Rod Rosenstein has verbally resigned to Chief of Staff John Kelly in anticipation of being fired, per @jonathanvswanhttps://t.co/A4z25nLl3d
— Sam Baker (@sam_baker) September 24, 2018
UPDATE
A source close to Rosenstein disputes the Axios report that Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein has verbally resigned, @LauraAJarrett reports. The source says that Rosenstein expects he is being fired.
Noel Francisco, the solicitor general, would take on oversight of the Mueller probe.
— erica orden (@eorden) September 24, 2018
Cheryl Rofer
I’m gonna caution that this is a first report, and in this administration first reports may not be reliable, but I have a bad feeling about this.
LAO
Shit — shit, double shit.
Cheryl Rofer
Hill Dweller
Perhaps it was inevitable, but the NYT made the firing a lot easier for Trump.
Cheryl Rofer
germy
I don’t know anything about Noel Francisco. Would he shut Mueller down?
Cheryl Rofer
Could be a Trumpian trial balloon.
dmsilev
Christ, it’s just one thing after another after another, isn’t it?
I guess that’s one way to get Rapey McRapeyJudge out of the headlines for a day.
Corner Stone
Hold on to your butts.
SiubhanDuinne, Badass Jackal
Well fuck.
Just FUCK.
Major Major Major Major
Guessing Rosenstein said he’s expecting to be fired. Possibly even there’s a resignation letter lying around, as many people have them prepared in advance. But they’re lying about him saying he’s resigning.
Cheryl Rofer
Cheryl Rofer
LAO
@Cheryl Rofer: That’s sounds more like it. But, I think that the WH is going to fire him.
schrodingers_cat
Congratulations Treason Times, enjoy your sweet sweet rubles.
germy
@Cheryl Rofer: Well, that there answers my question.
Dev Null
@Major Major Major Major: Peeps are lying about Rosenstein?
I’m shockd. SHOCKED!
Corner Stone
@schrodingers_cat: And to think they were thin-skinned and overly defensive about it last week. I wonder if any of them (NYT) will stick their noses out of their holes in the ground after this.
psycholinguist
Fuck the fucking NYT
Cheryl Rofer
Major Major Major Major
@LAO: yep, that sounds about right. Kelly is lying. Get it in writing, Rod.
Skepticat
I keep reminding myself that the Saturday Night Massacre, which this seems to be starting to resemble, led to Nixon’s downfall. Cross your paws.
Betty Cracker
@Cheryl Rofer: In other words, a stooge. Honestly, I don’t completely trust anyone who remained a Republican after 2016, including Rosenstein and Mueller. But this guy sounds particularly bad.
Corner Stone
Is there any god damned person in power in the federal govt who is *not* a member of the Federalist Society?
schrodingers_cat
@Corner Stone: At this point NYT politics team is doing a better job of than WH press secretary’s team in batting for T.
schrodingers_cat
@schrodingers_cat: * delete of.
Major Major Major Major
If I were Rosenstein I’d be wearing a recording device at this meeting.
Corner Stone
cmorenc
Since when has Trump summoned any member of his Administration to a face-to-face meeting for the purpose of firing them? He has consistently done that indirectly, without speaking to the fired official himself – often via a press release. The infamous “Apprentice” “you’re fired” pseudo-reality TV star is chickenshit to acctually fire anyone for real face-to-face.
Immanentize
I am not certain why the Solicitor General would take over the supervision of the Mueller investigation. Certainly that is not the line of command — or are people suggesting the SG will be appointed as the Deputy AG?
debit
Answer me this: if we take back the House can we go ahead and appointment Mueller to a new investigation?
LAO
@Major Major Major Major: And if I were the WH, I’d search him for listening devices.
Elizabelle
Fuck the Fucking New York Times.
Betty Cracker
Now The Post is saying Rosenstein resigned. They’re a lot more credible than Axios, which is the dregs of Politico.
Correction: The Post said Rosenstein has offered to resign.
cope
I’m not seeing this reported by any major news sources yet, just saying.
Elizabelle
@Skepticat:
Paws crossed.
Major Major Major Major
@LAO: this WH is rather notorious for not doing that.
schrodingers_cat
FWIW I don’t trust either Axios (Republican mouthpiece) or the child snatcher Kelly.
Elizabelle
@cope: Fuck the Fucking New York Times confirmed it.
Kay
@Betty Cracker:
Woo hoo! Looks good for voting rights. Anti-voting rights people are a minority. They’re hugely powerful but they’re a numerical minority.
