Open letter by 800+ former Republican and Democratic federal prosecutors says Trump committed felonies
Trump’s “no collusion, no obstruction” attack against Robert Mueller’s investigation suffered a dramatic setback on Monday when hundreds of former federal prosecutors from both parties joined together to publicly call him a criminal:
“President Donald Trump would have been indicted for obstruction of justice in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation if he did not hold the nation’s highest office, more than 370 former federal prosecutors argued in an open letter publish[ed] on Medium on Monday.
“The ex-prosecutors — who have served under both Republican and Democratic administrations dating back to President Dwight D. Eisenhower — said Attorney General William Barr’s decision not to charge Trump with obstruction ‘runs counter to logic and our experience.’
“The letter added, ‘Each of us believes that the conduct of President Trump described in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report would, in the case of any other person not covered by the Office of Legal Counsel policy against indicting a sitting President, result in multiple felony charges for obstruction of justice. We believe strongly that, but for the OLC memo, the overwhelming weight of professional judgment would come down in favor of prosecution for the conduct outlined in the Mueller Report,’ the letter continued.”
Quoted from NBC News; read story here.
Comment: Their open letter comes at a time when polls show a majority of the public does not support impeachment, Trump’s lackey attorney general is defying a congressional subpoena to turn over the complete Mueller report and supporting evidence, his treasury secretary is defying an lawful order from Congress to provide his tax returns to a congressional committee, and Speaker Pelosi is openly expressing concern that Trump may not leave office peacefully if he loses the 2020 election, while Trump himself is complaining about a “stolen presidency” and making cracks about becoming “president for life.” Trump is known for being full of hot air; but are serious folks starting to become alarmed about what he might do? He certainly seems capable of anything, and he’s been priming his red-hatted mobs to believe that any election he loses is illegitimate.
At a time when congressional Democrats seem weak, and Trump appears to be getting away with stonewalling, this letter from the former prosecutors is a gut punch to Trump, because it could have a big effect on public opinion, and the course of events from here.
I am sure there are 370 current and former prosecutors who would come down and argue that the proper decision was made not to prosecute. Many prosecutors use certain charges like obstruction charges as a tool, perhaps improperly, but there is that thing called prosecutorial discretion. Of course when it comes to the President of the United States it really comes down to Congress. Mueller and Barr did not give some members of Congress the window dressing they wanted. The House can go right ahead and impeach. Perhaps the would be best so this silliness can run the full course and the Senate can show exactly why there should be no charge of obstruction brought because the Prosecution cannot get a conviction. And this is also a political consideration more so than a legal one. If a Republican controlled Senate were to actually to convict a sitting Republican President would be amazing and that body would be extremely embarrassed if the accused was not subsequently charged and convicted in the court system.
Congress has power on making all tax filings of Presidential candidates public, but at minimum members of Congress would have to give up their own privacy, if not say no ones tax returns are private and anyone can look at anyone or any businesses tax return.
If the voters love a bad boy well they should be very happy and President Trump will win a second term. Maybe he will send some bubble gum afterwards to the signers of the letter in thanks after the election.
(Sigh.) Some people are clueless.