For the past 18 months, Democrats have waited for Mueller Time to arrive. One may say with high expectations. It finally did.
Robert Mueller, Special Investigator into Russian meddling in the 2016 Presidential Election spoke with two House Committees (the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees) this week.
Following Mueller’s appearance few, if any, Democrats headed to the bar to celebrate with the champagne of bottled beer in hand as they rejoiced over the prospects of impeaching the 45th President.
While most Americans longed to hear from Mueller in person, his presentation left the House of Representatives and the American people in a quandary.
To support impeachment or not to support impeachment, which is precisely the question before Mueller’s testimony, and it remains the question following his seven hours on Capitol Hill.
Mueller stayed true to the words delivered at a March news conference before his retirement as Special Investigator in the Russian Meddling Affair. He consistently referred members of Congress back to the black letter of the Mueller Report, considered the gospel on all things Russian collusion. Mueller only deviated to defend the integrity of the men and women who worked on his team.
Now that Mueller Time has come and gone, what’s next?
Congress must act and act decisively based upon the information contained in the Mueller Report. If Mueller’s body language said anything, it was, “Why am I, the investigator, here, when you have all the information in your hands to make a decision?”
What should American’s think about the behavior of their President?
Neither Mueller’s report or his testimony before Congress spoke well of the ethical and moral character of the President. Mueller’s Report puts forth a criminal case of obstruction of justice against Trump based upon his attempts to shut-down Mueller’s investigation.
Should Congress drop the issue and move on?
The Democrats in the House are damned if they impeach. And they are damned if they do not accuse Trump of crimes and misdemeanors sufficient to refer him to the Senate for possible removal from office.
Democrats fear they will fire up the alt-right section of the Republican Party if they impeach. While failing to realize that by not impeaching Trump, they risk not waking up the far left portion of their base. A base if energized could change the political dynamics in American politics moving into the “roaring ‘20.”
Democrats, now that you have Mueller’s testimony, what are you going to do, Mildew or barbeque?
Harold Michael Harvey is an American novelist and essayist. Harvey is a Past President of the Gate City Bar Association. He is the recipient of Gate City’s R. E. Thomas Civil Rights Award, which he received because of his pro bono representation of students arrested during Freaknik celebrations in the mid to late 1990s. He is a Contributor at The Hill, SCLC National Magazine, Southern Changes Magazine, Medium, and Black College Nines. Contact him at hmharvey@haroldmichaelharvey.com.