Special Counsel Robert Mueller spoke publicly on Wednesday and officially concluded his two-year-long investigation into allegations of Russian collusion during 2016 election. Further, he closed his office and retired from the Department of Justice.
Senate Judiciary Chairman, Lindsey Graham (R-SC), gave a thorough response immediately after Mueller’s public appearance.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller, in his first public appearance since being appointed to lead the Russia investigation, said it was “not an option” to charge President Trump with a crime, citing Department of Justice policy, but maintained that if they had “confidence” that the president did not commit a crime, they “would have said so,” reported Fox News.
Mueller explained the Justice Department’s policy states that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. “Charging the president with a crime was not an option we could consider. It would be unfair to accuse someone of a crime when there could be no court resolution of the charge,” he said.
“We concluded that we would not reach a determination one way or the other about whether the president committed a crime,” Mueller added. “That is the office’s final position.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham responded in a statement on Twitter to Mueller’s public statement. (Continued Below)
Sen. Graham wrote on Wednesday, “Today’s statement by Mr. Mueller reinforces the findings of his report. And as for me, the case is over. Mr. Mueller has decided to move on and let the report speak for itself. Congress should follow his lead, ”
“As I originally stated, I appreciate Mr. Mueller and his team for rendering a service to our country by thoroughly investigating the allegations against the Trump campaign regarding Russia collusion. As Mr. Mueller said today, the report speaks for itself,” he continued.
Grahm went on to say, “The report shows there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and any member or operative of the Russian government. However, there was a systematic effort by Russia to disrupt our election. We should be on guard for future election attacks by Russia & other bad actors.” (Continued Below)
Sen. Graham continued, “I particularly appreciate Special Counsel Mueller’s statement today acknowledging that Attorney General Barr has made the report as transparent as possible, and the American people can largely read the report for themselves.
Graham then switched gears to obstruction and explained the Mueller gave the Attorney General the power to decide.
The South Carolina Senator said, “As to obstruction, the Mueller team failed to reach a conclusion and turned that task over to the Attorney General. The AG, in concert with then-Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein, decided that as a matter of fact and law, an obstruction case against President Trump was not warranted.”
He concluded, “As the Mueller report indicated, a possible obstruction case was a hodgepodge of complicated facts and law. Without an underlying offense or collusion, and the overwhelming cooperation by the Trump White House with the Mueller investigation, the Attorney General’s decision on obstruction is sound. It will be the final word in my view.” (Continued Below)
*Update*
Graham later tweeted, “After today’s press conference… Those who were wishing and hoping that Bob Mueller would come forward, testify before Congress, and legitimize a retrial of the case, must be sorely disappointed. As Mr. Mueller stated today – The Report Speaks For Itself.”
Lindsey Graham’s official statement:
As I originally stated, I appreciate Mr. Mueller and his team for rendering a service to our country by thoroughly investigating the allegations against the Trump campaign regarding Russia collusion.
As Mr. Mueller said today, the report speaks for itself.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 29, 2019
I particularly appreciate Special Counsel Mueller’s statement today acknowledging that Attorney General Barr has made the report as transparent as possible, and the American people can largely read the report for themselves.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 29, 2019
As the Mueller report indicated, a possible obstruction case was a hodgepodge of complicated facts and law.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 29, 2019
(Continued Below)
Without an underlying offense or collusion, and the overwhelming cooperation by the Trump White House with the Mueller investigation, the Attorney General’s decision on obstruction is sound.
It will be the final word in my view.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 29, 2019
*Update:
After today’s press conference…
Those who were wishing and hoping that Bob Mueller would come forward, testify before Congress, and legitimize a retrial of the case, must be sorely disappointed.
As Mr. Mueller stated today – The Report Speaks For Itself.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 29, 2019
