Bill Shine.....mark my words. He wasnt second in command at Fox (under Ailes) for nothing.

Republicans have too much to lose - if they lose the Senate. I would bet there will be hacking and cheating involving the crucial states. Texas would be #1 to watch.

A number of reporters on Twitter now saying it looks like he won't be leaving.

It only seems that way R142. Think of the Indictments, arrests, and prosecutions ( not to mention cooperation and information gained thereby) that Mueller has gained. Think about the scum Republican Congressman that are (the asshole in Sam Diego whose name escapes me at the moment) and will soon be losing their seats in the coming elections. It takes time- but we are most DEFINITELY making headway. Hopefully vile Kavanaugh will be added to that list this week.

Ronan just nailed the NYT for claiming they turned the story down...

[quote]It's called the election. Up to us to save ourselves.

OK, so we flip the House. Democrats take over all the investigating committees. Repubs go on an obstruction rampage (of course they will). HE is still in the White House.

r146.....Of course....as stated above and in other threads....its Jonathan Swan....he makes Maggie Habermann look like a pulitzer prize reporter.

The Trump presidency will be mired in investigations and his legislative agenda is dead if Dems control the house r149. A big win. The Senate as well would basically completely shut down his presidency, there goes his appointments.

The BBC is reporting live! And getting it wrong, as they so often seem to with US politics.

The American people (the sane ones) are being seriously tested. I never thought I would see this... sheepishly, I took things for granted, as many people did. It's a hard, terrible lesson.

MSNBC currently stating R has not resigned.

R149- Did you ever consider the possibility We MIGHT take THE SENATE TOO? I mean I know it's a slim chance, but let's have some positivity here. The way the Republicans are over-playing their hands with their Bombastic behavior latelt- everything from outright Misogeny in the Kavanaugh hearings to whatever Trump does with Rosenstein- anything's possible.

[quote]The Trump presidency will be mired in investigations and his legislative agenda is dead if Dems control the house [R149].

Well, his legislative agenda was already dead from the start. The divides between the old school Republicans and the MAGA and tea party types are too deep.

Which by the way is a lesson for us as well. Sure, if we just win the house, we will serve as an opposition party, but for the longer term, I would not be at all surprised if the progressive, bernbot types that look like they'll pick up some seats turn into our tea party, similarly stopping any democratic agenda in its tracks.

Let’s do this. Let’s start the endgame. The country is ready. Let’s fucking go.

Why firing Mueller won't affect the investigation.

ABC's Jonathan Karl:

This may be the strangest day yet at the Trump White House. Rod Rosenstein was summoned to the WH to meet with John Kelly this morning. He expected to be fired. He wasn't. And now Rosenstein is attending a previously scheduled cabinet-level meeting (filling in for Sessions)

Seth Abramson‏Verified account @SethAbramson 12 Jun 2017

[bold](THREAD) Wondering what happens if Trump tries to fire Special Counsel Bob Mueller? BEDLAM. I break down the consequences in this thread.[/bold]

(1) There isn't any Special Counsel statute, as the last one was allowed to expire by Congress. So Mueller has a job under DOJ regulations.

(2) DOJ regulations give the top non-recused DOJ official the right to fire the Special Counsel ONLY for "good cause shown"—a high standard.

(3) Right now Rod Rosenstein is the top non-recused DOJ official, as Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe.

(4) In theory, this means that *Rosenstein* has the power to fire Mueller for good cause (which means some sort of professional misconduct).

(5) That said, AG Jeff Sessions' recusal from the Russia probe is a "sham" recusal—he claims to be recused but appears to still be involved.

(7) If Trump attempts to fire Mueller *directly* without good cause, there's a substantial chance that Mueller would "refuse" to stand down.

(8) Mueller could seek funding (or legislation) from Congress to continue to work, or wait for the White House to bring suit to remove him.

(9) However—if Trump tries to fire Mueller directly and Mueller refuses, Sessions might step in to fire Mueller for (he'd say) "good cause."

(10) But Mueller could *again* refuse—even though the *DOJ* was now trying to fire him for "good cause"—on the grounds of Sessions' recusal.

(11) As these actions could embarrass Trump and compromise Sessions, Trump would likely try *first* to *order* Rosenstein to fire Mueller.

(12) The problem at this point would be two-fold: ONE, I do believe Rosenstein would refuse that order as a violation of his Oath of Office.

(13) But TWO, Rosenstein could refuse on *other* grounds: namely, that Trump is a *target* of the investigation—on Obstruction allegations.

(14) Rosenstein could say the target of a criminal probe—even POTUS—*cannot* obstruct that probe. He could refuse to "conspire to obstruct."

(15) At that point Rosenstein would either offer his resignation to Trump or wait for Trump to fire him. And Sessions would be in a *bind*.

(16) If Mueller is investigating Sessions for Perjury he'd not want to participate in a firing—as doing so opens him to Obstruction charges.

(17) So Sessions would cling to his previously dodgy recusal and force his boss—Trump—to fire Rosenstein. *Or* he'd urge Rosenstein to quit.

(18) But because urging Rosenstein to quit would violate his recusal and open him (again) to Obstruction charges, he'd likely just lay low.

(19) So—I told you this was confusing!—if Trump fires Rosenstein and Rosenstein agrees to leave his post and not go to court, what happens?

(20) As in Nixon's "Saturday Night Massacre," Trump would go down the DOJ chain of command until he found *someone* willing to fire Mueller.

(21) The problem is that as you go down the chain of command at DOJ, you quickly get to career prosecutors unlikely to play ball with POTUS.

(22) This seems to be a particular problem in many departments within the Trump administration, as they haven't filled *many* appointments.

(23) None of this happens if (a) Mueller goes quietly, (b) a court quickly grants an injunction against Mueller, or (c) Sessions un-recuses.

(24) But wait! We haven't even gotten to *Congress* yet. And Congress could move to pass legislation allowing Mueller to continue his work.

(25) Or Congress could use Mueller's firing as an excuse to create a 9/11-like independent commission to investigate Trump-Russia collusion.

(26) Or Congress could—the *right* answer—decide that it's *done* with this lawless president and begin impeachment proceedings against him.

(27) Upshot: this *could* happen. Trump wants to force the legislative branch to investigate him—not his own branch—as he thinks they won't.

(28) He also thinks an independent commission—even if it happens—might investigate his associates but NOT look into Obstruction allegations.

(29) One reason he may be feuding with Sessions is because he wants an un-recused Sessions to do his dirty work if he seeks to fire Mueller.

(30) Trump also has a LIFELONG POLICY of acting unethically for as long as he can—UNTIL some final authority FORCES him to cease and desist.

(31) Trump is likely floating firing Mueller because he and his lawyer have determined there's a REAL chance Mueller will recommend charges.

(32) If so—and as an attorney I do see a prima facie Obstruction case against Trump—he'd rather take his chances with Congress than Mueller.

(33) I'm doing this thread so Americans of good conscience—including Republicans in Congress—can speak up NOW against this possible action.

(34) From the perspective of many years of criminal trial experience, I know firing Mueller 2 weeks in is practically an admission of guilt.

(35) Obstruction of Justice is a PER SE violation of a POTUS' Oath of Office. No POTUS is above the law and we must uphold this maxim. {end}

[quote]The American people (the sane ones) are being seriously tested. I never thought I would see this... sheepishly, I took things for granted, as many people did. It's a hard, terrible lesson.

Yes, it is. Call me a Mary!, but I don't know if we can ever heal from this collective trauma. And all because of one man.

Yes everywhere is reporting that now r154, Rosenstein has survived to see another day. I don't think this will be the last "is Rosenstein fired" panic.

NBC's Noah Rothman:

This has been a test of the constitutional crisis broadcast system.

