Partisan Mueller - indeed -
https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/445983-dershowitz-shame-on-robert-mueller-for-exceeding-his-role#.XO7RNRd2GnU.twitter
As is typical of the source, the piece is both interesting and wrongheaded.
- Interesting that Dershowitz admits that Mueller's statement was nearly as good as a declaration of guilt. That's something that the WH would strenuously argue against, I think, judging from their statements post-Mueller's announcement.
- Interesting because I did not hear many in Conservative circles criticize Comey's presser after his conclusion on Hillary. Maybe Dershowitz did back then, I don't know. But he isn't the only one all upset now that Mueller has done something
similar. - Wrongheaded that Dershowitz says, several times, that Mueller's statement went beyond the report. The sentence in question was more or less identical to one that appears in the report. Moreover, even Barr's letter quoted that the report was not an exoneration of Trump. Not an exoneration...we will not say he is not guilty...those are absolutely the same thing.
- Wrongheaded that Dershowitz seems to think that coming to a conclusion is not in Mueller's scope, and is somehow "partisan." I was under the impression that people were expecting conclusions before the report came out. I am also supposed to believe that Barr is frustrated that Mueller did not do so on Obstruction. Certainly, Trump feels that Mueller came to a conclusion when he incorrectly trumpets "No Collusion!" You can't celebrate when you think Mueller concludes one thing, that call him "partisan" when he calls out your mischaracterization of his work.
Dershowitz is correct that Mueller can not declare the President guilty outright. The reasons he lays out for his not being able to do so
are repeated in the report! But if he is right that Mueller's statement yesterday was meant to be an impeachment referral, then shouldn't the fact that the Special Council who investigated the "President" for two years thinks Congress should open impeachment proceedings take precedent over petty calls of partisanship?
Mueller was hired to present a finding on Trump's lawlessness. One can only interpret the accusation that Mueller is "partisan" for doing so is that certain people don't like those findings.