Congressional candidates react to Mueller Report

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It’s been more than 24 hours since the long-anticipated “Mueller Report” was released to the public Thursday, and local congressional candidates have already started sharing their reactions to the investigation.

The more-than 400-page report released Thursday cited insufficient evidence as one reason why special counsel could not conclude President Donald Trump obstructed justice or conspired in Russia’s interference during the 2016 election.

“If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state,” the report reads. “Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment. The evidence we obtained about the president’s actions and intent presents difficult issues that prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred.”

Rep. Katie Hill, D-Agua Dulce, could not be reached for comment Thursday or Friday, but she posted a Facebook poll asking if Congress had an obligation to move forward.

With around 1,400 votes submitted, almost 90 percent of the votes were in favor of the answer: “Yes! it’s your duty!”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said to CNN Thursday there is nothing in the report that would prompt impeachment proceedings.

“Based on what we have seen to date, going forward on impeachment is not worthwhile at this point,” Hoyer said. “Very frankly, there is an election in 18 months, and the American people will make a judgement.”

Angela Underwood Jacobs, who is one of three local Republicans seeking to replace Hill in 2020, said, “In our society, individuals are innocent until proven guilty, and the Mueller report is clear — President Trump is not guilty of the crimes he was accused of by Democrats.”

Fellow Congressional candidate Mike Garcia said he was glad the investigation was over because Congress could now get to work on the things that matter, “like fixing (the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) and caring for our veterans.”

“As a 20-year Navy veteran, I know firsthand what that $25 million could’ve done for vets — especially those here in our community,” Garcia said in a statement Thursday.

After thanking Attorney General William Barr for his commitment to transparency, congressional candidate Suzette Valladares added that she’d like to see Congress move forward and work on fixing policies that directly impact Americans.

“Californians in the 25th Congressional District want their representative to rise above the partisan bickering and work on affordable quality healthcare, fixing immigration and making government work for them,” Valladares said. “The last thing we need is more politically fueled investigations and wasted taxpayer dollars.”

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