Trump news: Mueller hints he was blocked from charging president with obstruction of justice in damning resignation speech
Special counsel says if his team could have cleared the president of a crime 'we would have said so'
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Your support makes all the difference.FBI special counsel Robert Mueller spoke out about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, saying Donald Trump could not have been charged due to Justice Department guidelines that bar indictments against a sitting president.
The special counsel focused most of his statement on Russia's sweeping interference operations, concluding his remarks by saying, "There were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election. And that allegation deserves the attention of every American."
Mr Mueller declined to exonerate the president since he did not have enough evidence to clear him of a crime, the special counsel noted on Wednesday, which marked his first statement made directly to the public since beginning his investigation two years ago.
The special counsel made clear he believed he was restrained from indicting a sitting president — such an action was “not an option” — because of a Justice Department legal opinion. He did not use the word ‘impeachment” but said it was Congress’ job to hold the president accountable for any wrongdoing.
“If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so,” he said. “We did not however make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime.”
The special counsel's statement largely echoed the central points of his 448-page report released last month with some redactions. But his remarks, just under 10 minutes long and delivered from a Justice Department podium, were nonetheless extraordinary given that he had never before discussed or characterised his findings and had stayed mute during two years of feverish public speculation.
Mr Mueller, a former FBI director, said his work was complete and he was resigning to return to private life. For his rare appearance, he wore a black suit, crisp white shirt and blue tie, walking briskly onto the stage gripping a folder containing prepared remarks that he largely adhered to.
His remarks underscored the unsettled resolution, and revelations of behind-the-scenes discontent, that accompanied the end of his investigation. Mr Mueller’s refusal to reach a conclusion on criminal obstruction opened the door for William Barr, the attorney general, to clear the president, who in turn has cited the attorney general’s finding as proof of his innocence.
Mr Mueller has privately vented to Mr Barr about his handling of the report, while Mr Barr has publicly said he was taken aback by the special counsel’s decision to neither exonerate nor incriminate the president.
Under pressure to testify before Congress, Mr Mueller did not rule it out. But he seemed to warn lawmakers that they would not be pulling more detail out of him. His report is “my testimony,” he said, and he won’t go beyond what is written in it.
“So beyond what I have said here today and what is contained in our written work,” Mr Mueller said, “I do not believe it is appropriate for me to speak further about the investigation or to comment on the actions of the Justice Department or Congress.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load
Former CIA Director John Brennan has spoken out about Robert Mueller’s statement, saying on MSNBC, “I don’t think [Mueller] could be any clearer than that.”
“Again, that language is very, very carefully worded,” he continued. “That clearly shows that he could not, in all of his investigative work, demonstrate to his satisfaction ... that Mr. Trump did not obstruct justice."
Donald Trump has spoken out about Robert Mueller’s statement on the special counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
"Nothing changes from the Mueller report," he said. "There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you."
In other news, reports indicate Donald Trump will meet with the Turkish president at the upcoming G20 summit:
House Judiciary Committee Jerrold Nadler released a statement shortly after Robert Mueller’s conference, saying: “Given that Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the President, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies and other wrongdoing of President Trump – and we will do so."
The 2020 hopefuls are beginning to speak out about Robert Mueller’s latest statement. Here’s Elizabeth Warren calling for Congress to kick off impeachment proceedings:
Kamala Harris has now spoken out about Robert Mueller’s statement as well, saying on MSNBC: “Most importantly, what we learned is that the Special Counsel did not return an indictment because of that memo. In other words, but for that memo ... is that there would have been indictments returned against this president."
Another 2020 candidate speaks out about Robert Mueller’s statement.
Corey Booker has now called for impeachment proceedings to begin “immediately.”
Donald Trump complained “the Jews always flip” after a number of former Jewish associates agreed to cooperate with the Mueller probe, according to an explosive new book by journalist Michael Wolff.
The claim, in which Mr Trump accused Jewish people of lacking loyalty – an antisemitic trope, comes amid an effort by the president and his Republican allies to cast figures within the Democratic Party as being anti-Jewish and hostile to Israel.
According to The Guardian, which obtained a copy of Mr Wolff’s Siege: Trump Under Fire, Mr Trump made the remark after three former associates struck agreements to cooperate with Robert Mueller, who was investigating Russian links to the Trump presidential campaign.
Republican leadership has meanwhile sought to downplay Robert Mueller’s statement, with Lindsey Graham saying “the case is over” for him and “Congress should follow his lead,” referring to the special counsel’s decision to end the probe.
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