Our system of checking presidential power and conduct is structurally broken. Our FBI is clearly riddled with a handful of partisan actors, and we may just be embarking on a two-way war of impeachment proceedings from Democrats and investigating the investigators by a Republican attorney general.
But Robert Mueller did his job just fine. He deserves to be left alone.
The man served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He served more than a decade as the director of the FBI. The septuagenarian just spent the past two years interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing 2,800 subpoenas, executing nearly 500 search warrants, and requesting evidence from 13 foreign governments. He wrote up a 448-page report detailing the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election in scrupulous detail.
He is done. And he made clear as much in his eight-minute concluding statement this morning.
Mueller said:
So beyond what I’ve said here today and what is contained in our written work, I do not believe it is appropriate for me to speak further about the investigation or to comment on the actions of the Justice Department or Congress. And it’s for that reason I will not be taking questions today, as well.
House Democrats have the legal right to begin impeachment proceedings. Whether it’s politically expedient is a different question entirely. But Mueller wants no part of it, and Congress shouldn’t force him to stay in this hell-ridden circus of a swamp.
Mueller wrote a 448-page report with evidence that will be made completely available to certain members of Congress. Just because some members of Congress are too lazy to read the entire report doesn’t mean that Mueller should be held hostage to their never-ending relitigation of the 2016 election.
Let Mueller go ride off into the sunset and drink a Mai Tai on a yacht or whatever 74-year-old war heroes do in retirement. He’s served our country for half a century and regardless of the machinations of bad actors like Lisa Page and Peter Strzok. Notwithstanding Mueller’s ill-advised decision to punt the obstruction question to Attorney General William Barr, he did a professional and honorable job as special counsel. He deserves the thanks of the nation and a respectful farewell from the swamp.
