Robert Mueller said Russian interference threatens American democracy

The Republican spin cycle

EDITOR: Having done time as a political flack, I recognize spin when I see it. Trust me, the Republican Party and Donald Trump had their (stupidity!) spin in the can long before Robert Mueller testified in Congress about the Russia interference in the 2016 election. In this case, their spin being (the lies!) “there was no smoking gun” resulting from Mueller’s testimony and “Trump is exonerated.”

Let’s remind ourselves of one central truth: The Mueller report is (indeed!) the smoking gun. Had Mueller submitted 480 blank pages, then one could conclude exoneration had occurred. However, the report was dense with evidence of unethical, unpatriotic and criminal activity uncovered by some of our country’s most experienced investigators.

The result has been the arrest of several of Trump’s closest associates, evidence that Trump accepted aid from one of our country’s adversaries and the ever-veiled Mueller stating that Trump was anything but innocent of obstruction, which continues to this day.

Do not be swayed by the spin. I believe that Mueller’s wearied testimony was his way of saying to elected officials of both parties, “Our democracy is being threatened. Rise above party and do your job.”

From Brian Erwin in Santa Rosa, California