Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani cited a CNN poll on Wednesday to make his case that special counsel Robert Mueller should shut down the Russia investigation by September, even as assertion that there is a deadline is being dismissed by experts.
In that survey, released Tuesday, 66 percent of respondents said Mueller’s team should complete the inquiry before the 2016 midterm elections. Giuliani said that poll justifies his claim that the probe must end 60 days earlier.
“CNN poll shows 66% say Mueller should complete his investigation before the upcoming elections. DOJ has policy to refrain from investigatory activity in 60 day period before election. DOJ should require Mueller to submit his report before September 7,” Giualini said in a tweet.
CNN poll shows 66% say Mueller should complete his investigation before the upcoming elections. DOJ has policy to refrain from investigatory activity in 60 day period before election. DOJ should require Mueller to submit his report before September 7.
— Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) August 15, 2018
[Rudy Giuliani: No chance Mueller has anything on Trump]
The former New York City mayor has hit the cable news circuit in recent weeks arguing that Mueller must wrap up his inquiry by the beginning of September, citing what he says is a Depart of Justice policy, and warned that Trump would not sit down for an interview after the first day of the month.
However, experts say there is no such policy that would require Mueller to stop operations before the midterm elections, including issuing new indictments, as long as he keeps it quiet. The policy that does exist bars Mueller from doing anything out in the open during those two months that could impact the elections.
“This long-standing policy is clear on its face,” said Jamie Gorelick, who served as the Justice Department’s deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration, according to CNN. “Of course it does not require an investigation to be terminated. Indeed, there are many examples of investigations that continued during and through elections.”
Meanwhile, President Trump has embraced what friendly pundits have said, following the firing of FBI agent Peter Strzok this week for exchanging anti-Trump texts, saying Mueller’s “witch hunt” was built on a “scam” as Strzok had early on been a lead investigator in the case.
“The Rigged Russian Witch Hunt goes on and on as the “originators and founders” of this scam continue to be fired and demoted for their corrupt and illegal activity. All credibility is gone from this terrible Hoax, and much more will be lost as it proceeds. No Collusion!” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning.
