Thread by @ByronYork

Some new books on Mueller investigation trying to dance around question of Mueller's mental acuity during critical days of Trump-Russia probe. Here's what really happened... 1/18 washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/column…

Go back to July 24, 2019. Mueller testified before Congress. Observers were shocked. He appeared confused at times, had difficulty answering basic questions. Trouble forming complex sentences. 2/18

The Trump defense team was *not* surprised. They had seen it themselves. Back in April 2018 had meeting with Mueller. One topic: Well-known DOJ policy that sitting president cannot be indicted. Huge part of Mueller investigation. And Mueller couldn't remember it. 3/18

Trump team stunned. The old Robert Mueller would have known everything about it. But 2018 Robert Mueller fumbled, could not recall. Said 'I'll have to get back to you on that.' And this was not on obscure, arcane issue but matter central to investigation. 4/18

Was last time Trump team ever spoke to Mueller. Mueller staff built wall around him. Trump lawyers never saw Mueller again, never spoke to him on phone. 5/18 washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/column…

Months before, in February 2018, former Trump communications adviser, former DOJ colleague of Mueller, was interviewed by prosecutors. Mueller himself dropped by to say hello. Adviser concerned by Mueller appearance. Asked Mueller staff: Is Bob OK? They said he was great. 6/18

Then, after report written, Mueller, aides went to DOJ to brief Attorney General Barr. Mueller hands trembling, weak, aides did most of talking. Barr wondered: Is he OK? 7/18

Then Democrats demanded Mueller testify on Hill. Undaunted by failure to establish collusion, they wanted Watergate moment. Televised hearing, Mueller delivering searing indictment of Trump, public rising up in support of impeachment. Didn't happen that way. 8/18

Mueller didn't want to testify. Barr gave him an out, said 'If [Mueller] decides he doesn't want to be subjected to that, the DOJ will certainly back that.' Message to Mueller: You don't have to put yourself through this. But Democratic pressure was great. Disaster unfolded. 9/18

All of this is recounted in my new book, 'Obsession: Inside the Washington Establishment's Never-Ending War on Trump.' 10/18 amazon.com/Obsession-Insi…

Now, there are three other books covering Mueller. One, by Jeffrey Toobin, ignores Mueller cognitive issue. Another, by New York Times' Michael Schmidt, says NYT heard about Mueller problems in days leading up to July 2019 hearing. 11/18

Schmidt, NYT asked Mueller officials about Mueller mental acuity. Were told there was no problem, was offensive that they would even ask. NYT never reported the story. 12/18

Next week, we'll see another book, by Mueller 'pit bull' Andrew Weissmann. From news accounts, does not seriously engage questions of Mueller cognitive health. Consistent with pattern of Mueller staff covering for him. 13/18

So what does it all mean? Why it is important? Think back to when Mueller was appointed. He hired a lot of Democratic donors, including one (Weissmann) who actually attended Hillary Clinton 2016 election-night event. 14/18 washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/column…

When Trump protested, Mueller defenders jumped in. Bob Mueller is straight down the middle, they said. Scrupulously fair. He will keep those prosecutors in line. He will be in charge. 15/18 washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/column…

Then Trump defenders began to see that Mueller wasn't in charge, or wasn't fully in charge. 'Bob at the end was AWOL,' said Jay Sekulow. 'He showed up for cameo appearances.' 16/18 amazon.com/Obsession-Insi…

Sekulow: '[Mueller] was the Wizard of Oz. He was back behind the big curtain, pulling some strings here and there, but when you pulled the curtain away, he wasn't even really the one pulling the strings.' 17/18 amazon.com/Obsession-Insi…

The story is just coming out now, with 'Obsession' and other accounts. Link: Trump team suspected Mueller cognitive decline. washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/column…
And 'Obsession': amazon.com/Obsession-Insi… 18/18 End.