Feinstein on Special Counsel Mueller Report

Washington—Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today reiterated her call for disclosure of Special Counsel Mueller’s report to Congress and the public.

The Department of Justice regulation 28 C.F.R. § 600.8(c) states the following: “At the conclusion of the Special Counsel’s work, he or she shall provide the Attorney General with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel.” Nothing in DOJ regulations or anywhere else prohibits Attorney General Barr from disclosing this report and the special counsel’s underlying investigative materials to Congress.

Feinstein released the following statement:

“Regulations governing Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation do not prohibit Attorney General Barr from disclosing Mueller’s final report and investigative materials to Congress, and I repeat my call for the attorney general to provide the report unedited once it has been provided to him.

“Congress has a clear interest in obtaining the special counsel’s full report, supporting materials and all the facts and evidence surrounding the numerous investigations into President Trump, his associates and his campaign. The special counsel’s investigation has focused on Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether any Americans were involved, an investigation that has already led to 37 indictments or guilty pleas, including six Trump advisors, and raises questions about the conduct of the president himself.

“These are matters of national significance with implications for the rule of law and stability of our democracy that cannot be hidden away.

“There is clear precedent for releasing the report. The Justice Department has provided investigative materials to Congress on numerous occasions over the past several years, including FBI interview summaries from the Hillary Clinton email investigation and FISA warrant applications for Carter Page. The attorney general cannot take the position that it will only produce material to Congress when requested by Republicans.

“A summary written by Attorney General Barr in place of the Mueller report will not be acceptable. This isn’t limited to a question of whether crimes have been committed. Congress must also determine if there was misconduct or abuse of power. In addition, Congress has a responsibility to examine whether existing laws are sufficient to deter and punish election interference. For that to happen, Attorney General Barr must release the full report and protect the ongoing investigations occurring in other jurisdictions.”

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