We should put voting issues to referendum in every state that has an available process.
I want Democrats to use “modernize”- package the rights together with rule changes that make voting more convenient and efficient. People love those- early vote, automatic registration- make their lives easier.
LAO
@Major Major Major Major: I expect, they’re on notice now.
Fair Economist
Firing Rosenstein *and* tripling down on Kavanaugh? Mueller must have filed an indictment which threatens the Republican party, like an indictment of McConnell or something like that.
patrick II
Congratulations to the New York Times on an story based on anonymous sources that were not at the meeting. Second hand gossip recounted not over the back yard fence but by well dressed well payed people who call themselves reporters and are used to spread distortions if not outright lies is the way to run a country.
I might add that I don’t care if Rosenstein was talking about the 25th Amendment or listening in on the President. He was having a meeting at the front end of an investigation into Russian manipulation of the election to elect Trump president. I have attended meetings like that, just not for that reason. We called them “Blue Sky” meetings and people were supposed to put forward ideas, most of which are dismissed. But it is important to get every plausible idea out there — and then pick a few and dismiss the rest. They were doing their job.
And, this is important — because someone has an opinion does not mean he is prejudiced. At the time of the meeting the FBI knew more than we still know today about Trump and the Russians, and Trump’s obstruction of justice and Comey. They were not prejudiced because their intentions were based on facts, not unchangeable emotional reactions not based on facts. That would be prejudice. You know, like Donald thinking anyone from a shit country is not worthy of becoming a citizen.
Fact based reasoning is not prejudice, and members of the FBI’s who’s knowledge of the Trump teams interactions with Russians were not prejudiced, but acting on facts and doing their jobs.
So I wish the NYTimes, the talking heads on TV, even those on MSNBC, would stop implying that if Rosenstein said those things he was being prejudiced. He was doing his job.
And congratulations to the New York Times for once again being the paper of record for betraying your country with a false narrative. Hundreds of Email stories and now rumors about Blue Sky meetings. Wonderful work over the last couple of years guys. Too bad the country has to suffer.
Elizabelle
Here is how those goatfuckers at the FTF NY Times headlined their work:
And that is helping our democracy HOW? Emails, emails, emails.
TomatoQueen
Link to DOJ org chart here
https://www.justice.gov/agencies/chart
Elizabelle
@Fair Economist:
Oooh. Maybe. I hope we learn, soonest.
Aleta
I hope this may mean that Trump Jr or Kushner are/were soon to be indicted. Surely it means Mueller is very close to the rotten core?
As Nicole said this morning,
schrodingers_cat
Someone needs to investigate NYT’s finances.
Major Major Major Major
@LAO: I’ve learned to trust a variation of Trump’s Razor: expect the stupidest possible thing
Bruce K
It’s like they’re clearing the decks for a goddamned fascist takeover in Washington.
How the hell did it come to this?
Aleta
@Cheryl Rofer: good point as always
Elizabelle
@schrodingers_cat: Yeah. Someone of Jane Mayer’s caliber, in collaboration with David Cay Johnston and David Fahrenholt.
The New York Times is one filthy grey lady.
schrodingers_cat
@Elizabelle: Also the sexual proclivities of Sulzberger and the editor.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@cmorenc: Kelly would.
Steeplejack (tablet)
Dang, all this breaking news and me about to leave for a day trip to the wilderness with my mother. Wonder if we should just take my RWNJ brother’s survival gear and plan on staying out there until civilization collapses and the post-apocalyptic hellscape stabilizes a bit.
randy khan
I guess this is supposed to be a distraction from the Kavanaugh stuff. Or maybe it’s the other way around. I’m not sure.
Frankensteinbeck
Going to wait to hear what actually happens. Too many previous ‘This time for sure!’ stories, and boy everybody seems to have a different story this time.
Elizabelle
The WaPost has a long story on this. Putting it up so you can read it too.
Story has a link entitled this. Hmmm. [How removal under the 25th amendment works: A beginner’s guide]
MoxieM
@Corner Stone: Hmmm. I thought that’s been the long-term goal of TFS? To entrench themselves–members & minions I realize it may be a rhetorical questions, though.
Is it a grim morning, a 3 cups of espresso morning, or the beginning (again) of the collapse of the house of dirty cards? I now think we won’t know until after the general election, and heaven help up until then.
Major Major Major Major
At least my resignation at the office will be less dramatic.
Elizabelle
@schrodingers_cat: They are ratfuckers. We know that fer sure.
schrodingers_cat
@Frankensteinbeck: Exactly need corroboration from Sauron or Rosentein, not anonymous sources.
