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We the People

A Constitutional Recap of the Mueller Report

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.61.1K Ratings

🗓️ 25 April 2019

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This episode sheds constitutional light on the Mueller report, focusing on the question of obstruction. We explore what Special Counsel Robert Mueller did and did not conclude about obstruction, explain the “corrupt intent” requirement for an obstruction charge, and grapple with the constitutional question as to whether the president can commit obstruction. Our guests also address the question: in the aftermath of the Mueller report, what should Congress do, and what are the lessons for future Attorneys General in similar situations? Mary McCord, senior litigator at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center, and Josh Blackman, associate professor of law at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, join host Jeffrey Rosen. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Transcript

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0:00.0

I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and welcome

0:07.9

to We The People, a weekly show of constitutional debate.

0:11.6

The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit charted by Congress

0:16.3

to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.

0:21.4

And on today's episode we shed needed constitutional light on the

0:26.5

Mueller report. We focus mainly on the question of obstruction of justice.

0:30.7

Does the special counsel's findings establish obstruction?

0:36.5

Can the president be guilty of obstruction and what are the statutory and constitutional and Friends of the We The People podcast.

0:53.0

Mary McCord is senior litigator at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection

0:57.6

and a visiting professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center.

1:01.0

She was acting assistant attorney general for national security at

1:04.2

the US Department of Justice from 2016 to 2017 and also worked at the US

1:09.9

Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Mary, thank you so much for joining.

1:14.4

Thank you.

1:14.7

It's great to be here.

1:16.0

And Josh Blackman is an associate professor of law

1:18.2

at the South Texas College of Law in Houston.

1:20.9

He is author of two critically acclaimed books on Obamacare and has twice testified before

1:26.4

the House Judiciary Committee on Executive Power and the Constitution.

1:29.8

He's an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, the founder and president of the Harlan

1:33.6

Institute and blogs at Josh Blackman.com. Josh it is great to have you back

1:38.1

on the show. It's great to be back, Jeff, thank you. Mary, let's dive in with the question of what the Mueller report says about obstruction of justice.

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