Joan Walsh: Robert Mueller Just Told Congress To Do Its Damn Job

[babylonsister]

https://www.thenation.com/article/robert-mueller-congress-impeachment/

Robert Mueller Just Told Congress To Do Its Damn Job
Mueller came as close as possible to saying that he would have indicted Trump for obstruction of justice, if Justice Department policy allowed him to do so.
By Joan Walsh
Today 12:32 pm


Independent Counsel Robert Mueller finally faced the cameras Wednesday morning. In his quiet way, Mueller’s message could not be any louder: He couldn’t indict the president, but he suggested Congress should investigate the many instances of likely obstruction of justice by President Trump outlined in his 445-page report – and that Congress has the power to find a president guilty of “wrongdoing.”

Mueller came as close as possible to saying that he would have indicted Trump for obstruction of justice, if Justice Department policy allowed him to do so. “Charging the president with a crime was not an option we could consider,” he said. But then he delivered the most important information in his 10-minute statement: “If we had confidence the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so. We did not.”

Respected intelligence analyst Marcy Wheeler tweeted immediately: “Shorter Mueller: That was an impeachment referral, damnit, now act on it.” 2020 presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren both used the same “impeachment referral” language. May all the 2020 Democrats join in, and soon.

snip//

It took me an hour to recognize this possibly interesting point: Mueller said: “When a subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of the government’s effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable.” Not “If a subject.” Maybe that doesn’t matter. But…well, the word “if” was certainly available.

Mueller closed by making two very powerful points. For one, he thanked the lawyers and FBI agents who worked on his investigation, praising them for being “fair and independent” and for acting with “the highest integrity.” At a time when Attorney General William Barr – who Mueller took pains not to criticize – wants to investigate these investigators, Mueller made a strong stand on behalf of their professionalism and decency.

Second, Mueller chose to end his statement with the finding the president apparently will not accept: “There were multiple, systematic attempts to interfere in the 2016 election.” He clearly doesn’t believe American leaders are taking that seriously enough, and I agree with him.

This is a bad day for Donald Trump. But it’s also a tough day for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and any other Democratic leader who is trying to slow-walk an impeachment inquiry. In the long relay of justice, Robert Mueller just handed you the baton. Run with it. Today.

[Achilleaze]

1. Do your damn job, Congress

[usaf-vet]

6. What HE said times 2.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. And this raises the point that all of us needs to be on top of the game to ensure that ...

election tampering doesn't occur in each of our states on the local/state levels too. Each of us can do something to prevent something like this from ever happening again. And with rump and his idiotic administration, we don't need reminders to work doubly hard to ensure that ilk like this are thrown out of office and never again accorded public office.

[Claritie Pixie]

3. We must do our jobs too - pressure them to act.

It's really up to us to make it happen.

[Hekate]

4. Kick!

[colsohlibgal]

5. It's Go Time Nancy

And so much for Orange Buffoon and his toadie Barr claiming Mueller found nothing. Oh and McTurtle can shut the Hell up too and retreat into his shell.

[ffr]

7. This looks bad for Cult45.

How do they spin gold from straw?

Time to turn the heat up on these Russian sympathizers.

[colorado_ufo]

8. That's what Barbara McQuade said!

And I think she said it first.