Attorney General Barr has reported the “principle conclusions” of the Mueller investigation, which found no evidence of conspiracy or collusion between Trump (or anyone associated with his campaign). Americans should be satisfied that justice has been served, in spite of Democratic boo-birds with new “high crimes and misdemeanors” theories.
After three years of investigations, it is time to conclude this was mostly a political matter. By any standard, the 2016 election was free (we all got to vote) and fair (every vote was counted). Because of the Mueller investigation, we were able to identify the good, bad and ugly players.
The Good
Within just the context of collusion and obstruction, President Trump looks good. He was politically savvy: branding charges of treason a “hoax” and all investigations “witch hunts” to remind 2020 voters of his right to the presumption of innocence. And, even though he barked, he did not fire Mueller. Unlike Nixon on behalf of McGruder and Haldeman, this president left justice alone; allowing the special counsel to follow evidence and convict several Trump associates – although not for Russian collusion.
I applaud Robert Mueller, who followed the evidence, indicted 34 people and 3 companies, and referred multiple cases to various branches of the Department of Justice. Unlike James Comey, Mueller ended his investigation without a grand-standing media circus. In fact, his biggest legacy might be his leak-free investigation. When Mueller was appointed, I wrote that “at last, an adult enters the fray.” Muller proved to be a straight-shooting cop, who served the Republic.
The Bad
The real bad guy is Vladimir Putin, whose government has interfered, did interfere, and will interfere in America’s elections. Russia reached out to the Trump campaign and worked with the Clinton campaign. Their two-faced interference succeeded in undermining the electorate’s confidence in the 2016 results. Putin is a cold-war holdover, whose paramount goal has always been to weaken the USA – not befriend either Clinton or Trump. Sadly, the Muller investigation will not stop Russian election interference: Putin is still out there (operating freely in cyber space).
Most unbecoming were super-partisan congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who frequently promised they had seen hard evidence of Trump treason – without producing a shred of evidence. Schiff repeatedly proclaimed, “I think there’s plenty of evidence of collusion or conspiracy in plain sight.” However, when Tucker Carlson asked him to “look right into the camera and say, ‘I know Putin was behind the hacks of John Podesta’s email,’” Schiff stuttered and blurted, “you are carrying water for the Russians.” For the record, Schiff did not answer Carlson’s question and avowed Friday “his own investigations” into President Trump would continue.
The Ugly
Is it possible to look uglier than Michael Cohen? He proclaimed to be a loving and protective husband and father, but willfully and knowingly involved his wife in two-bit hustles (e.g. NYC taxi medallion loans). He proclaimed impeccable client-attorney loyalty – willing to “take a bullet for” Donald Trump – before publicly telling Congress Trump was a “mobster.” Cohen pled guilty to lying under oath and regretted “lying to the first lady.” And, in his latest congressional testimony, he offered no evidence of Trump collusion (“I’m not really sure I can answer that question in terms of collusion”). How convenient!
Actually, Cohen is the second ugliest American to be exposed in this matter, because former FBI director James Comey looks really-really ugly. He wrote Thursday he wanted Mueller to provide “a demonstration to the world that the United States justice system works” (source: The New York Times). Wow! This from the man whom Loretta Lynch persuaded to call an investigation a “matter” and Clinton’s gross negligence (with classified documents) “extremely careless” actions.
Comey was all-in on the Fusion GPS Russia dossier and the FISC wiretap warrants, and he subverted his executive branch bosses (President Trump and Attorney General Sessions) by leaking information to the New York Times. Now that the Mueller investigation has concluded, I predict the investigator general (Horowitz) recommends the DOJ bring charges against Mr. Comey.
The right and proper conclusion came from Dana Perino on Fox News Friday night: “Let’s say the president is totally exonerated…that Mueller says ‘the Trump campaign wasn’t doing anything.’ Wouldn’t that actually be good news for the country?” As a word of advice to Democrats, get on with your lives and stop embarrassing yourselves by HOPING for the worst to regain power.
Perino was spot-on: if Russia had actually turned a US presidential candidate into a double-agent, then our constitutional republic would be flat-lining. She also observed the average voter would turn on congressional Democrats that persist with bringing down Trump. Without evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors, it is now up to the electorate in 2020 to decide Mr. Trump’s fate