White House says Rosenstein and Trump meet Thursday - Kavanaugh hearing day.

R163 Im really wondering if this was all bullshit from IQ45s camp to test the waters to see what would happen.

[Quote] And all because of one man.

Trump is Trump, there are gross ignorant blowhards everywhere. Blame everyone that voted for him or didn't vote. They caused this. Hopefully enough people have learned their lesson.

He wasn’t fired. It was all bullshit.

" Blame everyone that voted for him or didn't vote."

I'm putting the majority of the blame elsewhere, r167.

Trump will meet with him on Thursday. See I was right. This is a distraction!

Trump will fire him Thursday morning to distract from Ford's testimony.

Bookmark me.

Wow.. the stunts that are pulled in this bullshit of a presidency. trump is stupid in many ways, but he sure knows how to manipulate, lie, distract within every inch of his life. That's his only "skill".

We we get to play the is Rosenstein fired game again on Thursday. I'll be sure to have my twitter ready.

Well.. I'll take this as a breather now... *sigh*

Yes, there were other factors, R167, but it comes down to voters making their choice in the general election.

Pearls are intact.. they're not all over the floor from clutching.. lol.

Does Trump have the balls to fire someone in person (well, other than his stupid reality TV show)? We shall see on Thursday.

Rosenstein is summoned to the W.H. It's leaked that he is going to resign. Offering to resign makes him look guilty of what the NYT and Schmidt reported. Trump in N.Y. Kelly is at the W.H. If RR is going to resign then Kelly can take his letter. Reports leak that RR is not resigning and will insist on being fired. Then it's leaked that RR was summoned for another reason and told by Kelly that Trump wants to meet with him on Thursday. Kavanaugh D-Day. Reason for meeting with Trump not released. Leaving RR and the entire F.B.I. and Sessions and Mueller to guess what the fuck is going on. More fucking games.

[quote]" Blame everyone that voted for him or didn't vote."

[quote]I'm putting the majority of the blame elsewhere, [R167].

Yes, there were other factors (Russia for one), R169, but it comes down to voters making their choice in the general election.

FAKE NEWS - he hasn't resigned

He’s been warned by TPTB not to fire him. He’d best heed those warnings if he plans on staying in office.

R178, WH says the Thurs meeting is to discuss "recent news stories." Other than that you're 100% correct. This is a distraction from Kavanaugh.

They are really jumping the gun on this one.

RR is meeting with Trump on Thursday? You mean the day Mrs. Ford testifies?

Trump to meet with Rosenstein on Thursday. Nothing happening today.

Thursday you say?

Nothing will happen Thursday either. If Rod was going to get fired, it would be today when the Chimp in Chief was nowhere to be found and he could have John Kelly do the dirty work.

This ploy is so obvious, yet his idiot supporters don't (or won't) see that.

[quote] He’s been warned by TPTB not to fire him. He’d best heed those warnings if he plans on staying in office.

TPTB= Sean Hannity

So Trump has Kelly summon RR to W.H. for bullshit reason then Trump calls him while he's at the W.H. to tell him that he wants to meet with him on Thursday. RR leaves with his job. Can't discuss what he talked with the President about or reason for Thursday's meeting. If he was given one. All eyes on RR, Trump, and W.H. while Dr. Ford testifies. Again, more fucking games.

R185 - will Cheetolini be meeting Rosenstein at 10:00 when Prof. Ford is scheduled to speak at the Kavanaugh hearing? Don't be surprised. The mess that is Kavanaugh won't go away.

[quote]yet most young people can't spare 30 minutes out of their schedules to vote every 2 years, yet they have time to sit in a coffee shop for hours doing nothing.

Or standing in line for 3 hours to buy the latest and greatest iPhone.

I'm exhausted from all of this shit and it's only Monday.

When does Ashton Kutcher jump out and tells us we've been Punk'd?

Rosenstein is going to write a good book before too long.

Hey, it's not even midday, R192. As we know, anything can happen before the end of the day.

