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| Mueller's testimony on Trump and Russia: six of the biggest takeaways | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| In highly anticipated testimony before the US Congress on Wednesday, the former special counsel Robert Mueller submitted to hours of questioning. | In highly anticipated testimony before the US Congress on Wednesday, the former special counsel Robert Mueller submitted to hours of questioning. |
| His testimony comes four months after he concluded the two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and the Trump campaign’s ties to Moscow, the findings of which were detailed in a 448-page report released in April. | His testimony comes four months after he concluded the two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and the Trump campaign’s ties to Moscow, the findings of which were detailed in a 448-page report released in April. |
| Mueller contradicts Trump's false claim he was 'totally exonerated' by report | Mueller contradicts Trump's false claim he was 'totally exonerated' by report |
| Here are the key takeaways: | Here are the key takeaways: |
| Trump was not exonerated | Trump was not exonerated |
| Since the conclusion of the investigation, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed “total exoneration” – despite Mueller’s report explicitly stating otherwise. | Since the conclusion of the investigation, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed “total exoneration” – despite Mueller’s report explicitly stating otherwise. |
| Mueller himself shot down the president’s assertion within minutes of the first hearing starting, when he was asked by the House judiciary committee chairman, Jerry Nadler, if the special counsel had cleared Trump of wrongdoing. | Mueller himself shot down the president’s assertion within minutes of the first hearing starting, when he was asked by the House judiciary committee chairman, Jerry Nadler, if the special counsel had cleared Trump of wrongdoing. |
| “The finding indicates that the president was not exculpated for the acts that he allegedly committed,” Mueller said. “It is not what the report said.” | “The finding indicates that the president was not exculpated for the acts that he allegedly committed,” Mueller said. “It is not what the report said.” |
| Testifying under oath, Mueller also confirmed several attempts by Trump to impede the special counsel investigation, adding: “Obstruction of justice strikes at the core of the government’s effort to find the truth and to hold wrongdoers accountable.” | Testifying under oath, Mueller also confirmed several attempts by Trump to impede the special counsel investigation, adding: “Obstruction of justice strikes at the core of the government’s effort to find the truth and to hold wrongdoers accountable.” |
| Mueller acknowledged Trump’s alleged efforts to obstruct the investigation proved unsuccessful – a statement swiftly seized upon by the president, who tweeted during the hearing to falsely suggest again that he was being absolved of obstruction. | Mueller acknowledged Trump’s alleged efforts to obstruct the investigation proved unsuccessful – a statement swiftly seized upon by the president, who tweeted during the hearing to falsely suggest again that he was being absolved of obstruction. |
| “Mueller was asked whether or not the investigation was impeded in any way, and he said no.” In other words, there was NO OBSTRUCTION. @KatiePavlich @FoxNews | “Mueller was asked whether or not the investigation was impeded in any way, and he said no.” In other words, there was NO OBSTRUCTION. @KatiePavlich @FoxNews |
| Mueller and his team were never going to indict Trump | Mueller and his team were never going to indict Trump |
| The decision by Mueller and his team to steer clear of making a final determination on whether Trump committed a crime has been a subject of intense debate. | The decision by Mueller and his team to steer clear of making a final determination on whether Trump committed a crime has been a subject of intense debate. |
| But Mueller confirmed on Wednesday that the special counsel’s office knew from the outset of the investigation that it would not result in Trump being indicted. | But Mueller confirmed on Wednesday that the special counsel’s office knew from the outset of the investigation that it would not result in Trump being indicted. |
| Consistent with his report, Mueller said the special counsel relied on internal justice department guidelines under which the indictment of a sitting president would be “unconstitutional”. | Consistent with his report, Mueller said the special counsel relied on internal justice department guidelines under which the indictment of a sitting president would be “unconstitutional”. |
| Legal experts remain split on the policy and its implications, but Mueller reaffirmed that his team viewed its mandate as delivering a report to the justice department and leaving the evidence in the hands of Congress. | Legal experts remain split on the policy and its implications, but Mueller reaffirmed that his team viewed its mandate as delivering a report to the justice department and leaving the evidence in the hands of Congress. |
| Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, asked Mueller: “The reason again that you did not indict Donald Trump is because of the [Office of Legal Counsel] opinion stating that you cannot indict a sitting president, correct?” | Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, asked Mueller: “The reason again that you did not indict Donald Trump is because of the [Office of Legal Counsel] opinion stating that you cannot indict a sitting president, correct?” |
| “That is correct,” Mueller responded. | “That is correct,” Mueller responded. |
| But Mueller corrected himself before the intelligence committee. He said that the OLC policy in fact prevented him from making a determination on whether Trump should be charged. | But Mueller corrected himself before the intelligence committee. He said that the OLC policy in fact prevented him from making a determination on whether Trump should be charged. |
| Trump could be charged with a crime after leaving office | Trump could be charged with a crime after leaving office |
| Under further questioning from the Representative Ken Buck, a Republican of Colorado, Mueller also said Trump could be charged with a crime after he left office. | Under further questioning from the Representative Ken Buck, a Republican of Colorado, Mueller also said Trump could be charged with a crime after he left office. |
| Rep. Buck: "Could you charge the president with a crime after he left office?"Mueller: "Yes."Buck: "You believe that you could charge the president of the United States with obstruction of justice after he left office?"Mueller: "Yes." https://t.co/m9KGQtpbkx pic.twitter.com/Sd1e1B7WMi | Rep. Buck: "Could you charge the president with a crime after he left office?"Mueller: "Yes."Buck: "You believe that you could charge the president of the United States with obstruction of justice after he left office?"Mueller: "Yes." https://t.co/m9KGQtpbkx pic.twitter.com/Sd1e1B7WMi |
| Republicans focused on discrediting Mueller | Republicans focused on discrediting Mueller |
