We absolutely must remember that Donald Trump is still an illegitimate president. Mueller has unequivocally established that Russia helped elect him even if he didn't actively conspire. But he also welcomed their help with "Russia if you're listening ..." without reporting it as is required. Moreover, he is an unindicted criminal in two felonies as "Individual-1" to conspire to suppress evidence of sexual misconduct that would have hurt his election. This is not "exoneration" by any means, but guilt by omission with Russia and commission with Michael Cohen and the National Enquirer. Trump and what's left of the Republican Party want us to accept their spin and con that this is " complete" vindication and let him move forward into vindictiveness. It's not! He's who we always knew he was The Don of the Con.
1
The question of whether Trump is a Russian asset is still an open one. We have no idea if he's compromised financially or otherwise by the Russians, or the Saudis for that matter. Whatever the findings in the Mueller report something stinks to high heaven about Trump and his team's contacts with the Russians. it's not normal. That and the thousand other things make Trump unfit to lead our country.
10
Why is everyone ignoring that Russia helped him lose by 3MM votes and win the election, possibly through data received by Kiliminik, and usher in a host of criminals, and bogus security clearances so he could undertake policies that achieve every Russian goal and lie about all of it at all levels. Assuming there is no collusion, he has obviously been jockeying for their approval and kept pursuing his business deals. I just hope SDNY is still waiting for him Jan 21, 2021.
7
The history of this administration and the Republicans in Congress is that they overplay their hand. It's the early days. The Mueller Report was the end of the beginning. Relax, we are just getting started.
4
How about the Democrat leaders who went on the air and told us they had seen evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia. According to Mueller's report, they were all lying through their teeth, claiming the president of the United States was a traitor. Let that sink in..
7
If there was ANY way that Trump or members of his family could have been indicted or found to have done something provable, the conclusion of the report would have been different. The report makes the leading newspapers look like they don’t know what they are doing. They should report facts, not rumors.
6
Now, follow the money -especially in New York.
7
I had hoped that Muller would come back with something substantial...but (it appears) I'm one of the few that are willing to keep an open mind. This report was supposed to be IT. The evidence was supposedly clear, obvious and plentiful. As disappointing as it may be, we have to keep open the possibility - which the report seems to indicate - that this actually WAS a big nothing-burger.
Also, posting comments here seem to believe that "innocent until proven guilty" only applies to those whom we like, agree or approve. While I may not like the current president, he won the election and it certainly seems to be proven (after nearly 2 years of digging) that he did not collude with Russia.
Really, people, it's time to move on. Heal...stop demonizing our (sometimes former) friends and neighbors with whom we disagree. Most of all, it's long past time for our elected officials to get back to doing the work of fixing the problems we all face.
7
As long as we remain a two party system, this never-ending cycle of investigating and vilifying whomever is in office will go on.
7
I don't care what the Barr letter says. The Trump White House is full of liars.
I need to see the Mueller report. I trust Mueller to stick to the law. I do not trust Barr to accurately portray what the Mueller report says.
20
I checked the internet this weekend and the Fox News viewership is more the that of CNN and MSNBC COMBINED! So, when you ridicule Fox and it’s viewers, remember that they are huge in numbers and (as illustrated in 2016) represent an electoral majority of our Country.
6
They do not represent the majority of voters in this country. Every poll turns up more registered Democrats than Republicans, and Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. The problem is that too many Democrats don’t vote.
4
How in the world can people ignore that Clapper (who also lied to America and Congress about the NSA listening into the phone data of average Americans) and Brennen consistently lied, year after year for 2 years, that they had proof of collusion?
How in the world can people ignore that Adam Schiff, one of the highest ranking member of congress lied and said he has indisputable and non-circumstantial evidence of collusion?
How in the world can people ignore that for over 2 years, both CNN and MSNBC spent every single night telling its (all be it limited) audience that there was collusion.
8
Well, we have this whole thing about reality, and not confusing Hannity’s well-laid lunatic tirades for truth and stuff.
Sorry. Our mommies done raised us wrong. Something to do with thinking that America meant something, I expect.
Terribly sorry, really.