LAO
@Major Major Major Major: I’m stealing that. Understand that the first three times I use “Trump’s razor” I”ll credit you. But, then it’s mine *cue evil laughter*
delk
Here’s hoping for a deluge of leaks.
bemused
@cmorenc:
Is trump actually there? Listening to msnbc from another room, I thought I heard trump was elsewhere which would be his usual chickenshit routine.
JPL
This is good news for Kavanaugh, because today news will cover Rosenstein.
jimmiraybob
If he verbally resigned in person at the White House by by phone wouldn’t like 5 or 10 or several dozen people have recordings to back up their upcoming books?
SiubhanDuinne, Badass Jackal
@cmorenc:
Trump’s not at the WH; he’s in NYC for the UN. Because of course he is.
Betty Cracker
@Kay: Saw that poll this morning! It’s such good news because ballot initiatives require a 60% majority, and it looks like even 60% of Republicans favor it, which is astounding.
Major Major Major Major
@LAO: I’m paraphrasing somebody else’s “assume the stupidest possible explanation that fits the available evidence”
Kay
@Bruce K:
This is almost ludicrous “glass half full” but look at the bright side. They’re scared to death they’re going to be voted out of power. That still scares them. We still have that. They think they’re going to lose Congress so they’re doubling down on executive power. They don’t have that much time. I think they don’t have enough time.
JPL
@SiubhanDuinne, Badass Jackal: Tomorrow he’s expected to give an America First speech to the UN, because of course, he is.
Dorothy A. Winsor
I assume Trump was saving this for a day he needed a distraction, and this is sure it.
TaMara (HFG)
Well, we know from experience Toadstool isn’t going to fire him personally, so who gets the short straw? Kelly? Surely he knows the implications if he’s fired. Politically.
Mike in DC
Shutting down the investigation all but guarantees weeks of bad stories during the month of October. Because you free up the dozens of people working the investigation to leak to the media.
Kay
@Elizabelle:
They passed on the second allegation against Kavanaugh and instead went with the “let’s get rid of the prosecutor” story.
If it were up to them no one would ever know about the second allegation – “everyone” knew about the second one, except the public. A decision was made to keep that from us- apparently we’re unable to judge the credibility of the allegation without the NYTimes guiding us. Mayer put it all in there- the doubts, the hazy memory. She did’t present it as rock-solid. She left that up to us. The NYTimes decided we couldn’t handle that.
trollhattan
Since Omarosa doens’t need her recorder anymore Rosenstein should borrow it.
Brachiator
I was mainly off the Internets all weekend.
Now this is the first thing I see when I check into Balloon Juice. Damn.
Trump has been gunning for Rosenstein for a long time. He openly seeks to remove anyone in his administration who criticizes him or who fails to execute his … whims … expeditiously. He is fairly single-minded in this.
Kay
@Mike in DC:
To normal people, it will make Trump look guilty. Guiltier. Let’s hope there’s enough normal people left.
Manyakitty
@Major Major Major Major: Good luck with that. Your NY adventures will be epic!
schrodingers_cat
@Kay: Something sure is rancid at the NYT.
Major Major Major Major
@Dorothy A. Winsor: I never buy the distraction story—they aren’t that smart or shrewd—but this time I especially don’t. The only reason to do it this close to an election is if major indictments are coming.
schrodingers_cat
What has MAGA mouthpiece Habs tweeted?
SiubhanDuinne, Badass Jackal
@JPL:
And Wednesday, he’s chairing the Security Council.
…
Wait, that doesn’t even make sense.
Kay
@Betty Cracker:
There was never any reason to deny them the vote. It was always indefensible, unless you’re Andrew Sullivan – a petty anti-democratic authoritarian. A life sentence barring civic participation as part of the punishment for a felony? Come on. It’s draconian and mean-spirited.
70% agree :)
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Bruce K:
Easy there, as others have said Pinochet didn’t take the weekend off after his coupe.
jimmiraybob
@Bruce K:
What do you mean “like.” Though, historically, fascism has had many faces, there are root identifiers that pretty strongly support the idea that we’re on the brink. To name a few: a strict obedience to authoritarian rule and unyielding loyalty to an authoritarian strong man (even, maybe especially, if he’s an immoral sociopath), an evil enemy that must be destroyed (liberals/liberalism/modernity), and a systematic program of discrediting and disassembling established democratic norms. He’s won the transactional Christian-right over, which has preceded some pretty bleack tyrannies of the past.
randy khan
@LAO:
In fairness, it’s actually Josh Marshall’s line anyway.
