Former AG Mukasey on Barr Contempt Citation: 'The Point of This Is Not to Find Out Facts'
Former AG Mukasey on Barr Contempt Citation: 'The Point of This Is Not to Find Out Facts'
Democrats insist on seeing all of it. "If they want it all, then it would be unlawful to disclose it all," Mukasey said.
Why not release all of it to members of Congress if you have nothing to hide? Cuomo asked.
"Because it's about three things," Mukasey said. "National security matters, which you agree shouldn't be disclosed. Matters that can affect ongoing cases, which I assume you think shouldn't be disclosed. And grand jury material, which it is unlawful to disclose."
Cuomo argued, "You can go and petition a judge" for grand jury material.
"No, you can't," Mukasey corrected him. "You get a 6e order (for the release of grand jury material) only for law enforcement purposes. That's the limit," Mukasey said. "You can't do it to satisfy congressional curiosity."
Mukasey said grand jury material is not released as part of "oversight," as Democrats claim.
Mukasey also batted down the Democrats' argument that President Trump cannot assert executive privilege over the Mueller materials, as he just did. Democrats say Trump waived privilege by allowing White House officials to speak to Mueller's team.
"That's just flat-out wrong," Mukasey said, noting that Mueller is a member of the Executive Branch.
"Disclosure from one part of the executive to another part of the executive is not a waiver of the executive privilege," he said.
And finally, on the subject of FBI surveillance, which President Trump has railed against for two years, Mukasey said, "We have a lot of reasons to believe that something was done that shouldn't have been done."
Former AG Mukasey on Barr Contempt Citation: 'The Point of This Is Not to Find Out Facts'
Democrats insist on seeing all of it. "If they want it all, then it would be unlawful to disclose it all," Mukasey said.
Why not release all of it to members of Congress if you have nothing to hide? Cuomo asked.
"Because it's about three things," Mukasey said. "National security matters, which you agree shouldn't be disclosed. Matters that can affect ongoing cases, which I assume you think shouldn't be disclosed. And grand jury material, which it is unlawful to disclose."
Cuomo argued, "You can go and petition a judge" for grand jury material.
"No, you can't," Mukasey corrected him. "You get a 6e order (for the release of grand jury material) only for law enforcement purposes. That's the limit," Mukasey said. "You can't do it to satisfy congressional curiosity."
Mukasey said grand jury material is not released as part of "oversight," as Democrats claim.
Mukasey also batted down the Democrats' argument that President Trump cannot assert executive privilege over the Mueller materials, as he just did. Democrats say Trump waived privilege by allowing White House officials to speak to Mueller's team.
"That's just flat-out wrong," Mukasey said, noting that Mueller is a member of the Executive Branch.
"Disclosure from one part of the executive to another part of the executive is not a waiver of the executive privilege," he said.
And finally, on the subject of FBI surveillance, which President Trump has railed against for two years, Mukasey said, "We have a lot of reasons to believe that something was done that shouldn't have been done."
