Yeomans: Is Comey Flap Giving Congress Cover?

Washington, D.C., April 19, 2018 – In the latest edition of Yeomans Work, AFJ Goldfarb Fellow for Justice Bill Yeomans writes that James Comey’s book tour is in full swing, enraging pro-Trump forces that are eager to discredit the Russia investigation being conducted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.  Yeomans writes: “Comey’s appearances have combined with the search of Michael Cohen’s world to send Trump into a frenzy of furious, vicious, and false tweets.  The Fox News propaganda machine has gone into overdrive.  Sean (the third client) Hannity has gone so far as to depict Mueller as the head of a crime family.”

The result, he argues, is that Republicans in Congress are being spared from having to speak out. And there’s more, says Yeomans, who notes: 

“In addition, Republicans in Congress may take comfort in the opening of the Cohen investigation by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  That investigation, though likely based on information referred by Mueller, is independent of the Mueller investigation.  If Trump fired Mueller or Rosenstein, the New York investigation would continue.  While that investigation is focused in the immediate term on Michael Cohen, it can easily expand to cover nearly everything Mueller is investigating.  Reluctant Republicans, therefore, can express their dismay at Mueller’s firing, but rationalize that no action is necessary because we have avoided a constitutional crisis by transferring protection of the rule of law to the Southern District of New York.  Between the existence of the New York investigation and the efforts of the right-wing propaganda machine to delegitimize Mueller in the eyes of the public, a shameless majority of Congress may have the excuses it needs to sit on its hands.”

Yeomans Work focuses on the challenges to the justice system in the era of Trump. Bill Yeomans is available for media interviews. Contact Laurie Kinney, Communications Director, at laurie@afj.org or 202-464-7367.