Mueller once good, now evil?

Since the Republican Party has now started to follow our president’s lead, declaring special prosecutor Robert Mueller a man who cannot be trusted and a Democrat besides, I thought a few facts might be helpful to get us thinking about why that might be.

Do enough of us still care about true facts? Our country sure hopes so.)

Robert Mueller is a Republican. He was appointed as special prosecutor by a Republican. And that helps explain why Mueller’s appointment and many months of his work received almost universal praise from Republican leaders. Consider these quotes:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kent.): “I have a lot of confidence in Bob Mueller. I think it was a good choice.”

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas): “Robert Mueller is perhaps the single-most qualified individual to lead such an investigation, in my view, and he’s certainly independent.”

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.): Mueller “is a man of integrity and he needs to be able to do his work.”

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.); “The appointment of former FBI director and respected lawyer Robert Mueller as special counsel for the Russia investigation is a positive development and will provide some certainty for the American people that the investigation will proceed fairly and free of political influence.”

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.): “I fully support the decision to appoint former FBI Director Robert Mueller to oversee the ongoing investigation into Russia. We need to get all the facts, and Mueller is the type of person who is respected and trusted by both Republicans and Democrats and will put country over politics.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): “He’s a very much trusted individual and had an outstanding record as head of the FBI.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa): “Mueller has a strong reputation for independence, and comes with the right credentials for this job.”

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah): “I commend (Department of Justice) for bringing an independent voice to help bring clarity to this situation.”

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.): “I think there’s a lot of confidence in Mueller around here … We’ve all dealt with him.”

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine): “The Deputy Attorney General made an excellent choice in selecting former FBI Director Robert Mueller to serve as special counsel. He has sterling credentials and is above reproach.”

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio): “Mueller is well qualified to oversee this probe.”

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.): Mueller “is a guy whose career is unimpeachable.”

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas): When asked if he had seen anything that might warrant the President firing Mueller, Sen. Cornyn replied, “I’ve seen no reason for that.” When asked if he trusted Mueller to run the investigation, Sen. Cornyn replied, “I do.”

Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.): Mueller “is a very distinguished man [with] impeccable credentials.”

Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.): “I know Bob Mueller personally, He has impeccable integrity.”

House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah): “Mueller is a great selection. Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted.”

Wow. Robert Mueller’s an impressively capable guy with unimpeachable trustworthiness, honesty and integrity, according to these Republicans. That means we’ve got to ask: Exactly what has changed?

Well, the investigation’s made significant headway, so the president and his cronies now want to discredit Mueller and his investigation. Then the president can try to justify firing him or, at the least, try to make us not believe the results of the investigation. And the Republican Congress is largely now singing the president’s tune.

Thankfully, God gave each of us a good brain that can think critically, that can distinguish between truth and lies, between candor and attempts to manipulate us. God knew we would function better if we perceived reality as it is, and not distorted in ways some would prefer to further their own self-interests.

So the choice is yours. Will you now place your trust in the honesty of politicians, politicians who now condemn the same man they previously showered with praise? Or will you now show God respect by utilizing His greatest gift to each of us?

Most respectfully, folks, our country now desperately needs your loyalty more than your party does. It’s time to start critically thinking. And you can start with the truth in the above quotes.

Carl Kiss is a retired attorney who resides in Enterprise.