Trump & Mueller Odds: Subpoenas Amid the Meltdown
- Trump’s White House goes into full “meltdown” with a new slate of scandals, firings, and resignations.
- Meanwhile, Mueller expands his investigation into Trump’s business dealings with Russia.
- The Trump Organization has been subpoenaed to turn over documents relating to Trump’s dealings.
It’s chaos over in Trump world. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was recently fired via Twitter; National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster is awaiting a similar fate; and the administration now has to answer for a new slate of ridiculous spending scandals. Stormy Daniels, a former pornstar who allegedly received hush money from the Trump team, looks ready to spill the beans on her affair with Trump. And key figures are quitting left, right, and center. Around the White House, the term being tossed around is “Meltdown.”
Meanwhile, Special Counsel Robert Mueller is expanding his investigation into the Trump Organization’s business dealings with Russia. Back in July, Trump warned Mueller not to investigate his dealings and finances, calling it a “red line.” Yet the Special Counsel just issued a subpoena to the Trump Organization to hand over documents relating to Trump’s affairs with America’s old Cold War enemy.
How will Trump act now that Mueller has clearly crossed that line? Let’s take a look at the odds.
| PROP | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Odds the Trump Organization refuses to turn over documents | 4/1 |
The Trump Organization’s lead attorney spoke in very clear terms on the matter: “Trump Organization is fully cooperative with all investigations, including the Special Counsel, and is responding to their requests.”
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders repeated the sentiment: “We’re going to continue to fully cooperate out of respect for the special counsel.”
If Trump and his team are to be taken at their word, then the turning over of documents will go over smoothly. However, if the Trump Organization was fully cooperating with the investigation from day one, why would a subpoena be needed in the first place?
Perhaps Trump Org isn’t being as forthcoming as it would have us believe.
| PROP | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Odds Trump testifies to Special Counsel in 2018 | 1/1 |
Donald Trump has already publicly stated that he is willing to testify under oath in front of Robert Mueller. In fact, he can’t wait to do it. “I would like to do it as soon as possible,” he told reporters in January. However, he left himself a way out by adding, “subject to my lawyers and all of that.”
Trump’s legal team definitely does not want him to meet with Mueller. They’re calling the interview a “perjury trap,” and given the President’s tenuous relationship with the truth, it may not be in Trump’s best interest to meet with the Special Counsel. Of course, if Trump does not voluntarily meet for an interview, Mueller could always issue a subpoena.
| PROP | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Odds Robert Mueller is dismissed in 2018 | 2/1 |
We know that Trump has already tried to squash the Russia investigation — albeit halfheartedly. Last June, he ordered White House counsel Don McGahn to order the Justice Department to dismiss the special counsel (convoluted, I know). McGahn refused and threatened to quit, and Trump backed down.
With the investigation zeroing in on his business dealings, an area Trump previously called a “violation,” the President may be growing increasingly nervous about what Mueller and his team may uncover. Trump seems to be in the midst of a firing spree at the moment, and there’s no doubt over who he would like to remove most.
| PROP | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Odds Trump releases his tax returns in 2018 | 35/1 |
Remember when Donald Trump promised to release his tax returns after a routine audit was over? I guess those tax returns are due any moment now.
Long before Trump ran for President, Donald Trump Jr spoke pretty candidly about about their business dealings: “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets.”
With the Russia investigation in full swing, it’s safe to assume that Trump’s taxes will remain hidden for the time being.
| PROP | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Odds a congressional Republican calls for impeachment in 2018 | 19/1 |
Jeff Flake, a Senator who will not stand for reelection this year, is one of few Republicans openly critical of Trump. However, he has still voted in line with Trump 86% of the time. Perhaps it’s all just empty rhetoric from the retiring Senator.
The Republican-led House Intel Committee recently announced that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives, and the committee would be wrapping up its investigation.
Trump tweeted his reaction in all-caps: “THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS, AFTER A 14 MONTH LONG IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION, FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.”
There may be a tipping point somewhere down the line. But for now, the Republicans are standing by their man.
Don Aguero is a man of many talents, writing about nearly anything you can put odds to. Don has been writing for SportsBettingDime since 2015, covering sports, entertainment and politics. You name it, he's covered it! He is also a steadfast West Ham fan, and has learned to embrace that suffering.
