WHAT IS President Donald Trump so afraid of when it comes to the ongoing Russia probe? First, he fired former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey because the president had the Russia investigation in mind. And now, this: Trump is reportedly considering firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who was appointed by the deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein to head the investigation into the alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in interfering in the 2016 election.
This was confirmed by no less than Trump’s friend Chris Ruddy on a TV interview on PBS NewHour with anchor Judy Woodruff on Monday, June 13. This would coincide with the many news stories and opinions from Trump supporters discrediting Mueller despite their approval of his appointment by Rosenstein.
Mueller had earned the respect by both Democrats and Republicans during his 12-year leadership as FBI director, serving both the Bush and Obama presidencies from 2001-2013. He was highly esteemed for his integrity, fairness, diligence, and hard work in getting things done.
While legal analysts say Trump cannot do this as the law mandates that the special counsel can only be appointed and fired by the Office of the Attorney General and NOT by the president, this news just all the more highlights the nagging question as to why Trump has been demonizing the investigation. He has even called it a “witch hunt” and a tactic “used by the obstructionist Democrats who cannot accept and move on from the loss of Hillary Clinton”.
Trump has over and over again professed his innocence on allegations raised against him and his campaign but both the bipartisan Senate and House intelligence committees, the DOJ, FBI and other U.S. intelligence agencies have found reasons and basis to push the investigation forward because at the core of this probe is to protect the integrity of the democratic institutions that Russia has been trying (and succeeding) to meddle in.
The ongoing probe investigates if indeed the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians to help Trump win. If Trump is innocent as he claims he is, then he should be helping, or better yet, he should be pushing to get to the bottom of this grave assault on our democracy. This will also help him clear his name and will make him focus on governing without this cloud of doubt hovering over him.
He said in a news conference last Friday, June 9, that he would be cooperating 100 percent with the investigation and would be willing to give his testimony under oath to prove his innocence. Then, he should match his words with his actions.
Perhaps he should listen to Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said, “I think the best advice is to let Robert Mueller do his job…I think the best vindication for the President is to let this investigation to go on independently and thoroughly. That, to me, is the smartest thing to do, and that’s what I think hopefully will happen.”
* * *
Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
