On Monday, November 9, 2009, At The Administration: Fill & Download for Free

Original question: “If the stock market fell 80% within the next year, what would the consequences be?I am not as interested in the likely hood of this happening, rather what would happen to the world and to civilization and to financial/political institutions.”I recently answered a very similar question ( Larry Hill's answer to What should I do if I know for sure that there's gonna be a huge stock exchange crash? ) and would have to give a similar response: it depends.The damage sustained by such a crash depends greatly on the cause, type and duration of the crash.On October 16, 1987, lingering market declines and uncertainty over interest rates caused mutual fund managers of some of the biggest funds in the country to gather over the weekend. They were being hit with redemptions and were worried that those would intensify. They made up lists of stocks which were to be inserted into the newly automated order execution systems on Monday morning.Even before the US market opened on Monday, international sell orders were tumbling markets from Hong Kong to Frankfurt.On the 19th, those sell orders went out and slammed the market. By the end of the day the Dow (which still carried some importance in 1987) was off 22.6%. Specialist houses and market makers folded, disappeared and merged on Monday evening. At the Fed, Greenspan sent word out to all market-makers that the Fed was prepared to provide whatever liquidity was needed to keep them afloat.Overnight, brokers spoke to an endless stream of customers whose margins were destroyed. They would need to provide cash or liquidate holdings when the market opened.The 20th opened with massive liquidation orders. By noon on Tuesday the NYSE was prepared to close because, when there are no buy orders, no actual market exists. In effect, the market at the noon meeting would have been down over 90% if a trade existed which could execute.But then a miracle occurred. The Major Market Index, a tiny option contract which mirrored a small number of large-cap stocks - an analogue of the Dow 30 - picked up a large number of anonymous bids. Strengthening of the option boosted arbitrage interest in its underlying stocks, which quickly spread into one of the largest single-day recoveries on record.That night’s news was filled with stories of desperation sales that transacted “at the market” on Tuesday at a price that was just a few percent of the previous Friday close. That’s a market that lost more than 90%, and fits your definition.Because of the speed and intensity of the collapse and recovery, there was little structural damage. By mid-November it was all a misty memory. A few minor regulations in market behavior resulted. A long rally ensued that lasted until the excess of 2000 brought down the dot-coms.Contrast that with the 2008–9 carnage. The Dow at the end of July, 2008, was at 11378. Eight months later, on March 9, 2009, the Dow stood at its low of 6547. A decline of “only” 42%.The entire financial structure of the world was in tatters. Banks refused to loan money overnight to other top-rated banks for fear of not receiving their money back in the morning. The auction-rate market froze solid and never recovered. Commercial paper, the life-blood of large corporations everywhere, choked. No one could leverage inventory, finance a production machine, get a loan to repair the roof or a construction loan for a new house. The sole asset in positive demand around the entire world was US Treasuries. That credit freeze cost trillions and trillions of dollars to stabilize.The economic dislocations that resulted were partially responsible for the Arab Spring. The wealth disparity that resulted from the long recovery was at least partially responsible for Brexit and Trump. The insensitivity of the liberal administration in 2009, pushing for a seemingly monstrous and expensive health care package when the country was out of work, triggered a reactionary flood which swept more than 1000 seats across the country into Republican hands by 2016.The span from 2008 to 2010 included a deflationary recession and a financial panic that bounced around the globe. The sovereign debt of some countries (Greece, Spain, etc.) was destroyed.The stock market decline during that span was effect, not cause. It was only a 42% decline yet its effects dominate geopolitical interactions everywhere today.My point is that a 90% decline in the markets can be relatively meaningless if it does not reflect a major structural event like economic or financial collapse. For that reason, your answer lies in examining the cause, intensity and extent of a financial collapse which is merely reflected in the markets.

Original question:All that can be done in trying to answer your question is to go off of what we know and to make an educated guess.Your suggestion that Trump fired Comey void of any ulterior motives is possible but it is not probable.TL;DR, I do not think that Trump fired Comey regarding Comey breaking the “long standing tradition of not interfering in politics” - Since when has Trump ever cared about “tradition”?I think Trump fired Comey because Trump is trying to interfere and/or end the investigation into Russia.To be completely honest, Trump has shown time and time again that he does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. It is foolish in my opinion to give it to him.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<I. So far, Trump has fired the following significant people:Sally Yates was fired on January 30th, 2017.Preet Bharara was fired on March 10th, 2017.James Comey was fired on May 9th, 2017.All three of the people listed above (Bharara, Yates and Comey) were some of the most powerful people that would have been the best watch dogs for potential corruption in the White House.Events that led up to the firing of Yates:Sally Yates - Acting Attorney GeneralYates was fired after she refused to enforce Trump’s travel ban (that the courts later found unconstitutional) and instructed the DOJ to do the same.Here is Yates’s statement regarding the travel ban:Acting attorney general orders DOJ not to defend Trump's travel banTrump’s administration said that Yates:“betrayed” TrumpIs “weak” on bordersIs “weak” on immigrationHere is the statement from the White House, firing Yates:Donald Trump firing Sally Yates isn’t the big story. How he did it is.Yates was fired four days after warning the White House about Flynn (when she refused to enforce Trump’s travel ban)18 days after Yates warned the White House, Flynn resigned (pushed by Trump) - after an article, written by the Washington Post, said Flynn had lied about what he discussed with KislyakEvents leading up to the firing of Bharara:Preet Bharara - U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New YorkTrump had told Bharara that his job was safe during a meeting a Trump tower[November 30th, 2016]Trump opts to keep Preet Bharara as U.S. attorney for ManhattanBharara got numerous calls from Trump after Trump’s inauguration, which made him uncomfortable because Bharara felt that Trump was trying to cultivate a relationship with him22 hours after one of the calls from Trump, Bharara was firedBharara Said Calls from Trump Made Him Feel UncomfortableBharara was investigating the following when Trump fired him:Tom Price, a member of Trump’s cabinet (head of the Department of Health and Human Services) for his stock tradesFired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Said to Have Been Investigating HHS Secretary Tom PriceFox News for failing to disclose settlements to shareholders that were made to female employees who had accused Roger Ailes (a political advisor for Trump) of sexual harassmentU.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Says He Was Fired After Refusing to QuitTrump’s wiretapping accusations where him claimed that Obama had wiretapped himDonald Trump has now fired three of the people investigating himDeutsche Bank (a German bank that has loaned Trump at least $300 million) and its possible Russian money launderingTrump’s Personal Lawyer Boasted That He Got Preet Bharara FiredEvents leading up to Comey’s firing:James Comey - FBI DirectorTrump fired Comey in the midst of FBI investigations into Russia, which make the reactions that are blaming Trump for possibly trying to influence the investigations into Russia rationalHours before Comey was fired [on May 9th, 2017], Federal prosecutors had issued grand jury subpoenas to associates of Flynn (former National Security Advisor), seeking business recordsThese subpoenas were signs that the FBI is taking legal actions regarding the probe into RussiaA day before Comey was fired, Yates, former acting Attorney General, told a Senate panel that she had warned the White House on three separate occasions that Flynn might be compromised - the number of times Yates warned the White House was not previously known[Yates’s testimony occurred on May 8th, 2017]Former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, testified along with Yates to the Senate Panel the day before Comey was firedClapper said that Trump and his administration could be helping Russia by continuing to deny and/or obstruct Russia’s involvement>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<II. Those originally involved with Trump’s decision to fire Comey:Trump said he fired Comey based on suggestions from Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general and Jeff Sessions, the attorney general - both wrote Trump letters outlining their thoughts the day before Comey was fired[May 8th, 2017]This is only the second time the Head of the FBI has been firedThis is the first time the Head of the FBI has been fired as an investigation into the White House is happeningExert from Rosenstein’s letter:"cannot defend the Director's handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton's emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken."Exert from Sessions’s letter:"It is essential that this Department of Justice clearly reaffirm its commitment to longstanding principles that ensure the integrity and fairness of federal investigations and prosecutions. The Director of the FBI must be someone who follows faithfully the rules and principles of the Department of Justice and who sets the right example for our law enforcement officials and others in the Department,"FBI Director James Comey has been fired>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<III. Sessions’s reason for firing Comey & his involvement in the firing:It is inappropriate that Sessions was involved in firing Comey for the following reasons:Comey is head of the current investigations occurring at the FBI regarding Trump, Trump’s administration and the possible ties/collusion that may have taken place during Trump’s campaignSessions recused himself from investigations into Russia when information came to light regarding his undisclosed meetings with a Russian ambassador[Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation on March 2nd, 2017]Both Session and Rosenstein wrote that the treatment of Clinton and the investigation into her emails was a reason Comey should be fired.The treatment of the Clinton investigation is a absurd reason to cite in firing Comey because:And let's not forget Sessions praise of Comey regarding how he handled his investigation into Clinton:Trump’s letter to Comey in which Comey was fired never referenced the investigation of Clinton:The above termination letter Trump wrote to Comey only specifically mentions the Russia investigations and claims where Trump alleges he is not under investigation, showing Trump’s mind was clearly on Russia when he fired ComeyTrump sent a trusted security guard to hand deliver a termination letter to Comey…who wasn’t there.Comey learned of his firing by seeing it on T.V. in L.A., as he was speaking at a FBI recruiting event>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<IV. Leaks from the White House regarding Comey:Top aides at the White House said Trump was getting more and more enraged about the Russia probe“He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe”Another White House top advisor told Politico that Comey’s firing shocked them as well, “"Nobody really knew. Our phones all buzzed and people said, What?"Behind Comey’s firing: An enraged Trump, fuming about RussiaOther leaks from the White House have said the Trump and Sessions pressured the FBI to prioritize leaks of classified information over the probe into RussiaBehind the scenes of James Comey's epic firing>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<V. Why Trump’s firing of Comey is questionable:According to Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent who led the U.S.S. Cole investigation, this is why:“An FBI director can kill any investigation. It does not look good when the White House fires an FBI director who is investigating the White House. It is a tenured job to insulate the director from politics.”Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<VI. Known people that are/were under investigation by the FBI that are/were in Trump’s inner circle regarding his campaign and/or presidency:Michael Flynn:former national security advisor to Trumpdid not properly disclose payments from Russiatalked to a Russian Ambassador about sanctions Obama placed on Russia[Flynn started to be investigated for his work as a foreign agent on November 30th, 2016. Flynn officially told the Trump administration that he was under federal investigation on January 4th, 2017. Trump did not ask Flynn to resign until February 13th, 2017.]Michael Flynn Resigns as National Security AdviserTrump Team Knew Flynn Was Under Investigation Before He Came to White HousePaul Manafort:Trump's former campaign chairmanManafort has been tied to foreign dictators and oligarchs for decadesPreviously worked for Viktor Yanukovych (pro-Russian former prime minister of Ukraine who is responsible for murdering his people in the streets after going back on a promise to join the EU)Manafort is also being investigated for his work to push Russian interests in the U.S. “for years”There are ledgers from an anti-corruption center in Kiev that show undisclosed payments to Manafort from Yanukovych's pro-Russia Party from 2007–2012A Putin alley, Oleg Deripaska, paid Manafort $10 million from 2006–2009 to lobby on behalf of RussiaDeripaska sued Manafort for “disappearing” with $19 million that was intended to be used as investments in 2014Lawyers from Ukraine have been trying to get Manafort to provide information on his role regarding protesters in Ukraine being killed by police and have gotten no responsePaul Manafort is now at the center of the Trump-Russia investigation — here's what you need to know about himHacked text messages allegedly sent by Paul Manafort's daughter discuss 'blood money' and killings, and a Ukrainian lawyer wants him to explainManafort is currently being investigated by the FBI for his ties to Russia as well as intercepted phone calls between Manafort and Russians who are under surveillanceIntercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates[The investigations into Manafort’s ties to Russia began in August of 2016; he resigned on August 19th, 2016 as Trump’s campaign manager shortly after this information came to light]The definitive Trump-Russia timeline of eventsWhat we know about U.S. investigations into Russia and possible ties to Trump's campaignRoger Stone:tweeted about Wikileaks and Hillary before the next release of emails would happentold NBC News in October he had "back channel communications" with the DNC hackers. Also tweeted about a DNC hackerIn fact, Stone also talked with a Russian hacker over private twitter messagesRoger Stone Admits Contact-with Guccifer 2.0 During CampaignStone’s alleged communications with Guccifer and Julian Assange (WikiLeaks Founder) is currently being investigated by the FBI[News that Stone was being investigated by the FBI regarding Russia was first reported on March 21st, 2017]Roger Stone, the ‘Trickster’ on Trump’s Side, Is Under F.B.I. ScrutinyMeet Roger Stone: One of Donald Trump's most loyal supporters who is now being investigated by FBICarter Page:Former foreign policy adviserhad business connections to Russia.The FBI received a FISA warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) in the summer of 2016 to surveil Page:“The government’s application for the surveillance order targeting Page included a lengthy declaration that laid out investigators’ basis for believing that Page was an agent of the Russian government and knowingly engaged in clandestine intelligence activities on behalf of Moscow.”The context in which FISA warrants are issued:In Christopher Steele’s infamous dossier, he alleged that Page meet with an alley of Putin in July of 2016:According to a so-called “dirty dossier” a former MI5 official compiled into Trump’s connections with Russia, Page allegedly met with Igor Sechin, chief executive of Rosneft and a close ally of Putin’s, in July 2016. The Washington Post suggests that this meeting, if it happened, might have interested the FBI, not least because Sechin is subject to U.S. sanctions.What to know about Carter Page, the former Trump adviser under FBI surveillance for months[The exact start of the FBI investigation into Page is hard to pin point, but an estimate would be when the date that the FISA warrant for surveilling Page was issued - which happened in the summer of 2016]Jared Kushner:Kushner’s meeting with Sergey Gorkov (CEO of Russia's state-owned Vnesheconombank) is allegedly being investigated by Mueller and his teamApparently, Gorkov offered Kushner financing from Russian banks if the sanctions against Russia were liftedThere's a theme emerging in Mueller's Russia probe that could prove damning for TrumpKushner’s meeting with Gorkov happened right after his meeting with Sergey Kislyak, ambassador to RussiaKushner allegedly sought creating a “backchannel” so that Trump’s transition team could communicate with Russia'This is serious': Jared Kushner reportedly tried to set up a secret Trump-Russia back channelKislyak allegedly set up the meeting with Kushner and GorkovSenate Committee to Question Jared Kushner Over Meetings With Russians[The investigation into Kushner was originally reported on May 25th, 2017]Donald Trump:Robert Mueller, the special counsel named by the Justice Department to investigate the Russia matter, is now examining whether Trump or others sought to obstruct the probe, a person familiar with Mueller's inquiry said on Thursday.[The investigation into Trump was first reported on June 14th, 2017]Trump acknowledges he is under investigation in Russia probeVII. Chart that shows known connections between Trump’s team and Russia (this does not depict investigations or illegal actions, just ties):Trump campaign’s Russia ties: Who’s involved>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<VIII. Update #1:[First reported on May 10th, 2017, day after Comey was fired {May 9th, 2017}]The New York Times reported that Comey asked the DOJ for more resources a couple of days before being fired:Days before he was fired, James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, asked the Justice Department for a significant increase in resources for the bureau’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election, according to four congressional officials, including Senator Richard J. Durbin.Mr. Comey made his appeal to Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, who also wrote the Justice Department’s memo that was used to justify the firing of Mr. Comey this week, the officials said.“I’m told that as soon as Rosenstein arrived, there was a request for additional resources for the investigation and that a few days afterwards, he was sacked,” said Mr. Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois. “I think the Comey operation was breathing down the neck of the Trump campaign and their operatives, and this was an effort to slow down the investigation.”Days Before Firing, Comey Asked for More Resources for Russia Inquiry>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<IX. Update #2:[First reported on May 10th, 2017]According to the New York Times, Roger Stone is said to have been an influencer in Trump’s decision to fire Comey.Why is that relevant? Because Stone is under investigation by the FBI regarding the Russia probe:Roger J. Stone Jr., a longtime informal adviser to Mr. Trump who has been under F.B.I. scrutiny as part of the Russia inquiry, was among those who urged the president to fire Mr. Comey, people briefed on the discussions said.Mr. Trump denied on Twitter on Wednesday morning that he had spoken to Mr. Stone about the F.B.I. director, and Mr. Stone declined to describe his interactions with the president in an interview.But two longtime Trump associates with knowledge of the matter said the two had recently discussed their dissatisfaction with Mr. Comey and his inquiry.Whatever the specifics, Mr. Stone ultimately reflected the president’s view of Mr. Comey. As Mr. Stone put it shortly after the dismissal became public on Tuesday, “There was a sense in the White House, I believe, that enough was enough when it came to this guy.”‘Enough Was Enough’: How Festering Anger at Comey Ended in His Firing>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<X. Update #3:[Letter was written on May 10th, 2017]Comey wrote a farewell letter to his FBI colleagues:READ: James Comey's farewell letter to friends and agents>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XI. Update #4:[Allegations that Rosenstein threatened to resign were first reported on May 11th, 2017]First reported by The Washington Post, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein threatened to resign after being thrown under the bus by Trump regarding the firing of Comey:Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who wrote a three-page memorandum detailing the reasons behind his recommendation for Comey's dismissal on Monday, was painted as the main arbiter of the decision.Trump had asserted that he acted based on Rosenstein's and Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recommendations.Trump's deputy attorney general reportedly threatened to resign after being painted as the mastermind behind Comey's firingInside Trump’s anger and impatience — and his sudden decision to fire Comey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XII. Update #5:[McCabe’s testimony took place on May 11th, 2017]Acting FBI Director, Andrew McCabe, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee and said the following according to the New York Times:Mr. McCabe rejected the White House’s assertion that Mr. Comey had lost the backing of rank-and-file F.B.I. agents, a pointed rebuke of what had been one of the president’s main defenses for the move…Mr. McCabe also said that the Justice Department’s investigation into whether any Trump associates colluded with Russia in the presidential election was “highly