Former FBI head Robert Mueller to oversee Trump-Russia investigation

 As special counsel, Mueller has the power to subpoena documents and prosecute any crimes, independent of Congress. Photograph: J. Scott Applewhite/AP 




Tom McCarthy, Jon Swaine and Ben Jacobs

Thursday 18 May 2017 01.50 BST First published on Wednesday 17 May 2017 23.17 BST 


The Department of Justice has appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate alleged ties between the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump and Russian operatives. Mueller will also investigate Russian intervention in the election generally. 

Mueller, 72, was appointed FBI director by George W Bush and served 12 years, including for the majority of Barack Obama’s presidency. He said in a statement on Wednesday: “I accept this responsibility and will discharge it to the best of my ability.” 



Analysis Why Donald Trump can't fire his way out of 'Russia thing' this time 
Appointment of Robert Mueller to investigate Kremlin collusion bypasses president and demonstrates seriousness of the allegations against his circle 


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Special counsel is a position that exists under a statute that allows the attorney general or a deputy, if the attorney general is recused, to mount an independent investigation. This particular provision has been invoked only once before, in the Bill Clinton administration, when former Senator John Danforth was to investigate the Branch Davidian siege outside Waco, Texas. 

The position is different from an independent counsel, the role in which Ken Starr investigated Bill Clinton throughout the 1990s. The law authorizing that position expired in 1999. 

Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein made the decision to appoint Mueller. It was a letter from Rosenstein that the Trump administration initially presented last week as a central factor in the firing of James Comey as FBI director. 

In an order announcing Mueller’s appointment, Rosenstein explained he had taken the decision “to ensure a full and thorough investigation of the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election,” including “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump.” 

“My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted,” Rosenstein wrote in a separate letter. “I have made no such determination. What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances, the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command.” 

In a statement released after Mueller’s appointment was announced, Trump said: “As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know – there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity. I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country.” 
 James Comey speaks alongside Robert Mueller at the White House in 2013. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters 
Also on Wednesday night, a 2016 exchange among Republican House leadership surfaced in which majority leader Kevin McCarthy suggested that Donald Trump was on Vladimir Putin’s payroll. 

According to a transcript of the conversation, which was first reported by the Washington Post, McCarthy said: “There’s … there’s two people, I think, Putin pays: [California Representative Dana] Rohrabacher and Trump … [laughter] … swear to God.” Then speaker Paul Ryan responded: “This is an off the record … [laughter] … NO LEAKS … [laughter] … alright?!”


After the Post’s report was published online, McCarthy tweeted: “This was an attempt at humor gone wrong.” 

Ryan’s office also defended the remarks as a bad joke, saying in a statement that, “No one believed the majority leader was seriously asserting that Donald Trump or any of our members were being paid by the Russians.” 
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Later on Wednesday, a third bombshell report surfaced, alleging that Michael Flynn, Trump’s now disgraced former national security adviser, had told the president’s transition team weeks before being appointed that he was under federal investigation for working, in secret, as a paid lobbyist for Turkey. The report from the New York Times shows that the Trump team was aware Flynn was being investigated much earlier than has been reported. 

The White House was not aware of Rosenstein’s decision to appoint Mueller until after the order was signed, according to a justice department official. The news had not appeared to have been shared on Capitol Hill either, with the House intelligence committee saying it had not been informed.


As special counsel, Mueller will command broad powers, including the power to subpoena documents and prosecute any crimes, independent of Congress. Calls on Capitol Hill for a special prosecutor in the investigation have percolated for months, but spiked after the firing of Comey, who was leading an FBI investigation into the matter. The independence of the investigation fell into question after the firing. 

“A special counsel is very much needed in this situation,” Republican senator Susan Collins said in a statement, calling Mueller “exactly the right kind of individual for this job.” 

“Good move,” senator Tim Kaine, the former vice-presidential candidate, wrote on Twitter. “Now let’s get some answers.” Fellow Democrats Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, and Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, echoed the sentiment, with Pelosi calling Mueller “a respected public servant of the highest integrity”. 