3
Trump lover or Not Trump lover, that's your choice of course but you must admit that if the gun was as smokey as all the pundit's said Mr. Mueller should surely have found more than he found, you can pontificate about legal SDNY stuff as much as you wish but I think this episode in American political history is already in the books it's just going to be very ugly from now until 2020.
A real estate investor like Trump has been dealing with illegal activities for a good part of his life, it's the nature of that business so I think the country just does not really care about payoff's to people or plainly stupid behavior on his behalf, it's actually what endears him to the ones who have come to the realization that he's not alone in slightly less than legal behavior or payoff's , doe's anyone really think that he's was the ONLY one doing these things, now who's being naïve ?
4
kind of curious about the Chinese characters in the sub head.
1
Seriously? Nothing can lift that cloud. Everyday the cloud gets thicker. I can barely breathe it’s so toxic.
11
I long for the days of Tip O’Neil when Democratic leaders had honor and our Country’s best interest as their priority.
6
Yeah, Mitch McConnell...there’s a guy who redefines honor, don’t he?
8
Two Trump appointees, one a rightwing extremist who believes in limitless presidential power, made a decision that nobody other than Mr. Trump asked them to make, namely, declaring after a day or two that there was no case for obstruction of justice. Was Mueller actually leaving all of this for Congress to handle? Let's say this much is correct in the Barr memo: Mueller could not find evidence of a concrete agreement between Russia and the Trump campaign, and could not find evidence that the campaign knowingly conspired. Isn't it beyond strange that Mueller ended his investigation without ever talking to the principal targets, that is, Trump and his family? Why would he do that unless he had something in mind like turning the investigation over to Congress?
11
Don't like Trump, not a fan, who could be really. I am also not a card carrying member of the resistance head office here at the NYT. However hard to deny the verdict is in, immovable opinions notwithstanding Those who feel it remains necessary, and serves a function, to double down with the visceral hatred of Trump, and Republicans in general, should take heed. The political tables can turn in a hurry and your championing of the truth can look a lot like elitism on election day, as it apparently did on November 8, 2016.
7
"The system worked" means you can invent rumors, spread them throughout the media to "elevate" them, then disseminate them throughout the govt. to anyone who could potentially use them to damage Trump. Co-opt the prosecutorial power of the federal govt. to establish investigations to cripple a hated politician, counting on friendly politicians and analysis to go onto TV and lie continually...shamelessly...for years on end to implant a false narrative in the public consciousness. When the investigation is complete and the allegations disproven, just instantly start talking about further investigations and larger conspiracies.
Pretty solid system we've got going these days.
8
The results of the report do not surprise me. After all, Mueller is a Republican; and the only thing to expect is that their guy is going to get a free ride. No Republican is above lying and partisanship. I thought there could be an exception here, but obviously, no.
This level of corruption is astonishing. I believe there IS a deep state, and it's the Republican Party. We're on the way to a dictatorship.
12
I have a thousand questions I thought Mueller would address, he has not. But, the election is over twenty months away and a week is a long time in politics. Democrats could say they accept the Mueller report but now want to focus on making the middle class prosper again. Which might be more effective than getting into an all out battle over an issue, making Trump “look bad”, that will not sway too many voters minds.
2
The cloud is there. It's over his minions who have been indicted and who pleaded guilty, his foundation, his "university", his children, his DC hotel...it's everywhere.
12
Something tells me the New York Times is going to live to deeply regret the headline on this.
Punditry has degraded the news media.
13
Not accepting the reality of defeat is a negative, and perhaps delusional, trait. Many Democrats seem stuck in this mode, as the reactions to this report clearly illustrate.
A winning attitude, on the other hand, is a positive and aspirational trait. Democrats will need to move from the former to the latter in order to win in 2020.
Obsessive Trump hatred and conspiratorial paranoia will not get you there. In fact, it blurs the line between you and him.
12
One should not forget that despite both Federal Prosecutors and State Prosecutors best efforts, The Murdering Mobster Al Capone in Chicago was only found guilty of tax evasion. The Criminal Justice system is not omniscient and special investigators by the likes of Robert Mueller may be unable to establish guilt where guilt is present. Indeed the incentive was a lot higher in the Capone cases. Al Capone was an expert in evading the consequences of illegal actions. Perhaps in Donald Trump, Capone has met his match.
