CNN's Chris Cuomo says Trump's 'victory lap' gave Democrats all the damning ammunition Mueller didn't


"Believe it because it's true: Russia did us dirty, and they will do it again, and this president and his people did things that were wrong and lied about what they did," CNN's Chris Cuomo said Wednesday night, following former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's six hours of House testimony. "So now what?" First, Republicans have to get serious about protecting U.S. elections from foreign interference — Trump rails against it, but "let him deal with protecting himself, that's what he does best," Cuomo said. "Second, what to do about all the wrongdoing by this president and those around him?"
Democrats could launch impeachment proceedings against Trump, as Mueller seemed to suggest doing. But "if Democrats don't want to go down that road, then get off the road and make this election about what we know and what voters want from their government and the Congress and their presidency," Cuomo said. "Mr. Mueller did not give them a tailwind today — he already said what he could say in the report," but "the president gave you all the ammunition you need today in his victory lap, of all ironies."
Cuomo played some clips from Trump's pugilistic post-hearings interactions with reporters, highlighting Trump's "flat-out lies" and his "self-serving contractions." However, he added, "the most powerful charge is that this president has made this entire situation all about staying in power, and to do that he has laid waste to any institution, priority, or person who stands in the way." If Democrats won't impeach, they need to "make their case to the American people" that they can do better than Trump, Cuomo said, and "that case can't begin soon enough." Watch below. 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.
-
The US-China trade war comes to Hollywood
Under the Radar China's retaliatory restrictions on foreign films will hurt the US film industry
By Genevieve Bates
-
Ione Skye's 6 favorite books about love and loss
Feature The actress recommends works by James Baldwin, Nora Ephron, and more
By The Week US
-
Book review: 'Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus' and 'When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines'
Feature The college dropout who ruled the magazine era and the mysteries surrounding Jesus Christ
By The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump pauses some tariffs but ramps up China tax
Speed Read The president suspended most 'reciprocal' tariffs for 90 days and raised his tariffs for China to 125%
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Ukraine nabs first Chinese troops in Russia war
Speed Read Ukraine claims to have f two Chinese men fighting for Russia
By Peter Weber, The Week US