A lightly redacted version of the Mueller Report on Russian interference in the 2016 election has been released on Thursday.
Two versions of the report have been prepared, with one version going to some members of Congress and a more limited version being released to the public.
The report states: “..if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgment.” Read the full report here
President Trump’s lawyers describe the special counsel’s report as a “Total Victory” for the President:
“The results of the investigation are a total victory for the President. The report underscores what we have argued from the very beginning – there was no collusion – there was no obstruction. After a 17-month investigation, testimony from some 500 witnesses, the issuance of 2,800 subpoenas, the execution of nearly 500 search warrants, early morning raids, the examination of more than 1.4 million pages of documents, and the unprecedented cooperation of the President, it is clear there was no criminal wrongdoing. Nothing withheld; nothing concealed; nothing deleted; nothing destroyed; and nothing bleached. In addition to the report completely vindicating the President, both Attorney General Bill Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein – working with the career professionals in the Office of Legal Counsel – concluded there was not a single instance in which the elements of any crime were met.
It is also clear that the President acted properly in firing now-disgraced, former FBI Director James Comey who lied and displayed disdain for the values at the core of the FBI. It is troubling that Comey – and top members of his team – launched a biased, political attack against the President – turning one of our foundational legal standards on its head. Instead of protecting the time-honored principle that the President – as with any American – is innocent until proven guilty, they clearly set up a scheme to derail the President – pushing a twisted narrative claiming he was guilty until proven innocent. The report itself is nothing more than an attempt to rehash old allegations, despite the fact that, as reiterated in the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s recent report on the 2016 election ‘neither the FBI nor Department prosecutors are permitted to insinuate or allege that an individual who has not been charged with a crime is nevertheless guilty of some wrongdoing.’
This vindication of the President is an important step forward for the country and a strong reminder that this type of abuse must never be permitted to occur again.”
A.G Barr and Deputy A.G Rod Rosenstein held a news conference at 9:30 a.m. to address “process questions” as well as provide an “overview of the report,” as said by a senior Justice Department official. The report is scheduled to go to Congress at 11 a.m., then posted publicly on the special counsel’s website around noon.
Watch the entire conference here:
When asked why Robert Mueller was not attending the Press Conference, Barr replied: “…I’m here to discuss my response to that report and my decision, entirely discretionary to make it public, since these reports are not supposed to be made public.” Read the full transcript here
President Trump released a photo on Twitter this morning, mimicking a Game of Thrones theme with the words “No collusion, no obstruction. For the haters and the radical left democrats — Game Over”
Former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, who is also one of President Trump’s lawyers, has stated he is preparing a counter-report to the Special counsel’s findings. Giuliani, the President and others have long criticized the Russia-investigation, in which President has labeled a “witch hunt”.
Attorney General William Barr previously released a ‘principal report’ on the conclusions of the investigation in March, revealing that no further indictments would ensue. Although the rules of Justice Department rules do not require AG Barr to publicly release the special counsel’s report, the attorney general has stated previously that he “remains committed to as much transparency as possible.”
Stay tuned for updates.
