Some observations regarding the Justice Department’s appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russia’s interference in our presidential election and possible ties to the president’s team.
I have mixed feelings about the decision by Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. So far, after 10 months of investigation, there is no proof of collusion by the Trump team with Russians.
The Wall Street Journal called the decision to appoint a special counsel the “Special Counsel Mistake,” arguing that Rosenstein caved to the political pressure from Democrats, giving them the ability to bedevil the Trump administration possible for the next four years.”
I am reminded of Patrick Fitzgerald’s costly, four-year investigation of Valerie Plame’s outing as a CIA operative.
“From top to bottom, this has been one of the most disgraceful abuses of prosecutorial power in this country’s history. The Plame case proves (Fitzgerald) can bend the truth with the proficiency of the slickest of pols. – Investor’s Business Daily
When I think about the ridiculous statements made by Democrat leadership and the leftist media, I have to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin wasn’t far off the mark when he said, “the United States has been developing political schizophrenia.”
Certainly, you’ve heard the outrageous charges made by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D.CA), and more recently Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Al Green (D-TX) calling for the president’s impeachment.
Steeped in denial over the loss of the election by Hillary Clinton, Democrats, with the help of an enabling media, have been undoubtedly attempting to bring down the presidency of Donald Trump, from the slow walking of his cabinet appointments to talk of impeachment.
If you think all this will end with the appointment of Mueller, don’t bet on it. Believe it or not, the House Oversight Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee investigations continue. While it has been said that there will be no leaks from the Mueller team, Democrat mouthpiece Schiff shot down any suggestion that it will cause his committee to downgrade its investigation.
Much has been made of the alleged request made of FBI Director James Comey by President Trump to drop the investigation of Michael Flynn. The New York Times and The Washington Post have reported that a Comey memo, unseen by the papers, quoted the president as saying, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go … letting (James) Flynn go.” Hardly words that would back up a charge of “obstruction of justice.”
Under the law, Comey was required to immediately inform the DOJ of any attempt to obstruct justice by any person, including the President of the United States. Failure to do so would result in criminal charges against Comey. There is no evidence that Comey alerted DOJ officials, though duty-bound to do so.
“Comey has put himself in a box,” commented Gregg Jarrett, a Fox reporter with a law degree, “If he (Comey) now accuses the president of obstruction, he places himself in legal jeopardy for failing to promptly and properly report it. If he (Comey) says it was merely an uncomfortable conversation, he clears the president of wrongdoing and sullies his own as a guy who attempted to smear the man who fired him.”
Mueller is being painted as a straight-shooter – I hope so – however, he and Comey have been close associates for a number of years.
Most of the usual Democrat mouthpieces have spoken favorably about the selection of Mueller. They rejoiced when Comey revealed there would be no prosecution of Hillary, but turned on him when he ignored “longstanding policy” while reopening the investigation of her? I can just imagine the uproar if Mueller clears the president.
Learning of Mueller’s appointment just one hour before it was announced, President Trump said, “As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know … that there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity. I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and issues that matter most to the future of our country.”
He has since rightly called the investigation a “witch hunt” in a Tweet; not directed at Mueller, but the herd of opposition forces who daily attack his every word and action.
You may not be aware that Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz, has been, since January, in the process of reviewing broad allegations of misconduct involving Comey, and how he handled the probe of Hillary’s e-mail practices. I wonder if the simultaneous investigation by Mueller will conflict with Horowitz’s release of his report.
Those who know Mueller believe he will not drag out his investigation. The president has expressed his displeasure with the length of current House and Senate investigations. No doubt, the November 2018 mid-term elections are on his mind.
While Democrats have been successful with slow-walking the president’s nominations, they may regret their obsession with the appointment of a general counsel. If they attempt now to delay his agenda, they will only further divide the nation that wants to see the repeal and replacement of ObamaCare, tax reform and an aggressive infrastructure improvement program.
