CMU Professor Breaks Down Mueller Testimony

After Robert Mueller testified in front of Congress Wednesday the questions now begin.  Did the lack of new information put an end to this all or do the remaining questions strengthen the call for impeachment?

“I don’t think it’s going to change anyone’s mind,” says David Jesuit, chair of the Central Michigan University Department of Political Science, “I think it’s just going to harden some positions.”

Mueller did not offer any groundbreaking information in his testimony, for either side. But what he did was bring his report back into the national spotlight.

“Let’s face it, Democrats want to talk about this and Republicans and the President don’t want to talk about this,” says Jesuit.

Jesuit expects both sides to cheer, President Trump will feel supported and Democrats gained evidence toward impeachment.

“It’s really about politics and winning and losing,” says Jesuit.

In United States history, there’s only been two Presidents who have been impeached, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. According to Jesuit, the proceedings leading up to the Clinton impeachment emboldened the Democratic base and that led to losses by Republicans in Congress. That’s the issue the Democrats now face, it may actually help President Trump if they push forward with impeachment.

“Even if he is impeached by the House, what does that mean for 2020?” says Jesuit, “No, it certainly does not necessarily mean that he will be defeated.”

It is sure to be a key topic in next week’s Democratic debates in Detroit and further in the primary.

“Will that same position work for you in the general election? No, certainly not as well, if at all,” says Jesuit.

If both sides dig in following the hearing, Jesuit says not to expect much to change for the next year and a half.

“I think there’s very little chance that he’s actually removed from office as a result of this,” says Jesuit.