significant,” another direct contradiction of the White House.A day earlier, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, trying to parry accusations that Mr. Comey’s firing was related to the Russia inquiry, called it “probably one of the smallest things that they’ve got going on their plate” at the F.B.I.Latest Developments on Comey: Acting F.B.I. Chief Contradicts White House>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XIII. Update #6:[These reasons from the White House were given from the day Comey was fired until Trump had has interview with Lester Holt: May 9th - May 11th]So far, here is a list of reasons the White House has given for firing Comey:Comey’s handling of the investigation into Clinton’s emailsComey had “lost the public’s trust”Comey had lost the confidence of those working at the FBITrump took the advice of Deputy Attorney General RosensteinComey was a “showboater” & a “grandstander”Leaks continued coming out of the FBIComey had to correct his statements regarding Huma Abedin and how her emails were synced onto her husband’s computerThe FBI is in chaos>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XIV. Update #7:[Interview with Lester Holt took place on May 11th, 2017]Lester Holt interviews Trump, Trump contradicts his administration:President Trump on Thursday said he was thinking of “this Russia thing with Trump” when he decided to fire FBI Director James B. Comey, who had been leading the counterintelligence investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.Recounting his decision to dismiss Comey, Trump told NBC News, “In fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, ‘You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, it’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.’”Trump’s account flatly contradicts the White House’s initial account of how the president arrived at his decision, undercutting public denials by his aides that the move was influenced in any way by his growing fury with the ongoing Russia probe.Initially, Trump aides had said the president fired Comey simply at the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, who wrote a memorandum detailing what he considered to be Comey’s flawed handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state.Officials insisted that Trump’s decision was not shaped in any way by his growing fury with the Russia controversy.Trump has publicly called the ongoing probes by the FBI, as well as the Senate and House, “a total hoax” and “a taxpayer charade.”But Trump made clear in Thursday’s interview that Russia indeed was on his mind.…Said Sessions and Rosenstein’s recommendations did not prompt his decision.“I was going to fire Comey,” Trump told Holt. “Oh, I was going to fire regardless of recommendation.”Trump Said He Was Thinking of the Russian Controversy When He Decided to Fire Comey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XV. Update #8:[on May 12th, 2017, Trump suggests he has tapes of conversations he had with Comey]Trump tweeted this, three days after firing Comey:James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017Trump’s intentions in tweeting this seem to stem from efforts to discourage Comey from revealing personal conversations he had with Trump:President Trump suggested on Twitter Friday morning there might be recordings of his private conversations with former FBI Director James Comey, whom he fired earlier this week, in an apparent attempt to caution Comey against "leaking to the press."Since this tweet, Trump and the White House have refused to answer whether or not these “tapes” exist:At the White House briefing in the afternoon, press secretary Sean Spicer refused multiple times to confirm or deny whether there is a secret recording device in the Oval Office."I've talked to the president, and the president has nothing further to add on that," Spicer said, adding his oft-used statement that "the tweet speaks for itself."Trump Tweet Suggests His Conversations With Comey Might Have Been Recorded>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XVI. Update #9:[The existence of Comey’s memos were first reported on May 16th, 2017 {a week after Trump fired Comey}, and the New York Times published some of Comey’s memos later that day]Comey’s Memos:Comey had his friend release memos that reflect conversations he had with Trump 3 days after Trump tweeted about having “tapes”.Friend confirms he leaked Comey memo to NYT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XVII. Update #10:[Mueller was appointed as Special Counsel on May 17th, 2017 {the day after the New York Times published some of Comey's memos}]Robert S. Mueller III, former head of the FBI, appointed as special counsel by Rod Rosenstein:The Justice Department appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, as special counsel on Wednesday to oversee the investigation into ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russian officialsThe decision by the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, came after a cascade of damaging developments for Mr. Trump in recent days, including:his abrupt dismissal of the F.B.I. director, James B. Comeythe subsequent disclosure that Mr. Trump asked Mr. Comey to drop the investigation of his former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn.Mr. Rosenstein said in a statement that he concluded that “it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authorities and appoint a special counsel to assume responsibility for this matter.”As a special counsel, Mr. Mueller can choose whether to consult with or inform the Justice Department about his investigation.He is authorized to investigate:“any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump,”as well as other matters that “may arise directly from the investigation.”He is empowered to press criminal charges, and he can request additional resources subject to the review of an assistant attorney general.Mr. Trump was notified only after Mr. Rosenstein signed the order, when the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, walked into the Oval Office around 5:35 p.m. to tell him.Mr. Trump reacted calmly but defiantly, according to two people familiar with the situation, saying he wanted to “fight back.”He quickly summoned his top advisers, most of whom recommended that he adopt a conciliatory stance.But his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who had pushed Mr. Trump to fire Mr. Comey, urged the president to counterattack, according to two senior administration officials.Robert Mueller, Former F.B.I. Director, Is Named Special Counsel for Russia Investigation>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XVIII. Update #11:[Reported by the New York Times on May 19th {happened on May 10th, 2017}]Trump tells Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, and Russian ambassador, Sergey I. Kislyak in the Oval Office that firing Comey means the “pressure is off”:President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, had relieved “great pressure” on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting.“I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,” Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”Mr. Trump added, “I’m not under investigation.”The conversation, during a May 10 meeting — the day after he fired Mr. Comey — reinforces the notion that the president dismissed him primarily because of the bureau’s investigation into possible collusion between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russian operatives.Mr. Trump said as much in one televised interview, but the White House has offered changing justifications for the firing.The White House document that contained Mr. Trump’s comments was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting.Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XIX. Update #12:[Comey’s testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee after he was fired took place on June 8th, 2017]Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee about his memos:Comey’s intentions were:to push Trump to release the tapes that Trump threatened may exist (they would collaborate Comey’s memos)to cause a special counsel to be appointed:"I've seen the tweet about tapes. Lordy, I hope there are tapes," Comey said Thursday when discussing a February 14 meeting at the White House…"It never occurred to me before the president's tweet," he said. "I'm not being facetious. I hope there are, and I'll consent to the release of them ... All I can do is hope. The president knows if he taped me, and if he did, my feelings aren't hurt. Release all the tapes. I'm good with it."Comey calls for release of memos, any recordings of White House conversations"I asked a friend of mine to share the content of a memo with the reporter, I didn’t do it myself for a variety of reasons, but I asked him to because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel," Comey said.Comey: I Leaked My Memos in Hopes of a Special CounselKey aspects revealed during Comey’s testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee:1. Believes he was fired because of the Russia probe:“It’s my judgment that I was fired because of the Russia investigation,” Comey said.“I was fired in some way to change, or the endeavor was to change, the way the Russia investigation was being conducted.”During an earlier round of questioning, Comey acknowledged that he did not know for sure but pointed out that he was taking Trump “at his word.”After Comey was fired, Trump’s White House claimed the dismissal was due to his handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe, based on the recommendation of top Justice Department officials and needed because the FBI was in disarray.But in an interview with NBC News that week, Trump threw those reasons aside, saying he had the Russia probe in his mind when firing Comey.2. Comey documented conversations he had with Trump because Comey believed Trump would lie about them later on:Comey had served for more than three years as FBI director under President Barack Obama.During that time, he and Obama privately talked twice, but Comey never took notes on those interactions.However, during his brief time leading the FBI during the Trump administration, Comey said he had nine interactions with Trump and began taking detailed notes after their first meeting in January.Comey said his reason was simple: He was worried Trump would lie about their meetings.“I was honestly concerned he might lie about the nature of our meeting,” Comey said.3. The White House and Trump ‘defamed’ him:At the opening of the hearing, Comey immediately pushed back against statements by the White House and President Trump suggesting that the he was fired because of poor morale or turmoil at the FBI.Comey said he was “increasingly concerned” about the shifting explanations the White House offered for his firing, but in particular he lashed out at suggestions of the FBI being in a state of chaos.“The administration then chose to defame me and more importantly the FBI by saying that the organization was in disarray, that it was poorly led,” Comey said. “Those were lies, plain and simple.”During his NBC News interview not long after firing Comey, Trump said that “the FBI has been in turmoil.”