I was a little perplexed by Tom Moore's letter to the editor on Dec. 18, complaining about too many negative news reports concerning Donald Trump. Indeed, one is hard-pressed to imagine what a good news story about the beleaguered American president might actually look like. Evidently, Mr. Moore believes that the "good" news stories are being suppressed.
The problem, of course, is good or bad rests in the eye of the beholder. As such, I'm inclined to argue that there has been a great deal of good news about the Trump presidency of late.
For example, both Trump University and the Trump Foundation have been shut down for multiple illegal acts. Further, the Trump campaign, the transition process, the inauguration, the administration of public affairs and Trump's organization of private business practices are also under criminal investigation at both the state and federal level in the United States. Perhaps Mr. Moore thinks that bringing criminals to justice is unfair to Donald Trump, his family and his administration.
In fact, according to investigative reporter Garrett Graff, there are 17 known investigations of Trump, his businesses and his association with Putin. This total does not include congressional investigations or other internal inquiries into how the administration has behaved.
Specifically, the special counsel is investigating 1) the Russian Government's election interference; 2) the Wikileaks manipulation and hacking of stolen emails; 3) Middle-Eastern (primarily Saudi) influence peddling with the Trump family; 4) former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort's money laundering felonies; 5) the Trump Tower Moscow project that involved funneling millions of dollars into Russian interests; 6) other problematic Russian activities in connection with the Trump candidacy involving at least 14 Trump associates; and 7) a series of obstruction of justice cases involving administration officials.
The U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York also is investigating: 1) campaign conspiracies stemming from the operation of the Trump organization; 2) the funneling of campaign contributions through Trump controlled businesses for private use by members of the Trump family; 3) the questionable operation of the Trump Super PAC as directed by Paul Manafort; and 4) the activities of foreign lobbyists with connections to the Ukraine.
All of these may produce (or already have produced) criminal indictments.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia is also investigating the actions of foreign lobbyists and, in particular, Maria Butina, whose relationship with the Putin government and the National Rifle Association in the United States has exposed financial connections and cooperation between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives. Butina pled guilty last week and is now cooperating with investigators.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia has: 1) indicted Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova for her involved in election meddling in both the presidential election of 2016 and an attempt to do so again in the recent mid-term elections; and 2) is currently investigating Trump organization connections to Turkish parties which sought out illegal influences orchestrated through Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor who, as he faces sentencing, continues to cooperate with investigators.
Finally, New York City, New York state and other state attorneys are investigating Donald Trump's tax payments to the state, the now disbanded Trump Foundation and the possibility of prosecuting the president for breaking the emoluments clause of the American Constitution that, writ simple, prevents a president from profiting through the exercise of his or her executive functions.
There are, in addition to these 17 investigations, still more undisclosed enquiries being pursued at various levels with state and federal investigatory offices. Most, if not all of these, reflect the ongoing cooperation of former Trump operatives, partners and associates.
None of this may have any effect on Mr. Moore or his opinions about the accomplishments of the Trump presidency and the extent to which they deserve praise. He's certainly welcome to provide his own summary of the good news and achievements but, in so doing, he'll have to account for the growing sentiment south of the line that, without any exaggeration, Donald Trump is the worst president in the history of the United States.
As such, Graff's evidence as published iis unmistakably a "good news" story suggesting that perhaps this nightmare is nearing an end.
Jonathan Swainger
Prince George
