It seems inevitable, despite the caustic accusations from the left.
President Trump will be found innocent of all political charges involving Russian collusion, treason and obstruction of justice.
After more than a year of expensive investigations by teams of lawyers, politicians and Obama-era hold-over Democrats, there is no clear evidence of any of the charges promoted by the left.
Just recently, the court dismissed the case against Trump regarding the emoluments clause and Trump hotel ownership. It claimed the business ties violated the Constitution's ban against taking foreign gifts and money without Congress' permission, including for hotel stays or office leases.
OK, this court case was a stretch at best, a waste of time and money more expected.
The more serious investigation by five Congressional committees and special counsel Robert Mueller also has little to show for the effort regarding accusations against the president. Yes, Mueller has secured several low-level confessions for crimes that are irrelevant to the president.
More interesting is the boomerang effect. It seems that the course of the investigations is now in a wide turn that is focusing more on Democratic collusion or corruption.
The $10 million spent so far may have good purpose after all.
More specifically, there are many new scandal tracks to follow: the IT scandal involving Debbie Wasserman Schultz and her Pakistani tech support rep; the discredited Trump Dossier and the FBI’s role using it to obtain FISA warrants to conduct surreptitious surveillance of Trump campaign members before the election; funding of Fusion GPS’ Dossier by the DNC and Hillary Clinton and FBI cash incentives to corroborate its claims; Mueller’s involvement with the defunct lobbyist firm of the Podesta Group and the Podesta brothers who arranged for the Dossier; the FBI’s partisan activity against Trump by senior FBI officials including James Comey, Andrew McCabe and Peter Strzok and others, including: McCabe’s wife Jill (who received $700,000 from Hillary); and Srzok’s lover, Lisa Page; and Bruce Ohr and his wife Nellie who worked on the Dossier for Fusion GPS.
Then we have the Uranium One deal with a pay for play scheme that seems to involve the Clinton Foundation and millions of dollars.
My goodness. Things are in turmoil.
Was there really a surreptitious effort by senior officials to conspire against Trump? If so, this would be a monumental moment in our political system’s history.
When Mueller finally announces President Trump is innocent, here is what you might expect.
First, the president will tweet about his innocence ad nauseum. Yes, he will crow that he has said all along that he was totally innocent. He will reinforce that the “Russian collusion” was an illusion of the Democrats to create a wave of disgust and to start proceedings for impeachment.
Second, more importantly, Trump and the Republicans can move away from the noise and distraction to refocus energy on other legislative matters.
Third, the Republicans will come after those involved in the revelations about the DNC, the Democrats, and the FBI who wanted to frame Trump with outrageous allegations. It will get ugly, just as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi got ugly during this past year.
Fourth, Americans will have an even lower opinion of politicians but the leadership of the DOJ and FBI will also take a serious hit in credibility. They are supposed to be non-partisan. Many believe they have been politicized. I would expect personnel changes.
Fifth, there will be a deep dive into the actions of the Obama Administration. This will include all the activity surrounding its apparent biased support of Hillary Clinton but will also include other issues like the concessions made regarding Hezbollah’s drug trade to win the Iran Nuclear Deal, the role of Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and how the leakers (maybe Rep. Adam Schiff) added to the noise about collusion and obstruction. All of this may force new legislation.
For Trump, he will feel vindicated. While his personality is difficult for people to swallow, he does deliver on his policy promises.
He will follow up to address three major initiatives: first, a new policy to resolve the entire immigration mess, the DACA program, chain migration, and building the “Wall.”
Second, finalizing an infrastructure improvement package that has been delayed too long.
Third, he must resolve the broken healthcare act.
Two thousand seventeen was a year of major political turmoil, Wall Street success, reduced regulations for business, taxpayer wins and the destruction of ISIS; 2018 will be a year to see the results of the efforts of 2017 with Trump as more than a change agent, but a cultural icon, good or bad.
Yes, 2018 will be another ugly year of accusations and recriminations.
Happy New Year.
John Shoemaker lives in Natick.