For real, R192! At least pull this shit on a Friday so we all get a 2-day break afterward.

[quote] ABC's Jonathan Karl: This may be the strangest day yet at the Trump White House. Rod Rosenstein was summoned to the WH to meet with John Kelly this morning. He expected to be fired. He wasn't. And now Rosenstein is attending a previously scheduled cabinet-level meeting (filling in for Sessions)

...after taking a huge relief-dump, as now will I. Good thing we've all grown the steely nerves of Mueller so we can face the afternoon, and the rest of the week, in Stoic fashion.

Thanks for the update, r182. I am glued to the t.v and typing like mad and also checking twitter and missed the reason given for the meeting. So just ignore my post at r189;)

I feel that there's be enough drama and chaos in less than two years... that would have occurred in three POTUS administrations.

*been* enough..

So they've pushed Trump's big meeting with Rosenstein to Thursday, coincidentally the day that Kavanaugh's accuser will be testifying. Their way of stretching the news cycle for this one out and blunting the impact of the testimony.

Hopefullly, the press does not fall for it. We want to see the hearings live! They can't let Trump get away with these tactics.

Please let the Fuhrer choke to death on his pomme frites today at the UN.

Rosenstein should stay as long as possible. We don't need this guy running the Mueller Investigation.

So he's leaving this hanging until Thursday so that it provides a constant distraction from Kavanaugh all week long

I still think they were hoping to bait Rosenstein into resigning. Leak the claim that he wanted to wiretap the prez, a few days later summon him to the WH and leak that he's submitted a letter of resignation, wait to see if he goes along with it.

When it became clear he would force them to fire him, they took the opportunity to stretch out the distraction to include Thursday, hoping to upset the news cycle.

Agreed, R201. Kind of a Hail Mary, to distract us with something like this.

Sorry here's the story.

I'm glad Rosenstein didn't resign... didn't take the bait.

The big problem with Trump's constant concern with the news cycle is that he doesn't consider the Democratic response or the Mueller team's ability to plan for eventualities.

Of course Dems and staffers can cover more than one topic at a time, so even if the media is 24/7 Rosenstein, the Dems won't be. And Mueller now has a few more days to plan for Trump's possible shenanigans.

That means Trumpy's chaos is of limited practical effect, so it's good news in a way, even if it's harrowing to live through.

[Quote] Hopefully, the press does not fall for it.

Lolz 🤣

There has been more drama in the past 24 hours in Washington to rival any plotline on an entire season of Dynasty. Minus the fabulous wardrobes and beautiful people. Imagine the over the top cat fight between Alexis and Melanie.

It's still Monday morning on the west coast and already this week is:

Washington Post opinion: No matter who Trump fires, it's too late. Oh God, I hope so.

It did amuse me a but to learn that during his rants Trump refers to Rosenstein as Mr. Peebles.

LOL R212

If Trump prolongs firing Rosenstein until Thursday....while Ford is testifying, the Dem Senators will go ballistic DURING the televised hearings.....so a no-win for Trump.

Peebles or Peepers?

R217 Trump wants the focus of the media on Thursday to be on Rosenstein not Kavanaugh. This is a very calculated move.

R219 - I don't think it's going to work. Ford will be broadcast live on CNN.

Why would he resign. I read The NY Times article and he did nothing wrong.

This is such drummed up bulls%#*

There is something rather sinister about Michael Schmidt. Remember how he reported on the totally random encounter he had with Trump at Mar-a-lago? Trump just rambled on, appearing out of touch, and somewhat confused. Charles Pierce called out Schmidt for lying about how he just happened to run into Trump. Indeed, it was pre-arranged with one of Trump's handlers. Unbeknownst to Trump. So Schmidt isn't above misleading his readers.

It's "Mr Peepers" - a reference to a nerdy TV character played by Wally Cox in the 1950s.

Yeah, I feel this was orchestrated into forcing him to resign but he refused r209. Good for him.

