It’s been awhile since we last saw White House adviser Stephen Miller on television. He’s been keeping a low profile as he works to prevent anyone from immigrating to the United States for any reason whatsoever.
But as the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller continues to revolve in part around the theory that President Trump obstructed justice with his sudden firing of FBI Director James Comey in May of 2017, Miller has come back into the forefront for the special counsel’s prosecutors.
Miller was one of the insiders who helped Trump craft the letter stating exactly why Comey was being dismissed as head of the FBI. As the New York Times first reported in September of 2017:
“Mr. Trump [was] joined by a trio of advisers — his daughter Ivanka; his son-in-law Jared Kushner; and Mr. Miller.
“Mr. Miller and Mr. Kushner both told the president that weekend that they were in favor of firing Mr. Comey.
“Mr. Trump ordered Mr. Miller to draft a letter, and dictated his unfettered thoughts. Several people who saw Mr. Miller’s multi-page draft described it as a ‘screed.'”
Granted, Miller was merely doing his job when he agreed to write a draft of that controversial letter that led to Comey’s removal, but that defense won’t help him in a court of law, which is where he’s going to wind up in due time.
White House counsel Don McGahn later rewrote the Miller draft, making it more legalistic and less fiery, something that could be released to the public as a cover for the real motives Trump was giving Comey the boot: Because the FBI chief refused to go easy on disgraced National Security Adviser Michael Flynn or pledge his undying loyalty to Trump.
Miller has been interviewed by the Mueller team, but that was likely just a formality so prosecutors could determine just how deeply he was involved and to judge whether or not he was willing to commit perjury to protect the president. If he did lie, he’s toast. But what if he didn’t lie and was honest in his responses?
Well, as it turns out, if indeed Miller wrote that draft letter, he’s guilty of conspiring to obstruct justice. And that’s a federal crime.
So, Stephen Miller, stand up and take a bow. There’s an indictment waiting with your name on it, and attached to that indictment is a nice long prison term.