There was no collusion, that much is clear, no matter how contrary to expectations that is. As to obstruction of justice, the equally clear message is that this question isn’t worth considering given the circumstances and the paucity of actionable evidence. In other words, no harm, no foul. All that is left for the President’s enemies is to attack Barr and eventually Mueller. The Democrats wanted this investigation, they got it on their terms, now they have to live with the results.
83
@Larry
You're trusting Barr? You may be correct, but let the world read the report. Then we can decide.
65
@Larry So tell me, how many indictments came out of this investigation? Manafort giving polling data to Russians, Papadopolous getting all excited about talking to Russians, Michael Flynn lying about meeting with Russians - this was a shameful performance by Barr.
163
@Larry...NO, our terms to testify, flatly stated many times would have been to...to depose IN PERSON..the president..and failing his voluntarily speaking to investigators the man should have been forced, through subpoena to appear before Mr. Mueller..nothing you saw today did anything except..to further damage Billie 'BOY' Barrs'..quickly fading career and reputation..
93
Boom. Anyone who listened to Barr’s news conference will understand why the Dems and leftists and their MSM spokespersons who accused Trump of collusion and obstruction should crawl with great shame back to their caves. But they are shameless so probably they will not do so.
65
Why does Barr need to reframe the message again hours before releasing a redacted report?
150
@ehillesum
Yeah, and anyone - with critical thinking skills - who listened to Barr's new conference will understand why the American public is fed up with lying and obfuscating to protect an uncivil and underhanded president. AG Barr continues the tradition!
Vote in 2020.
237
@ehillesum Yes, I am so ashamed for wanting to investigate why Mr. Trump and his associates (several of whom are now in jail or awaiting trial) had so many contacts with Russia before the election. This is the same Mr. Trump who said repeatedly that he had nothing to do with Russia but was actually pursuing a building deal in Moscow during the campaign. I am so ashamed for being on the side of law and order and transparency. (By the way, where are those tax returns Mr. Trump said we'd be able to see? Why is he now fighting to keep them secret? Boom yourself.
186
"Here we've got a hostile foreign power and the evidence is overwhelming that their objective was to attack our free and fair process," said Kim Wehle, a law professor at the University of Baltimore.
Frank O. Bowman III, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Law and author said the Mueller report suggests the president committed impeachable offenses.
"The issue for impeachment is not whether a criminal statute was violated but whether a president engaged in a pattern of activity inconsistent with his obligation to take care that the law be faithfully executed and instead sought to use his authority to undercut the institutions and norms of the justice system to benefit himself," he said. "The second half of the Mueller report strongly supports such a conclusion as to Trump."
My own opinion is that Trump had the desire, motive, intent and took action to violate our laws and skate with obvious acts of treason due to his closeness to KGB Russian dictator Putin, the changes made in the 2016 Republican Party's platform to assist Putin in obtaining his goals of neutralizing America from interfering with Russia's intent to expand their territories under control and Trump's public comments absolving Putin from interfering in our 2018 election to ensure that Trump won.
Seems an "exchange" of value was made by both parties, which is why I consider Trump having committed treason with an enemy dictator in Russia.
2
The fix is in.
Barr once again plays a puppet just as he did under the Bush administration.
He is covered in brown lipstick.
These people have no shame and deserve to be kicked out of office and put behind bars.
3
The Attorney General is supposed to be the advocate for the people of this country. He's not supposed to represent or defend the President, but that's what he's doing and that's why Trump put him in that position. Barr was one of the key players in the Iran-Contra cover-up years ago and Trump wanted him to repeat that role. He and so many other sycophants of Trump have no shame and they willingly trash their own reputations to serve him. They will all crash together and be sentenced to the dust bin of history.
1
The so-called hacking theory is based on false premises according to ex-intelligence officials William Binney and Ray McGovern. In fact Binney went to Pompeo with this concerns and evidence. That's why Mueller chickened out. When Assange leaked the CIA's Tool Trove it revealed the US had the capacity to incorporate Cyrillic and Iranian characters to make it look like other parties. Having business ties or meeting with Russians emissaries who want to establish better relationships with the US is not a crime. It seems to many Americans are anxious for nuclear war. This was a big diversion from climate change--the biggest threat to our nation and the world as well.
Corrected version: I feel the reason why Wm Barr acts like president Trump's personal attorney rather than the people's Attorney General is because Trump has an aura to attract loyalty, without expecting much in return. (He expected and received it from many during much of his life; when he didn't get that from 1 or 2 underlings he violently complained)
The associates who worked for him to a “significant” extent enjoy pleasing him as Barr does, doing what he expected of them. Certain leaders have that aura. However, his built-in erratic nature with unduly irrational grandiosity made him look as a buffoon in the eyes of people outside his sphere of influence, which created an incongruity in the reactions of others towards him.
3
Although informative I believe part of being a good reporter is not taking sides. For me it was very clear which one these authors were on.
Mr. Barr needs to resign.
He is a Russian asset.
3
Read George Conway’s column in the Wapo. Mr Conway, you’re hired!
2
Here is an analogy.
If I was the head of a children’s home and I received rumors that children were being abused and Then I refused to investigate and fired or threatened anyone who tried to investigate wouldn’t I be considered guilty of obstructing justice and aiding child abuse.
5
I guess, collusion and obstruction is legal when you do it in front of large crowds and on TV.
5
Did one G-man, Comey, fail the system by almost charging when Clinton was not chargeable; and another G-man, Mueller, fail the system by not charging when Trump may be almost chargeable?
Was it I or the several responders below that were on an inter galactic trip and missed the Administration to date you posit that the report makes Trump a disgrace to the high ideals required of the POTUS based on the Muller report. This guy has been the cognitive Warren Harding of our time...the Report is unique in that conclusion?
As another way of viewing it, those who refused to carry out the command of " death before dishonor" should be recognized and honored for saving the US from himself.
1
An administration full of liars led by the Liar in Chief with 9,451 whoppers to date and counting. Now you can add press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the mix. She is exposed in the Mueller Report admitting she made up false claims from the White House podium on May 10th, 2017 concerning former FBI Director James Comey’s firing. It’s no wonder there isn’t any more daily press briefings.
Mr. President, the Fake News is originating right out of your White House!
3
@Woosa09
The way James Comey was treated by this administration is the perfect example of their cruelty. He found out he was fired through a news cast while he was on the west coast. Trump was livid when he found out he took a government plane back to DC, he wanted him stranded. Then, they lie and say countless people that Comey worked for called and said they were glad he was fired, in a Presidential press briefing. Comey was one of the top law enforcemnent officers in this country, and that is how they treated him. Yet they claim to be law enforcement's best friend.
1
The willful ignorance of Trump supporters speaks for itself. Turning a blind eye to Trump's subordination to Putin and the Russian Communist Party clarifies his loyalties and intentions as President. Their rejection of American national interest as essential to the President's constitutional obligations reflect historical illiteracy or a clear contempt for the safety & well-being of their family members, neighbors, co-workers and fellow citizens that defies comprehension.
4
The President has not been exonerated. There is still ample, factual evidence to explore how obstruction of justice was accomplished (if you think that the administration didn't engage in obstructive tactics I'd like to sell you a bridge). It took years to bring down other crime families, and we've barely scratched the surface with Trump's.
8
We really should stop this matter, now. We have had two really bad years, and we need a little time to rest and recover. I believe that if one weighs the good of the country that would result from a pause, versus going the Nadler et. al route (which I see as an effort to just rehash settled matters), then the only good choice is peace, stability and a lot less hysteria. Trump is a clown and a schlub, but he belongs to us and we should be pulling together to elect his replacement in 2020. If we persist to investigate, obfuscate, mislead and put partisan goo over this mess any longer then God help us.
2
Democrats (and I'm including NY Times, CNN, MSNBC and all the spokesman for the party) it's time to fold your cards and humbly crawl back into your bubble and come up with another fairy tale or actually start talking about what matters to most of us.
There are many pressing issues in this country I'd like to focus on. That may actually benefit the Democrats in the upcoming election. Things like Immigration, the economy.
We are all fatigued by this Russian collusion stuff.
3
William Barr has now obstructed justice, too.
4
@Me How exactly?
If only Trump were to have lied about having extra-marital sexual intercourse, then Republicans would be on board with Democrats to swiftly impeach him! ... Oh wait, I think we already all know he did!
But Trump committing treason, bribery, money laundering, emoluments, open and secret conspiracy, solicitation of a foreign enemy to inflict harm on a former Secretary of State and US Senator, disclosing top secret information to the same foreign enemy, meeting secretly for hours with the former head of the KGB... all that and so much more will be rewarded by the Republican party in re-nominating Trump for a 2nd term.
It's not just Trump who is unfit to govern, the entire Republican party is not fit to govern.
9
Congress should ask permission to see the Grand Jury information.
This information is intended to be used by the prosecutors in a case to determine what charges, if any, should be brought.
Mr. Bahr has insisted that the President is above normal law because only Congress in an Impeachment proceding can provide any justice.
Fine, then the Grand Jury has been acting to hear and gather information for the eventual team of prosecutors: Congress.
There is also precedent for each of the earlier Grand Jury's providing their information to Congress.
Get the Grand Jury information from the judge for Congress.
From scanning parts of the report, it seems as though Mueller has made a case for congress to intervene in that through destruction of evidence and consistent attempts by administration officials and those involved to cover up evidence. (Get the Subpoenas ready!) Even without coming to a conclusion, the evidence presented is enough to impeach 10 times over.
1
My previous life goal has been added to: to see Trump be walked (dragged?) out of the White House in handcuffs. Before tha, the goals was "simply" to live long enough to see these in front of the International Criminal Court--as war criminals:
Their names should not be forgotten: Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, Dick Cheney, Richard Perle, Colin Powell, Paul Wolfowitz, Scooter Libby, Paul Bremer, John Yoo, Antonin Scalia, Scooter Libby, David Addington, George W. Bush, and others to be named.
On to Nuremberg! Donny too!
To all registered voters: VOTE in 2020. NO EXCUSES THIS TIME!!
5
Trump doesn't have the brains or the savvy to collude for five minutes so I am not surprised about the findings. I am surprised that Russia's proven interference in the election doesn't get more focus. For two years the special counsel's inquiry has distracted us from the far more salient facts that our democracy was hacked resulting in the installation of an illegitimate 'president' and the disruption of the world order. Trump and his puppet masters keep all of us riveted to political soap opera drivel as liberal democracy collapses. Sad.
5
For 2 years the MSM and dems have shouted Russian Puppet, collusion, blah blah blah. Not a shred of evidence. And none in Mueller's report. Now I know that the dems and MSM will try and pull anything out of the report that will justify their insufferable behavior for the last 2 years, but they won't.
So please -- just drop it.
But let's not drop the investigation into how and why the FBI investigation was started, who ordered it, etc.
1
Barr to America Trump went out and shot someone because he was frustrated you might not believe he could shoot someone and get a way with it.
Republican's are Proud of their new Stature of Justice.
4
Barr decided he must protect his job, his son in law's job at the WH and Trump so he has written the Barr Report ...his and Trump's preferred version of events and conclusions in the investigation of the 2016 campaign.
Barr must be hoping that few read the Factual Mueller Report and instead, believe Barr's cliff notes version so, Trump can continue on his tirade yelling how he's a victim. More lies...no surprise.
Barr is not acting in The People's best interest when he re-writes the Mueller Report to publicly please and protect Trump.
Mr. Barr doesn't realize he's not the president's lawyer. If he's confused about his job priorities, he should resign.
5
All the people claiming all along that there was evidence of collusion and obstruction have been TOTALLY EXONERATED.
2
Did Trump and some of his minions attempt to receive materials damaging to Ms. Clinton offered by Russians close to the Russian government? Yes. Did Trump or any of his minions report the efforts of the Russians to supply them with this information to the FBI? No. Even if Trump and Co.'s behavior did not rise to the level of crime, But Trump and Company had a moral obligation to inform the FBI of these offers, and they didn't do so. Keeping this info from the FBI was . . . collusion.
3
So Donnie obstructed justice out of frustration, and therefore it's not a real crime ... eh?
Translation: "Trump told me that he didn't attempt to obstruct, and therefore I have declared his efforts to obstruct as non-obstruction."
William Barr -- the first Director of Trump's Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment.
3
It sure would be nice if Congress got back to working on trying to resolve the many serious problems needing attention. Little items such as Immigration Reform would be a good start. Unfortunately for the Democrats, the much anticipated report falls short of their hopes to impeach the president. Predictably they will fight on until next year's election. What a waste for our country when politics is all that matters.
1
All I know that Trump win, the liberals and the media lost big time, I’m not a fan of him.. but let’s move forward for America’s sake...
1
Trump was accused of being a traitor, an agent of Russia, and of colluding with Russia to affect our election.
He, his family and his associates were secretly surveiled before and after the election to include phone calls, emails, etc..
Now many former senior Obama officials and MSM outlets have been proved to be totally wrong.
And they are in a panic.
1
The Mueller Report lines up nicely with most criminal investigations around the Presidency, a shameless whitewash. Mueller's report brings to mind the investigation of the Kennedy Assasination, designed from the beginning to hide the full, ugly truth. As the American public has become more skeptical, the disinformation campaigns formulated to muddy the waters have become more sophisticated and much more well funded. Again the combination of domestic partisanship and Russian manipulation have reset public opinion sufficiently that future efforts to establish actionable truth will be easily defeated.
1
In the book "Unhinged" emerges a sobering picture of a White House, headed by Trump, abysmally devoid of integrity, honesty, morality and principle from top to bottom. The author depicts Trump and all those with whom he surrounds himself as constantly cheating on each other and their spouses, lying to and backstabbing each other, cooking crooked business deals and so on. Now, the Meuller report, redactions and all, solidifies those impressions. It's clear that only blind partisanship kept Trump from being indicted, and Barr's performance today shows where he stands: He represents Donald Trump, not the American people. Come on, America. Regardless of party, we should all be ashamed.
3
After reading Volume 1 of the report, especially from page 22 on, how can anyone believe the comments on this thread that support the President? Are the comments from agents of the IRA or the GRU? (The pages I refer to document the efforts of the IRA and GRU, two agencies of the Russian government, dedicated to the use of social media to support the Trump campaign and to disrupt the Clinton campaign.)
2
If the Democrats lack the strength to act based on this, they do not deserve to lead me - I choose the corrupt leader over the effete loser.
This is a load of bilge. Trump is a traitor, and guilty of obstruction of justice. And Barr should be impeached, along with the rest of the treasonous Trump Administration and each and every one of his appointments, including Kavanagh and Gorsuch.
1
I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I saw the "Game Over" tweet.
Aside from blatantly and absurdly plagiarizing the graphic design team from "Game of Thrones," Trump's media people obviously never watched the movie "Aliens." Spoiler alert: Hudson did not survive.
You don't drop "game over" as a victory lap. That's like singing "Great Balls of Fire" at a pilot's wedding while eating roast goose. That's like eating charms on a night hike when you're marching downhill. If you could break a mirror, walk under a ladder, and step on a black cat all at the same time, that's what "game over" is like. Trump is proper jinxed now.
You just wait. The man is a Jonah.
Barr's 4 page synopsis is null and void.
3
Hooray! President Trump does know Truth. “I am F**ked”.
House file Articles of Impeachment now!
3
You know what impresses me the most about this debacle is that Barr is Trump's 5th attorney general in just over 2 years.
It looks like all of Trump's shopping around paid off-- he finally found an AG willing to go to bat for him instead of the People.
Barr and Trump remind me of Nathan Detroit and Big Jule from Guys and Dolls. Barr/the enabler and Trump/Jule the enlightened: "I've gone straight as shown by my record. 33 arrests and no convictions!"
Only instead of running an illegal crap game, they're running the country. Lord help us all.
3
“Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m f***ed.”
Not at all a surprise - his first thought on hearing of Mueller's appointment was about 'his' presidency. Heaven forbid he think about his friend Pooty-poot interfering with the US election process.
3
The second bullet point of this Times article includes the following quote pulled from the Mueller Report.
When Mr. Trump learned of Mr. Mueller’s appointment, (according to Hunt's recollection of the event) he slumped in his chair and said: “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.”
They completely left out the context of the quote which can be understood by a second Trump quote in the same paragraph of the Mueller report. (Page 78)
"Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency. (Even if found innocent) It takes years and years and I won't be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me."
This is by definition of gas lighting, intentionally twisting cherry picked excerpts completely out of context. The lesson here to read the report yourself and form your own conclusions.
Look at this quote from Barr's press conference and draw conclusions:
"The report detailed dramatic conflicts within the White House. When Mr. Trump learned of Mr. Mueller’s appointment, he slumped in his chair and said: “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.” [Read more excerpts and analysis from our reporters.]"
1
It certainly does not look hopeful for The Dotard. Anyone who say: “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.” Knows he is guilty, as do we all.
Hopefully it will only be a short matter of time before payment is due from this probe as MANY others reach maturity.
Say “Good Riddance” to the worst excuse for a president in American history. There will be justice.
2
If the President was so certain there was no collusion or other illegal activities, why was his first reaction to the appointment of Mueller: "This is the end of my Presidency...I'm fucked"? What did he succeed in hiding from Bob Mueller?
1
"When Mr. Trump learned of Mr. Mueller’s appointment, he slumped in his chair and said: 'Oh my God. This is terrible... I’m fucked.'”
Interesting--that's exactly how I felt on Election Day 2016.
3
From what I can determine, researching super-PACS online, they (1) do not have to disclose their donors, (2) can accept donations from anyone, in any amount, provided (3) they do contribute directly to a candidate or the candidate's organizations or coordinate their activities with the candidate.
From that, it seems that Russia could legally support a particular candidate by contributing any amount they wish to a super-PAC favoring that candidate, who can then spend it on political advertising freely.
That is a disturbing result of Citizens United. Do I have it wrong?
4
@Austin Liberal
Oops. "provided they do NOT contribute directly . . ."
Journalists continue to muddle the issues. Baker writes that Mueller "could not reach a conclusion" on whether Trump obstructed justice or not. In fact in V. II, pages 1 and 2, in the four numbered points, the Mueller report says explicitly that the prosecutors _did not intend_ to reach a conclusion about prosecution for obstruction because of the constraints of the Office of Legal Counsel opinion on prosecution of a sitting President. Those points lay out the constraints, the rationale for not pursuing a prosecution, and the actions taken instead, which comprised investigation while the material was fresh in peoples' minds, documentary evidence was available and retaining the evidence gathered, because the President has no further immunity after completion of his term. That implies that they believed crimes were committed.
4
So if the Dems succeed in driving Trump from office before the 2020 election, won't Mike Pence become POTUS? Do they have plans up their sleeves to get rid of him, too? Or do they want to keep the entire witch hunt going right until election day, as a way to divert attention from their reparations/open borders/free all violent criminals agenda?
3
Two plus years of investigation, multiple lives destroyed, congress tied in knots, and nothing has changed. The people who think Trump is a Russian agent still think he is a Russian agent. Those who think he’s going to make America Great Again still believe he will. What a waste . Let’s move on with our lives.
5
@John: How do we move on when way too many of our citizens are fine with whatever terrible things Donald Trump does? No matter how low he stoops, they do not care. He is a stain on our country, and they defend him. What a disgrace.
8
Dear buster girl: he was elected. He is not a Russian agent. There are many things to fight Trump on but not the collusion or obstruction fiasco. These were always ridiculous propositions.
@John he was not elected. he was appointed by the outdated electoral college. he had at least 3 million less votes than Hillary.
2
This is a waste of time. The Democrats will never believe the evidence developed by the special counsel that found no collusion or obstruction of justice. They will continue to lie to themselves to draw their own conclusions regardless of what the facts say.
76
If there is nothing to hide, why not release the full report? With the number of people around Trump who were found guilty, I do find it impossible that Trump was innocent.
151
So you are comfortable that your President and associates were meeting with Russians wittingly, or un wittingly, in an attempt to undermine American Democracy? And you are comfortable with the number of close Trump associates who have been convicted under the Muller investigation? You are also comfortable with Trump’s extremely odd relationship with Putin and Trump’s Helsinki remarks. You are comfortable that your president has secret, private, talks with Putin with no other Americans present? In short you are comfortable with all of Trump’s irregularities (criminal behavior) as president but Obama and Hillary are criminals? What a bizarro world we live in.
213
@Omarr
Pot calling kettle. Does it ever occur to you that even in the face of overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing by this president, why his core base has disregarded every bit of it?
106
As a former Assistant United States Attorney in the office of
the Southern Dist. of New York I was involved in many obstruction of justice cases. There could be no obstruction of justice in this case unless President Trump tampered with evidence which he did not. The special counsel found that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Therefore there was no underlying crime to obstruct and there can be no finding of criminal intent. Finally as the Chief Executive of the United States of America President Trump was entitled to comment and criticize the Russian investigation. His comments turned out to be true. Most people are seeing this as a political question when it is a legal question.
41
@Saggio If the president of the United States did things under the impression that his son or son - in - law could be indicted for what they did then his actions could well have been obstruction of justice.
And reading pages 185 - 188 of the report it's apparent that trump's son was very much subject to indictment; a major reason he wasn't is the conclusion that basically he was too unintelligent to realize he was doing something that could well be criminal.
51
Regardless of your legalistic and questionable interpretation, Trump is, by any reasonable measure, unfit for the office.
63
@Saggio I have never been a criminal lawyer but I am a lawyer. I think it's absurd that you would say there absolutely was no case. Generally these are jury questions -- especially whether there was the requisite intent. You say that Trump didn't tamper with evidence but you know that witness testimony is evidence, and he tampered with witness testimony in plain sight. I smell a Republican lawyer.
42
As a liberal, I desperate hope we can put this to bed.
I don't care much what Trump did or did not do with Russia. I care about climate change, I care about income inequality, I care about people having healthcare, I care about our swelling military budget and lack of education budget, I care about that we have more people in prison per capita than Russia!
Every second we have spent talking about this scandal is a second not talking about important issues. The Republicans love nothing more than the media constantly talking about scandals and not what is really going on. Hopefully this media obsession with Trump and Russia can get put to bed finally.
371
@TR
As a liberal, I care deeply about all of the issues you mentioned as well. However, I think it's of the utmost importance to be confident that the Russian government doesn't have leverage over the President of the United States.
If you want any of your issues addressed and resolved, we have to have a president and congress that puts the american people first.
161
@TR
Why do you think that the Putin government would care who was elected president of the U.S. unless it had some nefarious intent. It certainly doesn't wish the U.S. well.
70
@TR. you forget in order to help the things YOU care about we need this president out of office. i happen to care that he clearly obstructed and likely committed collusion despite barr’s defense of his client, trump. i happen to care about the rule of law and appropriate behavior. And i care about the environment, budget, border etc. what barr is doing is helping to ensure that trump is in office four more years and will do much more damage to the things you care about.
111
I think "I'm fucked" and the President wanted me to do all kinds of "crazy shit" sums it up for me.
7
Wow. Looks like Trump supporters are happy that their man meets the absolute LOWEST possible standards without actually committing a crime.
7
If the tables were turned, and Hillary Clinton was President, Republicans would burn the White House down.
6
Barr wrote his resume in an unsolicited essay on the executive branch and its 'privileges'. He got the top DOJ job & trump got his ally in all this!
