Rep. Justin Amash Explains the Mueller Report via Twitter Part Deux
Saturday, Republican Congressman Justin Amash made headlines by sending out a series of tweets discussing his finding in the Mueller Report and citing that there were impeachable offences.
Today he’s followed up with an equally important thread, going into specific details defending his position.
Snip(s)
People who say there were no underlying crimes and therefore the president could not have intended to illegally obstruct the investigation—and therefore cannot be impeached—are resting their argument on several falsehoods:
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
1. They say there were no underlying crimes.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
In fact, there were many crimes revealed by the investigation, some of which were charged, and some of which were not but are nonetheless described in Mueller’s report.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
2. They say obstruction of justice requires an underlying crime.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
In fact, obstruction of justice does not require the prosecution of an underlying crime, and there is a logical reason for that. Prosecutors might not charge a crime precisely *because* obstruction of justice denied them timely access to evidence that could lead to a prosecution.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
If an underlying crime were required, then prosecutors could charge obstruction of justice only if it were unsuccessful in completely obstructing the investigation. This would make no sense.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
3. They imply the president should be permitted to use any means to end what he claims to be a frivolous investigation, no matter how unreasonable his claim.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
In fact, the president could not have known whether every single person Mueller investigated did or did not commit any crimes.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
4. They imply “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” requires charges of a statutory crime or misdemeanor.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
In fact, “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” is not defined in the Constitution and does not require corresponding statutory charges. The context implies conduct that violates the public trust—and that view is echoed by the Framers of the Constitution and early American scholars.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 20, 2019
Bytes
Thank-you for taking the time to actually read the report and speaking out. It’s a shame the rest of GOP is to busy protecting a criminal rather than doing their duty as elected officials. I am ashamed of what the GOP has become and am glad I left it.
— GOP is protecting a corrupt lawless regime (@lefttheparty) May 20, 2019
You and me are way off on politics, but you are a true American hero for what you are doing here. Thank you for having the guts to defend this country!
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) May 20, 2019
You are the light among the darkness that has fallen over the Republicans in Congress. You are speaking the truth. Over 900 former DOJ prosecutors signed a letter making these same points. You are not alone. All that read the report know the truth. Thank you Sir!
— abbie (@abbiesligh) May 20, 2019
Reagan was my political hero. I voted GOP for 26 years until 2016. Rep., you are doing a great service to the party and the country. Behind you 100%!
— Atticus Finch (@Atticus59914029) May 20, 2019
Tell Congress to #ReadTheMuellerReport. It should be a condition of re-election. It is their most basic job, to preserve the rule of law and defend our democracy.
— SDBeachFan (@sd_beach) May 20, 2019
The sad thing here is that what Rep Amash is doing is called governing. It should not be exceptional that a report from the DOJ which is intended to communicate finding is reviewed by a member of the House and his staff. This really should be routine.
— Brian Gilmer (@bfg1963) May 20, 2019
Especially since ‘after the fact’ is actually still happening…
— Matt (@mattcsaki) May 20, 2019
I might just become a Republican behind this man’s tweets. Thank you for speaking truth to power and putting your political life on line.
— Paul Bryon Bellamy♔ (@iammyself01) May 20, 2019
You've got brass balls, Congressman Amash.
— Richard Metzger (@RichardMetzger) May 20, 2019
Respect.
Thoughts
As I type this story, the President is giving an impromptu press conference before boarding a helicopter en route to a campaign rally tonight. Once again he explained the details of the investigation, about it taking 2 years and the same old tired “18 Angry Democrats” lie and other silly talking points, ending with “all of that and there was no collusion”.
It’s amazing to me that the President of the United States has not yet read the single most important document of his life. One that very well might bring down his reign. It details everything he knows to be true.
If he actually read the report, it would be insane to continually lie about what it says in front of everyone else, who’s actually read it. Yet here we are. It’s an amazing display of a hyper inflated ego, and willful ignorance, never before seen on this level from a world leader.
Once again my hats off to Justin Amash for standing up for the truth and putting our country and the constitution before political party. Something you almost never see in DC anymore.
Oh this is my FAVORITE SONG!!!! pic.twitter.com/QvyfeeVJjF
— Bianca Delarosa Harris Warren Castro O'Rourke (@Bravewriting) May 20, 2019
