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| Mueller report: Democrats round on Barr over 'misleading' Trump exoneration – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Reporters have long accused White House press secretary Sarah Sanders of not being truthful with the press corps. But here, in sworn testimony, she confirms that the reason she offered for Trump firing Comey – that Comey had lost the confidence of the rank and file members of the FBI - was “not founded on anything.” | |
| Sarah Sanders on Comey firing to press: “countless members of the FBI” did not like ComeySanders to Mueller: That was a “slip of the tongue.”To press: Rank and file FBI lost confidence in ComeyTo Mueller: Said “in the heat of the moment” and not founded on anything. pic.twitter.com/vxzAp4lxRp | |
| from the Mueller report, The Guardian will continue to investigate, report and expose the truth to make sure we understand the complete story. At this critical moment in American history, we’ll use the strength of independent journalism to challenge false narratives, sort facts from lies and create transparency to hold the powerful accountable. | from the Mueller report, The Guardian will continue to investigate, report and expose the truth to make sure we understand the complete story. At this critical moment in American history, we’ll use the strength of independent journalism to challenge false narratives, sort facts from lies and create transparency to hold the powerful accountable. |
| But we need your help, too. More people, all around the world, are reading and supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall. We have chosen an approach that allows us to keep our reporting accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. We hope you’ll consider making a contribution. Every contribution we receive goes directly into funding our journalism. Support The Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you | But we need your help, too. More people, all around the world, are reading and supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall. We have chosen an approach that allows us to keep our reporting accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. We hope you’ll consider making a contribution. Every contribution we receive goes directly into funding our journalism. Support The Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you |
| Judiciary Committee chair Jerry Nadler is holding a press conference in New York. | Judiciary Committee chair Jerry Nadler is holding a press conference in New York. |
| He accuses Barr of “undermin[ing] his own department in order to protect President Trump”. He said it was “disingenuous and misleading” of Barr to say Trump is “clear of wrongdoing”. | He accuses Barr of “undermin[ing] his own department in order to protect President Trump”. He said it was “disingenuous and misleading” of Barr to say Trump is “clear of wrongdoing”. |
| Barr is scheduled to testify before the committee on May 2 and has requested Mueller testify before the committee because “we can’t believe what Barr tells us.” | |
| The Mueller report outlines “disturbing evidence” that president Trump engaged in obstruction of justice, Nadler says. | |
| He said the report is clear that Mueller did not exonerate Trump and that the responsibility now lies with Congress. | |
| Asked about impeachment, Nadler said: “It’s too early to talk about. We will have to follow the evidence where it leads.” | |
| He said he believes the report provides Congress a “road map”. | |
| White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters that the publication of the Mueller report is “really the best day since he got elected”. She reiterated Trump’s insistence that there was “no collusion, and there was certainly no criminal conspiracy with any Russians”. | White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters that the publication of the Mueller report is “really the best day since he got elected”. She reiterated Trump’s insistence that there was “no collusion, and there was certainly no criminal conspiracy with any Russians”. |
| “We’re accepting apologies today, too, for anybody who feels the grace in offering them,” Conway said. | “We’re accepting apologies today, too, for anybody who feels the grace in offering them,” Conway said. |
| Kellyanne Conway says “this is the best day since he got elected.” pic.twitter.com/SrYMfRexfS | Kellyanne Conway says “this is the best day since he got elected.” pic.twitter.com/SrYMfRexfS |
| Hello! Lauren Gambino here in the nation’s capital. I’m taking the keyboard from Adam for the duration of the afternoon. Stay tuned for our continuing coverage of the Mueller report. | Hello! Lauren Gambino here in the nation’s capital. I’m taking the keyboard from Adam for the duration of the afternoon. Stay tuned for our continuing coverage of the Mueller report. |
| Mike Pence, vice-president and Christian, has issued a statement on the Mueller report. It’s a greatest hits of nonsense, containing the same lies as Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale’s statement earlier. | Mike Pence, vice-president and Christian, has issued a statement on the Mueller report. It’s a greatest hits of nonsense, containing the same lies as Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale’s statement earlier. |
| I’ve put the bits that are incorrect in bold: | I’ve put the bits that are incorrect in bold: |
| Today’s release of the special counsel’s report confirms what the president and I have said since day one: there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and there was no obstruction of justice. | Today’s release of the special counsel’s report confirms what the president and I have said since day one: there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and there was no obstruction of justice. |
