US President Donald Trump decries ‘corrupt’ Russia investigation as reason for ‘bad blood’ with Moscow
The Twitter tirade came after the White House said the president has the power to fire the man leading the probe into possible collusion during his 2016 election campaign
President Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the “never ending and corrupt” investigation into Russian interference in the US election, and decried the “unthinkable” raid to seize documents from his personal lawyer.
Taking to Twitter before 7am, Trump blamed the ‘bad blood’ with Moscow on the investigation and also took issue with widespread media reports of chaos gripping the White House, asserting that the atmosphere is “very calm and calculated”.
Trump’s morning tweets were silent on his intentions regarding Mueller or others he has considered firing, including deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who oversees Mueller’s probe.
In his tweets, Trump said that his team is “doing things that nobody thought possible, despite the never ending and corrupt Russia Investigation, which takes tremendous time and focus”.
Trump suggested that the Manhattan raid targeting his long-time lawyer Michael Cohen was the result of a special counsel investigation that he said has found no collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia.
“No Collusion or Obstruction [other than I fight back], so now they do the Unthinkable, and RAID a lawyers office for information! BAD!” Trump wrote in the tweets.
Trump said he is focused on trade relations with China, an upcoming meeting with North Korea’s leader and “the vicious gas attack in Syria”, a reference to a suspected chemical attack over the weekend, blamed for the deaths of at least 49 people in the opposition-held town of Douma.
“So much Fake News about what is going on in the White House,” Trump wrote.
The US president later tweeted again, saying the “bad blood” with Russia was caused by Mueller’s probe.
“Much of the bad blood with Russia is caused by the Fake & Corrupt Russia Investigation, headed up by the all Democrat loyalists, or people that worked for Obama. Mueller is most conflicted of all [except Rosenstein who signed FISA & Comey letter]. No Collusion, so they go crazy!”
In addition to managing that, Trump has been monitoring what he fears may be a migrant crisis at the US border with Mexico. The president last week deployed National Guard troops to bolster security at the southern border.
In addition, the wide-ranging Russian investigation has intensified, as have converging legal battles pertaining to Trump and his associates.
Legal controversies have monopolised much of the president’s attention in recent days. Trump has been consumed by the Cohen raids, fuming both publicly and privately.
Meanwhile, Trump has been undergoing a shake-up of his Cabinet and senior staff. White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert became the latest to announce his departure on Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
