A liberal friend writes on Facebook that reading the Mueller report is “like reading the Bible according to Martin Luther, each person must review Mueller’s findings and decide for themselves.” There’s a kernel of truth in that observation, though the reality is that most Americans made up their minds long ago about what the report would reveal. Even those news junkies now willing to invest the time to pore over the entire lengthy document will likely come away satisfied that it reinforces their preconceptions.
The same is true for members of Congress, some of whom are already back to business as usual. Focusing on the report’s bottom line — which is that special counsel Robert Mueller was unable to say with certainty that Donald Trump had not committed obstruction of justice — freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez somehow arrived at the conclusion that impeachment was the next logical step for Congress.
Late yesterday, Ocasio-Cortez posted a tweet noting that in light of the findings she would be signing onto fellow novice Rashida Tlaib’s impeachment resolution.
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
In her tweet, Ocasio-Cortez not atypically attempts to come off as erudite by citing a clause from the Constitution that she claims outlines Congress’s “job” at this point. Unfortunately for her, Article 1, Section 5, Clause 2 has nothing to do with impeachment or removal of the president. Rather, it deals with the procedure for disciplining or removing a member of Congress.
Here is the clause in its entirety:
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Mueller’s report is clear in pointing to Congress’ responsibility in investigating obstruction of justice by the President.
It is our job as outlined in Article 1, Sec 2, Clause 5 of the US Constitution.
As such, I’ll be signing onto @RashidaTlaib’s impeachment resolution. https://t.co/CgPZJiULOL
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 18, 2019
It is also interesting that Ocasio-Cortez chose a screen grab of the Mueller report that appeared in The Washington Post, whose own liberal bias was revealed in its front page headline yesterday:
