Robert Mueller testifies before Congress (screengrab)
Special counsel Robert Mueller delivered his first public remarks about his investigation of President Donald Trump's campaign ties to Russia -- and he clearly cast doubt on the president's "no collusion" defense.
Mueller announced that he was closing his office and resigning, and said his "largely public" report must be allowed to speak for itself.
But he made clear his office never considered charging the president because Department of Justice regulations would not allow that, but he also made clear evidence showed Trump obstructed justice during the investigation.
ha, in the end, he fired himself, owned— Asawin Suebsaeng (@Asawin Suebsaeng) 1559142115.0
Shorter Robert Mueller: None of you people can read, so I have to recite a quick summary.— Jeet Heer (@Jeet Heer) 1559142425.0
Shorter Mueller: That was an impeachment referral, damnit, now act on it.— Dr. emptywheel (@Dr. emptywheel) 1559142635.0
That's Mueller code for 'Read the fricking report people, like Justin Amash did!' https://t.co/U9BWbYiQw9— Mehdi Hasan (@Mehdi Hasan) 1559142199.0
Devastating. Mueller just clearly declared that he didn't bring obstruction charges *not* because the evidence did… https://t.co/yCDWMGjmbi— Greg Sargent (@Greg Sargent) 1559142601.0
Mueller is saying: We could have cleared Trump and we didn’t. We couldn’t charge Trump, so we didn’t. We couldn’t s… https://t.co/egqxq8oxc6— Dan Froomkin/PressWatchers.org (@Dan Froomkin/PressWatchers.org) 1559142524.0
This is about as close as one could imagine to Robert Mueller laying out the case for opening an impeachment inquir… https://t.co/t88oDSVu4V— Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz) 1559142639.0
I don’t think Mueller can make this any clearer: Congress, do your job.— Karoli 🇺🇸 (@Karoli 🇺🇸) 1559142614.0
This REALLY doesn't sound like "total exoneration."— Kevin it’s Necessary to wear a mask (@Kevin it’s Necessary to wear a mask) 1559142557.0
This is, at the most basic level, a shot at Barr— Sam Stein (@Sam Stein) 1559142410.0
Hot take: Mueller is giving the statement he wanted Barr to give when the report was released.— Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene) 1559142336.0
Mueller is now making the basic point that keeps getting lost: The investigation was, first and foremost, an accou… https://t.co/7Zbl7aroez— Greg Sargent (@Greg Sargent) 1559142204.0
Mueller's continued insistence that it was simply not possible to charge a broader conspiracy is total bullshit. Fa… https://t.co/VGF1Jgu8Wh— bmaz (@bmaz) 1559142409.0
@Mikel_Jollett This is some kind of catch 22 nightmare: cheated & conspired to become president...can't be indicate… https://t.co/VVMkDGhkHU— Jenny (@Jenny) 1559142566.0
Essentially, Mueller is saying, "Impeach the motherfucker."— The Rude Pundit (@The Rude Pundit) 1559142394.0
Robert Mueller: “When a subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation, or lies to investigators, it stri… https://t.co/A1HtXz0ncD— Bobby Lewis (@Bobby Lewis) 1559142407.0
