
It looks like the Russia probe might be wrapping up soon. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is expected to release his findings on the more important aspects of the investigation after the midterm elections.
While Mueller plans to make a report on some of the core factors of the investigation, his team is still pursuing other areas as well. But the timing of the expected release might indicate the nature of his results. If he had anything to show against Trump, it seems unlikely he would sit on it until after the midterms.
Robert MuellerMueller’s Report Expected
U.S. officials informed Bloomberg that the special counsel appears to have come to conclusions regarding two key components of the Russia investigation: If President Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence the results of the election, and whether or not he obstructed justice. While the findings will be released soon, it’s unclear how long it will take to reach the general public.
According to regulations placed on the investigation, the special counsel is only allowed to report to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who will decide which information to pass along to Congress and what will be released to the public.
What of the Timing? Appears to be blatant anti-Trumpism.
Appears to be blatant anti-Trumpism.
The fact that the report won’t be made before the November midterm elections is interesting. The Russiagate investigation has been fraught with evidence of bias against the president on the part of some FBI personnel involved in the probe. Indeed, the basis of the investigation itself appears to be blatant anti-Trumpism.
We can’t say with 100% certainty that Mueller is motivated by politics, but the fact that the special counsel is waiting until after the midterms to finish his report could indicate that there was no evidence of wrongdoing. If the probe uncovered compelling evidence that there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, he would likely have made sure it became public knowledge before the election. After all, releasing evidence of Trump’s guilt before the midterms could guarantee a blue wave, while reporting that no crimes occurred would bolster the Republican vote.
Of course, the timing is not a guarantee that the investigation failed to reveal any misdeeds. Department of Justice guidelines suggest that prosecutors should avoid taking any actions close to an election that could influence the result. It is possible that Mueller is just playing by the rules. And regardless of the special counsel’s findings, the investigation isn’t quite over – though it is expected to wind down around the end of the year.
The Probe Isn’t Over Yet
Key members of Trump’s campaign have entered into plea agreements with the special counsel and the Bureau. Michael Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI and has been cooperating with federal authorities. Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, also negotiated a plea agreement and is participating in interviews with law enforcement.
Paul ManafortThe type of information Manafort is sharing is not yet known. But it is possible that the former campaign manager could be answering questions related to whether they shifted the GOP’s stance on Ukraine as part of an agreement with the Kremlin. He may also be filling them in on the Trump Tower meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya.
It is possible that he may have provided the Bureau with information that could harm the president, but it seems more likely that Mueller is seeking his help to identify other individuals who may have committed crimes.
Leftist Will Attack Either Way
While the investigation might not have turned up a smoking gun, it is likely that when he releases the results, the left and their allies in the legacy media will still use the information to attack the president. For them, it is not about whether Trump engaged in any wrongdoing. It’s about whether they can use Mueller’s findings to further their agenda. Either way, it appears the United States will soon find out what happened during the 2016 election.