James Grant: For the good of America, let Robert Mueller get to the truth

After much fanfare, Robert Mueller's testimony to Congress is being pushed back a week.

Many of us are concerned for the future of our republic.

American politics has devolved into a divisive, hyperpartisan battle in which we spend more time launching personal attacks than focusing on solutions that make a real, positive impact in our lives and communities. Better and smarter governance requires putting truth at the forefront.

The truth is that our nation’s sovereignty is not a partisan issue, nor is the rule of law. Undermining our elections is an attack on our country. Period.

Fortunately, our republic, the rule of law, and the institutions that defend it are stronger than the efforts to incite partisan discord in an attempt to weaken them. U.S. intelligence personnel continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the American people, and these agencies remain in full agreement on the truth — Russia meddled in the 2016 elections.

The efforts by Vladimir Putin’s cadre of hackers were an attack on American sovereignty and serve as a training ground for future campaigns. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray are all warning of more threats on the horizon. These efforts to undermine American elections have the sole purpose of diminishing America’s standing by dividing us as a people.

Far more efficient than attacking your adversary is getting your adversary to attack itself. Our adversaries can only be successful if we allow them to be. They could not possibly succeed if we were as united as a country against these attacks as we were on September 12, 2001.

This ongoing challenge to U.S. sovereignty must not go unpunished. Every individual involved, foreign and domestic, must be held accountable to send a clear message that we will defend our nation and deter future attacks. Anything less than an efficient and transparent report of the truth will exonerate those responsible for these attacks while simultaneously preventing the exoneration of anyone wrongly accused.

We must allow those charged with producing the truth to accomplish that mission. Firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would only serve to delay, if not fully derail, our efforts to obtain the truth.

As a conservative, I’ve vowed to protect the Constitution and fight alongside the men and women who have and continue to defend it, especially those who put their lives on the line. The framers established a system of checks and balances curbing the powers of all U.S. officials, even the leader of the free world.

Just as I will question bureaucratic overreach and campaign against activist judges, I will combat any expansion of executive authority that sets any individual above the law or puts citizens’ liberties at risk.

For the good of the country, Republicans need to put aside our grievances and frustrations about the Mueller investigation and simply pursue the truth. We should ensure the special counsel can finish the job he was charged to do, to bring truth to the American people

If we keep faith in and preserve the rule of law, I am confident in the outcome. Relief will wash over America when we have in hand every detail about an adversarial nation’s attack on our election — and when those who did wrong are brought to justice.

The greatest victory, however, will be for the American people if we demand truth and accountability. If we stand up in unapologetic defense of our Constitution — we will all win in the end.

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Republican state Rep. James Grant represents House District 64.