Candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 issued snap reactions to Attorney General William Barr’s letter summarizing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Barr’s four-page letter said the 22-month investigation did not find evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Barr also quotes Mueller saying “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him,” after which the attorney general said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein found there was a lack of “sufficient” evidence to determine whether Trump obstructed justice.
Unsatisfied with the four-page summary, the bevy of 2020 candidates demanded the report be made public, a sentiment backed by the House which voted 420-0 in favor of releasing Mueller’s report.
Sen. Kamala Harris, of California, pointed out the brevity of the letter and the fact that Trump picked Barr to be his attorney general.
“The Mueller report needs to be made public, the underlying investigative materials should be handed over to Congress, and Barr must testify. That is what transparency looks like. A short letter from Trump’s hand-picked Attorney General is not sufficient,” Harris wrote Sunday.
[Related: Pelosi, Schumer demand ‘urgent’ public release of Mueller’s full report and underlying documents]
The Mueller report needs to be made public, the underlying investigative materials should be handed over to Congress, and Barr must testify. That is what transparency looks like. A short letter from Trump’s hand-picked Attorney General is not sufficient.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 24, 2019
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey wrote: “The American public deserves the full report and findings from the Mueller investigation immediately—not just the in-house summary from a Trump Administration official.”
The American public deserves the full report and findings from the Mueller investigation immediately—not just the in-house summary from a Trump Administration official. https://t.co/8Lj0O881Cw
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 24, 2019
Julián Castro, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development also demanded the report be released, writing: “A politically appointed Attorney General shouldn’t decide how much of the Special Counsel report Congress can read. The full report should be released and Robert Mueller should testify to its findings.”
A politically appointed Attorney General shouldn’t decide how much of the Special Counsel report Congress can read. The full report should be released and Robert Mueller should testify to its findings. https://t.co/4rNtqD19ko
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) March 24, 2019
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York wrote: “The Mueller report must be made public. Not just a letter from someone appointed by Trump to protect himself—all of it. The President works for the people, and he is not above the law.”
The Mueller report must be made public. Not just a letter from someone appointed by Trump to protect himself—all of it. The President works for the people, and he is not above the law. https://t.co/XH5NqzLJAb
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) March 24, 2019
Sen. Bernie Sanders an independent from Vermont said he didn’t “want a summary of the Mueller report,” but rather “the whole damn report.”
I don’t want a summary of the Mueller report. I want the whole damn report. https://t.co/VU1oNfBMK0
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 24, 2019
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota wrote: “AG Barr’s summary 4-pg letter of Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation underscores that the ENTIRE report & documentation-including all information re Russia’s attempts to influence our election-need to be made public. The public deserves answers now-our democracy depends on it”
AG Barr’s summary 4-pg letter of Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation underscores that the ENTIRE report & documentation-including all information re Russia’s attempts to influence our election-need to be made public. The public deserves answers now-our democracy depends on it
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) March 24, 2019
Former Rep. John Delaney, D-Md., said: “The voice and will of the American people were influenced by a foreign adversary – the American people deserve to see the full report. Period.
“The fact that the AG Barr – the highest ranking law enforcement official in the country – stated that after a full investigation the President could not be exonerated from obstructing justice is chilling and demands that the full details of the Report be released,” he added.
The fact that the AG Barr – the highest ranking law enforcement official in the country – stated that after a full investigation the President could not be exonerated from obstructing justice is chilling and demands that the full details of the Report be released.
— John Delaney (@JohnDelaney) March 24, 2019
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, R-Texas, tweeted: “Release the full Mueller report to the American people and their representatives. There must be transparency and accountability.”
Release the full Mueller report to the American people and their representatives. There must be transparency and accountability.
— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) March 24, 2019
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wrote: “Congress voted 420-0 to release the full Mueller report. Not a “summary” from his handpicked Attorney General. AG Barr, make the full report public. Immediately.”
Congress voted 420-0 to release the full Mueller report. Not a “summary” from his handpicked Attorney General. AG Barr, make the full report public. Immediately.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) March 24, 2019
How much of Mueller’s report is released is at the discretion of Barr. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., vowed to bring Barr in to testify before Congress after the report was released.
Trump declared he was vindicated after Barr’s letter was sent to Congress.
“There was no collusion with Russia. There was no obstruction, and none whatsoever. It was a complete and total exoneration. It’s a shame that our country had to go through this,” Trump told reporters in Florida.
