Trump Reportedly Sends Special Counsel Robert Mueller 'Appreciative Greetings'
President Trump is like, totally, kidding about his proclamations that special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into his campaign alleged collaboration with Russia is a the biggest “witch hunt.” True to form, Trump has reportedly been sending his “appreciation and greetings” to Mueller through his lawyer — neat!
Trump’s chief counsel, John Dowd, spoke to USA Today about the president and Mueller’s alleged exchanges. It sure sounds like an elaborate game of bureaucratic telephone.
From USA Today:
“He appreciates what Bob Mueller is doing,” Trump’s chief counsel John Dowd told USA TODAY in an interview Tuesday. “He asked me to share that with him and that’s what I’ve done.’’
Trump’s legal team has been in contact with Mueller’s office, and Dowd says he has passed along the president’s messages expressing “appreciation and greetings” to the special counsel.
It’s interesting that Dowd referred to Trump’s messages as a “back and forth,” since Muller’s office declined to comment on the communication. Trump might very well be sending unrequited requests to Mueller — though I doubt they are as warm and fluffy as Dowd is implying.
Dowd also reiterated that Trump has never considered firing Mueller, saying it had “never been on the table” and any suggestion he was considering terminating him was a “manifestation” of the media.
The report that Trump might be secretly sweeting up Muller comes on the same day that the special counsel’s financial disclosure was released. Politoco reported that Mueller made $3.6 million in 2016 before he left his law firm to lead the investigation into Trump; Mueller’s network falls vaguely between $4.2 million and $15.2 million. During his years of private practice, Mueller represented Facebook, Apple, and Intel, which might benefit his probe.
Trump’s rejection of protocol between the judiciary and the executive is, of course, not new — it was budding ritual with the now-deposed FBI Director, James Comey.
To summarize: Trump is either, once again, publicly and transparently warning Mueller to stay out of his finances (at the risk of being fired) or he’s actually sucking up to the special counsel.