May 29, 2019
U.S. Department of Justice
Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III Makes Statement on Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election
Two years ago, the Acting Attorney General asked me to serve as Special Counsel, and he created the Special Counsel’s Office.The appointment order directed the office to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This included investigating any links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign.
I have not spoken publicly during our investigation. I am speaking today because our investigation is complete. The Attorney General has made the report on our investigation largely public. And we are formally closing the Special Counsel’s Office. As well, I am resigning from the Department of Justice and returning to private life.
I’ll make a few remarks about the results of our work. But beyond these few remarks, it is important that the office’s written work speak for itself.
Let me begin where the appointment order begins: and that is interference in the 2016 presidential election.
As alleged by the grand jury in an indictment, Russian intelligence officers who were part of the Russian military launched a concerted attack on our political system.
The indictment alleges that they used sophisticated cyber techniques to hack into computers and networks used by the Clinton campaign. They stole private information, and then released that information through fake online identities and through the organization WikiLeaks. The releases were designed and timed to interfere with our election and to damage a presidential candidate.
And at the same time, as the grand jury alleged in a separate indictment, a private Russian entity engaged in a social media operation where Russian citizens posed as Americans in order to interfere in the election.
These indictments contain allegations. And we are not commenting on the guilt or innocence of any specific defendant. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The indictments allege, and the other activities in our report describe, efforts to interfere in our political system. They needed to be investigated and understood. That is among the reasons why the Department of Justice established our office.
That is also a reason we investigated efforts to obstruct the investigation. The matters we investigated were of paramount importance. It was critical for us to obtain full and accurate information from every person we questioned. When a subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of the government’s effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable.
Let me say a word about the report. The report has two parts addressing the two main issues we were asked to investigate.
The first volume of the report details numerous efforts emanating from Russia to influence the election. This volume includes a discussion of the Trump campaign’s response to this activity, as well as our conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to charge a broader conspiracy.
And in the second volume, the report describes the results and analysis of our obstruction of justice investigation involving the President.
The order appointing me Special Counsel authorized us to investigate actions that could obstruct the investigation. We conducted that investigation and we kept the office of the Acting Attorney General apprised of the progress of our work.
As set forth in our report, after that investigation, if we had confidence that the President clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said that.
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 long-standing Department policy, a President cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office. That is unconstitutional. Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view—that too is prohibited.
The Special Counsel’s Office is part of the Department of Justice and, by regulation, it was bound by that Department policy. Charging the President with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider.
The Department’s written opinion explaining the policy against charging a President makes several important points that further informed our handling of the obstruction investigation. Those points are summarized in our report. And I will describe two of them:
First, the opinion explicitly permits the investigation of a sitting President because it is important to preserve evidence while memories are fresh and documents are available. Among other things, that evidence could be used if there were co-conspirators who could now be charged.
And second, the opinion says that the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting President of wrongdoing.
And beyond Department policy, we were guided by principles of fairness. It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of a crime when there can be no court resolution of an actual charge.
So that was the Justice Department policy and those were the principles under which we operated. 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.
We conducted an independent criminal investigation and reported the results to the Attorney General—as required by Department regulations.
The Attorney General then concluded that it was appropriate to provide our report to Congress and the American people.
At one point in time I requested that certain portions of the report be released. The Attorney General preferred to make the entire report public all at once. We appreciate that the Attorney General made the report largely public. I do not question the Attorney General’s good faith in that decision.
I hope and expect this to be the only time that I will speak about this matter. I am making that decision myself—no one has told me whether I can or should testify or speak further about this matter.
There has been discussion about an appearance before Congress. Any testimony from this office would not go beyond our report. It contains our findings and analysis, and the reasons for the decisions we made. We chose those words carefully, and the work speaks for itself.
The report is my testimony. I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress.
In addition, access to our underlying work product is being decided in a process that does not involve our office.
So beyond what I have said here today and what is contained in our written work, 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.
It is for that reason that I will not take questions here today.
Before I step away, I want to thank the attorneys, the FBI agents, the analysts, and the professional staff who helped us conduct this investigation in a fair and independent manner. These individuals, who spent nearly two years with the Special Counsel’s Office, were of the highest integrity.
I will close by reiterating the central allegation of our indictments—that there were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election.
That allegation deserves the attention of every American.
Thank you.
Cory 2020
Cory Booker Calls for Impeachment Proceedings
Newark, NJ – Cory Booker issued the following statement:“I have been asking for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony, and today he made his views clear. Mueller said directly that it wasn’t for lack of evidence that criminal charges weren’t brought against President Trump -- but because of Department of Justice policy. He made clear that it is the role of Congress to evaluate evidence against a sitting President and act accordingly.
“Since the Mueller report became public, the president has consistently stonewalled Congressional oversight efforts and has made it nearly impossible to investigate serious open questions presented by the report. The president’s clear marching orders to Attorney General Barr and former White House Counsel Don McGahn demanding that they refuse congressional subpoenas is simply the latest example of the lengths to which this president is willing to go in order to prevent the American people from learning the truth.
"We have one remaining path to ensure justice is served. It is our legal and moral obligation to hold those who have committed crimes accountable. It’s clear that the House must begin impeachment proceedings. No one is above the law.”
# # #
Bullock for PresidentGovernor Bullock Response to Mueller Press Conference
Helena, MT – Following Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s press conference, Democratic Presidential Candidate Montana Governor Steve Bullock released the following statement:"Congress should fulfill its constitutionally empowered oversight of this Administration, and the President and his staff have an obligation to be responsive to those investigations," said Governor Steve Bullock. "As a former Attorney General, I know that no individual is above the law. While Congress exercises its oversight authority, it is important to remember what Americans are focused on. When I speak with voters in Iowa and across the country, I hear concerns about the costs of healthcare, cost of living, and sharing in the opportunity of our country. We should expect our leaders to focus on both."
###
Posted on Twitter Wednesday morning, Secretary Castro wrote "Mueller made clear this morning that his investigation now lays at the feet of Congress. No one is above the law—Congress should begin an impeachment inquiry."
Gillibrand 2020Julián
for the Future
SAN ANTONIO, TX (May 29, 2019) – On Wednesday, May 29,
presidential candidate, former Obama Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and Mayor of San Antonio,
Texas, Julián Castro, issued the following statement after
Special Counsel Robert Mueller delivered prepared remarks on the
conclusion of his investigation. Secretary Castro was the
first 2020 candidate to call for Congress to begin an impeachment
inquiry on Donald Trump, following the release of the Special Counsel's
redacted report highlighting multiple instances that Donald Trump
obstructed justice. Secretary Castro will discuss
Special Counsel Mueller's statement live with MSNBC's Ari Melber today
at 1:30 PM ET/12:30 PM CT.Julián Castro Issues Statement on Mueller Press Conference
Posted on Twitter Wednesday morning, Secretary Castro wrote "Mueller made clear this morning that his investigation now lays at the feet of Congress. No one is above the law—Congress should begin an impeachment inquiry."
GILLIBRAND CALLS ON CONGRESS TO BEGIN IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS
FOLLOWING MUELLER'S PRESS BRIEFING
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement
in response to special counsel Robert Mueller’s press
briefing: "From the beginning, I have called for a proper process in order to secure key testimony and information related to the Mueller investigation, so that Congress - as a co-equal branch of government - can fulfill its responsibility to deliver the truth to the American people. But the White House has repeatedly stonewalled Congress' ability to take basic fact-finding steps and make an informed decision. Combined with the fact that Robert Mueller clearly expects Congress to exercise its constitutional authority and take steps that he could not, it's time for Republicans and Democrats to begin impeachment hearings and follow the facts wherever they may lead. We cannot let this president defy basic accountability measures built into our Constitution."
Kamala for the People
@JayInslee
Donald Trump and William Barr lied about the Mueller report. Robert Mueller made it clear: No exoneration.
@BetoORourke
As Mueller reiterates that there were "multiple, systemic efforts to interfere in our election," Trump calls it a hoax. He invited these attacks, obstructed the investigation into them, and told Putin there will be no consequences for launching a concerted attack on our political system. There must be consequences, accountability, and justice. The only way to ensure that is to begin impeachment proceedings.
Donald Trump and William Barr lied about the Mueller report. Robert Mueller made it clear: No exoneration.
@BetoORourke
As Mueller reiterates that there were "multiple, systemic efforts to interfere in our election," Trump calls it a hoax. He invited these attacks, obstructed the investigation into them, and told Putin there will be no consequences for launching a concerted attack on our political system. There must be consequences, accountability, and justice. The only way to ensure that is to begin impeachment proceedings.
@realDonaldTrump
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 for President, Inc.
Trump Campaign Statement on Robert Mueller Remarks
“Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s remarks today confirmed what we already knew. There was no collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign, and there was no case for obstruction. President Trump has been fully and completely exonerated. Mueller said his investigation is over. The case is now closed.
“Now it’s time to turn to the origins of the Russia hoax and get to the bottom of why the Trump campaign was spied on by the Obama-era DOJ and FBI. Anyone who is for transparency, constitutional civil liberties, and the rule of law should want to know why human sources, wiretapping, and unmasking were used to infiltrate a presidential campaign.”
- Brad Parscale, Campaign Manager
Republican National Committee
Steve Guest - Communications/Research
Today changes nothing
Democrats who are suddenly calling for impeachment proceedings today are only embarrassing themselves.
Robert Mueller said absolutely nothing new today other than that he would not appear before Congress and is returning to private life, saying he would let his report, issued over a month ago, serve as his testimony.
Democrats who now call for impeachment are only proving one thing: that they never actually read the report in the first place:
If these Democrats actually read
Mueller’s written work
they would have found that it definitively “did
not
establish
that
the
[Trump] campaign coordinated or conspired with
the Russian government in its election-interference activities.”
The Mueller Report found there was no “evidence that any U.S. person who coordinated or communicated with the IRA [Internet Research Agency] knew that he or she was speaking with Russian nationals engaged in criminal conspiracy.”
The Department Of Justice, based off of the evidence compiled in the Mueller Report, found no evidence of obstruction of justice by President Trump.
Bottom Line: After 675 days of investigating, $35 million, 500 search warrants, 500 witnesses interviewed, Mueller’s report makes it clear there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign and there is no clear case for obstruction (How could there be if there was no crime in the first place?). It is time for Democrats to stop pushing this phony collusion hoax and start working for the American people by ratifying the USMCA, funding border security, passing merit-based immigration reform, passing an infrastructure bill, and passing legislation to lower drug prices.
The Mueller Report found there was no “evidence that any U.S. person who coordinated or communicated with the IRA [Internet Research Agency] knew that he or she was speaking with Russian nationals engaged in criminal conspiracy.”
The Department Of Justice, based off of the evidence compiled in the Mueller Report, found no evidence of obstruction of justice by President Trump.
Bottom Line: After 675 days of investigating, $35 million, 500 search warrants, 500 witnesses interviewed, Mueller’s report makes it clear there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign and there is no clear case for obstruction (How could there be if there was no crime in the first place?). It is time for Democrats to stop pushing this phony collusion hoax and start working for the American people by ratifying the USMCA, funding border security, passing merit-based immigration reform, passing an infrastructure bill, and passing legislation to lower drug prices.
Statement from the Office of the Vice President
“As
Robert Mueller confirmed today, the investigation is complete. The
Attorney General has made the Special Counsel’s report public. The
Department of Justice concluded there was no collusion and no
obstruction. For two years, the White House fully cooperated with the
investigation turning over millions of pages of documents and making
witnesses available for hundreds of hours of testimony.
The Trump Administration is focused every day on working on behalf of the American people. While some Democrats may cling to discredited allegations against the President, the American people can be confident: this Administration will continue to focus on making our nation stronger, safer, and more secure,” said Alyssa Farah, Press Secretary to the Vice President.
The Trump Administration is focused every day on working on behalf of the American people. While some Democrats may cling to discredited allegations against the President, the American people can be confident: this Administration will continue to focus on making our nation stronger, safer, and more secure,” said Alyssa Farah, Press Secretary to the Vice President.