Trump: No collusion

President crows as report clears campaign of Russia conspiracy

US President Donald Trump has been handed a stunning political victory after a longrunning probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller found he and his campaign did not collude with Russia to win the 2016 election.

The findings of no collusion “despite multiple Russia affiliated-efforts” came after a 675day forensic investigation led by the former FBI chief that included 19 lawyers, 40 FBI and intelligence agents, issued almost 500 search warrants and interviewed close to 500 witnesses.

“The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or co-ordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities,” the report stated, according to a summary provided by Attorney-General William Barr yesterday. Mr Trump was quick to celebrate the end of the probe he has regularly slammed as a “witch hunt”.

“After a long investigation, after so many people have been so badly hurt, after not looking at the other side, where a lot of bad things happened … It was just announced there was no collusion with Russia,” Mr Trump said.

Describing it as “the most ridiculous thing I ever heard”, a forceful President Trump said he had been vindicated and called for an investigation of his opponents.

“There was no obstruction, none whatsoever, and it was a complete and total exoneration,” he said.

The report found that the Russian Government and hackers had worked intensely to try to sway the election in Mr Trump’s favour but that no Americans had helped them.

While the Trump camp was cleared of collusion, the report did not exonerate the President completely. There remain questions over whether Mr Trump or his associates obstructed justice in efforts to influence the outcome of the investigation, and the report did not clear him of these charges.