Special counsel Robert Mueller

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

Americans see Robert S. Mueller III as  being far more credible than President Trump, but the public has scattered and partisan perceptions of Mueller’s motives and findings so far, a new Washington Post-Schar School poll reveals.

The Post reports that by a 56 to 33 percent margin, more say they trust Mueller’s version of the facts than Trump’s.

Nearly two years into his investigation, Mueller has charged 34 people and secured guilty pleas from some of Trump’s closest advisers, including his former campaign chairman, deputy campaign chairman, national security adviser and personal lawyer, the Post notes.

Ryan Adams (Photo by Drew de F Fawkes for Wikimedia Commons)

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

The FBI is investigating whether the singer-songwriter Ryan Adams, 44, committed a crime by engaging in sexually explicit communications with an underage fan, the New York Times reports, citing “a law enforcement official with knowledge of the matter.”

Adams and a young woman, who said her online communications with the singer began when she was 14 and continued until she was 16, exchanged text messages and conducted video calls that sometimes included nudity, the Times reports. The two never met in person.

Adam’s lawyer Andrew B. Brettler says his client has never “engaged in inappropriate online sexual communications with someone he knew was underage.” Brettler said the FBI has not contacted Adams.

President Trump

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

No surprise here.

President Donald Trump came out swinging Thursday, on Valentine’s Day, after ex-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was fired, talked about his new book in an interview with 60 Minutes.

Disgraced FBI Acting Director Andrew McCabe pretends to be a “poor little Angel” when in fact he was a big part of the Crooked Hillary Scandal & the Russia Hoax – a puppet for Leakin’ James Comey. I.G. report on McCabe was devastating. Part of “insurance policy” in case I won….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2019

McCabe says top officials were looking into invoking the 25th amendment to get rid of Trump after he fired FBI Director James Comey, Forbes magazine reports.

He also confirmed Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein suggested wearing a wire in meetings with Trump.

The Justice Department a statement disputing McCabe’s remarks and restated its position that it and Rosenstein find “no basis to invoke the 25th Amendment.”

McCabe’s full interview will air Sunday on 60 Minutes.

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

Fired Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who has just written a book about the FBI and Donald Trump, tells  “60 Minutes” that he ordered an obstruction of justice investigation into the president after talking with him after he fired James Comey.

“I was speaking to the man who had just run for the presidency and won the election for the presidency, and who might have done so with the aid of the government of Russia, our most formidable adversary on the world stage,” McCabe said. “And that was something that troubled me greatly. ”

The full interview airs Sunday.

Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort.

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

As the old idiom goes, Paul Manafort is in hot water.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson of D.C. ruled Wednesday that the former Trump campaign chairman, who had been cooperating with authorities, lied to  prosecutors with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Spencer Hsu of the Washington Post reports.

Manafort, 69, breached his cooperation deal with prosecutors by lying after his guilty plea by lying about some things including  “his interactions and communications with [Konstantin] Kilimnik,” a longtime aide whom the FBI assessed to have ties to Russian intelligence, the Post reports.

That could add years to his sentence.

Some legal observers say his only hope at this point is getting a pardon from the president. The optics of that would be terrible, but they’re seldom good in such situations.

Ed Burke

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
 
The Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is applauding members of Congress who will introduce legislation Wednesday that eases restrictions on carrying a concealed weapon for current and retired law enforcement officers.

The proposed legislation would expand the locations where retired law enforcement officers can carry a concealed firearm while standardizing magazine requirements, reforming qualification standards and allowing qualified officers to carry on private and state property otherwise open to the public.

“The enactment of this proposed legislation will better allow our members and other retired law enforcement officers to provide additional safety throughout the country,” said Ed Burke, National President of the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in a statement.  “The enactment of this proposed legislation will better allow our members and other retired law enforcement officers to provide additional safety throughout the country.”

Agent taps the sheriff’s deputy on the head.

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

A DEA undercover agent in Florida is accused of tapping a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy on the head during a DUI stop last December, the Palm Beach Post reports.

The agent apparently became frustrated during a field sobriety test.

“You’re under arrest for DUI,” PBSO deputy Patrick Zeitz said. Then, “You’re lucky I’m not charging you with something stupid like Batt-Leo.”  Batt-Leo is battery on a law-enforcement officer, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, the paper explains.

“You, as somebody who does this profession, should know better,” Zeitz said.

“You’re right,” Brendan D’Arcangelo said. “You’re right, bro.”

The DEA has refused to say whether he is still employed at the agency.

He faces four counts of DUI with damage to property or a person, first-degree misdemeanors each punishable by up to a year in jail. A plea conference is set for April 5.

The paper reports that D’Arcangelo’s pickup slammed into two vehicles stopped at a red light. No one was seriously injured.