Robert Mueller statement: What special counsel really meant
Robert Mueller: Charging Donald Trump"was not an option"For the first time in his more than two years as special counsel, Mueller has spoken publicly about his investigation.
Mr Trump himself has repeatedly called into question whether Russia was behind the cyber-attacks of 2016, and his aides - like presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner - have dismissed the allegations as"a couple of Facebook ads". A finding of"insufficient evidence" isn't exactly the"total exoneration" that Mr Trump claimed shortly after his attorney general released a four-page summary of Mueller's report in March. And in his first response to the Mueller statement, the president appeared much less definitive in his defence.
Barr, however, was crystal clear that he - and, as a result, the justice department - did not view the president as having committed a criminal offence, regardless of what department guidance may say about the constitutionality of indicting a presidential.Why no charge of obstruction of justice? A law professor breaks down the legal questions.
For the president's critics, this silence speaks volumes. Mueller noting this again from the podium only drove the point home.If Mueller has his way, ending the investigation will close the book on his part of this multi-year political drama.Hopes and expectations may not be sufficient, however, as Democrats in Congress continue to call for the former special counsel to appear before their committees and answer their questions - with subpoenas if necessary.
They're certainly not going to let the matter end, as Republicans in the White House and Congress are insisting. Is it time for impeachment proceedings to begin?
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