Karen
Does this mean this mean Mueller’s investigation is over?
WaterGirl
I haven’t read the comments yet, but I feel sick.
Marcopolo
To all you BJers in NYC if Rosenstein gets fired in the next hour or so feel free to take the rest of the day off, find out where the protest is happening—hopefully somewhere totally inconvenient for Trump—and go join it. I’ll be there in spirit.
Mike in DC
@Karen: No. That would require whomever succeeds RR to overtly or covertly shut things down, and there would be a separate, larger political firestorm in any event. Mueller can farm out related matters to other US attorneys in NY, VA, DC etc. Shutting down the Mueller investigation after the midterms would virtually guarantee impeachment hearings next year. At which Mueller would be the star witness.
Elizabelle
You know what would cheer me up?
News that Robert Mueller is scheduling a press conference.
Mandalay
@schrodingers_cat:
Some transparent disingenuousness and deflection:
WTF?
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@jimmiraybob: Authoritarianism varies by society, remember Spain, Italy, Germany and Russia weren’t traditional democracies so they saw democracy as imposed by outsiders. The example for authoritarianism in the US is Woodrow Wilson – democracy for white protestants and everyone else faces a lynch mob if they speak out, and boy howdy, that sounds like Evangelical agenda
Enhanced Voting Techniques
Maybe it’s the optomist in me, but it’s not impossible Rosenstein is calling Trump’s bluff. Rosenstein gets called to an odd meeting, deliberately says to his staff this is it, he’s fired, his staff leaks to the press and Trump gets it shoved in his idiot face this what what will happen if Trump tries this.
Suppose we will see.
Elizabelle
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: I want to be an optimist too, that good and justice will prevail.
Aleta
@Mike in DC: But Mueller won’t necessarily be removed right away (or, theoretically, at all).
Mike in DC
@Aleta: If you remove him as Special Counsel, the investigation continues. If you shut down the investigation–which is extremely difficult since there are outstanding indictments–you free up all the prosecutors and investigators, and some sort of report vis a vis the president would still be expected, since that was the original purpose of the investigation. It’s not that easy to just shut everything down and seal all the information away forever.
montanareddog
It has been said that if Kavanaugh is seated, then Roe v Wade will not be explicitly overturned but will be gutted with procedural obstacles because the GrOPers are not stupid about the optics of this.
It could be that, if Rosenstein does go, whoever replaces him could take the same approach to the Special Counsel’s investigation. Mueller, who appears to be an institutionalist, would find it difficult to go public with, for example, the information that his new boss refusing to authorise indictments of other associates of DOTUS.
Jack the Second
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: As I’ve said before, I’m a wealthy white landowning male, I’m going to be fine; it’s everyone else I’m worried about.
jimmiraybob
@Enhanced Voting Techniques:
There’s always been a reactionary response to the liberal Enlightenment notions baked in during the founding. There’s a very strong and entrenched dominionist movement that seems to have been infiltrating more traditional churches for a couple of decades with a strong tendency to want to rule over society. Overall, reactionary conservative Christians, mostly Protestant from what I can make out, seem to comprise the Trump Evangelicals, or as a more liberal Evangelical historian has framed them, the Court Evangelicals. Their goal is an authoritarian Christian state. If not a total theocracy, as in ruled by the priests, at least a government that rules by Biblical, mostly Old testament, fire and brimstone. Which is another way of saying ruled by very cranky Protestant white males. It would be interesting to see the Catholic response (of course, a lot of this has already played out in America, such as the battle as to whose Bible to use in the public schools. (Hint: It wasn’t the secular atheist heathens that got the Bible out of public schools.).
Miss Bianca
@jimmiraybob:
Surely it hasn’t escaped your notice that a lot of these Federalist Society bastards also happen to be Catholic? Lot of Catholics out there supporting Christianist authoritarianism, and they seem perfectly happy to shack up with evangelical Protestantism to do it. Catholics have come a long way towards getting accepted into the WASP-Only-Super-Seekrit Ruling Society, since the days when John F. Kennedy had to deny that he would be getting his marching orders from Rome.
jimmiraybob
@Miss Bianca:
It’s like the dog catching the car, If Christianist authoritarianism is achieved what would they do with it? American power-Evangelicals/Protestants assume it will be them running the show. American Catholics likely have a different vision. Lots of theological and historical baggage. I’m not aware of a successful historical power-sharing arrangement.