Why couldn't volume II have said "while the investigation identified numerous instances of attempts to impede or influence the investigation, the evidence was not sufficient to support criminal charges."
We can have any opinion on why that is, but the fact is that Mueller would not have been able to say there was sufficient evidence to charge Trump with a crime. He explicitly stated as such in the report, and was consistent in that messaging in the hearing.
Here is where my opinion comes in.
If Mueller did not find evidence sufficient to charge the president with Obstruction of Justice, he would have said so and would have made no reference to the OLC opinion at all because it would not have been necessary. He did not cite the OLC in volume I because it was not applicable to volume I due to the lack of sufficient evidence.
I am somewhat in agreement with your opinion albeit with a slightly different take.
I agree there was no evidence of collusion and he (they) had to state that.
I believe there was borderline evidence of obstruction but they lacked the balls to say so and hid behind the OLC. To say they, (paraphrased) "we took an approach that would not lead to a determination of obstruction" was ridiculous.
Assuming you will pore over all my posts and cite where I said there was no evidence of obstruction, I will save you the trouble and amend it to say there was insufficient evidence for the gutless staff and Mueller to include. Instead the offered a BS argument that the design the investigation so that they could not conclude a crime was committed because we can't charge him. That is nonsense.
So in the end, Did Trump collude? No
Did he obstruct? In the strict sense. Hard to say, and so the prosecute took a ame way out.
Did he cooperate or did he imped? both
Did Trump push back? yes
Did the prosecutor stay away from doing anything with that because he is the President? Yes
Is that a president that will cave the justice system? No
Should he have? yes.
Keep in mind that this investigation was highly politically charged. The precise origins are debatable but there is not doubt the investigation was influenced by the Steele report and Hilary Clinton. We now know the depth of the political leanings and Trump-hate by the actually staff that did the work.
We have a sitting prettiness accused of a crime by his political rivals. It is a crime that he knows he did not commit. We prop up a figurehead who is senile-approaching Republican as the head of the investigation which is then actually done by a staff of political rivals. The president is pissed off and pushes the limits of obstruction.
The prosecutor of course finds out he is innocent of the primary charge and punts on the obstruction charge. He gives a lame and illogical excuse for his actions that flies in the face of hundreds of years of legal precedent, and then a la Pontius Pilate, he throws the whole matter over to the Democratic controlled House.
Parsing this post should keep you busy. I am outta here for today. Heading up to the Tricky Triangle (Pocono Raceway) to watch the NASCAR race. Scored a comp package in the suites, pit passes, Q&A with the drivers, radio headsets, the whole enchilada. Trying to see if Busch can three-peat. For the record, I prefer Indy cars and that fan base better but couldn't pass up on this deal.
Have a great day!