 

Who is Robert Mueller, the Trump-Russia investigation's special counsel? 


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Trump has vehemently opposed the appointment of a special counsel, calling the investigation a waste of taxpayer money. White House press representatives were criticized for dismissing the need for a special prosecutor – a move seen as potentially encroaching on the justice department’s terrain. 

The top officials from both parties on the House oversight and government reform committee, which had scheduled a hearing for next week at which Comey was invited to testify, praised the move. 
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“Mueller is a great selection,” committee chairman Jason Chaffetz, a Republican, tweeted. “Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted.” 

Ranking member Elijah Cummings said Rosenstein had “made a solid choice in Mr Mueller, and I commend him for putting our country and justice system first. I urge Mr Mueller to follow the facts wherever they may lead – with integrity and independence.” 

Prior to becoming FBI director, Mueller held a number of positions in the justice department under presidents of both parties. These included being appointed to serve as US attorney for the northern district of California under Bill Clinton in 1998, and overseeing the criminal division of the justice department as an assistant attorney general under George HW Bush. 

After his time at the FBI, Mueller worked for the Washington-based private law firm of WilmerHale, a position he has resigned.


A spokesperson for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, whose ties in Ukraine and Russia have come under scrutiny, declined to comment to the Guardian on the Mueller appointment.

Top 10 Ways To Make Your Girlfriend Happy

Top 10 Ways To Make Your Girlfriend Happy
Want To Make her Happy? These 10 Tips Will Definitely Improve Your Relationship


If you're in a relationship and you want to make it work, it's worth putting some thought into the steps you could take to make life smoother for your partner — and, by extension, you. Here are the top 10 things you can work on to make your girlfriend happy:
1. Listen To Her

It's become a familiar cliche: Men don't listen, and there's not much that can be done about it. For 2016, why not give up the lazy stereotypes by practicing active listening. It's not particularly difficult: You ask her how she is or whether everything's OK, and then sit there with open ears while she answers you. Resist the impulse to try to immediately fix everything: Sometimes she just wants to be heard, and the simple act of listening and reassuring her that you care is enough.
2. Buy Her Thoughtful Gifts

If you trot out a variation on the same theme year after year, or worse, have resorted to getting your girlfriend gift certificates every birthday and Christmas, it might be time to pull your socks up in the gift department. In the weeks leading up to the event, pay attention to clues she may be giving you about things she’d love to receive, or try soliciting help from her friends, who might be able to offer a fresh perspective. Also, checking her Pinterest or Amazon Wishlist will almost certainly help you find a tailored and appreciated gift.
3. Make An Effort With Her Friends

The longer you've been with your girlfriend, the more important it is to make sure you're gelling with the other people in her life. You don't need to adopt her group of friends wholesale, but if you have petty grievances with any of her close friends, why not resolve to get over your differences. Doing so is bound to make life easier for your girlfriend, and it has the bonus effect of reducing the level of animosity in your life.
4. Show An Interest In Her Interests

If your girlfriend has a hobby or passion that you've always effectively ignored, boost her esteem by showing some interest in it. You don't necessarily have to take part yourself, but showing up to watch some of her soccer games or providing positive feedback about her blog will make her feel valued. Mutual respect is the glue of successful relationships, so if you've been acting as though her interests are trivial or incidental, it's time to start showing them some enthusiasm.
5. Take Your Grooming Up A Notch

Women show an overwhelming preference for men who are well-groomed. Make sure that your facial hair is tidy (or completely absent) and that your nails are clipped and clean, and why not consider adopting a fresh fragrance?
6. Do Your Share Of The Housework

If you live with your girlfriend, it's important to make sure that you're doing your part to help keep your surroundings clean and liveable. Despite a general move towards gender egalitarianism within our society, research shows that women are still shouldering an unfair burden when it comes to housework. Some of the disparity can be put down to sexist ideas about who should be doing the housework, but there's also some research that suggests that men are simply slower to notice when things need tidying, which means that they tend to have a higher mess threshold than women. This dynamic can leave your partner feeling taken for granted, so try to take a proactive approach to cleaning to counter it, or simply ask more often whether there's anything you could do to help around the house.
7. Make Good Use Of Your Time Together

