I
have written a few times that the only way for Trump to be impeached is for the
Republicans to impeach him, and that would only happen if something came out
that caused a majority of the country, including Republicans, to gasp in horror
and disgust. The Mueller Report
apparently has no such revelation, at least according to the Trump appointed Attorney General, William Barr, who issued a four page synopsis and conclusion
yesterday after a 48 hour review of the Mueller Report.
Did
the Russians try to interfere with the election? Apparently Mueller says yes, there is enough evidence
that says that is true.
Did
Trump conspire with the Russians in that effort? Apparently Mueller says there is not enough
evidence to prove that to be true.
Did
Trump attempt to obstruct justice?
Mueller says the evidence neither condemns nor exonerates him.
“According to Barr, on the
obstruction of justice front, the Special Counsel wrote that “while this report
does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not
exonerate him.” “
Barr then stated that he
would not be pursuing an Obstruction of Justice charge because there was not
conclusive evidence of intent on the part of Trump to obstruct. Seems clear to me that Trump’s actions were
obstructive, but proving intent beyond a reasonable doubt is too hard,
according to Barr. Barr wrote:
“Generally speaking, to obtain and
sustain an obstruction conviction, the government would need to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that a person, acting with corrupt intent, engaged in
obstructive conduct with a sufficient nexus to a pending or contemplated proceeding.”
Will the Mueller
Report be released to Congress and the American people? The House voted 420 – 0 demanding it, so I
don’t see Barr refusing to do so, but there are likely to be some redactions –
not implicating people who have not or will not be charged with a crime, and
not revealing national security secrets, I suppose. But I would expect to see the report pretty
fully exposed. Trump will try to stop
it, so fights to come, I expect.
Was the president “fully
exonerated” as he claimed? No. Mueller explicitly said the evidence could
not conclude that he committed a crime but also could not exonerate him. Trumpsters will believe Trump, of course, because
that is what they do.
Was/is Pelosi right in
saying the House should not impeach Trump unless something comes to light that
makes it necessary? Yes. We did not get a “gasp moment” yesterday that
turned the Republicans against him.
Is Trump still in
legal jeopardy? Yes. Not from conspiracy
charges, but investigations into his current and deep history of corruption,
money laundering, and tax evasion will continue.
