The Special Council investigation was established to determine if there was any links between the Trump campaign and associates with the Russian government to underline the 2016 election.
Two of the main foreign agents involved in the investigation for release of information and gathering of information such as Russian dossier that Steele complied from Russian sources, and Wikileaks release of emails whom allegedly got them from Russian sources.
The Steele dossier as stated by Andrew McCabe was used to obtain FISA warrants for many of the Trump campaign and associates. Steele was a previous FBI informant who was fired for lying and breach on contract and now is under a criminal probe from a referral from congress.
On the other hand
Wikileaks released the 'stolen emails' (learned later Podesta fell for a phishing email scam and weak passwords at the DNC)
Mueller's team met with Christopher Steel and interviewed him, however no one has bothered to go ask Assange for an interview and offer him a deal for his information.
Prosecutors meet with people all the time to cut deals, in fact in this very investigation deals have been cut with many people. But Mueller never bothered to question Julian Assange and offer him anything for his cooperation for any information leading to where they got the emails, how they got them or the source of the information. The only information we have is from an intelligence report what alleges certain things offering no concrete proof.
There is many things Assange could shed light on, like what his correspondence was with the Trump campaign and associates, who he got the Podesta emails from, what his relation to Seth Rich was, How he got the DNC emails and a whole host of other questions. Seeing as Wikileaks was the Main Culprit in the release of the emails, any serious investigator would try to ascertain the information from the source of the controversy or illegality.
So a few questions I have is, how is this investigation supposed to be thorough and complete without interviewing all sides of the controversy and criminal probe?
How are we supposed to believe the investigation by only being interested in half the story while leaving out a huge part of the story by simply ignoring it and looking past it. Why hasnt Assange been offered something to come forward with anything and why hasn't he been offered a deal to testify and offered immunity like Sheryl Mills, Bryan Pagliano, John Bentel, Heather Samuelson and Paul Combetta?
Yes but his scope is limited to the Russia investigation, no? So would he really have the power to give Assange what he wants? I think, and I might be mistaken, that he can only really offer plea deals in regards to the Russia meddling prosecution, not really much else. Like, he wouldn't be able to pardon Assange for the other crimes he's wanted for in the US.
Assange was a key player in this whole thing was he not? Of coarse he can get pardons for past crimes, this happens all the time where you are given a pardon or immunity from your past if you help with solve a big investigation.
Lets say he wasnt offered anything, the point is Muller hasnt even tried to talk to him, and Wikileaks is central to this investigation on multiple levels.
Possibly, and to answer the initial question in the OP, I think an interview with Assange would be great.
But the question isn't really would an Assange interview be desired, I just don't think Mueller would really be able to offer Assange anything to convince him to give any kind of interview. Like what could Mueller really offer? "I won't prosecute you in the Russia case"? That won't matter to Assange because he's already wanted by the American government for other things. The only way this interview would happen is if Mueller would be able to offer him full immunity from all possible charges he might face for prior crimes, and I don't believe he has that authority. Could be wrong though.
Doubtful, there is zero reporting to suggest that, there is reporting from multiple sources he has talked to Steele, also Assange isnt quiet about things like this, he would have tweeted his demands etc. Considering the high level of reporting and scrutiny on Mueller from all sides, this would have been front page news.
That may be a reason why he is avoiding a direct attempt at courting Assange, he knows Assange might turn it into a circus, and he also knows Assange would hold all the sway. He also probably knows he has nothing to offer Assange that Assange would actually want.
It'd probably be easier for him to go after some low level Wikileaks staffers or something, than Assange himself.
Bro, Assange is the key player, he is Wikileaks. I think you are downplaying a bit. Regardless of how Assange would or wouldn't act publicly isn't a basis to cower away from doing your job. He also wouldn't have anything on lower level staffers as they are British Citizens or Equidorian Citizens, and unless he wanted to cause an international incident by threatening citizens of other counties, he would deal directly with Assange, as like I stated, Assange is wikileaks, and the boss and as of now the only person in US legal jeopardy for him to play off of.
I can definitly say there has been no effort on his part to pursue a vital part of the investigation which was Wikleaks release of the DNC and Podesta emails, and one of the main talking points of the DNC that said showed collusion between the Trump campaign, Don Jr, Stone and Wikileaks.
This investigation will always be incomplete unless he decides to actually do a proper full circle investigation, and not just investigate the campaign members, but investigate and interview the people that the supposed campaign members colluded with.
The whole thing from Schiff and the rest was "Wikileaks has long been a extension of the Russian government etc." His mandate is to investigate any and all matters pertaining to Russian interference in the election, so he is required to investigate Wikileaks and ask for interview, he has not.
I know Assange is a key player, I'm not downplaying anything, I'm just saying he probably knows it's a waste of time to go after him, and so why would he? I'm sure he'd like to, but his job isn't to waste time trying to talk to people that he has no leverage over and who won't cooperate, it's to try and get as much information as possible from the avenues that are available to him. Assange simply isn't available to him.
No, you can't say definitely that there has been no effort to pursue Wikileaks, you have no way of knowing that. You are making a bad assumption that because some aspects of the investigation are public, then all aspects of the investigation are public. There is no reason to think that. He may be targetting Wikileaks in some other way that we don't know about.
But you also cannot assume he already did. The evidence points to it never happening, I would have the winning argument.
Its easier to prove it never happened then it did happen.
Also leave Mueller out of it for one sec, Congress has the power to offer him, there are two congressional investigations, he was never asked to come forward.
We heard every day of every person that was being called forward, When was Assange?
You would have a winning argument if that was actually my argument, it's not though. I'm not saying "Mueller is definitely going after Wikileaks", I'm saying "we don't know everything that Mueller is doing". Those two things aren't the same.
Are you asking why Congress hasn't attempted to summon Assange to testify before them? The answer is simple - because he wouldn't show up, and they and everyone else knows it. It'd be way too dangerous to leave his safe house, he'd probably be killed by someone long before he arrived in Washington.
So if the US Congress were to summon Assange and he agreed, you honestly think hes going to be killed under US jurisdiction and while under our security? What would that say about US law enforcement, we cant even protect a state witness now?
Again, you are saying that we know everything about the investigation because we know some things about the investigation. We don't. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. It would be nice if he could talk with Assange, but there's no reason to think this is even a remote possibility, so why should he waste his time making any sincere effort to do so? It's not his job to waste time going after people he has no sway over.
With as many leaks that comes out, we know 95% of whats going on. And thats clearly enough to know if Assange would be in the mix. He has never been mentioned at all besides "Don Jr colluded with Wikileaks."
Even presuming he could, the United States has an extradition agreement with Sweden, so the moment Assange steps foot on U.S. soil, he will be arrested, and sent to Sweden to be prosecuted for the rape of 13-year-old girls.
KMC Community Forums
Mar 6th, 2018 09:00 PM
