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Letter: Mueller uses his excessively broad range of investigation to ensnare individuals

(J. Scott Applewhite | The Associated Press) In this June 21, 2017, file photo, special counsel Robert Mueller departs after a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mueller is set to reveal more details about his Russia investigation as he faces court deadlines in the cases of two men who worked closely with President Donald Trump.

Centuries ago, during the infamous Inquisition, individuals were accused of gross offenses against the church, often with little or no evidence. When subjected to the brutal rack or other demonic devices, the accused would admit to anything demanded by the interrogator.

Today, special prosecutor Robert Mueller uses his excessively broad range of investigation to ensnare individuals, probably guilty of offenses, albeit not related to the principal domain of the probe, and threatens them with prosecution for acts yet being processed by standard legal means. And in turn, to be assured of much less severe punishment and in some cases total avoidance, all they have to do is provide Mueller commentary supposedly implicating the president in nefarious dealings with Russian agents regarding the 2016 election — embarrassingly, even if the individual has been found to have had little or no actual involvement in either the election or any such associated activities.

Without any personal opinion on Mr. Mueller's true intent in his yearlong modern inquisition, I would suggest he review Rule 3.8 of the American Bar Association (ABA), "the ethical responsibility of the prosecutor."

James F. Oshust, Millcreek

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