“You know that. I know that,” Trump said. “Everybody knows that. You take a look at the FBI a year ago, it was in virtual turmoil, less than a year ago. It hasn’t recovered from that.”4. Comey wanted “to get a special counsel appointed”, which is why he worked with a friend to get his memos released:After Comey was fired, news articles began to appear with details of his discussions with Trump, and in some cases the stories cited notes the former FBI director kept of those interactions.On Thursday, Comey admitted he helped arrange at least one of these reports, alluding to a New York Times story published on May 16 discussing Comey’s recollection that Trump asked him to abandon the investigation into Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser.Comey said, in response to questioning, that he was prompted to leak the memo after Trump tweeted on May 12 a suggestion that recordings may exist of their meetings.“As a private citizen, I felt free to share that,” Comey said. “I thought it was very important to get it out.”In an extraordinary admission, Comey said his decision to release the memo was aimed at getting a special prosecutor appointed.5. Comey mentioned Sessions, saying that he didn’t feel comfortable confiding in Sessions as well as alluding to more information about Sessions not yet known:In a cryptic note, Comey mentioned in his prepared statement and his testimony Thursday that the FBI expected Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia-related investigation.This turned out to be correct, as Sessions would later do just that, but Comey would not specifically say why he thought the attorney general would recuse himself.The now-fired FBI director wrote that he decided not to tell Sessions about Trump’s request that he hoped he would let go of the Flynn investigation, because he and the bureau leadership felt “it made little sense to report it to Attorney General Sessions, who we expected would likely recuse himself from involvement in Russia-related investigations.”When asked about this Thursday by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Comey suggested that there were reasons Sessions could not remain involved in the probe but that those reasons involved classified information.James Comey’s Testimony6. Trump didn’t ask about other FBI investigations, including Russia’s attempts to interfere with the election, which is concerning and shows indifference from Trump:Full text: James Comey testimony transcript on Trump and Russia>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XX. Update #13:[First reported on June 8th, 2017]Deutsche Bank, a bank in Germany that has loaned Trump millions, denied requests from members of Congress to turn over any information regarding its business with Trump:Deutsche Bank AG said it can’t comply with a request to hand over information related to its relationship with Donald Trump and trades from the bank’s Moscow operation as political opponents seek to probe the U.S. President’s links with Russia.Democrats demanded in March that Representative Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the committee, hold a hearing to explore the bank’s conduct in the Russian mirror-trading scandal, as part of an effort to ensure that the Justice Department investigation wasn’t influenced by the lender’s relationship with Trump.“President Trump’s conflict of interest with Deutsche Bank...may undermine the independence and impartiality of the Department’s ongoing investigation and diminish the likelihood that Deutsche Bank and its senior leadership will be brought to justice,” the lawmakers wrote in March.The mirror-trading scheme allowed some of the bank’s wealthy clients in Moscow to convert rubles into western currency through the simultaneous purchase and sale of publicly traded shares, investigators have found.While Deutsche Bank has reached settlements on the Russia deals with several financial watchdogs, it has yet to conclude the probe that is being conducted by the DOJ.Deutsche Bank’s lending to Trump before he was elected amounted to more than $300 million, including loans for the Doral golf resort in Florida, a Washington, D.C., hotel and a Chicago tower, according to a Bloomberg analysis.Deutsche Bank Won’t Disclose Trump Dealings Citing Privacy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXI. Update #14:[First reported on June 13th, 2017]Trump considered firing Mueller:Last month’s appointment of Robert S. Mueller III as a special counsel to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia enraged President Trump.behind the scenes, the president soon began entertaining the idea of firing Mr. Mueller even as his staff tried to discourage him from something they believed would turn a bad situation into a catastropheA longtime friend, Christopher Ruddy, surfaced the president’s thinking in a television interview Monday night, setting off a frenzied day of speculation that he would go through with it.But people close to Mr. Trump say he is so volatile they cannot be sure that he will not change his mind about Mr. Mueller…Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, who appointed Mr. Mueller, sought to assure a Senate committee on Tuesday that he would not permit Mr. Mueller to be dismissed without legitimate reason, though Mr. Trump could order him to roll back rules that protect the special counsel or fire him if he will not comply.“As long as I’m in this position, he’s not going to be fired without good cause,” Mr. Rosenstein said. “I’m not going to follow any orders unless I believe those are lawful and appropriate orders,” he added, emphasizing that the attorney general “actually does not know what we’re investigating.”He said, “Director Mueller is going to have the full independence he needs to conduct that investigation appropriately.”In his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee later in the day, Attorney General Jeff Sessions refused to answer what he said was a hypothetical question of whether he would support Mr. Mueller.The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.Angered by reports in Breitbart News and other conservative news outlets that Mr. Mueller was close to Mr. Comey, Mr. Trump in recent days has repeatedly brought up the political and legal implications of firing someone he now views as incapable of an impartial investigation.He has told his staff, his visitors and his outside advisers that he was increasingly convinced that Mr. Mueller, like Mr. Comey, his successor as director of the F.B.I., was part of a “witch hunt” by partisans who wanted to see him weakened or forced from office.But while the president is deeply suspicious of Mr. Mueller, his anger is reserved for Mr. Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia inquiry, and especially for Mr. Comey.Mr. Trump was especially outraged by Mr. Comey’s admission last week that he had leaked a memo with details of his interactions with the president in hopes of spurring the appointment of a special counsel.Trump Stews, Staff Steps in, Robert Mueller is Safe for Now>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXII. Update #15:[First reported on June 14th, 2017]Trump is officially being investigated by the special counsel regarding possible obstruction of justice:The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice, officials said.The move by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to investigate Trump’s conduct marks a major turning point in the nearly year-old FBI investigation, which until recently focused on:Russian meddling during the presidential campaignwhether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.Investigators have also been looking for any evidence of possible financial crimes among Trump associates, officials said.The obstruction-of-justice investigation of the president began days after Comey was fired on May 9Mueller’s office has taken up that work, and the preliminary interviews scheduled with intelligence officials indicate that his team is actively pursuing potential witnesses inside and outside the government.Investigators will also look for any statements the president may have made publicly and privately to people outside the government about his reasons for firing Comey and his concerns about the Russia probe and other related investigationsSpecial Counsel is Investigating Trump for Possible Obstruction of Justice>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXIII. Update #16:[First reported on June 15th, 2017]Mueller is looking at possible money laundering involving Trump associates:A former senior official said Mr. Mueller’s investigation was looking at money laundering by Trump associates.The suspicion is that any cooperation with Russian officials would most likely have been in exchange for some kind of financial payoff, and that there would have been an effort to hide the payments, probably by routing them through offshore banking centers.Mueller Seeks to Talk to Intelligence Officials Hinting at Inquiry into Trump>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXIV. Update #17:[First allegations of this occurred on May 22nd, 2017 - document that recorded this was revealed on June 16th, 2017]Trump asked the NSA chief to announce publicly that he wasn’t under investigation:A recent National Security Agency memo documents a phone call…:Donald Trump pressures agency chief Admiral Mike Rogers to state publicly that there is no evidence of collusion between his campaign and Russia, say reports.The memo was written by Rick Ledgett, the former deputy director of the NSA, sources familiar with the memo told The Wall Street Journal.The memo said Trump questioned the American intelligence community findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.Memo says Trump pressed NSA chief to absolve him>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXV. Update #18:[Reported on June 15th, 2017]Mike Pence hires a lawyer:U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has hired a lawyer known for defending government officials in high-profile investigations to help him with probes into whether there were ties between the election campaign of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia…Pence hired Richard Cullen, chairman of law firm McGuireWoods, to help him respond to inquiries from special counsel Robert Mueller…Pence had been looking at hiring his own counsel for several weeks, and made his decision earlier this week after interviewing several candidates…Pence hires his own lawyer for Russia probes>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXVI. Update #19:[Originally reported on June 16th, 2017]Trump aides were instructed to save all documentation related to the current investigations regarding the Russian probe:Aides and volunteers on Donald Trump’s presidential transition were instructed Thursday to save any records related to “several pending investigations into potential attempts by Russia interests to influence the 2016 election”…In the memo from a transition lawyer, campaign officials were told to preserve all documents related to:the Russian FederationUkrainea number of campaign advisers and officials, including:former campaign manager Paul Manafortadvisers Carter PageRick GatesRoger Stoneformer national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn.“In order to assist these investigations, the Presidential Transition Team and its current and former personnel have a responsibility to ensure that, to the extent potentially relevant documents exist, they are properly preserved,” the memo stated.The request…also told aides and volunteers on the transition to save all foreign travel records.The records included:“emailsvoicemailstext messagesinstant messagessocial media postsWord or WordPerfect documentsspreadsheetsdatabasestelephone logsaudio recordingsvideosphotographs or imagesinformation contained on:desktopslaptopstablet computerssmartphonesor other portable devicescalendar recordsdiary data.”The memo warned that “failure to follow these protocols could result in criminal or civil penalties, and could form the basis of legal claims, legal presumptions, or jury instructions relating to spoliation of evidence.”Trump transition officials ordered to save Russia documents>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXVII. Update #20:[A subpoena was approved by the House Committee on May 31st, 2017 over information Cohen may have regarding Russia as well as asking him to testify before the House Intelligence Committee. On June 16th, Cohen hired his own lawyer.]Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, hires attorney regarding Russia probe:President Donald Trump's longtime attorney and adviser Michael Cohen has hired a lawyer to represent him in the investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election…News of the hire comes two weeks after Cohen was subpoenaed by the House intelligence committee as part of the committee's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.Cohen told CNN earlier this week that he is "committed to complying with the subpoena."He has also agreed to testify before the committee…He declined to say whether he is fielding additional investigative inquiries…Cohen served as executive vice president and special counsel at the Trump Organization during Trump's presidential campaign and did not hold a formal title in the campaign.he was a prominent TV surrogate for Trump during the campaign and led the National Diversity Coalition in support of it.Longtime Trump attorney hires lawyer in Russia probe>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXVIII. Update #21:[Trump’s tweet on June 16th, 2017 seems to be about Rosenstein {possibly in regards to rumors that he is considering recusing himself from the investigation into Russia}]Trump’s cryptic tweet that seems to be aimed at Rosenstein:After 7 months of investigations & committee hearings about my "collusion with the Russians," nobody has been able to show any proof. Sad!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 16, 2017Because of this tweet, among other concerns, Rosenstein is allegedly considering recusing himself from the Russia Investigation:The president’s attack renewed concerns that Trump could move to oust Mueller from the investigation, which would require Rosenstein’s assent under Justice Department rules.Rosenstein told Congress on Wednesday he would not fire Mueller without the legally required “good cause,” potentially setting up a situation where Trump could fire Rosenstein for refusing to fire the special counsel.Richard Nixon attempted a similar purge of the Watergate special prosecutor’s office in 1973 that was dubbed the Saturday Night Massacre; it ultimately hastened his downfall.News of the obstruction investigation now raises questions about whether Rosenstein will have to recuse himself from the Russia investigation because of his direct involvement in Comey’s firing—a decision ABC reported he is mulling over.If he does step aside, ultimate oversight of Mueller’s probe would fall to Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand, the Justice Department’s third-in-command.Rosenstein recently discussed his potential recusal, indicating his decision would depend on how the probe unfolded.“He’s going to make the appropriate decisions, and if anything that I did winds up being relevant to his investigation then, as Director Mueller and I discussed, if there’s a need from me to recuse, I will.”While Rosenstein does not exert day-to-day control over Mueller’s probe, he established its parameters and has the ultimate say on any prosecutions that spring from it.Under Justice Department rules, he would also have to notify Congress in writing if he constrains Mueller in any significant way.Rosenstein’s central role in the drama could make him a key witness in an investigation he now oversees, placing him in a troubling ethical spot.Analysis | Did Trump just lay the groundwork to fire the special counsel?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXIX. Update #22:Ways Trump could hypothetically fire Mueller:Chain of command at the DOJ:Here is a quick analysis on how Trump could possibly fire Mueller:Goldsmith’s analysis points to an argument that Trump could simply say that the mandates of those regulations violate his constitutional powers and fire Mueller directly. (An assessment from Marty Lederman at the Just Security blog rejects this idea outright.)Such a move would be challenged, understandably, but if it were somehow upheld by the courts, Mueller would be out.If it weren’t, or if Trump didn’t take this unusual step? We continue.Another question is whether Sessions tries to find some loophole allowing himself to no longer be bound by the recusal he announced in March.He didn’t consider himself bound by that recusal when drafting a letter to Trump advocating Comey’s firing, even though he was actively investigating the Russian meddling, but it’s harder to see how he could simply re-inject himself in the special counsel decision.That said, there doesn’t appear to be anything preventing him from doing so — with the exception of political repercussions that would almost certainly include impeachment.Let’s assume that we go through the normal process. As in the first diagram, the firing of Mueller falls to Rosenstein.It’s highly unlikely that Rosenstein would agree with Trump that Mueller needs to be removed, for reasons we’ll get to in a second.If he didn’t agree, he could reject Trump’s request — and risk being fired.Or he could follow the tradition established in 1973 when the attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned rather than comply with President Richard Nixon’s demand that the special investigator looking at Watergate be fired.If, on the other hand, Rosenstein (or any of the other people in the chain of command that follows below) decided to comply with Trump, they would have one of two options for doing so, according to Goldsmith.Either they’d have to throw out the regulations binding the firing of Mueller (see Goldsmith’s post for a lot of detail on this)or they’d have to establish cause for firing him.If either of those things is done, Mueller is fired.But the former would be exceptional and, given the bounds of the possible causes for firing special counsel — “misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or for other good cause, including violation of Departmental policies” — it’s unlikely that a viable case for firing Mueller could be made in good faith at this point.If a cause can’t be found by Rosenstein, it’s hard to see how he could continue in that position.With Rosenstein and Sessions out of the picture, the decision falls to Rachel Brand, who faces the same decisions as Rosenstein.If she ends up leaving the picture, it falls to Dana Boente, acting assistant attorney general for national security.If he demurs or won’t dump the regulations/can’t find cause, we keep going.In 1973, the third person in line was the solicitor general, Robert Bork, who agreed with Nixon’s decision.It’s not clear if the acting solicitor general, Jeffrey B. Wall, would be part of this line of succession.If any other Justice officials are confirmed in the period between our writing this and Trump’s decision to fire Mueller, those officials could be slotted in here.At this point, Goldsmith writes, an executive order signed by Trump in March comes into play.It outlines the order of succession in the Department of Justice, running through three U.S. attorneys as next-in-line to leadership.As acting heads of the department, they’d be faced with the same choice as Rosenstein.If each of them demurred, it’s not really clear what would happenthis might prompt Trump to appeal to the option in step one, ignoring the regulations entirely.What’s outlined above is simply the process by which Mueller could legally be removed from his position. What’s not considered (beyond that aside for Sessions) are the political repercussions…Trump’s explicitly removing the person leading an outside inquiry would almost certainly significantly heighten the political pressure he faces.Analysis | How Trump could fire the special counsel (if he were foolish enough to try)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXX. Update #23:[The executive orders referred to below were first reported on June 16th, 2017]Trump may change the rules of succession at the DOJ:An abstract, in-case-of-emergency-break-glass executive order drafted by the Trump administration in March may become real-world applicable as the president, raging publicly at his Justice Department, mulls firing special counsel Robert Mueller.Since taking office, the Trump administration has twice rewritten an executive order that outlines the order of succession at the Justice Department —once after President Donald Trump fired the acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to defend his travel ban, and then again two months later.The executive order outlines a list of who would be elevated to the position of acting attorney general if the person up the food chain recuses himself, resigns, gets fired, or is no longer in a position to serve.In the past, former Justice Department officials and legal experts said, the order of succession is no more than an academic exercise — a chain of command applicable only in the event of an attack or crisis when government officials are killed and it is not clear who should be in charge.But Trump and the Russia investigation that is tightening around him have changed the game.Trump threatens to break the glass on DOJ succession plan>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXXI. Update #24:[Tweeted on June 22nd, 2017]Trump tweeted that he did not have tapes of his conversations with Comey a day before the House Intelligence Committee’s deadline for the White House to hand over recordings (if they existed) of conversations between Trump and Comey (the House Intelligence Committee sought alleged recordings due to Trump’s tweet about them, which I discussed earlier in Update #8):...whether there are "tapes" or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2017This shows that Trump continues to prove that he has no regard for transparency or truth. Trump also seems to be implicating himself:But if few people believed that Mr. Trump actually possessed recordings, his motives in warning Mr. Comey that he might have taped him remain a mystery, particularly since it set off a chain of events that accelerated, rather than slowed, the investigation into Mr. Trump and Russia.