2
The ultimate crooked quid pro quo of a corrupt government. Nixon was nothing compared to this!
1
So far, what I get is "I do not recall....."
1
Mr Barr, more than behaving as the AG and as representing the law of this country for all of us, had revealed himself as no more than a simple Spin Doctor working on behalf of his boss. I hope that our representatives fight hard to have the full report and to clean the White House of all these people who don't represent anybody but themselves and their "gigs." We, the citizens are not idiots, we deserve that our intelligence be respected and that the dirty deeds of this administrations be exposed in its fullest.
1
Today surely felt like democracy has diminished a little more and is being replaced with a dictatorship mentality, inch by inch, page by page.
2
"[Mueller] found a concerted effort by Russia to interfere in the 2016 election, but established no criminal conspiracy between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia."
No conspiracy.
No coordination.
No "collusion."
No as in NONE. NOTHING. NADA.
Just as the Atty General summarized it.
When will the media figures who told us the exact opposite - that the President is an agent of a foreign power, that there can be no doubt of this, that he is a traitor - when will the mendacious fools who hyped this hoax for nearly three years finally APOLOGIZE to the nation?
Shame on them.
4
@T-Bone APOLOGIZE? Just as trump does when vulgar, ignorant or lying? (The latter on a virtual daily basis) Let us not forget that the Russians attacked the U.S.A. & were defended repeatedly by him.
Not only does the Mueller report provide the basis for continuing its investigation of President Trump, Congress should also determine whether the impeachment of AG Barr is warranted. Both Trump and Barr may be intentionally undermining and distorting the rule of law, as well as faith in the DoJ, and both are using propaganda techniques reminiscent of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union: lies, distortions, and marketing techniques that are poisoning our collective national consciousness. Congress must defend our Constitutional system -- the future of our democracy is at stake.
2
Come on folks! Time to realize that the United States of America, it's people, and what it stands for, is under threat from the Republican Party.
It's war and every Republican is a criminal traitor to America.
Christian Republicans are blasphemous Judas's to every man and a woman of them.
There really are no two ways about this. Even before Trump, the GOP has been conducting and undeclared war on the American people.
To know this all you have to do is pay a lot of attention - so you can tell when they are lying. They have been lying, big time, for years.
They have had all the financial power behind them. Psychological research has benefited them as they have found a way to totally fool 40% of the least educated of Americans. This is evil.
1
Look at Barr's history --- he's been a toady, a lacky, and a Republican apparatchik his whole life. He thinks treason is ok --as long as committed by a Republican. He advised the pardoning of the convicted Iran Contra felons by George I. He literally applied for this job by making a pre-ordained conclusion before he even walked in the door.
Republicans used to scream about the 'Imperial Presidency'. Where are all those supposedly 'principled' Libertarians now?
3
Trump attempted to fire Robert Mueller. That is called obstruction of justice. Duh....
It all rests on the question of criminal intent. Stephen Colbert accurately posed the question a few weeks ago, when he asked, with respect to Trump and his minions, “Evil - or stupid?”
Now we have our answer. The bottom line of the Mueller Report is that Trump and his people are too stupid to have had criminal motives. Moreover, Mueller’s team could not determine whether Trump tried intentionally to obstruct justice, because Trump is a moron.
Not very reassuring, is it?
1
Dear Nancy,
He is worth "it"
1
AG Barr, trump, trump campaign together made USA a non democratic country.
Just imagine if Barr were the AG all along....
Roy Cohn lives on in Bill Barr.
This is a disgrace. Even with this so-called "exoneration", the president's conduct has been simply unacceptable. He must go in 2020.
Heartbreaking for everyone who loves this country and American democracy.
Those who say Trump should be impeached but the GOP Senate will do nothing are probably correct. It would be a futile exercise.
Does it even matter that former intelligence officials, former law enforcement officials and former federal prosecutors appear to be unanimous in their condemnation of a man they are describing as "lawless" and "a mob boss"?
It's imperative in 2020 to defeat Donald Trump and also to clean out the U.S. Senate, removing all the Trump acolytes and deniers of democracy, most importantly chief obstructer
Mitch McConnell - likely the most unfit senator in my long lifetimes.
The details in this report are shameful. How did we get to this? There are a number of presidents in my 60+ years I have not thought highly of but I've never been so ashamed of the President and thoroughly convinced they should be removed from office.
What now? Heck if I know. Other than: clean house in 2020 of Donald Trump and GOP senators and pray we can recover and reset our democracy.
We are a great country. We deserve better than this.
My father, who flew a bomber in WWII - and whose brother in the Navy died on a destroyer that was sunk in the Pacific - was the most patriotic person I've ever known. He died over a decade ago. I'm glad he's not here to see this.
4
Definitions from the Trump New World Dictionary:
Complete Exoneration:
"Plenty of evidence, but not quite enough for a slam-dunk conviction."
Conclusive Proof of Innocence:
"Strong denial of all accusations."
Absolute Truth:
"Any statement firmly stated more than five times."
Complete Vetting Process:
"Receipt of oath of loyalty."
Enemy:
"One that disagrees, disputes, or disparages."
Presidential Mission:
"Public Service for Private Enrichment."
GeneGrossman.com
2
Wait a minute! The Attorney General of the United States is supposed to be the chief law enforcement agent in our country. He is not supposed to,be director of communications or press secretary
Yet, Mr. Barr, by any objective standard, stood there, casting his own interpretation of what was written in the report. Then, he all but voiced Trump’s stated comment, “no collusion...no conspiracy “.
All of this talk a couple of years ago about “checks and balances “ has turned out to be just talk.
As citizens, we no longer are protected from this Administration.
8
Barr is trying to sell us a fake bill of goods. The House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees have to call Mueller to testify about the redactions and whether they are justified. Period.
2
So, aren't we now in a Constitutional crisis?? Chief Justice Roberts, please get ready to do what must be done:
1) order the release of the full, unedited report to the public
2) make clear that the President is not above the law, regardless of what the Justice Department procedures may be
Our democracy is cracking apart, and Republicans are just fine with that.
2
Attorney General Barr's press conference indicates that he interprets his job as being the protector and defender of his client, Donald Trump, or to put the most positive spin on it, the Office of the Presidency. His job, however, is to be the chief attorney for the people of the United States. His performance, while not surprising, is demeaning and dishonorable. Many defense lawyers see their job as no more than getting their clients found not guilty. That may well be the situation we have witnessed today.
5
Isn't anyone worried about the Russian meddling in our elections? We already know Trump for what he is, so let's stop talking about him and get on with figuring out how to stop the meddling of foreigners, especially the Russians. Unfortunately, Trump the narcissist, and his administration, is not inclined to do that, especially with those outside forces supporting him.
4
This President has not been exonerated. On the contrary, he owes the American people, especially the gullible ones an explanation.
1
I didn’t know attempted obstruction of justice isn’t a crime. Or attempted conspiracy with a foreign power to undermine our electoral process? Or attempted bank robbery?
3
I hate trump with a passion, but I think it is time to let this Russia thing go. I'm satisfied that there were no serious crimes committed. There seemed to be enouph smoke to justify an investigation, but the extent and scale of the Mueller investigation was a mistake. Something should be done to try to avoid this kind of immense waste of time and energy in the future. The investigation was a massive distraction for the entire country and at the end of the day, was a complete waste of time.
I think Trump is a very dangerous president, and I support all efforts to get rid of him in any way possible, but trying to go after him for something he simply did not do was never going to accomplish that. In fact the opposite is true, he has emerged stronger than ever.
1
Obviously, the Special Counsel investigation was not a "hoax." It is no hoax to establish no prosecutable degree of collusion.
But the proper "fact check" mentality of the press stays with the atomistic context of facts which doesn't permit a cumulative picture of Trump as a habitual abuser of public trust.
Trump insults the presidency with impunity, but gets away with it by hiding in the office, i.e., turning press contact into public relations (evading sharp questioning by ending interactions: "Thank you very much," press moment ends). No one really confronts the president in public, because his pretense of royalty just sneers and goes away. And it works!
Not only does the emperor have no clothes, but he revels in the fact, at the childish level of "sticks and stones...but words" never matter, neither from him, nor from anyone else.
And his base constituency eats it up, like subjects of a king.
4
This reminds me of the time when OJ was acquitted for the murder of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman; OJ got the law, not justice.
Similarly, Trump has been able to get away with clear charges of criminal malfeasance due to lack of evidence that could withstand legal definitions and scrutiny. Doesn't mean he is innocent, but clearly he encouraged and abetted "assistance" that various Russian actors were willing to give him.
Unfortunately, there are many who believe that this was all a concocted inquiry, and even if it found clear and absolute evidence to prove that Trump was guilty, then there would be shrill voices protesting this to be a shame and a "Deep State" conspiracy. Either way, no one wins from this.
Very disappointing that Mueller did not use different language in his report. It is clear he believes there was obstruction, but feels it cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. All right, that is fine. Then say in the report: "It is more likely than not that the President obstructed justice, but we cannot prove that beyond a shadow of doubt." Instead, Mueller basically punts on making a real conclusion. Very weak.
2
If the republicans had this evidence against Obama he would be impeached so now the democrats have this evidence in front of them so I wonder what they will do with it. If they are having trouble deciding just ask a Republican what they would do if that was Obama.
3
GOP has enabled corruption into our government and next election, not just Trump; all of GOP has to pay.
Lets get each and every GOP man out of their power position.
Let's get Dems 67 Seats in Senate.
3
The President is Commander of the armed forces, obviously a serious responsibility. Any member of the armed forces can be dismissed from service and tried for "conduct unbecoming," which is an instant career-killer. A soldier can be found guilty of conduct unbecoming without having technically broken any laws.
Why can't Trump be tried for conduct unbecoming a US President?
4
WikiLeaks, if you're listening, we really need that full, un-redacted Mueller report.
6
if I ask you to commit a crime, and you refuse to do it and don't report it to the police, aren't we both guilty? Yet we are being told that Trump didn't obstruct justice because his aides refused to follow his directives.
Am I missing something??
5
Clinton's statements under oath, using a definition of 'sex' were not remotely criminal - and he was impeached.
Trump's actions are far worse, are, even by the most generous standards from Republican prosecutors, at the very least bordering on criminal - and they involve a betrayal of democracy and our country - they are entirely impeachable. Whether or not the political winds allow impeachment, the mere lack of a decision that the activities are 'criminal' and prosecutable is not the only point here.
6
Here's a recap: this won't hurt Trump. and now that the worst is behind him, he'll move on and so will we, just like we did with every other Trump scandal. They called Reagan the teflon president but he ain't got nothing on Trump.
He'll survive this just fine, and in contrast he'll actually use it against whichever Democratic nominee goes up against him.
3
The obstruction clearly is not there. What the possible obstruction shows is President Trump's frustration knowing he didn't do anything wrong.
2
@Julia "Clearly" is the wrong adjective. If it were "clear", the Mueller states explicitly that he would have exonerated the President in the report. He states equally emphatically that he did not.
The question of "clear" or "not clear" is the political question of what should be done with this report. Trump is 'clearly' impeachable but probably 'clearly' not convictable.
There's plenty in the report that involved Donald Trump Jr. committing a crime - I'd like Barr to explain to me why Donald Trump Jr. hasn't been carted off in handcuffs other than the fact that he's Barr's Lord and Master's son.
Last time I checked, we overthrew a lunatic king in the 1700s for a reason that appeared to be valid to a lot of United States citizens.
I'm pretty sure our founding fathers would have found our constitution and our rule of law applicable to both Kings AND their sons.
3
More than anything, the Mueller report reveals that his investigation was not completed. For one, and this is the most significant element of the lack of completion, President Trump refused to testify in person. His lawyers claimed that Mueller and company were laying a trap for the president. The truth however, was that Trump's lawyers knew he couldn't tell the truth. There needn't be a trap; Trump is his own worst enemy. More importantly, how do you trap an innocent person? Imagine, if you will, that Obama was asked to testify in a similar case. Do you think Mueller's team could "trap" Obama? No, of course not. Make Trump testify before a grand jury under oath, without his presidential protections, and he's wearing an orange jump suit. The Mueller investigation was the beginning, President Trump, not the end of investigations into your impropriety and criminality as a president. If you're feeling vindicated, hiding behind your wall of sycophant liars, think again. We will find the money trail that exposes you for the crook you are. Bet on it.
3
I have never seen so many people distraught to discover their President is not a Russian agent.
That's about all we need to know about Democrat's "sincere" concern for the country.
I read about as much as I could of this report and what stands out to me is , yes, Russia interfered in our 2016 election. No question about that. It was very extensive. I was a little shocked at the scope of their attempts. Eye-opening for sure. We should definitely expect more of the same in 2020.
However, the whole "Social Media" bots and attempting to influence individuals who rely on social media sites for their news and to form their opinions is what concerns me the most. How stupid are these people who flock to Twitter, get their news from Facebook instead of real sources? I have both a Twitter account and a Facebook account but do not post at all. I don't allow myself to be influenced by anything that any individual, in particular someone I don't know. The Russians thought (and are probably correct) that individuals who are not well-versed in information (real information) can be influenced by words.
Please people: read real news sources not opinions from faceless voices on these sites. Learn what is really going on. Get off of Twitter, Facebook and the like. Live your life and educate yourself. Don't be swayed. Choose for yourself.
Sometimes it takes a lifetime to do so. Start now.
4
It appears that Trump did not commit a crime simply because the powers of the President are so broad.
It also seems evident to me that he abused those powers.
Shame on him.
4
Well well well, I can finally this with confidence: The president is a crook! But it gets worse, so is the guy trusted with Justice. On the other hand, we already knew that when he volunteered a 19 page memo essentially saying Article II precludes criminal intent. It reminds me another of 2nd something that many citizens claim precludes *any* regulation.
2
Trump had his wish come true. Barr protects him very well. What Barr does not do very well is his job which does not include being his boss personal lawyer or VP of Crisis Control and Management of the WH.
2
I frankly don't want to hear about a reporter's take on a redacted report. The fact that the report has been finessed at all is a cover-up in itself. The complete, unadulterated report needs to be released. Anything less is a sham.
1
"Don't believe what you see and don't pay attention to what you hear," said Trump to his mesmerized fans. And they won't and they don't.
Yeah, well, there seems a lot to see here for the rest of us, though Trump has committing his crimes in plain sight most of the time.
Does Trump and his merry band of sycophants still want to investigate the oranges?
2
AG Barr has attempted to effectuate a trumpery of Justice. Trump has apparently succeeded, so far.
I challenge any Republican to read this report and for a moment pretend that the name was not Trump but rather Clinton or Obama. Could you say with 100% honesty that you wouldn't see this as a national disgrace requiring immediate impeachment and/or criminal prosecution? Come on!
8
Of course there was no conspiracy to collude with Russia.
A conspiracy wasn't necessary, since Trump openly invited Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's emails and encouraged Russian support in other ways. This was collusion in plain sight.
32
I think many of you are missing a big point-it was highly unlikely that there would be finding of criminal conduct against Trump. But high crimes and misdemeanors-the means by which a president should be removed are in abundance in the report and his daily activities
19
@Amy Nadel The problem is that impeachment is political. 67 senators or 2/3’s of the senate would be required to vote out a President that has been impeached. You would need 20 Senate Republicans along with all senate Democrats to remove Trump.
2
@John
Indeed and alas.
I know from business experience that sensitive conversations don't take place in a place or fashion that they can be recorded and I assume that Trump and his minions, as experienced as they are with legal entanglements, are well acquainted with this business practice. Thus, record of contact but no evidence. I have a bridge to sell you if you think that those 'numerous contacts' were to discuss hobbies or pets though. That is certainly why Trump exclaimed that he was f'ed when he heard about Mueller's appointment and why he has acted guilty for two years. He worried mightily that there was a loose end that he failed to tie up.
18
Looks like Trump found his Roy Cohn.
8
You know.. I have my problems with all! of this since Mueller himself was the one to tell the American public there „ are weapons of mass destruction in Irak“.
One phony, the next one and the next one.. Never ending!
Vote 2020!!
2
I also was uncomfortable with the lionization of Mueller. I’m sure he is competent enough but he’s not infallible.
1
There are no surprises here – the President and his party are happier than they have any reason to be and the Democrats are in a totally predictable tizzy because they didn’t get what they wanted. President Trump is likely to continue as President until January 20, 2021 and unless the Democrats can come up with a winning candidate – a lot longer (Oh the horror of it). Commenters during the last primary season used to joke about the “clown car” full of Republican hopefuls; this year that can be applied to the Democrats. Yes, there are favorites who appeal to one group or another but no one other than Biden has the broad-based national appeal to win – and his age is an issue. So the best way for the Democrats to get rid of Trump is to concentrate on 2020 with an electable candidate and platform (try to keep AOC and Omar out of sight) and not waste the taxpayers and voters time and money on more unending investigations.
5
Thanks. Unfortunately, I’m good to go with investigating Russian meddling, laughing at you lot about the indictments and convictions and ongoing investigations, and watching Trump waddle in circles and quack.
it helps limit the damage this greedy fool is doing, you see.
2
Adam Schiff gave the perfect speech after republicans on his judiciary committee asked him to resign. Nothing that Trump and his accomplices did before and after the election was OKAY and William Barr did a disservice to our country this morning by acting as a Trump apologist instead of the AG for all of the citizens. That was not OKAY either.
20
At first glance, it appears that this President commits ethical rather than criminal offences . We may see other outcomes to the contrary from the 14 outside investigations related to Trump. The old axiom "All politics are local" starts with the question of any individual running for office, " Are you running for public interest, or self interest?" The past two years have shown me, and hopefully a majority of Americans that it is blatantly obvious that Donald Trump has used the office of the Presidency for self interest over his sworn duties. That is a powerful reason to deny him and his Republican Congressional supporters reelection in November, 2020.
7
who does Barr think he is?
The Attorney General of the United States is NOT, never was, never will be a presidential mouthpiece!
And ... "he has no objections to Mr Mueller testifying in front of Congress?
Sorry, I didn't realize anyone needs the AG's "permission" to comply with a Congressional subpoena (if it comes to subpoenas).
What a poor excuse for an AG.
12
Barr was asked a direct question by the media if he would allow Mueller to testify in front of Congress. That was his response. Did you watch the news conference?
The early headlines on the Mueller Report are wildly off-base. The Special Counsel did not find that the President's attempts to obstruct misfired, as CNN's current top headline suggests. Volume II is best read as concluding that the President DID, in fact, commit obstruction of justice on several occasions. The only reason the Special Counsel declined to reach this conclusion is that an OLC memo prevents the prosecution of a sitting president. The Special Counsel determined that it would be fundamentally unfair to announce in the Report that the President had committed a crime if the President would not have an opportunity to respond and seek vindication in a court of law. This is a reasonable conclusion for Mueller to reach. What is not reasonable is Barr's conclusion--ostensibly based on the Report but wholly incompatible with the Report's findings--that the President did not obstruct justice. Barr's conclusion on obstruction of justice mischaracterizes the reasons for the Special Counsel's decision to avoid a legal conclusion on obstruction of justice, and it is not supported by the Special Counsel's findings.
14
At this point, the bottom line seems to be that:
1. The Russian government actively interfered in the 2016 elections, on behalf of Donald Trump.
2. Trump’s people repeatedly met with Russian agents, on everything from Trump tower to political information.
3. Trump’s campaign knowingly used stolen info they got from Wikileaks.
4. Wikileaks got much of that info from Russian agents.
5. Trump lied, and lied loud and often, about all this. Starting with the lie that he was never told about Russian agents.
6. It’s likely fair enough not to charge Trump with criminal conspiracy. Greed and arrogant stupidity, now....
7. Mueller wanted Congress to address the issue of obstruction for several reasons.
8. Trump’s still lying about the whole thing.
9. He’s not getting impeached any time soon.
10. Republicans now have just enough cover that they won’t have to stand up for their country.
Hey, Trumpists...how’s it feel to know that your boy is inexacrly the same boat you put Hillary Clinton in? You know...clearly way in the wrong, but just this side of being chargeable by an honest prosecutor?,
8
As he did in the first Bush administration, Mr Barr has misrepresented information to the public.
Muller’s first two pages of section two are clear. The evidence does not exonerate Mr Trump, and he is not charged with obstruction because he is the sitting president. Because he wouldn’t be tried, DOJ policy says the report should not say he committed obstruction because Mr Trump would not have the opportunity of a trial to defend himself.
Clearly Congress needs to move ahead and investigate whether there are grounds for impeachment of Mr Trump. The report suggests that there are. It will be interesting to see if Mr Barr is willing to repeat under oath to Congress his statement that the DOJ policy that a sitting president can’t be indicted was not part of the decision.
6
So, let's take this to it's logical conclusion. Since it's been determined that there was no underlying crime of colluding with "the Russians" how exactly is it possible to "obstruct justice" by defending onself from two years of myriad false news reports and leaks that incorrectly claimed there was? Ironically, if Trump had ended the Mueller investigation, we would not now know that no collusion occurred. How would it be possible to spin that outcome to generate some more faux outrage?
@Fred Rick
As the report says, a thorough FBI investigation could have uncovered actions that the President thought were crimes or could have reflected poorly on the President.
And perhaps if Muller had subpoenaed the President to testify, he would have gotten the evidence of conspiracy.
Even though interacting with WikiLeaks to have Hillary’s emails released wasn’t technically a crime, he might have thought that the act could still lead to impeachment. And perhaps he would have been correct. Time will tell.
I must be getting old. So far, there are very few new points that have not been already printed in this newspaper. I knew when the Democrats took over the House, that it was going to be the findings of the House committees guided by sections of the Mueller report that would be the most damaging. The talking heads this morning acted like the early parts of the Report would be grounds for impeachment. No! This is going to be a long drawn out series findings of the dysfunction of our Executive Branch. There will be posturing by the Democrats running for president and their positions will help shape the Democrats platform. But to me, it is the voter will have the final voice in our new government. I don't expect any meaningful response from the Republicans.
6
Hallelujah! The Mullerism Holy Books have arrived! The Maddow Ministry now has its texts. The Bible of the Collusion Truthers will now be pored over with Talmudic scrutiny by the faithful.
That should keep them spinning their wheels for the next few years as the rational people live our lives in peace.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
5
What part of Barr's defense was "strong?" If you mean he spinned as fast as he could, dissembled as much as he could, say so. Don't give his performance the dignity of pronouncing it "strong."
5
Mueller punted and Bill Barr lies. Barr needs to go.
3
For those who can read English, it is clear that the Mueller Report literally says that the plethora of lies from those in the Trump orbit materially damaged the investigation into Russian meddling.
Also, proving obstruction was difficult because Mueller did believe that
indicting a president was not do-able under DOJ standards and thus he could not exonerate, nor could he charge Trump as he would be unable to mount a defense after the fact as it would be tainted.
Barr flat out lied about a few key take-aways from the Report, which is hardly a surprise considering his prior bias.
It is a damning report on Trump's behavior...he may have escaped being indicted, but if you have any patriotism or sense of ethics and a sence of how dangerous it is to have a president who asks his intelligence heads to make statements to thwart the Special Counsel investigation, it is imperative that Congress moves forward with impeachment, seriously and methodically.
I wish I had confidence in Republicans to read Mueller's Report objectively.
8
The door to the Oval Office swung open and Barr crawled in with his tongue hanging out: "Whatever you wish, Mr. President, I'm your man."
3
Will the Media stay on this story as long as they stayed on Hillary's emails????
9
Why were so many Republicans in and out of political office meeting with Russians during Trump's campaign?
Answer that question and I will shut my mouth.
8
I'm sure they were also meeting with Chinese, Germans, Brits, etc.
NYT headlines are misleading in a detrimental way. A sister posting by the NYT claims in the title that readers may review the entire Mueller report via the NYT posting -- But Barr has made it so NONE of us will be able to read "the full" report until it is in-redacted in full.
3
What I find most chilling is the fact that this administration, and the Republicans in general, have no problem covering for Trump every step of the way.
Trump is most likely too stupid to have collaborated, but a "useful idiot" in the WH is almost more frightening. He has probably obstructed justice, but only to save his own hide. He may be just smart enough to realize he was an unwitting Russian asset and the Republicans appear to be okay with that. Scary times.
7
In short the President of the Unites States is a liar which the Mueller report makes very plain. He lies all the time, and he surrounded himself people who will lie for him. Just like he is lying when he says he will replace Obamacare with something that is even better. He just lies, he feels it works for him, especially with his base, so now we have a President who we can't believe one word he says.
10
Barr should resign. Call for it. True intelligent Americans continue to be dismayed.......to a point.....we have been redacted.
6
We know that Trump is guilty until proven innocent.
2
Barr’s plan is to put as many impediments in front of a full, unredacted release of Mueller’s report as will keep it from seeing the light of day until after the 2020 election. This is exactly the plan he followed with President George Bush Sr. after Bush decided - with Barr’s support - that the F.B.I. could legally extract Noriega from Panama. Barr refused to release his full legal justification for such an action, saying that he would instead supply a summary. The full, and FALSELY represented conclusions in Barr’s report for Bush were not made public for several years. When a politician gets away with a wholly dishonest and self-serving strategy, they will most often try it again. Republican strategies are very transparent - you can bank on their repeating illegal, morally dubious, and dishonest actions every time they get away with them.
7
The report contains compelling evidence of Russian interference with the election.
Tell me, what has Trump done about that - other than criticize the investigation and lie about it?
11
@RickP
why would Trump and his administration do anything to prevent Russia's interference again when they had no qualms about partnering with Russia to destroy their democratic opponent in the 2016 election. Trump feels no guilt, no shame, no embarrassment ever about anything - whether it be partnering with Russia to win American elections or whether it be yanking babies away from their mothers and putting children in cages. He is not capable of normal human emotions except greed for money and power. That's all he cares about. Not laws, not the American people, no justice or fairness for others.
5
No "corrupt intent"? Based on my observations of him and all around him (including the indicted ones), he is corrupt to the core of his being. Lying and cheating to him are as easy as breathing.
8
@Bunny
Read the Mueller report and your observations will be confirmed.
Thanks Mueller! Trump is above the law! Justice is not served and justice has been undermined. Trump admitted his intent on national TV. This corrupt Presidency is helped by Comey, Barr, Mueller, Sessions, GOP senators! UGH! A long blathering pass-the-buck report written by a Republican FBI guy who won't take a stand presented by Trump's latest "fixer" the AG modeled after mob lawyer Roy Cohn. Neither Mueller nor Barr deserve a positive place in history unless it is for awards for kicking the can and cover ups! I heard all the reports of how Barr would do the right thing during his confirmation hearings and heard for nearly two years that Mueller was really ethical and on task. We have the most criminal President ever and these two guys confirm what they really think: Trump is above the law! Republicans protect their own no matter how corrupt.
7
The Attorney General, appointed by the President who is being investigated and confirmed by the Senate controlled by his political party, absolves the President after his office -- with no independent supervision - removes whatever information it wants from Mueller's Report. The conflicts of interest in this process would be astonishing were it not Trump's administration. Barr was never anything but a Trump and GOP loyalist for whom all else is secondary. We know that from his 19-page report on the issue and his actions thereafter. I suppose he is thrilled to be "Trump's Roy Cohn." What a disgrace.
As a long-time intellectual and cultural historian of the United States, I find this disregard for the fundamental ideas and concepts that undergird the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution not merely appalling, but a grave danger to the future of this republic. Trump and his minions and many of his supporters do not seem to know much about these great documents, nor care about them if they do. Barr, Trump, et. al. are the antithesis of what the founders of this nation had hoped would happen when they staked "our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor" that the US should be free and independent.
9
It's nice to have confirmation that Sarah Sanders is a liar. The report says she admitted to investigators that her claim to the press - after the Comey firing - that they had received calls from "countless" FBI agents who had lost confidence in Comey was...based on absolutely nothing.
17
Nothing Burger!
1
Some of you are now grasping at straws and while you are diverted Trump will get reelected. This was a colossal waste of time. Democrats should have focused all that energy on pushing through concrete positive changes they could run on in 2020. Now they have nothing but hating Trump and will lose because the democratic candidates are awful.
4
@Hellen
All of the democratic candidates are 200% better human beings and leaders than Trump. Time for congress to begin Impeachment proceedings. If they don't it is a stain on democracy and likely the end of free and fair elections in the democracies around the world. Shame on this president and this administration and all their enablers.
5
@Hellen Your assertion is incorrect. There are a number of initiatives that are making there way through the house and have passed out of the house. Of course the Senate has not taken anything produced by the Democratic house up. Nancy Pelosi is very much pushing the house to act on issues that will be important in the 2020 campaign. The TV news media in particular is distracted because this is a scandal, but that doesn't mean that there are not members of the Democratic party that are working to shape a very different narrative for 2020.
The Democratic Party and their ‘progressive’ cheerleaders are doing such a stellar job of fetishizing Donald Trump and the Mueller report.
It’s OVER! Time to move on....
5
I've said it before and I'll say it again...the party of hypocrites would in no way, shape, or form, tolerated 1/100th of what Trump did from a Democratic president. The only thing they care about is keeping power and destroying the country like cancer-from within. And the Trump voters act just like someone who has been abused- rationalizing all the ignorant behavior so they don't have to admit the truth.
8
Confused. The headline said Mueller, but in the article I keep seeing the name Barr. Is this the Mueller Report or the Barr Report?
5
This appears the way organized crime families structure a defense. Let the lieutenants take the hits and the capo moves on.
6
if Trump were pro-abortion, no one would care.
2
@Bob
You may recall that Mr. Trump was a Democrat up to the time he decided to run for President...
@LauraF And?
Poor Bill Barr. He just does not know who his client is. He needs a reminder from whatever jurisdiction granted him lawyer privileges even if it is only a shameful disbarment.
2
A new standard for Presidential conduct was announced this morning by A.G. Barr.
Beginning immediately, all Presidents will be legally entitled to say, “Yes, you caught me red-handed with my gun in my hand violating the Constitution and other laws of G-d and man; but my gun wasn’t smoking, so the case against me is permanently closed.”
Ah, lawyering. Ah, our poor country.
5
Perhaps Trump cannot be prosecuted, but the report speaks of a horrible moral decrepitude for the person who occupies the highest office in the greatest country of the world. I cry.
6
Barr has betrayed the American people. This was his plan from the start. He took this job to bury, obfuscate, redact and lie, to advance his extreme views on presidential power, and to preserve, protect and grow wealth for the 1%
6
Upon Mueller's appointment, Trump said “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m ( ).” That is not what someone would say if he believed he did nothing wrong.
Barr reviewed the whole FBI report and created his 4 page letter within less than 2 days. That's not nearly enough time to read, let alone digest and analyze, over 300 pages. Yet he made important conclusions in that short time. Some of Mueller's staff have already said that the letter misrepresents the report.
Barr was appointed by Trump, who demands "personal loyalty", as Comey and Sessions both found out. Whatever one thinks of Barr, he isn't stupid; if he wants to keep his job he knows he has to be loyal.
We are just finding out what is in the unredacted portion. We have yet to hear from Mueller or Congress as to whether Barr represented the report fairly. Only then can we know if Barr hid some things about Trump that he shouldn't have.
Regardless of whether Trump gets charged or not, or whether he's guilty of anything or not, if Obama or Hillary or any Dem had done 1/100 of what Trump is already known to have done, Trump and all his followers would be screaming about it. Remember how they screamed about Bill Clinton and Lewinski, a non-presidential, not-illegal matter, which only came up out of a an investigation of Whitewater real estate deals.
Other investigations are pending as well. Way to early to make declarations, especially of innocence.
4
If you haven't read the redacted Mueller report in it's entirety, you should not be commenting about cherry picket talking points. I am half way through the report, I will withhold judgement until I reach page 448. That is what any objective person should do. You have after all financially contributed to this investigation and report.
A jurist does not base their decision solely on the closing arguments of the prosecution. If you've already come to a conclusion, don't read the report, read articles about what others think you should know.
5
Is anyone surprised, I woke late today and thought that Marshall law would have been declared if trump didn’t get his way.
I don't understand why Republicans are 100% fine with Russia interfering in America's elections.
11
@Sydney Ahh because it got them their tax cuts??????
When Trump attorney William P. Barr says "no corrupt intent", we're supposed to believe "Lock Her Up" still passes as "acceptable" too.
Trump spokesman William P. Barr explains impediments to the investigation: a result of being understandably “frustrated and angered by his sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents and fueled by illegal leaks.”
Where's the guy who testified before Congress? He would know that Trump ADMITTING to firing Comey due to "Russia thing" had to be explained ANOTHER WAY.
29 Jan 2018, Letter to Mueller from Counsel to the President (Dowd and Sekulow): Reading the entire interview (with Lestor Holt, 11 May 2017), the fair reading of the President’s remarks demonstrates that the President:
1. Fired Mr. Comey for incompetence;
2. Knew.. the firing.. would not terminate (investigation);
3. Demonstrated.. he was not concerned about the continuation..; and
4. Made it clear that he was willing, even expecting, to let the investigation take more time..
That bunk was useful then, but Spokesman William P. Barr has to frame "political opponents" in the new narrative. So, today he's absolving a 2-year old "propelled" into "sincere" tantrum.
1
What we know is that we have a corrupt administration, supported by a corrupt power hungry party and a large base of fellow Americans who are either greedy, fearful of 'the other', or 'blind-eyed' dyed in the wool republicans (hopefully a shrinking number). Our only hope is that we turn out in large enough numbers (regardless of the gerrymandering) to throw these bums out in 2020.
1
Keep it simple Democrats — at his core he is, and has always been, a liar. It’s all you need to say each and every time you make a speech are interviewed and anything else you use to explain why he needs to go. Don’t overthink it. Just remind everyone who the guy really is.
4
We need Robert Caro.
2
If Republicans were intellectually honest, they would step back and see the flimsy, partisan reasons for impeaching Clinton and realize that the evidence clearly shows Trump is entirely unfit to be President. But, in their usual way, they will revert to shameless partisanship and conclude that Trump is a pure as the driven snow and a paragon of morality and virtue! And the next time a Democrat is elected President they will revert to their nit-picking and moralizing.
5
To me, a President should represent our highest standards, something the average person should aspire to. The President should uphold the law, and define what it means to obey the law. Even without an indictment, the fact that our President engaged in behavior that went right up to the line of what is considered obstruction is abhorrent and shameful.
272
@Bill Now it is in the hands of congress.
1
@Bill and continues to this day and won't stop until it leaves office and maybe even continue then.
3
@Bill It was only considered obstruction by the people wanting to nail him to the stake. Obviously Trump didn't collude with the Russians, and when under fire like that from political enemies, the best thing to say is "no recollection". Yes, he is a blow hard and certainly shouldn't ever tweet anything, but that doesn't mean we charge with a false crime, at least it shouldn't be that way in the US. But, you know the Democrats will have to save face and keep insulating something fishy happened.
1
Barr is the Collusion.
Barr is the Obstruction.
4
My 2 cents worth initial thought is that it will be
very interesting to read and learn about what Mueller
thought about the June (or was it July?) meeting with
the Russian lawyer et al, ostensibly about adoption matters
(giggle giggle).
Two points seem most relevant.
1) Why was it not problematic that this meeting was never
reported to the FBI (given that it was presumably discovered
thereafter that adoption was a cover story)?
2) What exactly did this country's intelligence services learn of the meeting thereafter?
i guess that when the president (any president) is the subject of an investigation, circumstantial evidence isn't enough to move forward.
the president's own comment - "i'm f'd" - suggests he knew he had done wrong and that his acts would be uncovered.
mr. mueller acted with honor.
if the president had one ten-thousandth of the ethics and morals of mr. mueller, he would surely resign.
no collusion? no obstruction? how about no confidence in the president? how about a would-be criminal in the white house? and surrounded by others who forget the law and do the same? that's where the collusion lies.
this is case, in my opinion, where even if the line defined by the letter of the law was not crossed, the spirit of these misdeeds crosses the sound barrier of ethics and morals.
trump - you are a disgrace to humanity!
5
Can we now name Barr as the useful idiot's useful idiot?
8
“Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m f****d.”
Clearly, the words of an innocent man.
27
'When Mr. Trump learned of Mr. Mueller’s appointment, he slumped in his chair and said: “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.”'
Apparently not. So the obvious question: What did Trump think would come out that hasn't?
14
Mr Mueller has been most scrupulous in applying legal criteria to his recommendations. However, after reading just the Mueller summaries of Trump & company activities, an everyday individual would conclude neither that Trump and his campaign had clean hands nor that they exhibited any intentions of scrupulous behavior regarding either Russian activity or the law and justice.
In fact, an everyday individual would hold their nose and keep far, far away from dealing with Trump or any if his associates.
5
Even if Trump and his people did not collude with agents responsible for Russian interference, there is no evidence that that Trump or his people did anything to try to prevent the interference, even though he and they clearly knew about the interference.
5
@Jim H
remember who was the pres then - obama, so i guess you mean obama decided not to do anything about it
1
@sh: Yes, be sure and blame Obama. Why didn't Trump and campaign report it to the FBI? They should have known it was the right thing to do, don't blame anybody else.
3
@sh
Obama, even as Pres, couldn't tell Trump & company to not talk to Russians. FBI was already investigating, so what should Obama have done, preempt the FBI?
Trump, even though only candidate then, could easily have told his staff & kids to stop. Instead Trump helped draft Don Jr's response to the Russians, and continued to negotiate for a Trump Tower in Moscow. And they all lied on their disclosures for security clearances by not mentioning these connections with our #1 enemy.
It would be nice if folks like you would start thinking about right vs wrong, instead of 'my party's always right and the other one's always wrong', or trying to twist the facts around to blame someone else.
Mueller Report, Vol. II at page 2:
“Fourth, if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment. … Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."
What I conclude is that because Special Counsel Mueller and his people were constrained from indicting Trump as POTUS, they also decided that they could not even file a sealed indictment, nor should they say anything to impugn the POTUS.
Clearly, Special Counsel Mueller intended that Congress should decide what if anything Trump should be charged with.
Congress therefore needs all of the information that Special Counsel Mueller found, and should make that case to a court.
If necessary, the House Judiciary Committee should call Special Counsel Mueller to testify, and they should explicitly ask him whether, in his opinion, the body most properly tasked with investigating this sitting POTUS (or any sitting POTUS) is Congress, and more specifically under Article I of the US Constitution, the House of Representatives, which is given the power to vote a bill of impeachment.
5
"In other words, since WikiLeaks did not participate in Russia’s underlying hacking of the emails, its actions were no crime. Thus, any Trump campaign collusion with WikiLeaks could not be an illegal conspiracy."
I'm not a lawyer, but if individual "C" buys an item from individual "B", that was stolen by individual "A", and then sold to individual "B", based upon Barr's conclusions, individual "C" can keep the item and suffer no criminal consequences even though individual "C" knew the item was stolen. Individual "C" may not have been involved in an illegal conspiracy to buy the stolen item, but clearly individual " C" is immoral.
7
It is easily established here that Barr and the white house colluded many times over the last week in regard to the report.Barr has acted as a defense counsel to Trump and not an Attorney General for the people.
5
I always believed that Mueller couldn't / wouldn't be able to come up with any evidence of collusion. As noted by Nytimes & Wapo and other journalists, the Russians, the Trumps and his circle excel in breaking law, deception, intimidation, money laundering and other things. Mueller could have never gotten his act right with all his obstacles in his way, the pressure and the constraint of acting right / white in the investigation.
I am no expert, but investigations like this, as many would have read in mob /criminal syndicate related investigations need detailed planning and catching in the act.
I don't know if Trump is guilty or innocent, colluded or not, but his leadership is sad and his behaviour despicable. The detrimental impact of his leadership would be felt for a long time to come!
4
The report paints a picture of a weak and ineffectual President, being held in check by a rotating cast of political appointees.
Criminal behavior - maybe not; but no one can read this and think that he is an effective leader.
7
Key question: 'Did the Special Counsel Order limit Mueller's investigation to only 'Russian Government' officials vs the many Russian Operatives the Kremlin and Putin rely on. If it's the former, we have no defense against Putin, if investigate the latter then coordination clearly happened.
Kenneth Starr 2 -- much ado about...nothing. I listened to the entire report being read. Barr was thorough and complete. Overall, the democratic party has the right ideas and principles for the welfare of our country.. But the ongoing obsession with attacking President Trump is not helpful in anyway and simply supports the polarization and lack of function of our government. Move on or be investigated for conspiracy. The whole thing should have never started. It takes two...to polarize. Move on. Substance only please.
It’s over. Democratic principles of a Fair investigation apply and the country should get over the drama and focus in making things better for its citizens. We’re tired if the petty puerile behavior of our elected officials— act your age and start doing what you’ve been paid to do.
Every Congressional committee with the authority to do so (most likely in the Democratic House) mist subpoena and question Robert Mueller and every member of his legal and investigational team. Keep asking questions until they’re all answered, and we, the people, really know what happened.
3
For some reason all of this brings to mind the O.J. case. Most people were stunned by the verdict then too. But life has a way of catching up with people. The GOP, Russian money to the NRA and all the rest of it; they and Trump are not out of the woods yet. Not by a long shot.
2
Call me overly cynical, but at this late stage, I've lost all faith in Congressional Democrats to muscle up and do much about this appalling situation. Further, I believe there is no Democratic 2020 presidential candidate who can overcome Trump's widespread immoral and amoral base to keep him from being elected again. Six more years, I'm afraid.
1
There are three big-picture Republican lies today, including one which is quoted by the commenter below, who, oddly, claims to have been an attorney for the state of New York. Lie Number One: Republicans say there was no collusion. Truth: Robert Mueller states clearly that collusion is not a legal term and was therefore not investigated. Lie Number Two: There was "no obstruction of justice". Truth: Robert Mueller carefully states that he could not prove that there was no obstruction of justice. Lie Number Three: The president is exonerated. Truth: Mueller said the president could not be exonerated. Remember: Lying is the primary game of Republicans--don't let them get away with it.
4
The more the Democrats talk about Mueller, impeachment, collusion and obstruction of justice, the more that they assure the re-election of Trump. Most people don't care. Trump's offensive human qualities have already been factored into people's impressions. D's need to tell the country what they offer the country. Otherwise, it is 2016 all over again.
3
@KS
Dems are telling the country every day what they stand for and what they are offering the country: economic and gender equality, living wages, affordable health care, saving our planet, helping the poor, keeping our national parks intact, along with many other ideas. I hear these messages every day in congress and from our rather large group of Dem presidential hopefuls. But the Trump cabal constantly suck all the oxygen from everything, and the press go along with it, covering his every tweet as if it's bigger news.
1
For now 45 doesn't have criminal indictments. There are ongoing investigations in the southern district. That's where the action is now.
For my part, I saw and heard 45 ask for help from Russia during the debate. I know that dozens of very close 45 associates have been indicted, plead guilty or have been found guilty. To me his intent has been made clear by his actions prior to taking office and in office. He's unfit. he's incompetent, he has bad intent. He's guilty even if legally nuanced interpretations haven't yet found that he stepped over the line.
So, why is there a continuing sense of injustice in the country?
Simple.
45 lost the popular vote by a margin that is measured in the millions. People will say "so what, he won the electoral college, this is all legal". That is true, but it doesn't make it right.
What other sort of behavior and sentiment can be expected when the voice of the majority isn't respected? 45 himself and all his supporters in the Senate, House, and across the country flaunt that disrespect in the faces of the majority.
How can any other type of behavior by the majority be expected in the face of the injustice that is felt?
3
This report is full of alarming evidence. The president coerced cabinet members to engage in acts they thought to be unlawful. The president, Prince, Flynn & his son-in-law engaged in post election, pre inauguration discussions with Russia, Egypt & Israel about changing policy decisions. Russia engaged in a years long, pervasive, information warfare campaign on our democratic process; their acts had consequences on our democracy and global events that can’t be undone. Russia’s information warfare via the IRA engaged in holding hate rallies to promote hashtags and trends that resulted in harm and death to our citizens. This is the most serious national security event of our lifetime.
1
Like so much of Trump’s business history, he ran an extremely unethical political campaign but stopped just short of breaking the law. His indicted and jailed minions made sure the boss “didn’t know” what they were doing, thus plausible deniability. And just because all except possible obstruction was not illegal, it certainly doesn’t make it ethical, honest or right. Who, including his seething base, would buy a used car from this man?
3
Today will be forever remembered as the day the rule of law was defeated in America. Whatever we were before is now gone, and the rise of the autocrat is irreversible. The terrorists in Congress known as Republicans have won.
So it was the Russians after all, and not someone who weighs, like, 400 pounds. It is not up to the AG to determine what to do about the Trump campaign’s activities with the Russians, it is up to congress go forward with the evidence in the Mueller report. Hopefully, Trump is right that this is the “end of my presidency.”
2
"Only puny secrets need protection. Big secrets are protected by public incredulity. You can actually dissipate a situation by giving it maximal coverage. As to alarming people, that's done by rumours, not by coverage." - Marshall McLuhan, Take Today : The Executive as Dropout (1972)
Truly, this is administration makes Marshall McLuhan look like Nostradamus. Who'd have thunk?
Whether warranted or not, the start of impeachment proceedings might well be an act of self-immolation for the Democrats, making a martyr of a President protected by the blind loyalty of Republicans.
It seems clear that all of this will have to come out in the wash of the next election. If we re-elect this President, we deserve what we get.
1
Barr's "Sincerely believed" legal slight of hand wasn't missed by some reporters; they and many others realized he was trying to function as a defense attorney would- relative to Intent. Problem is, Barr isn't Trump's defense attorney- he is The People's Attorney. Or at least- he was.
2
"Mr. Mueller examined about 10 actions by President Trump to determine whether he sought to obstruct justice but could not reach a conclusion." I don't think it's accurate to say that Mr. Mueller could not reach a conclusion. It's pretty clear that he declined to state a conclusion based on DOJ's stance about prosecution of a sitting president. I think this is an important distinction to make; stating it the way you did makes it sound like Mr. Mueller just couldn't decide...
1
Interesting how Barr claims "the White House" cooperated with the Mueller investigation, but I don't think he says "Trump cooperated" anywhere. I guess the White House implies Trump, except we all know Trump did everything but cooperate.
