I’ve written this before, but EVEN IF Barr releases the “entire report” Barr will release the Mueller Report with EVERYTHING about Trump redacted – except references to things he did NOT do. He has said so. You barely even need to read between the lines to understand this:
- DOJ Policy is the President can’t be indicted
- DOJ Policy is to never release any information about those who are NOT indicted
- Barr promised to release the entire report in accordance with law and DOJ Policy.
But Rosenstein – who appointed Mueller- said Barr will “do the right thing.” Yes, but remember Rosenstein wrote a very negative memo to Trump about Comey because Comey released information on the un-indicted Hillary Clinton – something in direct violation of DOJ Policy. Even Rosenstein believes the “right thing” is to NOT release any information about Trump because Trump won’t be indicted because Trump can’t be indicted. He further stated that “there are a lot of reasons not to be too transparent about what we do.”
Rosenstein hasn’t been a steadfast defender of the Mueller investigation because he is partisan, or driven by seeking justice ABOVE ALL. Rosenstein has protected Mueller because he is sworn to do so and directed to do so by DOJ policy and the law. Rosenstein is a “company man.” And as a “company man” he believes the “right thing” is to remove ALL mentions of the un-indicted Trump from the public release of the Mueller Report.
Think about it… how quiet have Trump and Guilliani been since Barr was approved? Why? They’re not worried about Mueller any longer.
So, we’re left with others:
Schiff, who heads Oversight in Congress to subpoena Mueller to testify, where he can ask the simple question: “Did Trump do things that rise to the standard of ‘High Crimes and Misdemeanors’ – did he commit impeachable offenses?” Mueller may or may not answer in the affirmative because of his own sense of obligation to follow DOJ policy.
This will cause Schiff to subpoena the entire report.
Which will lead to the SCOTUS, and where John Roberts will cast the deciding vote in what will be a 5-4 decision – one way or the other.
And that will be that.
“But wait!” you say. “What about the SDNY?” Well, even though they are more independent than Mueller, they are still part of the DOJ and ultimately can’t act without Barr’s approval, and… he will follow DOJ policy that the President can’t be indicted AND the DOJ releases no information about un-indicted people they investigate.
Schiff and Roberts will decide this whether the unredacted report gets released. But even then it will ultimately come down to the American people, who, at this point, I have the least amount of faith in. Jaded? Maybe, but do you feel confident that if we are at (even more) war or the economy (really) booming that people won’t select the guy leading either of those over some “socialist” who will screw it all up?
Right. Me neither.
Hold on. This is the beginning, not tje end.
(496 words)
Patrick On Politics 