…the possibility that the conversations were taped without his knowledge, even by the F.B.I. or intelligence agencies, which eavesdrop and intercept calls. Asked whether Mr. Trump believed he was currently under surveillance in the Oval Office, the deputy press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said, “Not that I’m aware of.”The decision to confirm there were no recordings was made by last weekend, when Mr. Trump and his family made their first getaway to Camp David, according to people briefed on the discussions. The White House counsel’s office reviewed the language in the tweet, these people said, and Mr. Trump’s personal legal team was aware of it. The wording did not change significantly over the past few days.But by giving the president some room to claim he might have been referring to someone other than himself doing the taping, his wording could diminish the possibility that his original tweet could have been interpreted as pressure on Mr. Comey before his testimony to the Senate.Yet when shorn of their extraneous details, the tweets essentially confirmed that Mr. Trump had been leveling a baseless threat when he wrote on May 12, “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”…Some legal experts have said the president’s threat could be used in an obstruction of justice case against him, since it could be interpreted as putting pressure on Mr. Comey not to share details of their conversations about the F.B.I.’s Russia investigation…“If the president had no tapes, why did he suggest otherwise?” said Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. “Did he seek to mislead the public? Was he trying to intimidate or silence James Comey?”…Ms. Sanders said that Mr. Trump had promised to answer that question by the end of the week, and that he had delivered on that promise…The episode was yet another example of Mr. Trump’s predilection for sowing confusion and uncertainty. It also, at least temporarily, threw the news media off the trail of the Russia investigation…At times, he has told reporters that he was taping an interview or a phone call, but then declined to produce one. Other times, according to former aides, Mr. Trump was believed to have taped calls or conversations in his office at Trump Tower. That made it harder to discern the truth when the president raised the prospect that he had recorded Mr. Comey.Trump Says He Did Not Tape Comey Conversations>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXXII. Update #25:[Occurred on June 30th, 2017]One of the reasons the White House originally gave regarding Comey’s firing was that “Comey had lost the confidence of those working at the FBI” (I covered this is Update #6).At the FBI, Family Day showed that the accusation above from the White House is faulty. Family Day at the FBI:…is for FBI employees, friends and families to visit the US intelligence service and take part in activities including SWAT demonstrations.During Family Day, FBI employees showed up donning “#ComeyIsMyHomey” t-shirts:These t-shirts reflect support towards Comey from many FBI employees - that contradicts what the White House tried to claim as basis for firing him:Many within the bureau were alarmed at Mr Trump’s dismissal of Mr Comey. Bobby Chacon, a former FBI agent, said the decision was like a “punch in the stomach to agents”…Other former agents said the way Mr Comey was fired was an “outrage” and said that the Trump administration’s approach “besmirches the reputation of the FBI”.FBI employees wearing 'Comey is my homey' t-shirts in support for sacked boss>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<So, regarding the outline above, this is what I think:If Trump wanted to fire Comey regarding Comey’s handling of Clinton’s email investigation, he should have done this months ago.Trump firing Comey, who is investigating potential ties between Trump, Trump’s officials and Russian interference, looks like the obstruction of an investigation since Comey could end up being a threat to Trump’s presidency.In conclusion, I think Trump fired Comey based on an effort to cover up possible evidence regarding the probe into Russia.Given all the updates I’ve added since I first wrote this answer, I think my conclusion has become more valid.

3 June 1947:Mountbatten proposed the partition plan to divide British India into independent dominions of India and Pakistan.19 June 1947:Lord Mountbatten visited Kashmir for 5 days to persuade the Maharaja to accede to India or Pakistan.😔 The Maharaja showed reluctance.11 July 1947:Md Ali Jinnah declared that if Kashmir opted for independence, Pakistan would have friendly relations with it.Liaquat Ali Khan endorsed this position.19 July 1947:Jinnah's personal secretary K. H. Khurshid assured the Maharaja that Pakistan would not "take away an iota of his power".23 July 1947:State's PM Ram Chandra Kak visited Delhi for 5 days, meeting Mountbatten and the political leaders of Congress and the Muslim League.He explained that the State had decided not to accede to either Dominion.😥(Ram Chandra kak)14 August 1947 – 15 August 1947:Independence and Partition of British India into 🇮🇳 and 🇵🇰.Kashmir signed the Standstill Agreement with Pakistan.India requested further discussions for a standstill agreement.20 August 1947:Pakistan Army formulated Operation Gulmarg to organize a tribal invasion of Kashmir.The main invasion of raiders into J and K that was planned and launched by the Army HQs of Pakistan was called 'Operation Gulmarg'.👇1–2 September 1947:(Mian Iftikharuddin)Pakistan Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan charged Mian Iftikharuddin with organizing a revolt in Kashmir.✅Iftikharuddin introduced the Muslim Conference leader Sardar Ibrahim to Colonel Akbar Khan.✅Sardar Ibrahim requested and received arms for the rebels.Invasion of Tribe started. 👇4 September 1947:Henry Lawrence Scott informed the Maharaja that 400 armed Muslims infiltrated 😡from Kahuta into the state to terrorize the Hindu and Sikh minorities.Kashmir reported the information to Pakistan and urged it to control the infiltration.12 September 1947:Liaquat Ali Khan approved ✅ the plan for "Armed Revolt inside Kashmir" prepared by Colonel Akbar Khan and another plan prepared by Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan.Khurshid Anwar of the Muslim League National Guard was dispatched to the Frontier to mobilize the “Pashtun tribes”👇 for an armed attack.19 September 1947:The Muslim Conference acting president Choudhri Hamidullah and general secretary Ishaque Qureshi were summoned by Pakistani prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan and briefed about Pakistan's invasion plans.19 September 1947:Mahajan met Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel in Delhi and apprised them of the situation in the state.He indicated the Maharaja's willingness to accede to India but asked for political reforms to be delayed.🤓🤓Nehru demanded the release of Sheikh Abdullah.20 September 1947:According to Sardar Ibrahim, a people's militia of 50,000 ex-servicemen 😡had been raised to form an 'Azad Army'.22 September 1947:Muslim Conference convention at Srinagar took a decision favoring accession to Pakistan.27 September 1947:Nehru wrote to Vallabhbhai Patel predicting a Pakistani incursion into Kashmir.😔29 September 1947:✅ Sheikh Abdullah was released from prison.30 September 1947:🤨 Nehru proposed using plebiscite as a means of settling disputes regarding princely states.It was discussed in the Indian Cabinet and then communicated to Pakistani Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan in Delhi.Khan's eyes were said to have "sparkled" at the proposal, though he made no response.😏Tribal started Occupying J&K.5 October 1947:Nehru is informed by Dwarakanath Kachru that the Maharaja had lost control of the western districts of the state.😥6 October 1947:An armed rebellion began in Poonch🇮🇳(185101).Sardar Ibrahim organized the Poonch rebellion, with the help of Pakistan Army and the Muslim League, the invasion of Jammu and Kashmir.The Maharaja replaced Chief of State Forces Banbury and Police Chief Powell with Hindu officers.8 October 1947 – 9 October 1947:The Owen Pattan (POK) post on Jhelum river was captured by rebels.😡(Also known as “Azad Pattan”)Sehnsa, a large town in POK, and Throchi were abandoned by State Forces after the attack.😡Pakistani raids on the borders of Jammu and Kathua districts began.😡12 October 1947:Khurshid Hasan 👇K. H. Khurshid, Jinnah's private secretary, was sent to Kashmir to mobilize support for Pakistan,😑 He advocated Pakistan to use force, and "supply arms and foodstuff to the tribes within and without the state."14 October 1947:The activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh 🚩 and the Akalis 🙏mounted on villages of the Jammu district to help Hindu and Sikh victims of Tribal attack.but 1947 Jammu violence began.15 October 1947:Mehr Chand Mahajan took charge as Prime Minister of the state. The concentration of tribesmen reported at Abbottabad-Mansehra.(“Abbottabad” in 🇵🇰)17 October 1947:Brigadier N.S. Rawat given the charge of the Jammu Brigade of the State Forces.and Brigadier Khuda Baksh made Chief of Staff, second in command.17-18 October 1947:A battalion of Patiala State Forces arrives in Jammu and a mountain battery (artillery regiment) is stationed in Srinagar.20 October 1947:Lorries carrying 900 “Mahsud” tribesmen😡 departed the Frontier tribal region heading to Kashmir.😌 Governor George Cunningham sent a letter to Indian Army Chief Gen. Rob Lockhart & warned him about the invasion;the letter was received on 23 or 24 October.21 October 1947:Dak Bungalow at Bhimber was attacked by rebels.There were accusations that this was an effort to kill or abduct the Maharaja, who had been scheduled to visit that day.Now, first Indo🇮🇳-Pakistani🇵🇰 War Started.21 October 1947 – 22 October 1947:Pakistan launched a tribal Lashkar (levy) from Waziristan to overthrow the Maharaja's government.😠Thousands of Pashtuns from Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province recruited covertly by the Pakistani Army, invaded Kashmir along with the Poonch rebels,😑In Poonch and Jammu, The tribesmen engaged in looting and killing 😔along the way.👉 Pro-Pakistan members of the Maharaja's army rebelled at Domel (Muzaffarabad) and took control of the Jhelum river bridge.😔22 October 1947:👏All the Muslim members of the State Police in Jammu City (after their rebellion) were disarmed and ordered to go to Pakistan.24 October 1947:😍 R.L. Batra, the Deputy Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, carried a message from the Maharaja to Nehru which requested military assistance and proposed accession to India.24 October 1947: Bhimber fell to rebels after an attack by armoured vehicles of the Pakistan Army.😥(“Bhimber” in POK)25 October 1947:A Defence Committee meeting in Delhi, headed by Lord Mountbatten, considered the Maharaja's request.Ministers were unanimous in sending military assistance.but disagreed on whether to accept Kashmir's accession.✅ The secretary of the States Department, V. P. Menon, was sent to Kashmir to assess the situation.26 October 1947:V. P. Menon brought news that:the situation in Kashmir was critical.the Maharaja was ready to agree to "any terms".😀✅26 October 1947 – 27 October 1947:The Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession (IOA), acceding the state to the Indian Union.😍India accepted the accession, regarding it provisional until such time as the will of the people could be ascertained.🙏 IOA confirms that J&K belongs to India🇮🇳.27 October 1947:The Indian army entered the state to repel the invaders.27 October 1947:Mohammad Ali Jinnah ordered General Douglas Gracey to send Pakistani troops into Kashmir.Gracey declined, pointing out the fact of Kashmir's accession to India.Gracey had a 'stand-down order' from Supreme Commander Claude Auchinleck to the effect that, in the event of an inter-Dominion war, all the British officers in both the armies must stand down.27 October 1947:The Kashmir Liberation Committee was formed to manage Pakistan's conduct of the war.It was headed byPrime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan,with Colonel Akbar Khan as the military member,Ghulam Muhammad, the finance minister, andSardar Ibrahim, the president of the POK government.28 October 1947:Field Marshal Auchinleck flew to Lahore to explain the stand-down order to Jinnah.Upon his suggestion, Jinnah invited the Indian leaders for a conference in Lahore.but the Indian Cabinet declined the invitation.29 October 1947:Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan entered the war officially by deciding to maintain a force of at least 5,000 tribesmen in Kashmir.😒Tribesmen again poured into Kashmir.31 October 1947:Sheikh Abdullah was appointed as the head of the Emergency Administration in Kashmir.31 October 1947:A provisional government was declared by the rebels.1 November 1947:Lord Mountbatten and Mohammad Ali Jinnah met in Lahore, as the Governor-General of India and Pakistan.Mountbatten offered India's proposal that:the accession of Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Kashmir should be decided by an impartial reference to the will of the people in the form of a plebiscite.Jinnah rejected the offer.Early November:Sheikh Abdullah recommended thatIndia should give an ultimatum and declare war against Pakistan upon the expiry of the ultimatum.Nehru did not favour a broader war.3 November 1947:Tribesmen broke through to within 5 miles (8.0 km) of the Srinagar airport and were beaten back.Indians suffered heavy casualties.Indian Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel argued for the army to be reinforced;two more battalions were air-lifted, and a squadron of armoured cars and field artillery were dispatched from Pathankot.3 November 1947:Mendhar, in the eastern part of the Poonch district fell to rebels; Bagh and Rawalakot followed in quick succession.Hindu and Sikh refugees from these areas took shelter in Nowshera, Mirpur, Kotli and Poonch, which were all surrounded by rebels.(Mendhar is in India-administrative Kashmir)5 November 1947:Most of the tribesmen withdrew to Uri in the face of the Indian assault. Many returned home, sensing that the fight was lost.5 November 1947 – 6 November 1947:Convoys of Muslim refugees from Jammu going to West Punjab were attacked by armed bands supported by State troops; very few survived.6 November became a remembrance day in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.7 November 1947:Reinforced Indian troops in the Kashmir Valley engaged the tribesmen at Shalateng and inflicted heavy casualties.The defeated tribal forces were pursued and Baramulla and Uri were recaptured.(Baramulla-193101)(Uri-193123)Rajouri was captured by Azad rebels.30,000 Hindus and Sikhs gathered there were killed before it was relieved, with the exception of 1,500 who escaped to the hills.9 November 1947:An attack on a convoy of Muslim refugees from Jammu was repelled by Indian troops, killing 150 of the attackers.No further attacks on convoys were reported after this incident.13 November 1947:Major General Kalwant Singh issued an order to the 50 Para Brigade to relieve Nowshera, Jhangar, Mirpur, Kotli and Poonch in seven days.The ambitious plan was criticised by General Roy Bucher.16 November 1947:Pakistan's Political Agent, Khan Mohammad Alam Khan, arrived in Gilgit and took over the administration.The provisional government was dismissed.18 November 1947:50 Para Brigade relieved Nowshera.(Pin-19001Nowshera.(Pin-19001125 November 1947:Mirpur fell to rebels. 20,000 Hindus and Sikhs taking shelter at the town were killed during the rebel occupation.The day is remembered as the "Mirpur day" in Indian-administered Jammu.26 November 1947:50 Para Brigade relieved Kotli, but evacuated it the next day due to the difficulty of defending it against the surrounding rebels.(Kotli, POK)26 November 1947 – 27 November 1947:During Liaquat Ali Khan's visit to Delhi for a Joint Defence Council meeting,the two countries reached an agreement on the sharing of sterling balances.A tentative agreement on Kashmir was reached;Pakistan agreed to use its influence on the raiders to withdraw, India to scale back its troops, andthe UN to be approached for holding a plebiscite.However, the agreement was vetoed by Jinnah:"No commitments should be made without my approval of terms of settlement. Mr. Liaquat has agreed and promised to abide by this understanding," read his note to the ministers.The next day, India's Defence Committee was informed that Pakistan was reinforcing the tribesmen.30 November 1947:Large concentrations of insurgents were reported at Sialkot, Gujrat and Jhelum.December 1947:Liaquat Ali Khan visited the Azad staging areas in the Sialkot District and was enraged by the reports of atrocities narrated by the Azad rebels.He issued a renewed call to arms.4 December 1947:The British Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army sanctioned military involvement in the Kashmir War.One million rounds of ammunition and twelve volunteer officers were provided.8 December 1947:A meeting between Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan, along with ministers and Lord Mountbatten, was deadlocked.Mountbatten proposed that the UN be invited to break the deadlock.15 December 1947 – 20 December 1947:Indian forces lost ground and Nehru contemplated escalating the war across the international border to strike against the raider's bases, but decides against it.20 December 1947:Mountbatten recommended India take the matter to the UN, where he says it would have a "cast-iron case".He believed the UN would promptly direct Pakistan to withdraw.The proposal was discussed in the Indian Cabinet.22 December 1947:Nehru handed Liaquat Ali Khan a formal letter demanding that Pakistan deny assistance to the raiders.24 December 1947:Indian forces were evicted from Jhangar by rebels.(Jhangar represented by the red icon in above two maps)However, the Indian army repelled the attack on Nowshera by 27 December. India reinforced Kashmir by an additional brigade.27 December 1947:British Commonwealth Minister Philip Noel-Baker considered it a "political miscalculation" by India that the UN Security Council would condemn Pakistan as an aggressor.28 December 1947 – 30 December 1947:Mountbatten: stop the fighting and to stop it as soon as possible.Prime Minister Attlee: opening a broader war would jeopardise India's case in the UN.Britain alerted the US. and US demanded clarifications from the Indian government.31 December 1947:India referred the Kashmir problem to the UN Security Council.(UN assembly)31 December 1947:The British Commonwealth Relations Office (CRO) asked its permanent representative at the UN, Alexander Cadogan, about the validity of Indian claims.Cadogan responded that India was entitled to charge Pakistan as an aggressor under Article 35 and to take measures for self-defence under Article 51, including "pursuing invaders into Pakistan".1948:(UN assembly)UN Security Council considered the Kashmir problem.January 1948:'Balawaristan' insurrection in Gilgit by the local people but put down by forces.2 January 1948:The British Cabinet decided to send minister Philip Noel-Baker to Kashmir.on 10th Jan, Noel-Baker put forward the British proposals to the US State Department but failed to win US support for these proposals.15 January 1948:India and Pakistan made presentations to the UNSC.India reiterated its demands in the original referral.17 January 1948:UN Security Council passed Resolution 38 :20 January 1948:UN Security Council passed Resolution 39 :January 1948:Noel-Baker won the support of the Western powers i.e the US, Canada and France.for the Pakistani position that the raiders cannot be withdrawn without a change of government in Kashmir.Draft resolutions were formulated along the lines of the 10 January proposals.February–April 19483 February 1948:India🇮🇳 requested an adjournment of the Security Council discussions.The Indian Cabinet was said to be in favour of what Swami Ji said.Subramanian Swamy: India should withdraw illegal petition ...9 February 1948 – 11 February 1948:Gilgit rebels attacked Skardu. The State forces at Skardu defended it for almost six months afterwards.No reinforcements were possible due to closure of the Zoji La pass by winter snows.The Ladakhis appealed to Nehru for help.12 February 1948:Security Council discussions were adjourned.😃7 March 1948:A small group of Indian troops crossed through the treacherous Zoji La pass, reaching Leh with guns and ammunition to raise a local volunteer force.10 March 1948: :Security Council deliberations resumed.18 March 1948:The Republic of China tabled a resolution in three parts:Pakistan to withdraw the raiders.India appoint a plebiscite administration with UN-nominated directors,India broadens the interim government with representatives from all major political groups.21 March 1948:UN Security Council passed Resolution 47:The UN Commission was named United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP).Pakistan rejected the resolution but promised to work with the Commission.May 194810 May 1948:Operation Sledge — Four columns of insurgents struck Indian lines of communication at Gund, Pandras, Dras and Kargil.except Gund rest 3 were captured.🇮🇳22 May 1948:India established an air link to Leh.1 November 1948:Zoji La 🇮🇳pass was taken back by India.😍15 November 1948:Dras 🇮🇳 was recaptured.😍23 November 1948:Kargil 🇮🇳was recaptured.😍14 December 1948: A major attack was made by the regular Pakistan army on the Indian line of communications at Beripattan-Nowshera.19491 January 1949:A ceasefire between India and Pakistan.India: Kashmir Valley, most of the Jammu province and Ladakh,while Pakistan gained control of POK, the Gilgit Agency and Baltistan.1949:Jammu Praja Parishad launched an agitation. 294 members of the party were arrested.20 June 1949:Maharaja Hari Singh announced his decision to abdicate and appointed his son Karan Singh as the Prince Regent.17 October 1949:The Indian Constituent Assembly adopted Article 370:At the end of the year, Jihadist rhetoric inflamed Pakistan and continued into 1951.1951June 1951:India moved troops to the India–Pakistan border in response to the rhetoric from Pakistan.September 1951 – October 1951:75 seats allocated to the Indian-administered part of Kashmir and 25 seats reserved for the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.October 1951:Jammu Praja Parishad became an affiliate of the newly founded Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor of the Bharatiya Janata Party.Shri Shyama Prasad Mukharjee 🙏 started Bharatiya Jana Sangh on 21 October 1951 in Delhi, with the collaboration of the RSS.November 1951:The Constituent Assembly passed legislation stripping the Maharaja of all powers and making the government answerable to the Assembly.January 1952 – June 1952:Jammu Praja Parishad(JPP) renewed agitation and called for the full integration of the state with India.The army was called to impose order and several hundred activists were imprisoned.Jana Sangh and other Hindu nationalist parties staged a demonstration outside the Indian Parliament in support of the Praja Parishad.1952January 1952 – June 1952:July 1952:🇮🇳Sheikh Abdullah signed the Delhi Agreement with the Indian government which provided for the autonomy of the State within India and the autonomy for regions within the State.