Mueller Goes Nuclear
News broke late yesterday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in Washington, D.C. Subpoenas related to last year's meeting at Trump Tower between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer have reportedly been issued.
Grand jury investigations are supposed to be secret, so this news was obviously leaked by someone on Mueller's staff or in the Justice Department in order to damage the president.
The president's legal team says this is simply part of the normal process and in no way suggests that the president is under investigation.
Here's my take: Half of the lawyers on Mueller's team are Democrat donors. His grand jury sits in Washington, D.C., a city that voted 91% for Hillary Clinton on Election Day. This is the jury that is now going to sit in judgment of President Trump and his family.
What's not to like? [SARCASM ALERT!]
Trump's Speech
President Trump shrugged off the latest development in the Russia investigation and delivered a terrific speech last night in Huntington, West Virginia. He began with a bold defense of our American values, saying:
"The change you voted for is happening every single day. Everyone in this great arena is united by shared values. We believe in God. We believe in family. We believe in country.
"We support the Constitution of the United States of America. We cherish and defend the Second Amendment. We believe schools should teach students to love our country, to have pride in our history and to respect our great American flag.
"We stand with the incredible men and women of law enforcement. Thank you! We believe strongly that a nation must defend and protect its borders. And above all else, we believe that we must take care of our own citizens and put America first!"
The conservative vision President Trump articulated so well is what we are fighting for each and every day.
Elite Disdain
While West Virginians were cheering, the Washington swamp was reacting. If you needed another example of the elite's disdain for Main Street, you got it last night around 7:50.
As President Trump was making the case for the RAISE Act, an immigration reform plan that requires new immigrants to speak English and be financially self-sufficient, Stuart Rothenberg tweeted this: "Lots of people in West Virginia can't support themselves or speak English."
Rothenberg is a highly respected member of Washington's political elite. But his condescending tweet demonstrated just how little respect D.C.'s political class has for millions of hard working Americans.
Plugging Leaks
Yet another disturbing leak appeared yesterday courtesy of the Washington Post. Somehow the left-wing media outlet got its hands on the full transcripts of President Trump's phone calls with two foreign leaders. Rather than consider the implications for national security and foreign policy, the Post published the transcripts.
Whatever the Washington Post thinks of Donald Trump, publishing those transcripts was an utter betrayal of the presidency. No president should fear that his private conversations with foreign leaders will end up on the front page.
But perhaps the Post did us a favor. This leak elicited outrage across the political spectrum.
This morning, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats held a joint press conference. They announced that the administration has tripled the number of probes intended to end "the culture of leaks." Four individuals have been charged, and Sessions warned that reporters may be subpoenaed as these investigations go forward.
Speaking on Fox & Friends this morning, Kellyanne Conway said that lie detector tests may be used to vet White House aides. My advice: Do it now!
Making Progress
Last night, before they left town for the August recess, senators confirmed nearly 70 of President Trump's nominees.
Some of the confirmations involved ambassadorial appointments, which do not directly impact the battles here in Washington. But many were for sub-Cabinet level posts, meaning the president is finally starting to get the people he needs to rein in the bureaucracy.
I am also pleased to report that more progress is being made in moving the president's judicial nominees as well.