Thanks for your comprehensive review of the issues surrounding this extraordinary story. It exploded out of nowhere and already it’s difficult to keep track of all the tangled threads. And here’s one more:
With any other President, we would probably greet this announcement with a shrug and say, “It looks like they need more time to complete their investigation.” However, with this President, we can’t help but wonder if there are ulterior motives in play.
First, consider that the President is close friends with David Pecker, owner of AMI, and that Pecker has shown a strong desire to stay on the Saudis’ good side – they are a possible funding source for AMI that Pecker has been cultivating for years. If we can believe Jeff Bezos, Pecker’s loyalty to the Saudis is so strong that he is willing to resort to blackmail to curtail an investigation into the Saudi Crown Prince (see @matt’s post above).
Next, consider that Pecker has done many favors for Trump (helping hush up the Stormy Daniels affair, etc.).
So these considerations beg the question: Is Trump now returning Pecker’s favors by withholding the Saudi report? Is he participating in a quid pro quo with his friend, rather than doing what is right for the nation? It’s not a stretch to ask these questions. The basis for asking them is right before our eyes.
And these considerations don’t even touch on the President’s son-in-law’s very close ties to the Saudi Crown Prince.