Trump investigation: Noise to signal ratio by @BloggersRUs

Trump investigation: Noise to signal ratio

by Tom Sullivan

Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russian agents is pursuing the grinding work of collecting evidence. The Trump transition team's general counsel Thursday ordered preservation of all documents and memos related to the investigation, according to a memo The New York Times obtained:

The so-called preservation order covers any transition team information involving Russia or Ukraine. It also seeks any background investigation records involving the former manager of the Trump campaign, Paul Manafort, and his business partner, Rick Gates; the former foreign policy adviser Carter Page; and the former national security adviser Michael T. Flynn. Mr. Flynn was fired for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of a call with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

The memorandum also names Roger J. Stone Jr., an informal adviser to Mr. Trump.

With the order, the transition team lawyers are indicating that they have reason to believe that the five men’s actions are part of investigations by the Justice Department or the House or Senate Intelligence Committees, or will be.

"President Trump now finds himself exactly where he doesn’t want to be," writes Eugene Robinson at the Washington Post. The obstruction component stems from his "campaign to deep-six the investigation ... openly, at full volume." He has no one but himself to blame.

But as it may happen that a victim must be found, Trump has got a little list. Alex Shephard writes at the New Republic, "Trump has been searching for a foil for the last six months and hasn’t yet found one, so he keeps going back to Hillary Clinton. But even Trump has to sense that Clinton-bashing will not save him." That won't stop him from trying, but this chaff won't fly:

Crooked H destroyed phones w/ hammer, 'bleached' emails, & had husband meet w/AG days before she was cleared- & they talk about obstruction?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2017

The increasing noise to signal ratio on the Trump/Russia/obstruction/finances investigation (TROF? FORT?) bumped up yet another notch last night when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein issued a statement cautioning people not to believe everything they hear from anonymous sources. Perhaps someone got a call from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, directly or indirectly.

Strange new statement from Deputy AG Rosenstein on 'anonymous allegations', says "Americans should be skeptical". pic.twitter.com/BxRCCvRWXg
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 16, 2017

Twitter had a field day.

Preet Bharara‏ tweeted back at Rosenstein, "Americans should also exercise caution before accepting as true lies about firing of FBI Director & defamation of a war hero special counsel."

Have literally never seen a statement like this https://t.co/94zbnIqsVc
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 16, 2017

James Fallows pushed back with an observation on the reliability of news leaks:

Percentage of recent Trump-related, anon-sourced reports in WSJ/NYT/WaPo that have proven wrong: very low

% of Trump’s own claims: v high https://t.co/uyOr7G56ZU
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) June 16, 2017

Trump himself is back on the Twitter this morning. Using his Social Media super powers, Trump boasts, he can reach the silent majority:

The Fake News Media hates when I use what has turned out to be my very powerful Social Media - over 100 million people! I can go around them
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 16, 2017

Vice President Mike Pence has hired a criminal defense lawyer. Trump needs to hire a psychiatrist.