I'm not a lawyer although I read, write, and examine language critically and carefully. So I don't know if it is indeed within the appropriate role of the Attorney General to make a conclusion when the Mueller investigation did not, and to exonerate the president when the report did not?
Does the term "applicable legal standards" mean the policy of not indicting a sitting president? Is that what had Mueller conflicted?
I find this all very weak and pussy-footed.
5
“Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked.”
Wow, three complete, albeit short, grammatical sentences in a row. That’s unusual.
11
Kns, actually, that's *four*!
@Mark Pembroke:
“Oh my God.”
Not a sentence.
Since OMG was spoken, punctuation was left to the transcriber. I would have put a comma or semicolon after that outburst, to link it more properly to what follows.
Although Mueller, et. al, were unable to establish probable cause that crimes had been committed by certain individuals in the report, is information in the report sufficient to establish reason-to-believe that crimes or other acts were committed such that civil prosecutions, i.e., lawsuits, could be pursued? Civil suits are filed every day, and there is no reason it shouldn't happen here.
6
I did not realize that all I had to do was "sincerely believe" that I was not committing a crime to consider free of committing criminal conduct. Americans should have every reason to feel frustrated with the conduct of this administration and handling of the Mueller report. We do not know the measures by which AG Barr draws his categories despite his, in my opinion, equivocal definitions. AG Barr not only took ownership of the narrative, as you can see in the many comments in this very thread but also escaped tough questions from the press by delaying the redacted version of the report.
To summarize my understanding of what just happened: we ran what was supposed to be an independent report through a dirty filter, which is resulting in more partisan attacks by the left and right. And, as expected, the President is taking the opportunity to self-promote like a child.
This is not the America I swore an oath to defend.
1180
@jtj
It seems the rapists have gotten away with their crimes against humanity. Now we can only hope that the melting ice caps will flood Mar a Lago when you know who is there sleeping.
36
@jtj Nor mine.
16
@jtj
I loathe this administration and thought Barr's press conference was unseemly at best. However, in fairness, "sincere belief" is relevant to the federal offense of obstruction of justice, which is a crime of specific intent. See, e.g. 50 USC 1505 (obstruction of proceedings before a federal department or agency must be "with intent" or "corruptly" ); 50 USC 1510 (obstruction of criminal investigation by means of bribery must be "willful"); 50 USC 1512(b) (nonviolent witness tampering must be done "knowingly").
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/part-I/chapter-73
6
Get the subpoenas ready, Rep. Nadler.
If indeed the Mueller Report substantiates the Trump administration’s version of events, fine. The process has worked. But please don’t insult our collective intelligence by expecting us to just blindly accept one side’s interpretation — an interpretation most likely spun and laundered beyond all recognition — as the final word, especially when it comes from people who have been proven time and again to have some problems with “truthiness.”
1001
@MDB I guess you don't believe this 19 democrat lawyers on Mueller's team. This is exactly what the Russians wanted; the division of America. There will be further investigation of how this fake collusion stuff began and there will be indictments for this attempted illegal coup. It is now Democrats who have targets on their back and they deserve to go to jail for this damaging farce.
6
@James laughing!
42
@MDB. If you are the driver of a robbery getaway car, even if you didn’t participate in the actual robbery you are considered as responsible for any shootings or deaths associated with it.
Trump’s modus operandi is always to have others do the real work while he operates the getaway car. His role may be at arm’s length or it may be passive but he is in this up to his eyeballs. His “motive,” as always, is to win at all costs. As my grandmother would say, “No collusion my tuchus!”
48
Everyone still seems intent on speculation prior to examining the facts. No smoking gun would convince those on the Right Wing that crimes had been committed. Regardless of any conclusion, those on the Left believe this president is a criminal. At this point, no one but the president’s men and Mr Barr have read the report. This report is another shiny object to distract from crimes ongoing: this president is enriching himself while holding public office. Yes, this is a time-honored tradition in the USA. Why not take the time to read what is left of the report and let the voters decide? This conversation has no future because this senate will never convict on articles of impeachment. I am a lawyer and can say that there is enough evidence already to remove this president from office by impeachment. The fix is in and the jury is the senate. They will never convict. An attempt is a waste of energy. The Right Wing needs to examine why they like a criminal so much. They won’t because that would force an examination of their life-long resentments. The Left Wing needs to behave more like the Right Wing and organize around a common principle. Find a replacement leader who truly can lead and elect that person. Then replace the current corrupt senate. This is not that difficult a concept. If this cannot be done, expect more of the same.
374
@Ron B what about the Middle?
2
@Ron B The facts are no longer important. It is the cause each side is looking to promote. Sad
4
@Ron B Impeach! Ten ; count them 10; cases of obstruction of justice. Impeach. Ray Sipe
9
Legality, not ethics nor integrity, is the guiding principle for Trump’s words and actions. His legal team wins again. As always, Trump knows where the legal line is, goes right up to it and the legal system fails to hold him accountable.
4
This is absurd. We have the worst president in US history in the Oval Office, and he is clearly unfit to command. You would deride this plot as unrealistic were it House of Cards. Our president is tweeting Game of Thrones memes in response to credible accusations of criminal conduct.
I may have to live another 50-70 years in this country. Some children may see 2100. We are showing a complete disregard for the present's impact on future events. It is clear we are awaiting for a deus ex machina moment that will never come.
14
Barr says that Mueller found "no evidence" that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia?
I know of lots and lots of evidence! So do you, so does the Times. The Trump Tower meeting, Trump's lies about the Trump Tower meeting, the $300 million dollar tower in Moscow, "Russia, if you're listening," Mike Flynn's calls to the Russian ambassador. And so on.
Barr's claims are objectively ridiculous. This is patently a whitewash, and a pretty pathetic one at that. Will the Times please recognize these facts?
12
Barr's claim that trump faced an "unprecedented"situation on taking office is just plain nonsense.
The fact remains that trump is a liar. Over 80% of what comes out of trump's mouth is documented to be lies.
And indeed 80% of his statements concerning Putin, Russia and Russia's role during the election did prove to be lies.
-His claim that a 400 pound guy in bed hacked the DNC.
-His repeated denials of contacts between his campaign and Russians.
-His denial of any "deals" with Russia when he signed a LOI and his aides were actively pursuing a deal.
So if nobody believed his denial of collusion he has nobody to blame but himself.
If trump had actually been the “great student” he claims then he would have been paying attention when his elementary school teacher read “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” to his class.
7
Barr is a biased political partisan. He will go down in history as an Attorney General who did not fulfill his duty to uphold the Constitution and represent the people, but rather acted as another personal attorney for Trump. His address was both inappropriate and misleading!
7
Biggest achievement in the life of Barr was to to protect president. He should retire now, there is no use for him.
3
I hope they bring charges to anyone who publicly and overtly lied about claiming they “knew” or “had proof” there was collusion between Trump and the Russians.
How Nadler and Schiff can keep their jobs after this is beyond me, never mind the 24/7 coverage of the big lie on CNN and MSNBC.
4
There was collusion, or haven't you been following the news?
What Mueller couldn't establish was that Trump or his campaign explicitly *coordinated* with the *Russian government*!
That doesn't mean they didn't coordinate with Russian agents, Putin associates, oligarchs, etc.
One oddity in this is that Mueller — and now Barr — let Trump and his minions off the hook because of their ignorance of federal law — that they didn't know that it prohibits coordinating with foreign agents, etc. But we all learned ages ago that “ignorance of the law is no excuse”? Plus, who wouldn't know that arranging meetings with Russian agents, hiding secret meetings with the Russians, lying on disclosure forms, and drafting cover up stories was against the Law?
Worse, Trump, Trump, Jr., and the campaign were let off the hook because getting the “dirt” on the Clinton might not be considered as something of “value”. Huh?!
Let's not forget that there are several ongoing investigations, lawsuits, etc. into Trump's corruption. Believe it — more stuff will come out and the scales will eventually fall from your eyes. The so-called President is undermining democracy, the rule of law, the Constitution, and has turned his back on key parts of his base, including working class Americans in favor of graft, corruption, and self-enrichment.
@Mark Pembroke Mark, those are a lot of words with very little to back them up. Mueller is no legal flack. $25 million worth of investigations over two years. The conclusion is the conclusion. Get over it.
What a waste of time and money - when two years ago William Binney and others from the NSA (retired) said there was no collusion and no interference…but that didn't stop the Times and the deep state elites (who hate Trump) from intense speculation and, let it be said, lies to keep the meme going unfettered. So now that we are close to the conclusion of this mess, can we finally go after the Clintons for the real crimes?
Colluding with the media to undercut Sanders' campaign during the debates. Pay for play and influence peddling during her time as Sec. State. The still under investigated use of a personal server to send and receive secret documentation and emails. Accepting bribes of cash in suitcases from the Russians involved in purchasing Uranium One. There's more, but at this point it doesn't matter, because, as we know, the Clintons' are beyond the reach of the law.
But that hasn't stopped the DNC and Democrats from taking a page out of Dick Cheney's playbook. "Sweep them all up."
And so they did, whether there was any proof, no proof, or a bad case of Trumpitis.
1
Looks like a pattern to me.
"Even if the Trump campaign colluded with WikiLeaks, that was not a crime, Mr. Barr said." - Let's see... Wikileaks conspired with Russia, Trump conspired with Wikileaks. That may not be a crime in Trumpworld, but it sure isn't the behavior I expect from an American president.
6
Hillary should be the one sitting in the Oval Office right now. Trump only won with the help of Russia's propaganda factories.
4
"No corrupt intent"....What we forget here is that Mr. Trump operates by a completely different set of values, morals, ethics than we, as a country, have come to expect in behavior, particularly as a leader. He has never had moral compass, as I see it, and he's never been required to have one.
Why would he be fingered as the bad guy when he has used probably a dozen underlings to do his bidding. Mr. Trump has hidden behind his henchmen and women too long to change either his method or his madness.
2
The Attempt to Obstruct Justice--Is a Crime---because Trump wasn't successful-due to smarter aides--isn't the point----
Trump Attempted to Obstruct Justice------------Period
2
Mr. Barr proved in his press conference that he is just another stooge and lacky for Trump. This is such a travesty. Our top law enforcement official is just another version of Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The credibility of the entire Justice Department is now seriously in question.
2
Asked earlier for link to download report. Found it at The Guardian.
1
Barr's interventions with his summary, "spying" innuendos, and pre-release conference are both shocking and a new problem in their own right. Interested folks may want to re-visit why he was called the "Coverup General" for his role in covering up IranContra, Iraqgate and more during the Reagan-Bush years. His playbook remains the same today. Check out an article on VICE mag online at https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/pajdb9/william-barrs-been-accused-of-a-presidential-cover-up-before
We can draw our own conclusions about Barr and about the Mueller report.
1
We now have legal precedent! Lori Laughlin can say she had a “sincere belief” that she was only helping her daughter to attend USC. If it’s a good enough defense for the President, it’s a good enough defense for all Americans!
3
Barr: Just a reminder that none of what you are seeing was illegal. Did I tell you “no collusion” was found?
1
Barr is a disgrace to his office. He is supposed to be a servant of the public. Instead he is just another of Trump's handpicked henchmen. Until the public is made aware of the unredacted content of the Mueller Report,we can , we must assume Trump is guilty of multiple crimes. There is no other reason for Barr to behave in such a completely dishonest fashion. Perhaps Barr needs to be the subject of Congressional investigaion as well.
2
No collusion. Now, the media and Democrats will put this country through 24/7 of more conspiracy theories. leaks, anonymous “credible” sources allegedly revealing “ proof” of “ obstruction”. Nadler. Schiff... please give it a rest and let’s get back to actually doing the jobs you were elected to do: fix the illegal immigration loopholes. Healthcare, climate change etc. the endless pursuit of trying to “get Trump is a waste of everybody’s time. Trump is President. Period.
3
The majority of the American people can see through this Barr/Trump/Republican farce...including Trump supporters who just don't care.
The question is what can be done to restore decency, legality, and justice to our nation's capital. The answer is a massive voter backlash saying: "We are not as dumb and naive as Trump and the Republicans think we are".
Get out the vote. Go to the polls at every opportunity and send a true "lock-him-up" message to Trump and his Republican lackeys.
4
It’s not a prosecutors job to exonerate a suspect. Mueller should have said in a brief report, no American conspired with Russians during the 2016 presidential election, and no criminal obstruction took place during the investigation. For 2 years Trump has been accused of treason. Now that that has been proven false, facts be damned, a new narrative begins. Is any news organization going to take responsibility for all their false accusations? Not likely. Next news cycle, Trump wanted to obstruct Justice, or maybe did, forget about all that Russian thing. Time for more investigations. News to follow.
1
@Jay - Trump and company knew the Russians were meddling in the election, they cozied up to them and tried to make deals with them and they lied about it. That's been proven.
@DR what deals did they try to make? Mueller didn’t find any.
Setting aside the Mueller report for a moment...
AG Barr has flushed the prime directive of the US Attorney General -----> Head of the Justice department for the people of the United States.
Instead he is carrying water for the presidents narrative and acting as personal attorney charged with protecting the president at all costs.
Way to flush your career down the drain Mr Barr... because once Trump has gotten all he can out of you.. you will be tossed on the trash pile like so many of his other appointees, and you will deserve a face full of trash in the process.
5
Does anyone here with an income under, say $75,000, feel like any of the presidential administrations over the last 30-40 years has served them in any substantial way? I don't. For me, the entire system is one giant fake argument, one giant ruse, a game that only serves millionaire and billionaire elites. It makes complete sense though. The foundation of the American republic was an elite one, only non-elite in comparison to European aristocracy. With the exception of a few populist blips, this country governing elite has never really moved out its narrowly-focused foundational territory.
1
@Chaparral Lover
Haha of course not, in fact it can be argued that over that time Trump has actually done the most.
Interesting. I think Obama’s administration, through at least the ACA, benefitted a fair number of Americans.
It better have, considering how much my taxes went up.
Trump is suppose to be the president of the entire country, but he isn't. And Barr is suppose to be an impartial Attorney General, but he isn't. The elections were suppose to be fair and free of Russian interference, but they weren't. Seeing a pattern here???
6
Good job Russia. Your work clearly had much of the effects it was intended to do. Sowing the propaganda of discord and mistrust during and after the election helped achieve the desired effect. Mr. President, your intelligence agencies were correct and not part of some deep state conspiracy. I guess an apology is out of the question.
3
Too bad we couldn't have gotten an Attorney General who wasn't licking Trump's boots 100% of the time...but then, this is the age of Trump. I only hope it ends in Nov. 2020.
2
If Muller and his team could not conclude the president obstructed a probe into a crime that never happened, then there is no way congress can successfully impeach him for obstruction.
Fold your cards Democrats.
Focus on governing and winning 2020
1
Sadly, even if no criminal activity is found, the tragic conclusion of this investigation is that the loathsome behavior of this President is perfectly acceptable. We should expect more from a President than simply committing no crimes.
4
Despite all this, I will never have any reason to doubt that Trump is Putin's puppet. The countless praises of Putin's denial that Russia had anything to do with the election, the countless words of praise for the man, and worst of all, the constant shots of Trump happily standing next to him, shaking his hand, patting his back - all for public consumption. Forget the arguing that goes on in the US about all that. The rest of the world leaders see that and understand Putin's message intended for them, "I own America."
2
What the report points to is the overwhelming incompetence and pettiness of Trump, as if 2 years of investigation were spent on tracking down the actions of a grammar school bully. The consequences, however, have created lasting damages to the democratic process, both in the United States and globally.
3
Reading The Mueller Report and it is FILLED with Russians dangling Trump's Moscow Tower and other business opportunities in front of Cohen and Trump pre-election--and Trump's needing Putin's approval for these projects. They knew this was how to get to Trump. It was so obvious.
5
Why would Barr vigorously defend such an ill-suited individual? This deserves an investigation in itself!
6
Trump is clueless on most things and has a horrible judgement. What’s also clear is nothing is going to be enough for many people that read The NY Times but the truth is there is no crime here. Trump is vain and was worried about the optics he doesn’t even know or understand what obstruction is. Enough is enough let’s move on to defeating him in 2020.
3
Glad Trump was exonerated. He was right to be frustrated. Time to go after those who began an investigation predicated on (what appears to be) false dossier. I think they wanted to leak to press that candidate Trump was dirty -- and this investigation gave them that. They wanted to foil Trump as a candidate. Let's see...
3
Innocent people do NOT put out a full court press, including having the Attorney General of the US give a press conference.
Oh, wait, ... that was not the Attorney General of the US who spoke, that was the Attorney General of the Trump Administration, or maybe the Personal Attorney General of Donald Trump.
We have seen the man who scribbles his "signature" at the Resolute desk in action in office, at his rallies, in his tweets, and his interviews, and reasonable people can view the totality of those activities as being corrupt beyond anything that has happened in the US Government in 230 years that we have had a Constitution.
Donnie, you are the GREATEST ... the greatest criminal ever to sit in the White House. Your place in history is assured. You just displaced Nixon at the low end of the spectrum.
6
What gets me the most is the general apathy to the biggest and most obvious elephant in the room. Granted, I concede Hillary Clinton had several flaws, but Donald Trump is outright incompetent and corrupt. This is not only obvious the 65 million Americans who voted against Mr. Trump, but to the Russians. Russia is no friend of the United States. They have always sought to gain the upper hand and somehow bring the U.S. down. Even if Trump's team had no contact with the Russians ("No Collusion!"), they still put their finger on the scale in order to help Trump get elected. Why would the Russians support him? The clear answer is they knew that Donald Trump could do more damage from the inside than they could do from the outside. Trump may not be a Russian stooge, agent or puppet, but a buffoon who's been elevated to power by a disinformation campaign perpetrated by our enemy. The patriotic thing to do is to not vote for Trump in 2020.
3
The genius of Trump Inc's full-court press since day one of the Special Counsel's investigation has been to bray at every opportunity, "There is No Collusion!", a highly suggestive term with little or no legal meaning.
Etymologically:
conspire, conspiracy (con spirare = to breathe with, together.)
collude, collusion (con ludere = to play with, together.)
In order to "breathe together," two or more parties must first create ground rules for themselves; they must "play together" before they can conspire.
Collusion might therefore be understood as foreplay to conspiracy. And I believe we have heard enough from Individual 1 himself over the last thirty-five years to know that foreplay is not his strong suit. Ergo No Collusion!
And who in his or her right mind would "play together" with Donald J Trump anyway, world-class schnorrer and cheat according to nearly anybody who has ever been on a golf course with him, including 15-year-old Adam Levin whom he tried to swindle out of a club championship in 2007, on the Westchester course.
Trump has succeeded in placing a very high bar to easily slip under, with the appointment of such a low Barr, who announced his “findings” in an article published months before the report was written, declaring Trump obviously innocent.
Now he’s cleared the whole campaign staff, including those who admitted doing what he claims they didn’t.
Will we even get a chance to vote in 2020? Or will a National Emergency delay that election? Barr declaring it a perfectly American thing yo do.
I hate Canadian weather, may have to get used to it, though.
1
It's warmer in Mexico. Why do potential ex-pats not want to go there? Don't like brown people? Oh, the cuisine is tastier south of the border (sorry Canda), unless you love sugar pie.
One more example of Barr's complicity is that the redacted Mueller report as posted on the DOJ web site is not searchable! This is unlike previous DOJ reports (e.g., Manafort sentencing memo of 2.23.2019) which allowed you to search for key words. Clumsy and ineffective way for the DOJ to discourage analysis. When will a searchable version be available on the DOJ web site and is such a version available elsewhere? Stop the coverup!
2
@Ed O'Brien
With a copy of Adobe Acrobat Pro you can create a version of the document that is searchable (OCR processing). Why didn't they release as they did with other earlier Mueller documents with searching enabled in the original released document? Stop the incompetent coverup and call out Barr as the new "Roy Cohn AG", working for the president and not for the American people.
To those who know the history of this century, the idea that Barr is a White House stooge should be no surprise. John Ashcroft was AG when the new Bush administration down-graded anti-terrorist activities of the FBI. Later. Alberto Gonzales held the post. He was a W buddy from Texas where he advised W, as governor, on death sentences, and Gonzales, nicknamed Fredo by W, never saw a sentence he didn't like. Ashcroft was a key voice in pushing the PATRIOT Act, which he and Fredo later used to the fullest. Barr may be a disgrace, but he's not the first.
2
Blind hatred of Mr. Trump will continue to lead the Democrats and the media on a fool's errand to remove him from office, when the obvious solution is to defeat him at the ballot box in about 18 months.
In a supreme irony, their idee fixe obsession will likely result in his re-election.
But the long national nightmare will ultimately be over---on Jan. 20, 2025.
1
If there really is no evidence of collusion and this is 'over', why is there a huge section of the report labeled Trump Campaign and Dissemination of Hacked Materials most of which is redacted citing "harm to ongoing matter"......
2
As Michael Cohen testified, Trump does not need to say something directly to have it understood by his “staff”.
2
If anything ,Trump obstructed "injustice".
Move on...
1
I'm not a lawyer, but it seems that Mr. Barr basically cleared the president when he declared there was no corrupt "intent." Aside from the sophistry of claiming to know (or actually, not to know) the president's intent, Barr went further to basically approve of that intent by basically implying his own judgment that the investigation was, in fact, "propelled by his political opponents and fueled by illegal leaks.” I'm astonished that the AG would give blanket credence to this, basically arguing that the president, any president, can obstruct an investigation if they decide on their own that the investigation is politically motivated. It's really no further step at all to exonerate in advance any president (though they intend only Republican) who resists or obstructs an investigation for their own political reasons. After his service to this White House, Mr. Barr will no doubt deserve a high position in Orwell's Ministry of Truth.
175
@Christopher Zinn
I'm not astonished. Barr's audition memo outlined his intent exactly. You need to accept it for what it is. Barr is nothing but a hatchet man at this point. The White House is attempting to frame the narrative before the weekend precluding the formal accusation. That's what Barr's musings are really about. It's a PR campaign to save the President.
Having worked closely with government communications, I'll offer it's a pretty poor campaign.
Supporters will cheer and haters will hate. However, the critically thinking mind is only left feeling more mistrustful. The Trump administration has only succeeded in heightening the public desire for transparency. If Barr's goal was to put the Mueller Report to rest, he failed miserably.
Of course, Trump never was any good when choosing legal help. You mostly wonder why Barr would volunteer to disgrace himself.
11
Looks like Barr has locked down a sweet prime time gig at FoxNews once he steps down. Does he get the slot before or after Hannity?
3
NYT needs to stop tip-toeing around the facts. The President is a liar - he lies all the time - he is despicable and opportunistic.
When I click the link to see "What we know so far" I shouldn't feel like I'm reading the Breitbart.
I'm not asking for liberal bias - I'm asking for the substance of the report to be emphasized: the president is a liar and it's up to congress to decide how to move forward given the evidence gathered.
4
This is nonsense. Who cares? The Mueller Report is the longest running distraction conducted by Republicans to soft peddle the malfeasance of this administration. Suggestive of some ‘day of reckoning’ for Trump by certain media pundits, the report is actually just a useless waste of time and fodder for armchair politicians.
3
When weighing the report, replace the name “Trump” with “Clinton” and see if you come to the same conclusion.
