In an editorial posted by the Los Angeles Times, author Doyle McManus addresses his concerns relating to the investigation of Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election. McManus appears credible, having served as the Los Angeles Times’ Washington D.C bureau chief from 1996 until 2008 and having covered every presidential election since 1984.
McManus claims if President Trump fires Robert Mueller, the special counsel who is investigating the ties between Russia and Trump, we are headed toward a “constitutional crisis”. Trump has stated that if the special counsel looks into his family’s business firm, it would be a “violation”. McManus criticizes this statement, saying that it is within Mueller’s power to inquire into Trump’s business relations since the Deputy Attorney General gave Mueller full authority to investigate any link between Russia and Trump. He then goes on to draw a parallel between the current investigation of President Trump and the investigation of former President Bill Clinton. The investigation of Clinton started with an inquest into his family finances, but led to more disconcerting matters of extramarital affairs and perjury. This comparison strengthens his argument that it is acceptable to look into Trump’s business relationships as it could produce new information that is relevant to the investigation. McManus went on to discuss Trump’s elusive statement of Mueller having a “conflict of interest”. Trump alluded that he would reveal these “conflicts of interest” at a later date, but the only conflict released so far is a dispute Mueller had concerning membership fees with Trump National Golf Course. McManus cites this to suggest that Trump has no viable reasons for thinking Mueller has a conflict of interest, as a dispute over a golf membership is hardly a conflict at all. McManus goes on to discuss the two ways Trump could go about firing Mueller, either change the Deputy Attorney General’s mind or replace him. McManus claims that if this were to happen, there would be a repeat of former President Richard Nixon’s Saturday Night Massacre. The similarities between Watergate and “Russiagate” is effective as an attention grabber as it foreshadows a resignation from or an impeachment of President Trump.
McManus ends his argument by addressing Republicans to voice their concerns and advise Trump that there will be serious consequences for his actions. He specifically recommends Fox News as a platform to do so. I agree with author Doyle McManus that the investigation into Russian ties should continue without being restricted or manipulated by the Trump administration, as that is the only way to find the truth. However, I think that McManus’s argument relied too heavily on examples of impeachments of former presidents. Even with the evident similarities of the past, he should have focused more on the current situation with recent events and actions, as it is still a different situation in a different America.
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