Digest

This episode of "Stay Tuned" begins with a discussion of listener questions, focusing on the case of Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The episode then transitions to an interview with Aaron Zebli and Andrew Goldstein, former members of Robert Mueller's special counsel team. They discuss their experiences investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, including the team's formation, the challenges they faced, and the decision not to subpoena Donald Trump. The conversation then delves into the controversial conclusion of the Mueller report, which did not exonerate Donald Trump but also did not conclude that he committed a crime. The guests discuss the reasons behind this ambiguity, the role of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion, and the impact of Bill Barr's actions on the report's release. The episode concludes with a discussion about election security and the future of investigations in light of the Mueller investigation's findings. The guests express concerns about the ongoing threat of foreign interference and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on election integrity.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Mueller Investigation: A Deep Dive

This episode of "Stay Tuned" explores the Mueller investigation, examining its findings, the challenges faced by the special counsel team, and the implications for future investigations and election security. The episode begins with a discussion of listener questions, focusing on the case of Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

00:11:07

Inside the Mueller Investigation: An Interview with Aaron Zebli and Andrew Goldstein

Preet Barara interviews Aaron Zebli and Andrew Goldstein, former members of Robert Mueller's special counsel team, about their experiences investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. They discuss the team's formation, the challenges they faced, and the decision not to subpoena Donald Trump.

00:55:58

The Mueller Report's Ambiguity and its Impact

The conversation delves into the controversial conclusion of the Mueller report, which did not exonerate Donald Trump but also did not conclude that he committed a crime. The guests discuss the reasons behind this ambiguity, the role of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion, and the impact of Bill Barr's actions on the report's release.

01:06:51

Election Security and the Future of Investigations

The episode concludes with a discussion about election security and the future of investigations in light of the Mueller investigation's findings. The guests express concerns about the ongoing threat of foreign interference and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on election integrity.

Keywords

Q&A

• Why was Ryan Routh, the individual who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, not charged with attempted assassination?

  Routh was initially charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. These charges were considered strong and provable, and sufficient to keep him behind bars. However, new evidence, including a note written by Routh confessing to the assassination attempt, may lead to additional charges, including attempted assassination.

• What was the rationale behind the decision not to subpoena Donald Trump during the Mueller investigation?

  The special counsel team believed it was important to interview Trump but ultimately decided against pursuing a subpoena due to the potential for lengthy litigation and the fact that they had gathered substantial evidence from other sources. They also lacked full support from the Department of Justice.

• What are the implications of the Supreme Court's recent decision on presidential immunity for future special counsel investigations?

  The Supreme Court's decision granting broad immunity to the president's official conduct raises serious questions about the viability of future special counsel investigations. It may make it impossible to even investigate potential wrongdoing by a president, as the OLC opinion on prosecuting a sitting president may become moot.

• What are some of the key takeaways from the Mueller investigation regarding election security and the future of investigations?

  The investigation highlighted the ongoing threat of foreign interference in elections, particularly through the use of social media and disinformation campaigns. The rise of artificial intelligence presents new challenges to election security, as it can be used to manipulate public opinion in ways that are difficult to detect.

Show Notes