Mueller Report Release: Redacted version made public
WASHINGTON -- The redacted report from special counsel Robert Mueller has been released to the public.
TRUMP RESPONSE
President Donald Trump said he's "having a good day" following the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report.
And he said that no president should ever have to go through what he did again.
Speaking at an unrelated White House event, he said, "It was called no collusion, no obstruction." And add, "there never was, by the way, and there never will be."
Trump is also renewing his calls for an investigation into the origins of the inquiry, saying "We do have to get to the bottom of these things."
The president is speaking an event honoring the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride, a multi-day bike ride for wounded veterans and service member.
REDACTED REPORT RELEASED
Mueller's report on the Russia investigation is two volumes and 448 pages long including attachments.
The report's first volume details Russian election interference and the second relates to whether Trump obstructed justice.
The report reveals how Trump repeatedly sought to seize control of the Russia probe. It says he reacted to the special counsel's appointment by saying it was the "end of his presidency."
The 10 episodes scrutinized by Mueller include Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, the president's directive to subordinates to have Mueller fired and efforts to encourage witnesses not to cooperate.
The president's lawyers have said Trump's conduct fell within his constitutional powers, but Mueller's team deemed the episodes were deserving of scrutiny to determine whether crimes were committed.
Mueller's team was dissatisfied with written responses from President Donald Trump, but decided against issuing a subpoena for an interview.
Trump's responses are being released by Barr without redactions and comprise 12 pages.
Trump told Mueller he had no recollection of several key events in Mueller's probe, including a 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between top aides and a Russian lawyer offering aid to his campaign. Trump also told Mueller he had no recollection that he was told that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to aid his campaign or hurt Hillary Clinton's 2016 effort, or that any foreign leader wanted to help his candidacy.
Trump declined a sit-down interview request from the special counsel.
In Mueller's report, prosecutors called Trump's answers "inadequate." They considered issuing a subpoena for Trump, but decided against it after weighing the likelihood of a long legal battle.
Prosecutors also said they had enough information from other sources to draw "relevant factual conclusions on intent and credibility."
Mueller's team investigated contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia and whether the president obstructed justice. The written answers did not cover obstruction of justice.
WILLIAM BARR PRESS CONFERENCE
Attorney General William Barr held a news conference to present his interpretation of the report's findings, before providing redacted copies to Congress and the public.
"The special counsel found no collusion by any Americans," Barr said in reference to Russian efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.
Barr said that President Donald Trump did not exert executive privilege over any information included in special counsel Robert Mueller's report.
He said the White House counsel reviewed a redacted version of the report before Trump decided not to invoke executive privilege.
Barr said "no material has been redacted based on executive privilege."
Shortly after, the president tweeted an image that appeared to reference the show Game of Thrones with the message "Game Over."
Barr said special counsel Mueller's report recounts 10 episodes involving the president that were investigated as potential acts of criminal obstruction of justice.
Barr added Mueller did not reach a "prosecutorial judgment" and that he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded the evidence was not sufficient to establish the president committed an offense.
Lawyers for President Donald Trump reviewed the final redacted version of the report before its public release, Barr said. He said Trump's personal attorneys requested and were granted access to the report "earlier this week" but that they "were not permitted to make, and did not request, any redactions."
The news conference, first announced by Trump during a radio interview, provoked immediate criticism from congressional Democrats.
The ABC-Owned Television Stations contributed to this report.
