Rep. Ratcliffe: Mueller 'Violated Every Principle' By Offering Anti-Trump Legal Analysis

Nick Kangadis | July 24, 2019
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Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) attempted to make efficient use of his five minutes of time questioning former FBI Special Counsel Robert Mueller concerning the FBI investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Ratcliffe's line of questioning revolved around the assertion that Mueller and his staff's responsibility in conducting the investigation was not to determine the innocence or guilt of President Donald Trump, but simply to compile information and release the report.

Here's part of Ratcliffe's comments during his time:

The Special Counsel's job, nowhere does it say that you were to conclusively determine Donald Trump's innocence or that the Special Counsel report should determine not to exonerate him. It's not in any of the documents. It's not in your appointment order. It's not in the Special Counsel regulations. It's not in the OLC (Office of Legal Counsel) opinions. It's not in the Justice manual. And, it's not in the principles of federal prosecution. Nowhere do those words appear together, because - respectfully, respectfully Director - it was not the Special Counsel's job to conclusively determine Donald Trump's innocence or to exonerate him, because the bedrock principle of our justice system is a presumption of innocence. It exists for everyone. Everyone is entitled to it, including sitting presidents.

You can watch Ratcliffe's full time above.

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