3
The only thing missing from Mr. Barr's speech this morning were the "Trump 2020" campaign banners which should have been hung on every wall. A very smoothly done Infomercial, Mr. Barr
3
Our predicament seems to be:
1) trump surrounds himself with mobster-types who lie and spin. Numerous trump associates are already CONVICTED of lying to investigators / Congress. Those trump sycophants lied - and were willing to be tarnished forever - because they knew the truth would show trumpian crimes. And they knew trump pardons those who help him "win".
2) Mueller's team was unable to get evidence of collusion with Russia. This does not mean no proof existed, or was hidden, or destroyed. This only means they found no proof. We've learned that to legally prove collusion, Mueller needed a bona-fida agreement signed by both sides, with both agreeing to break the law. Obviously, such proof would NEVER exist. Mobsters don't sign agreements saying they will break the law. When mobsters lie about everything to investigators, it becomes impossible to find the truth. And then we realize that they did break laws.
3) Team trump did negotiate with Russia, in 2016 during his presidential bid, for favors and for the rights to build a tower in Moscow. There was quid-pro-quo involved. This is tantamount to collusion.
Most Americans believe that trump DID commit collusion. We just couldn't get enough evidence. Because Mueller was obstructed, by lies from Manafort and Stone and Cohen and others. And by trump.
Majority of Americans believe that trump DID obstruct Justice. He didn't just try. He succeeded.
The precedent is, a filthy "crook".
The president IS a filthy crook!
Ashame!
4
If this country ever has to fight a WW3 I want MSNBC to run it. I see they’ve got all their big guns assembled in their studio making it look like a war room and they all sound ready to go down fighting with the ship.
1
What’s started as BHussein Obama’s spying on a POTUS candidate then rose to a political coup orchestrated by the opposition attorney involving top officers of Judicial & FBI, plus others leading to and creating a “special council “ filled with liberal activists who hate the POTUS couldn’t find a anything. They spent as much of the countries money, released to the liberal press ANY potential negative findings only to conclude that President Trump and his staff did nothing.
What we did find, however, is that the top of Justice and the FBI were corrupt. We found out that HRC was the author of the information that comprised the dossier.
What now? How many criminal indictments and grand jury investigations into the corrupt traitors in Justice and FBI as well as HRC camp. This will not end well for Democrats.
Poor trump, he was so frustrated that he needed to obstruct. We need to comfort him, he needs a cold compress to his forehead and a lollipop. Then we should escort him to the door and send him home where he can be allowed to live in his own magical world. And perhaps Barr can visit him regularly to remind him that some will never abandon him.
Let the investigations continue until we are ready for the impeachment.
3
I guess when you have Barr, there’s no need for Giuliani...
5
The Mueller investigation wasn’t propelled by Trump’s opponents and fueled by illegal leaks! Rosenstien decided to appoint a special counsel. Rosenstien is a Republican and a career attorney at the DOJ. What leaks? Barr is so obviously Trump’s poodle that he should be impeached.
4
We knew this was going to be a white wash and a cover up for the record books.
What we didn't know was that it would be accompanied by theatrics such as the poster trump tweeted.
Dear god, it boggles the mind almost to the point of speechlessness that he had this ready to go today.
Almost as mind blowing as the depth of his corruption, is the depth of his narcissism, vanity and ability to make a total fool of himself.
Pathetic little man, starring in his pathetic little show, surrounded by his pathetic worshipers, as they bring the curtain down on democracy.
5
Obviously the story is slanted. Barr is now the bad guy protecting Trump. The problem is that Mueller didn't indict Trump. The NYTs has expended a lot journalistic time to selling the story, just wait for Mueller. Mueller delivered up confusion and to the NYTs mind error. The NYTs is going to have to get used to life beyond their bizarre efforts to sell some sort of Russia stole the election story. The story has evolved as their allegations were debunked. The idea that Trump was a spy for the Russians is truly bizarre. Trump is a arrogant out of control wrecking ball. Dangerous to world peace. Certainly Putin is well aware of how dangerous Trump is to Russian interests.
1
It is a dark irony in the mounting rivalry between two dominating personalties on the american political landscape ... Mueller and trump going all the way back to the Vietnam war. On one hand there is Mueller commanding a platoon of Company H, 2nd Battalion (“The Magnificent Bastards”), 4th Marines and its mission “to close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy’s assault by fire and close combat”. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, more gallantry than Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich, George W. Bush and trump collectively managed to avoid.
On the other hand there is trump at the same time immersing himself in the Manhattan party scene cynically boasting that “fighting venereal disease was his Vietnam”. A deliberative war coward, he evaded sacrifice through blatant graft not once but five separate times in the Vietnam war ... a draft dodger par excellence. Over 50,000 americans sacrificed their lives as he carried on his self-serving hedonistic life style with absolutely no regrets or second thoughts.
1
What I want to hear now is what Bernie has to say about the report. In his Fox News session, he cautioned about making it all about personality or Trump. Instead, make it about the important issues. The ones Bernie has brought forth. And it’s my firm belief that those issues will sink Trump in 2020.
1
This IS 'Game Over'... for Trump. The question that faces congress and the American people now isn't whether Donald Trump is guilty of crimes. It is whether he is capable of running the country.
The Mueller report shows that he is not. By his every word and action, Mr. Trump has proven time and again that he is only concerned with himself and one red-hat-wearing subset of the American people. All others he is against. And let us not forget that whether or not Trump is indictable for his actions, the fact remains that he was elected with the proven and admitted help of a hostile foreign power.
This proves that the man is unfit for office. We require a President by The People, for The People. A President by The Russians, for Whoever Donald Favors Today just doesn't cut it.
2
At first, Trump had no clue how the federal government worked, and maybe did not even expect to win. So, he said and did whatever he wanted.
Once in transition, before being sworn in, and after being sworn in, he had plenty of advice from experienced people trying to explain to him how things worked. And, plenty of people trying to protect him.
He did not care. He did what he had done for decades in business.
Doesn't matter what you do or say: all that matters is whether you can escape major penalties.
So, he has won.
1
It seems that the Trump campaign very skilfully crafted its Russian connections to a degree that would exquisitely conceal what was really going on. Vladimir told Donald, by all appearances, to sit back and let him do all the heavy lifting while Trump could deny all knowledge.
Total exoneration is not what Mueller indicates. Not being able to definitively prove crimes being committed smacks of a cop out. Mueller should have subpoenaed Trump, then the situation would be much clearer. The special counsel deliberately stopped short of a coup de grace, not willing to bring down a president - even one as tainted as this. A good Republican foot soldier.
2
Trump ran his campaign and now the presidency like his business ventures - not always on the up and up. He forces people to do what he wants, finds loop holes and hides behind an army of lawyers. Yes he is generally never caught red handed but its all by design, then and now.
1
This shows endless conversations with Russians connected to Putin, and not about orphans. It appears as though they were only willing to render a charge of collusion if the investigation could present a memo, a recording, or a credible source demonstrating that Trump stated in so many words, “And I promise to fix American policy around Putin’s wishes if you give me this line of credit.” However, from what I have seen, it seems here that we have everything around that statement, even with redactions. There’s just no Mark Felt to be found.
2
I’ve sat through numerous Power Point product presentations. Usually they are a rosy view of their presenters product or concept. That’s entirely appropriate given the need by the presenter to put a best foot forward to the client. Many times, however, the product does not live up to it’s booster’s presentation.
We have just witnessed a three act Power Point presentation by the Attorney General of the US. He puts that best foot forward on behalf of his product, Donald Trump. Unfortunately, product performance does not live up to the presentation. The no collusion turns out to be obstruction of justice supported in so many ways. Most stunning is that further obstruction activity was only minimized by some White House staff who basically refused to carry out the President’s orders to further obstruct.
Products many times don’t meet their early claims. This product is morally flawed and should be recalled in 2020.
6
As a millennial who grew up in Washington D.C. and is now living life in the Deep South, I'm appalled at the lack of effort people have in educating themselves completely about this matter in our country. I was taught in the public school system to read both sides of the story to come up with the truth. This isn't solely about seeking justice, but more a matter of morality- what's right and what's wrong. We need to have leadership that is for this country and not their own self-interests, that's educated and has empathy for all classes and types of American people, and that, above all else, has the ability to do what's right no matter what side of the aisle they're on.
As the news of this report floods the media we are loosing sight of what's actually going on in the world, even within our own country. How are we supposed to maintain our "superpower" status as a country if all we ever do is fight about whether or a not a man unfit to be president is guilty or not. Judging from this report he's guilty by association. You don't just respond or retweet by accident to an IRA backed account- even someone like myself who works in social media marketing knows that some interactions are not 'accidents'. Simplest solution is to clean house in 2020 and elect a man OR woman who will guide America to a new era of justice, glory, and strength.
5
Release the Mueller Report, not the Barr Report.
Let Mueller and his team hold a press conference and testify to Congress, not the unfit for the job Attorney General.
9
From now just reading the introductory overview of the actual Mueller report (vs Barr's sanitized overview), it appears that Trump's campaign worked with the Russians for their mutual interests, but how they did it doesn't fit the legal definitions of conspiracy or coordination, and collusion isn't a chargeable offense. So I guess the word for their actions is complicity: the state of being an accomplice; partnership or involvement in wrongdoing. I certainly wouldn't call that exoneration of Trump's campaign!
6
The president of the United States is not only not above the law but by virtue of the oath of office and the trust vested in that office the president should be held to a higher standard than the average citizen and certainly to a higher standard than a common organized crime gangster. That means the letter and spirit of the law should be enforced to an exacting degree and that must include high moral and ethical values. If nothing else is clear about the Mueller report the lack of these standards with regard to Trump and the GOP is abundantly clear.
2
Barr has been acting and speaking, more like a Trump's personal defense attorney, rather than the United States Attorney General. Why should we, as taxpayers, pick up the tab for the legal service that we never expected or wanted of the AG? Instead, Trump should pay for Barr's salary, as a legal fee. If Barr is the best we can get, this is, in fact, a sad day for this country.
3
I have read most of the report.
You do not have to be a lawyer to understand its contents fully.
Forget the citations, those are required......the entire report is written to be easily understandable by anyone.
I hope that millions read the report. Even if it takes weeks.
4
A Democrats referendum, a plea to vote for one candidate, no write-ins or 3rd party candidate unfortunately this is where we are at in our democratic time and the only avenue to vote Trump out of a 2nd term
1
It's clear that, if Trump hadn't been restrained by his lawyers, and left to his own impulses, he would indeed have obstructed justice.
It's also clear, that even if no laws were broken, the President we have is a negative force within our government and within our country in general.
4
Trump, even if found not guilty of a crime, continues to degrade our honorable men and women of the FBI, CIA and National Security. He tries at every turn to not follow the law especially with immigration. He is and always has been unfit to be President of the US. He undermines the US around the world and relates to dictators and should not be re-elected.
2
The take-home of all this is that Mueller's report details evidence for and against Trump on the charges of collusion and obstruction, without reaching a verdict.
In effect, Mueller is handing this to the American people, so that they can be the jury on these matters. He is probably right to do so. The report makes clear that there are grave reasons to be concerned about the President's loyalty to our nation and its laws. But there is no smoking gun to prove that he committed treason. In this unprecedented situation, it is the American people who bear the ultimate authority to pass judgement against their President.
Let us hope that they have the wisdom to do so, and vote Trump out of office in 2020.
1
It is possible to accept that the Trump campaign did not have an advance plan and handshake with the Kremlin to muck up the election. Perhaps Trump recognized it as it unfolded and smiled on it as good fortune. HOWEVER, Trump's ongoing denial of wrong-doing by Russia, his defense of Putin's position over his intelligence departments conclusions, and now today with even his Justice Dep't in the person of Mr Barr publicly acknowledging Russian interference, speak to only one possibility, that Trump, in the interest of snagging a personally lucrative Trump Tower deal in Moscow, is a shill for Russia to the detriment of the U.S. constitution and American democracy. If that ain't impeachable, what is?
4
the process we respect has spoken. everybody move on and give voters positive reasons to change administrations. people want that.
1
Note on the video - history is, unfortunately, on the Russian side.
The first capital of the Steppes Nomad Aryan Rus WAS Kieve, established when the bunch went from hunter-gathering to establishing a trade city there.
The Rus expanded around the 15th -16th Century, when they warred against and crushed the tribe that had set up shop before them, the Khazari, with their nearby capital of Sarkel.
The Khazari are best known for their leaders’ decision to convert to Judaism to establish a liaison trade stop between the Christian West and the Islamic East in a manner that either did not offend, or offended East and West equally.
This is alleged by some conspiracy theorists to be the reason Stalin flooded the site of Sarkel, turning the area into a reservoir, though there is no historical evidence to back this chain of reasoning.
The Rus had converted to Christianity from whatever beliefs the Steppes tribes had, and, Russia, the nation, gradually moved towards Europe in a search for access to an Atlantic port, and moved the nation’s capital to Moscow, which, given the climate there, is one of history’s strangest decisions ever made by a nation.
While Ukraine has been a separate nation-state for centuries, I suppose Putin still looks at Russia’s glorious Tsarist and not so glorious Soviet past.
1
If the Trump administration was so convinced that there was no collusion, then why all the lying about the Russian contacts?
4
A clear and present dangerous subversion of the basic separation of justice and the white house regarding investigations has occurred. This time tested and respected norm of American democracy has been breached by trump, who now will likely seek revenge on his critics and political opponents. America has officially begun its descent to a banana republic. We are no longer any different than Venezuela, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Russia or China.
3
The few actual excerpts from the redacted Mueller report that have been quoted on television today are devastating for Trump and provide more than ample grounds for impeachment. I would not be surprised if there is even more devastating information that has not yet been disclosed.
3
U.S. citizens should think long and hard how much it has cost to keep this presidency afloat, not to mention the huge costs of security details to fly him and his family around and secure all his assets so far and years to come. I expect we will have spent 50 Billion dollars by 2050 to pay for all this. Wrong person, least qualified and most devisive for the job, the most expensive president in history never to be outmatched by past or future presidents. Sad and totally tragic that the electoral college voted him in and citizens have to foot the bill while we argue if all this is legal. Common sense should determine his fate. Oust him!
4
Exonerated or not, what active measures is this "patriotic" president who should be the protector of the people and our democracy taking to counterattack future and present interference of an adversary in not only our elections but in the democratic processes we hold dear? The Kremlin cheers the chaos and disruptive spectacle they are witnessing today. Who in this government is leading the frontlines right now in our cyber war with Russia while the country and the president remain obsessed with the Mueller report? The 2020 election will most assuredly be a more sophisticated attack. Who is working to stop it? Trump has never offered any strategy in the past to mount a counterterrorism operation. He continues to obssess about his own self defense before the defense of the American people. He should be made to be accountable for the preservation of the nation. If Trump cannot rigorously protect the interests of the U.S. from a foreign power, he should be removed from office as unfit to be our commander-in-chief. Time is of the essence. How much longer will the hashing over the report of today go on while we are losing a much more important battle for the sovereignty of this country?
2
No Collusion. No Obstruction. That's all the American people need to hear after all the speculative media, pundits and political adversaries of President Trump pushed the narrative of criminal behavior against him.
Exonerated should read the headlines.
4
Mueller clearly states the report does NOT exonerate trump.
Barr writes a "mommy note to the teacher of please excuse my boy..."
'Mueller: Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards,” he added, “we are unable to reach that judgment. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
Mr. Barr, however, opted to reach the conclusion that Mr. Mueller would not. “After carefully reviewing the facts and legal theories outlined in the report, and in consultation with the Office of Legal Counsel and other department lawyers, the deputy attorney general and I concluded that the evidence developed by the special counsel is not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction of justice offense,” Mr. Barr said at his news conference.
Mommy notes and redactions do not reveal the truth;trump should be barred from saying he is exonerated since he is not, but hey, the colluding GOP Congress, got their pass on paying taxes so in their corrupt world they are obligated to back their benefactor.
1
According to the Constitution, Congress oversee the Executive Branch. That is both a prerogative and a requirement. The aims of the special counsel law are clear. Protect such investigations from Executive Branch interference with two tools: (a) transparency, by which the actions of the executive are made public for one and all to see, and (b) turning over the findings and recommendations to Congress, which would then exercise its Constitutional oversight duty. Another aim was to find a workable balance between protecting presidents from actual political takedowns, e.g., the last-resort after-all-else-had-failed Starr sex report, and going after, for instance, presidents who have conspired (in the everyday sense of that word) with a foreign adversary to steal a democratic election. How can anybody look at what Mr. Barr is doing and conclude he is complying with the special counsel law? He looks like just another Trump surrogate partisan hack. For example, his claim that the investigation is a product of Trump's political enemies is an outright lie.
1
"In other words, since WikiLeaks did not participate in Russia’s underlying hacking of the emails, its actions were no crime. Thus, any Trump campaign collusion with WikiLeaks could not be an illegal conspiracy."
That statement from AG Barr will surely come as welcome news to anyone accused or convicted of receiving stolen property. Or do they have to get the Russians to steal the property...?
2
@Doug Marcum So. The NYT publishing stolen emails is a crime?
@Dougal E
Not if they publish ALL. Wikileaks only published the Dem emails. The stolen Repub emails were not published.
That's not journalism, unless you think that the National Enquirer is actually a news organization.
1
“The evidence we obtained about the president’s actions and intent presents difficult issues that would need to be resolved if we were making a traditional prosecutorial judgment,” he wrote. “At the same time, if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state."
This is the crux of Mr. Mueller's report. What he has left unsaid is that, in his opinion, it was not within his purview to make this call as to whether Trump's actions constituted obstruction of justice. Mr. Mueller is not saying that no judgment may be made. He is implying, obliquely, that he did not believe it was within his direction from Mr. Rosenstein to make this determination. The fact that Mr. Mueller did go on to say quite clearly that had the evidence been clear that Trump did not obstruct justice, he (Mueller) would have said so.
I've been an attorney for nearly forty years. Mr. Barr's disgraceful display this morning should be seen as nothing more than a defense counsel's closing argument before a jury, wherein he cherry picks the few points which seem to be in favor of his client.
But what is outrageous is that in this court of public opinion, we have no one willing to make the prosecutor's case. A fair Attorney General, one who actually did represent all of us, would have provided both sides, not just the defense. This is a very sickening day in this country, for all of us.
2
The real winner in this is Russia. In essence, they stole an election while keeping the beneficiaries out of legal hot water. They did so by effectively laundering the DNC emails through Wikileaks, using social media, and relying on the boneheaded-ness of the trump campaign to do exactly what one would expect- exploit any negative disclosures about HRC. That Mueller couldn’t find *direct* evidence that the Trump campaign knew this was going on doesn’t mean some Trumps orbit weren’t aware of their actions, at least tangentially. Acting on dirt provided by a foreign government regardless of direct contact rises to nearly treasonous behavior, by nearly any measure.
2
Contrast paragraph 9 of Barr's statement: "I am sure that all Americans share my concerns about the efforts of the Russian government to interfere in our presidential election. As the Special Counsel’s report makes clear, the Russian government sought to interfere in our election." with paragraph 2 of Mueller's report "The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion." What a whitewash by Barr.
1
Spin this as you may, middle America has walked away from the “Delusion of Collusion” long ago.
They have better things to do such as deciding where to cast their votes that decided the 2016 election.
Can you get them back? Not if you keep spinning, spinning spinning...
1
This seems to have been a conspiracy to prevent the American public from really knowing what was going on behind the scenes of the Wikileaks release on the Clinton campaign's emails. Several people working for the Trump campaign - if not Trump himself - had business interests which made them partial or vulnerable to Russian influence. Others on the Trump campaign developed links to Russia and withheld information on these when they moved into the White House. A number of Trump's staff who were interviewed by Mueller's team have resigned or recused themselves to protect their own legal rights. However, they didn't go public about this or expose the lies that were being fed to the public. What a swamp!
1
Two things that I just don't get.
1) How on earth did Don Jr. escape a conspiracy charge after actually meeting with Russians to accept illegal assistance that was specifically characterized to him as "part of the Russian government's efforts to help your father"?
2) If a case of obstruction depends heavily on the mindset of the individual at the time, then why wasn't Trump personally interviewed to explore that very topic? Questions answered by his lawyers is a VERY POOR replacement for that. I think Mueller REALLY dropped the ball and took the easy way out on that.
3
A truly sad day for the judicial system in our country. Barr, along with White House Administration, have once again flaunted their complete lack of respect for justice and the rule of law, and that money, influence and being a white man absolutely allows you to do whatever you want and get away with it. I truly fear the unbridled corruption that has been seeping through our government with Trump's ascension will now shift into fifth gear, enslaving our institutions to serve completely at the feet of the plutocracy that clearly runs our country. Fighting for the good is now a truly Sisyphean exercise.
"Mr. Trump’s lawyers did not ask for any redactions." I simply do not believe that is true. As of a week ago, Barr said none of the report would be shared with the White House. I cannot remember the last time anyone in this administration made a truthful statement. What a bad time for our country.
4
Thus spoke the president's AG advocate, lawyer William Barr, expressly chosen by Trump to defend him against the evidence, Trump's criminal conduct in trying to obstruct the investigation of Russian (Putin's) interference in the 2016 presidential elections. Whosoever cannot see the evidence of Trump's corrupted ways is either living in Mars...or feels complicit in liar Trump's Machiavellian stance. Mueller's full report, if not allowed to be seen by Congress, and public, may need to be supplemented by Mueller's direct verbal answers when called to tedtify. This, in addition to a subpoena to get the full unredacted report. Justice demands it. As to why the current bully in the Oval Office cannot be indicted, defies reason and logic. After all, this is supposed to be a democracy. Let sunshine in (the truth), take the garbage out before it contaminates our souls.
And the international community will have even less faith in the American democracy - in some way the American democracy frankly looks Russian right now: the president or the president’s men are given authority to decide what truth is. How can you have such a system? Thank god for the free press, though. This is not a separation of powers as Montesquieu imagined them.
What happened over the past three years is a clear attempt by Democrats to criminalize simple political differences in attempt to destroy a legitimately elected president who they deemed unworthy of the office. It began long before the 2016 election and brazenly continued long after. It continues to this day in House of Representatives. Unfortunately for them, they no longer have the uncertainty that existed before the so-called investigation was completed.
The prosecution of those who engineered this attempted coup must be pursued or rights under the constitution will be violated with impunity in the future at the whim of those in power. The corruption of Clinton/Obama operatives in 2016-17 is now manifestly obvious for all to see. Barr is the man to reform the process. It's going to take years, but it's imperative that this disease be purged from the body politic. This is the Democrats' Watergate. And it will be just as dramatic when all the evidence is gathered.
1
It puzzles me why men and women will sell their souls to be part of this administration. Is it for the power in and of itself (my husband's theory)? Or the rewards they hope to reap by appointing conservative judges who will force upon the American people a right-wing agenda. They give the minority anti-abortion crowd their wish while hiding the bigger goal of making the rich richer with unfair tax laws and relaxed oversight of health, safety, and environmental concerns. These are dark times. VOTE all the Republicans out and hope that we can salvage a contaminated judiciary.
2
I continue to be amazed by the parallel between America in 1860 and America today.
In 1860, a large portion of the nation believed it was okay to enslave another race.
