Mueller report polarizes America
April 29, 2019
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has, for the past two years, taken on the responsibility of ensuring that the American public is made fully aware of activity of the Trump administration–beginning with the 2016 presidential election. From May 2017 until March 24, Mueller searched for evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, along with any other obstructions of justice that may have come to light. Two weeks ago, a summary of his report was released, in which Mueller wrote that although no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia had been discovered during the investigation, the President was not exonerated of all other obstructions of justice.
While the summary was concerning for many Americans, the President appeared to be in denial, saying “There was no obstruction [of justice] and none whatsoever. It was a complete and total exoneration,” according to The Guardian. Due to the fact that a grand jury was involved in the case, meaning that all information is sealed by the court, Attorney General William Barr did not initially release the full document to the public.
The publication of the full 448-page report on Thursday, April 18 marked a turning point in American history and in Trump’s presidency. Not only has the report led to 14 “spinoff inquiries,” according to The New York Times, but according to the Report the President was found to be involved in 10 potential obstructions of justice, including pressuring of ex-Attorney General Jeff Sessions against recusing himself from the investigation and Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 election.
Since the publication of the Mueller Report, the President has been at the epicenter of national frustration. His adult approval ratings dropped from 43 percent to 40 percent with the release of the summarized report on March 24, and again from 40 percent to 37 percent following the release of the report, his lowest numbers since the start of 2019, according to The Hill.
Additionally, congress has begun exploring the idea of impeachment. According to NBC News, Senator and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat, noted that Trump’s alleged actions are impeachable, and that he will not be ruling out the possibility as of now.