I don’t think this “show of support” is what people think it is
by digby
President Trump had lunch on Saturday with Rudolph W. Giuliani amid revelations that prosecutors were investigating Mr. Giuliani for possible lobbying violations and speculation that his position as the president’s personal lawyer was in jeopardy.
The lunch, at Mr. Trump’s golf course in Sterling, Va., was among several shows of the president’s support for Mr. Giuliani on Saturday. They seemed meant to tamp down questions about Mr. Giuliani’s status with a client famous for distancing himself from advisers when they encounter legal problems of their own.
Mr. Trump, during a Saturday night appearance on Fox News, called Mr. Giuliani “a great gentleman” and said he is still his lawyer. “I know nothing about him being under investigation. I can’t imagine it,” he told the host Jeanine Pirro.
Uhm, if it was supposed to be a show of support wouldn’t you think they’d have had a photo op? Announced it to the press? Included some other people who could testify to how much faith Trump has in his personal lawyer?
I’m going to guess that this was actually a private meeting, in person at a Trump property, to get their stories straight. They couldn’t keep it secret so they’ve told people it was a “show of support.”
In reality, Trump has only been tweeting and saying that he doesn’t know anything about Rudy’s “clients” and that he’s a good man even though he’s a little rough around the edges.
He can’t completely kick him to the curb because he knows way too much. He’ll treat him like Manafort — both men pretty much blackmailing him in order to keep the presidential pardon on the table.
Giuliani has now officially entered the pantheon of partisan hatchetmen like G. Gordon Liddy. Of course Liddy went to prison and made a living as a heroic, tightlipped loyalist. I doubt Rudy will be willing to do that. He’s a lot older than Liddy and prison is a dangerous place for a big-mouthed former prosecutor.
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