Case not closed, until the Pelosi lady sings
“This investigation went on for two years. It’s finally over…The special counsel’s finding is clear: case closed. CASE CLOSED!”
— Sen. Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, May 7th, 2019 – Floor of the U.S. Senate
Mitch McConnell couldn’t have been more direct.
To him, it’s time to move on from the Mueller investigation.
Whom was he kidding?
The day after he declared an end to all-things Mueller, a key member of his own party, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), essentially said, “Not so fast.”
Burr, the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had subpoenaed Donald Trump, Jr., to have him testify in front of his committee.
Despite Trump, Jr. voluntarily testified before two Senate committees in the past, he (according to the Washington Post) claimed 54 times that he “didn’t recall” certain details.
A third bite at the Senate apple could help cure him of his absentmindedness.
That move doesn’t sit well with Mitch McConnell.
Nor, with the leading Democrat in Congress – Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
She’s not having any of that “case closed,” business.
“Just as a matter of observation, that’s just not a fact, the case is not closed,” Pelosi said shortly after McConnell declared it closed.
McConnell should’ve known better.
He was a freshman senator back in 1985 when the Iran-Contra investigation took place.
That investigation lasted 2,420 days. By comparison, the Russia investigation started on May 17th, 2017. That’s only 726 days ago.
In fact, McConnell was a veteran member of the Senate when, in January of 1994, when an independent counsel began looking into Bill Clinton’s involvement with Whitewater Development Corporation. That investigation didn’t end for another 1,693 days.
So, McConnell is merely engaging in some high-and-mighty wishful thinking by trying to proclaim it’s time to allow the Mueller Report to drift into the annals of history.
That’s simply not going to happen.
Right now, there are still several ongoing investigations into Trump and his various entities.
There are fights over who will, or who won’t testify before Congressional committees.
There was that damning report last week in the New York Times involving Trump’s alleged financial shortcomings, while at the same time (from 1985-1994), he had become the self-professed Artisan of the Deal.
There’s also that continuing fight to get a hold of Trump’s more recent tax filings.
And the question in the back of many people’s mind is, “What’s he got to hide?”
McConnell is certainly not alone in wanting to clear Trump.
That’s understandable.
What’s not so understandable, is how some Republicans – those who’ve prided themselves so much on being objective arbiters of the truth – are now falling under the spell of Donald Trump.
Sen. Lindsey Graham used to frequently attack Trump.
Back in February of 2016, for instance, he fired off one in a series of nasty tweets at his former, fellow presidential opponent.
“Donald Trump is not a conservative Republican. He’s an opportunist. He’s not fit to be President of the United States,” Graham wrote.
He became even more agitated with Trump after Trump kept attacking his good friend in the Senate, John McCain.
But nowadays Graham is one of Trump’s staunchest defenders.
It all started back in October of 2017 after Graham and Trump played a round of golf together.
“Really enjoyed a round of golf with President @realDonaldTrump today. President Trump shot a 73 in windy and wet conditions!” he tweeted on October 9th.
Since then, and even after Trump only gave a tepid response to his close friend (McCain’s) death, Graham has been one of Trump’s go-to members of Congress. So, if there ever was a time for him to signal an end to the Mueller affair, he took the time to do it as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I appreciate very much what Mr. Mueller did for the country. I have read most of the report. For me, (long, dramatic pause) it is over,” he announced at a hearing.
No, Lindsey. You should ask Nancy Pelosi first.
And she’s just not ready for that — yet!
Edward A. Owens is a multi-Emmy Award winner, former reporter, and anchor for Entertainment Tonight and 20-year TV news veteran. E-mail him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net.
Edward A. Owens is a multi-Emmy Award winner, former reporter, and anchor for Entertainment Tonight and 20-year TV news veteran. E-mail him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net.