Mueller Time Ends and Not Everyone Will Be Satisfied

I’ve dutifully followed the probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election from its beginnings, and now it looks as if I can start wrapping this up.

Special counsel Robert Mueller turned in his final report on Friday, putting its fate in the hands of newly-appointed Attorney General William Barr.

The discussion through the weekend was how soon Barr would complete his review of the report and when he would turn that review over to Congress.

On Sunday afternoon that happened, so here’s the breakdown:

Having reviewed the report along with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, they have concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge President Trump or anyone on his campaign team with directly or indirectly conspiring with the Russian government to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

From ABC News:

The special counsel’s investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 US presidential election. As the report states: “The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”:

“In cataloging the President’s actions many of which took place in public view, the report identities no actions that, in our judgment, constitute obstructive conduct.”

An important point to note is the wording, “in our judgment.”

According to reports, Mueller did not make any conclusion in regards to attempted obstruction of the investigation. That was included in the letter to Congress by Barr and Rosenstein, based on their interpretation of the Mueller report.

Also included in what was said to be a 4 page letter to Congress, summarizing the report, was the curious notation from the Justice Department that the report “neither implicates nor exonerates Trump or his campaign.”

In other words, he’s not guilty, but he’s not innocent, either.

There are so many ways that could be interpreted, but apparently we’re going to have to see Mueller’s actual report to decipher that riddle.

That brings us to the next phase of the drama. Democrats are asking that the Justice Department give them access to the full report, as well as all the evidence and documentation that went into reaching the conclusions being drawn.

How much of a fight the Justice Department puts up remains to be seen, but Democrats are willing to resort to subpoenas, if that becomes necessary.

“It means make the request, if the request is denied subpoena, if the subpoenas are denied we will hold people before the Congress and yes, we will prosecute in court as necessary to get this information,” House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said Sunday on “This Week”.

Until that fight begins, Trump and his circle can breathe a little easier. This is a win for him.

Of course, he can’t get too comfortable. Mueller farmed out quite a few cases to the Southern District of New York, and prosecutors there have leapt on these cases with voracious fervor.

Everything from Trump’s charity to his campaign committee is being scrutinized, and it is unlikely that he’ll be as fortunate in all those cases as he’s been with Mueller.

So rest well tonight in Trumpville, for tomorrow, the fight begins anew.

By the way, what do you think the chances are that Robert Mueller gets an apology from Trump for 2 years of verbal abuse?

*EDIT* I wanted to toss in a couple of tweets from Representative Jerry Nadler that went out ahead of the news of AG Barr’s findings, to help set the stage for the next leg of this fight.

Barr says that the President may have acted to obstruct justice, but that for an obstruction conviction, “the government would need to proved beyond a reasonable doubt that a person, acting with corrupt intent, engaged in obstructive conduct”.

— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) March 24, 2019

But Special Counsel Mueller clearly and explicitly is not exonerating the President, and we must hear from AG Barr about his decision making and see all the underlying evidence for the American people to know all the facts.

— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) March 24, 2019

There must be full transparency in what Special Counsel Mueller uncovered to not exonerate the President from wrongdoing. DOJ owes the public more than just a brief synopsis and decision not to go any further in their work.

— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) March 24, 2019

Special Counsel Mueller worked for 22 months to determine the extent to which President Trump obstructed justice. Attorney General Barr took 2 days to tell the American people that while the President is not exonerated, there will be no action by DOJ.

— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) March 24, 2019

It ain’t over, folks.