The long-awaited report has arrived and, at least as it’s been summarized by the Attorney General, Democrats are very disappointed.
Regarding Russia’s interference in the election, Mueller found no collusion or coordination. Given the information that has been made public over the course of the investigation, this is not a surprise, or should not be. Knowledge of Russia’s dirty tricks, and hoping to benefit from the dirt, is not the same as colluding or coordinating.
Regarding obstruction of justice, the Special Council declined to make a “prosecutorial” decision. He has just presented evidence for and against. Why he chose to not make a decision is beyond me.
Without question, Trump acted to obstruct, he had the intent to obstruct, and it pertained to an ongoing proceeding, namely the investigation. So it would seem that the Attorney General’s three requirements for prosecution were met. One of course needs evidence to prove all three points, but just from Trump’s own Tweets, one would seem to have sufficient evidence on all three points.
The fact that the report exonerated Trump and the campaign from collusion with Russia should not in any way impact the obstruction charge. Perhaps most people would not try to obstruct a proceeding if they knew they were innocent. But Trump is not most people. He obviously was obsessed by this investigation. The mere fact of it roiled him. So not only should the exoneration on collusion not be determinative regarding the obstruction charge, as the Attorney General said in his letter, it should really have no impact.
As for the Attorney General’s decision to make the decision his and say there wasn’t sufficient evidence, it is unseemly and reeks of politics. Mueller, after months of deliberation, was very careful to say that while he wasn’t recommending a charge, the report did not exonerate the President regarding obstruction.
Yet the Attorney General did just that, although actually what he said was that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to charge the President. Now, insufficient evidence does not mean not guilty. But for the public, and certainly for Trump’s supporters, that is a distinction without a difference.
Congress and the American people clearly need to see the entire report.
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