10
So -- everybody got it wrong, and Trump and his campaign clearly did nothing with the Russians, knew nothing about what the Russians were doing, Trump tower meeting and all the various other Russian overtures and contacts to the contrary. If you believe that, prepare for four more years of Trump, his swamp-creature administration, and his thuggish base.
13
Another coup. A political appointee decides what a special council who is supposed to investigate and decide what should be done in an apolitical manner? What a tragedy for our failing democracy.
6
Thank you Times, for always choosing the most appropriate photo for your headline! Cloud lifts yet Air Force One is looming.
I wish to read the ENTIRE report for myself. Able to think critically and to reason, I do NOT need a Barr to interpret or summarize it and I do not trust anyone else to so for me. I am able to think for myself--I am also able to observe the day-to-day behavior and maneuvers of the president right out in plain sight.
12
Trump is the cloud over Trump's head. He can't change who he is and I will always be disgusted by him.
7
Do you really want to hand Trump re-election in 2020? If so, please continue to obsess about Russian collusion. It's time to cut your losses - this issue is a loser.
7
Barr has a reputation from 1992 as “ Cover-Up Barr “ for his legal shenanigans involved in the Iran-Contra fiasco. Barr was appointed by Trump for the fix ... period !
7
Barr co-opted the role of Congress.
5
Where is James Comey when you need him?
1
As a foreigner, it's weird for me to see so many people disappointed to find out your president is not a criminal, isn't it something you should be happy about?
11
Me thinks, Trump has found his Roy Cohn in AG Bill Barr.
6
Not so fast.
Something about this report does not pass the "smell test." Too many loose ends are unanswered given the amount of lying that has taken place by Trump and his minions.
It could be that Mueller so narrowly defined his role that the conspiracy to coordinate with Russia by the Trump campaign sailed right past his nose.
We need to see the entire report. I am sure that there remains a fair amount of dirty laundry that has not been presented to the public. The fat lady has yet to sing.
12
The Barr letter is hearsay, not truth. Let's see the ENTIRE report.
While Trump now says it should be released, based on his past behavior (his tax returns) that not happen.
6
NYT and other media, let's keep all the clouds in place for now OK? It's still a democracy (by a thread) here in the USA and all Americans should have the right to read the report and make our own conclusions.
11
What amounts to collusion? Don Jr. accepting the infamous Trump tower meeting. The President lying by denying he helped craft the incorrect characterization of that meeting.Sessions lying to Congress, specifically to Al Franken by denying campaign era Russian contacts. Lies about the Trump Tower Russia extent and duration. The President calling on Russia to find Clinton’s emails. Stone’s Wikileak contacts. Russia’s affirmative response Kushners efforts to set up a back-door channel with Russians. Russia’s social media campaign to boost Trump.
7
Yep, Peter Baker byline. Coulda guessed. Outside the Beltway, our understanding of democratic standards and norms actually does not accommodate campaign finance violations in the form of porn star payoffs, jailed campaign managers, unethical and likely criminal financial dealings, inaugural payments from foreign entities, violations of emolument policies, Cabinet corruption to the nth, incessant lies about all subjects and incompetence with respect to the most straightforward tasks.
MANY CLOUDS REMAIN, for the love of god!!
9
Many of us have said it’s unfair to expect one man to save us from our full free fall into autocracy. Still, with what WE the PEOPLE see openly, there was lots to work with. Two years this nation has waited and suffered - and now this!
Mueller ultimately took the high road - the cautious road. Sadly, anyone with half a brain would know that Trump and the Republicans would take that and run with it relentlessly.
For them it’s more revenge, and open season on American Freedoms and American Justice. They have been given the green light, and will now be more reckless and law breaking than ever!
What was Mueller thinking? That so much activity - a relentless blizzard of overt, naked obstruction poured out on the country WASN’T Obstruction? WHY?
So, open Obstruction ISN’T a crime when it’s done so often?
