Washington and the world wait for findings as Mueller submits report

WASHINGTON: US special counsel Robert Mueller recommended no new indictments in a much awaited report that he submitted on Friday, wrapping up his investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The contents of the report are confidential, but attorney general William Barr, who received a copy on Friday, informed US lawmakers in a letter that he expects to send them the “principal conclusions as soon as this weekend”, which would subsequently be made public.

The summary of conclusions, which Barr is likely to send as early as Saturday, is expected to answer the key question - if US President Donald Trump’s campaign or any of its members were involved in Russian interference.

The Mueller report is already being seen as a victory of sorts for Trump, mainly because it makes no fresh indictments.

The probe was anyway prohibited from indicting Trump himself as per justice department guidelines prohibiting criminal prosecution of sitting presidents.

But key people around him were in serious danger of being charged, such as his eldest son Donald Trump Jr and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

In a probe lasting 22 months, Mueller’s office charged 34 people in all, including Trump’s first National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates. Mueller also charged three Russian companies and 25 individuals.

Five Trump aides have pleaded guilty, including Flynn and Gates, and cooperated with Mueller’s probe team. Trump’s long-time confidant Roger Stone is awaiting trial for allegedly lying and tampering with witnesses.

Mueller’s probe also covered other cases, most significantly the one involving hush-money payments to two women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump.

The president’s former fixer Michael Cohen, who is cooperating with all government and Congressional investigations, had arranged those payments and has turned into the most useful source on Trump’s businesses and related dealings.

REUTERS US attorney general William Barr's signature is seen on a copy of his letter to US lawmakers stating that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller has been concluded.