MUELLER LITE
IT HAS dogged US President Donald Trump for almost two years, but early indications from the anticipated Mueller report that concluded on Friday were that it may not contain the silver bullet his opponents hoped for.
While the contents of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election remain shrouded, a justice department spokesperson said it recommended no further indictments.
Mueller’s findings were handed to Attorney-General William Barr in Washington. He will decide in coming days how much of it will be made public.
Mr Trump has repeatedly described the investigation as a “witch hunt” and said there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia. He warned yesterday that “people will not stand for it” if it portrayed him in a bad light. There is bipartisan support for as much of the report as possible to be released publicly.
“For two years we’ve gone through this nonsense. There’s no collusion with Russia,” Mr Trump said. “And there’s no obstruction. They’ll say, ‘ Oh, well wait, there was no collusion, that was a hoax, but he obstructed in fighting against the hoax’.”
White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said the President had been advised about the report but was not yet privy to the findings.
“The next steps are up to Attorney-General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course.
“The White House has not received or been briefed on the special counsel’s report,” Ms Sanders said.
Conducted in secrecy by a team of investigators and prosecutors, the probe has been free from the leaks that have plagued the Trump administration since it started in May 2017.
To date, the probe has led to 37 people and entities being charged, resulted in 199 criminal counts, and the convictions of five offenders.
Several Trump aides, including his disgraced former national security adviser Michael Flynn and personal fixer and lawyer Micheal Cohen, are among those who have pleaded guilty or been convicted on charges including lying to the FBI and fraud.
Mr Trump’s friend and former adviser Roger Stone has also been charged. He faces trial this year.
Mr Trump said in March he would be happy for the entire report to be made public.
Mr Mueller, 74, is a former marine and FBI chief who presided over investigations into the 9/11 attacks.
News of the report being finalised capped off a tumultuous day in which Mr Trump declared ISIS was defeated and personally stepped in to override new sanctions aimed at North Korea.
The Mueller investigation has irritated Mr Trump since its inception. It was sparked in part by Mr Trump’s sudden sacking of then FBI-chief James Comey in 2017.
Given the national security implications of a report into possible foreign interference and suspicion of collusion, it is likely segments of the findings will be suppressed.