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Columns

Mueller Probe Flawed, but Must Continue

May 22, 2018 - 6:00am

This week marked the one-year anniversary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. It’s already lasted too long, during which time malicious leaks and speculation have dominated the news cycle and distracted citizens from the real issues facing our country.

Those of us who support President Donald Trump’s agenda are understandably dismayed that our leaders must bat down constant rumors rather than attend to the nation’s business. The natural response is to wish for an end to what is, at least with regard to Mr. Trump, a baseless probe.

We must be careful, however, about the solutions we advocate. Keeping up the pressure for a swift and focused investigation is appropriate and necessary. With no evidence of collusion by President Trump, it is also right to protest investigators’ unfounded forays into areas beyond their authorized scope.

Where we should draw the line is calling for the removal of the special counsel, and the deputy attorney general, until and unless actual malfeasance is demonstrated. Encouraging the president to intervene now is not only wrong but risky. 

Thus, we must let the lawful federal investigative process take its course because abandoning our responsibility to preserve the rule of law for mere political convenience would be a disservice to all those who sacrificed; shed sweat, blood and tears; fought and died protecting our noble American-Republican Values.

This means accepting that the U.S. Justice Department must operate independently of the president. Only then can the American people trust in its impartiality.

I realize there are those on the right whose trust is waning,  but concerns about Robert Mueller’s partisan motives are largely overblown (some amorous, text-happy former investigators aside). Mueller and Rod Rosenstein are longstanding, registered Republicans, not leftists. Both are widely respected and took an oath to uphold the Constitution, just as Kenneth Starr did. There is no credible evidence that either has abrogated that commitment, despite their rather feverish investigatory zeal.

Thus, removing the special counsel or deputy attorney general at this point could only be done without lawful cause. This is where the risk comes in.

Dismissing Robert Mueller or Rod Rosenstein would kick the Democratic hornet’s nest. Nothing could do more to fire up their base for 2018 and 2020, and even the independent support President Trump mobilized in 2016 could be compromised. Republicans should seriously reckon with the prospect of losing the House, the Senate, and possibly the presidency to the resulting backlash. Not a risk we should take!

Admittedly, a restrained approach is not a comfortable one as we face down liberal obstructionist extremists, but, letting the investigation conclude remains the only reasonable answer at present. 

In many ways, the current situation is a test of our true Republican Values. We have always stood for the preservation of our institutions as the most reliable protection for our freedoms. If we can maintain the courage of our convictions in such difficult times, we will set the right precedent, earn the sacrifices of our veterans, and ultimately prevail because there is nothing to hide.

Dennis O. Freytes, United States Army (Ret.), is in the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame and a member of Republican Values-Orlando. He is an advocate for Patriot American Veterans.

 

Comments

Mueller was the wrong choice for "Special Councel": His innate purpose was to "protect" his FBI and his "friend and successor" James Comey by traditionally utilized "FBI methods" of obfuscation, threats, evidence manipulation, media manipulation, misdirection, political favoritism, and by "presenting" themselves as the "500 pound Gorilla" in ANY venue or room they occupy. The FBI is known for "closing ranks" and "closing down" whenever a threat to their carefully fabricated reputation appears threatened... The Agency MUST be "brought into the "sunlight" and reorganized (at the very least) to bring them forward from their almost ten decade, carefully crafted, "superhero" reputation...(belying their often "clubfooted" intrusiveness)... MAKE NO MISTAKE: Your Local Sheriffs and Police are the TRUE BACKBONE of your EVERYDAY security and protection, as well as your "on site, on time, and professional" investigative teams (The FBI will 'show up' along with the media for the 'press release' (we've all seen the single FBI Agent in the "presser groups" appearing to "be in charge" of every aspect of the subject "media attention" for the cameras (.."I'm ready for my closeup Mr DeMille "..) !

The Nixon-Watergate investigation took two-and-a-quarter years ... and Nixon didn't do the right thing until Barry Goldwater and a few other Gopper senators convinced the racist, anti-semitic, criminal Nixon that he was DEFINITELY going to be impeached and found guilty by the Senate! The current Russiagate-And-Then-Some investigation is w-a-y more widespread and complex than Watergate ... so for the Trumpnuts to insist that the current investigation "should be over" is just absurd! It ain't over until it's over!

...or "until the fat lady sings" ( in THIS case, former AG Loretta Lynch ); THEN, it might be close to being over... [We should also include former AG Eric Holder in that testimony to explain "Fast & Furious" 'gun running' to Mexico] Oh wait,...Obama had TWO "bent" Attorneys General ?!?

Undermining the special counsel is pure politics. If Mr. Trump consorted with a foreign power to get elected he must face the consequences. I voted for him, but I think were there no investigation, he would be a "President Gone Wild!" This puts the brakes on some of his more erratic behavior since the Republican party which controls the House and Senate refuses to stand up on anything. He's trying to do some great things with our trade status which could ultimately restore decent jobs, and his foreign policy has put an end to the Chamberlain style appeasement favored by his predecessor. But folks, the governing of a democracy by definition cannot be done by a dictator and this investigation is about the only check him since the others have failed. He has opened a window on the corruption of government, not to clean it up, but to rub our noses in it.

You know there is zero proof of your claims! Trump Derangement Syndrome is strong in you!

I agree with the author’s point that containing the scope and demanding a reasonable timeline with regular check ins required with the AG to ‘ show what you got ‘ ( which is reportedly a whole lot of nothing ) works better politically for the R’s than firing Mueller . Don’t get me wrong , I agree with the criticism of the investigators and their grasping at straws like a mad dog just wanting to bite anything unfortunate enough to be too close to the mad dog’s mouth , but ultimately making them admit they have nothing is the best end .

Can we start with the fact the special counsel was appointed in violation of the Constitution. For this reason alone the special counsel should be released and Rod Rosenstein should be fired. Any attorney that intentionally or unintentionally violates the Constitution of the United States should be disbarred. The first duty of any officer of the court is to uphold the Constitution as written!

So ... the first special counsel was appointed in 1875 to investigate the 'Whiskey Ring' scandal during U.S. Grant's Republican administration ... and Grant and his people (like the Trumpnuts today) also whined incessantly about the special counsel and his investigation ... and Grant also sought to fire the counsel! Nothing much different than is occurring now, 143 years later! AND NOTE: the Supreme Court of the United States has NEVER adjudicated that appointing a special counsel was a "violation of the Constitution". You're just blowing hot air!

His appointment was in violation of the Constitution and federal law. There was no crime specified.

Revelations of the subterfuge undertaken by a politically weaponized Federal agency in spying/undermining our President is outrageous. This odyssey has uncovered zero hard evidence. Grasping at straws to connect non-existent dots is nothing more that partisan smoke and mirrors gamesmanship. Its really sad to see our government degenerate into this type of behavior. If it is this ingrained in the bureaucracy, I doubt this swamp/cesspool can never be drain. Very sad.

You have NO IDEA what "hard evidence" the investigation has uncovered to date ... and your comment to the contrary is a REAL example of "grasping at straws"!

FIRE the "Mueller 'Trojan Horse" and be DONE with this FBI debacle !

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