Wasserman Schultz on Mueller Report

Washington, April 18, 2019
"Congress has a clear mandate from this report to determine whether the President obstructed justice. Congress should take up this responsibility immediately.”

(Sunrise, Fla.) – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) released the following statement on Special Counsel Mueller’s report:

“The release of the Special Counsel’s report today revealed a heavily-redacted document that details 400-plus pages of dark, deceptive Nixonian-like behavior by President Trump and his team. It also shows that the President was not fully cooperative in this investigation, despite the claims made by Attorney General William Barr. Trump refused to be interviewed directly, or answer any follow-up questions, and according to this report, his team destroyed evidence, and attempted to get Robert Mueller and others fired in order to stop this investigation.

This report also makes clear that the President and his team worked with the Russians – or willingly accepted Moscow’s help, which the President himself encouraged – all in order to allow a foreign enemy to influence our democracy. To cover that up, Trump has recklessly damaged our nation’s institutions. He has trashed law enforcement, challenged the rule of law and our judiciary, and even threatened the check of Constitutional and Congressional oversight – all just to hide his bedding down with Vladimir Putin.

In describing these well-documented facts, Attorney General Barr has not been an honest broker with the American public, especially on the issue of obstruction of justice. Clearly, Attorney General Barr is now acting as Trump’s personal lawyer. Given this conflict, Barr should resign. An Attorney General cannot pursue justice while simultaneously trying to shield the President from facing it. Congress has a clear mandate from this report to determine whether the President obstructed justice. Congress should take up this responsibility immediately.”