Today, a large portion of the nation believes it's okay to have a criminal in the White House.
We still struggle to leave racism behind us a century and a half later.
I can only pray that America can evolve beyond today's division with nowhere near the long-lasting impact.
1
Now that Trump is cleared, time to dig into the minutiae on how this investigation started in the first place in relation to the previous administration colluding with rogue FBI /intelligence agents engaged in political chicanery..a very serious crime.
1
“At the same time, if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state.
“Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards,” he added, “we are unable to reach that judgment. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
To all Trump apologists,
Try reading before commenting.
3
How could so many people be so wrong, so consistently and no one be able to say 'stop'?
I'm not talking about Trump's corruption. I'm referring to the media blindly walking down the collusion path simply because that's where they wanted go.
Yet the real corruption, the garden variety version was always right before our eyes. Illegal labor practices, hiring the undocumented while threatening to prosecute others who were doing the same.
Running a 'university' that was a scam and cheating students. Running a charitable foundation that was no more than a family piggy bank. Probably claiming charitable deductions to this shame charity in violation of our tax laws.
And then there are the probably violations of campaign finance law and the conspiracy to cover up that felony with another.
And this is simply what we know so far. The Southern District may uncover more.
Many of these crimes began before Trump was elected and went largely unreported. Instead, when the Clinton campaign asked the media to cover for their ineptitude with the Russia gate accusations, they dutifully complied, even when serious journalists warned that the facts were simply not there.
Did anyone really expect the Mueller Report to offer evidence of obstruction without a formal finding equivalent to a grand jury?
The media has handed Trump a leg up for his re-election. Maybe they have learned a lesson to let the facts write the story, not the other way around. If not, we will pay for their folly.
1
Mr. Trump and his ilk are gadflies that live and make their living in the dark recess between good and evil.
And we, the American Voters, have allowed this, have enabled this, and are on the verge of institutionalizing this vulgar way of proceeding through life.
On Mr. Barr, who could be surprised with this job performance? He is doing precisely what the Mr. Trump hired him to do: Protect Mr. Trump over all else, including the Common Good of our Nation and any decency we have left.
The House of Representatives needs to proceed with all due speed and diligence with their Constitutional oversight mandate and right, and investigate Mr. Trump on all fronts where there is evidence of wrongdoing.
Finally, the American Voter needs to step up and vote this man out of office in 2020.
MB
3
Winning at any price - appalling.
1
The early reports of Trump’s reaction to Mueller and the investigation already put the lie to “game over”. In keeping with the pilfering of Game of Thrones imagery, I think “winter is coming” is maybe more accurate.
1
Today was a victory for the country.... and the Dems. The investigation is over. Trump got what he wanted - ah... well... a vindication. Now the Dems have the opportunity to show that Trump and his policies are a disaster for the country and world harmony. I hope they take the opportunity instead of wasting their time and ours investigating marginal crimes..
Compare Comey's characterization of Hillary Clinton to Barr's characterization of Trump. The politicalization of our law enforcement agencies is a National disgrace.
What happened to Just the facts?
2
Does Barr moonlight as one of Trumpy's personal lawyers? Does he keep track of his hours or is he on a retainer? They seem to work well together.
1
This only gets resolved at the ballot box. Barr is a partisan hack, Trump is a lying buffoon. The biggest hoax ever perpetrated on America is the Trump administration. We have Russia and it’s cutout Wikileaks to thank for that.
2
Anyone who does not SEE that William P. Barr is a shill and is acting as Public Relations agent and apologist for Donald J Trump is blind! What’s distressing is that our rule of law, the venerable Justice Department and our Constitution is being SPIT upon,abused and politicized on behalf of a criminal who is POTUS! Every American should be disgusted and ....alarmed!
In order to have a strong democracy we must have transparency, Justice, obedience to the rule of law and our Constitutional government in line with all these!
Dear God, Republicans, William P Barr and Trump have made a MOCKERY of our Justice Department and our Constitution!
Still clinging to hope that patriots in Congress and indeed, Robert Mueller III, will stand up to the criminal, Donald J Trump!!!
3
Whitewash!
“Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.” Donald J. Trump, July 27, 2016
How stupid does Barr think we are?
4
Oh My God, This is the End of My Presidency????---
on Mueller being appointed---
Your Words Mr. President
1
https://www.justice.gov/storage/report.pdf
link to report
1
Fine - Trump did not collude or obstruct. He's just a bumbling idiot.
2
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.
Our jabberwocky regime and the game show host presidency... Vote 2020!
1
I believe Barr said this morning that the DOJ’s policy that a sitting president could not be indicted “was not a consideration” in Mueller’s decision. That’s a flat out lie. In the preliminary discussion of Part II of the report (on Obstruction), Mueller notes specifically that this policy factored into his decision, and states, even before considering the evidence, that he’d decided at the outset that (1) if the evidence exonerated Trump, he would so state, but (2) if the evidence warranted the bringing of charges, he would NOT so state. This makes Mueller’s open ended conclusion all the more damning to Trump; it’s pretty clear that the enumerated offenses would have been indictable against someone other than Trump. Mueller states that his report memorializes the recollections of the key players so that others, at some future point in time, can take action if deemed warranted. Congress, this means you.
4
I'm surprised.
The Mueller Report is so damning for Trump that Barr couldn't redact enough of it to get Trump off the hook.
Trump is going to be impeached.
Trump is going to be indicted.
Trump is going to be convicted.
Trump is going to prison.
New York State will probably indict Trump before he leaves office.
This is so bad with the redactions, what additional criminal behavior by Trump is concealed under the redactions?
Let's move quickly, Congress.
Get impeachment going.
America needs to know EVERYTHING written in The Mueller Report.
We all need to move on from Trump ASAP. Trump is harming America on a minute-by-minute basis.
Help us heal.
Remove Trump from office.
HURRY!
1
This passage is revealing … "The office learned that some individuals we interviewed - including some associated with the Trump campaign - deleted relevant communication or communicated during the relevant period using applications that feature encryption or do not provide for long term retention of data … given these identified gaps, the office cannot rule out the possibility that the unavailable information would shed light on the events described in the report"
Isn't that basically what Trump accused Hillary of doing?
10
@Paul.
No it *is* what Hillary did, except she was under subpoena when she did it !
1
Mueller relied on the Office of Legal Counsel's finding that sitting Presidents can't be prosecuted during their term in office when he refrained from making a traditional prosecutorial decision. Mueller continued, however, to explain that the president may be prosecuted afterward and that he decided to investigate the potential crimes "to preserve the evidence when memories were fresh and documentary materials were available." In other words, the only thing preventing prosecution is that Trump is currently President. After that, gloves are off.
Volume 2, p. 2.
24
@Sherry
Many of us suspected as much. Whether or not Mueller agrees with standing DOJ policy, he would not act in conflict with it. If true, Trump would have been indicted and prosecuted had he not been president. Barr is just another lying Trump hack. And Trump is defiling the people's house and debasing his office and betraying the nation and its democracy.
3
Just because Mueller believes that collusion would require direct coordination with the actual hackers to be a crime doesn't mean that the Administration's coordination with Wikileaks to disseminate that material isn't a huge ethical breach.
If it had come out in early 2017 that Trump's team worked with Wikileaks to expose that hacked material, there is no DOUBT in my mind that impeachment trials would have begun. Doesn't have to be a crime to be worthy of impeachment.
10
@Joy It has not been established that the Administration coordinated with Wikileaks. That is a complete fabrication.
But even if they did, how does that differ in any way from the NYT publishing hacked and leaked material?
2
Wikileaks didn’t need Trump or anyone else’s help releasing those emails.
It’s what they do.
2
The obvious conclusion of the Mueller Report, the extensive efforts to obstruct the investigation, (obstruction of justice) has succeeded to this point in time. It is beyond absurd to witness the public words and deeds that served directly to obstruct the work of the FBI & the Special Prosecutor and then to conclude that obstruction cannot be established. The most essential evidence was encrypted or deleted prior to being secured by investigators.
5
Team Trump indicated it will issue a rebuttal to the report. This is very curious behavior and begs the question. Why would they need to issue a rebuttal against a report that supposedly (as they say) exonerates them?
23
The rebuttal will be aimed at the never-ending attacks from the unhinged left.
Surely you don’t think they are going to accept this , do you ?
2
Trump -- I assume like the rest of us -- has recently submitted his 2019 tax forms to the IRS, or will be doing so soon.
It goes without saying that his tax accountants have been instructed to make all the necessary redactions to the forms needed to protect our national security and his.
6
... his 2018 tax forms ....
1
Why is it that the Trump campaign's failure to report Russian espionage to the authorities as soon as they became aware of it is not being even discussed? If we assume that they were not instigating the Russians to conduct operations against the Democratic candidate, but casual observers who stood to benefit, innocent tweeters of links to Wikileaks, we still are not getting an answer on how that is acceptable.
Is it not conspiracy in a crime if you have knowledge of such a crime (hacking, theft and espionage), who is doing it and to whom and you withhold this information? After all, these same campaign people (Kushner, Trump Jr., Flynn) never disclosed their contacts with Russian government officials in their official application forms for security clearance and taking of their jobs in the White House.
14
With all these people involved in and/or charged with Russia dealings that had connections with Trumps campaign, I find it hard to believe Trump himself, did not know. Even his own son and son-in-law talked to a Russian attorney.It's like saying I live on an Island, but I never go in the water.
7
We're seeing what happens when a special counsel who abides by law, institutional practice and ethics goes up against a man and his enablers who will use any means, including tearing down those institutions and obliterating ethical standards, to escape accountability and consequences for accepting help from a hostile foreign power to influence our presidential election and obstruct the investigation stemming from that. The decision to not subpoena Trump haunts this report. I don't know if that would have been the correct way to go for the country, but it leaves this report unsatisfying and inconclusive as we have seen evidence of Trump's intent to obstruct in plain sight. The country needs those answers.
7
Conspiracy is the correct term, not collusion. Collusion is not a legal term. Barr is duping people by using that term.
17
Please.
Just read the first two pages of Volume II. The "obstruction" part.
Barr lied. Mueller started Volume II outlining the ways in which the Special Counsel's investigation and ability to determine whether or not to indict/prosecute were constrained by the OLC "policy" about not indicting a sitting president.
Could not be more clear.
27
@Alexandra Brockton
Yes. It was a blatant lie. How can the US AG get away with it?
2
Primarily because it took Barr so long to hand over the so-called Muller Report, I wonder if the report being given out today is the actual, original report prepared by Mueller and his team.
What if the original Mueller Report was edited by Trump, Barr, Trump's attorneys, and Barr's flunkies? What if the original Mueller Report was re-typed to say what Trump and Barr want it to say?
How can we confirm that Barr is distributing the original report? And why is Congress NOT receiving the un-redacted "original" of the so-called Mueller Report?
6
"The Mueller report will first be delivered on compact discs," tweeted CBS This Morning on Thursday. "@CBSNews has learned Hill staffers were prepared for the possibility of this antiquated technology & confirmed they still have a computer with a working CD-ROM drive."
Heck - why not 5 1/4" floppy disks or even a few boxes of computer punch cards?
3
Well all I can say is that the Republicans learned from their mistakes with Watergate. Richard Nixon would be very proud of this current group.
9
You seem to forget that Nixon's was the party in power when his agents spied on the campaign operation of the party out of power. Just like the Obama intelligence community spied on the Presidential campaign of the party out of power. That's the bigger story here. All the faux outrage over the details of the now debunked collusion narrative will not change that brutal truth. But that truth ( using the IC to spy on political opponents) apparently is OK if done by Democrats and must not be mentioned (or be given creedence) in the Democrat aligned media.
While everyone is bashing Mr. Trump, he is, as we speak, presiding over a very moving White House ceremony honoring US wounded warriors. He delivered beautiful remarks, sincerely and with great pride. It's easy to dislike Mr. Trump, and he is certainly a man with many, many shortcomings, but it is clear why he remains popular among a vast swath of our society. That he did not opt to exercise executive privilege and censor any part of the Mueller report, despite the fact that it will contain some highly embarrassing details, will be of great political benefit to him in the months ahead.
4
Yes to a man who required a sitting president who happened to be Black to prove his citenzenship. That Trump has his shortcomings is the least you can describe him. Better to call him a true American so that those who actually read American history have a better understanding of the man.
Republicans declaring "victory" should be careful not to celebrate just yet.
There are FOURTEEN ongoing investigations that Mueller referred to other law enforcement agencies.
Enjoy that GOP.
5
It is clear the Democratic Party and in unofficial coordination with the "American Mainstream Media" conspired for nearly two years on a politically motivated character assassination of the 45th President of the United States. Thanks to Robert Mueller for an unbiased/truthful report after a long and distinguished career as a public servant..
1
It is impossible to engage in character Assassination against President Trump. How can you assassinate character that doesn’t exist(rhetorical)?
Collusion always struck me as a long shot because I never thought anyone believed Trump could win, including Trump. If there was a big coordinated plot with Russia, it would have proven to have been a genius evil plan, and the campaign didn’t seem that smart or organized.
The Russia investigation is important for investigating Russian efforts to meddle and Trump’s business ties to Russians. The level of lying and cover up indicate they’re still hiding things.
The obstruction findings are important because it boils down to two questions - does the president think he’s above the law, and are we, voters, ok with that?
8
@Chris
Agreed.
Regarding "collusion", I never could reconcile a gigantic contradiction: Trump never expected or wanted to win the election( which I believe to be true) with conspiring with the Russians to do so.
1
Mr. Barr did not say “I have no objection to Bob Mueller testifying,” he said “I have no objection to Bob Mueller personally testifying.” Might that distinction mean that he would not be testifying in an official Justice Department capacity, which could restrict what he would be legally able to disclose?
2
Mueller failed the American people. Trump obviously obstructed justice. Wikileaks is an arm of the Russian government and colluding with Wikileaks was a conspiracy to defraud the 2016 campaign. Barr is aiding and abetting Trump's obstruction of justice. Impeachment proceedings should begin immediately after Mueller's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.
2
Life isn’t fair. Sometimes, the bad guys win.
6
On the other hand, it ain’t over til the pleasingly plump lady sings.
2
The 2020 election is to be our PNR (Point of No Return). if we fail to toss out the entire GOP from elected offices, state and federal, our nation will enter a the final chapter of what was most feared by the first document on democracy. . .self enrichment of the elected officials and failure of the electorate to remove them leads to autocracy and then civil conflict.
A read of Plato's Republic is essential to begin comprehending what we face in the future at our current trajectory. A modern look at any central and south American nation, the nations of Africa, the Muslim nations, the former eastern European nations provides factual evidence about this path towards eventual dictatorship.
Gen-X, just what will you tell your grandchildren when they ask you, "Why didn't you prevent this?"
7
@Jim A reading of Plato's Republic? That suggestion brings tears to my eyes. Is there such a thing as noble naivete?
To an earlier comment: who "sincerely believes" that the President "sincerely believes" anything except that Pres. Trump only believes that he is always right and any detractor is always wrong.
See this for what it is: Barr is continuing the charade of Trump political theater; as another comment posed, get the subpoenas going because we the people are not going to know anything about what happened without knowing the contents of the full report, and without findings from House of Representative investigations from all the various committees.
Now, hopefully, the Democrats will show stiff spine about ordering officials to tell all, and issue contempt citations to compel, if any are reluctant or refuse a congressional order.
1
We've just listened to a man who's long been on the record stating that he doesn't think a sitting US President can obstruct justice now tell us (again) he *really* doesn't think Trump obstructed justice.
At this point, it would be at least somewhat helpful if the NYT and other media outlets added the word "redacted" to all headlines referring to the released report. Mueller's redacted report has been released. The actual full report has not. Any sort of clouding of that distinction, even if unintentional, does not serve us well.
2
"since WikiLeaks did not participate in Russia’s underlying hacking of the emails, its actions were no crime. " So, if an art dealer sells a painting he knows was stolen they are not held accountable? If the buyer knows it is stolen, they are not held culpable? This makes absolutely no sense to me.
5
I remember after President Kennedy was assassinated, the Warren Commission Report was released. The Commission had investigated the events leading to JFK's assassination and found a 'magic bullet' had injured Governor Connally. The trajectory of the bullet was nearly impossible, but it was the only way the Commission could explain why there was not more than one shooter. The American public never really believed the story. Barr is Trump's magic bullet, and I don't believe his story either.
4
The government covered up at least parts of that report on Kennedy’s Assassination. Trump decided there was a need to continue that coverup.
Whatever Barr has to say good or bad is irrelevant to this thing. What Congressional committees say is the thing that counts. Barr is being paid as Trump's appointed employee to do whatever he must to make Trump look good, or at least not as bad. So, buy the report and read it for yourselves when it's published.
1
Barr thinks his role is to tell the American people that Trump's actions and behavior were a result of being understandably "frustrated and angry?" We are in such deep trouble.
2
"Barr says that even if the Trump campaign colluded with WikiLeaks, that is not a crime."
Does Barr understand the enormity and implications of his misguided statement? He is basically saying that, in the next election cycle or any other after that, Republicans and Democrats can collude with Wikileaks (or any other foreign organization) to obtain illegal information and while highly unethical, would not be considered a crime.
That is the definition of madness not to mention the watering down of a democratic process.
3
When I learned that Mueller had completed his report without having subpoenaed or questioned Trump, Trump Jr., and Kushner, I sensed it was game over and they would escape any culpability. That said, proving collusion was a tall task but obstruction of justice and a long string of financial wrong doing in the Trump organization seems like fish in a barrel. Remarkable that Mueller seemingly refused to go there. I suppose he wishes to enjoy a quiet peaceful retirement but his legacy has been tarnished.
2
Democrats should focus their efforts on beating Trump in the 2020 election. Impeachment and removal was already a long shot prior to the report being released. We have wasted an enormous amount of time, money, and effort. The voting public needs to be the source of Trump’s removal now.
1
Wait a second. Barr is saying the Trump campaign colluded with WikiLeaks who received their information from emails hacked by the Russian government but that's not a crime because WikiLeaks didn't physically hack the emails.
Am I reading this right? Did Barr really just say that?
So much for "no collusion."
4
There is no such legal term in criminal law as a charge of "collusion". It's a red herring, as that is not a legal charge.
The question is, was there evidence of conspiracy to commit violations of federal elections law? Was there evidence of obstruction of justice? (Public actions such as the Comey firing and open statements made about the motivations for it suggest that there is.) Is there evidence of illegal foreign emoluments? Is there evidence of fraud or money laundering in any of the transactions between the Trump Organization and foreign entities?
1
“while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
Nothing else matters. Like reducing the whole Bible down to “Do unto others . . .” We’ve all seen how useful that proves.
1
The Mueller report doesn't matter anymore, it's all about trump not acting presidential. The lying, name-calling, Racism, appointing donors to high positions in his administration, lack of accountability, EPA and climate change? There's so much that's wrong for this president to move the country forward in a positive way.
3
@al
Actually, none of what you enumerated matters either. What matters to most Americans is the economy, and that seems to be doing terrific.
1
Let us see how bizarre Barr's defence of Trump sounds:
Judges in matters of crime committed by all people in American Legal System will follow the lead of the nation's top judicial enforcer and give the same privileges to the accused that Barr has so faithfully extended to Trump.
The judges will give the copy of judgement to the lawyer(s) of the accused and see if they want to redact anything from the sentencing ... may be the words "guilty"?
The judge then will tell the victims of the crimes that the accused sincerely believes that he/she is innocent and his actions were merely out of frustration and anger.
The word Law has become a joke.
3
Intent can be inferred from statements and conduct. See, e.g., United States v. Cusino, 694 F.2d 185, 187 (9th Cir. 1982).
1
Can anyone cite one example from Mueller’s report that legally indicates President Trump engaged in obstruction?
3
@Dr. John
Of course not. Mr. Mueller, by refraining from making the claim himself, made clear that such a charge is a political call.
2
Here is where we are now then. All of a considerable body of public evidence, much of which we have seen with our own eyes, tells us one thing, but Mr. Barr, a Trump appointee, tells us that none of it ever happened. Barr's statement is larded with legal doublespeak and lies--e.g., nobody *illegally* participated or *knowingly* conspired, e.g., "the investigation was put in place and carried out by Trump's enemies." I know what the word conspiracy means, in the everyday sense of the word. "Russia, are you listening? ..." Is this my America? Is this democracy?
1
Our culture is far too legally technocratic when it comes to crimes committed by the powerful.
If this were a petty con-artist who'd bilked widows and orphans out of their savings, the court would have no trouble inferring intent to defraud from statements and actions. But when it's the president, somehow proving intent becomes metaphysical and a Herculean labor.
In the days of the Founding Fathers, Trump would've long ago hanged for treason.
2
Our culture is far too legally technocratic when it comes to crimes committed by the powerful.
If this were a petty con-artist who'd bilked widows and orphans out of their savings, the court would have no trouble inferring intent to defraud from statements and actions. But when it's the president, somehow proving intent becomes metaphysical and a Herculean labor.
In the days of the Founding Fathers, Trump would've long ago hanged for treason.
“No Collusion. No Obstruction."
(Except for those convicted of perjury trying to hide it) ...(and a few bank robbers and fraudsters)
Really. Nothing to see here. It is an outrage that the fine reputation of this organisation was ever questioned.
1
Bill Barr and Rod Rosenstein are continuing to collaborate, conspire, cooperate and coordinate with Donald Trump and family and friends in covering up Russian hacking and meddling in the 2016 Presidential campaign and election.
Along with their obstructing justice in furtherance of examining the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States in order to enhance and hide the profitable returns of the Trump Organization arising from occupation of the Oval Office of the White House.
Nothing but collusion in order to make Russia great again.
Barr is trying to protect Rosenstein from criminal liability for his being a witness to and a participant in obstruction of justice. Barr is trying to cover up his coordination and cooperation with Trump's personal attorneys.
That they are doing it all in the open reflects their arrogance and hubris.
No wonder Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin and Mohammed bin Salman are still smiling and smirking.
3
Once Mueller's agreed that Trump could dodge a face to face interview regarding these events, it became impossible to establish that Trump had a "corrupt intent to obstruct the investigation"...thus no obstruction. Ball game over...for now.
In the meantime, folks, the report really doesn't change anything we already know. Vote!!!
2
“Robert Mueller, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to leak the 400 pages that are missing. I think probably you will be rewarded mightily by our press.”
3
Barr, Rosenstein, and the other guy should have been wearing gaudy military uniforms with gold-fringe epaulets, red sashes, and an array of ribbon bars and medals. You know, like any self-respecting third-world junta. Dark wrap-around shades or mirrored aviators would have been appropriate as well.
What a bizarre and chilling spectacle that was. It’s official. We have turned the corner. The USA, as we knew it, is no more. We are now the world’s largest, most powerful banana republic, and Putin is our master.
3
Of course, duh, Trump obstructed justice--and in plain sight, evident to sentient Americans when he fired FBI director James Comey and pushed out AG Jeff Sessions for failing to give him unswerving loyalty in Russia probe. Barr is this president's handmaiden, delivering a white wash of Mueller's redacted Report.
3
@Mary Reinholz. Firing an AG by the president is totally within the president’s right.
2
A farce. A disgrace.
Not the lawyer of the United States, but a stooge for Trump.
