INVESTIGATE THIS, INVESTIGATE THAT

Deyan Ranko Brashich

“In Helsinki, [President Trump] agreed to ongoing working level dialogue between the two security council staffs. President Trump asked [Ambassador John Bolton] to invite President Putin to Washington …” tweeted Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary. “Say that again?” “Okay!” “That’s going to be special!” said Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, blindsided while live on national TV learning of the invite. Interesting, says I.

That exchange of unvarnished shock and incredulity when taken in context with the throw-them-under-the-bus Trump craven performance in Canada, Brussels, London and Helsinki leads me to the only conclusion that makes sense to me: treason and high crimes and misdemeanors. Let’s investigate that, says I.

“Congratulations America, [you] are now into the second year of [the] single greatest Witch Hunt [of a politician] in American history”, twitted President Donald J. Trump. “The Mueller investigation is ridiculous”, declared Representative Devin Nunes, R-California. “It’s about time to get the damn thing over with”, said Trump defense lawyer Rudolf Giuliani. “Really?”, says I.

On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner, a fat black guy was selling “loosies”, single tax-free cigarettes on a street corner in Staten Island, New York. In broad daylight, in full view of passersby’s, with an iPhone recording the event, five of New York City’s finest tried to arrest him and in doing so put him in a headlock for 15 to 19 seconds, choke holding him and causing his death. The United States Department of Justice and the FBI have been conducting an investigation for four years and, as of this writing, it is not as yet complete.

Some investigations take longer than others. Some because they are complex and far reaching, others because they are impeded at every turn.

On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, the President of the United States riding in a convertible with his wife and another couple in Dallas, Texas was shot and killed by a guy using a mail order, second hand rifle purchased for $12.78. The assassination was in broad daylight, in full view of many spectators lining the motorway and with a camera filming the event. The resulting multi-national investigation interviewed thousands of witnesses, performed hundred forensic tests is still on going with the conclusions still disputed by some.    

Investigations of political scandals with hints of treachery and soupçons of treason are nothing new, nor are they easily and swiftly disposed of. Take France’s Dreyfus Affair which began with a conviction in 1894 and ended with an exoneration and vindication some twelve years later in 1906.

Notorious world class trials that require little investigation such as the “Trials of Major War Criminals before the International Military Tribunal” held in the Palace of Justice, Nuremberg at the end of World War II still took three years to complete – 1946 to 1949. Had investigation been necessary decades would have to be added to the “final solution”.  

Domestically the Iran-contra investigation took 6 years and 8 months to complete. The Bush passport investigation took 3 years. The Clinton Whitewater inquiry dragged on for 6 years and 8 months. The Clinton/Benghazi investigation was conducted by 5 separate Congressional Committees for 10 years collectively while the Clinton/State Department/FBI probe over some 32,000 deleted emails lasted 3 years. Multi-year investigations are the norm.   

The Muller investigation covers a presidential campaign spanning 3 years. It expanded to include the first year of the Trump Administration. It deals with collusion, perjury and obstruction of justice, as well as campaign law and income tax violations. It involves domestic as well foreign actors. We have Americans, Russians, Brits, Turks, Ukrainians, Saudis and other assorted Arabs playing leading and supporting roles. Actions taken and words spoken on three continents and four islands.

In one year the Mueller investigation has resulted in thirty-five, that’s 35 indictments; six, that’s 6 guilty pleas and two, that’s 2 trials about to take place. It has spawned an investigation of the President’s personal attorney and fixer, as well as the indictment, arrest and jailing without bail, of a Russian agent. A solid showing if there be one.

So, keep on investigating this and investigating that, and don’t forget that some dare calls it treason.

Deyan Ranko Brashich is a contributor writing from New York. He is the author of Letters from America, Contrary Views and Dispatches. His contact and blog “Contrary Views” is at www.deyanbrashich.com