| After two years of investigation, conducted with the full cooperation of this administration, that involved hundreds of witness interviews and millions of pages of documents, the American people can see for themselves: no collusion, no obstruction. | After two years of investigation, conducted with the full cooperation of this administration, that involved hundreds of witness interviews and millions of pages of documents, the American people can see for themselves: no collusion, no obstruction. |
| Now that the special counsel investigation is completed, the American people have a right to know whether the initial investigation was in keeping with long-standing justice department standards — or even lawful at all. We must never allow our justice system to be exploited in pursuit of a political agenda. | Now that the special counsel investigation is completed, the American people have a right to know whether the initial investigation was in keeping with long-standing justice department standards — or even lawful at all. We must never allow our justice system to be exploited in pursuit of a political agenda. |
| While many Democrats will cling to discredited allegations, the American people can be confident President Trump and I will continue to focus where we always have, on advancing an agenda that’s making our nation stronger, safer, and more secure. | While many Democrats will cling to discredited allegations, the American people can be confident President Trump and I will continue to focus where we always have, on advancing an agenda that’s making our nation stronger, safer, and more secure. |
| Political reaction to the report had been baked into the cake by Barr’s four-page summary last month. Trump and Republicans inevitably circled the wagons and claimed vindication again; Democrats seized on the damning evidence that the president attempted to obstruct justice and was saved only by those around him. | Political reaction to the report had been baked into the cake by Barr’s four-page summary last month. Trump and Republicans inevitably circled the wagons and claimed vindication again; Democrats seized on the damning evidence that the president attempted to obstruct justice and was saved only by those around him. |
| The timing of the report was fortunate for Trump, with Congress not in session and Washington winding down for Easter. Attorney general William Barr also did his best to positive spin on the findings in a pre-publication briefing. Garry Kasparov, the Russian human rights activist, tweeted: “Barr’s press conference reminded me of the Soviet spokesmen reassuring people in bread lines that the grain harvest is again at record levels.” | The timing of the report was fortunate for Trump, with Congress not in session and Washington winding down for Easter. Attorney general William Barr also did his best to positive spin on the findings in a pre-publication briefing. Garry Kasparov, the Russian human rights activist, tweeted: “Barr’s press conference reminded me of the Soviet spokesmen reassuring people in bread lines that the grain harvest is again at record levels.” |
| Responses to the report itself broke down along predictably partisan lines. Trump himself, speaking at an unrelated White House event, said: “This should never happen to another president again. This hoax – it should never happen to another president again.” He added on Twitter: “GAME OVER” with a photoshopped image from Game of Thrones. | Responses to the report itself broke down along predictably partisan lines. Trump himself, speaking at an unrelated White House event, said: “This should never happen to another president again. This hoax – it should never happen to another president again.” He added on Twitter: “GAME OVER” with a photoshopped image from Game of Thrones. |
| pic.twitter.com/222atp7wuB | pic.twitter.com/222atp7wuB |
| There was also a preview of how Trump will attempt to use the report to his advantage in next year’s presidential election, arguing that it was cooked up by Democrats and the deep state in an attempt to thwart his supporters. | There was also a preview of how Trump will attempt to use the report to his advantage in next year’s presidential election, arguing that it was cooked up by Democrats and the deep state in an attempt to thwart his supporters. |
| His reelection campaign said in a statement: “President Trump has been fully and completely exonerated yet again. Now the tables have turned, and it’s time to investigate the liars who instigated this sham investigation into President Trump, motivated by political retribution and based on no evidence whatsoever.” | His reelection campaign said in a statement: “President Trump has been fully and completely exonerated yet again. Now the tables have turned, and it’s time to investigate the liars who instigated this sham investigation into President Trump, motivated by political retribution and based on no evidence whatsoever.” |
| There were few cracks in the Republican wall. Congressman Jim Jordan, ranking member of the House committee on oversight and reform, said: “It would be a miscarriage of justice to use cherry-picked bits of information from the report to sow further divisiveness and spread conspiracies that serve only to undermine our democratic institutions.” | There were few cracks in the Republican wall. Congressman Jim Jordan, ranking member of the House committee on oversight and reform, said: “It would be a miscarriage of justice to use cherry-picked bits of information from the report to sow further divisiveness and spread conspiracies that serve only to undermine our democratic institutions.” |
| But there was plenty of fodder for Democrats and other critics of the president, including his attempt to remove Mueller, which McGahn refused. Mueller writes: “The president’s efforts to influence the investigation were mostly unsuccessful, but that is largely because the persons who surrounded the president declined to carry out orders or accede to his requests.” | But there was plenty of fodder for Democrats and other critics of the president, including his attempt to remove Mueller, which McGahn refused. Mueller writes: “The president’s efforts to influence the investigation were mostly unsuccessful, but that is largely because the persons who surrounded the president declined to carry out orders or accede to his requests.” |
| Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a joint statement: “The differences are stark between what Attorney General Barr said on obstruction and what Special Counsel Mueller said on obstruction. | Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a joint statement: “The differences are stark between what Attorney General Barr said on obstruction and what Special Counsel Mueller said on obstruction. |
| “As we continue to review the report, one thing is clear: Attorney General Barr presented a conclusion that the president did not obstruct justice while Mueller’s report appears to undercut that finding.” | “As we continue to review the report, one thing is clear: Attorney General Barr presented a conclusion that the president did not obstruct justice while Mueller’s report appears to undercut that finding.” |
| House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler added: “Even in its incomplete form, the Mueller report outlines disturbing evidence that President Trump engaged in obstruction of justice and other misconduct. | House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler added: “Even in its incomplete form, the Mueller report outlines disturbing evidence that President Trump engaged in obstruction of justice and other misconduct. |
| “The report concluded there was ‘substantial evidence’ that President Trump attempted to prevent an investigation into his campaign and his own conduct. Contrary to the Attorney General’s statement this morning that the White House ‘fully cooperated’ with the investigation, the report makes clear that the president refused to be interviewed by the special counsel and refused to provide written answers to follow-up questions; and his associates destroyed evidence relevant to the Russia investigation.” | “The report concluded there was ‘substantial evidence’ that President Trump attempted to prevent an investigation into his campaign and his own conduct. Contrary to the Attorney General’s statement this morning that the White House ‘fully cooperated’ with the investigation, the report makes clear that the president refused to be interviewed by the special counsel and refused to provide written answers to follow-up questions; and his associates destroyed evidence relevant to the Russia investigation.” |
| Democrats have called for Mueller to testify on Capitol Hill. Some may even reconsider whether to push for Trump’s impeachment, although Republican control of the Senate could make that a messy and inconclusive process. | Democrats have called for Mueller to testify on Capitol Hill. Some may even reconsider whether to push for Trump’s impeachment, although Republican control of the Senate could make that a messy and inconclusive process. |
| From Russia with (no) love: Russian officials have branded Mueller’s allegations of election meddling “absurd”, according to the Guardian’s Marc Bennetts:“Two years of work and tens of millions of dollars wasted,” is how Russian state TV’s Channel One described Mueller’s investigation into allegations of collusion between Trump and Russia. There has been no comment yet from the Kremlin on Mueller’s findings that there were multiple links between Trump campaign officials and individuals tied to the Russian government. | From Russia with (no) love: Russian officials have branded Mueller’s allegations of election meddling “absurd”, according to the Guardian’s Marc Bennetts:“Two years of work and tens of millions of dollars wasted,” is how Russian state TV’s Channel One described Mueller’s investigation into allegations of collusion between Trump and Russia. There has been no comment yet from the Kremlin on Mueller’s findings that there were multiple links between Trump campaign officials and individuals tied to the Russian government. |
| Leonid Slutsky, the head of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 elections were “absurd,” evidence of “Russophobia,” and part of an “internal political struggle in Washington”. | Leonid Slutsky, the head of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 elections were “absurd,” evidence of “Russophobia,” and part of an “internal political struggle in Washington”. |
| He also warned that the accusations that Russia tried to sway the election had seen US-Russia relations hit “rock bottom” and that as a result “fundamental agreements on arm control” were in danger of collapse. | He also warned that the accusations that Russia tried to sway the election had seen US-Russia relations hit “rock bottom” and that as a result “fundamental agreements on arm control” were in danger of collapse. |
| Slutsky said: “Politicians in Washington must finally come to their senses and realize that such activities have brought the world to the brink of war.” | Slutsky said: “Politicians in Washington must finally come to their senses and realize that such activities have brought the world to the brink of war.” |
| Bill Barr’s pre-spin on the Mueller report is looking shakier by the minute. The attorney general told us this morning that the White House had “fully cooperated” with the investigation. | Bill Barr’s pre-spin on the Mueller report is looking shakier by the minute. The attorney general told us this morning that the White House had “fully cooperated” with the investigation. |
| Let’s not forget that Trump refused to be interviewed by Mueller – instead he only agreed to give written responses. Now, we get to see for the first time the president’s answers to the questions the special counsel posed him, reproduced as an appendix. | Let’s not forget that Trump refused to be interviewed by Mueller – instead he only agreed to give written responses. Now, we get to see for the first time the president’s answers to the questions the special counsel posed him, reproduced as an appendix. |
| As a clearly exasperated Mueller notes, “the president stated on more than 30 occasions that he ‘does not recall’ or ‘remember’ or ‘have an independent recollection’” of information called for by the questions. | As a clearly exasperated Mueller notes, “the president stated on more than 30 occasions that he ‘does not recall’ or ‘remember’ or ‘have an independent recollection’” of information called for by the questions. |