Once you're in a relationship it's easy to fall into a comfortable Netflix-and-takeout routine. It's fine to spend the odd weekend chilling entirely at home, but if it's a constant fixture you should aim to make better use of your precious free time together. There are bound to be restaurants, parks, cafes, clubs, bookstores, boutiques and markets you haven't yet visited in and around your city, so make an effort to start exploring them together in 2016.
8. Plan A Trip Together

There are very few people who don't appreciate a break from work and some time in the sunshine, and your girlfriend is probably no exception. Whether you can afford to take a whole week off work or just a long weekend, planning a getaway together will perk up your relationship without fail. Planning a holiday is often every bit as fun as the main event, so start sending each other screenshots of Jamaican beaches and discount airfares.
9. Change Up Your Bedroom Routine

If you've noticed your girlfriend’s enthusiasm for sex has recently waned, you might need to vary your usual routine. When it becomes clear that something needs to change, men often make the mistake of assuming that everything needs to be done harder, faster and for longer. Women often hate this. The key to pleasing your girlfriend is usually less about introducing wild new positions and props, and more to do with clear communication and a genuine interest in her pleasure. If you'd like a better sex life in 2016, ask her what she’d like you to do more of, and if you're game, start following through.

In Guantánamo, LI family seeks justice for mother killed on 9/11

Patricia Smith, 17, of East Hampton was in diapers when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center, killing nearly 3,000 people — one of them her mother, an NYPD officer who was helping survivors escape the south tower when it collapsed.

This week, the college-bound high school senior is as close as she can get to some of the men who U.S. authorities say are responsible for the death of her mother, Moira Smith, the only female member of the NYPD killed in the 9/11 attacks.

Since Saturday, Patricia Smith and her father, Jim Smith, have been in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to attend pretrial hearings for as many as five detainees. The hearings took place Monday and will continue for the rest of the week. The end result could mean trials for members of the notorious al-Qaida terrorist network who took part in planning the attacks nearly 16 years ago.

“It’s important for my daughter to see these people, to see these detainees accused of killing her mother and to look them in the face and let them know they are where they need to be at this time,” Jim Smith said Monday night.

The father and daughter are among a limited number of victims’ relatives, as well as news media members, allowed by U.S. authorities to attend the proceedings. Smith said he and his daughter plan on returning to the United States on Saturday.

Smith, a retired NYPD officer himself, said he and his daughter also wanted to support the attorneys and military members responsible for the prosecution and detention of those alleged to have carried out Osama bin Laden’s orders on Sept. 11, 2001.

“She wanted to see what was going on and get a chance to thank the people that were fighting for us and to see the animals responsible for her mother’s death,” he said, adding that his daughter had already gone to sleep so she can be up early for Tuesday’s proceedings.

Smith said the hearings are at once similar to and very different from those conducted in the United States. Spectators sit behind layers of glass in a gallery, where they can observe but cannot hear what is said in real time.

A television monitor broadcasts audio and video of the hearings with a 40-second delay to allow authorities to censor classified information.

The hearings are the last step for some of the hundreds of detainees captured — including those plucked from the battlefields of Afghanistan, al-Qaida’s headquarters — and brought to the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay for indefinite detention.

While hundreds of detainees have been released through other proceedings, the trials Patricia Smith and her father will witness are being for detainees alleged to have committed war crimes.

They include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Walid bin Attash. U.S. officials consider the crop of alleged terrorists as the masterminds of the nation’s worst terrorist attack — men who Jim Smith called “most culpable” for his wife’s death.

His daughter touched the nation’s heart as she was captured in images a few months after the attacks, when the 2-year-old walked with her father across a stage in Manhattan’s Carnegie Hall to accept an award. Then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani draped her mother’s gold Medal of Honor around the little girl’s neck.

