US Judge orders release of unredacted copy of Mueller report

A US district court judge, on October 25, validated the legality of the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump and ordered his administration to hand over the unredacted copy of Mueller report to House Judiciary Committee. Democrats wanted the unredacted version of the 448-page Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election. The original report, based on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, was submitted to Attorney General William Barr on March 22, 2019. The redacted version was later made public by the Department of Justice (DoJ) on April 18, 2019.

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Judge slashes Trump Administration's argument

District Judge Beryl Howell, in the 75-page ruling, was not convinced with the arguments of Trump’s administration for withholding the original version from Congress.

“The reality is that DOJ and the White House have been openly stonewalling the House’s efforts to get information by subpoena and by agreement, and the White House has flatly stated that the Administration will not cooperate with congressional requests for information,” wrote Howell.

The judge also observed that the House Judiciary Committee performs a function similar to a grand jury and it should have the necessary materials to investigate the conduct of President. “To the extent, the House’s role in the impeachment context is to investigate misconduct by the President and ascertain whether that conduct amounts to an impeachable offence warranting removal from office, the House performs a function somewhat akin to a grand jury,” the judge wrote.

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Nancy Pelosi reacts

Democrats were elated by the favourable judgement. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, called it "another blow to Trump’s attempt to put himself above the law."

"The decision is also a resounding rebuke to Attorney General Barr’s brazen effort to hold the President above the law and to prevent evidence of Presidential wrongdoing from being uncovered," Pelosi said in a statement.

Pelosi, who had initiated the impeachment inquiry against Trump, said that the ruling affirms Congress’s authority to expose the truth for the American people.

"The House will continue to solemnly honor its responsibility to follow the facts and uncover the truth. The President will be held accountable – because no one is above the law,” Pelosi added.

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(With inputs from Agencies)