Dare Call It Treason

For John, BLUF:  We are in the middle of a national meltdown.  I hope we come to our senses, before we do something stupid.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Is Donald Trump committing treason?

From , by Professor John Shattuck,♠ 16 July 2018.

Here are the first two paragraphs:

Following the 2016 presidential election, a specter of treason was hovering over Donald Trump because of his response to the mounting evidence that the Russians had intervened to help elect him.

As the president-elect entered the White House, he summarily rejected the conclusion of US intelligence agencies that Russia had engaged in cyberwarfare against the US elections.  He worked to block investigations into Russia’s actions.  Trump advisers and associates had extensive political and business dealings with the Russian government before and during the 2016 presidential campaign.  While there has not been any direct evidence that the president-elect was involved in the Russian government’s actions, circumstances suggested that individuals or groups close to the president could have aided or known about the Russian meddling.

So which is it?  Is there direct evidence or is there not?  Professor Shattuck quibbles with "has not been any direct evidence … circumstances suggest that individuals or groups close to the President."  Is he talking Vice President Henry Wallace♥ close to the President?

In the end, mostly by innuendo, Professor Shattuck says the President is guilty of treason.

Which raises the question of what Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been doing all this time?

There are two broad options here.  One is that President Trump is guilty of treason, in which case Mr Mueller has dilly-dallied for a year and produced nothing regarding the President, suggesting he is in the President's pocket.  The alternative theory is he is in President Putin's pocket.

The other option is that the President is not guilty of treason, but Mr Mueller is dragging this out because he needs the extra money each month, either for expenses or to add to his retirement.  The alternative is that Mr Mueller is engaged in counting coup.

Then there is the possibility that Mr Mueller is just withholding everything until October, when any disclosure would damage Republicans up and down the ticket.

In the men time, one has to ask about the Editors at The Globe?  Is beating down Mr Donald Trump so important that the Editors are willing to sacrifice all their scruples?

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  John Shattuck, a former US assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and labor, is professor of practice in diplomacy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.
♥  Not that Mr Wallace was all bad ideas.  For instance, he wanted to abolish segregation.