Fiona Morgan, News Editor
The investigation into whether President Donald Trump committed criminal collusion or obstruction of justice has been released, and it reveals substantial evidence of misconduct.
The less-redacted version of the Mueller report was released April 18, and while it does not conclude whether Trump committed a crime, it states that “it does not exonerate him.” Trump saw the report as a victory because it did not establish that Trump colluded with Russia or obstructed justice. But the 448-page report outlines extensive evidence of wrongdoing and dishonesty by Trump, and it leaves Congress to decide what further action is to be taken.
The Mueller report is the result of a two-year Special Counsel investigation led by Robert S. Mueller into whether Trump’s affiliates conspired with the Russians to sway the 2016 election in Trump’s favor. When Trump heard of this investigation, he said, “This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency.”
The report also explores whether Trump committed obstruction of justice by tampering with the investigation. The investigation was originally headed by former F.B.I. Director James B. Comey, whom Trump fired after he refused to publicly say that Trump was not under investigation. Trump said he fired Comey based on a letter of recommendation from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein; according to the Mueller report, Trump ordered Rosenstein to write that letter.
The New York Times reported that Trump wanted Rosenstein to hold a press conference about Comey’s firing and that White House press told Rosenstein to say the firing was his idea. But Rosenstein advised against the press conference because he “would tell the truth.”
Trump repeatedly tried other tactics to sabotage Mueller’s investigation. He asked White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn to have Rosenstein fire Mueller because of conflicts of interest. McGahn refused, and Trump asked other members of his administration to attempt to end or limit the investigation.
The New York Times reported that Trump had unsuccessfully tried to fire Mueller through McGahn. Trump then asked McGahn to say publicly that did not happen. McGahn refused and said the news reports were accurate.
While Trump continues to criticize journalists and call the news “fake,” the Mueller report reveals a number of lies, changed stories and misleading statements by Trump and his affiliates.
The New York Times said that “if people are not surprised or shocked by the revelations, then Mr. Trump may have benefited by the steady drip of news stories he has so loudly criticized.”
The Mueller report still contains significant redactions, and House Democrats subpoenaed the full unredacted report a day after it was released. “Even the redacted version of the report outlines serious instances of wrongdoing by President Trump and his closest associates,” House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler said in a statement. “It now falls to Congress to determine the full scope of that alleged misconduct and to decide what steps we must take going forward.”