Thread by @ElliAdventurer

Gather 'round, class! It's time to #ReadTheMuellerReport! Intro to Volume II: This section lays out exactly what legally constitutes "Obstruction of Justice" so we know what the team was looking for.
/1

1st: Based on OLC (Office of Legal Counsel) findings, Mueller decided NOT to start or decline charges. The report will stand as findings that Congress (and other investigatory bodies) can act on.
/2

2nd: While a POTUS cannot be prosecuted while in power, everyone else CAN. Also, this is important, so we're going to give you all the info we have so you can see what we're dealing with.
/3

3rd: Is it fair to discuss charges and then not press them? No. (Court of public opinion, etc.) The Report is written in such a way that it very carefully avoids all recommendation of action. It is a statement of FACTS and nothing else. Nothing. Evidence. That's it.
/4

4th: Based on the above 3 factors, we are definitely not reaching any judgement one way or t'other. This is legal and we have to be super duper careful. So, it's just EVIDENCE. Mueller is not acting, so it's up to Congress etc.

/5

There! Now we've read the Intro to Volume II of #ReadTheMuellerReport ! That wasn't hard, was it? Shall we continue on? Do lets!
/6

#ReadTheMuellerReport : Executive Summary to Vol II.
This is a paragraph summarizing each part of the report. This is the part you read if you don't have time to get into details. Ready? Let's go!
/7

Trump publicly doubted that Russia was behind the DNC emails hack.
Trump denies *any* business or connections to Russia, which we know is a lie.
Trump expressed worry that public reports of Russian interference might make people question the legitimacy of his election win.
/8

NSA Flynn lied to VP Pence & FBI, saying he did not discuss sanctions with Russian ambassador Kislyak.
Trump asks Comey for loyalty & to "let Flynn go."
Trump fires Flynn, "Russia thing is over."
Trump asks KT McFarland to write letter of lies to cover Trump. She declines.
/9

AG Sessions decides to recuse from Russia thing, based on role in Trump campaign.
Trump asks WH Counsel McGahn to stop Sessions' recusal.
Comey publicly discloses FBI investigation into Russian interference.
Trump asks DNI & CIA & NSA to publicly say Trump isn't involved.
/10

Comey testifies, avoiding q's whether Trump is PERSONALLY being investigated.
Trump fires Comey.
Trump writes termination letter stating Trump isn't under investigation.
Trump tells Russians, pressure is off now.
Trump tells NBC he was going to fire Comey anyway.
/11

2 weeks later, Special Counsel (SC) is started.
Trump demands Sessions quit.
Trump tells aides SC has conflict of interest.
SC publicly says POTUS under investigation.
Trump tweets DOJ & SC are bad.
Trump calls McGahn at home, asked him to call Acting AG to remove SC. Doesnt
/12

2 days later, Trump asks Lewandowski (not a govt employee) to take a message to Sessions. "POTUS has done nothing wrong, limit SC to FUTURE election interference only."
L delays.
Trump publicly says Sessions' job in danger.
L asks Dearborn to deliver message. Doesn't.
/13

Re: Trump Tower meeting becomes public
Trump tells aides not to talk about it.
Trump edits press statement for Trump Jr to say meeting was only about adoptions.
Trump's personal lawyer denies Trump edited Jr's statement.
/14

Summer 2017: Trump calls Sessions & asks to unrecuse.
Oct: Trump asks Sessions to investigate Clinton.
Dec 17: Flynn pleads guilty in cooperation agreement.
Trump tells Sessions he would be a "hero" if unrecused.
Sessions says "I didn't see nuthin', boss."
/15

Early 2018:
Press reports Trump asked McGahn to fire SC.
Trump tells McGahn to deny the story.
Trump asks McGahn why he told reporters & asks why he takes notes of their convos.
McGahn refuses his sexy advances.
/16

Flynn withdraws from cooperation agree w/ POTUS to cooperate w/ prosecutor.
Trump lawyer asks Flynn's lawyer to give him a "heads up" if they find anything implicating Trump.
Flynn: no.
Trump lawyer: We'll let the Boss know you're being hostile.
Trump praises Manafort. Brave!
/17

Cohen met lots w/ Trump lawyers who told him to "stay on message" & not contradict Trump.
Cohen then LIES to Congress, said Trump Tower Moscow not a big thing.
Cohen raided by FBI. Discusses pardon w/ Trump lawyers.
Cohen flips. Trump mad.
/18

3 Factors to Consider:
a) Trump often acted lawfully w/in his powers.
b) No evidence of Trump committing the crime he was trying to cover up.
c) Much obstruction was in public view, which is weird, right? BUT the effect is the same, really. So.

/19

What are the legal grounds here?
Trump lawyers said SC was improper.
It's very proper and here is why.
(legal citations because Mueller's team did their homework.)
/20

SC looked at Supreme Court precedent to determine a few things.
POTUS has unique powers & is head of DoJ. Awkward.
Conclusion #1: Congress has power to prohibit POTUS using his powers to bribe witnesses or suborn perjury.
/21

Conclusion #2: "Corrupt" is legal standard, requires proving a person acted with intent to gain improper advantage for self or others, contrary to person's legal duty & to the rights of others.
Investigating POTUS for corruption doesn't affect his ability to do his job. So.
/22

Proper supervision of the law (as effective head of DoJ) does not allow POTUS to act corruptly, and in fact, demands BY DUTY he act within the bounds of the law.
SO: No, Trump has no legal objection to the SC.
/23

Exec Summary Conclusion:
SC isn't making any recommendations to action.
SC, based on this evidence, CANNOT find Trump innocent of obstruction.
*Mueller wiggles eyebrows meaningfully*

/24 End of Exec Summary Discussion.

And now you've read the first 7 pages of the Mueller Report! Give yourself a pat on the back! You have a very brief working knowledge of Volume II. Now go tell your friends what you've learned! The best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. Go!

BONUS TWEET:
Did you see this Mueller Easter Egg? ⏬
What did Sessions mean when he told Trump a "whole new leadership team" was in place? Was this supposed to be reassuring? Barr? Whittaker? Others we don't know about to screw with the SC from the shadows? 🧐👀