Harvard Law School Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz described Robert Mueller’s Wednesday statement — in which the former FBI director implied that President Donald Trump might have committed obstruction of justice — as a “political gift” for “radicals” among Democrats “seeking to institute impeachment proceedings” against the president.
Dershowitz wrote at the Hill:
[Robert Mueller] went beyond the conclusion of his report and gave a political gift to Democrats in Congress who are seeking to institute impeachment proceedings against President Trump. By implying that President Trump might have committed obstruction of justice, Mueller effectively invited Democrats to institute impeachment proceedings. Obstruction of justice is a “high crime and misdemeanor” which, under the Constitution, authorizes impeachment and removal of the president.
Dershowitz previously rejected descriptions of Mueller’s conduct as partisan. He also accepted assumptions of good faith on behalf of Mueller’s ostensible investigation of claims of “the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election” but has now changed his mind about the former Obama official’s impartiality:
Newsom claims Trump administration blocked his Davos speaking engagement
‘An Uphill Battle’ – ‘Ant Man,’ ‘Lost’ Actress Reveals Struggle with Traumatic Brain Injury
Fed’s Cook doubles down on her role after SCOTUS wraps
Mayor Frey shares highly produced video speaking on Latino radio station: ‘You’re brave and you’re tough’
Qatar and Turkey join ‘Board of Peace’ despite Israeli protest, highlighting Trump’s autocratic approach
Breaking: Trump Announces ‘Framework’ of a Greenland Deal Has Been Reached with NATO Chief
600,000 residents flee Ukraine’s capital over destruction of energy infrastructure: Kyiv mayor
Luigi Mangione case: If stalking and assault aren’t ‘crimes of violence,’ death penalty vanishes
Oklahoma man charged with threatening to kill ICE agents, MAGA Republicans online
Supreme Court worried letting Trump fire Lisa Cook jeopardizes Fed independence
‘Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken’ turns Davos into the Gavin Newsom show
Federal judge blocks lawmakers’ effort to force DOJ release of Epstein files
Kavanaugh warns Trump case could ‘shatter’ Federal Reserve independence in Supreme Court hearing
Watch: Scott Bessent Unleashes on Gavin Newsom at Davos, Gives Him a Painful New Nickname
CNN Panelist Issues Retraction and Apology After Going Too Far in On-Air Trump Attack
Until today, I have defended Mueller against the accusations that he is a partisan. I did not believe that he personally favored either the Democrats or the Republicans, or had a point of view on whether President Trump should be impeached. But I have now changed my mind. By putting his thumb, indeed his elbow, on the scale of justice in favor of impeachment based on obstruction of justice, Mueller has revealed his partisan bias. He also has distorted the critical role of a prosecutor in our justice system. [emphasis added]
Prosecutors are not in a position to determine anyone’s guilt or innocence, noted Dershowitz, recalling the presumption of innocence and reminding readers that determinations of guilt or innocence within America’s justice system require a “full adversarial trial with a zealous defense attorney, vigorous cross examination, exclusionary rules of evidence, and other due process safeguards.”
Dershowitz assessed:
No prosecutor should ever say or do anything for the purpose of helping one party or the other. I cannot imagine a plausible reason why Mueller went beyond his report and gratuitously suggested that President Trump might be guilty, except to help Democrats in Congress and to encourage impeachment talk and action. Shame on Mueller for abusing his position of trust and for allowing himself to be used for such partisan advantage.
Story cited here.