| Nearly every Republican member of the House judiciary committee used his or her time to either suggest Trump was innocent or accuse Mueller’s team of being politically motivated. | Nearly every Republican member of the House judiciary committee used his or her time to either suggest Trump was innocent or accuse Mueller’s team of being politically motivated. |
| Several Republicans brought up the dossier compiled by the former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele detailing allegations of Trump’s ties to Moscow. They also questioned the role of Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm that employed Steele for his work and was first paid by the conservative website Free Beacon and later retained by a law firm working for the Democratic party. | Several Republicans brought up the dossier compiled by the former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele detailing allegations of Trump’s ties to Moscow. They also questioned the role of Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm that employed Steele for his work and was first paid by the conservative website Free Beacon and later retained by a law firm working for the Democratic party. |
| Mueller, who said he was unfamiliar with Fusion GPS, declined to address matters related to the Steele dossier, telling lawmakers they were “the subject of ongoing review” by the justice department. | Mueller, who said he was unfamiliar with Fusion GPS, declined to address matters related to the Steele dossier, telling lawmakers they were “the subject of ongoing review” by the justice department. |
| Representative Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Texas, angrily grilled Mueller on anti-Trump text messages sent by Peter Strzok, a former member of the special counsel’s team. Mueller said he had been unaware of Strzok’s animus toward Trump, and pointed out the former FBI agent was immediately reassigned when his anti-Trump messages were uncovered. | Representative Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Texas, angrily grilled Mueller on anti-Trump text messages sent by Peter Strzok, a former member of the special counsel’s team. Mueller said he had been unaware of Strzok’s animus toward Trump, and pointed out the former FBI agent was immediately reassigned when his anti-Trump messages were uncovered. |
| In one of his most animated moments, Mueller forcefully defended the integrity of his team. | In one of his most animated moments, Mueller forcefully defended the integrity of his team. |
| “Can I say something about the hiring practices? I’ve been in this business for 25 years,” a visibly agitated Mueller told lawmakers. “I have not had occasion once to ask somebody about their political affiliation. It is not done. | “Can I say something about the hiring practices? I’ve been in this business for 25 years,” a visibly agitated Mueller told lawmakers. “I have not had occasion once to ask somebody about their political affiliation. It is not done. |
| “What I care about is the capability of the individuals to do the job, seriously, with integrity.” | “What I care about is the capability of the individuals to do the job, seriously, with integrity.” |
| Mueller says he did not seek FBI director job | Mueller says he did not seek FBI director job |
| In seeking to cast the former special counsel as having a conflict of interest, Trump has repeatedly claimed that he interviewed Mueller at the White House for the role of FBI director. Trump has said for months that Mueller was considered for the job, but turned down, just before he was appointed as special counsel. | In seeking to cast the former special counsel as having a conflict of interest, Trump has repeatedly claimed that he interviewed Mueller at the White House for the role of FBI director. Trump has said for months that Mueller was considered for the job, but turned down, just before he was appointed as special counsel. |
| Mueller stated under oath that he was not, in fact, a candidate for FBI director under Trump. Instead, Mueller said he shared with Trump his expertise – having previously served as FBI director – on what the role entailed. | Mueller stated under oath that he was not, in fact, a candidate for FBI director under Trump. Instead, Mueller said he shared with Trump his expertise – having previously served as FBI director – on what the role entailed. |
| “I was not applying for the job,” Mueller said. | “I was not applying for the job,” Mueller said. |
| Trump responded on Twitter by insisting Mueller wanted the job and claiming there were witnesses to the interview, including the vice-president, Mike Pence. | Trump responded on Twitter by insisting Mueller wanted the job and claiming there were witnesses to the interview, including the vice-president, Mike Pence. |
| ....interview, including the Vice President of the United States! | ....interview, including the Vice President of the United States! |
| During his testimony, Mueller denied he had any conflicts in overseeing the investigation. | During his testimony, Mueller denied he had any conflicts in overseeing the investigation. |
| Mueller confirms several episodes of possible obstruction | Mueller confirms several episodes of possible obstruction |
| It was clear from the get-go that Mueller would offer few, if any, new details about his investigation and its findings. | It was clear from the get-go that Mueller would offer few, if any, new details about his investigation and its findings. |
| In most of his answers, Mueller either referred lawmakers back to his report or tersely stood by its contents. He also declined to address several issues, citing limitations based on ongoing investigations or the agreement he reached with the justice department surrounding his testimony. | In most of his answers, Mueller either referred lawmakers back to his report or tersely stood by its contents. He also declined to address several issues, citing limitations based on ongoing investigations or the agreement he reached with the justice department surrounding his testimony. |
| But there were several crucial moments in the obstruction inquiry of his report that Mueller confirmed under oath, which taken together could provide Democrats with a roadmap to impeachment. | But there were several crucial moments in the obstruction inquiry of his report that Mueller confirmed under oath, which taken together could provide Democrats with a roadmap to impeachment. |
| Most notably, Mueller reaffirmed that Trump ordered the former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire him. McGahn, one of the central witnesses in Mueller’s investigation, refused to carry out Trump’s orders and threatened to resign. | Most notably, Mueller reaffirmed that Trump ordered the former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire him. McGahn, one of the central witnesses in Mueller’s investigation, refused to carry out Trump’s orders and threatened to resign. |
| Trump-Russia investigation | Trump-Russia investigation |
| Robert Mueller | Robert Mueller |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| House of Representatives | House of Representatives |
| US Congress | US Congress |
| news | news |
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