Well, thanks to this cautious and even a somewhat timid approach, Trump is now calling for the jailing of his assorted journalist enemies! Is this not a High Crime?
I guess even mad Presidents are above the Law. The monster has been freed upon the country.
8
@GWBear "Many of us have said it’s unfair to expect one man to save us from our full free fall into autocracy."
Especially when that one man is a Republican con artist hired for the express purpose of helping Trump evade justice.
2
So Don Jr met with Russian intelligence to get dirt on Clinton, he lied about it, and that’s not conspiracy!?!?! We’re all being gaslighted.
10
@Kurt The Trump Tower meeting was setup by Fusion GPS, who met with the Russian attendees before and after the meeting. I think that’s a rabbit hole the Dems would rather not go down at this point.
2
The cloud will be there until the report is released.
4
Hooray! He has nothing to hide. Show the whole world the Mueller Report so they will sleep as well at night knowing how well the boring Mueller report put them to sleep. 22 months of investigation and no leaks because there was nothing to leak as we will all see when we are allowed to read the full report.
2
Trump has been exonerated (sorry, but that's what it is). But go ahead and pick through the wreckage of this fake conspiracy in search of breadcrumbs. All it will do is embolden Trump's base and convince the vast majority of reasonable voters in the middle that Democrats have no vision and no plan.
If that's your 2020 campaign strategy you might want to focus on 2024 instead.
7
The best day since his upset victory. Amazing how much he accomplished even with the witch-hunt. He is truly a great leader
6
You obviously aren’t paying attention. Trump destroys. He doesn’t accomplish.
7
We have no idea what the report says. The headline to this story is misleading and biased.
5
OK Mueller, so you expect us to believe that all of these lying, conniving, dishonest thieves and traitors you nailed were simply surrounding Trump and you couldn't find even a fingerprint to connect him? Oh come on, something definitely doesn't smell right here...
5
The Mueller investigation has shown us that our president surrounds himself with lying, greedy criminals. You know their names.
4
To many "news" articles stray into "op-eds." You guys need to be more careful.
4
Global warming!!! ...climate change? Collusion!!! ...obstruction?
1
Trump is far from off the hook. One cloud might be lifted from his orbit, but there are 16 others hovering around him. The media needs to let all the evidence come out, and the media can and should help with that process by demanding that info be released. Those of us with Republican Congressmen need the help of the media to reveal this information, because our representatives have no interest in giving it to us.
7
The cloud has been lifted to reveal even more clouds...
2
I want Trump gone. Maybe Mueller is colluding with Trump. Really, who cares? 2020 Democrats must focus only on reasons to be elected instead of this horrendous man.
3
And we thought Trump was insufferable before!
With his false “total exoneration” attitude, he’ll be tweeting even more. (Is that even possible?)
2
Mueller caught several puppets, but missed the puppet master. I hope that he doesn't get a second term!
2
I wonder what is in the report...one way or another, leaked, it will come out.
2
The issue of whether or not the report should be released is settled. The president said he had no problem with it being released. Therefore, release it. We have been hearing from him for months about the report. He proclaims it was a witch hunt and no incriminating facts would ever be uncovered.
I think we should all take the president at his word and adhere to the practice executed by a previous hero of the GOP; Ronald Reagan. Trust but verify.
If Barr won't release it, surely the president can overrule him and should have no qualms about doing so. If the administration declines to make it public, then the House of Representatives should quickly move into the courts to resolve the issue.
6
We have a summary from Trump's AG. That's all.
Nobody has seen, read or has access to the actual report, except the AG.
The AG was opening hostile to the investigation, writing an unsolicited critique of the investigation's legal foundations which he submitted it to the WH months ago.
No cloud has been lifted. If anything, another has been created.
What a scam. Look at all the suckers falling for it.
11
Would Mueller's conclusion of 'no conspiracy' have been reached if Manafort had cooperated? What if Trump's possible obstruction involved colluding or coordinating with Manafort to prevent him from cooperating (promising a pardon)?
