“Whatever the outcome of Mueller’s investigation, America is establishing new precedents. One precedent is that President Trump fired the FBI director—and Congress did nothing. Another is that Trump admitted the FBI’s investigation of his campaign motivated the firing—and Congress did nothing. A third precedent is that Trump fired the attorney general after having railed against him publicly for refusing to intervene in the investigation—and Congress has done nothing. A fourth precedent is that Trump circumvented the Justice Department’s order of succession so he could replace the attorney general with an individual who has directed partisan attacks at the special counsel.” The former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics: This Is the Saturday Night Massacre. It’s just happening in slow motion.

+ On Thursday, Trump described Mueller as angry and highly conflicted and referred to special counsel investigators as “a disgrace to our Nation.” (Translation: More indictments could be coming soon.)

+ Bloomberg: McConnell Blocks Senate Bill Protecting Mueller Investigation. “McConnell told reporters the legislation is unnecessary, saying he hasn’t heard the president or others threaten the Mueller probe.”

+ Meanwhile, adding to the weirdness and endlessness of the Trump-related legal newscycle, there’s this: After arrest, Michael Avenatti denies LA domestic violence.