Robert Mueller’s statement: What does it all mean?
Robert Mueller had America’s attention all morning with the news that he would make a statement in public, but what does it mean?
If you checked Twitter this morning, you probably noticed that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s name and variants thereof (including the full Robert S. Mueller III) were all trending this morning. The reason? Mueller made a statement in public to the press about everything that’s gone on, after not testifying yet to any congressional committees.
To sum it up more succinctly:
The only two people who seem to be able to pull off surprises nowadays are Robert Mueller and Beyoncé
— Roland Scahill (@rolandscahill) May 29, 2019
A redacted version of the report he made about his investigation into Russia’s influence on the 2016 elections and any potential involvement by the Trump campaign is already available.
“I am speaking out today because our investigation is complete […] I am resigning from the Department of Justice,” Mueller said in a short statement, which was not followed by any questions.
He also emphasized the importance of the report as it currently stands in its two volumes, reiterating the conclusions.
Robert Mueller on Trump's involvement: "If we had confidence he did not commit a crime we would have said so. We did not however have confidence that the president did not commit a crime" #Mueller https://t.co/PigkDjEPEz pic.twitter.com/r6LwKEl6DP
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 29, 2019
“Under long-standing department policy, a president cannot be charged with a federal crime while in office,” he continued. “Charging the president, therefore, was not an option we could consider.”
Here’s what this means from Jim Sciutto of CNN:
!!!! “Charging the president with a crime is not an option we could consider” - Mueller makes clear it was not the evidence but the DOJ policy that precluded an indictment. This is huge.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 29, 2019
Additionally, he said in regards to any issue of going before Congress, “The report is my testimony.” As he elaborated, that means that he would not speak further.
Of course, there are ways that all of this is being interpreted to and responded to on Twitter.
ROBERT MUELLER IS HERE TO TELL Y'ALL THAT HE WANTED TO CHARGE THE PRESIDENT BUT COULDN'T B/C HE WAS BOUND BY DOJ POLICY.
— fooler initiative (@metroadlib) May 29, 2019
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
Well this is pretty big. Robert Mueller has said two MAJOR things:
— Arizona Political 💎 (@AZVotes) May 29, 2019
1. If Trump had NOT committed a crime, then we would have said so.
2. We could not issue an indictment against Trump because of the long standing DOJ guideline stating that you cannot indict a sitting pres.
Shorter Mueller: That was an impeachment referral, damnit, now act on it.
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) May 29, 2019
Put in pop culture terms:
You know that scene in The Incredibles where Mr. Incredible tells an old lady how he can't possibly help her with her insurance claim and she definitely shouldn't fill out this specific form and take it to this specific office
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) May 29, 2019
The full statement is available here for you to watch:
As for what the House of Representatives is doing, it’s been reported that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is pumping the brakes on any impeachment inquiry. However, that was a week ago, and that was before this statement was made. Additionally, since then, one lone Republican representative, Justin Amash of Michigan, has started to call for impeachment.
The New York Times notes that “the House Judiciary Committee considered the matter of inquiries about impeachment” first with both Presidents Nixon and Clinton. The House only needs a majority vote on each article of impeachment; it’s the Senate that needs a two-thirds vote to impeach, and that, say reports, is part of the issue Pelosi has.
Next. Politics roundup: Are we really talking about impeachment?. dark
In other words, not much seems to have changed just yet.