If Mueller files a report, who should he give it to??

[kentuck]

It is my understanding that he is not required to have a report, but the public expects something for the money they have spent.

In my opinion, he should give a report to the previous acting AG and to the present "acting" AG - unless he recuses himself - and also, give the report to both the House Intelligence Committee and also the Senate Intelligence Committee.

There may be stuff in the report that some may suggest is not suitable for public consumption. But, in my opinion, it should all be available to the public.

Perhaps, as a compromise, the Intel Committees could examine it for 2-4 weeks, then release it to the public, with apt warnings.

[Vinca]

1. The American people.

[kentuck]

2. Can the American people handle the truth?

[3Hotdogs]

3. --stuff in the report not suitable for public consumption....

Last edited Tue Nov 27, 2018, 05:03 PM - Edit history (2)

In the Russian hotel, he waxed his ..... slowly, while the lithe, blond prostitute .... and .... on the bed. He asked that the "guest" also ..... on the indentation of his pillow where he laid his head the night before and where he planned to do so the following night.

The woman was recorded in the hallway after the encounter. "I've never seen a .... so small in my life and I've seen plenty of ....s"

[kentuck]

4. Not exactly what I was thinking but possible...

[onenote]

5. He is required to submit a report to the Attorney General

28 C.F.R. 600.8(c):Closing documentation. At the conclusion of the Special Counsel's work, he or she shall provide the Attorney General with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel.

And the decision whether to further disseminate that report to the public rests with the Attorney General:
28 CFR 600.9(c): The Attorney General may determine that public release of these reports would be in the public interest, to the extent that release would comply with applicable legal restrictions. All other releases of information by any Department of Justice employee, including the Special Counsel and staff, concerning matters handled by Special Counsels shall be governed by the generally applicable Departmental guidelines concerning public comment with respect to any criminal investigation, and relevant law.

[kentuck]

6. But it doesn't say a "written" report...

Should not Rosenstein get a copy of report, since he was in charge for almost all of the investigation? It would seem a little shady to block him out at this time?

[onenote]

7. It will be a written report.

You can bet the mortgage on that.

And in all likelihood, the report, while addressed to the AG, will be shared with the Deputy AG (as well as others in the DOJ).

[kentuck]

9. I think you are correct.

It cannot be buried.

[NewJeffCT]

10. however

we don't know if Whitaker will still be acting AG by the time Mueller is ready with a report. There is a lawsuit from senators and now state AGs as well.

[C_U_L8R]

15. "At the conclusion of the Special Counsel's work"

There's a lot that can happen between now and the 'conclusion'

[FBaggins]

8. He doesn't really have a choice

He doesn’t have the option of releasing it or sending it to Congress. He has to give it to whoever is supervising him at the time.

Congress could then subpoena it if they aren’t given a copy...

[leftynyc]

18. Couldn't the new Democratic House

call for Mueller to testify as to what's in his report? What would stop them?

[kentuck]

20. There will be more than one copy.

Bet on it.

[leftynyc]

21. Mueller doesn't need a copy

since he wrote it. I don't think there is any way for this report, or what's in it, to stay private.

[FBaggins]

22. Yes and no.

They can always call him to testify... but the question would be what the DOJ allows him to say.

[leftynyc]

23. Why would the DOJ have

any control over that? In fact, what's stopping Mueller from writing a freaking book about it?

[FBaggins]

24. Because he works for the DOJ

He's constrained by the regulations that created the position in the first place.

[leftynyc]

25. And what are those restrictions?

As long as national security isn't involved, I don't see where he's forbidden from doing anything. I also don't see why he can't testify in front of a Democratic led House.

[milestogo]

11. Rachel Maddow

[kentuck]

12. I suspect the press may get their hands on a copy somewhere?

They are not called the "enemy of the people" for nothing.

[MineralMan]

13. It goes to the Attorney General. That ends Mueller's responsibility.

I doubt he has any authority to give it to anyone else, really, although he might just do so anyway. We'll see it, I hope, eventually.

[kentuck]

16. Mueller may want to hand the hot potato to Congress?

If he doesn't believe a sitting president can be indicted, he may suggest a political solution, which would be up to the Congress?

He may not want to indict all the way to the top?

[MineralMan]

17. His hands may well be tied as to who gets the report.

I don't know this for sure, but he answers to the Attorney General, and I believe all reports his investigation generates go to the AG, who decides what to do with them.

Given the temporary (I hope) appointment of Whittaker as the acting AG, this may end up freezing the report at his desk.

Mueller's options may be very limited. However, it's not unheard of for people to bypass whatever rules are in place and do something different. That usually ends their career, but Mueller is probably going to step away anyhow after this investigation is finished.

Will he do a broader release of the report? I don't know. I don't know the man. But, that's a possibility that he may decide to employ. It will be a hazardous thing to do, but he can probably ride the blowback out, particularly if the findings are explosive enough.

[kentuck]

19. There is a question about whether Rosenstein is still running the investigation?

...even though Whitaker is in place as the Attorney General?

I do not believe any report can be concealed, at least not from the Democratic Congress.

[OnDoutside]

14. I don't believe you need to hang your hat on a report. Far more vital is that he gets indictments

and convictions, especially Don jr, Kushner etc. There will be no impeachment, but it is possible to destroy his (and the GOP) 2020 chances. That's the bigger win imo, where the 2018 midterms will look small compared to a 2020 Tsunami.

When he does issue a report (and hidden by Whitaker), I would hope that it's after Jan 3rd, when Dems can then subpoena him.

[awesomerwb1]

26. Schiff and Swalwell