The Special Prosecutor Bob Muller handed in the Rusia saga report of his investigation to the Secretary of Justice and Attorney General, recently designated by Donald Trump, William Barr. After almost two years of investigations, Muller has concluded his work with 34 people and businesses facing criminal charges. Among these, 26 Russians and 6 direct Trump collaborators. Out of the 6 involved in financial crimes, tax evasion, and other white-collar crimes—including violating campaign finance legislation—, Papadopoulos, Manafort, Gates, Flynn, and Cohen pleaded guilty and are going to jail, and Roger Stone will face a trial. The Secretary of Justice, while in compliance with his duties but carefully guarding the political allegiance that he owes to President Trump, sent a letter with his reading of the report to the leadership of the US Congress. Mueller’s report has not been made public or shared with the Congress.
In his letter, Barr affirms that Mueller’s report proves that there was Russian intervention or interference in the 2016 elections (and recalls the charges made against many Russian government spies or agents), but warns that the Special Prosecutor did not find proof of “collusion” or conspiracy between the Russian government—or its operators—and president Trump or the formal electoral campaign. When he refers to the charges on obstruction of justice, he clarifies that, according to Mueller, the President can’t be exonerated from the potential charges.
With this report, prosecutor Mueller leaves the matter into the Attorney General’s hands (and eventually, that of the US Congress), for him to decide whether to continue with the investigations or move on with the lawful due process, according to the scope of competence of each institution. In the summary of Mueller’s report, written by its first recipient, William Barr, he cites an extract from the document to highlight “‘difficult issues’ in law and fact concerning whether the President’s actions and intent could be viewed as obstruction.”
Read the entire letter Attorney General William Barr sent to Congress on the Mueller report: https://t.co/x25DR9lBkU pic.twitter.com/qo0TsykPby
— ABC News (@ABC) March 27, 2019
Trump and a group of Republicans prematurely concluded that the report—though they only read the letter according to the Attorney General’s perspective—was a “total exoneration” of the President’s responsibility, to the point of considering everything that happened as an “unjustified circus.” Such an assertion implies a political stance clearly opposed to reality. It is bad enough that Mueller’s investigation leads to 26 Russians charged for interfering in the 2016 US elections; and that along the way half a dozen of Trump’s campaign officials and his environment was involved in financial or campaign financing crimes for which they have pleaded guilty. It is true that there is no specific indication of Trump or his campaign’s responsibility in a conspiracy for the Russian interference, beyond any reasonable doubt, but it is still serious that prosecutor Mueller left the investigation open in relation to whether Trump obstructed justice.
Democrats in Congress demand that the full Mueller’s report is handed in for the evaluation and revision of the respective Commissions in both Chambers. It is the right thing to do. The Secretary of Justice has admitted to that possibility with some redactions to protect the privacy of many people, and even preserve the integrity of the investigation itself, in case any of these should continue with respect to any matter or person. The truth is that Congress, and the country as a whole, should know this report with the reservations that warrant it—not just the letter from the Secretary of Justice. And based on its knowledge of the full text, Congress will decide whether to continue with some investigations or determinations of political responsibility, and will even assess the scope of Mueller’s conclusions. For some strange and unjustifiable reason, which questions the vindictive White House discourse, the Republican majority leader in the Senate has blocked the possibility of Mueller’s report being delivered and discussed in that Chamber.
Meanwhile, something is clear: the road to impeachment, which many sectors in society and the Democratic Party aspire to, does not seem to be cleared by Mueller’s report. William Barr’s first read on the report has given Trump elements to build a victimizing narrative, which he has taken advantage of. However, Barr’s letter does not make us forget what Manafort and Cohen admitted; particularly, Cohen’s remarks in reference to Trump’s business life and practices. For example, regarding the President’s tax evasion, there is a lot more to be uncovered and discussed. Trump’s comments dismissing everything as a political plot does not hold. He will not go far with that.
On her part, Nancy Pelosi acquired room to advance in her parliamentary strategy. The Democratic leader has never been counted among the promoters of the impeachment, but among the supporters of persisting in the investigations of congressional committees —even taking elements that Mueller’s report now offers. What the Democratic veteran and leader in the House of Representatives does emphasize is promoting in-depth legislative initiatives on priority issues for the majority of citizens, and even on sensitive issues for the country’s middle and working classes: healthcare reform, wage improvements, economic reforms to promote the green economy, reverse climate change and prioritize public spending on aspects such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, among others.
On that strategy as proposed by Pelosi, democrats can strip Trump in front of his electorate and working class independent voters. In addition, they are ready to expose his proposals to the country, and have worked very hard to add and consolidate the support achieved in the 2018 mid-term elections, including in many states where Trump was successful in the 2016 elections.
270 on 11/03/20 was always the only real route to making this a 4 and not 8 year nightmare. He’s not resigning, he’s not getting impeached and the popular vote is not getting established. With a strong nominee and millions of committed volunteers working hard, we can do it.
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) March 24, 2019
David Plouffe, Barack Obama’s Campaign Manager and White House Senior Adviser, said it best in an incisive tweet: 270 [electoral college votes] on March 11th, 2020, is the only real route out of this four-year nightmare. Trump is not going to resign, nor is he getting impeached, and the reforms to establish a direct vote are not coming any time soon. With a good candidate, a full portrait of Trump’s shady business, well-tied alliances, and millions of volunteers committed to working hard, change can be achieved.
Para español lea Al Navío “Qué dice el informe Mueller y qué puede pasar ahora con Donald Trump”