Washington – Connecticut’s senators joined other Democrats Friday in swiftly demanding the full release of special council Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference into U.S. elections.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr notified congressional leaders late Friday that Mueller had concluded his 22-month probe and said he might able to advise them of its “principal conclusions as soon as this weekend.”
The special council’s investigation examined possible obstruction of justice and Trump campaign collusion with Moscow as part of its probe of Russian interference during the 2016 election.
“Attorney General Barr should immediately turn over all records to Congress and make the full special counsel’s report public,” said Sen. Chris Murphy. “Mueller investigated issues at the very core of our democracy—including whether a foreign power worked with the president or his campaign to get him elected, and whether (President Donald) Trump and those around him tried to cover it up. The American people deserve to know all the facts now. The future of American democracy depends on it.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said “the imperative for transparency and full disclosure is immediate and urgent.”
“The public has a right to know all of the findings and evidence that resulted from this investigation,” Blumenthal said. “The public interest is paramount in disclosing not only conclusions, but the facts that led to them. There is no excuse for concealing any part of this report along with its findings and evidence – it would be tantamount to a cover-up.”
Blumenthal has said that, if needed, he would push to subpoena the Justice Department for information contained in Mueller’s report.
In his letter to leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, Barr said he intended to consult with Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein “to determine what other information from the report can be released to Congress and the public consistent with the law.”
“I am reviewing the report and anticipate I may be in a position to advise you of the special counsel’s principal conclusions as soon as this weekend,” Barr wrote.
Mueller’s probe has already resulted in the indictment of 34 people, including six former Trump aides or confidants. Those swept up in the indictments include Paul Manafort and Roger Stone, as well as Russian military officers and members of a Russian troll farm who tried to sow division among U.S. voters through fake social media accounts.
While Mueller’s probe remained leak-free, public court documents submitted during the investigation revealed how Trump associates like Manafort defrauded banks, cheated on their taxes, and lied repeatedly about their ties to Russia.
Trump has repeatedly denounced Mueller’s investigation as a witch hunt and said the probe has not turned up any evidence of collusion between his re-election campaign and the Kremlin.
The Mueller investigation is complete and this is a simple fact that will never go away: not one single American was charged, indicted or convicted for conspiring with Russia to influence the 2016 election – not even a low-level volunteer. The number is zero.
Someone obviously needs to keep reminding our esteemed Senators and their Democrat comrades that we live in a Constitutional Republic, not a ‘Democracy.”
Beyond that, these two officials repeatedly regaled us with claims that POTUS would interfere with the investigation, that he would try to fire Atty Mueller, that he would have Acting AG Whitaker fire him, that basically POTUS’ entire family would be indicted, etc. They demanded laws protecting Atty Mueller be passed. Now they hint at a cover-up.
I sure hope that POTUS does declassify and release the FISA docs so we finally can see whether or not there WAS an effort to undermine the Republic–but one that came from our Senators’ side of the political spectrum and THEIR favored candidates. If it’s ‘full transparency’ they want then, by all means, let’s have it. My bet is their ‘side’ won’t look so good.
If Mueller had at any point uncovered a shred of evidence that the President was acting as a “foreign agent” he would had been obligated to immediately brief Congress and make them aware of the threat to the nation. He never did and no democratic conspiracy theorist ever wanted to speak to that. Congratulations democrats, you made Trump look like a victim.
Even if Mueller found in the end that Trump did not knowingly conspire with Russia, to call it a witch hunt is obviously ludicrous. Trump and many of his top officials had more than 100 contacts with Russian nationals. And then lied under oath. Quite a team Trump surrounds himself with. Trump jr. Loved accepting meeting with Russia assistance during campaign. And that kid doesn’t go the bathroom without Daddy’s permission.Trump will spin the outcome no matter. But the so many lies from Trump world will, in the end, cause the House of Cards to fall. Only a matter of time.
President Trump will be remembered as one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States of America. Despite his already impressive achievements for Americans against the most irrational opposition President Trump will achieve so much more for America and our citizens in his second term.
I expect that his image will be carved into the granite of Mt. Rushmore during the lifetime of America’s most recent generation. I hope I am alive to see it. You have our unflagging and enduring support and our gratitude, Mr. President, thank you.
Senators, get off your soapboxes! The report did not bring forth the conclusions that you desired. The Attorney General has indicated that he will provide the report once he and the Deputy AG have entirely reviewed so all that is “legal” to provide can be provided. It’s time to move on and do we you have been sent to Washington to do, that is legislate that which is best for the citizens of our great country and not that what is partisan.