The Mueller Investigation Ends

Robert Mueller, the Special Counsel appointed to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, finished his probe last week and submitted the final report to the Attorney General, William Barr. Attorney General Barr submitted a brief summation to Congress. Members of Congress have demanded the entire report be made public. President Donald Trump has declared complete vindication.

Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.

Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for The Mueller Investigation Ends

Links

“McConnell blocks resolution calling for release of Mueller report for second time”
https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/436006-mcconnell-blocks-resolution-calling-for-release-of-mueller-report

“Nadler says Barr won’t commit to releasing full Mueller report”
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/27/politics/jerry-nadler-barr-mueller-report/index.html

“Trump vows to release FISA docs now that Mueller report is concluded, slams ‘treasonous’ FBI”
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-vows-to-release-fisa-docs-now-that-mueller-probe-is-concluded-slams-treasonous-fbi

“House Intel Republicans call on Schiff to resign as chairman after Mueller report”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-intel-republicans-call-schiff-resign-chairman-after-mueller-report-n988356

“Trump bashes ‘Morning Joe,’ cable networks for ratings dip after Mueller conclusion”
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/28/trump-cable-networks-ratings-mueller-1241551

“Why Trump’s “no collusion” victory lap is premature”
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/27/18284306/trump-no-collusion-mueller-report-bill-barr-russia-intelligence-operations

“‘There was smoke’: Comey says Mueller report probe had to happen, results reaffirm FBI isn’t a ‘nest of vipers’”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/27/james-comey-mueller-report-fbi-trump/3294211002/

“Five reasons why the public may never see the full Mueller report”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/five-reasons-why-the-public-may-never-see-the-full-mueller-report

“Without Mueller-report smoking gun, Democrats may have ensured Trump’s re-election”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/03/27/democrats-defenses-fail-mueller-dud-report-trump-collusion-russia-column/3276852002/

“Bloodthirsty Democrats lose after Mueller report findings. Trump and the US win”
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2019/03/25/mueller-report-democrats-lose-trump-and-country-win/3265678002/

Assessment

• Writing: Why do many members of Congress want the Mueller report to be made public?
• Debate: The public has a right to know the entire contents of the Mueller report.
• Poll: Do you believe the Attorney General was correct to send Congress only a short summation of the Mueller report rather than the entire report?
• Short Answer: Why do some believe members of the media and congressional Democrats rushed to judgment on the Mueller investigation?

Current events quiz:

1) Who is our current Attorney General?

a. William Barr
b. Jeff Sessions
c. Eric Holder
d. Loretta Lynch

2) President Trump has declared the Mueller investigation’s final report ______.

a. includes serious accusations of wrongdoing
b. should not be made public
c. exonerates him of wrongdoing
d. was an appropriate use of time and tax dollars

3) Who is the senator responsible for blocking the resolution calling for the release of the full Mueller report?

a. Rand Paul
b. Cory Booker
c. Chuck Grassley
d. Mitch McConnell

4) The full Mueller report was released when the investigation ended, just not to Congress. (T/F)

5) Since the Mueller report contains no new calls for indictments, it is correct to conclude that Trump did not do anything wrong or anything suspicious with Russia during his 2016 campaign. (T/F)

6) Many people believe that the contents of the Mueller report, and the lack of blame it brings onto President Trump, will help Trump’s 2020 re-election bid. (T/F)

Answers:

1) A

2) C

3) D

4) False

5) False

6) True

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