If they want him out they should be forced to fire him. And to be fair on the date (a silly thing to day about Cheeto), I think his schedule was already that he was going to be in New York through Wednesday. Thursday is his first day back at the WH.

It can't be Friday because that's when he leaves for his "working" golf trip to Jersey. So much...work.

Rosenstein will never resign.He knows much, and is determined to see the investigation through to the end.

And Trump won't fire him because it will make things worse and hasten his demise.

It is bad.

thursday is the meeting though

Trump acts irrationally so who knows what he may do. Its not as if he listens to his staff.

R226 Hasn't he already offered his resignation? Wouldn't Trump just have to say "I accept it" and not have to actually fire him?

Any meeting or hearing can be postponed or cancelled.

I think Trump probably told him to resign when he talked to him today and he's giving him til Thursday to resign. Probably threatened him, like the thug Trump is. Rosenstein almost certainly knows Trump is a crook so our only hope is that he refuses to resign.

So who is Axios anyway and who gave them the bad information?

Who was the source?

This was designed to take the air out of the Kav accusers.

Why did Axios fall for this trap?

Nope r229. Or rather we don't think so, it was originally reported he offered his resignation and then later reported he had not that and he would not resign.

R52- The tmes reorted what the spokeswoman said. On other person in the room who refused to be named said he was being sarcastic.

Still don't see the problem.

Except he wasn't being sarcastic and we love him for it.

Remember when Bill Clinton fiddled around with Lewinsky?

Such simpler times, and simpler scandals.

It may have been on offhand, sarcastic comment by Rosenstein, but these days.. you have to be very careful with what you say, especially being in a position of power against trump. Anything said will be taken to the fullest of scrutiny and drama.

I think all the leakers thought they were telling the truth, they probably got different messages because our White House staffers are almost as dumb as our President. That's how much of a shitshow our White House is, probably one of the many reasons these pathetic Trump enablers are leaking so much.

*they* have to be careful..

They're all nuts at this point. The level of paranoia must be hallucinogenic by now.

Jonathan Swan is soooo cute and I can't stand him because he's a Trump apologist, like Haberman, who makes excuses in order to retain access. He's taking a lot of heat for this morning's story but is digging in, of course, and refusing to admit he got played.

[quote]It may have been on offhand, sarcastic comment by Rosenstein, but these days.. you have to be very careful with what you say, especially being in a position of power against trump. Anything said will be taken to the fullest of scrutiny and drama.

Ok.. but it's beyond irony that Cheeto / WH will want to fire Rosenstein based on "anonymous sources" in the "fake news media", in particular the "failing NYT".

^^ and alluding to memos by the "compromised" and "highly conflicted" as well as dismissed Andy McCabe -- which I assume the WH accepts as 100% accurate only regarding this particular incident?

A failing NYT can be right twice a day.

Did I get that right?

ACKSHEEOSH REPORTING THAT ROSHENSHTEIN RESHIGNED

trump only likes when the "news" goes his way, for his benefit. It doesn't matter where it comes from. He is besties with people, who agree with him, even though before, he considered them his "enemy" or "fake news", when he thinks it hurt him. Flip/flop at its worst. It doesn't take much, either. Just say, "Good boy, donnie".. and you're in.

Pete Williams has reported Rosenstein says he will not resign and Trump will have to fire him. Williams is a pretty reliable reporter. (Gay too btw.)

Vanity Fair reports that the whole thing was a smoke bomb designed by the White House to knock Kavanaugh out of the news.

"According to a source briefed on Trump’s thinking, Trump decided that firing Rosenstein would knock Kavanaugh out of the news, potentially saving his nomination and Republicans’ chances for keeping the Senate. 'The strategy was to try and do something really big.'"

Trump has done the diversion thing from the beginning of his campaign and throughout his presidency.

