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My initial reactions to the #MuellerReport ⬇️
The redacted report details an alarming account of #RussianInterference in our elections — one of sufficient magnitude, touching 120 million Americans & involving massive thefts of campaign information, to have tipped the close election in Trump’s favor.
Russia may have chosen our President. The Russian/Wikileaks influence campaign engaged with multiple Trump campaign personnel, including direct communication with Trump family; & Trump’s circle repeatedly engaged with Russia interests seeking political advantage in the race.
The conduct is disgraceful and unpatriotic if not criminal.
The report chronicles a sordid tale of low-life behavior, with Trump & his associates engaging in all manner of legally and ethically dubious behavior; & has so far produced 200 criminal charges, 37 indictments, & 8 convictions – including Donald Trump's former campaign manager.
The redacted report references 14 other investigations & includes over 400 redactions that signal ongoing investigative matters. The ongoing investigations reach very close to Trump and his circle, including right into his Trump Tower personal office, so clearly this is not over.
The report’s obstruction decision was influenced by the OLC policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted, a policy not tested in the judicial branch. Even thus, the President could not be exonerated.
Despite the centrality of intent to this determination, the President was not subpoenaed or interviewed.
Concerns about delay as an excuse for not interviewing the President seem ill-founded, given the lengthy negotiations resulting in no subpoena & the value of accuracy and completeness in criminal investigations.
Unless you are up against a charging deadline, time is not ordinarily such a priority over accuracy and completeness as to the central element of the charge.
The President’s conduct regarding the investigation manifestly violates any fealty to rule of law, & more closely resembles deliberate efforts to interfere & obstruct, akin to banana republic governance.
Only fearful subordinates prevented his efforts at actual obstruction under criminal law.
It’s odd to refuse to charge the President or his circle because they were unaware of the illegality of their collusive conduct, & then protect him from obstruction charges on grounds of intent b/c he had committed no underlying Russia conspiracy crime, something he did not know.
He did know he was the subject of a criminal obstruction investigation. There is a lot of contortion around the obstruction decision.
The report exposes an extraordinary number of false statements made by Trump and his circle.
These are not chargeable as false statements because they were not made in the course of official proceedings, but nevertheless reveal a likely unprecedented trail of falsehood by an American President.
