Increasing urgency in the wake of new cnn reporting that suggests russias special Counsel Robert Mueller could be wrapping up his investigation. People familiar with the plans telling us that william barr, the new attorney general, is preparing to make that announcement as early as next week, which raises those questions. When will we see what the mueller team has uncovered, and how much of it will congress and the public have access to . Because theres no law that says we have to see any of it, only Justice Department guidelines requiring mr. Mueller to provide the attorney general with a confidential report explaining his decisions to prosecute or not. In turn, the attorney general is required only to provide top members of the house and Senate Judiciary committees with an explanation of each action taken by the special counsel. Thats it. Theres nothing that obligates the attorney general to submit muellers report to lawmakers or even a summary of it. Only that the attorney general m
Judiciary committees with an explanation of each action taken by the special counsel. Thats it. Theres nothing that obligates the attorney general to submit muellers report to lawmakers or even a summary of it. Only that there the attorney general may, and im quoting now, determine that public release of these reports would be in Public Interest to the extent release would apply with applicable legal restrictions. A lot is riding on attorney general barr, which President Trump was quick to point out. Should the Mueller Report be released . That will be totally up to the new attorney general. Hes a tremendous man, a tremendous person who really respects this country and respects the Justice Department. So that will be totally up to him. The new attorney general. Yes. I guess from what i understand, that will be totally up to the attorney general. Okay. Well, as for what he intends to do, attorney general barr left himself plenty of leeway during confirmation hearings last month. Listen.
Cnn Jessica Schneider joins us now. So the judge didnt hold back in his order against the Justice Departments request, heidnt say categorically it couldnt happen. What he basically said the explanation doesnt make any sense. Thats exactly right, anderson. This federal judge out of new york Jessie Forman is telling the doj it cant simply switch out the team of lawyers and thats why hes denying the dojs request to changeup lawyers until they can provide reasoning for doing so and remarkably here, anderson, the judge is really putting it on these individual lawyers at doj saying he wants sworn and signed affidavits from each of them explaining why they are withdrawing and also wants assurances that these lawyers will essentially be available as witnesses and any future proceedings dealing with sanctions because this new york judge will also be reviewing any requests to issue sanctions in this case if its determined that Administration Officials werent truthful when they gave their reasoni
Until they can provide reasoning for doing so and remarkably here, anderson, the judge is really putting it on these individual lawyers at doj saying he wants sworn and signed affidavits from each of them explaining why they are withdrawing and also wants assurances that these lawyers will essentially be available as witnesses and any future proceedings dealing with sanctions because this new york judge will also be reviewing any requests to issue sanctions in this case if its determined that Administration Officials werent truthful when they gave their reasoning for wanting this citizen ship question on the census. So anderson, this order from the judge really opens up a can of worms for the doj, which still hasnt publicly explained why it wants this change of lawyers and all the thoughts are you cant have the same team of lawyers that said the census needed to start printing on july 1st, now saying well, there is plenty of time to add this question. So its a big problem for the doj.