July 24, 2019

Mueller Says Trump’s Witch Hunt Allegations Are False

“It is not a witch hunt.”

Olivier Douliery/CNP/ZUMA

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President Donald Trump has a favorite phrase to describe former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into his 2016 campaign’s contacts with Russia: “Witch hunt.” On Wednesday morning, for example, Trump called it “The Greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history, by far.”

Mueller, it turns out, strongly disagrees. Near the beginning of Wednesday’s House Intelligence Committee hearing, Chairman Adam Schiff’s (D- Calif.) asked Mueller a series of rapid-fire questions about all the people close to Trump who were ultimately convicted of lying to authorities as part of the scandal—Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, George Papadopoulos, Rick Gates, Michael Cohen.

Schiff then added, “And when Donald Trump called your investigation a witch hunt, that was also false, was it not?”

Mueller responded, “Like to think so, yes.”

“Well your investigation is not a witch hunt, is it?” asked Schiff.

“It is not a witch hunt,” said Mueller.

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“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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