Indictment-O-Rama 2: The Lying Game

[Coldstream]

Is it possible Cohen has overhyped today’s news (along with reports of his imminent arrest) to try and force Trump to pardon him? Cohen doesn’t strike me as the patient type.

[Coldstream]

Is this the guy that’s alluded to in todays Indictment?

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/05/gop-operative-russian-hacker-gave-him-2016-voter-data

[Coldstream]

Could be Brian Mast? https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/05/gop-operative-russian-hacker-gave-him-2016-voter-data  

That article seems to indicate his campaign were aware of some leaks and he only won narrowly (and unlike Bacon he was vocally Pro-Trump).

[Coldstream]

Why is he asking Sessions to shut it down? When Sessions dies the first line of his obituary will be that he recused himself from this investigation.

[Coldstream]

I'm starting to wonder that if there's a serious enough case against Trump to warrant impeachment, could he actually be removed if the Democrats win the House this fall and have a net gain of like 2-3 seats in the Senate? Essentially, if something serious enough happens, would there be 14-15 Republican Senators who would actually vote to impeach?

There are perhaps half a dozen Republican Senators who might vote to remove Trump on solid evidence of an impeachable offense.  McCain, Flake, Corker, and Sasse come to mind, and perhaps Collins, Murkowski, or maybe one or two others.  I have a difficult time seeing 67 votes for removal unless there's uncontestable proof of something that's a "straightforward" crime, such as financial fraud or connections with the Mafia.  I doubt that anything Russia-related would get there, unless it's shown that Trump has been on the Russian payroll for years.  (Caveat: if Trump loses it and goes on a Saturday Night Massacre-like rampage to gut the Mueller investigation, that might do it.)

There are currently 49 Dems in the Senate. Assuming they all vote to impeach, they need 17 Republicans to join them.

McCain is a maybe due to his health. Flake, Corker, Sasse, Burr, Murkowski, and Collins would probably vote to remove. Counting McCain, that's 56 senators. Now, onto the possibilities: Cruz, Rubio, and Graham would be 59. Kennedy, Portman, and Scott would be 62. Any suggestions for the last 5?

Heller, Sullivan, Gardner and Lee all refused to endorse/vote for him in 2016 so that’s 66. Of the others I guess Barrasso might not be pleased Trump/Bannon were auditioning primary challengers, Toomey might reason it’s his best route to reelection in 2022, Shelby abandoned Roy Moore pretty readily and always comes across as relatively moderate (at least by Alabama standards).

[Coldstream]

McFarland trying to preempt a perjury charge?

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/407910-former-white-house-official-revises-statement-to-mueller-after-flynn