Ben Smith, Buzzfeed Editor Buzzfeed published an article claiming that the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller, had emails, letters, and recordings corroborating the allegation that Donald Trump had suborned perjured testimony. Everyone familiar with the article agreed, if true, then Trump would have to be impeached and removed from office. Subornation of perjury is a serious crime. Twelve hours after the Buzzfeed published its article, Mueller issued a statement disputing the accuracy of the article, the speed with which the allegation became notorious was surprising.
It seems that one reason for the popularity of the article was, if true, then some of the discord surrounding Trump could have been dissipated. The anticipation surrounding the Mueller Report may also be a way of reducing the disunity caused by Trump. Perhaps many of us hope it will be so unequivocal it will dispel any disagreement about what should happen to Trump. We may hope that we will be able to relax and let the politicians, all of whom agree, decide what to do with Trump.
Unfortunately, that will not happen. We will have to resolve what to do with Trump. And at least 35 percent of our fellow citizens will be adamantly opposed to what we think is justice. That is why we should not put too many of our hopes on Mueller. Mueller’s report will not convince all of us about what should do with Trump. We will have to press our representatives to deliver what we think is justice. Some of our representatives will want to defeat Trump at the polls and let him fade into obscurity. Others will want to let the justice system address any crimes that have not reached their limitation.
Most will probably not want to impeach him. They advise us that we cannot upset the wishes of the 35 percent. Our preferences have not outweighed the 1 percent; why should they outweigh the 35 percent? We will have to answer that question.
It seems that one reason for the popularity of the article was, if true, then some of the discord surrounding Trump could have been dissipated. The anticipation surrounding the Mueller Report may also be a way of reducing the disunity caused by Trump. Perhaps many of us hope it will be so unequivocal it will dispel any disagreement about what should happen to Trump. We may hope that we will be able to relax and let the politicians, all of whom agree, decide what to do with Trump.
Unfortunately, that will not happen. We will have to resolve what to do with Trump. And at least 35 percent of our fellow citizens will be adamantly opposed to what we think is justice. That is why we should not put too many of our hopes on Mueller. Mueller’s report will not convince all of us about what should do with Trump. We will have to press our representatives to deliver what we think is justice. Some of our representatives will want to defeat Trump at the polls and let him fade into obscurity. Others will want to let the justice system address any crimes that have not reached their limitation.
Most will probably not want to impeach him. They advise us that we cannot upset the wishes of the 35 percent. Our preferences have not outweighed the 1 percent; why should they outweigh the 35 percent? We will have to answer that question.
| https://www.justsecurity.org/62314/buzzfeed-trump-directed-cohen-lie-encourage-procure-suborn-perjury-false-statement/ | The New York Times - Jim Rutenberg: BuzzFeed News in Limbo Land https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/20/business/media/buzzfeed-trump-mueller-backlash.html  |