 |
| credit: Kevin Sears |
This week in the Russian Connection investigation was overshadowed by two developments in a city that thrives on scandal. The first is a repeat of the Anita Hill affair in which her allegations of sexual misconduct by the Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas failed to derail his ascension to the high court. Hilll suffered a backlash from conservative supporters of Thomas hell-bent on insuring a conservative majority on the court. In the words of one inside observer she was made "to appear a little bit nutty and a little bit slutty". The FBI was pressured to find her allegations against the judge "unfounded". The latest female accuser, Christine Blasey-Ford, of a male Supreme Court nominee may suffer the same character trashing as her predecessor, but the conservative males who make up the majority in the Senate's kangaroo court will have to be more underhanded with their smear tactics. Times do change--but not so much.
Senate consent to the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh is tangential to the investigation of Trump's conspiring with Russian agents to influence the 2016 election, and his efforts to obstruct it. The campaign to dispose of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Robert Mueller's superior, is not. Enemies on the Hill have been trying for a year to fire him as part of their counter-offensive to derail the Special Counsel. The New York Times gave them more ammunition this Friday when it revealed that Rosenstein discussed utilizing the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. He even went as far as suggesting candidates for FBI Director James Comey's replacement could surreptitiously record their conversations with the President. More spectacularly, he claimed he could enlist Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, in an effort to remove Trump as mentally unfit for office.
His provocative suggestions were memorialized by then FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and his senior counsel, Lisa Page. Rosenstein was known to be livid with the President because he believed he was used by the White House to justify Comey's dismissal. Of course Rosenstein denies the Times story, but his denial is a "non-denial denial" of Watergate proportions. The scofflaw-in-chief never misses an opportunity to capitalize on a favorable media storm, either. He told political supporters that even the "lingering stench" emanating from an FBI out to get him will be removed. As the fomenter of a palace coup, Rosenstein's days in office may be numbered, but Mr. Yuge is still a dead man walking.
credit: Steve Sack, Star Tribune
Wackydoodle axes: How do yo'al spell treason?