The Russians Are Coming — Again
FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | JULY 25, 2019
“Trump and McConnell are playing Russian roulette with our democracy. Their destructive efforts must be overcome.”
Special Counsel Robert Mueller had made clear that he did not want to testify in Congress on his report.
Yesterday, the country saw why.
It was a combination of not wanting to get drawn into the divisive political battles in Congress and the difficulties of handling seven hours of testimony under intense conditions at his age.
Nevertheless, Mueller provided critically important messages for the country in his testimony.
Mueller made very clear that Trump is flat-out lying – without using the word – when Trump repeatedly claims that the Mueller report found no collusion, no obstruction, and provided total exoneration.
Mueller also made clear that Trump’s multiple examples of potential obstruction of justice were very serious transgressions.
Mueller was most animated when he addressed the need to protect our nation against future attacks by Russia and other countries on our elections and our democracy.
Mueller reaffirmed his report’s finding that Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election was “sweeping and systemic.” He warned the nation that Russia is intensifying its efforts and “doing it as we sit here” and that we must protect our future elections from invasions by Russia and other foreign adversaries.
The President, however, has taken no steps to prevent future interference in our elections by Russia or others and, in fact, Trump has indicated he would be open to taking future assistance from a foreign country.
The House has passed bills to strengthen security protection for future elections and similar bipartisan bills have been introduced in the Senate. But Senate Majority Leader McConnell is having none of it.
Acting in concert with Trump, McConnell has refused to schedule any of the pending bills to protect the integrity and security of our elections.
Trump and McConnell are playing Russian roulette with our democracy. Their destructive efforts must be overcome.
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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.
