Updated 4:38 p.m.
U.S. senators representing Massachusetts and Connecticut, all Democrats, are weighing in on the release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russia and President Donald Trump.
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey told reporters Thursday the report paints “a deeply disturbing pattern of conduct by the president and members of his 2016 campaign.” He said Mueller should testify before the House and Senate to explain his report to the American people.
“The president very much appears to have tried to obstruct justice,” Markey said. “And we need to hear from Mr. Mueller about the seriousness of those efforts by President Trump.”
Yes, the WH is spinning the Mueller report. Yes, Barr is acting like Trump’s personal lawyer. Yes, it’s disgraceful.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) April 18, 2019
But we also must stay focused on the larger threat: Russia is going to keep trying to influence our elections, Trump or no Trump. And we need a plan to stop it.
Markey said the Mueller report indicates a “deeply disturbing pattern of conduct” by the president and his campaign. He said the report’s findings warrant congressional action.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is running for president, went even further. On Friday afternoon, she tweeted that the House should begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump.
The severity of this misconduct demands that elected officials in both parties set aside political considerations and do their constitutional duty. That means the House should initiate impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 19, 2019
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal is demanding to see an unredacted copy of the Mueller report. He said Attorney General William Barr offered “sunshine spin” when speaking to reporters Thursday morning.
“What’s demonstrated in powerful and compelling detail in this report is nothing less than a national scandal,” Blumenthal told reporters. He said the report itself includes a “detailed description of wrongdoing” — and also said Mueller should testify before Congress.
I will support a subpoena for the full, un-redacted Mueller Report. Only complete disclosure is acceptable. Special Counsel Mueller & his team must testify before Congress about the findings of their investigation.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) April 18, 2019
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut wants to see an unredacted version of the Mueller report. The U.S. Justice Department released a redacted version Thursday to Congress and the public.
“It may be that there isn’t sufficient evidence in this report to move forward with impeachment,” Murphy said. “I would be glad to have that be the conclusion that we make, but we can’t make that conclusion unless we have the full report in front of us.”
Barr's press conference was a blatant attempt to spin a report no one has read.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 18, 2019
Our democracy depends on transparency. The American people deserve the full report so they can interpret the findings for themselves.
Murphy said Barr has the discretion to release the full report to Congress. Instead, Murphy said, the attorney general has acted like a spokesman and an advocate for the president.
Some Massachusetts U.S. House Democrats also weighed in after the Mueller report was released.
Congressman Richard Neal of Springfield issued a tweet.
Although the details of the report are shocking, much of it still remains redacted and many questions remain. Special Counsel Mueller’s fact-gathering has concluded. It is now Congress’ responsibility to review and assess the evidence.
— Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) April 18, 2019
Congressman Jim McGovern of Worcester said the report shows the president believes he’s not accountable to anybody.
“The fact that the President of the United States would conduct himself in this way, to me, unconscionable,” McGovern told WBUR. “I don’t care whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican: we should expect more from whoever is in that office.”
2/2 I am outraged and deeply disturbed by the pattern of criminality, corruption, and deception described in the Mueller report.
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) April 18, 2019
Congress must get the full, unredacted report and all underlying information to do our job and hold this administration accountable. pic.twitter.com/MMHuQxf5Im
McGovern said Barr is acting as though he’s the president’s personal lawyer and “partisan attack dog,” and he criticized Barr for holding a press conference ahead of the report’s release Thursday morning.
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena on Friday to the Justice Department demanding Mueller's full report and the underlying materials. Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York is asking for the information by May 1.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
