Release the Mueller report—or at least parts of it, Americans say

April 17, 2019, 2:30 PM GMT+0

A plurality of Americans (49%) say the public version of the report needs some redactions

Americans want the Mueller report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election released, but the latest Economist/YouGov Poll finds a partisan divide on just how much of it Americans want to see – and how much should be made available to Congress.

The report, scheduled to be released Thursday, will have redactions in it. Attorney General William Barr says he will redact information involving the grand jury, sensitive intelligence, material that could impact ongoing investigations, and information that would “unduly infringe on the personal privacy and reputational interests of peripheral third parties.”

And that’s fine with Republicans, but not with Democrats, who agree with their party’s Congressional leaders that the full report should be made available at least to Congress.

Three in four Democrats want the full report (without redactions) given to Congress. Half would make it available in full to the public at large. Those who identify with the President’s party disagree. Yes, the full report should be released, they say, but only after redactions.

Independents have mixed opinions. While a plurality of them would give an unredacted report to Congress, nearly half say the public should see only the redacted version.

The Mueller investigation itself remains polarizing: as they have before, three in four Republicans say the investigation was not legitimate, but it was a witch hunt. Democrats disagree. Americans overall say the investigation was legitimate, 43% to 26%.

Although GOP opinion of Special Counsel Robert Mueller rose after the Attorney General released his four-page summary of the nearly 400-page report, Republican opinion of Mueller has dropped back in this poll. The public overall continues to approve of how Mueller has handled his job, but Republicans, once again, do not.

The Attorney General has said he believes the government spied on the Trump campaign during the 2016 elections and is starting an investigation into it. Many Americans wouldn’t mind. By 43% to 25% the public favors investigation into the allegations, with Republicans supporting one by more than two to one, 60% to 25%. A plurality of Democrats agree, with 44% in favor and 33% opposed.

See the full toplines and tables results here

Photo: Getty