Focus on Russia claims
Mueller was a “great selection. Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted”. And not a moment too soon, Democrats said.
The latest political storm, coupled with the still-potent fallout from Trump’s recent disclosure of classified information to Russian diplomats at the White House, has overshadowed all else in the capital and beyond.
During a commencement address yesterday at the Coast Guard Academy, he complained bitterly about criticism he’s faced. “No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly,” he said. “You can’t let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams. . . . I guess that’s why we won. Adversity makes you stronger. Don’t give in, don’t back down . . . And the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face.”
No less a commentator than Russia’s Vladimir Putin called the dramatic charges swirling around Trump evidence of “political schizophrenia spreading in the US”. He offered to furnish a “record” of the Trump-diplomats meeting in the Oval Office if the White House desired it.
There was no word on what that record might entail, a question many were likely to raise in light of Trump’s recent warning to Comey that he had “better hope” there were no tapes of a discussion they’d had.
The White House has disputed Comey’s account of his February conversation with Trump concerning Flynn but has not offered specifics. Several congressional Republicans said yesterday that if Trump did suggest that Comey “let this go” regarding Flynn’s Russian contacts, it was probably just a joke, light banter.
Both of the explosive revelations — that the president pressed his FBI director to drop a federal investigation before later firing him, and that he disclosed classified information to senior Russian officials — came from anonymous sources, and the White House was quick to denounce the leaks and deny any impropriety. Trump aides said he never tried to squelch the Flynn investigation nor made inappropriate disclosures to the Russians.
On Capitol Hill, Comey was clearly the man in demand, with three committees working to seat him at their witness tables soon, two in the Senate and one in the House.
The Senate intelligence committee also asked acting FBI director Andrew McCabe to turn over any notes Comey might have made regarding discussions he had with White House or Justice Department officials about Russia’s efforts to influence the election.
Trump is preparing to leave town tomorrow on his first foreign trip, and aides have been hopeful the journey will be a chance for the Administration to get back on track after weeks of chaos and distractions.
Separately, McClatchy News Service reported yesterday that before Trump took office, Flynn had blocked an Obama Administration military plan, opposed by Turkey, against Isis (Islamic State). Unknown to the Obama Administration, Flynn had been paid more than $500,000 ($720,455) to advocate for Turkey’s interests.
The plan was eventually approved by the Trump Administration, but not until after Flynn had been fired.— AP
Soundgarden were formed in 1984 by Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Their third studio album, 1991’s Badmotorfinger, featured the enormously popular singles Jesus Christ Pose, later covered by Johnny Cash, and Outshined which received regular play on alternative rock radio stations.
Cornell also collaborated with members of what would become Pearl Jam to form Temple of the Dog, which produced a self-titled album in 1991 in tribute to friend Andrew Wood, former frontman for Mother Love Bone.
Three years later, Soundgarden broke through on mainstream radio with the album Superunknown, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Record in 1995. It included hit singles Spoonman, Fell on Black Days, Black Hole Sun, My Wave and The Day I Tried to Live.
Soundgarden disbanded in 1997 due to tensions in the band, and Cornell pursued a solo career. In 2001, he joined Audioslave, a supergroup that included former Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford. The band released three albums in six years and also performed at a concert billed as Cuba’s first outdoor rock concert by an American band.
Audioslave disbanded in 2007, but Cornell and Soundgarden reunited in 2012 and released the band’s sixth studio album, King Animal, in 2012.
In addition to his music, Cornell also became involved in philanthropy and started the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation to support children facing challenges, including homelessness, poverty, abuse and neglect.