BREAKING: Wait—Sorry, False Alarm (The Onion)

Next diversion: After the Monday Rosenstein smoke clears, Trump tries again to distract from Kavanaugh by bombing North Korea...

There was a time when this might be an unthinkable but hilarious scenario.

He will threaten to bomb Canada, or France, or both.

R251, no he’s friendly with the North Korean dictator, he will probably non one of our NATO allies.

POLITICO: @michaelavenatti tells us his client will go public with an on-camera interview and more details of accusations against Kavanaugh in the next 48 hours

Ugh why is Michael Avenatti always putting himself in these matters? Maybe he's doing the right thing, but he's so fucking insufferable.

He also has asshole face, so if something about him also comes out, I wouldn't be surprised.

Yeah Avenatti is a douche but he is our douche, and such a great thorn in the side of the Trump circle.

R255.. Even though he's on the right side, he's an opportunist.. getting in the middle of the dramas. I don't like him.

Avenatti may be an attention whore but that's what made Stormy a national political cause and handed more ammunition to the Michael Cohen investigation. He should be credited for keeping this in the news and slamming Cohen, until the Cohen scandal broke out.

I get a real "creep ping" from Avenatti...

Please include your own accomplishments towards to resistance when criticizing others.

[quote] the whole thing was a smoke bomb designed by the White House to knock Kavanaugh out of the news.

The day will come that Trump decides to drop real bombs to get something out of the news, we can just hope they aren't the nuclear type.

Well.. He gets down in the trenches, goes as low as the GOP, so... I am thankful for that. He dishes out back, what is dished out.. and more. Re.. R260.

So apparently Thursday if the Kavanaugh hearing is going good for Kavanaugh, then Rosenstein will probably get to keep his job to be fired another day, but if the hearing is going bad for Kavanaugh, then Rosenstein will get fired to distract. Do I have that right?

possibly

Maybe you're being sarcastic, R13; I can't tell. But R6 is correct -- "pouring something on" has nothing to do with "poring over" the details of something.

I have cancelled my subscription to NYT. They just wanted "breaking" news and now they've got it and I hope they go down the gutter.

I hope everyone is watching Nicolle Wallace’s Deadline: WH now on MSNBC. Nobody at the table has inside information, although they had Philip Rucker (WaPo) there talking about this past weekend with Kelly and RE.

Frank Figluzi (sp?) is there giving his expert opinion on what’s going on with Mueller’s team during a panic like today’s.

Most importantly: everyone on Fox (except Laura Ignoranus) has advised Trump NOT to fire RR.

I’m going to cancel as well, R266.

People, cancel NYT!!

Irresponsible journalism.

This was reported on Axios by Jonathan Swan, right? He's supposed to be a Trump-loving conservative, so it figures. This puts Axios in as bad a light as the Times...

He’s not a Trump lover, R270. He might be a conservative, I don’t know. That doesn’t seem to fit him either, though.

I cancelled NYT. Took 3 days.

I’m amazed at the Times commenters saying, “Jeez, I’m really disappointed in the Times for running this story. You really ran it at the wrong time. If you do stuff like this again, I might have to cancel my subscription.”

DOH!

It’s not the timing of the story.

It’s the fact that the NYT only talked to PEOPLE WHO WEREN’T THERE!

It’s a 100% secondary source article, which is not acceptable.

They never addressed how ridiculous the charge is. Rosenstein is not a cabinet member and could not invoke the 25th amendment. Plus, it takes layers & layers of bureaucracy to get permission to wear a wire on anyone, let alone the present.

The whole thing is idiotic.

Cancel your times subscription.

Trump is an asshole, intellectually lazy and incredibly uninformed, but one thing he does know how to do is manipulate people, and he's an absolute expert at manipulating the press.

Demagogues usually are.

Every week we wonder when the press is going to wise up when it comes to Trump and every week they demonstrate they haven't.

They're wise to him, I think. They just play along because it helps to sell soap. He knows what they need to keep their ratings up, he serves it to them, and they pass it along.

