Bill Weld in The Mueller Report
On Principles & Values:
500 prosecutors: we'd indict Trump based on Mueller evidence
We are former federal prosecutors. Each of us believes that the conduct of President Trump described in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report would, in the case of any other person not covered by the Office of Legal Counsel policy against indicting a
sitting President, result in multiple felony charges for obstruction of justice. The Mueller report describes several acts that satisfy all of the elements for an obstruction charge: conduct that obstructed or attempted to obstruct the truth-finding
process, as to which the evidence of corrupt intent and connection to pending proceedings is overwhelming. These include:- The President's efforts to fire Mueller and to falsify evidence about that effort;
The President's efforts to limit the scope of Mueller's investigation to exclude his conduct; and
The President's efforts to prevent witnesses from cooperating with investigators probing him and his campaign.
Source: Letter from 500 ex-prosecutors on Mueller Report
May 6, 2019
On Principles & Values:
500 prosecutors: Letting Trump go risks system of justice
[On] witness tampering and intimidation: The Special Counsel's report establishes that the President tried to influence the decisions of both Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort with regard to cooperating with investigators. Some of this tampering and
intimidation, including the dangling of pardons, was done in plain sight via tweets and public statements; other such behavior was done via private messages through private attorneys, such as Trump counsel Rudy Giuliani.
As former federal prosecutors, we recognize that prosecuting obstruction of justice cases is critical because unchecked obstruction?--?which allows intentional interference with criminal investigations to go unpunished?--?puts our whole system
of justice at risk. We believe strongly that, but for the OLC memo, the overwhelming weight of professional judgment would come down in favor of prosecution for the conduct outlined in the Mueller Report.
Source: Letter from 500 ex-prosecutors on Mueller Report
May 6, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Trump used power of Oval Office to protect himself
The relationship between a democratic government and its citizens is based on mutual trust and respect. How can a president function if he instinctively lies to not only the public but to his own staff? There is one essential truth that leaps from the
pages of the Mueller report: No one can trust Donald Trump.Following the release of the Mueller report, Trump claimed with his usual arrogance and ignorance that he has been vindicated. In truth, the Mueller report revealed that Trump is a one-man
crime wave.
Time and again, Trump tried to use the power of the Oval Office to protect himself and his associates from the consequences of their actions. The only defense Trump has to obstruction of justice is that he was too incompetent
to carry it off. Over the past two years, several Trump aides derailed his criminal conspiracies by distracting the president, or simply ignoring him. Trump's failure to stop Bob Mueller does not negate how hard he tried.
Source: Commentary on Mueller Report: "Time for Trump to Resign"
Apr 24, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Five Trump associates convicted; maybe 12 more redacted
The Mueller report lifted up the rock and left Trump's minions scurrying for cover. Already, five Trump associates have been convicted of serious crimes, including his former campaign manager, his longtime personal attorney, and his former national
security advisor. And we don't yet know the extent of criminality within the Trump campaign or the Trump White House because he Mueller report includes 12 criminal referrals that have been redacted to protect ongoing cases.
Trump pressured then-FBI Director James Comey to go easy on National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, hoping Comey could "see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go." When Comey refused to put
Trump and his inner circle above the law, Trump fired him. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.
Source: Commentary on Mueller Report: "Time for Trump to Resign"
Apr 24, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Mueller Report found ten instances of possible obstruction
Fortunately, Bob Mueller was able to do his job despite Trump's constant interference. For two years, Trump tried repeatedly to derail Mueller's investigation and repeatedly lied to the public about his own words and actions. He even dangled pardons for
witnesses who were telling Mueller exactly what Trump had been doing in the Oval Office. In total, the special counsel found ten instances of possible obstruction of justice.Whether this clear pattern of obstruction warrants impeachment is the
purview of the House of Representatives. But regardless of what they decide, the facts revealed in the Mueller report confirm that Trump is not to be trusted.
Just as concerning, the report reveals his tenuous grasp on government and the chaos within
his administration. No one in his administration trusts him, they feel free to ignore his orders, and they are as dishonest with him as he is with them. No government can function effectively this way. There is a crisis of trust in this presidency.
Source: Commentary on Mueller Report: "Time for Trump to Resign"
Apr 24, 2019
Page last updated: Mar 16, 2021