Today’s post is about conflicts of interest and how they cannot be avoided when your prime objective is to seek revenge against perceived enemies.

Two days ago, Senate Majority Leader “Moscow Mitch” McConnell went on Team Trump Online, a streaming channel underwritten by Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.  During the interview with Lara Trump (Eric’s wife and a TTO producer), McConnell once again came to Donald Trump’s defense, suggesting that former president Barack Obama lacked class for sharing his opinion the current administration’s response to the global pandemic was “an absolute chaotic disaster” and that Obama should “keep his mouth shut.”

McConnell’s attempt to help Trump distract the nation from the rising coronavirus death count and caseload is easily explained.  With a very unpopular Republican at the top of the November ballot, McConnell is concerned about Democrats gaining control of the Senate.  Therefore, to avoid being demoted to minority leader, or worse yet, being sent home to Kentucky, McConnell has no choice but to parrot Trump’s lies, racism and conspiracy theories.

One would think Trump would return the favor, doing everything he could not to make McConnell’s task of holding on to the Senate more difficult.  Not so fast.  Yesterday, Trump’s Department of Justice via the FBI issued a search warrant for Republican North Carolina Senator Richard Burr’s cell phone.

As you may remember, Burr made headlines when he and his brother-in-law appeared to make very profitable stock transactions after a confidential briefing by the director of national intelligence related to the potential of the coronavirus pandemic coming to America.  But, you ask, I thought the whole argument being made about politicization of DOJ was Trump and Barr were trying to protect their friends and punish their enemies.  Case in point, Paul Manafort receives early release from a prison with no reported cases of COVID-19 while Michael Cohen’s announced release is delayed from one with multiple reported cases.

Except, Richard Burr is chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee which recently released a report confirming the intelligence community’s assessment Russia did, in fact, interfere in the 2016 election and such interference was designed to help Trump.  The revenge alarm went off, and the FBI search warrant was issued.

Now you might say, but Dr. ESP, the FBI was just doing its job and isn’t that a good thing to investigate this case of alleged insider trading.  Yes, but as Malcolm Nance again reminds us, “Coincidence takes a lot of planning.”  Is it a coincidence the FBI’s first target was Burr and did not include Republican Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler who is suspected of the same potential violation of securities law?  As Esquire writer Charlie Pierce suggests, “Is it possible that William Barr’s Department of Justice is going after Burr for the capital crime of Not Being Devin Nunes?”

Which brings us to the conflict of interest.  If you’re a Donald Trump cultist, you marvel at his political acumen. This was a brilliant strategic move to target Burr.  It will keep GOP members of Congress in line.  Do not cross me or you will be punished.  However, Trump forgot one thing.  If charged, there is a reasonable probability Burr may have to resign from the Senate.  And the governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper is (drum roll) a DEMOCRAT.  An interim appointment will make McConnell’s Senate majority just that much more fragile come November.

I would not be surprised if McConnell asks fellow Kentucky Senator Rand “Typhoid Mary” Paul to personally hand-deliver a letter to Trump which simply reads, “Thanks, Donald.  With friends like you, who needs enemies.”

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP