No evidence that Trump campaign colluded with Russia, Mueller probe finds
US special counsel Robert Mueller’s report has found no evidence of collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, according to details released this evening.
In a summary of the inquiry’s conclusions sent to Congress, attorney general William Barr said Mueller had not found any evidence of collusion, but added he had not reached a verdict on a potential obstruction of justice.
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“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 US presidential election,” Barr wrote.
But the special counsel’s report remained inconclusive over potential obstruction of justice by the US president.
“While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him,” Barr wrote, citing Mueller’s findings.
No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2019
The report highlights incidents of Russian interference in the election, including the hacking of Hillary Clinton’s emails and a campaign to spread disinformation on social media.
But it did not find proof that anyone involved in the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with these activities, despite “multiple offers” from individuals linked with Russia.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the findings were a “total and complete exoneration” of the president.
The summary comes days after Muller submitted the findings of his two-year probe to the attorney general last week.
The high-profile investigation has led to the indictment of 34 individuals, including key figures close to Trump such as campaign chairman Paul Manafort and lawyer Michael Cohen.
Democrats have called for the full report to be published. Barr said he was “mindful of the public interest” and would seek to publish as much of the report as was legally possible.
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In a joint statement Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and house speaker Nancy Pelosi said Barr's letter “raises as many questions as it answers”.
“The fact that special counsel Mueller's report does not exonerate the president on a charge as serious as obstruction of justice demonstrates how urgent it is that the full report and underlying documentation to be made public without further delay,” they said.