Simone Lawson
The Mueller Report, a 448-page document, was released in March 2019 and detailed the findings of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election. The report was unique in American history, with parts that read like a thriller and others that were dense legal opinion. While it found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, it did detail multiple episodes of potential obstruction of justice by then-President Trump, though it did not explicitly conclude that he had committed a crime. The report's release raised questions about the extent to which the Constitution supports the release of such sensitive information, with some arguing that it could have led to a constitutional crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length | 448 pages |
| Type of content | Dense legal opinion, novel-like narrative, glossary, list of court cases |
| Redactions | Yes |
| Reasons for redactions | Protecting secret grand jury proceedings, safeguarding intelligence-gathering sources and methods, shielding material that could affect ongoing investigations, protecting personal privacy and reputations |
| Conclusions | No collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, no conclusion on whether the president is guilty or innocent of obstruction of justice |
| Indictments | 34 people, mostly Russian nationals |
| Prison sentences | Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen sentenced to 3 years for fraud and campaign finance violations |
| Mueller's comments | The report speaks for itself |
Explore related products
$7.29 $12.99
$10.99 $10.99
$2.85 $18.95
What You'll Learn
The report's conclusion on whether the president broke the law
The Mueller Report details multiple episodes in which there is evidence that the President, Donald Trump, obstructed justice. However, the Report does not conclude whether the President broke the law. Instead, it explicitly states that it "does not exonerate him".
The Mueller Report found no evidence that the Trump campaign colluded or coordinated with Russia. However, it did uncover that the Trump campaign worked with individual Russians, and that Trump associates lied to investigators about these contacts. The Report also reveals that the President was involved in conduct that was the subject of a case referred to the Southern District of New York, which ultimately led to the conviction of Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for campaign finance offences.
The Report raises questions about why Trump associates and then-candidate Trump repeatedly asserted that Trump had no connections to Russia. It also details non-cooperation with the inquiry by the President, including refusing requests for an interview and providing incomplete written responses.
Mueller decided not to indict the President due to a Justice Department opinion issued during the Watergate scandal, which states that a sitting President cannot be indicted. Mueller understood that this conclusion would not satisfy anyone, but he pointed to Congress and the impeachment process as the appropriate course of action.
Abolitionists' Strategy: Constitution to Fight Slavery
You may want to see also
Redactions and withheld information
The Mueller Report, released in redacted form on April 18, 2019, detailed multiple episodes of potential obstruction of justice by then-US President Donald Trump and his campaign staff, administration officials, family members, backers, and associates.
The redactions in the Mueller Report concealed the extent to which the Trump campaign had advance knowledge of the release of hacked emails by WikiLeaks. They also hid the content of discussions between Trump, Cohen, and Manafort in July 2016, shortly after Wikileaks released hacked emails. The Report notes that "Trump told Gates that more releases of damaging information would be coming," but redacts the context around this statement.
The Report also withheld information on 12 of the 14 criminal matters that Mueller referred to other components of the Department of Justice. These referrals resulted in a total of 34 indictments, most of which were of Russian nationals.
Attorney General William Barr outlined four types of information that would be redacted from the Mueller Report: grand jury information, classified information, information related to ongoing investigations, and details that would infringe on the privacy of "peripheral third parties." Barr stated that each category would be color-coded to provide transparency around the redactions.
The redactions in the Mueller Report sparked controversy, with critics arguing that the public had a right to a thorough understanding of the probe. The report's conclusions left open the question of whether the president broke the law, and while it did not establish collusion or conspiracy by the Trump campaign with Russia, it explicitly stated that it "does not exonerate" the President.
Mens Rea and Actus Rea: Inchoate Crime Explained
You may want to see also
The Trump campaign's knowledge of hacked emails
The Mueller Report, released in redacted form on April 18, 2019, detailed Russian interference in the 2016 election, including the hacking of Clinton campaign-related databases and the release of stolen materials through WikiLeaks. The report raised questions about the Trump campaign's knowledge of these hacked emails.
While the Mueller Report found no evidence of collusion or conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, it did uncover instances of Trump associates lying to investigators about their contacts with Russians. The report also noted that President Trump refused to answer questions about his efforts to impede federal proceedings and influence witness testimony.
Redactions in the Mueller Report conceal discussions between Trump, Cohen, and Manafort shortly after WikiLeaks released hacked emails in July 2016. The report states that "Trump told Gates that more releases of damaging information would be coming," but the context around this statement is redacted. These redactions suggest that the full extent of the Trump campaign's knowledge of the hacked emails may not be publicly known.