6
Rico. Wait for it.
4
so if these acts had been committed by an otherwise smart, honest and politically savvy person - there was enough evidence to prove intent.
but
because
djt is none of the above - it was a long series of INNOCENT MISTAKES.
so in essence - the AG is excusing djt's bad behavior because he was too stupid, too stressed, too unsavvy politically and too used to lying to have intentionally met the standard of any criminal behavior.
since when is ignorance of the law an excuse for breaking the law?
so - did the standards for criminal prosecution in the U.S. just get re-written today?
4
Barr, essentially acting as a defense attorney, spoke about Trump having a “sincere belief”—
With Donald Trump, there is no such thing as a “sincere belief”.
7
Just wait.
This guy laundered hundreds of millions of dollars for/with the Russians.
Numbers don’t lie.
Politicians lie.
Deutsche Bank anyone ?
8
Notwithstanding the hear-no-evil, see-no-evil, speak-no-evil tenor and visual of the redacted Mueller report rollover, if nothing else, we have all learned that Donald Trump has, at long last, found his Roy Cohn.
4
Nope. Roy Cohn was a Democrat. But don't let objectively provable facts get in your way.
Your bias – and lefteous indignation – on reporting on this whole affair is outrageous...
However – that approach has done more to elect, and will do more to re-elect, Trump than anything his campaign could devise...
Even with help from some Russians...
See, we suspect you and the Trump campaign of having deeply colluded – up to and beyond the present – and consider most of this Kabuki Theater to distract your more aligned readership...
Can never figure whether Brennan, Clapper, Comey et al should get an Oscar for their performances – or a resend of your memo on this topic...
They may have been left off distribution, first time around...
4
as the NYT once headlined it:
TRUMP TRIUMPHS
You’ve got to be a lunatic to believe Trump tried to have the government of Russia help him win the election.
btw, there was no crisis at the border and now Bernie Sanders and the NYT say there is one.
Blame it on yourselves.
3
How many times did mouthpiece Barr rotely repeat that there was "no collusion"? Methinks the GOP hack doth protest too much. Americans should be protesting in the streets en masse against Trump the would-be traitor.
5
That was a Command Performance by Barr, given for political reasons and for the usual 1-man Imperial ear. In some ways, you can't blame Barr for performing for his master; also, it means that when the facts and implications of the report come out, he'll be able to say to the Miller-Trump WH, 'I did my job'.
2
Screaming across the top of the NYT:"Mueller Report Released To Public".No it hasn't.We're still waiting so get your facts straight for a change.To date Barr is guilty of perjury for lying during his senate nomination.Guilty of obstruction for releasing his own version,in 4 pages, of the Mueller report.Treason for excluding the congress from being a check on the Executive branch and taking the report to the WH lawyers prior to releasing it and most importantly not upholding our constitution.I thought you were better than this,NYT.After giving Trump unending positive coverage during the campaign, are you going to continue to do the same with Barr while trump continues to destroy our Democracy?Never has there been a more evil man to hold such power in this country.And now we get to throw Barr in the mix.Time for we citizens to take to the streets in the largest protest ever.
3
Well said!
When I listen to William Barr speak my instincts tell me he's a lying liar who lies. Birds of a feather it seems.
3
How and why should we trust William Barr any more than the cretin he works for? I do not trust the White House or the festering souls that inhabit it. When will the complete un-redacted report come out? 2021?
2
The AG's paw prints on the Mueller Report show his work product is biased and Barrbaric!
5
You people STILL don't get it. I can't say it surprises me.
Two years down the road, an Attorney General with nothing in his record to suggest he is compromised in any way, comes before us and says no American was involved with Russia in attempting to subvert the 2016 election.
This should be a bright day for the nation. Yet I bet you will hang the crepe.
You award yourselves big prizes for digging up useless facts about The Donald, all the while doing your best to erode the institution of the presidency.
What are you going to say if The Donald is re-elected? Can't wait.
4
He won’t be re-elected, before that happens RICO will come for him! He is a criminal.
1
@jacklavelle
"You people". We haven't seen the report yet now have we? "No American"? Not Paul Manafort? Not Donnie Jr? Not Roger Stone? none? With all the indictments?
In Barr's 4 page spin he said there was cooperation with Russia and now he is saying "no American" and you can't see the glaring contradictions. Hey, I got a bridge to nowhere for sale.
So it was all rigged from the beginning. Either Mueller was incompetent or an unwitting dupe. The collusion with Russia is obvious to anyone with half a brain from the Trump Tower meaning and Trump himself told Lester Holt his intention to obstruct justice was the reason for Comey's firing.
3
Barr put another coat of whitewash on Trump's Potempkin Village.
2
Is it me NYT, I cannot find the full report on your site
1
Bottom line:
There is nothing new here that will change Nancy Pelosi's mind on impeachment
They needed a smoking gun
There isn't one
Case closed
3
I am hopeful that Mueller indicates in the report that the reason he could not say collusion is because Manafort refused to cooperate and took one for the team. Manafort was colluding with Russia but went to jail instead of admitting it as part of the campaign. And obstruction case was weak because Trump did not testify under oath.
Criminal behavior is not the same as bad behavior, ethical failures or lying while not under oath. Look at the scummy world that connects with Trump and his family, and America will need to take a shower after he is gone.
On page 181, according to Jeremy Bash a former Justice Department Attorney, Mueller states that the correct word is not “collusion” but there is plenty of evidence that Trump campaign and Russia worked together to promote Trump’s candidacy. Read the report.
How to download the explosive Mueller report - free https://www.independent.co.uk/.../mueller-report-pdf ...
download the explosive Mueller report - free
https://www.justice.gov/storage/report.pdf
1
"Gave Over" sounds a lot like "Mission Accomplished". Boy, that will come back and bite him.
140
@RCJCHC It’s not and never has been a game. People’s lives hang in the balance and our lying criminal president thinks It’s a game.
13
@RCJCHC
Barr is no AG. He a pathetic Trump sycophant!
The American people should be outraged with his biased summaries and totally insulting "conclusions". Barr has done this before!
America needs to demand Barr's resignation.
He works for the American people, NOT Trump!
In Barr's briefing on the Mueller report, he acted as Donald Trump’s personal lawyer.
The president could hardly have been better served if he had written Barr’s statement himself.
5
@RCJCHC
Praying for "Game Over" in 2020.
p. 179, Mueller Report:
"In sum the investigation established multiple links between Trump campaign officials and individuals tied to the Russian government.
Those links included Russian offers of assistance to the campaign. In some instances, the campaign was receptive to the offer, while in other instances the campaign officials shied away.
Ultimately, the investigation did not establish that the campaign co-ordinated or conspired with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”
Trump may not be indictable for this, but he is surely impeachable for it.
1
By holding this pre Muller report release press conference, Barr has made the investigation political. This is the second time he has put his thumb on the scale.
9
The Democrats have been left in the dark long enough! Give the FULL unreacted report to the "Gang of 8" - Dems and Reps in Congress who have full security clearance!!!
I'm so enraged by the Barr/ Trump obstructionist tactics. They are supposed to represent ALL Americans but they ONLY represent Trump/the 1% and pretend to represent the "Trump Base"
I've paid MORE than my fair share in taxes but have been attacked not represented. This is supposed to be the Government for the People by the People!
5
The person who should be most concerned about AG Barr’s remarks this morning is Sarah Huckabee Sanders who just found out that she has been replaced by Barr as Donald Trump’s spokesperson. We also learned that AG stands for Another Grifter.
7
Now, after Mr. Trump's Public Relation manager (Mr. William Barr), the White House Press Secretary (Mr. William Barr) and also his personal lawyer (Mr. William Barr) all have confirmed that their was no collusion we should really put this topic to bed permanently.
2
Within the heavily redacted report, on page 149, and blacked out as "investigative technique", is the statement of someone to Dmitriev, "Putin has won." That is true. Because whatever else this report contains we know that the share of Republicans who regard Russia as an ally has doubled since 2014, (while the share of Democrats has gone down.) When 40% Republicans now regard Russia as an ally you know for sure Putin has won.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/237137/republicans-positive-relations-russia.aspx
Congress’s next course of action is clear. Move for impeachment - of AG Barr. Barr is obstructing justice and acting as the chief defense attorney of The current occupant of the Oval Office instead of as the Attorney General of the United States. When Barr next appears before Congress, he must be under oath so he will subject to perjury charges for everything he says.
5
Too many Ivy League grifters giving opinions about Trump's innocence, when the rest of us recognize obstruction via numerous tweets that threaten people and actual firings.
2
NYT headline, as usual, an absolute distortion. Barr ran through the process of release, purely. He reminded everyone the four page summary is a legal requirement and that a release of the report, in ANY form, is discretionary.
3
If the report, we could have real about attempts to
6
In Rome the two Popes just have split up and here the Democrats and Republicans will never see eye to eye, ever. Obviously the World is a mess.
2
Whether we agree with the conclusions or not, we MUST respect the integrity of this process.....And the dedicated hard work of truly smart people who treat the law as sacred.
The one fact our "Iran Contra" Attorney General cannot polish up is that this man is emotionally and intellectually unfit to serve in this office.
Sorry, but my reality at the voting booth will not change.
Mr. Trump is a bully, a liar, and frankly, not very smart or dedicated to any needs but his own.
400 pages cannot fix that. But, many thanks to those who protected our Democracy and sent Russia a seriously profound message about how deep we will go to protect our way of life.
Elections do matter..Remember that.....
3
Barr is as corrupt and dishonest as his boss. If he's making a legal claim, then collusion isn't part of the conversation. But he can't say that there's no collusion when the collusion is clear in the relationship with Wikileaks and the meetings. The obstruction of justice issue is separate, and there, too, anyone with eyes can see there has been obstruction out in the open. This is a travesty of law, common sense, and reason. When a Republic enters into this level of irrational nonsense, its days are numbered.
1
Trump has always had Fixers ... Barr is merely the latest. And, once again, America is stained by a premeditated, orchestrated perversion of injustice at the highest level of our government.
2
So they directly conspired with Russia to collude with WIkileaks. Close enough.
3
Barr has not taken seriously the Russian attack upon
American democracy which is like a political 9/11,
and concentrated upon Trump and how he was not
guilty of "colluding" with the Russians.
Where was the anger by Barr about Russia cyber attacking
the American election of 2016?
#Impeach Trump and bring back law and order to America.
2
This is Trump's "I am not a crook" moment.
4
Trump dumped Sessions because Sessions would not far enough to protect Trump's interests at the expense of the nation's interests. Barr sent Trump an unsolicited letter promising to use the AG office to protect him; that is why Trump chose Barr as AG in the first place. Now Barr fulfills his promise. It is outrageous to have an AG who throws the nation under the bus by serving as a de facto personal attorney for this criminal.
5
I dont need the Mueller report to know that Trump and his cronies obstructed justice and colluded with the russians in plain sight.
3
This is what you get when a system is rigged from the top.
3
Barr is definitely the leader in the clubhouse for the Trump stooge of the year honor.
16
The democrats didn't get the report (smoking gun) they expected and their heads are exploding!
4
If trump hasn’t colluded with Russia, why does he act like he has? The abject weakness in Helsinki? No reaction to Russia deliberately meddling in the 2016 election? Trying to pull NATO apart? Arguing for Russia’s place in the G7? Is weakness and incompetence just his style? Whether or not he was dumb enough to explicitly agree to do this, or whether he just did it of his own inexplicable volition, makes almost no difference to me.
6
The president is continuing to undermine our democracy with each hour he and his appointees are using their offices to get power, money, corporate chips,etc.-not the good of this democratic republic. Please tell me is money controlling all of our republican officals ? Where has their decency gone and their sense of honor ? This president is a disgrace to our country and he disgraces all those who support him.
6
"... he’s [Barr] decided what parts of the Russia inquiry you’ll be allowed to read."
And he lied this morning on Mr. Trump's behalf. Barr told us the investigation was a product of Trump's enemies. That is an outright lie.
13
Everyone should read the Report because it does not match the spin that Barr just barfed out.
10
Barr is a very smart man who has been corrupted, as all are, by his association with Trump. He has decided to throw his considerable legal talent into the defense of a corrupt and filthy administration. His reputation is gone, as is, I suspect, his friendship with Bob Mueller. Astonishing that he would throw his whole career away just to defend Trump's corruption. But look at what other Kirkland and Ellis lawyers did to obstruct the due administration of justice to pedophile Jeff Epstein and, in my opinion, you will see a pattern.
4
So Trump was "frustrated and angered by his sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents and fueled by illegal leaks"(Still haven't heard what law the "leakers" broke); but not by the illegal hacking and publication of hacked emails, which he actually ENCOURAGED. And ...
30 years of cheating on all 3 wives (and bribing his paramours and ex wives to keep them quiet) .
30 years of hiring illegal aliens.
Dodged the draft.
Managed to go bankrupt despite getting billions from his father.
Now THERE'S a man of courage and principle.
Well, at least he's consistent - no morals, no principles and no brains.
12
@Upstate Dave I'm afraid that he does have brains but they are infected.
What a shameful display of justice. The liar in chief who obstructed justice in plain sight is being defended by an AG who has already lost all credibility. We don't care what the AG or Trump have to say, we care about Mueller's assessment only.
And he did not exonerate Trump. Period.
7
A sitting president cannot be indicted
therefor
The president is innocent.
Faulty logic.
7
What a farce. Trump stood on a stage in front of TV cameras and clearly enunciated: “Russer, if you are listening.....” It was not a “joke.” I clearly recall thinking that we as a nation were in big trouble. A very dangerous Rubicon had been crossed. And here we are on the other side being told not to believe the evidence of our own eyes and ears.
8
I hope none of those wounded warriors ever was a prisoner of war or Trump will kick them out of the White House as he wouldn't like them then.
"Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."
Liars are gonna lie.
That includes liars who say "total and complete exoneration."
4
“My colleagues may think it’s OK that the Russians offered dirt on a Democratic candidate for president as part of what was described as the Russian government’s effort to help the Trump campaign. You might think that’s OK. My colleagues might think it’s OK that when that was offered to the son of the president, who had a pivotal role in the campaign, that the president’s son did not call the FBI, he did not adamantly refuse that foreign help.”
Schiff continued: “No, instead that son said that he would love the help of the Russians. You might think it’s OK that he took that meeting. You might think it’s OK that Paul Manafort, the campaign chair, someone with great experience in running campaigns, also took that meeting. You might think it’s OK that the president’s son-in-law also took that meeting. You might think it’s OK they concealed it from the public.”
Schiff was referring, among other things, to the 2016 Trump Tower meeting involving Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort, and Russian officials.
“You might say that’s all OK,” Schiff continued. “You might say that’s just what you need to do to win. But I don’t think it’s OK. I think it’s immoral, I think it’s unethical, I think it’s unpatriotic, and yes, I think it’s corrupt.”
5
Where can I read the report myself? Any chance of a link?
2
bloomberg news posted it
1
Trump and his cadre of associates have a jump start on spinning this report to his advantage and Barr is clearly a full accomplice in this endeavor.
5
It's critically important (if you want to be intellectually honest) to go back 2 weeks and read the transcript of the interview between Byron York and White House Chief Legal Counsel Robert Dowd.
In that interview, Dowd explains the great pains the WH and Mr. Trump went through with the SC to make sure the SC knew with absolute certainty that the WH and Trump team were 100% cooperating with the SC, even though his public statements and actions could be deemed to be obstruction.
This was a political issue he had to contend with.
Just imagine for a moment that your next door neighbor reports you for child sexual abuse to the authorities, even though you know with 100% absolute certainty there is no truth to the charge.
Now imagine a 2 year investigation with the media fixated on your 24/7 while you try to do your day job and do whatever you can to maintain your innocence, including attacking the character of your neighbor who filed the charges.
Now, imagine the investigation concluding after 2 years..that you didn't do what was charged, but because you defended yourself, they are going to need to file 10 counts of obstruction of justice which gets you 20 years in Attica.
Is that justice? Is that equitable? Is that fair?
I hope reasonable Democrats will keep an open mind about how this whole thing started..and why...then keep your eyes peeled for the new Special Counsel and the work they're going to be doing the next 2 years to uncover the real Russian Collusion.
1
Imagine you’re being investigated for child molestation but you are the mayor and you fire the police chief. And then you tell everyone you fired the police chief because of the investigation. Oh and you and your friends have groups of children sleep over at your house and then try to cover that up. And your friends get put in jail for lying under oath about it. Yep, nothing to see here.
Can you imagine what the right would have said if the people responsible for making a determination on Hillary's investigation were appointed by Hillary and then held press conferences to spin any reports before they were released?
This administration is a disgrace.
8
It would be wisest if editors of the NYT were to look up the meaning of words like "preempt" before using them in big headlines. "Preempt" carries with it the idea of excluding or surpassing the thing preempted. It is obvious to all of your readers that Attorney General Barr's press conference this morning did not, could not, and could not possibly have been intended to do the impossible -- that is, "preempt" the Mueller report itself. That report will be in the hands of us all momentarily. You embarrass yourself by misusing that word, in my view.
1
By saying that publishing hacked documents is not a crime if you didn't hack, did Barr just exonerate Wikileaks and Julian Assange?
6
Perhaps the saddest truth of all is that this is ultimately just a show, and everyone knows it. Trump is a self-serving crook who has no concept of what it means to be presidential. Nevertheless, 40% of the population simply doesn't care, with the approval percentage more than double that among Republicans. In their heart of hearts, people know that Trump is a liar and a conman, but they support him all the same. Analysts will be writing about this era for years to come, trying to make sense of it.
4
Redacted to protect the guilty and to protect the guy who is protecting the guilty.
Barr's whole charade is as disgusting as it is transparent
4
Well that was spun hard to make sure the Mueller Report is dead, neutered and buried before it could ever see the redacted light of day.
A low Barr for all to trip over has been foist upon us. Individual one's lackeys serve him well until he's done with them and then they are quickly made into chum.
Game, set and match go to Russia (now the favorites for 2020).
1
Ho hum, no surprises here. I'll start paying attention when someone leaks the report.
2
History was never going to be kind to a toady like Barr, but at least was likely to forget him. Now it will remember him forever as the scurrilous, lickspittle that he has always been.
6
This president panders shamelessly.
How soon until the Democrats and liberals turn on Mueller?
3
Why is the attorney general of the United States defending the President instead of defending the citizens against a despot in the making? Barr is nothing but Trump’s flunky.
4
@Jeffrey Schantz Trump has in Barr what Sessions would not give-a willing and pliant toady.
2
if there is an update that the report is released, where is a link to the full (redacted) document.
8
Where is the report. Please post a link.
@Grant
Look to Dept. of Justice website
@Grant Thanks for the comment. You can find here the full report along with analysis from our team of journalists reading through it: https://nyti.ms/2vakEn9. I hope this helps. Thanks for reading.
2
"In addressing obstruction, Mr. Barr said the president had no corrupt intent and that his actions seen as impeding the investigation were a result of being understandably 'frustrated and angered by his sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents and fueled by illegal leaks.'"
What a tool!
6
But did Mueller anywhere conclude that Trump’s 10 (“noncriminal”) obstructions of justice had no significant bearing on the conduct of the investigation and its inability to reach a conclusion regarding conspiracy or “collusion”?
Or, stated in reverse, if need be: How likely is it that the Mueller team could/would have made a finding of conspiracy or “collusion” but for Trump’s and the White House’s repeated instances of obstruction of justice?
What would Liberals prefer Barr do?
2
I'd prefer Barr act like the AG rather than a paid PR Rep for Trump.
9
@Dr. John Release the un-redacted report to our elected Congress, the men and women elected to over-see the office of the president. To have done so before holding a side-show defending his dear leader would have been preferable, but still, it's not all that difficult. Not like condemning Nazis or anything.
6
@Dr. John Resign as he is not the attorney general of the United States-he is Trump's attorney general and his job is to protect Trump, not we the people.
1
Barr really is just another Trump sleazeball.
18
"No Collusion" !
We as conscience Americans who have been paying attention;
Know Differently !
Our Sovereignty has been attacked and affected the 2016 Election -
ALL of our Intelligence Community Departments are Positive of this.
Trump makes everything about himself and the biggest crime against America since Pearl Harbor has been conveniently swept under the carpet.
William Barr - "IS" - the Roy Cohn Trump has bee looking for.
His own personal Consigliere !
Trump has no interest in America, only himself.
He has completely corrupted our Justice Department and we clearly now have a Trump Lackey heading it.
Barr is the "Devon Nunez" of the Justice Department -
Regardless of Trump's Crimes against America, Barr will sweep them under the carpet.
Obstruction of Justice !
For Barr, there are those 10 Obstruction Incidents put forth by Mueller, which Barr with his - Trump's 5-Star Rating performance, has got out ahead of the facts in favor of Trump.
This is the most shameful day in our country I can recall.
Brick by Brick, Trump is tearing our country down and all to shield himself from being caught for a lifetime of crime.
I find it astonishing how Trump's base stands behind him.
Barr, will at some point regret his performances:
His Legacy will be shrouded in unforgivable shame.
Trump's strategy for releasing the redacted report AFTER Barr's "coming attractions" white-wash was perfectly timed to come out just before a huge Holiday Weekend !
8
Funny but anyone accessing Wikileaks in my company is subject to termination
3
How low the New York Times and its sycophantic leftist followers have fallen.
But then, merely scrolling down the article answers all questions the reader might ever have of the article itself; the wide, wide bars advertising MSNBC News, surely an oxymoron in itself, tells all.
Our nation is now divided between those of us who hate it, and those of us who love it. What a shame.
5
I don’t see any love in your post. Here is a pat on the back for loving the country and claiming over half of it hates it. All the while being spit in the face by republicans on a daily basis and by the president.
Oh wait. His words are love. Right?
2
@tvlopes show me a single American who hates their own country. For that matter anyone from any country. It is love for my country that has me appalled by the self serving action s of our government.
3
@tvlopes I love this country and wore a uniform in defense of this country so never question if we love our nation. That goes for the grifter from Queens also.
However, Trump, who refused to wear that uniform due to questionable medical issues, is in this for himself and only himself and his legacy.
The division began with Obama and the racism fomented by Trump, not the liberals.
Liberals are not so narrow-minded or possess the tunnel vision of reverence of a leader as the Trump followers exhibit.
Is this what Trump and Barr have on Rosenstein, hence his cooperation/approval of Barr now and why Trump didn't fire him:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/us/politics/rod-rosenstein-wear-wire-25th-amendment.html?fbclid=IwAR3HOmLbsHTZ17KJuK32bbtChYbPQ9BlzsFuqeejyI7fJb4jQuXZXojJVPY
Game Over? You know nothing don trump.
4
Perhaps a link to Report might appear at the top of this article. Just saying. Do better NYT.
3
Barr sounded like a paid PR consultant.
10
Of course Barr vigorously defended trump. He was known to be opposed to the Mueller investigation and was hired as AG to be the fixer for trump that he was for Bush. The Iran Contra coverup made him the right man to cover up more White House shady dealings. Quid pro quo is pretty straightforward.
19
So, finally, the long awaited “truth” has been delivered. Now even more doubt than ever. Let the feeling of emptiness settle for a moment, then wonder why even bother caring or commenting at all anymore? All it does is probably wear the touchscreen out faster causing Apple to get even richer needlessly selling more.
