Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity

PNUT GALLERY The title of today’s Pnut is the motto of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. We hope that the appointment of Robert Mueller, who was a senior prosecutor under the elder President George Bush and served both Bush 43 and Obama as FBI Director, will be able to uphold all three of these lofty ideals in what is sure to be a political pressure cooker. IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ Robert Mueller Takes on the Role of a Lifetime: On Wednesday afternoon, President Trump and his aides received less than an hour’s notice that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein wrote a letter appointing former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel overseeing the investigation into “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump,” as well as other matters that “may arise directly from the investigation.” Mueller’s investigation will run in parallel to those being carried out by the FBI and Congress. While Mueller answers to Rosenstein—and by extension, the president—he will have greater autonomy to run an investigation than other federal prosecutors. Mueller’s appointment signaled a quick turnaround in the attitude of the Republican-majority Congress towards the investigation. As recently as last Friday, Senate Republicans had rejected the idea of a special prosecutor for the Russia investigation, with the notable exceptions of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ). Rosenstein apparently changed his mind about the need for a special investigator after a week of damaging revelations that included Trump’s abrupt dismissal of Comey, and Comey’s allegation that he had documented Trump’s request to drop an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. In a terse, 57-word statement released about one hour after the Justice Department’s announcement, Trump stated: “As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know — there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity. I look forward to this matter concluding quickly.” Chaotic Darkness at the White House: As recently as Monday night, Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters: “There’s, frankly, no need for a special prosecutor.” But Wednesday evening, after Mueller’s appointment was announced, the mood at the White House was described by an aide as “chaotically dark.” Advisors planning Trump’s first trip abroad, which begins tomorrow in Saudi Arabia, canceled scheduled briefings on the trip to avoid having reporters milling about the West Wing. Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s senior counselor, abruptly canceled an appearance on Fox News. “It does seem a little chaotic over there, I gotta be honest with you,” said her would-be interviewer Tucker Carlson, an unusually frank admission from a host who regularly defends the administration. Reuters Reports Previously Undisclosed Interactions Between Russian Officials and Trump Campaign: Michael Flynn and other advisors to President Trump’s campaign were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 previously undisclosed calls and emails during the last seven months of the 2016 campaign, current and former US officials familiar with the interaction told Reuters in an exclusive report. The discussions focused on mending US-Russian relations strained by sanctions imposed on Moscow, cooperation in fighting ISIS in Syria, and containing a more assertive China, the sources said. Six of the previously undisclosed contacts described to Reuters were phone calls between Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak and Trump advisers, including Flynn. Conversations between Flynn and Kislyak accelerated after the election as the two discussed establishing a back channel for communication between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that could bypass the US national security bureaucracy, which both parties considered hostile to improved relations between the two countries, four current U.S. officials said. In addition to the six phone calls involving Kislyak, there were another 12 calls, emails, or text messages between Russian officials (or individuals considered to be close to Putin) and members of the Trump campaign. One of those contacts was initiated by Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian oligarch and politician. It is still unclear with whom Medvedchuk was in contact within the Trump campaign, but the discussions included US-Russia cooperation, sources said. Putin is godfather to Medvedchuk’s daughter (!!!). Medvedchuk denied having any contact with anyone in the Trump campaign. The White House, Flynn’s lawyer, and a Russian foreign ministry official all declined to comment. NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ Manny Macron Does His Homework: French President Emmanuel Macron announced members of his cabinet, and it appears that he has done extensive work in building a coalition to lead France. Drawing from the left, right, and center, he has selected not only life-long veterans of public service, but also novices to the political arena. Two former Sarkozy officials will serve as economy minister and head of public finances. Macron also appointed Edouard Phillippe (from the right wing Les Republicans) as his Prime Minister. Macron also appointed Socialist Jean-Yves Le Drian as foreign minister and pro-Europe Sylvie Goulard as defense minister to balance out the influence from the right. While Macron kept his promise to appoint as many women as men to top positions, Goulard is the only woman to inherit one of the top five posts. Goulard is fluent in both German and English, and her appointment signals French cooperation with Germany in European defense matters. KEEPING OUR EYE ON Trans Pacific Partnership Forges On Without US: One of the first actions Trump took as president was to pull the US out of the Trans Pacific Partnership. While the remaining eleven nations represent only 25% of the total trade of the original 12 members, this has not deterred Japan and others from forging ahead to determine what a post-US TPP future looks like. For some it means a stronger position in bi-lateral trade talks with the US, and for others, a hedge against regional dominance by China. LOOSE NUTS Does Kellyanne Conway Need to Take a Shower?: All of Trump’s issues from what was divulged to the Russian ambassador to what he and James Comey discussed are matters of “he said, she said.” The same goes for Trump’s lieutenants as Kellyanne Conway is disputing the fact that she told Mike Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough that she needed to “take a shower” after going off the air. She fortunately had the foresight to make these remarks with her microphones turned off, unlike her boss. While Conway might have become an easily-lampooned caricature, the same might also be said for the news personalities that are interviewing her. Whatever her on-air personality may be, Conway seems to be both politically and financially savvy. She and her husband have disclosed assets up to $39 million, and Conway started her polling business upon completing law school back in 1995. Conway’s husband, George Conway, is also a Washington DC fixture and is someone The Washington Post calls a “man at the center of everything.” Please support Daily Pnut!