Here is the most important point: “The Special Counsel’s investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election.” Well, we guess that means exactly what it said, and that if after an investigation that lasted 22 months, employed 19 lawyers, assisted by 40 FBI agents, intelligence analysts, forensic accountants and other professional staff; that issued over 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, obtained more than 230 orders for communication records, issued almost 50 orders authorizing use of pen registers; made 13 requests to foreign governments for evidence, and interviewed approximately 500 witness, couldn’t find any evidence of conspiracy or coordination with the Trump campaign and Russia that there was no conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. All of those Democrats, news media types, and Obama administration officials who declared that not only was there “collusion” but that they had seen evidence of it should be explaining why the Mueller team somehow managed to miss whatever it was that they saw. And most of those folks continue to believe, with a faith that truly is defined as the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Well, the Book of Hebrews wasn’t referring to the Mueller report, but that verse sure fits the tenacious way the Democrats et al continue to cling to their belief that “Trump bad” and therefore “Trump colluded.” They all hoped for it, and, bless their little old hearts, they continue to hope for it even after no evidence has been found after 22 months, 19 lawyers, 40 FBI agents, etc. etc., etc.
Mueller’s report “outlines the Russian effort to influence the election and documents crimes committed by persons associated with the Russian government in connection with those efforts.” But the “Special Counsel did not find that any US person or Trump campaign official or associate conspired or knowingly coordinated [in those] efforts. . .” As the anvil salesman said in The Music Man, it couldn’t be clearer if it was a buttonhook in the well water. A bit further on, the Barr summary repeats for emphasis for those who didn’t hear it the first time: “The Special Counsel did not find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in these efforts” [and here is the kicker] “despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign.” Gosh, that means that the presumed wicked, immoral, dishonest, self-serving and unscrupulous Donald Trump about whom we have heard so many bad things actually did the equivalent of saying, “Get thee hence” when the Russian satan came a-calling. His critics never saw that one coming, did they?
So, to underline the point – the “crime” that was at the basis of this whole sorry mess never took place and did not occur, happen or transpire. Which leads to the next conclusion summarized in the Barr report, which concerns Obstruction of Justice. After a “thorough factual investigation” into obstruction, the “Special Counsel did not draw a conclusion one way or the other as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction.” “Instead, the report sets out evidence on both sides of the question and leaves unresolved... whether the President’s actions and intent could be viewed as obstruction.” “While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.” Well, the bitter clingers who have been so thoroughly discredited by the finding on collusion are sure making the most of the finding on obstruction, but, the Barr report makes it clear that the Special Counsel left it to the Attorney General to determine whether [the President’s] conduct constitutes a crime. Now, let’s pause for a moment and imagine that we are talking about some poor illegal alien who has been accused of some offense. The accused makes no effort to clear himself and resists as much of the investigation as he can; despite that, he is found innocent. Now, would the DA charge him with “obstruction” for resisting an investigation of something he was innocent of? Not in a hundred years; yet, the fair-minded folks who continue to have faith the President must have done something wrong want to charge him with “obstruction” for failing to cooperate in his own persecution. In light of all this, “The Deputy Attorney General and [the Attorney General] have concluded that the evidence... is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.” We think that the President had the authority to fire or replace everyone who has been fired or replaced in this investigation, thus was acting well within his rights – and, more importantly – the investigation continued for 22 months, 19 lawyers, 40 FBI agents etc. etc. etc. despite the firing of FBI director James Comey. We also note that had she been elected, Hillary Clinton also would have fired James Comey. One of the President’s none-too-sharp accusers dismisses the Attorney General’s decision in this matter because he was “hand-picked” by the President – without noting that every other Attorney General in the history of the United States has been hand-picked by the president. But here is what the AG says in his report: The Special Counsel recognized that “the evidence does not establish that the President was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference” and “identifies no actions... that constitute obstructive conduct, had a nexus to a pending or contemplated proceeding, and were done with corrupt intent.”
One thing that the Mueller report and the Barr summary apparently don’t discuss is the “Steele Dossier,” the fake file that was paid for by the Clinton campaign or its associates, and was used as the basis for this whole rotten mess. If it had been true, the President’s campaign may have been guilty of “collusion.” But if he was not guilty, the evidence was not true, and any investigation based upon it was, arguably, illegal -- sort of like knowledge obtained from a warrantless search or a coerced confession or falsified evidence would be. The latter is apropos, because the Steele Dossier was falsified, and, might it be said that falsifying evidence is akin to obstructing justice?
What really jumps out about the furore that surrounded the baseless charges that the Trump campaign “colluded” with Russia to steal the election is that, as far as we know, no one in a position of authority who opposed Mr. Trump demonstrated even the slightest skepticism about any of the charges. They all bought them hook, line, and sinker and all of them accepted that the charges must be true. They then worked as hard as they could to prove them true or make them true, even though they weren’t true. They forgot fairness, the benefit of the doubt, and “innocent until proven guilty” for 22 months or more, and they made outrageous and inflammatory accusations about treason, criminal behavior and impeachment. As far as we are concerned, their credibility has vanished and, barring a full apology and an attitude of “go and sin no more,” none of them should ever be trusted again.