Now, Patricia Smith is preparing attend the University of Alabama, where she plans to pursue a degree in sports medicine.

Jim Smith said he and his daughter are serving as witnesses for justice for their lost loved one. He added that they plan to place a memento of their visit, and a symbol of Moira Smith’s lasting presence, on the Guantánamo grounds by the week’s end.

“It’s been somewhat emotional for her,” he said of his daughter, adding that she has taken a constitutional law course and is following the proceedings closely. “We’re here to respect and to honor Moira’s memory . . . and make sure she gets the justice she deserves.”

LORETTA LYNN RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL ... RECOVERING FROM STROKE

Country music legend Loretta Lynn has been moved out of the hospital and into a rehab facility after suffering a stroke just over a week ago at her ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN.

A message on her website says her recovery is going great, however all her future shows have been postponed per doctor's orders.

Lynn turned 85 in April and had shows lined up through November across America. She's expected to make a full recovery, but no word when she'll be back on the road. 

Trump 'shared classified information with Russia'

President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information about so-called Islamic State (IS) to Russia's foreign minister, sources have told US media.

The information came from a partner of the US which had not given permission for it to be shared with Russia, says the Washington Post.

Mr Trump received Sergei Lavrov in the Oval Office last week.

Officials denied the media report but a senior member of Mr Trump's Republican party called for an explanation.

The Trump campaign's alleged links to Moscow have dogged his presidency and are part of several investigations.

But the president has dismissed such allegations as "fake news".

During the election campaign, Mr Trump repeatedly criticised his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, for how she handled sensitive material.

A knife in the back? Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington

The fallout from this story could be enormous and not just because there is a boundless trove of Republican quotes over the past year - directed at Mrs Clinton - about the utmost importance of protecting top-secret information.

There is the Russian connection, of course.

The FBI is currently investigating the Trump campaign for possible ties to Russian interests. Meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak featured prominently in the firing of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal on Russian investigation matters.

Then there is the question of whether US allies will be more reluctant to share sensitive intelligence information with the US, lest the president put sources at risk.

This will only stoke accusations by Trump critics that the president is undisciplined and inexperienced in the delicacies of foreign policy, where his shoot-from-the hip style presents an ongoing danger.

Finally, it is worth remembering the simmering feud Mr Trump has had with the US intelligence community. It took less than a week for this highly embarrassing story to leak. If the revelation was a knife twisted in the president's back, it is not hard to suspect where it came from.

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What actually happened?

In a conversation with the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, in the Oval Office, the president revealed details that could lead to the exposure of a source of information, officials told the Washington Post and the New York Times.

The discussion was about an IS plot and he reportedly went "off-script". The intelligence disclosed came from a US ally, information considered too sensitive to share with other US allies, the papers report.

Others present realised the mistake and scrambled to "contain the damage" by informing the CIA and the National Security Agency, says the Post.

The meeting came a day after Mr Trump fired his FBI chief, James Comey, sparking criticism that he had done so because the FBI was investigating alleged Russian ties.

A Russian photographer was present for part of the meeting but US media were not allowed to attend.

What has the reaction been?

The Senate's second-highest ranked Democrat, Dick Durbin, said Mr Trump's actions appeared to be "dangerous" and reckless".

A spokesman for Paul Ryan, Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, said: "We have no way to know what was said, but protecting our nation's secrets is paramount.

"The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration."

The Republican head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Corker, said the story was "very, very troubling" if true.

"Obviously they're in a downward spiral right now and they've got to figure out a way to come to grips" with it, he told Bloomberg.

And the White House?

National Security Advisor HR McMaster told reporters that the story was "false".

"The president and foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries, including threats to civil aviation," he said.

"At no time... were intelligence sources or methods discussed, and the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known."

In a statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson echoed the point that "the nature of specific threats were discussed, but they did not discuss sources, methods or military operations".

The Washington Post, which first broke the story, said this did not amount to a denial of their story.