| When you read Trump’s answers you can see what Mueller means. Take the first three responses the president gives relating to the Trump Tower meeting between his eldest son, Don Jr, and a group of Russians in June 2016. | When you read Trump’s answers you can see what Mueller means. Take the first three responses the president gives relating to the Trump Tower meeting between his eldest son, Don Jr, and a group of Russians in June 2016. |
| They begin: | They begin: |
| - “I have no recollection…” | - “I have no recollection…” |
| - “Nor do I recall…” | - “Nor do I recall…” |
| - “I have no independent recollection…” | - “I have no independent recollection…” |
| After he received these replies, Mueller went back to Trump and asked again for a face-to-face interview, given the “inadequacy of the written format”. Trump declined. | After he received these replies, Mueller went back to Trump and asked again for a face-to-face interview, given the “inadequacy of the written format”. Trump declined. |
| The Trump 2020 campaign has put out a statement about the Mueller report which makes a series of incorrect claims. | The Trump 2020 campaign has put out a statement about the Mueller report which makes a series of incorrect claims. |
| The statement, from Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale, claims Trump has been “fully and completely exonerated”, which is incorrect. Mueller specifically wrote that the report “does not exonerate” Trump. | The statement, from Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale, claims Trump has been “fully and completely exonerated”, which is incorrect. Mueller specifically wrote that the report “does not exonerate” Trump. |
| Parscale also mentions “obstruction conspiracy theories”, despite Mueller detailing 11 instances in which Donald Trump or his campaign engaged in potential obstruction of justice, and despite the Special Counsel suggesting that Congress might prosecute the acts as crimes. | Parscale also mentions “obstruction conspiracy theories”, despite Mueller detailing 11 instances in which Donald Trump or his campaign engaged in potential obstruction of justice, and despite the Special Counsel suggesting that Congress might prosecute the acts as crimes. |
| With those caveats, here’s Parscale’s piece: | With those caveats, here’s Parscale’s piece: |
| STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF FULL MUELLER REPORT | STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF FULL MUELLER REPORT |
| “President Trump has been fully and completely exonerated yet again. Now the tables have turned, and it’s time to investigate the liars who instigated this sham investigation into President Trump, motivated by political retribution and based on no evidence whatsoever. | “President Trump has been fully and completely exonerated yet again. Now the tables have turned, and it’s time to investigate the liars who instigated this sham investigation into President Trump, motivated by political retribution and based on no evidence whatsoever. |
| There is simply no denying that ‘spying did occur’ on the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, as Attorney General Barr himself noted in testimony before Congress. | There is simply no denying that ‘spying did occur’ on the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, as Attorney General Barr himself noted in testimony before Congress. |
| Barr went on to testify that there was a ‘failure among a group of leaders there at the upper echelon [of the FBI]… [and] I feel I have an obligation to make sure that government power is not abused.’ | Barr went on to testify that there was a ‘failure among a group of leaders there at the upper echelon [of the FBI]… [and] I feel I have an obligation to make sure that government power is not abused.’ |
| Now that the collusion and obstruction conspiracy theories have been exposed for the pathetic hoaxes they always were, the Obama-era DOJ and FBI must answer for their misdeeds and the scam that they perpetrated against the American people. Justice will be served. | Now that the collusion and obstruction conspiracy theories have been exposed for the pathetic hoaxes they always were, the Obama-era DOJ and FBI must answer for their misdeeds and the scam that they perpetrated against the American people. Justice will be served. |
| Mueller floats evidence in his report that Trump was personally involved in discussions over the WikiLeaks dumps of Democratic emails hacked by Russia. | Mueller floats evidence in his report that Trump was personally involved in discussions over the WikiLeaks dumps of Democratic emails hacked by Russia. |
| The report says that when WikiLeaks began publishing emails stolen from the Democratic National Convention in July 2016, Trump’s campaign aides “reacted with enthusiasm to reports of the hacks”. | The report says that when WikiLeaks began publishing emails stolen from the Democratic National Convention in July 2016, Trump’s campaign aides “reacted with enthusiasm to reports of the hacks”. |
| “[REDACTED] discussed with campaign officials that WikiLeaks would release the hacked material. Some witnesses said that Trump himself discussed the upcoming releases.” | “[REDACTED] discussed with campaign officials that WikiLeaks would release the hacked material. Some witnesses said that Trump himself discussed the upcoming releases.” |
| Rick Gates, Trump’s former deputy campaign manager, told Mueller that in the summer of 2016, a few months before the presidential election: “The campaign was planning a communications strategy based on the possible release of Clinton emails by WikiLeaks”. | Rick Gates, Trump’s former deputy campaign manager, told Mueller that in the summer of 2016, a few months before the presidential election: “The campaign was planning a communications strategy based on the possible release of Clinton emails by WikiLeaks”. |