D21 President Fred Wertheimer: President Trump Corrupted the Durham Investigation Today

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President Trump Corrupted the Durham Investigation Today

Statement of Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer

President Trump today plainly corrupted the criminal investigation being led by U.S. Attorney John Durham into the origins of the 2016 Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

In an interview with Fox News today, Trump made the bizarre and outrageous claim that treason has been committed and called for Barr and Durham to hold accountable for the treason President Obama, Vice President Biden, former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Given this highly politicized claim made by Trump, there is now no way that Attorney General Barr and U.S. Attorney Durham can issue a report or bring indictments based on this criminal investigation before the November 3rd presidential election without destroying the Justice Department as an institution committed to the rule of law and to the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

Longstanding Justice Department policy prohibits the Department from taking any action in an election year that could influence or affect an election.

President Trump has made crystal clear that he plans to use whatever actions Barr and Durham take to attack his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, and to promote his re-election bid.

For Barr and Durham to issue a report or indictments before the election would violate Justice Department policy against taking actions in an election year that could affect or influence an election. Any such action by Barr or Durham would be improper and irresponsible.

In the face of Trump’s demands and attacks today, the oath of office taken by Attorney General Barr and by U.S. Attorney Durham demands that they suspend any public action arising from the investigation until after the election.

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