Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Mueller at the House Judiciary Committee Hearing Today - Three Points and an Observation

As I type this former FBI Director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller had just completed his first of two hearing today in front of Committees in the House of Representatives by testifying under subpoena in front of the House Judiciary Committee (he later testifies in from to the Intelligence Committee).  Having the day off from the paying job (ironically not because of this) and a long night last night I overslept but did catch the last couple of hours off and on.  From what I've witnessed from both watching the hearing and commentary regarding it here are three points that came out that should be taken into account.

First - Mueller has now said that a President can be indicted once he leaves office.  
   The main reason from the Mueller Report why they didn't bring charges against electoral vote winner Donny was that DOJ had a rule that stated that a sitting President couldn't be indicted.  This left open whether or not a President can be charged if he leaves office.  Rep. Jerry Nadler got Mueller to state, for the record, that he was unable to indict the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago for obstruction because of Office of Legal Counsel decision that a sitting president couldn't be indicted.  This was said by Mueller at his press conference a while back but then Nadler asked if [electoral vote winner Donny] could be indicted once he leaves office.  Mueller replied with one word: "True."

This alone would be something that should be notable.  However, it was later in the hearing that Repub Sen. Ken Buck of Colorado asked if you could charge the President with a crime after he left office.  Mueller said yes.  By stating this again, Mueller basically reaffirms the possibility that the decision of the DOJ not to charge electoral vote winner Donny did not mean he was exonerated and that other investigations can still (and will still) occur.  It also leaves open a chance that leaving office doesn't mean that Donny can get away with it and he could still be charged if the Dept of Justice in the next administration after he leaves office would choose to do so.

While there can be some debate over whether this means the OLC decision was the only reason Donny wasn't charged, this and the fact that Mueller reaffirmed similar things means that the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago wasn't completely exonerated by the Report.

Second - Mueller Didn't Interview with Electoral Vote Winner Donny to Return to work as FBI Director
      One of the things the Mad Fuhrer, his minions, and Repubs in general have tried to throw against the wall in trying to dismiss the Mueller Report is that Donny didn't hire him as FBI Director and that Mueller was probing him in a case of sour grapes.  Donny even tweeted something to that effect this morning as the hearing was getting underway.  Early in the hearing he was asked by Repub Rep Louie Gohmert of Texas if when they met the day before if they discussed FBI Director James Comey's firing.  Mueller interjected immediately that he was not a candidate,  The fact that Mueller preemptively shot that line down is important in that it derails somewhat this theory that Donny has thrown out on twitter.  While the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago will likely continue to throw out that red meat  Mueller saying that without actually being asked while under oath is important.

Third - It Looks Like The Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago and his minions had asked his staff to falsify records.
     In one exchange with Rep.Cedric Richmond (D, LA) it was revealed that Donny and company tried to protect himself by asking staff to falsify information and that there was an attempt to get White House Counsel Don McGahan to provide a false written record of information,  In other words, lie to those investigating your side.   

Now anyone with eyes and ears who pays attention knows Donnya nd company seems to obstruct justice in regards to their BS on an almost daily basis (way too many instances to claim).  What makes thids differnet is the fact that,if it were anyone else, there'd be charges and court dates involved but since OLC rules don't allow the Justice Dept to indict a sitting president, he still gets to stay where he is.  It also reiterates Mueller's replay that the Report DID NOT EXONERATE the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago regardless of what the latter tweets. 

With those three points (which likely have been made by others in a batter way) in tow let's tackle an observation I have regarding the Repubs on these committees.

The Repub Congresspeople Seem to Channel Someone who confuses talking too fast with making a good debate point
     Granted I walked in on the middle of Matt Gaets' attempt to show boat to gain the Mad Fuhrer's approval as my starting point but I noticed that  they all seem to channel their inner Ben Shapiro at some point.  Usually they start slow but somewhere get to a point where they try to say a lot of words really fast regarding things that have little to do with what was supposed ot be talked about.  Several of them even seemed to use Ben's phrasing.  It would be funny if it wasn't for the fact these people were elected to guide this country yet seem to want a pat on the hand from Donny more than serving the people they supposedly represent. 

In time I'm sure there will be a lot of things that people find in here that may sway thigs one way or the other.  For now though I think the good of the hearings is more adding some context to what was in the Mueller Report since at over 400 pages many people don't have to time to check it out. 

Woder how the Intelligence hearing will stand out.
    


No comments: