Mueller Story Not Over

It Ain't Over Till It's Over

Congresswomen Val Demings, former Orlando Chief of Police, who serves on both the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, starred in Wednesday’s hearings with the “bottom line” question to Robert Mueller, as to whether his Report was affected by the many lies which witnesses told (and which have sent some to prison for lying under oath), the half-truths which were spoken by others, the intentional destruction of documents and the failure of some witnesses to appear or to give meaningful answers, including the President, who answered questions in writing.  Mueller replied to that question affirmatively.  

Specifically, when questioned by Demings as to the President's written responses to questions answered under oath, note the following exchange between them:

Demings: "Director Mueller, Isn't it fair to say that the President's written answers were not only inadequate and incomplete because he didn't answer many of your questions but where he did, his answer showed that he wasn't always being truthful"

Mueller:  "I would say generally."

(Those of you who possess a copy of the Mueller Report are urged to review Appendix "C" where the questioning of the President and his written responses are published.)

This was why, Mueller’s answers made clear to discerning listeners, that “collusion” (which has to be treated legally under the laws of conspiracy) by the 2016 Republican campaign with undeniable and overwhelming evidence of Russian interference in our 2016 election was not proven.  The witnesses were not totally cooperative.  This was despite a tremendous amount of investigative evidence indicating that was the case.

Similarly, it was also why despite overwhelming evidence that the President attempted to obstruct the investigation, an indictable criminal act for any American other than the President (because of the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel’s opinion), Donald Trump was not thusly charged, and in fact, was not exonerated either, despite his not being chargable.  Again, this was made possible because of lies, half-truths, unavailable testimony and the President’s failure to provide meaningful answers to Mueller in writing.

This may all change whenever White House Counsel Don McGahn, who

McGahn - An Honest Witness

provided 30 hours of testimony damning the President to Mueller’s team, is questioned by the House Committees.  If he confirms to Congress what the Mueller Report documents his having told them, clear and unequivocal grounds for impeachment will be laid in plain sight before the Congress, and the American people.  

The question remains as to when he will testify.  Congress' summer month-long hiatus complicates the issue but that does not mean the Democratic majority will remain idle.  Subpoenas will continue to be issued and legal steps to enforce them will proceed.  it is even not impossible that Speaker Pelosi will call the House back to Washington if necessary to maintain the pace of taking action on the facts in the Mueller Report, obviously the course Robert Mueller anticipated Congress would follow based on his Report.

Joyce Vance, former Federal prosecutor, whom has been a frequent commentator on TV, has written on this extensively.  Please take the time to read what she has to say by clicking RIGHT HERE.

This story is not yet over.   And watch a video of Congresswoman Demings’ probing questioning of Robert Mueller, which was limited by the hearing's time constraints BY CLICKING RIGHT HERE.

This story is not yet over.   Because the cowed Republican majority in the Senate fears that looking favorably upon impeachment would result in primary challenges from Trumpublicans on the right, and put many of them out of jobs, impeachment will fail in the Senate where 67 votes are needed to convict an “indictment” passed by a majority in the House.  

But the publicity attendant to the hearings in an impeachment proceeding, unimpeded by the Department of Justice lackeys of the President, would have a tremendous effect upon the American people.  Fence-sitting Republican Senators will have to take positions with which many Americans will disagree. 

That is why I personally felt that the impeachment question must be resolved by the end of this month, just a few days away.  It cannot drag on through the election campaign.  House Speaker Pelosi will probably give it until mid-September, by which time the case for impeachment will have been strengthened.     

Jack Lippman

                                                                           *   *   *   *

Untrustworthy Guardians?

Washington Post blogger and occasional columnist Jennifer Rubin recently suggested that “we have become untrustworthy guardians of democracy.”  That’s US, that’s YOU, that’s ME …. to whom she is referring.  This goes along with what I have been saying for years, that Donald J. Trump is not the problem, but the American people who for whatever reasons support him, are as well as those unable to find an effective way to thwart his evil machinations!  That’s quite an accusation she makes.  That’s why the Palm Beach Post carried it in the space usually taken up by its editorial.  Read it by CLICKING HERE. PLEASE. Then figure out what you’ll do.  Me?  I’m concentrating on registering voters.   

JL

                                                                  *   *   *   *

Nonsense Question:  What do the usual number two and number three hitters in the Miami Marlins batting order have in common with CNN?