THE MUELLER REPORT: IMPEACHMENT ANYONE?

We long-awaited Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election. It came out April 18, complete with annoying redactions and spin by Bill Barr, President Trump’s legal flack-in-chief masquerading as Attorney General of the United States.

Trump/Barr

Release of the report, and its damning contents put the ball squarely in the court of Congressional Democrats who must decide about starting impeachment proceedings. Despite Barr’s spin, the report showed the American President suggested witnesses lie, encouraged theft of his opponent’s correspondence, and tried impeding a federal investigation, among countless other bad acts. 

Image of Redacted Mueller Report released April 18, 2019

We’ve been talking about impeachment for several years. With much of Mueller’s report out, the nation arrived at the time for deciding on proceeding with impeachment or not. The report paints a picture Congress can’t ignore.  

Impeachment starts in the House of Representatives with

Judiciary Committee hearings. Should it approve articles of impeachment, a full House vote follows. Onlyafter a majority House vote favoring impeachment would the Senate hold a trial on removing Trump from office. 

Woodson: Act Now!

This isn’t a hard call for me. Trump has so compromised our democracy, endangered national security, and imperiled the rule of law, Congress must move on impeachment. If the things Trump did (or asked that others do on his behalf) don’t represent “high crimes and misdemeanors” what does?

Being President imposes a higher standard than not being

criminally indicted. Trump claimed exoneration because Mueller didn’t find sufficient evidence for a criminal prosecution based on conspiracy with the Russians or obstruction of justice. A President, however, swears he or she will take care that the laws are faithfully executed. Just avoiding being charged with a crime doesn’t meet that test.

Some, like House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), think impeachment still isn’t in order because the people will pass judgment on Trump at the ballot box in 18 months. Others say pursuing impeachment will backfire on Democrats. I believe not pursuing impeachment will backfire on Democrats. Many voters may conclude that if Congress won’t do its job and protect our institutions, what’s the point? Perhaps we’ll just stay home in 2020.

Republican George Conway shares my view. The husband of Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway writes in the Washington Post, “the Mueller Report disturbingly shows, with crystal clarity … there is a cancer in the presidency: Donald J. Trump.

“Congress now bears the solemn constitutional duty to excise that cancer without delay … Charged with faithfully executing the laws, the President is, in effect the nation’s highest law enforcement officer [yet]  the Mueller investigation found multiple acts by the President that were capable of exerting undue influence over law enforcement investigations.”    

    

Rob: Fence Sitter

Woodson makes a persuasive case for moving forward with impeachment. Trump’s vile acts would earn any other citizen a place under the jail. The President’s behavior offends me and I agree being President requires more than being un-indictable. Congressional responsibility for protecting the nation goes beyond political considerations. I get that.

Yet, I am torn. This nation needs most an end to the Trump Presidency. Two concerns drive my thinking that impeachment may not constitute the best way of getting rid of Trump. First, unless the report’s release changes the narrative, it’s clear this issue doesn’t motivate voters. Few people ask about Trump’s sins at town hall meetings and rallies in early primary and caucus states like New Hampshire and Iowa. Voters care about the economy, health care, and climate change. Putting a focus on impeachment doesn’t drive voting, at least not now. 

My second fear lies in the possible result of trying

Barr at pre-release conference

impeachment and failing. Barr’s pre-release news conference showed how Trump’s allies will cast anything that even sounds exculpatory. Because Mueller didn’t charge Trump with a crime, Barr exonerated him. Think of what Barr, and others, will do with an acquittal in the Senate, where removal from office requires that 20 Republicans join all the Democrats in voting for conviction. Impeachment may get rid of Trump and I understand the moral and constitutional duty Congress arguably has. But something tells me we should let voters decide this, so I ride the fence.

Henry: Tell Us More

It’s clear Americans have not yet been educated about the

depth of Trump’s deplorable conduct. Unlike Watergate,when a long string of events (like the Saturday Night Massacre) and public hearings prepared the country for the impeachment process, the Mueller Report gave us our first detailed account of the Trump horrors, like the ten ways he potentially obstructed justice. We didn’t know how blatant some of his lies—and those of his staff – were, like news secretary Sarah Sanders admitting her statements claiming FBI employees called the White House complaining about fired director James Comey “were not based on anything” (in other words, she made it up).

Before moving forward with impeachment, the Democratic House should continue the oversight process already underway in committees. Those committees should hear

from Mueller. They should keep pursuing a fully un-redacted version of the report. Impeachment lies over the horizon, but Congress must tread carefully and deliberately. I know this approach risks encroaching on the 2020 election, but I still see it as the most prudent course. 

In many ways, I agree with Woodson and Rob. Woodson correctly concludes Congress must fulfill its responsibility for upholding the rule of law. In this instance, meeting that responsibility may mean taking on impeachment, even with the political risks Rob identifies and fears. The deliberate process I’ve suggested can mitigate some of that risk. Once people understand how badly the President behaved, I see a good chance Americans will find themselves ready for impeachment and may view it as a necessity.