For the past several months the interest in American politics has been focused on whether or not Trump committed OBSTRUCTION of Justice in the so-called “Russia thing.”  I’m beginning to think the number of people who could be guilty of this is spreading.  As I observe republican members of Congress coming alongside Trump and LYING about the FBI, the CIA, and Robert Mueller in an attempt to stop the investigation into the RUSSIAN attack on our republic I’m wondering if they are opening themselves up to Obstruction charges.  I’m not sure if people on Fox “news” can be vulnerable, but if members of Congress choose to work to stop a legitimate investigation – in this case, maybe the MOST significant in our lifetimes – I’m thinking they SHOULD have to face the consequences of their actions.

I’ve pointed out before how I believe several members who work in the “White House” are vulnerable to OBSTRUCTION charges.  For example, when Trump was writing the LIE about the June 9, 2016 meeting where his son met with Russians offering to give negative info on Hillary Clinton there were members of his “White House” staff either helping or being read in on the LIE.  LYING to cover up a crime is OBSTRUCTION of justice.  I’ve heard more than one lawyer claim that if you are witnessing a crime you’re obligated to report it.  There was also the letter where Trump was LYING about why he fired James Comey which sent his surrogates out the next day repeating the LIE to a plethora of media outlets – where they KNEW it was a LIE.  That, technically makes them part of a conspiracy to OBSTRUCT justice.  (Of course, the next day, Trump stabbed them all in the back when he admitted to Lester Holt the REAL reason he fired Comey – to stop the “Russia thing” – then a day or two later he “doubled down” as he incredibly [that is, incredibly stupid] repeated why he fired Comey to the Russian Foreign Minister and the Russian Ambassador while meeting in the Oval Office)

So, people like Mike Pense, Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders, Steve Bannon, Jared Kushner,  and others who work in the “White House” are all potentially part of a conspiracy.  What I’m wondering is, “What about all these republicans, especially in the House, who are clearly attempting to derail this investigation – is that OBSTRUCTION?”  Why would that be any different than Trump doing so?  Why would them LYING about members of the FBI and attempting to smear them and to smear Mueller be any different from Trump doing so?  And, what about Jeff Sessions?  It’s now being reported he’s “stepping back in” and ordering probes into Hillary Clinton – ostensibly to please his BOSS!  Does that bother anyone besides me, that our Justice Department is working based on appealing to Trump’s “good side?”

I can tell you, the day the American people lose faith in the independence of the Justice Department, the FBI, the CIA, and – essentially – our three independent branches of government I can assure you is the day our “democracy” is heading for third world status – which appears to be what Trump wants.  Just his one piece of “glory” – the tax cut republicans passed which funnels MILLIONS to Trump himself and the rest of America’s moneyed elite is a nice first step.  If you go to places where the government is run by autocrats or dictators you’ll find a SMALL portion of very RICH people and masses of people who are struggling to survive.  That appears to be where Trump and the republicans want to take “we the people.”  It’s up to us to so NO to his plans.

Whether or not the Russians are the reason Trump is in the “White House” is, to me, irrelevant.  What’s terribly important is to find out to what degree they were involved and were there any Americans working in concert with the Russians.  The first part of that “equation” SHOULD be resolved in the Congressional investigations.  Our members of Congress SHOULD – first and foremost – want to and be willing to find out what exactly the RUSSIANS did in their ATTACK on America during the election.  That SHOULDN’T be partisan.  However, at least in the House, it appears the Intelligence Committee’s republicans have chosen to turn their investigation into Hillary Clinton and use it to exonerate Trump.  Apparently, their plan is to shut down their investigation without “getting to the bottom of it” as most like to characterize their mission.  So, they are choosing to look the other way from what’s probably going on as far as the Russian intrusion into our government – as well as the election – as I’m writing this.  To me, that is traitorous.

The second part of that would be whether or not members of the Trump campaign were working with the Russians in the attack.  There are MILLIONS of Americans, like myself, who won’t rest until we find out.  That’s why Mueller’s investigation MUST be completed.  Personally, I doubt that Trump KNOWINGLY “colluded” with the Russians.  I do believe he has vulnerability for OBSTRUCTING the investigation – which is almost obvious – and, he may have connections to the Russians which have compromised him and is the reason he continues to flatter Vladimir Putin.  Additionally, Mueller is “following the money” and it wouldn’t surprise me if he found money laundering by Trump along with connections to organized crime.  Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also is obviously vulnerable.  He’s LIED on several government forms that consider LYING a felony and, he was in the meeting on June 9, 2016.  Simply put, that meeting was COLLUSION.  It’s still not clear what agreement was made at that meeting, but, just taking the meeting suggests the mindset of those in Trump’s inner circle was “collusion.” (Treason)

Trump Jr. appears to be vulnerable.  He’s proven the old saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” in that he’s got a propensity to LIE.  Of course, his LIES were mainly to Fox “news” audience and possibly to investigators – I’m not sure if he’s capable of giving testimony without LYING – even if it’s under oath.  The bottom line here is “we the people” NEED to know what happened in 2016, if it’s still happening, (obviously, I believe it is) and how do we prevent it from happening again?  Trump, Sessions, and the rest of his surrogates seem to be disinterested in doing anything about this – which is why these investigations are so important,  To me, the republicans trying to “short circuit” these investigations are UN-American.  In the case of trying to stop Mueller, I believe it may be ILLEGAL.  I know elected officials have some level of immunity, but if Trump can’t OBSTRUCT justice, I have to believe neither can members of Congress.

To me, listening to some of the right wing “water carriers” for Trump’s message in the House, it’s just him transferring the “dirty work” to willing members of Congress.  The result, or the objective is essentially the same, to block a CRIMINAL investigation.  There can be no question there was criminal activity by Trump’s associates based on the initial findings of Mueller.  Trump’s National Security Adviser was “in up to his ears” and it’s hard for me to believe Trump didn’t know at least MOST of what he was doing.  Trump – and Pense – CERTAINLY knew Flynn was meeting with the Russian Ambassador and talking about the Sanctions President Obama had imposed on the same day letting Putin know the Trump administration would reverse them.  The FACT there was NO response from the Russians to Obama’s sanctions made the purpose of Flynn’s meeting obvious to me from the start.  And, he wouldn’t have done that as a “rogue” adviser to Trump – no way!

So, the question is who else was involved and to what level and that’s why Mueller’s investigation must proceed to it’s conclusion – no matter what the ultimate finding is.  Apparently many republicans are prepared to sacrifice their moral compass if Trump is accused of criminal activity – whether during the campaign, since he took the oath of office, or prior to the campaign in business dealings that would compromise his ability to govern free of “kompromat” with the Russians.  Additionally, how will they respond if Trump starts pardoning everyone involved – like his son and son-in-law.  Who knows how this will all turn out, MOST  Americans just want to know the TRUTH about what happened.  Most Americans want assurance that NO ONE in America is above the law.  And, that includes members of Congress as well as the president.  I hope to see media outlets considering whether the actions of some of the members of Congress who are attempting to shut down these investigations are committing OBSTRUCTION of justice?