On Wednesday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller spoke publicly for the first time in over two years about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice. Mueller said he does not intend to testify to Congress and explaining why he did not have the “option” of charging the president with a crime. Mueller spoke amid demands by congressional Democrats that he testify in public. He said he would make “a few remarks” but that it was “important that the office’s written work speak for itself.” He added: “The report is my testimony.”
Mueller said he was speaking out because his “investigation is complete,” his office is “formally closing” and that he is “resigning from the Department of Justice to return to private life.” He added: “The matters we investigated were of paramount importance. When the subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators it strikes at the government’s effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable.”
With regard to why he did not make a decision about whether the president obstructed justice, Mueller said charging the president with a crime was “not an option we could consider” because of Justice Department policy.
Trump tweeted “The case is closed!” shortly after Mueller spoke.
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