Watch legal analysts explain why the Trump obstruction of justice investigation is a big deal, won't lead to an indictment


On CNN Wednesday night, Anderson Cooper asked legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin about the Washington Post report that President Trump is personally under investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for obstruction of justice, wondering how big a deal that is. "Well, Anderson, it's a huge deal, and I don't hate to tell you that I told you so," Toobin said.
FBI Director James Comey's testimony combined with the reports that Trump tried to get other intelligence officials to stop Trump-related investigations clearly merits an obstruction investigation, Toobin said. "Doesn't mean that Trump is guilty, doesn't mean there's going to be an indictment, an impeachment, or anything like that, but there is clearly evidence that justifies an investigation, and this tremendous scoop by The Washington Post just makes clear that Mueller is doing his job."
Even if he finds concrete evidence that Trump obstructed justice, however, "Mueller's not necessarily going to put Mike Pence in office — that's not how this works," Jonathan Lemire, Associated Press White House correspondent, explained on MSNBC's The 11th Hour. The Justice Department "has said that they're loathe to indict a sitting president on any sort of criminal charges." What Mueller's team will do is conduct its criminal investigation and turn the evidence over to Congress, where it'll be "up to the House and the Senate to discuss impeachment and removal," Lemire said. Brian Williams said that's when things would get interesting, but suggesting things aren't already interesting seems a pretty big disservice to 2017. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Schumer: Democrats will help pass spending bill
Speed Read The Democrats end the threat of government shutdown
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pulls nomination of anti-vax CDC pick
Speed Read Former Florida congressmen Dr. Dave Weldon was nominated to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Judges tell Trump to rehire fired federal workers
Speed Read Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE team face a big setback in their efforts to shrink the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump trade war heats up as Canada, EU retaliate
Speed Read The president imposes 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in an effort to revive US manufacturing, though it may drive up prices for Americans instead
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump hawks Teslas, slashes more federal jobs
Speed Read The Education Department cut its workforce in half ahead of an expected Trump order to shutter the agency
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine agrees to ceasefire, ending US aid freeze
Speed Read Kyiv made peace with the Trump administration by agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in its war against Russian invaders
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
ICE arrests Palestinian advocate with green card
Speed Read Recent Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil has had his visa revoked, despite his status as a permanent resident
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump doesn't rule out recession as tariffs bite
Speed Read In an interview for Fox News, Trump acknowledges the economic turbulence caused by his tariffs but claims his policies will be worth it in the long run
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published