Where Law Ends

Inside the Mueller Investigation

By: Andrew Weissmann

Narrated by: George Newbern, Andrew Weissmann

Length: 14 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best seller

In the first and only inside account of the Mueller investigation, one of the special counsel’s most trusted prosecutors breaks his silence on the team’s history-making search for the truth, their painstaking deliberations and costly mistakes, and Trump’s unprecedented efforts to stifle their report.

“Weissmann delivers the kind of forceful, ringing indictment that Mueller’s report did not.” (The New York Times)

In May 2017, Robert Mueller was tapped to lead an inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, coordination by foreign agents with Donald Trump’s campaign, and obstruction of justice by the president. Mueller assembled a “dream team” of top prosecutors, and for the next 22 months, the investigation was a black box and the subject of endless anticipation and speculation — until April 2019, when the special counsel’s report was released.

In Where Law Ends, legendary prosecutor Andrew Weissmann — a key player in the Special Counsel’s Office — finally pulls back the curtain to reveal exactly what went on inside the investigation, including the heated debates, painful deliberations, and mistakes of the team — not to mention the external efforts by the president and Attorney General William Barr to manipulate the investigation to their political ends. Weissmann puts the listener in the room as Mueller’s team made their most consequential decisions, such as whether to subpoena the president, whether to conduct a full financial investigation of Trump, and whether to explicitly recommend obstruction charges against him. Weissmann also details for the first time the debilitating effects that President Trump himself had on the investigation, through his dangling of pardons and his constant threats to shut down the inquiry and fire Mueller, which left the team racing against the clock and essentially fighting with one hand tied behind their backs.  

In Where Law Ends, Weissmann conjures the camaraderie and esprit de corps of the investigative units led by the enigmatic Mueller, a distinguished public servant who is revealed here, in a way we have never seen him before, as a manager, a colleague, and a very human presence. Weissmann is as candid about the team’s mistakes as he is about its successes, and is committed to accurately documenting the historic investigation for future generations to assess and learn from. 

Ultimately, Where Law Ends is a story about a team of public servants, dedicated to the rule of law, tasked with investigating a president who did everything he could to stand in their way. 

©2020 Andrew Weissmann (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“Where Law Ends burns like an old-fashioned 150-watt bulb, delivering light and heat in equal measure.... Where Law Ends is a gift - a clarifying piece of history, wrapped up in our era’s boundless anger and suspicion.” (Devlin Barrett, The Washington Post)

"A lucid and engrossing insider's look at Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 election ... an essential record of what the Mueller investigation proved and why it failed to bring Trump down.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A damning indictment of a ‘lawless’ president.” (George Packer, The Atlantic)

Riveting

I've read so many books by those who worked for DOJ & FBI, many by prior investigators of Donald Trump/Russia. I read the Mueller Report and Senate intelligence committee report on Russia/Trump. This was a unique take. I have enormous respect for Andrew Weissman. I am a law nerd concerned for the rule of law and Weissman has confirmed those fears. He is a patriot that explains the decisions of the investigation beautifully and explains where he would have made different decisions if he'd been permitted to do so. It's immensely crucial for every American to understand this critically important part of history. Read this book!

Where it All Went Wrong

When Maddow interviewed Weissmann about the book on her show, she told him she found the book "Heartbreaking" and said, "It just gutted me!" It infuriated me. It may do either or both to you. Wiessmann led the team within the Mueller investigation that examined Paul Manafort. He gives a pretty detailed account of how the investigation was structured, how it functioned and where it hit roadblocks. He names names and offers insight about what they did and did not do and why. He offers an honest critique of where and why the investigators were limited or barred from pursuing all the evidence, and gives more detail about what the report, before Barr got his hands on it, actually showed. And in the end, makes some practical suggestions as to how to fix the rules for future special councils. I highly recommend this book. It is imperative reading before you cast your next vote!

Cool, unsensational and utterly damning...

Just the facts, Ma’am. Andrew Weissmann presents the unvarnished truth in a compelling and believable book from one who was there.

Thought provoking and satisfying

I read the book with anticipation that all obstruction acts and activity of the Executive branch would be revealed. This was a superlative dissection of the Mueller investigation and the whitewash and destruction by Barr. I’m so hopeful that this changes in the future and Mr Weissmann proposed an excellent remedy. Thank you. Beautifully written.

A must read!!

Factual inside to the Mueller investigation. An amazing read in to how decisions were made and paths followed. Answers many questions and explains while many questions went unanswered. Well worth the read.

Very complex issues made clear

Andrew Weissmann did an admirable job discussing his views of the Mueller investigation into President Trumps myriad list of crimes. His discussions of the failure of the Attorney to hold to his oath of office to protect the American people, rather than as an underling doing his bosses bidding was also illuminating. He points out ways to improve the independence of these types of investigations to avoid the rampant meddling that the Department of Justice carried out under the orders of the president being investigated. It would be worthwhile that the next congress undertake improvements in these important checks on the assault on the American democracy to better protect our people from this abuse of power.

Perhaps the most important book of the election

This book knows it’s place in history and goes in depth answering a lot of questions I had about things I observed both in the media and the official reports. Thank you Andrew Weissman for telling your story and sharing with the American people.

Law

I am unable at this to truly finish the book. I see idea of equal justice for all going into the sewers. We need to vote trump out have impeached again and convicted by senate. After he is our of office the state courts will need to debate to take him to trial or not !

The American People Were Misled

“Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Report” is a sobering look at how the American people were misled and, ultimately, sorely disappointed. First, we believed that the Mueller Report would include a thorough examination of Trump’s finances and how the finances would shed light on Trump’s behavior—his criminality—with respect to Russian interference. Sadly, we found out that nothing of the sort was done. In fact, the investigators were too timid and failed to fully explore the reasons why Trump appears to be in Putin’s debt, or how Trump appears to be Putin’s puppet. Second, we were led to believe that the findings would lead to the Trump campaign being held to account, if indeed criminality was uncovered. Instead, we were provided with a statement that was an anemic condemnation of Trump, one Barr easily manipulated. The Mueller Report could have been used as a vehicle to restore the faith of the American people in our democracy. Instead, we were given a watered down and easily twisted summary of facts that William Barr easily flushed down the justice system’s toilet. I have read The Mueller Report front to back twice and listened to it once. It is clear that the Trump campaign, members of the Trump family and inner circle, and Donald Trump himself all accepted help from Russia. Yet the Mueller team made its own decision regarding Trump’s guilt or innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. It is also clear that Russia purposely helped Trump win the 2016 presidential election. Finally, it is clear that Trump broke the law well over a dozen times, seeking to obstruct justice repeatedly. I am angry, disgusted, and disappointed. The Mueller team failed the American people. Andrew Weissman’s book makes that abundantly clear. The John Locke quote, “Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins” must be followed by Edmund Burke’s admonition that “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” It would appear that we are watching both quotes play out in real time and over the course of the Trump presidency. I highly recommend Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Report, but be prepared to be angered, disgusted, and even disillusioned. Clearly, Robert Mueller and his team could have—and should have—done more.

LOVED IT!!!!

Great, almost real time exploration of What Mueller and team faced ,in the light of the most corrupt and worst steward of America in my lifetime.