What did Donald Trump do today?
He fought desperately to keep the man who he says gave him a "total and complete EXONERATION" from speaking to Congress about it.
Since the moment special counsel Robert Mueller's report was delivered to his hand-picked attorney general, Trump has insisted that it exonerates him. (That said he also started attacking the report when he realized what was actually in it.)
In reality, the report does everything it can NOT to exonerate Trump—only to say what Mueller thought couldn't or wouldn't be successfully prosecuted. The Mueller report says:
[I]f we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment. The evidence we obtained about the President's actions and intent presents difficult issues that prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred. (Vol. II, p. 2)
It later elaborates, with respect to the firing of FBI Director James Comey, that
[t]he evidence does indicate that a thorough FBI investigation would uncover facts about the campaign and the President personally that the President could have understood to be crimes or that would give rise to personal and political concerns. (Vol. II, p. 76)
Amid news that Mueller is expected to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in a few weeks, where he will be asked to elaborate on those and other statements that make clear the extent of Trump's involvement with the Russian government and his clumsy attempts to cover it up, Trump finally snapped today and demanded that Mueller keep quiet.
In other words, Trump seems to be arguing that Democrats must not be allowed to let Robert Mueller "exonerate" him again.
An overwhelming majority of Americans believe Trump committed crimes before the election, and half believe he has committed further crimes in office.
Who cares?
- "Exonerated" people don't usually mind publicity about how innocent they've been proven to be.
- Presidents are not above the law.