🇮🇳November 1952:The Constituent Assembly adopted a resolution abolished the monarchyJPP relaunched its agitation campaign for a third time.The Jana Sangh and other Hindu nationalist parties launched a parallel agitation in Delhi, which supported the Praja Parishad.1953May 1953:Jana Sangh leader Syama Prasad Mukherjee made a bid to enter Jammu and Kashmir, citing his rights as an Indian citizen. He was promptly arrested at the Jammu border. In a widespread agitation in Jammu, Punjab and Delhi, 10,000 activists were imprisoned.Abdullah headed a subcommittee of the National Conference which recommended 4 options for the state's future, all involving a plebiscite or independence.23 June 1953:Syama Prasad Mukherjee died in prison. Large protests were held in Delhi and other parts of the country.Death Of Shyama Prasad Mukharjee Is Still A Mystery.August 1953:Nehru pushed for a plebiscite in talks with Pakistan, and the two countries agreed to appoint a Plebiscite Administrator within six months.A plebiscite would be held in all regions and the state partitioned on the basis of the results.1954February 1954:🇮🇳The Constituent Assembly, under the leadership of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, passed a resolution ratifying the accession of Kashmir to India.🇮🇳May 1954:Pakistan and the US signed a mutual defence assistance agreement.Nehru withdrew the plebiscite offer to Pakistan.1955–1957August 1955:Sheikh Abdullah's lieutenant Mirza Afzal Beg formed the Plebiscite Front to fight for the plebiscite demand.17 November 1956:🇮🇳The state Constituent Assembly adopted a constitution for the state which declared it an integral part of the Indian Union.🇮🇳🙏Many Resolutions prove J&K is an integral part of India. 🇮🇳🇮🇳24 January 1957:The UN Security Council passed Resolution 122 :8 August 1958:Sheikh Abdullah was arrested in the Kashmir Conspiracy Case.Kashmir Conspiracy Case was the legal case filed by Government of Kashmir and Investigation by the Government of India:Abdullah along with Mirza Afzal Beg and 22 others, who were accused of conspiracy against the state for allegedly espousing the cause of an independent Kashmir.1959–19621959:The 1959 Tibetan uprising or the 1959 Tibetan rebellion began on 10 March 1959, when a revolt erupted in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which had been under the effective control of the People's Republic of China since the Seventeen Point Agreement was reached in 1951.Armed conflict between Tibetan guerillas and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had started in 1956 in the Kham and Amdo regions, which had been subjected to socialist reform.The guerrilla warfare later spread to other areas of Tibet and lasted through 1962.China annexed Tibet.Tensions rose between China and India on the issue of the boundary between Tibet and India, especially in Aksai Chin.1962: Indo-China War (Sino-Indian War)India claims that China has occupied approximately 38,000 sq. kms. area of Jammu Kashmir by constructing a road connecting Tibet and Xinjiang around 1957.On the “Aksai chin issue” China and India fought a brief war in 1962 but in 1993 and 1996, both countries signed agreements to respect the Line of Actual Control(LAC).1963–1969March 1963:The Chinese government signed an agreement with Pakistan on the boundary between the Northern Areas and the Xinjiang province, ceding the Trans-Karakoram Tract.8 April 1964:The Nehru government dropped all charges in the Kashmir Conspiracy Case.Sheikh Abdullah was released after 11 years.21 November 1964 – 24 November 1964:Articles 356 and 357 of the Indian Constitution were extended to the State, by virtue of which the Central Government can assume the government of the State and exercise its legislative powers.The State Assembly then amended the State Constitution, changing the posts of:Sadr-i-Riyasat to Governor and "prime minister" to"chief minister", consistent with the Indian Constitution.Scholar Sumantra Bose regarded it the "end of the road" for Article 370 and the constitutional autonomy guaranteed by it.Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 started.The war began after Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar.In this operation, Pakistan wanted to bring forces into Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir to conquer the area of Kashmir ruled by India.Result:United Nations-mandated ceasefire.India Won.Indian forces gain 360-500 sq. km. of Pakistani territory on the outskirts of Lahore1966:On 10 January, the Tashkent Declaration was signed by both countries, agreeing to revert to their pre-1965 positions under Russian mediation.Pakistan-supported guerrilla groups in Kashmir increased their activities after the ceasefire.Kashmiri nationalists Amanullah Khan and Maqbool Bhat formed another Plebiscite Front with an armed the Jammu and Kashmir National Liberation Front (JKNLF).(Amanullah Khan (JKLF), Maqbool Bhat and JKLF)1971:26 March 1971:The Bangladesh Liberation War started.15 May:Indian army starts aiding Mukti Bahini.16 December:End of the Bangladesh Liberation War.East Pakistan Army surrenders to Mitro Bahini represented by Jagjit Singh Aurora of the Indian Army faction of the military coalition.93,000 Pak troops surrendered to India leading to the creation of Bangladesh.1972:Simla Pact:2 July 1972:Indira released over 90,000 prisoners of war (PoW) instead of resolving the Kashmir dispute "in lieu of the PoW.India missed 'golden opportunity' to resolve the Kashmir dispute in 1971 war.paved the way for diplomatic recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan.The agreement converted the cease-fire line of 17 December 1971 into the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan.1976:Maqbool Bhat was arrested on his return to Kashmir.1979:The USSR invaded Afghanistan.The US and Pakistan became involved in training, recruiting, arming, and unleashing the Mujahideen on Afghanistan.The Mujahideen so recruited would, in the late 1980s, take on their own agenda of establishing Islamic rule in Kashmir.8 September 1982:Sheikh Abdullah died. His son, Farooq Abdullah, later assumed office as Chief Minister of J&K.1984:Ravindra Mhatre👇, an Indian diplomat in Birmingham, was kidnapped and killed 😔by JKLF's UK arm the Kashmir Liberation Army (KLA).India executed Maqbool Bhat.Amanullah Khan and Hashim Qureshi were expelled from the UK and returned to Pakistan.Pakistan's (ISI) sought their help in preparing the groundwork for the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir from India.Amanullah Khan established JKLF in POK.13 April 1984:Operation Meghdoot: The Indian Army took the Siachen Glacier region of Kashmir.1987:Farooq Abdullah won the Assembly elections.The Muslim United Front (MUF) alleged that the elections had been rigged.MUF’s election aides called the HAJY group - Abdul Hamid Shaikh, Ashfaq Majid Wani, Javed Ahmed Mir and Mohammed Yasin Malik - joined the JKLF.Young disaffected Kashmiris in the Valley such as the HAJY group were recruited by JKLF.1988:Protests and anti-India demonstrations began in the Valley, followed by police firing and curfew.1989:Mass Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus started in Kashmir Valley.The Hindus of the Kashmir Valley were forced to flee the Kashmir valley as a result of being targeted by JKLF and Islamist insurgents during late 1989 and early 1990.The end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan released a great deal of militant energy and weapons to Kashmir.Pakistan provided arms and training to both indigenous and foreign militants in Kashmir.1990Kashmiri Pandits began to leave in much greater numbers in the 1990s during the eruption of militancy, following persecution and threats by radical Islamists and militants.19 January 1990:Mosques issued declarations that the Kashmiri Pandits were Kafirs and that the males had to leave Kashmir, convert to Islam or be killed.approximately 100,000 of the total Kashmiri Pandit population of 140,000 left the valley during the 1990s.Other authors have suggested a higher figure for the exodus, ranging from the entire population of over 150,000, to 190,000 of a total Pandit population of 200,000, to a number as high as 800,000.Kashmiri Pandits Became Refugees in Their Own Home.(Refugee camps for Kashmiri Pandits)13 February 1990:Lassa Kaul, director of Srinagar Doordarshan, was Killed by the militants for implementing pro-Indian media policy.February 1990 – March 1990:Though the JKLF tried to explain that the killings of Pandits were not communal, the murders caused a scare among the minority Hindu community.The rise of new militant groups and unexplained killings of members of the community contributed to an atmosphere of insecurity for the Kashmiri Pandits.1 March 1990:An estimated one million took to the streets to protest against India.1990 – present:An officially estimated 10,000 Kashmiri youths crossed into Pakistan for training and procurement of arms.Indigenous and foreign militant groups besides pro-India renegade militants proliferated through the 1990s with an estimated half a million Indian security forces deployed in the Kashmir Valley.1998 – present:Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) launched officially by the Indian army in Jammu and Kashmir.3 May 1999 – 26 July 1999:Kargil War:the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants into positions on the Indian side of the LOC was the reason for war.An armed conflict took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the LOC.Israel aided India with mortar and ammunition and became one of the few countries that helped India directly.India won.2001–200914 July 2001 – 16 July 2001:General Pervez Musharraf and Atal Bihari Vajpayee met for peaceful talks.October 2001:Kashmiri assembly in Srinagar was attacked, 38 fatalities.December 2001:The Indian Parliament in New Delhi was attacked.April 2003 – May 2003:Operation Sarp Vinash launched by the Indian army.The largest network of terrorist hideouts covering 100 square kilometers in Pir Panjal found and more than 60 terrorists killed.2 May 2003:India and Pakistan restored diplomatic ties.Feb 13, 2006:Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday invited Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik for talks on Kashmir on February 17.22 August 2008:Following 2008 Kashmir unrest, hundreds of thousands of Muslims marched in Srinagar for independence, the largest protest against Indian rule in over a decade.2010–201812 Feb 2013, Congress-led UPA Govt. funded Yasin malik to talk with Pakistan.Manmohan wanted to contact militants of Pak: Yasin.25 November 2014 – 20 December 2014:Despite boycott calls by separatist Hurriyat leaders, the 2014 state election saw the highest voter turnout in the 25 years since insurgency erupted in the region.Kashmiri people voted in favour of democracy of India.Bharatiya Janata Party won 25 seats with vote share of 23%.8 July 2016:Following the killing of Burhan Muzaffar Wani on 8 July, violent protests broke out in Kashmir Valley.An imposed curfew continued for more than 50 days.Two lakh across Valley attend Burhan Wani's funeral.July 2017 – present -Operation All-Out started by Indian Army to flush out militants and terrorists in Kashmir until there is complete peace in the state.2019–20 Jammu and Kashmir lockdown:23 Feb 2019:Yasin Malik arrested under Anti-Terror law.Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir via scrapping of the Article 370 of the Constitution of India, Article 35A of the Constitution of India and the introduction of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.According to a September 6 report, More than 200 separatist politicians, with more than 100 leaders and activists from All Parties Hurriyat Conference were detained in the disputed region.Thanks, Modi Ji🇮🇳🙏 for making our dream “Revocation of Article 370 and 35A” come true.“Knowledge shared matters”.Share Answer.Upvote inspires.Jai Hind.🇮🇳