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Mueller report examines '10 episodes' of potential obstruction by Trump – Barr Mueller report examines '10 episodes' of potential obstruction by Trump
(about 1 hour later)
The US attorney general, William Barr, has said the Mueller report describes “10 episodes” in which Donald Trump engaged in potential obstruction of justice, but emphasised that the investigation had found “no collusion” between the Trump campaign and Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 US election. In a redacted report released by the Department of Justice (DoJ) Thursday, special counsel Robert Mueller described 10 instances in which Donald Trump engaged in potential obstruction of justice and suggested that Congress might prosecute the acts as crimes, though Mueller stopped short of recommending such a prosecution. Over almost 450 pages, portions of which remained hidden from public view owing to justice department redactions, Mueller described in unprecedented detail Russian efforts to tamper in the 2016 presidential election and the Trump campaign’s receptivity to some of those efforts.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday morning before the release of a redacted version of the report, Barr sought to draw a “bottom line” under the report by the special counsel, Robert Mueller. He made broad claims that it cleared the president of suspected wrongdoing, while admitting that he disagreed with some of Mueller’s findings and pleading for Trump’s behavior to be considered in “context”.
Mueller report release: five things to look out forMueller report release: five things to look out for
Mueller said his investigation discovered “multiple links between Trump campaign officials and individuals tied to the Russian government” and that the campaign had sometimes been receptive.
“The campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts,” Mueller wrote.
The report was delivered in two volumes, with Volume I devoted to the Russian efforts and Volume II devoted to alleged obstruction of justice by the president.
Among the 10 episodes of conduct by Trump that Mueller investigated as potential obstructions of justice were:
Trump’s efforts to fire Mueller.
Trump’s firing of former FBI director James Comey.
Trump’s efforts to hijack oversight of the Mueller investigation.
Trump’s order to the White House counsel to deny that Trump had tried to fire Mueller.
Trump’s conduct with regard to associates who have pleaded guilty to crimes including Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen.
Trump’s efforts to fire Mueller.
Trump’s firing of former FBI director James Comey.
Trump’s efforts to hijack oversight of the Mueller investigation.
Trump’s order to the White House counsel to deny that Trump had tried to fire Mueller.
Trump’s conduct with regard to associates who have pleaded guilty to crimes including Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen.
“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,” the report says. “However, we are unable to reach that judgment.
“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,” the report says.
While the Mueller report declines to recommend a prosecution by the justice department of the president, Mueller noted that Congress might do so.
“We concluded that Congress can validly make obstruction-of-justice statutes applicable to corruptly motivated official acts of the President without impermissibly undermining his Article II functions” laying out executive power, the report reads.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday morning before the release of a redacted version of the report, attorney general Barr sought to draw a “bottom line” under the report, making broad claims that it cleared the president of suspected wrongdoing, while admitting that he disagreed with some of Mueller’s findings and pleading for Trump’s behavior to be considered in “context”.
“In assessing the president’s actions discussed in the report it is important to bear in mind the context,” Barr pleaded. “There is substantial evidence to show that the president was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents and fueled by illegal leaks.”“In assessing the president’s actions discussed in the report it is important to bear in mind the context,” Barr pleaded. “There is substantial evidence to show that the president was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents and fueled by illegal leaks.”
Democrats cried foul at Barr’s decision to preview the contents of the Mueller report before copies of the report were made available to Congress or the public. Barr, who insisted he was “committed to ensuring the greatest degree possible of transparency”, acknowledged that justice department officials met with White House lawyers repeatedly in recent weeks to discuss the contents of the report, in a process that helped the president’s team prepare a rebuttal.Democrats cried foul at Barr’s decision to preview the contents of the Mueller report before copies of the report were made available to Congress or the public. Barr, who insisted he was “committed to ensuring the greatest degree possible of transparency”, acknowledged that justice department officials met with White House lawyers repeatedly in recent weeks to discuss the contents of the report, in a process that helped the president’s team prepare a rebuttal.
Matthew Miller, a former justice department spokesman under Barack Obama, called Barr’s performance “shameful”. “Never thought I would hear an attorney general stand up and make excuses for a president’s repeated attacks on the department of justice and its lawful investigations,” Miller tweeted.
In his news conference, Barr repeatedly claimed that Trump and his campaign associates had been cleared of suspected wrongdoing connected with Russian tampering in the 2016 presidential election.In his news conference, Barr repeatedly claimed that Trump and his campaign associates had been cleared of suspected wrongdoing connected with Russian tampering in the 2016 presidential election.
“We now know that the Russian operatives who perpetrated these schemes did not have the cooperation of President Trump or the Trump campaign, or the knowing participation of any other American,” Barr said. “We now know that the Russian operatives who perpetrated these schemes did not have the cooperation of President Trump or the Trump campaign, or the knowing assistance of any other American,” Barr said.
