On May 17, 2017, Robert Mueller was appointed as special
counsel to oversee an investigation into allegations of Russian interference in
the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed
Mueller when the Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, recused himself from the
matter.
Mueller received his B.A. from Princeton University and an M.S.
in International Relations from New York University. In 1968 he joined the U.S.
Marine Corps – he signed up, he wasn’t drafted – serving his country during the
Vietnam War. He earned a Bronze Star with valor, a Purple Heart, and many more
commendations. His final rank was Captain. He then enrolled at the University
of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1973.
Mueller served under four U.S. Presidents during his career.
In 1986 he was appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts by President
Ronald Reagan. In 1990 President George H.W. Bush appointed Mueller to the U.S.
Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division. President Bill Clinton appointed
him U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California in 1998, and
President George W. Bush appointed him Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General in
2001, although later that same year he named him Director of the FBI. Mueller remained
FBI Director until 2013, more than half-way through the administration of
President Obama.
By all counts, Robert Mueller served honorably.
Your Captain holds Mr. Mueller in the highest regard.
So in May of 2017, when Mueller was appointed special counsel,
I knew it would be done right.
Whatever the outcome.
Mueller was charged with giving oversight to the investigation
into "any links and/or coordination
between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of
President Donald Trump, and any matters
that arose or may arise directly from the investigation".
In the carrying out of his duty, Mueller brought forth 37
indictments, 7 guilty pleas, and (so far) 4 people going to prison; many of these
were insiders and confidants of the President.
Thus, it was disappointing to many when the Trumpf-appointed
Attorney General William Barr received the Mueller Report – which took more
than a year-and-a-half to prepare – and condense it down to a four-page summary
for Congress.
All in the matter of a couple days.
And what did Mueller reportedly find through all of this?
According to Barr’s summary, “While this report does not conclude that the President committed a
crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
This from one who was obviously appointed to protect the
President.
The President and his people immediately launched a campaign
declaring him “completely exonerated”.
Say it often enough and people will believe you!
But that’s not what AG Barr said though. He said Mueller
didn’t find “sufficient evidence” to bring charges against the President.
The President.
Of The United States.
Of America.
And Barr has already decreed that a sitting President cannot
be indicted… unless, I guess, it is a Democrat – so that doesn’t surprise anyone.
What Barr did actually say is, “it also does not exonerate him”.
Naturally, the Democrats in Congress – and your Captain – want
to read the full report. The decision to
release the full report has not been made yet.
And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (as well as KY
Senator Rand Paul) has blocked efforts in the Senate to call for release of the
document.
Perhaps because their names are mentioned?
Disappointing, I know. But Mueller’s job was not to have the
President arrested. His job was to rigorously pursue the facts and turn his findings
over to the Attorney General, who would presumably make his decision based on
evidence presented.
Which he has done.
Your Captain commends Robert Mueller for conducting a
thorough and professional inquiry. He ignored the daily insults of Trumpf, the caterwauling
of the Right, and the demands of the Left; and somehow, in Washington D.C. in
2019, he was able to do so with a necessary level of secrecy.
Of course, Trumpf and his ilk have decried the whole process,
calling it “illegal”, a “witch-hunt”, etc. Some want to go back now and dredge
up yet another investigation of Hillary Clinton. Alex Jones and Sara Huckabee Sanders
want to prosecute execute those who accused the President for treason.
Get over your own damned self!
And life goes on.
But please note, mateys, that all of the main characters in
this national tragedy – the Deputy Attorney General, the Special Counsel, the
current Attorney General – are all Republicans.
Did you really expect a different resolution?
