House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer pose for pictures after delivering a response to President Trump's televised address to the nation. Image via AFP/Nicholas Kamm.
Attorney General William Barr on Sunday submitted to Congress his summary of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on his investigations.
Barr said that there was not evidence of collusion with Russia.
The AG also decided within 48 hours of receiving the Mueller report to not prosecute President Donald Trump for obstruction of justice.
Here are some of the early reactions to Barr's letter:
We’re all going to need a lot more information to understand this decision to essentially punt on the question of w… https://t.co/T2a6sElaj9— John Avlon (@John Avlon) 1553457997.0
This is the bottom line folks. Mueller was unable to clear the President. Congress must now fulfill the oath it too… https://t.co/TYTdXhjD1a— Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene) 1553456615.0
Mueller: Trump cannot be exonerated of obstruction of justice. Barr: I exonerate him. https://t.co/RCBU5UpVRj— David Corn (@David Corn) 1553457178.0
The wording of the Barr letter, for instance in saying "does not establish" rather than "does not establish beyond… https://t.co/hOitIjp0MA— Seth Abramson (@Seth Abramson) 1553457029.0
Here's what I don't get: dozens of prosectors and FBI agents wrestled with difficult matters of law & policy regard… https://t.co/sVcJgXcWDs— Ned Price (@Ned Price) 1553457012.0
House Judiciary member @davidcicilline says evidence must be made avail "immediately" ... "so we can decide what st… https://t.co/1qTJlnSdut— Heidi Przybyla (@Heidi Przybyla) 1553458300.0
Mueller could have concluded Trump obstructed. He did not do so. He let Barr do it. And Barr and Rosenstein said there was not a case.— Ken Dilanian (@Ken Dilanian) 1553457008.0
Barr letter to Congress finds No collusion. No obstruction. Let’s see how Congress reacts— John Roberts (@John Roberts) 1553457031.0
There's something in the Barr letter for both Trump supporters and critics to claim they were right all along.— Tarini Parti (@Tarini Parti) 1553457013.0
@AP Barr’s interpretation of Mueller’s report. That’s all it is...— Paul Labadie (@Paul Labadie) 1553457556.0
There is something for both sides to grab onto in this letter. Will be interesting to see what American public view as important.— Eliza Collins (@Eliza Collins) 1553457024.0
punted. https://t.co/GpgHLOwl2V— Cheri Jacobus (@Cheri Jacobus) 1553456929.0
One question I have after reading the #MuellerReport summary: Did Mueller look into into Trump Tower Moscow and what did he conclude?— Julia Ioffe (@Julia Ioffe) 1553458197.0
America's gonna need a neck brace for whiplash from the right-wing's narrative on Mueller.— francesca fiorentini (@francesca fiorentini) 1553457273.0
Phew, now the Mueller report is in we can all go back to thinking Trump is a good president.— Eliot Higgins (@Eliot Higgins) 1553457205.0
Unlike Dems who are seizing on the fact that the report DOESN’T EXONERATE, R’s will claim, as Graham does here, tha… https://t.co/bstl0gxP9a— Eliana Johnson (@Eliana Johnson) 1553457375.0
Relatedly, why precisely did Mueller decline to do a traditional prosec analysis on obstruction but Barr and Rosens… https://t.co/K1mhGifDlh— Harry Litman (@Harry Litman) 1553458246.0
Watching Fox News personalities right now gush about how Mueller conducted his investigation "with the utmost integ… https://t.co/Z3fcMu6LgH— Angelo Carusone (@Angelo Carusone) 1553457336.0
Interesting that mueller didn’t conclude one way or other if Trump obstructed Justice. Now it’s time for House Demo… https://t.co/ApaIjwoVSp— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1553457283.0
This is going to be questioned by every competent attorney in America. https://t.co/n3q8aOQ5jI— Seth Abramson (@Seth Abramson) 1553456685.0
So: •Mueller listed evidence that Trump may have obstructed justice... •but he left it to Barr and Rosenstein to… https://t.co/oRzZWYCtcv— Mark Joseph Stern (@Mark Joseph Stern) 1553456999.0
SHOT: Barr's summary says that "the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or… https://t.co/gmLlqUg6G1— The Moscow Project (@The Moscow Project) 1553457340.0
Here’s my BIG question: if trump didn’t conspire with Russia then why has trump consistently sided with Vladimir Pu… https://t.co/XninQPuzYA— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1553457640.0
.@GOP e-mail blast: “No collusion” “For years, Democrats & many in the media promised us there was collusion betwe… https://t.co/sePyhywrCx— Johnny Verhovek (@Johnny Verhovek) 1553457962.0
My thoughts on the Mueller summary are what they were when this whole thing started: despite Putin's best efforts,… https://t.co/RqAD31PwbA— Julia Ioffe (@Julia Ioffe) 1553457807.0
At least you're not this guy. https://t.co/fS4puxhEYP— Eliot Higgins (@Eliot Higgins) 1553458258.0
