Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election was officially released to the public Thursday. Reactions from Minnesota’s congressional delegation were predictably divided.
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) said she was “deeply distributed” as she reviewed the report, claiming it has “proved Russian interference in the 2016 election.”
“Second, there is ample evidence of attempts by the president to obstruct the investigation and the special counsel left it to Congress to decide whether that amounts to a crime. And the report demonstrates that the lies Trump associated told materially affected the course of the investigation,” Smith wrote in a statement posted to Facebook.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) agreed and pointed out that the report states that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 election “in a sweeping and systematic fashion.”
“So despite the endless doubts cast by the president, this happened. Case made for my bill for backup paper ballots and post-election audits,” Klobuchar wrote on Twitter.
First Page of Mueller report says that Russian government interfered in 2016 presidential election “in sweeping and systematic fashion.” So despite the endless doubts cast by the President, this happened. Case made for my bill for backup paper ballots and post-election audits. pic.twitter.com/YziOqA9FvF
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 18, 2019
She then posted a video to Twitter in which she states that she wants to hear directly from Mueller on the report.
“This is a very important report for our national security. It’s very important for the future of our democracy,” she said, and criticized Attorney General William Barr for being “so political about this.”
“Director Mueller should come to testify before the Judiciary Committee that I sit on. He should be able to give us his own views of what happened here so we can answer questions,” Klobuchar continued.
We want to hear from Director Mueller himself. pic.twitter.com/O1DYnsAKlm
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 18, 2019
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN-03) claimed that “the Mueller report confirms” that “Russia interfered with our 2016 election.”
“The president must acknowledge this truth and work with Congress to ensure such meddling never happens again,” Phillips said in a press release. “I’m also troubled by the pattern of lies, deceit, and efforts to undermine the investigation exposed by the report. We should demand and expect a higher standard of behavior and ethics from our elected officials, particularly the president of the United States.”
While Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) said “Americans should be relieved that the president of the United States was not found to have colluded with Russia to commit treason,” she believes that the resources spent on the investigation speak “volumes about Mr. Trump’s character.”
“Russia’s success influencing the 2016 election will undoubtedly result in a repeat effort to influence our electoral process in 2020 with the same intent—electing Mr. Trump,” she said in a statement. “The president’s chronic proclivity to lie, as well as attack and undermine the integrity of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, makes our nation exceedingly vulnerable to on-going Russian election interference.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) responded to the report with a number of tweets, and agreed that Mueller should testify before Congress.
“This whole process has taken place behind closed doors. That’s not right. Mueller should testify before Congress and the American people deserve to see the full, unredacted Mueller report,” Omar said, and later retweeted an article that calls the Mueller report “a road map for impeachment.”
This whole process has taken place behind closed doors. That’s not right. Mueller should testify before Congress and the American people deserve to see the full, unredacted #MuellerReport. https://t.co/L60SEQ7ca4
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 18, 2019
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02) said in a tweet that she’s reviewing the report, but believes Congress should “be provided with the full unredacted report to fully understand how we prevent future foreign interference in a U.S. election.”
I’m reviewing the report that was released today but believe that Congress should be provided with the full unredacted report to fully understand how we prevent future foreign interference in a U.S. election.
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) April 18, 2019
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman and Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN-06) said it’s “time for the emotional, socialist Democrats to knock it off with their childish temper tantrums, accept reality and get back to work.”
NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer statement on the #MuellerReport: “It is time for the emotional, socialist Democrats to knock if off with their childish temper tantrums, accept reality and get back to work.”
— Bridget Bowman (@bridgetbhc) April 18, 2019
“Attorney General Barr confirmed there was no collusion. This investigation, that cost taxpayers more than $25 million, was clearly politically motivated,” Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-01) said. “Democrats must finally turn a page away from this distraction and work with Republicans for the good of the American people.”
Statement on #MuellerReportFindsNoCollusion pic.twitter.com/on44NNShWg
— Congressman Jim Hagedorn (@RepHagedorn) April 18, 2019
Mueller’s full report is available on the U.S. Department of Justice’s website, and can be read here.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ilhan Omar” by Ilhan Omar.
