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New legislation unveiled Monday by Senator Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, and Republican Chuck Grassley would simplify the publication of a report detailing the findings of the special advocate, Robert Mueller, reversing the decision of the Attorney General decides what will happen once Mueller has completed his investigation.
The special advocate is currently instructed, in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Justice, to submit to the Attorney General a report detailing the decisions taken to prosecute or not prosecute during the investigation. The Attorney General has the discretion to decide to provide the report, in whole or in part, to the Congress and the public, or to refuse it in full. The new legislation would require the special council and the public to be informed of the report of the special council.
Legislators on both sides said they felt Mueller's findings should eventually be made public, and this bill could make it easier. The Department of Justice must do this without facing negative reactions from the White House or a fight for the privilege of the executive.
"Our legislation would ensure that every special council writes a full report with the findings and evidence – the American people," said Blumenthal in a statement. "A report is needed whenever a special council completes the investigation, is dismissed or resigns, guaranteeing that the results can not be sealed or censored selectively."
William Barr, President Donald Trump's candidate for the position of next Attorney General, stated that he wanted to make the Mueller report as widely public as possible, but also suggested that he comply with the Department of Justice regulations and may not be able to to make the full report public, asserting at the confirmation hearing that it "would provide as much insofar as it is compatible with the law, transparency."
The new legislation also defines parameters for the special council report. In addition to disclosing the prosecution decisions, he asks the special advocate to detail "the factual findings of the investigation, including the underlying evidence". A classified annex may also be included in the report sent to Congress and will not be made public.
Grassley having signed the bill, he already enjoys the imprimatur of the bipartisan support of a senior GOP senator – a pressure record for the transparency of the final report of the special council. But his fate will likely fall on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who last year blocked a bipartisan law approved by Grassley, which would have protected the special council from dismissal of the special advocate. 19659009] Trump seems consumed by Mueller's investigation as details appear "class =" media_image "src =" http://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/181122135648-07 -donald-trump-1122-large-169.jpg "
