A careful reading of the Mueller Report makes it very clear what Robert Mueller was trying to tell us.
1. Mueller believes that OLC policy means he cannot indict a sitting President (also, AG William Barr made it clear that he would oppose that from happening).
2. Mueller makes it clear that he would exonerate Trump if he could, but he cannot (implying that there is so much evidence that Mueller is unable to do so).
3. Mueller makes it clear that he is well aware that Congress has the ability to do things he cannot.
4. Mueller even makes specific references to the Nixon and Clinton scandals (as in “I cannot indict him. It’s up to you, Congressional Democrats.)
As Rachel Maddow said last night, the second part of the Mueller Report is basically a 180-page road map on how to impeach Donald Trump for obstruction of justice. Robert Mueller teed the golf ball up for us. Are we Democrats going to take a swing?
Every Democrat, and I mean every one of them, who actually took the time to read the Mueller Report, is “Get your torches and pitchforks” hopping mad. Trump and his lawyers may have been trying to sell the ridiculous idea of “Total Vindication, No Collusion, No obstruction” today, but we Democrats actually read the report. and there is lots of collusion and lots of obstruction. This is in addition to the very big hints from Robert Mueller, that perhaps Congress might want to take a whack at an Obstruction Of Justice charge.
Here’s what I think Congressional Democrats need to do. Of course, they should talk to Robert Mueller. Yet they should already be planning much more than that. In addition to setting up a meeting with Mueller, Congressional Democrats, like say, Jerry Nadler, need to tell AG William Barr that the Democrats are going to hold hearings to rebuild whatever information they failed to get from William Barr concerning the Robert Mueller Investigation Grand Jury hearings. Nadler should tell Barr that if he gets a judge and gets permission to give Democrats the Grand Jury hearing testimony, and also gives Democrats the underlying Mueller Report evidence, that there will probably be a lot fewer open hearings.
Nadler should tell Barr that the Democratic-run hearings will not start for a full 4 weeks, giving Barr plenty of time to get before a judge. Meantime, Nadler, along with a host of Judiciary and Intelligence Committee Democrats, should start lining up witnesses by consulting with the Mueller team to find out which witnesses they need to talk to first.
Congressional Democrats do not have to make the hearings “official impeachment hearings” to start off—they can even just be called something like “Russian Interference Hearings” at the beginning, similar to the original Watergate Hearings. Congressional Democrats will know if and when to make the jump to official impeachment hearings.
Congressional Democrats better do something--and fast. The Mueller Report gives enough evidence for lots and lots of hearings. Yes, I know Nadler is about to subpoena the full Mueller Report, but you know what will happen next. Trump and his buddies are going to try and stall Nadler from getting the full unredacted Mueller Report for the next twelve months. That is not acceptable.
Let’s not wait on that. Not getting the Grand Jury testimony for the Mueller Report is totally unacceptable and must be dealt with immediately. Let’s get big-time hearings going right away. The Mueller Report is finally here. Let’s put things in high gear.