8
Expect Trump to be emboldened to lie, cheat and steal on an even bigger stage. He's rewarded his SIL and daughter/wife with the highest intelligence ratings. He will use that information to damage anyone who dares speak against him on the International stage, on his political "enemies" and to pilfer even more money from the US Treasury. Mitch McConnell, will as usual, enable the behavior.
8
My interpretation of Barr's Mueller report summary is that Trump could be guilty of obstruction, if its found that he is trying to cover up crimes. Trump's constant war on the justice department may have been to cover up financial crimes, etc, rather than Russian collusion crimes. Trump certainly has clouds hanging over him in my humble opinion. His family has for decades been dealing in shady business practices. Politics is a relatively new game for them, and hopefully it will be short lived.
6
It's not obstruction of justice to say that a bogus investigation is a bogus investigation. If there was any obstruction of justice in this affair, it was by the FBI, DOJ, and most likely also Obama administration officials who tried to pin a crime on Trump when there was none, and on the media who called him guilty at every turn in the complete absence of evidence.
2
Try considering facts, not partisan beliefs with no basis. We saw him try to obstruct by firing Comey and Sessions, hounding McCabe, calling honorable people vicious names. He’s a liar who does not have America’s best interests in mind.
4
Are you in the business of reporting the news or putting editorial headlines on the front page?
2
Sorry, he's guilty. We all know it. He knows it.
It's a very sad day for the country and the world.
The United States is no longer a beacon of truth and hope.
Sad indeed. All good things come to an end.
I'm sorry I lived long enough to see this country, that I love, sink into mediocrity.
8
@Doremus Jessup
You are absolutely right. What a pathetic country we have become. That even one person supports this president is shameful.
7
As of today, Eric Holder, the 82nd Attorney General, agrees; this is not normal procedure.
We need to know if Mueller was pressured to both limit the scope of the investigation and/or was told by Barr to end it prematurely.
Barr applied for his job by openly publicizing his preference for stronger presidential powers. His son-in-law is a lawyer for the White House. Can we trust him to have allowed this investigation to have gone forward unfettered?
How did Barr come to the conclusion of “no obstruction” so quickly? Did Trump find his Roy Cohn?
7
I read the Barr summary report. The report did not say anything like this. How about keeping to the facts?
“Mr. Mueller’s team confirmed that Russia did try to tilt the election to Mr. Trump, but its conclusion that he did not conspire with the effort may ease the way for Mr. Trump to reorient American foreign policy toward Moscow and its strongman president, Vladimir V. Putin, without as much concern about domestic consequences.”
1
"No one wants a president to be guilty of obstruction of justice. The only thing worse than that is a guilty president who goes without punishment. The Barr letter raises the specter that we are living in such times," Neal K. Katyal. The Many Problems With the Barr Letter.
8
How embarrassing for all those that took the bait hook line and sinker on this idiotic idea that Mr. Trump "conspired" with the Russians. Anyone with half a notion of fairness knew that the whole thing was a lie. Just proves how much people lose their minds over politics. The great thing about being on the left is that you never have to say that you are sorry.
4
It wasn’t “the left” that concluded that where there was smoke, there could be fire. The investigation was a bipartisan effort. Mueller, Comey and many others are Republicans. It was done in the interest of protecting our country, yours and mine, from a president who might be influenced or in debt to foreign adversaries. I’d say it ignored his blatant preference for murderous dictators, over his own intelligence agencies. For Pete’s sake, he dropped carefully planned sanctions because he “likes” Kim un, yet another murderous dictator! Stop defending him.
4
While it is not surprising, it is particularly frustrating to see and hear the cherry picking of each point of interpretation of DOJ’s memo.
The common thread of nearly every comment is they are shallower than spit, and the nonsensical drumbeat about the investigation being some deep state hoax is simply mind boggling.
It should not be that difficult for anyone to distinguish the fact that a lifelong Republican (Rosenstein) selected another Republican (Mueller) as special investigator, yet you would think from the incessant tweeting that Nancy Pelosi herself conducted the investigation.
It should come as no surprise that a large segment of the electorate feel they are being kept in the dark and there is way too much spin being applied by Trump and company.
8
Amazingly uncritical NYT analysis. Maybe you are getting played by your secret sources?
