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:
Obama the Slave Driver: Workers at Presidential Library Unionizing as Wages Frozen, Time Off Cut, and Health Care Costs Rise
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin Reveals the Truth About Illegal Alien Shot by ICE in NYC, Points Finger at Mamdani and Hochul
DeSantis presses reluctant Floridians for swift evacuations as Hurricane Isaias strengthens
‘Trans girls need guns’: Terrorism inquiry puts supporter of leftist gun community behind bars
Texas think tank accuses Houston parent coalition of using ‘socialist’ tactics to push radical agenda
‘SNL’ writer’s missing sister case leads homicide detectives to Joshua Tree months after family’s murder claim
Culture clash laid bare as violent Somali gangs grip suburban communities: ‘These kids are different’
Letitia James stumped by debate question while GOP rival delivers ‘zinger for the ages’
No knockout blow: Strategists say Michigan Senate debate unlikely to shift race
Breaking: Trump Offers White House Press Secretary Job to Conservative Commentator and Former DHS Official Katie Zacharia
Watch: Walter Payton’s Son Gets Emotional as He Learns of Mike Ditka’s Death During Live Broadcast
Katie Zacharia offered role as White House Press Secretary
Marco Rubio announces sweeping financial sanctions against the International Criminal Court
Netanyahu leads outcry over ICC judge who declared genocide in Gaza being awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Denver, Boulder ignored ICE detainers for migrants with child abuse, assault arrests, House GOP report reveals
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.
