Yeomans: “The Incredible Shrinking President”

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 20 – In the latest edition of Yeomans Work, “The Incredible Shrinking President,” AFJ Goldfarb Fellow for Justice Bill Yeomans writes that the latest developments in the Russia probe show President Trump losing control and credibility as revelations unfold. Far from growing in office as supporters and critics had hoped, the President has proven himself to be “a very small, self-absorbed, insecure man” as he panics in response to Robert Mueller’s slew of recent indictments.

Yeomans claims that recent days have produced a series of conclusions:

• The Russia Investigation is no hoax. Says Yeomans: “Mueller’s indictment of thirteen Russian individuals and one organization on Friday should lay to rest any contention the Russia investigation is a politically motivated witch hunt.”
• Mueller has more time. Trump’s attempts to undermine the legitimacy of Mueller’s investigation has been slowed severely by the indictments.
• Trump will not grow in office. Trump’s furious tweets following the indictments were self-absorbed, failed to focus on national security, and showed him at his worst.
• The country lacks a commander-in-chief. Writes Yeomans:Surely, the most chilling fact to emerge from the past week is that the commander-in-chief is missing.”
• The rot in the White House has spread from top to bottom. The fact that Rob Porter could continue at the White House despite abuse allegations that cost him a security clearance, and that top officials did not act in the face of the allegations, shows the “moral rot and epic dysfunction of Trump’s White House.”
• Trump has been selected as worst president ever. A new ranking by historians places Trump below even James Buchanan, the President who presided over the descent into civil war. “In fairness to Trump,” Yeomans writes, “it is early.”

Yeomans Work focuses on the challenges to the justice system in the era of Trump. Bill Yeomans is available for media interviews. Contact Laurie Kinney, Communications Director, at laurie@afj.org or 202-464-7367.