Yes.. The media eats up all the drama... ratings, I guess...which gives the orange idiot more oxygen and turn into trump channels. This is a big reason he got elected... the non-stop coverage of him. Everywhere you turned, it was (is) trump, trump...trump. I wish they could ignore him.

*why* he got elected..

Kavanaugh apparently tells Fox’s Martha McCallum in an interview to air tonight that he was a virgin in high school and "many years thereafter."

Matthew Yglesias:

I’m not sure clarifying that he was a *sexually frustrated* hard partier as a student really helps Kavanaugh’s case that much.

There was a lot of fake news this morning about Rosenstein, stating various false information, all because he was attending a regularly scheduled meeting at the White House. It’s fake news because it was not labeled as speculation, but rather as a fact.

Complaints about the news media living for the drama and missing the substance should note that this is a systemic problem: news has turned into entertainment because that's what sells.

CNN & NYTimes insisting Rosenstein thought he was being fired so he tried to resign. Spin from both is that Rosenstein "overestimated" Trump's anger about the article.

The WH really wants us to think Trump doesn't care.

^ Forgot to add, WH also wants us to think Rosenstein is nervous and overreacting.

The key to receiving news is not to believe anything from the major media outlets without tangible, verifiable evidence. If anything, news that Rosenstein was going to resign or be fired today should be an indicator that it is unlikely that it would happen.

The question I have is why does everyone who is around Trump feel the need to secretly tape him? Could it be because they all know what a back-stabbing, mentally-ill, liar he is and they just need to have some sort of proof of this? And if true, Rosenstein only made a sarcastic joke, but Michael Cohen and Omarosa actually did it. And those two were in Trump's inner circle for years.

Exactly, R285.

I think RR had a scheduled meeting at the WH about something else and some moog decided to frame it as a resignation/fired story and put it out there. Trump is in NYC but he won't fire people himself. So it was an attempt to get RR to panic and he just refused to play along and called their bluff.

Sarcasm does not play well in print. Anyway it's been said here that Mueller had to have planned for such a situation. Can That Man in the WH just disband it and declare all files top secret or whatever the term is these days? Would firing Mueller mean the investigation is kaput? Or does TMITWH ( I reuse to call him by name) name a new leader who will declare everything null and void?

The theory is that Mueller has farmed out some of the investigation s to state DAs which Trump can't get at. I guess that would be money laundering stuff.

Mueller is smart. Hopefully, he thought out all the angles, seeing potential moves ahead. It's like a game of chess.

Mueller is quite brilliant, and a savvy prosecutor. But let's be honest, you don't have to be much of a genius to outsmart Trump and his gang of idiots.

True...

[quote] Kavanaugh apparently tells Fox’s Martha McCallum in an interview to air tonight that he was a virgin in high school and "many years thereafter."

I sure that isn't what he was saying to the Priest in the confessional so he could get absolution.

Josh Marshall's take on the Rosenstein débacle sounds reasonable: "My read here is that Kelly thought or wanted to think that Rosenstein said he was willing to resign. But he refused to resign and made clear that if they wanted him gone Trump would have to fire him. Trump didn’t have the nerve to pull that trigger. Perhaps Kelly made clear that this was something Trump needed to do himself. So here we are."

The NYTimes (and now CNN) is just quadrupling down on their bad reporting because they can't admit a mistake and they can't admit their WH sources routinely lie to them.

[quote] But he refused to resign and made clear that if they wanted him gone Trump would have to fire him

I also read that Rosenstein would prefer to resign rather than be fired because he would lose his benefits.

Apparently, if Rosenstein resigns, Trump can appoint someone in his place without a Senate vote. If Trump fires Rosenstein, the Senate automatically must vote to approve Trump's nominee. At least, that is what a previous Justice department employee said earlier today on the news. So Rosenstein knows that he needs to resist being pressured to resign.

Rod must choose between his family and country, in the latest test of wills brought on by our coup-admin.