1
I would say to President Trump after his claims of " Total Exoneration"
No President Trump - Its not the end.
It not the beginning of the end.
It's likely that its not even the end of the
beginning.
6
I copied the following statement because it is right on the money. "Thank you Mueller and Barr! Glad I can now say this 100% legally: "China if you are listening, I would love you to get dirt on anybody I do not like! Do not be afraid, there is no risk of collusion or treason at all! It is now perfectly OK to intervene in the US election (or whatever in the US really). Thank you and see you soon at my future China supported golf course (no corruption at all)!"
5
NY Times headline: "A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency Is Lifted"
NY times story (web): "But no one outside the Justice Department has actually read the full report..."
The press, snowballed agin.
3
Reality Check these storys never ending . Mean while important storys go untold like how Poor getting poorer an middle class almost extink. 400000 jobs month disappear from people retiring replaced with 180000 temp jobs. Taxs continue to rise like health care tax. Home owners taxs rising for over inflated value of homes they purchased real money. Case in point home owner purchased home for 25000 in year purchased it home had 5 acers an a carrage house detached . Today propity is only 1 half acre an carrage house has been taken down. Home was in better shape when it was built. Today house is worth 720000 dallors assessed for an being taxed 30 times its true value . Needless to say home owner lost house for back taxs. Question is how does this go unreported? Is it fair to tax people for money didnt pay for home an people to lose homes for this .?
As some have mentioned; it is good to hear that Mr. Mueller has not found evidence of collusion involving President Trump with the russians. This unfortunately still leaves a great deal to be concerned about with regard to foreign interference with our elections.
The narrow scope of the Mueller investigation does not rule out numerous other possibilities that may lead to investigations that can ultimately lead to the President being exposed as a criminal.
It is so odd, even if not surprising, that Barr's synopsis of the Mueller report has caused such unbridaled celebrations by republicans.
Trump's presidency is by any measure the most scandalous and tainted in all of American history, and Donald Trump is still in considerable peril. It can't be fun to essentially be on the run...
7
No amount of investigations can ever clear president Trump in your mind. Enjoy your hatred!
1
@Keep Up The Hate
No, I do not hate. I believe in the rule of law, and I pray for our country to be healed.
It's just a reality that Trump and his organization need to be and will be investigated because of the multitude of highly unusual and suspicious practices that involve them.
5
Since when do we take their word at face value? We only know the truth when we see the full report. These jokers are controlling and trying to manage the narrative. It is entirely impossible that the report concluded there was no collusion in the campaign. Not with everything we already know. So we need the full report. End of the story.
5
Let me see if I got this straight:
Mueller handed his report over to a lock step crony named Barr last Friday. Nobody except Trump's cronies have read it in it's entirety.
Since Friday:
Republicans and most mainstream media is reporting the clouds have lifted and the seas have parted for our supreme leader as he is found "not guilty".
Got it.
Waiting for it to be leaked soon and hopefully along with his tax returns for starters.
10
“A cloud over trump presidency is lifted”
Is it?
There’s so much public info that is suspicious and we don’t have the actual report only Barr’s word...
6
Thank you Mueller and Barr! Glad I can now say this 100% legally: "China if you are listening, I would love you to get dirt on anybody I do not like! Do not be afraid, there is no risk of collusion or treason at all! It is now perfectly OK to intervene in the US election (or whatever in the US really). Thank you and see you soon at my future China supported golf course (no corruption at all)!"
3
@Olivier - I like your statement so much that I am going to copy and paste. You saud all that needs to be said.
1
Why oh why have a big almost banner headline like this? The Cloud hasn't lifted at all. The chaos and worse continue. We need the full and complete report!
6
If Russia thinks this will improve ties, they’re crazy.
Russians, GO HOME!!!
2
OJ wasn't found guilty of murdering Nicole and Ron. Did that prove that he didn't do it? Of course not.
What Mueller found, and reported, is that there wasn't enough evidence to justify the indictment of Trump on the very narrow, VERY hard to prove crime of coordinating with the Russian government. That doesn't mean he didn't do it. That doesn't mean he didn't do something else. All it means is that there isn't enough evidence to charge him with that specific crime.
