Neal Katyal offers five good rules for reading the released report (whenever that will be):
1. Believe only the text of the Report, not others’ characterizations of it. This White House in particular spins “up” as “down” (like the Nunes documents).
2. Ask what the scope of the Report is. Is it just conspiracy with Russia? Does it include, for example, the campaign finance allegations, where federal SDNY prosecutors have said the President ordered the commission of felonies?
3. Examine whether the Report is limited to criminal acts. Some of the most egregious allegations against Trump, like lying to the American people about his business dealings with Russia before the 2016 election and saying he had no biz in Russia, are not necessarily criminal.
Others, like being beholden to the Kremlin out of self interest, may be. Has Mueller only resolved the latter? If not, expect Congress to be taking all of that up.
4. Ask whether Mueller has actually resolved anything. Has he said there are other avenues to investigate for matters within the scope of his Report, such as a sit-down interview with Trump? Again, Congress may investigate further — but also don’t forget about state prosecutors.
5. Ask yourself, if the American people knew in 2016 what Mueller’s Report says,even if the Report says Mueller won’t indict the President, Trump would have won the election. Does this President have the judgment&transparency appropriate to serve as the nation’s highest official?
Don’t focus on the one-line spin. Focus on the facts, judgments, and limitations in the Mueller Report. And ask yourself, if Trump had just been honest and forthcoming about all of this, we could have spared this long ordeal.
Neal Katyal on Twitter: "5 RULES FOR WHEN NEWS ABOUT MUELLER REPORT COMES OUT.
1. Believe only the text of the Report, not others’ characterizations of it. This WH in particular spins “up” as “down” (like the Nunes documents)."
