Listen: Mueller: DOJ policy says we can't charge a president
"We are looking at the words of this past day by Robert Mueller the special prosecutor in the Russia probe. And he has, of course, in those comments made clear that in his view he could not charge the president because of department of Justice regulations that prevent a sitting president for being indicted, therefore, Muller, said those actions were not pursued the opinion says that the constitution requires a process other than the criminal Justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing. N beyond department policy. We were guided by principles of fairness. It would be unfair to potentially. It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of crime, when there can be no court resolution of the actual charge. And of course, that is being read as a sign that Muller is saying, I can't take action, but congress certainly can, and therefore, the obvious inference that they should let's talk some more about this tonight with your calls at one eight six six five O, JIMBO one eight six six five five four six two six and with breads Samuels reporter for the hill dot com, the definitive voice of what takes place on Capitol Hill of the nation's capital. Brett good evening. Good to have you aboard. Thanks for me on Jim. Absolutely. I it certainly does sound very much as though Muller is saying that congress should he didn't use those exact words. But it's it was thing to, to note that he would on to say that this was it that he should. His report and he held this public statement this past that's it. He says that he does not wish to testify on, on Capitol Hill. I'm wondering which. People are telling you that there will be subpoena issued for Muller, and that he will be told to show up or else. Yeah. You know, that's something that Democrats and specifically a couple of the committee chairman, Jerry, Nadler, and Adam Schiff in particular, you know, they'll have to kinda way moving forward. You know, whether it's worth it to subpoena, rather Muller, whether it's worth it. Eventually get into, you know, some kind of extended legal battle over that at the special counsel, really adamant that he doesn't wanna show up, but they also have to consider, you know, rather more said today that the report is his testimony, essentially, so he's made it pretty clear that even if he were to be called in front of lawmakers. I think he would be pretty careful to kind of stick to what is in his report. What's already out there publicly? So, you know, Democrats have to really way before they would go as far as the peanut, you know how much they would benefit or how much they would gain from from doing that with a special counsel. There is such an outcry among some Democrats on Capitol Hill for impeachment that you have to wonder if this should be taken this, the, the stated reluctance of speaker Pelosi to proceed. Of course. She's the speaker speakers have considerable power, you have to wonder if in fact, this goes beyond the issue of impeachment itself and goes to the issue of. The extent to which the speaker is in control of the democratic caucus. Do you foresee in the next year and a half or so a challenge to speaker Pelosi and her leadership position? I wouldn't go that far, you know, based on what we've seen two point, I think, to the other point, you know, the opposite point this is actually she seems commanded a lot of respect from even some of those who are skeptical Milton comes to mind, people who have praised are essentially for kind of job, she's done in sort of keeping the troops in order, you know, balancing, those who are really clamoring for impeachment, along with those who are gonna adamant that, that's not the route to go down some both kind of the Safar farther, left wing of the party, and the more centrist wing of the party DC's dose, far, you know, kept everyone relatively happy and in, in line. So, you know, we'll see if that changes, I guess, but so far, she seems to really say you what eight six six five O, JIMBO our number one eight six six five, oh, five four six two six the next year and a half proceed. It's going to be very interesting to see the extent. Which in fact, Democrats, either on Capitol Hill, or in the General Electric are dominated by their left wing, or by those who are more in the center of the, the party's thinking. Here's a call from Andy in Butler, Pennsylvania. You're on the Jim Bohannon show with Brett Samuels of the hill dot com. Hello, andy. Hello, Mr. Bohannon. How are you tonight? Thank you. I'll try thank you. I'll try to be quick. First of all, Mr. Molly said he didn't believe he could bring charges against the Justice Department's policy but not only did not bring charges. He didn't even recommend charges. Okay. And I get the feeling was somewhere along the idea was, it's not positition to bring charges against the setting president. And as far as I know that's not justices call to make supreme court call to make if you felt there should have been charges I think he should have bought them. Let the supreme court decide if it can go forward or not, that's their job. But moreover, we waited two years for this, and we got pulled by the Democrats whole time, we gotta wait for the mall report the mall report and the mall report come out what Mr. Muller said was high congress. This is your job to do funny. Democrats didn't know it was their job to do it. Two years ago, it took them two years to figure out what their job was. Anyway, it points that, that you do bring up Andy. I must say that other than than what has been department of Justice policy. I think that the Andy has a point bread Samuels in that the issue of what is or is not constitutional is up to the supreme court. It may be a view of the Justice department. The constitution requires a process other than criminal Justice to formally accuse sitting president of wrongdoing. But again, clearly if Mr. Ballard have felt distressingly enough about it. He could have since he obviously is not there at the Justice department for his career. That is to say did his job as special counsel and he's gone. Now, he just say policy be damned proceeded and let the supreme court sorted out that would have been an option. I would think yeah. I think we've seen some arguments made from people who. Have liked to seen him bring charges, you know, essentially point out that issue hasn't really been decided by the courts, you know, there hasn't been a case that has gone to the top over whether a sitting president can actually be charged. So I think there are some people who think, you know, these point that he should, you know, if he felt that the president, we're guilty in this matter. He should've brought charges and allowed that to play out in the courts from there. But then some people would have liked to see and do that. But obviously, he, he chose centrally follow the DOJ guideline. And that is his reasoning. One eight six six five O JIMBO, we have Vanessa who calls in from Vernon Connecticut. Hello vanessa. Hi, I'm worried about this situation. I remember when Obama classified the elections as critical infrastructure putting them under the potential control of the and control. I mean, it wasn't as though they were going to determine who won. I mean we. Let me explain. Could I finish? My statement. Yes, what happened is today, fuller is chess player, the noblest play chess. And this is another in which they cleared that our elections are under the attack by countries and the government will take them over the last election was conducted by the military Joseph Francis done for chairman of the joint. I have no idea. What you're talking about in terms of elections conducted by the military, but for Pete's sakes. Come on. That's not even worthy of comment. The elections in this country are not being run by the military or anything else, and the notion that our elections are critical infrastructure. They are and should there be additional protections to safeguard them. Yes, there certainly should be that doesn't mean anybody's being put in charge of anything in some kind of, of vast conspiracy."
KTAR 92.3FM
