The White House is most likely celebrating the Wednesday morning news from Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller said that President Trump is not a criminal target in his investigation, but instead a subject of the probe.
But CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin gave a not so subtle warning to the White House. Toobin said the distinction between target and subject could change quickly. He went on to describe the difference between targets, subjects and witnesses.
“In between the two (targets and witnesses), there is something called the “subject.” That is someone who is under investigation but who may or may not be charged. Trump is a subject, and I don’t think that is particularly good news for him. It’s a big deal to be under criminal investigation by the FBI, particularly if you’re president of the United States.”
“This confirmation that the president is under criminal investigation, that is a pretty profound thing to think about,” he added.
The second warning came when Toobin indicated that former campaign manager Paul Manafort is in “desperate legal trouble” after his indictment in this probe, and might be near to turning on the president.
Jeffrey Toobin: White House shouldn’t quite celebrate word from FBI that President Trump is not a criminal target. It’s a big deal to be under investigation by the FBI https://t.co/zDsTTJ69LO pic.twitter.com/4LBTvnV9Ae
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) April 4, 2018