Archibald Cox and Robert Mueller
FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | MAY 31, 2019
“It is essential to educate the public now on the report’s key findings so that the American people understand Trump’s serial wrongdoing, including his numerous efforts to obstruct justice, as documented in the Mueller report.”
Archibald Cox and Robert Mueller have important similarities.
As Common Cause President, I worked side by side with Archibald Cox for 12 years when he served as Common Cause Chairman. It was a unique experience.
Cox and Mueller were both public servants in the very best sense of the words. They were both men of superb skill, impeccable reputation and character, and unquestionable integrity. They were both called to serve their country at moments of great historical significance, Cox as Watergate Special Prosecutor and Mueller as Special Counsel for the Russia investigation. They both rose to the occasion to defend our country.
When Watergate Prosecutor Cox was fired as Watergate Special Prosecutor for refusing to drop his lawsuit to obtain tapes of President Nixon’s conversations, it was an inflection point for the country that ultimately resulted in the end of the Nixon presidency.
With Special Counsel Mueller’s first public comments on Wednesday about the findings of his investigation, this week may turn out to be another inflection point.
Mueller stressed that Russia systematically attacked the core of our democracy, our elections, to help President Trump and harm Hillary Clinton.
Mueller made clear once again that if he had concluded that Trump had not obstructed justice, he would have said so.
He made clear, contrary to what AG Barr claimed, that the reason he did not indict Trump for obstruction of justice was Justice Department policy that an incumbent President cannot be indicted.
And he made clear that Trump is wrong every time he claims the report found no collusion, no obstruction.
It is incumbent on the House Judiciary Committee to immediately begin full scale, televised hearings about the evidence in the Mueller report. There are plenty of witnesses the Committee can call to bring to life the details in the report.
It is essential to educate the public now on the report’s key findings so that the American people understand Trump’s serial wrongdoing, including his numerous efforts to obstruct justice, as documented in the Mueller report.
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Fred Wertheimer is the Founder and President of Democracy 21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to strengthen our democracy and ensure the integrity and fairness of government decisions and elections. See previous Notes from Fred here.