“So that’s the bottom line,” Barr continued. “After nearly two years of investigation, thousands of subpoenas, hundreds of warrants and witness interviews, the special counsel confirmed that the Russian government sponsored efforts to illegally interfere with the 2016 presidential election, but did not find that the Trump campaign or other Americans colluded in those efforts.” Mueller’s report said that contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives spanned business connections relating to the plans for a Trump property development in Moscow, along with invitations for campaign officials including Trump to meet Russian officials including the president, Vladimir Putin.
However, the special counsel did not establish that there was an overarching conspiracy between Trump’s team and the Russian government, and found insufficient grounds to bring charges for incidents including the notorious Trump Tower meeting of June 2016.
Barr said the White House had “fully cooperated” with the Mueller investigation, eliding Trump’s refusal of Mueller’s request that the president sit for questions about his conduct and his campaign.Barr said the White House had “fully cooperated” with the Mueller investigation, eliding Trump’s refusal of Mueller’s request that the president sit for questions about his conduct and his campaign.
Barr spoke to the media before the justice department handed over copies of a redacted Mueller report to Congress. The report represents the culmination of a nearly two-year investigation of Russian election tampering, the Trump campaign and alleged wrongdoing by the president, which Trump has denied. But while painstaking, Barr’s defense of Trump left open questions about misconduct that the report could reveal, apart from the episodes of potential obstruction of justice by Trump. In describing potential cooperation by Trump campaign associates in the dissemination of emails stolen from Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Barr said that no such dissemination had been carried out “illegally” – but Barr did not rule out such conduct.
The public release of the 400-page Mueller report marks a significant moment for a country on tenterhooks over what the former FBI director has uncovered. It marks the first time that US citizens and members of Congress will be able to hear from the special counsel directly rather than through the lens of his Department of Justice bosses or the media.
Democrats had warned that Barr’s decision to hold a press conference before Congress or the press had seen the report amounted to a diversion tactic.Democrats had warned that Barr’s decision to hold a press conference before Congress or the press had seen the report amounted to a diversion tactic.
“The central concern here is that attorney general Barr is not allowing the facts of the Mueller report to speak for themselves, but is instead trying to bake in the narrative about the report to the benefit of the White House,” Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House judiciary committee, said at a press conference Wednesday. As Barr spoke, Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House judiciary committee, released a letter requesting Mueller’s testimony before his committee “as soon as possible”. The House intelligence committee likewise requested Mueller’s testimony.
As Barr spoke, Nadler released a letter requesting Mueller’s testimony before his committee “as soon as possible”.
Trump began the day with a torrent of bile directed at Democrats, Hillary Clinton and the redacted report’s imminent release. “PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!” Trump tweeted. He followed with six tweets promoting conspiracy theories about Clinton and alleged FBI misconduct in its investigation of his campaign’s ties to Russians.
After Barr’s press conference, Trump tweeted a stylized illustration of himself standing in fog, reading: “No collusion. No obstruction. For the haters and the radical left Democrats – Game Over.”After Barr’s press conference, Trump tweeted a stylized illustration of himself standing in fog, reading: “No collusion. No obstruction. For the haters and the radical left Democrats – Game Over.”
Trump had previously claimed that the report “totally exonerated” him. “I’m having a good day too,” Trump said within earshot of reporters at a White House event as the Mueller report was released. “It’s called no collusion, no obstruction.”
pic.twitter.com/222atp7wuBpic.twitter.com/222atp7wuB
Since the report was handed on 21 March to the recently appointed US attorney general, Barr has been busily obscuring parts of it from public and congressional view. Barr has insisted the redactions are necessary for legal reasons involving material gathered secretly by a grand jury and evidence in other continuing criminal cases.Since the report was handed on 21 March to the recently appointed US attorney general, Barr has been busily obscuring parts of it from public and congressional view. Barr has insisted the redactions are necessary for legal reasons involving material gathered secretly by a grand jury and evidence in other continuing criminal cases.
But Democrats remain suspicious, given the fact that Barr was handpicked by Trump to head the justice department and the speed with which he rushed out a four-page summary of the Mueller report – a summary that was generally favorable to Trump.But Democrats remain suspicious, given the fact that Barr was handpicked by Trump to head the justice department and the speed with which he rushed out a four-page summary of the Mueller report – a summary that was generally favorable to Trump.
There will be much riding on what emerges from the report. Criminal charges have been ruled out after Barr said that he and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, had decided there was insufficient evidence to establish that Trump had committed obstruction of justice. Criminal charges brought by the justice department were ruled out after Barr said that he and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, had decided there was insufficient evidence to establish that Trump had committed obstruction of justice.
It remains a possibility, though unlikely, that Democratic leaders in the House will see material in the report that merits the framing of impeachment charges against the president. The Mueller report could also provide political ammunition against Trump as the president seeks re-election in next year’s presidential contest.It remains a possibility, though unlikely, that Democratic leaders in the House will see material in the report that merits the framing of impeachment charges against the president. The Mueller report could also provide political ammunition against Trump as the president seeks re-election in next year’s presidential contest.
Trump-Russia investigationTrump-Russia investigation
William BarrWilliam Barr
Robert MuellerRobert Mueller
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
US politicsUS politics
US CongressUS Congress
Trump administrationTrump administration
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