3
This is patently false: Mr. Barr said the president had no corrupt intent.
He has no intent that is not corrupt. QED.
12
William Barr is a far better promoter of the president's agenda than Sarah Sanders. He should be promoted to her job today, she needs to polish up her resume and search for a career coach, and the United States must find a competent, unbiased attorney general who represents the people.
17
"No Collusion" but plenty of Corruption.
15
Ok. We’ve seen the entire Barr Report. All we are asking is to now see the entire Mueller Report.
14
"Collusion" isn't a crime anyway, and is not even mentioned in the mission statement of Mueller's appointment letter. But "Obstruction of Justice" sure is a crime. Funny how those three words didn't really find their way into Barr's overall theme.
5
Hey, now all of you can read MUELLER'S report.
No collusion
No obstruction
Game over..
2
@Mr. Moki Try reading the report - it's obvious Barr twisted what Mueller concluded - the Trump campaign willingly and eagerly accepted the benefits of Russian dirt. And not one of them contacted the FBI. Is this really the kind of sleaze you want in a President or a supposedly independent AG?
2
@Mr. Moki
Are you reading the same report we are? Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you fall on, the report uncovers one of the shadiest presidents in our nation's history.
1
@Mr. Moki
Nope. People can only read the redacted version of it, and Barr got to decide what was redacted.
It's over folks. Enough damage has been done to our Republic. For the sake of keeping our stressed nation together, stop this witch hunt. If you oppose the President, vote for someone else.
6
In a war is it over when the opposition claims victory through propaganda?
2
Problem is that most of us did vote for someone else the last time around. In a gerrymandered system, voting alone clearly isn't enough.
1
The damage is being done by your "president" and Republicans. While we still have the right to speak out, WE SHALL.
The country is drowning in corruption and conflict of interest and the AG cannot find fault with the most corrupt administration in a century. A new low in the American nightmare?
12
I was hoping news organizations would boycott Barr's theater of the absurd. Why attend a propaganda session about a report you're going to see in a couple of hours?
9
@trblmkrRatings! The Donald's reality show is boffo ratings for the entertainment industry.
1
The way to Trump’s impeachment and removal from office remains wide open.
Congress could easily nail him for tax evasion, bank fraud, violations of the Emoluments Clause, prodigious lying to the American people, etc., etc., ad nauseum.
All it would take is a few Republican Senators with a touch of decency, honor and patriotism in their souls.
Hopefully, they will be appearing on the national scene soon, along with the Easter Bunny.
8
@A. Stanton
Of course, you have proof of all these claims, right?
1
@Sports Medicine
Not enough proof to convince you I'm afraid, but sufficient proof to convince a large majority of the American people -- definitely yes!
1
@A. Stanton, why is it around Easter everything is about nailing? I believe the term is tax “avoidance” when you pay only the ones you legally have to. Decency is derived from unnecessarily paying taxes? Sounds like only fools go to heaven then.
1
This reminds me of King Henry II's role in the murder of Thomas Becket. He publicly stated,"Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest". Though he didn't order the death of Becket per say, four of Henry's knights went to Canterbury Cathedral and murdered Becket. Sounds strikingly similar to the president's comments about the DNC's emails and "Wikkileaks". Due to mounting public pressure and the Pope's interest in the matter, Henry committed public penance at Avranches Cathedral. Unfortunately in this contemporary case Trump will get off scot-free. Mueller cannot prove collusion or obstruction because of a lack of evidence but if there's smoke, I'm pretty sure it's a fire.
5
We need to hear from Mueller. Democracy hangs in the balance.
6
I can read and I can think and I don't need a toady AG or the criminal president to spin the Mueller Report. I'm sorry that television and print media decided to show this spin session led by Barr and followed by a Trump commentary.
Barr is worse than Sessions and hopefully one day he will join John Mitchell as an AG who went to prison for being part of the corruption that is manifest in the current administration.
7
President Donald J. Trump stated to the American people during his 74 minute speech at the RNC Convention in 2016, "I am your voice."
Apparently not. Attorney General Barr has appropriated Trump's voice and that of the people. The Mueller report has yet to be delivered to the members of Congress and the public. The citizens of this country, until such time as their individual rights and freedoms are quashed, will have the final word. The jury is still out, and their decision or lack thereof will be decided in the coming days and months until they have the opportunity to vote for a better America or hang on to the Trump Nation mystical time machine that will transport them back to the good old days (MAGA). A lot can and will happen until then. Meanwhile, Trump's other remark to his soon-to-be-base, "Only I can fix it." rings hollow.
"Yes sir, I am a tortured man for all seasons, as they say, and I have powerful friends in high places. Birds sing where I walk, and children smile when they see me coming." Hunter S. Thompson, American Journalist
2
Barr is spinning the report to make the best possible outcome in the public opinion, by yet another early release of his opinion to make it go away as fast as possible. But in fact in the Barr and trump foolish world it makes it worse separating further the left and the right dems and repubs for more arguing over the report, what actually happened and what is really collusion. Barr is not the peoples AG he is Trump’s AG only. What did trump promise him to make him be a non AG but rather a personal lawyer. Dems have a lot to go after. Will Hilary remain silent? And others?
1
Barr has chosen to defend the indefensible, excuse the inexcusable, and paste over the ugly wallpaper of the trumpy administration. As citizens, we have the obligation to express our anger, disappointment, and displeasure at the actions of this AG, since Barr has now absolved the president and given free rein to whatever future excesses the administration will commit.
I'll be a bit sarcastic here and ask aloud: when does Barr receive his free lifetime membership to Mar-a-Lago and the discount pied-a-terre at trumpy tower in NYC?
4
Barr predetermined what he would say last year when he wrote a memo calling Mueller’s obstruction investigation “grossly irresponsible” and “fatally misconceived.”
Today "Mr. Barr at times sounded like a defense lawyer, making no criticism of the president..."
However, "Mr. Barr said that investigators examined 10 episodes in which the president may have obstructed justice."
So Barr now has presented to the pubic his redacted version of the Mueller report. If anything hurt Trump, I'm sure there was a black box covering every single word.
Why was the WH given the report before Congress? And why was Barr allowed to give his 'specialized speech' to influence the public before anyone read this report? Barr is proving that he puts protecting Trump ahead of the US population's right to know what was in the Mueller report.
Trump lawyers were worried that if Trump were interviewed in person that he would make a false statement and expose himself to criminal charges. Trump therefore refused to be interviewed.
Trump is NOT above the law. There are dozens of investigations still against him. Why did Trump pick Barr as AG? Why did Trump refuse to be interviewed and why did he keep trying to stop the Mueller investigation? For someone who insists he is innocent of a worthless 'witch hunt' he is continuing to act guilty. If there is smoke, there is a fire. We deserve to know the truth about President Trump.
3
One thing struck the cord, Some of the presidents man really believe in a delusional way that somehow in our type of democracy, President has unwavering executive previliges and supremacy against law and constitution.
There all presidential scandals manufactured.
1
For several weeks I've been watching the evening news shows on four or five different channels. The format is always the same; the lead person spends three or four minutes describing what may have happened in regard to the Mueller report in the previous 24 hours... he or she then turns it over to four or five "experts" who expound on what they think might have happened behind closed doors and what they think will happen in the future regarding that report.
The thing that all of these debates had in common was that they all worried that some or most of the redactions Barr would make would be unwarranted and there would be no way to know if this was the case. No one ever mentioned that our country's most famous policeman was going to be the judge of all of the redactions. I'm referring to Robert Swan Mueller III. He and the rest of his investigation team all have unredacted copies of the 400-page report and it will be a simple task to view them side by side to determine what has been "color-coded" out by Barr. I expect that by this time next week, Mueller will have his own four-page report of action to be taken to rectify unnecessary or unwarranted redactions.
1
The AG is there to also "protect" the institution of the Executive Branch from legal "over-reach." However it was shocking to hear the AG "over-reach" to the presidents defense. Shame!
3
The AG is the top cop. He is supposed to enforce the law; to prosecute criminals. Why is he acting like a defense attorney instead?
7
AG serves at the pleasure of the president and there is plenty of history of an AG protecti g his boss.
JFK's AG, for example, was his actual brother.
1
All these accusations from people who haven't even read the report. Getting ahead of themselves. Again.
5
A report that supposedly clears Trump but the Attorney General refuses to release fully and completely.
Bagdad Barr has a press conference.
So a Special Counsel was appointed to investigate some pretty odorous aspects of a corrupt Administration. After almost two years of hard work the investigation is ended and a report is created that was given to the new AG, an old hand in right wing circles who solicited the job. He proceeds to redact whatever he wants out of this report and proclaims the President innocent of all wrongdoing in a couple of summaries and an impromptu press conference that ended abruptly after reporters started asking some annoying questions he was disinclined to answer truthfully. The esteemed Special Counsel is nowhere to be found. The Assistant AG who supervised this endeavor is alongside the AG stone faced looking as if his children are held hostage at home.
We were told it was just some Russians. No one in this administration did anything wrong.
Whitewash complete. Sad.
3
Deutsche Bank has been convicted of laundering Russian oligarch corruption money.
Deutsche Bank is the only lender of record for Trump.org
It's not rocket science. But if there's anyone out there who thinks dubious Russians don't collect on their debts, I have a bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in.
3
Interesting that while Bill Barr was repeatedly bandying about the non-legal term "no collusion" this morning, Trump tweeted a montage of him also saying "no collusion."
And yet I'm not finding the words "no collusion" in the Mueller Report.
6
"Trump campaign did not engage in illegal collusion — not with the Russian government that stole the Democratic emails, but with WikiLeaks, which published them."
Wikileaks was Russia's messenger. How can you colluded with the messenger but not the author of the message?
Indeed Trump publicly asked for Russia's hacking help.
3
Barr said at his news conference the President was "frustrated and angered" by a "sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency." How the Attorney General of the United States--our chief legal counsel--could discuss any of this as if Trump's feelings are relevant is beyond me.
5
No "Active" collusion, just "Passive" collusion on the Trump Campaign's part. Nice. How very patriotic.
"Although the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts, the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in the election interference activities," the report said.
5
Russia can you hear me? You will be greatly rewarded if you attack my political enemies!
PS. Thanks for meeting my family and friends and letting us know you had dirt on them. Now please do me a favor and release that information and if needed attack an agency on our soul to attain it and publish it!
Thank you Russia! Now America will reward you!
Thank you Ag Barr!
And no I didn’t for a second listen to the Barr propaganda. I would like to read the report and question it. Barr actually discredited the report by his actions and calls its authenticity into question,
Can’t prove any activity with the Russians? What was the time frame of the report? Just the election cycle? Nothing before or after?
Who would have thought that Barr would play the role of stooge that Jeff Sessions refused to play? "Have you no shame," Mr. Barr? The answer is obviously not. At least we can stop talking about Donald Trump's "base" as if it is something separate from the Republican Party. They are one in the same.
3
The Constitution contains 4,543 words, including the signatures and has four sheets, 28-3/4 inches by 23-5/8 inches each.
Four hundred, sixty-two words. To those who value freedom, they are the most important words in the English language–words that approach sacredness and constitute the only remaining barrier against an ever-encroaching government. These 462 words make up the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution.
The Ten Commandments include instructions related to morality, as well as prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, theft, dishonesty, and adultery, which all of them make in total 297 words.
Now, can you name one law written by Congress in the past, say, 50 years.
1
The consequences of Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon are with us nearly 45 years later.
The whitewashing and legitimization of corruption, brought to you exclusively by the Republican Party.
9
As most criminals do not have the option of firing all the cops investigating them, the cop’s boss, and the DA, no, guess there isn’t a specific law against what the president did.
Ah, but there is precedent.
Happy to have slept through the Barr Preview Show.
4
As did I. Knew exactly what he would do. Pure trash.
Wow, William Barr's spin cycle as the president's premier apologist and protector shifted into overdrive while the American people continued to spin their wheels before they could see the Mueller report for themselves. Just wow.
Ten episodes -- ten! -- of potential obstruction of justice, yet none of them cleared the bar, or Barr, for corrupt intent -- even the brazen ones we all saw on national television? Not one?
To quote Chico Marx: "Who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?"
Then again, if you look back at Mr. Barr's unsolicited 19-page memo dated 8 June 2018 when he was auditioning for the job of attorney general and shamelessly undercutting the rationale for the Mueller investigation, it's hard not to conclude that the fix has been in ever since. CliffsNotes version: Donald Trump is above the law.
By the way, why wasn't Mr. Mueller at today's news conference? Doesn't he know the facts of his own investigation and can't he answer questions about them better than anyone else?
If there's any justice to ultimately be rendered by those who will write the history of this outrageous episode, a citizen can only hope that they grant no leniency to William Barr.
6
Barr has not only refused to release the full Mueller report but today he has effectively done his own edit to the report in advance of the partial release. He has incredibly portrayed Trump as the innocent victim of an illicit plot by the FBI. I am now waiting for Trump and Barr to begin investigating pizzagate.
4
Completing a 'feat' that would recently have been thought impossible, barr has defamed himself so 'well' that he has 'surpassed' the level of personal insult and self derogation 'earned' even by Sessions and Whittaker, Mnuchin and Pruitt, Ross and that 'horse-sensed' former Interior Secretary, and Carson and Pompeo, and all the other trump cabinet officials past and present (except, maybe, Nielsen) -- as well as the Javankas, and Huckabee-Sanders, and Kellyanne, and little Donny trump.
Oh! Lawyer so unworthy of th title "Attorney GENERAL" ... Be not proud.
3
Mr Trump has corrupted yet another Republican formerly thought to have some integrity, rather than just loyalty. All you need to know about Mr Barr is contained in his obsequious unsolicited letter to the Justice Department auditioning for the job he currently holds. Now that this stooge parade is done, let the real investigations begin, please, Mr Nadler and Mr Schiff.
5
Nadler and the Democrats better not cave in to. Barr and the Republicans if they want to save democracy. We all heard what the treasonous Trump and his campaign said and done with the Russians. They are guilty of many things mostly of destroying Democracy.
4
Whose attorney is Barr, Trump's or the United States'?
Remember, this is Barr's second go-around as AG. The first time around he convinced President George H. W. Bush to pardon Caspar Weinberger and 5 other Iran-Contra participants awaiting trial. Only in a Republican-led Senate could this man be confirmed for this post a second time. In an administration of deplorables he fits right in.
4
Even if Trump and his campaign's action did not rise to the level of a crime, he is still unfit to lead this country. There are many big problems other than just his unwitting relationship with Russians. He continues to lie, call people derogatory names and act like the presidency is his own personal position to do whatever he wants. This investigation is not over.
446
@Doug Trump is not fit for office. He attacks everyone today; ripping the country apart. 10 episodes of obstruction. 10. Vote out GOP. Vote out GOP. BTW Trump/GOP WILL take away your healthcare; SS; Medicare and Medicaid. Ray Sipe
36
@Doug - Trump's firing of Comey and his public admission that it was to derail the Russia investigation is ALONE enough evidence of obstruction of justice to impeach him. I don't know why people need more than that.
26
@Rita Harris It is very dangerous when a person, no matter how exalted a position he or she holds, can be held to be outside the Law. Ignorance of the law is no defence and for someone with the legal advisors that the Trump had available during his campaign it is just stretching credulity to breaking point. It is even more unbelievable now he is president, If he gets away with this then I fear the country is in dire danger of becoming a dictatorship not a democracy.
9
Attorney General Barr said the Mueller report did not find Trump to have obstructed the Special Counsel's investigation.
The issue, however, is not one limited to the Specail Counsel's investigation. The issue is wether Trump engaged in any obstruction of justice, starting with Trump's firing of Comey to end the FBI investigation into Russian election interference. Comey's firing occurred before there was a Special Counsel. And Trump's firing of Sally Yates g after warning of Flynn's being compromised by Russia was an act separate from the Special Counsel's investigation. Barr has cemented his place in history, with the Repblican controlled Senate, as just another Trump lackey.
13
Well it is clear to me that Trump could shoot somebody on Fifth Ave and, not only would he not lose any of his supporters, but the AG of the US would not convict. Indeed he would hold a press conference to tell us that, technically, the bullet killed the person, not the president. That the shooting could be viewed as self defense because we don't know how frustrated the president might have been with the victim and what witnesses saw in broad daylight doesn't matter, because it only counts if Barr witnessed it or not. I hope he is aware that, when the dust settles, he will be viewed as a manipulator of the law, not it's defender, which is what an AG should be. I don't know if he can feel shame but it will be his legacy.
12
If, indeed, there was no conspiracy or perjury committed in the Mueller report, why isn't the full report released to the public who paid for this report? I am guessing that this is due to the anarchy we live in, and the Democrats aren't smart enough to relieve us from its grip.
1
The exclusion of Wikileaks on the basis on not having directly hacked the emails speaks volumes. The Trump campaign coordinated, colluded and conspired with Wikileaks to gain the Presidency. Roger Stone lied about it and is now in the barrel for a Pardon.
3
What's all this fuss about? Mueller did not indict Trump. End of story. The rest are partisan opinions, neither here nor there.
Congress has the option of impeaching the president, with or without basis, so the Democrats can do whatever they want, They can subpoena Mueller, Barr, Cohen, Judas, whoever they want. But the collusion / obstruction ship has sailed.
Probably the best course of action for the Democrats is to drop this and focus on 2020. Impeachment process is too long to make a difference at this point, and the result would be President Pence (not sure if that's any better).
Win the White House the right way, by winning most seats in the Electoral College. That's how it's done.
To quote a great classic alive (although in hiding..): "Stop whining and go try to make your case to get votes" (Obama).
2
Obviously democrats should do what you say. You truly have their best interest at heart. Here is a weapon. Feel free to dig it in deeper as your words are obviously nothing more than an attack.
I had no idea that ignorance of the law was an excuse, nor that paranoia justified illegal behavior. Barr already said that he didn’t believe a president could commit obstruction by doing something he could otherwise legally do like fire the FBI director. He is less credible having announced his bias in advance. All the same Trump told the Russian ambassador and the Russian foreign secretary in front of cameras that he made the investigation go away by firing Comey. The thing that infuriates me is that Barr, and maybe Rosenstein have played judge and jury. Nor is it their role to be propaganda arms for Trump.
2
"...Mr. Barr at times sounded like a defense lawyer, making no criticism of the president and instead offering an understanding interpretation of actions that Mr. Trump’s critics have said amounted to obstruction of justice."
Spot on!
Mr. Barr is not representing the Justice Department in his "interpretation" and "explanation" of the Mueller Report to the press and the American people. Barr's presentation and attitude is more like he is working 24/7 for the PR division of the Donald J. Trump Department of Defense--along with Guiliani, Huckabee-Sanders, Roger Stone, and of course, Rupert Murdoch, Fox News and the NY Post.
Isn't it odd Barr finds nothing really seriously wrong with Trump's campaign and behavior regarding his campaign people and family members conspiring with the Russians on Trump's behalf, or with not just one but the many times when Trump stepped over the line to obstruct justice to try to save his bacon?
Barr's explanations are more like Fox News "interpretations" and I think a good case could be made for Barr's mansplaining, or call it "Trumpsplaining."
Trump's un-professional, un-presidential gloating only adds to this spectacle and trashing of our politics, justice, and country.
6
Mueller concludes that he couldn't determine Trump's state of mind because of Trump's inartful statements and his lack of knowledge and experience with government and law.
Barr concludes that the conditions confounding Mueller constitute lack of criminal intent.
Does Congress even need to investigate this matter? Trump should be immediately impeached for the high crimes and misdemeanors that will not be prosecuted because the president has been given a pass because of ignorance.
We have a new standard of law now. Ignorance of the law is no legal protection for average people. Ignorance of the law places the president, henceforth, above the law.
3
Many of the commentators defending Barr here argue that the Mueller report found no "collusion" or obstruction. In a few minutes we will have the report (redacted) to see for ourselves. While reading it, we should keep in mind that there failure to find reasonable cause to believe that the President committed crimes vis a vis Russian efforts to hurt Clinton does not exonerate him from "collusion," which is not a legal term. When Don Jr., Manafort and Jared Kushner met with a Russian peddling dirt on Clinton and didn't report that effort to the FBI they assisted the Russians. This was unethical and unpatriotic . . . and collusion. And Barr's opinion that obstruction did not occur is not part of the Mueller report. Mueller appears to have opted not to issue an opinion on that question -- hardly exoneration.
3
The testimony of the two senior FBI professionals (Strzok/Ohr) before a congressional committee serves as an exemplary model of decorum and respectfulness for the judicial process --- testify publicly, under oath, no 5th, no time limit, no limits on questions --- the exact opposite of trump’s despicable and cowardly avoidance tactics with the Mueller investigation. Hardly the the expected behavior of someone who keeps asserting he has done nothing wrong. We have a mouse, not a man for a president.
4
In my lifetime two Attorneys General have disgraced the office. One Attorney General, John Mitchell, served prison time.
Barr's performance this morning was disgraceful, pretty much what I expected of this political hack.
Trump got what he wanted, a spinner and chief defense counsel.
The rest of us were certain that we were not getting an impartial and objective chief law enforcement officer.
Will this corruption never end?
5
Any spying on a presidential candidate must be reviewed with certain Congressional committees.
Why did that not occur?
This is the "radical change" that trump voters wanted: moving backward to 19th century coal production, backward to pre-1970s environmental degradation, backward to pre-1960s voter suppression, backward to pre-1950s civil rights and "democracy." Onward and forward with blatant criminality and breath-taking entitlement, just like we saw with Iran/Contra, just like we saw with Iraq.
However, one of the few comforting thoughts in this is that a snake pit is not a safe place to be, and his minion, including his Roy Cohn, will eventually get bit. Just as Jeff Sessions, et al.
1
We have learned a great deal through Mueller's report: Trump surrounded himself with people of a devious nature who broke laws and lied about them in an attempt to cover their crimes; The president and his family were willing to accept help from a foreign adversary, and either covered their tracks or were too inept to pull off their desires. Trump continues to be evasive and defensive of his tax returns and personal finances. I would not hold back Congress or NY from continuing to pursue other illegal behavior, that kind of pressure seems to be the only thing keeping his actions in check. There is no "game over" in politics, and honestly, it's not a game.
The American People must decide if they can continue to trust a liar, a divisive and discriminatory person who thrives on drama. I hope many will see that the man who claimed to care about deficit doesn't, and will leave office with The People holding the bill for increased interest payments so that his and his cronies can be wealthier. That the man who claimed he would provide better health care has no plan to help those in need or to protect families from predatory practices. Nor any plan on improving the country's infrastructure. That his international negotiating skills are immature and ill-conceived, bringing the country closer to war and not to peace. And worse, that he has done more damage to the fabric of this country by dividing rather than uniting, and that he seems self-satisfied in doing so.
2
I have decided that the country is not heading into being an autocracy, it is now one.
6
Why didn't Barr mention the indicted and convicted members of Trump's inner circle? That fact alone showed collusion. How about Jared's efforts to open a "back door" to the Russians?
His statement this morning served 2 purposes:
1. Get ahead of the release of the Mueller report to sway opinions about Trump.
2. Make sure Trump heard him say 7 times that "there was no collusion".
4