The House next week will send another signal to special counsel Robert Mueller that he needs to release his final report on President Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia.
Democratic leaders have scheduled a vote on a resolution from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and other committee chairmen that calls for the public release of Mueller’s final report. It also calls on the Justice Department to release his final report to Congress.
“[T]he need for transparency is most pronounced with regard to investigations that involve the President or individuals associated with his campaign,” the resolution said.
“[T]he allegations at the center of Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation strike at the core of our democracy, and there is an overwhelming public interest in releasing the Special Counsel’s report to ensure public confidence in both the process and the result of the investigation,” it added.
The resolution will pass easily, as Democrats have been clamoring for Mueller’s report to be released, and Democrats are rushing the resolution to the floor. Many Republicans also want the report out and will join Democrats in voting for it.
A bipartisan vote could put some pressure on the Justice Department to release it, even though the resolution isn’t binding and can’t compel DOJ to do anything.
Republicans and Democrats, meanwhile, want the report out for different reasons.
Democrats are worried about a Department of Justice rule that says a sitting president cannot be indicted. If Mueller finds evidence of wrongdoing by Trump and his report stays classified, Democrats won’t know about that wrongdoing because it won’t be revealed through any action against Trump by the department.
In February, one Democrat said Congress needs to know of possible crimes by Trump even if the department refuses to act against them.
“If it basically says, ‘Hey, we would have indicted Donald Trump for these offenses but for the fact that there’s a policy memo saying we can’t,’ then I think Congress has to really look at these issues and decide what to do with whatever offenses the Robert Mueller investigation reveals,” said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif.
Republicans are hoping they can cheer the results of an investigation that finds no evidence that Trump colluded with Russia. But they’ve also hinted they want to learn more about how Mueller operated as he investigated Trump.
“Congress and the American people have a right to know how their government conducts business and spends tax dollars,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in January. “Special counsel investigations are no different.”
Grassley introduced a resolution with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to make sure Mueller’s report is made public.
Newly sworn-in Attorney General William Barr said during his confirmation hearing that it’s his decision to publicize the Mueller report. Barr will also submit his own summary of the report to Congress.
