Michael Cohen, former attorney for President Trump.

By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com

Michael Cohen, President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer and fixer, said he provided “critical information” to special counsel prosecutors who are investigating whether Trump’s campaign coordinated with Russia to interfere in the election.

Cohen tweeted that he is cooperating without a deal with prosecutors.

Cohen quickly deleted the tweet, saying it was a quote from his lawyer, Lanny Davis.

Davis tweeted what Cohen had deleted: “Good for @MichaelCohen212 for providing critical information to the #MuellerInvestigation without a cooperation agreement. No one should question his integrity, veracity or loyalty to his family and country over @POTUS @realDonaldTrump.”

Cohen was close to the Trump Organization and the campaign and could become a vital witness as special counsel Robert Mueller continues to build a case against the president.

Former FBI Director James Comey.

By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation appears to be closing in on President Trump as the probe may be nearing its end, former FBI Director James Comey said Wednesday.

In an interview with St. Louis Public Radio, Comey speculated that the cooperation and plea deal with Trump’s former campaign boss, Paul Manafort, are a good indication that the president is in Mueller’s crosshairs.

“I think there’s an argument to be made that the conviction — the plea and cooperation by Paul Manafort — may represent that we’re in the fourth quarter,” Comey said. “The way you normally do investigations is you work from the bottom up, and so they’re getting pretty high.”
At this point, it’s just speculation based on how investigation typically work, Comey added.

President Trump answering media questions on Air Force One. Photo via the White House.

By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com

President Trump’s demand for the “immediate declassification” of details of the Russia investigation are likely to be met with proposed redactions by the FBI and Justice Department, Bloomberg reports, citing three people familiar with the matter.

No timeline was been made as the FBI, DOJ and Office of the Director of National Intelligence come through sensitive materials.

On Monday, the White House demanded the declassification of all text messages related to the Russia investigation by Justice Department official Bruce Ohr and several other officials, including former FBI Director James Comey and his deputy, Andrew McCabe.

Once the FBI and DOJ have identified their proposed redactions, the Office of Director of National Intelligence will review the material before handing it over to the White House.

As president, Trump has the authority to release the documents regardless of proposed redactions by the federal agencies.

Fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe

By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whose termination triggered allegations of retribution, is breaking his silence about President Trump in a new book.

McCabe signed a deal with St. Martins Press to publish a book entitled, “The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump.”

The book is scheduled to be released Dec. 4.

According to the publisher, McCabe’s book will explore “a series of troubling, contradictory, and often bizarre conversations” with Trump and other high officials that led him to believe the “actions of this President and his administration undermine the FBI and the entire intelligence community,” threatening the public.

“I wrote this book because the president’s attacks on me symbolize his destructive effect on the country as a whole,” McCabe said in a statement issued through St. Martin’s. “He is undermining America’s safety and security, and eroding public confidence in its institutions. His attacks on the most crucial institutions of government, and on the professionals who serve within them, should make every American stand up and take notice.”

The announcement comes just months after the publication of former FBI Director James Comey’s “A Higher Loyalty.”

Trump has tried to undermine the FBI and Justice Department, calling their investigation of his presidential campaign and its possible connection to Russia “a witch hunt.”

Paul Manafort

Update: 4:02 p.m. Friday —  In a move that could certainly spell more trouble for President Donald Trump, former campaign chief Paul Manafort pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate in the Robert Mueller probe.

Manfort pleaded guilty to two charges — conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

“I plead guilty,” Manafort told U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson at a hearing Friday morning hearing in federal court in the District, according to the Washington Post.

Manafort admitted committing years of financial crimes to hide his money from the IRS and promised to tell the government about “his participation in and knowledge of all criminal activities.”

From Friday Morning

By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has reached a tentative plea deal ahead of his second trial, sources familiar with the negotiations told ABC News. 

Details of the plea agreement with special counsel Robert Mueller is expected to be revealed in court today.

If approved, the tentative deal will head off Manafort’s second trial after a jury found him guilty of eight criminal counts in his first trial last month.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Manafort reached the deal in exchange for cooperation or just to avoid the stress and costs of another trial.

The second trial primarily involves work he did for pro-Russia politicians in the Ukraine and accusations of money laundering.

Check back for updates.

FBI Director Christopher Wray defends the bureau in an interview on “CBS This Morning.”

By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com

FBI Director Christopher Wray is defending the bureau against incessant attacks, most notably from President Trump, over the investigation of Russia meddling during the presidential election.

Wray told “CBS This Morning” co-anchor Norah O’Donnell that critics like Trump are waging a disinformation campaign designed to hurt the FBI’s reputation.

When asked whether Wray thinks “there are some questions about the reputation of the FBI,” the director said the public is being deceived.

“Well, I think sometimes watching the news and certainly trolling the internet, you would think that the FBI has only had two investigations over the last three years,” Wray said. “But I will tell you that when you get out into real America, people know differently.”

Trump continues to call the Russia probe a “witch hunt” intended to undermine his presidency.

President Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the site of the Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, Pa., via White House.

By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com

President Trump seized on the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to launch dubious assaults on the FBI and Justice Department.

The president repeated an unfounded allegation by Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who claimed former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page employed a “media leak strategy” to undermine his administration, the Washington Post reports.

Trump then criticized the FBI and Justice for failing to act on the dubious claim.

Strzok’s attorney said the “media leak strategy” was referring to an effort to tackle unauthorized disclosures to reporters. 

New Strzok-Page texts reveal “Media Leak Strategy.” @FoxNews So terrible, and NOTHING is being done at DOJ or FBI – but the world is watching, and they get it completely.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2018

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

Making flip remarks about the president isn’t always so wise.

The Secret Service is looking into a remark made by veteran TV star Carole Cooke as she exited a West Hollywood restaurant Sunday night, TMZ reports.

TMZ photographer asked her what she thought about President Donald Trump and she remarked that it would be a good idea for someone to “John Wilkes Booth” President Trump.

When she was asked if  she meant Trump should be assassinated she responded, “Why not?”