In addition, the Mueller Report detailed multiple episodes of potential obstruction of justice by President Trump. The report explicitly states that it "does not exonerate" the President and explains that the Office of Special Counsel accepted the Department of Justice policy that a sitting President cannot be indicted. This left the question of obstruction open, with some legal experts concluding that the evidence was insufficient to establish obstruction of justice by the President.
In summary, while the Mueller Report did not find evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, it raised questions about the campaign's knowledge of hacked emails released by WikiLeaks. Redactions in the report conceal potentially relevant information, and the issue of obstruction of justice by the President remained a subject of debate following the report's release.
Founding Fathers' Fears: Threats to the Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Trump associates' lies to investigators
The Mueller Report, made public in April 2019, found that Donald Trump's campaign staff, administration officials, family members, Republican backers, and associates lied or made false assertions to the public, Congress, and authorities. The report stated that Trump associates repeatedly lied to investigators about their contacts with Russians. It also noted that Trump refused to answer questions about his efforts to impede federal proceedings and influence the testimony of witnesses.
The report detailed multiple episodes of obstruction of justice by the President, including through one-on-one meetings with senior officials. It also raised questions about why Trump associates and then-candidate Trump repeatedly asserted that Trump had no connections to Russia. The Mueller Report explicitly stated that it "does not exonerate" the President and accepted the Department of Justice policy that a sitting President cannot be indicted.
Trump associate Roger Stone was charged with obstruction and lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks and the release of Democratic documents stolen by the Russians. Another Trump associate, Michael Cohen, was convicted of campaign finance offenses related to payments he made at the direction of the President. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for fraud and campaign finance violations.
Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, was also indicted on 32 federal charges, including tax evasion, money laundering, and fraud. Manafort pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy against the United States and a charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice, agreeing to cooperate with the Special Counsel investigation. However, Mueller's office later stated that Manafort had breached the terms of his plea agreement by repeatedly lying about various matters.
Trump himself made false claims about the Mueller Report, asserting that the investigation was "illegal" and unconstitutional. After the report's release, he tweeted, "No Collusion, No Obstruction", claiming "complete and total EXONERATION." Trump also sought to have McGahn declare that he didn't believe the president's directive to fire Mueller constituted obstruction of justice, but McGahn refused.
Trump's false statements extended beyond the Mueller Report. In the lead-up to the 2020 election, he repeatedly claimed that he had won, despite being warned by those closest to him that these assertions were false. His lies about his loss sparked the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and fueled millions of dollars in donations to him and the Republican Party. Trump also made misleading statements about the nature of the attack, downplaying the violence and claiming it was a "protest."
Framers of the Constitution: Their Vision and Legacy
You may want to see also
Ongoing investigations and indictments
The Mueller Report, officially known as the "Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Election", was delivered to Congress in redacted form in April 2019. The report details multiple episodes of potential obstruction of justice by President Trump and his associates, as well as their connections to Russian officials.
Mueller's investigation resulted in 34 indictments, including those of Trump associates and campaign officials. Eight of these have pleaded guilty to or been convicted of felonies, including Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who was sentenced to three years in prison for fraud and campaign finance violations. Another Trump confidant, Roger Stone, was charged with obstruction and lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks. He was convicted of five counts of making false statements and one count of witness tampering.
The report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, as a sitting president cannot be indicted per Department of Justice policy. However, it also does not exonerate him, and Mueller stated that Congress has the authority to take action against the President if necessary. There are more than a dozen other ongoing cases cited in the report, but they are fully redacted, and the public does not know who or what is involved.
The Mueller Report is unique in American history, with dense legal opinions interspersed with novel-like narratives. It has sparked intense debate and raised questions about the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election and the potential involvement of the Trump campaign. The investigation was complex, and Mueller emphasised that the lack of charges or suggestions of charges regarding coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia should not be interpreted as a definitive conclusion of no wrongdoing.
The Commerce Clause: A Constitutional Cornerstone
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Mueller Report is a 448-page report by special counsel Robert Mueller on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The Mueller Report found that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. However, it also states that it “does not exonerate” the President and details multiple episodes in which there is evidence that the President obstructed justice.
Yes, the Mueller Report was redacted to protect secret grand jury proceedings, safeguard intelligence-gathering sources and methods, shield material that could affect ongoing investigations, and protect personal privacy and reputations.
No, the Mueller Report states that a sitting president cannot be indicted, as it would undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions. However, the report also notes that a president can be indicted after leaving office.
