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FBaggins

(26,760 posts)
15. Some errors there
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 10:01 AM
Mar 2019

First - "like other classified info" isn't what you appear to think that it is (i.e., it's usually a negotiation with the executive branch... not a power that Congress holds on its own). There could be classified information in there (like "sources and methods) and it would be redacted as well.

Second - Mueller can't disclose it to Congress. Congress would have to petition the court. I have a tough time believing that any court would do that given:
1) The prosecutor's conclusions from those materials are available in the report
2) The prosecutor himself can be called to testify
3) Congress has the power to conduct its own investigation
4) It's clear that they intend to make it public

Third - we aren't ASKING for it. The 420-0 vote a week or so ago made clear that they understand that some materials in the report could not legally be released - clearly referring to rule 6(e) materials and classified materials. What most in Congress are trying to say is that they won't put up with claims of executive privilege.

Nevilledog

(51,200 posts)
5. How do you know this?
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:05 AM
Mar 2019

Might be a summary of the grand jury proceedings. If he gets to parts that cannot be read he can say so and say why.

kentuck

(111,110 posts)
7. I think they can get a judge to approve disclosing Grand Jury information?
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:07 AM
Mar 2019

It has happened before, I have read.

FBaggins

(26,760 posts)
16. They can certainly ask
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 10:08 AM
Mar 2019

A few courts have interpreted one of the exceptions to Rule 6(e) to include congressional committees. Others have not.

However, the DOJ's standing policy is that it does not - so it's unlikely that they will be included in Barr's report or that Mueller will give a different answer when Barr asks (as hinted in his letter).

Congress would have to go to the courts. See above for why I wouldn't expect them to get it.

However - I don't see why we would need it. The report necessarily draws conclusions from that material and THAT will be clear enough... and there's ZERO chance that a court would approve a release to the public.

NewJeffCT

(56,829 posts)
4. DoJ policy
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:05 AM
Mar 2019

I believe, prevents him from directly talking about un-indicted persons in the investigation, so if Trump, Trump Jr or Kushner were targets and not indicted, Barr's decision to not to prosecute or recommend prosecution killed that.

Nevilledog

(51,200 posts)
6. DOJ policy shouldn't matter.
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:07 AM
Mar 2019

If he's under subpoena from the Congress that should override any "policy".

standingtall

(2,787 posts)
8. They should ask Mueller to testify immediately or subpoena if necessary
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:09 AM
Mar 2019

cannot wait for the full report, because republicans will most likely force Democrats to subpoena for that too. Which could take years.

kentuck

(111,110 posts)
9. I think they should call Mueller into secret session...
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:15 AM
Mar 2019

...and find out exactly what happened with the Barr-Rosenstein conclusions? Does he agree with them?

Or did they take the "independent" action of defining the Report on their own?

Also, did he think it was obstruction of justice when Mr Trump attempted to get Don McGahn to fire him?

And just how strongly did he think there was no "collusion" between Trump campaign and the Russians?

How bothered should America be that we still do not know what Trump and Putin discussed in Helsinki?

Why did Mr Trump lie about the Trump Tower in Moscow, which would have accrued him hundreds of millions of dollars, it was reported.

I think the House Intelligence or Senate Intelligence might be a good place to start getting answers?

kentuck

(111,110 posts)
12. Because there may be things he can say in private that he might not say in public?
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:24 AM
Mar 2019

Primarily, however they can get to the truth. In private or in public, it doesn't matter.

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
11. Because there's classified info. But they could ask him to give a declassified summary right there.
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:20 AM
Mar 2019
"What were the various topics of your report?"

"Declassified as far as it's allowed, how would you sum up the results of your investigation on this topic in less than a minute? On that topic? On that topic? On that topic?"

Nevilledog

(51,200 posts)
13. We have no idea how much or what might be classified.
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 09:24 AM
Mar 2019

Him being required to read the report would let us know..... Then we could make the necessary arguments to get that information out into the open.

As Schiff said yesterday, he's seen the evidence (sans report) and it supports collusion/conspiracy.

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