President Donald Trump and his Republicans claim that the special counsel report on Russian interference in the 2016 election exonerates the president of any wrongdoing.
That’s a lie.
Former special counsel Robert Mueller on July 24 clearly dismissed Trump’s claims that his investigation had exonerated the president of obstructing his probe into Russia’s efforts to help Trump win the 2016 election.
“The president was not exculpated for the acts that he allegedly committed,” Mueller said at the opening of congressional hearings into his investigation.
Mueller described the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in American politics as among the most serious challenges to democracy he had encountered in his decades-long career, which included steering the FBI after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Mueller’s first televised appearance wrapped up his two-year Russia investigation last spring, could affect whether impeachment proceedings are necessary. He brought to life his 44-page report and possible acts of obstruction of justice by Trump.
As expected, Republicans immediately defended Trump and sought to highlight Mueller’s conclusion of insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia. The special counsel found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy aiming to tip the 2016 election.
Republicans clearly showed no interest or sought dismiss any evidence that the president obstructed justice.
However, the Judiciary Committee hearing clearly showed evidence that Trump illegally obstructed justice by attempting to seize control of Mueller’s investigation.
The special counsel cited nearly a dozen episodes that showed evidence of obstruction of justice, including Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey and his efforts to have Mueller himself removed.
Mueller in his report ultimately declined to state whether the president broke the law, saying such a judgment would be unfair in light of Justice Department legal opinions that bar the indictment of a sitting president.
(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)
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