Last updated on March 19th, 2019 at 05:03 am
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have introduced a bill that would make Robert Mueller‘s report available to both Congress and the public.
The Special Counsel Transparency Act requires Mueller to submit his report both to Congress and the public.
Sen. Blumenthal said, “The Special Counsel Transparency Act is about a simple, bipartisan principle: the public’s right to know. Our legislation would guarantee that every Special Counsel does a report complete with findings and evidence – and that it be directly disclosed to Congress and the American people. A report would be required whenever a Special Counsel finishes the investigation, is fired, or resigns; assuring that the results cannot be sealed or selectively censored. A Special Counsel is appointed only in very rare serious circumstances involving grave violations of public trust. The public has a right and need to know the facts of such betrayals of public trust. Our bipartisan bill makes it the default that the American people have access to the full story, putting in context any conclusions with findings and evidence.â€
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Sen. Grassley said, “Congress and the American people have a right to know how their government conducts business and spends tax dollars. Special counsel investigations are no different. I was encouraged to hear attorney general nominee William Barr place a high priority on transparency when asked at his confirmation hearing about Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation, and there’s no reason to think that Mueller won’t be allowed to finish his work. This bipartisan legislation ensures that Congress and the American people have oversight of and insight into activities and findings of special counsel investigations under any administration,†Grassley said.”
The Bill Requires Mueller To File A Report Even If Trump Fires Him
The Special Counsel Transparency Act makes it impossible for Trump to hide the Mueller report. The bill requires the special counsel to file a report to Congress within two weeks of his removal, transfer, or resignation.
The report must contain all of the factual findings and evidence that the investigation has acquired.
In other words, Trump can’t hide the report because the bill requires Mueller to file it with Congress within two weeks of the investigation‘s end, and he can’t get rid of the report by firing Mueller.
This legislation is designed to take the fate of the Mueller report out of Trump‘s hands.
It is a great bill that should have been passed at least a year ago. It is up to the American people to pressure Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on this vital legislation.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
