US Attorney General William Barr released a redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russia’s role in the US presidential elections 2016.
The release of the doc, which is nearly 450 pages long with large chunks of blacked out text, was watershed moment in Donal Trumps presidency.
Mueller did not conclude that Trump has committed obstruction of justice, but did not exonerate him either.
The following question of whether the Trump campaign had colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign; Mueller wrote, “While the investigation identified numerous links between individuals with ties to the Russian government and associated with the Trump campaign, the evidence was not sufficient to support criminal charges.
Trump’s legal team, however, see this as a victory for the president. While democrates criticized Barr for his handling of the report, they call for a full un-redacted findings of the investigation.
Trump attempted to take control of the probe
Mueller’s report revealed 10 episodes for possible obstruction of justice, including Trump firings FBI Director James Comey, the presidents directive to subordinates to have Mueller fired and efforts to encourage witnesses not to cooperate.
The report also added that in 2017 Trump directed White House Counsel Don McGhan to call the acting attorney general and say the Mueller must be removed because he had conflicts of interest.
The report indicted that there was substantial evidence that Trump fired James Comey as FBI director in 2017 due to his unwillingness to publicly state that the president was not personally under investigation.
While declining to prosecute Trump for obstruction, the special counsel said such a determination could be left to the US Congress.
Questions Of collusion: ‘Not sufficient evidence for criminal charges’
The question whether trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election; Mueller wrote; “While the investigation identifies links between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign, the evidence was not sufficient to support criminal charges.”
There were contacts but it added efforts didn’t amount to criminal conspiracy.
Mueller also said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to charge any campaign officials with working as an unregistered foreign agent of Russia.
Trump believed that appointment of Mueller would end his presidency
Based on the report it indicted that the appointment of special counsel Robert mueller wold end his presidency.
When the attorney general Jeff Sessions informed Trump of Mueller’s appointment in May 2017, the report said, Trump slumped back in his chair and said “oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m f***ed”
Trump then asked Sessions; “How could you let this happen, Jeff?”
Jeff Sessions, who resigned in November 2018, recalled that Trump said said to him “You were supposed to protect me,” or words in that effect, the report said.
