“The special counsel’s investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election,” Attorney General William Barr wrote in a letter to congress.
The US Attorney General, William Barr, delivered on Sunday a four page summary of special counsel Robert Mueller’s highly anticipated report into alleged co-operation between Trump’s campaign and Russia.
Mueller has not filed any further criminal indictments following a two year long investigation that saw Mueller issue close to 3,000 subpoenas, 500 search warrants and has seen at least eight guilty pleas or convictions from some of Trump’s closest advisors. Paul Manafort, George Papadopoulos and Rick Gates all pled guilty for crimes committed during the 2016 campaign.
Democrats have demanded that the report is released in its entirety and are threatening to issue a subpoena and take the Trump admin to court if they are not satisfied with details provided by the Department of Justice.
Summary of William Barr’s letter:
- Barr’s summary letter says there were two main efforts Russian efforts to influence the campaign.
- Mueller did not find that any American person or the Trump campaign knowingly conspired with Russia.
- Mueller’s report says evidence does not establish that Trump was involved in crimes related to Russian election interference.
- Mueller’s report says not enough evidence to suggest that Trump obstructed justice.
- Mueller’s report concludes that there were ‘multiple offers from Russian affiliated individuals to assist the Trump Campaign.’
- Mueller issued more than 2,800 subpoenas and almost 500 search warrants as part of the investigation.
- The report “does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him’.
Jerry Nadler, the democratic House Judiciary Chairman, said “We will try to negotiate. We will try everything else first. But if we have to, yes, we will certainly issue subpoenas to get that information.”
Barr’s letter stated that he and deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein are determined that a prosecution should not be brought against President Donald Trump for obstruction of justice.
While Mueller’s investigation is over, there are still several criminal investigations ongoing.
The US Attorney’s office in Manhattan continues to look into allegations put forward by Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen.
