Mueller Confirms No Evidence Trump Colluded with Russia
Special counsel gives first and last statement on the Russia Probe
© press
Robert Mueller gave a statement before the world's press Wednesday, regarding his 22-month-long investigation into interference in the 2016 election, confirming that his probe found no evidence that Presdient Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia.
During his remarks, Mueller said his statement will be his first and last comments on the matter as he is resigning from his role and the special counsel's office will be shut down now the investigation is complete.
Mueller said he was resigning from the Justice Department because his work is done and the conclusion of the probe was detailed in his report.
He stated that he now wishes to "return to private life" before explaining his decision not to charge President Trump with a crime.
"We are formally closing the Special Counsel's Office and as well I'm resigning from the Department of Justice to return to private life."
Mr. Mueller said his investigation concluded there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.
Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2019
Reacting on Twitter, Mr. Trump said: "The case is closed! Thank you."
"Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent," the president added.
Mueller started and ended his statement by emphasizing that America was under attack during the 2016 election by malign foreign actors but reiterated that they did not conspire with Trump.
He said those allegations of Russian meddling deserve the attention of "every American."
© press
"It is important the office's written work speaks for itself," Mueller said about his team's 400-page report.
"If we had had confidence the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so," Mueller said, explaining where his office continued investigating Trump for obstruction of justice.
"We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime.
"The introduction to Volume Two of our report explains that decision.
"It explains that under longstanding department policy, the president can not be charged with a federal crime while in office -- that is unconstitutional -- even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view."
"Charging the president with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider," he also said.
"It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of a crime when there can be no court resolution of the actual charge.
"So that was Justice Department policy.
"Those were the principles under which we operated.
"And from them, we concluded that we would not reach a determination one way or the other about whether the president committed a crime.
"That is the office's final position and we will not comment on any other conclusions or hypotheticals about the president."
© press
"We appreciate that the attorney general made the report largely public, and we do not question the attorney general's good faith in that decision," Mueller continued.
"I hope and expect this will be the only time I speak to you in this manner," he concluded.
"There has been a discussion about an appearance before Congress.
"Any testimony from this office would not go beyond our report.
"It contains our findings, analysis, and the decision we made...
"The report is my testimony."
"So beyond what is said here today and what is contained in our written work, I do not believe it is appropriate for me to speak further... and it is for that reason I will not be taking questions today as well."
