When the original summary about the election by the special counsel came out in March 2019, it was up to William Bar, the US Attorney General, to summarize and send out the message to the American people about what was in it. He came back with the conclusive answer that created a huge collective sigh from most Democrats “The Special Counsel’s investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia.” That was it, said many disappointed politicians in Congress, that was our chance to get him and they blew it.
However, then the story was wrinkled, the full (redacted) report was released to the public on April 18th. Then many press publications found that maybe William Barr was a little too quick with conclusions in that report. There was actually ten instances that Mueller investigated Trump for obstruction and that the document argued against Trump being shielded from obstruction laws. The Washington Post went so far as to claim that “depicts a Trump campaign that expected to “benefit electorally” from information stolen and released by Russia and a president who engaged in alarming actions.” This is when people started to sit up and listen a little more, perhaps there is something there, maybe this report is the damning evidence we have been waiting for.
Just a little while after that on April 30th, it was revealed that Mueller and several others on the special counsel had been upset and messaged to Barr complaining about his characterization of the report and claiming that it totally exonerated Trump. Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec speaking for Mueller said: “He expressed frustration over the lack of context and the resulting media coverage regarding the special counsel’s obstruction analysis.” The tensions between the two men seemed clear for the public to see, Mueller was not happy about Barr’s conclusions of the report.
That leads us to the present on May 29th 2019 Mueller had a ten-minute conference giving his final say on the whole investigation and to his credit, he kept it clear. Mueller conclusively said that “If we had had confidence that the President clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so, we did not, however, make a determination as to whether the President did commit a crime.” However, he said something else, something that has set pro-impeachment democrats alight. Mueller concludes that his team could not exonerate Trump, instead, he said quite cheekily — “The Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system.”
In case you haven’t picked up on it, Mueller clearly was implying impeachment procedures. The reactions were instant, Elizabeth Warren tweeted saying “Mueller’s statement makes clear what those who have read his report know: It is an impeachment referral, and it’s up to Congress to act. They should.” Head of the Judiciary Committee, Democrat Rep. Jerrold Nadler claimed: “Given that special counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the President, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies and other wrongdoing of President Trump – and we will do so.”
I believe that this ten-minute statement could have huge consequences perhaps more than anyone realizes. Mueller was definitely sending a message down to Congress and saying “the balls in your court now.” The great question is what the Democrats will do with that ball, if you take a look at some of their reactions, it’s not hard to see where their heads are that. The cries for impeachment are getting louder and Mueller may have just been the catalyst for more to come. At the very least our President does not seem concern, he wisely refuted Mueller’s comments, stating: “Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you.” For your sake Mr Trump I hope you are right, but my feeling is that this case is far from over.
Featured Image Via Justice Dept. Twitter