As for the people who keep talking about 2020: why? Do you really think Trump is going to allow a fair election, and then accept the results if loses? Hitler wasn't stopped by Germans voting for the opposition. Stalin wasn't pushed out by an angry electorate. Dictators are not unseated by democracy.
5
Excuse me People, being an egotistical, inflammatory basically dumb jerk has never been illegal AND it has always been Mr Trump's modus operendi. Basically it has been SO good for him that doing so got him the presidency of the United States of America. Heck, how many people would beome jerks it it gave them that kind of a pay off!?!!??
3
Those now still intent on destroying Trump do so at their own peril. To many Americans, his is essentially vindicated.
Those relentless in their pursuit to get him may do nothing more than solidify his chances for reelection. I recommend a breather. Trump will hang himself. He doesn't need help.
3
When your rich as Trump, you can hire people who do what you want by listening and interpreting your non-verbal communication. About 90% of the meaning transferred between average people is non-verbal, and the reptilian portion of Trump's brain is functioning at a high order.
While we might often think of him as very low on the scale of intelligence, we're referring to perhaps only one or two out of many forms intelligence takes. Trump is likely very intelligent for a lizard, and his sycophants, at least the ones that stick around, are capable and competent at reading his non-verbal communication.
Mueller couldn't pin Trump on what it feels like we all know must have happened because our justice system does not really pick up on non-verbal communication except for when it's really obvious, such as physical violence.
3
@Chris - and how do we subdue (to our comfort) said lizard? Suggestions?
1
Donald: Nice job, Bill. Gave me what I asked for. You’re welcome to have a free vacation near Palm Beach, Florida whenever you like.
2
The NYT owes the Trump Administration and it's supporters an apology on the utter biased reporting over the last year and a half!
4
Hoo boy NYT... exonerated? We’ve seen the Barr Report. Why not wait until we’ve seen the Mueller Report before jumping such a sweeping conclusion... ??
5
Be patient dear readers, be patient; one would have to get up very early in the morning indeed to outsmart Mueller. Trump is mouthing off without reading the report. We know this to be true because he doesn’t read anything. We also know that his underlings are too scared to tell him any bad news. Mueller will do Trump slowly, protecting the American people from a constitutional crisis that could lead to anarchy, the last thing anyone wants, err, except maybe Putin and Trump’s base.
5
None of this passes the smell test. Nothing about the report, the summary, the Trump presidency --none of it.
6
C’mon. The Mueller investigation’s forward momentum slammed to a halt the week Barr took office. Shortly thereafter Barr announces it’s wrapping up.
Mueller is a good soldier and won’t defy or contradict his boss.
Conclusion: Barr shut down the investigation before it could conclusively prove the treason of Trump and his family, or reveal finances: Precisely the red line Trump said could not be crossed.
Barr shut down the investigation, took a heavy hand In managing Mueller to a premature close, and is now suppressing and whitewashing.
Trust your instincts, my fellow citizens.
12
I did not vote for Trump and find him to be an extremely unpleasant person. But never has the wisdom of the Founding Fathers regarding the hazards and dangers of mob rule been better evidenced by the blood lust, howling and gnashing of teeth expressed by so many of the NYT readers's in their letters regarding Mueller's final report. Among other things they are all too willing to just toss overboard the substantial protections afforded every citizen by Rule 6 (e) of the Fed. Rules of Crim. Procedure. Reminds me of the scene in "A Man for All Seasons" when Thomas More (played by Paul Scofield) confronts Richard Rich (John Hurt) with the inevitable consequences of cutting down all laws that may protect the Devil. "Richard when the Devil turns round on you after you cut down all the laws where would you hide?"
6
The cloud has been lifted only for those who support Trump. There are far too many unanswered questions to jump to a "get out of jail free" card. Trump is a reckless liar who seldom deals in truths. So we cannot trust his comments. Barr on the other hand, took the Mueller report and bent it to suit the president. Why did Barr not give the report to Congress for decisions regarding those issues not resolved by Mueller? Instead, he took it upon himself to rewrite the Mueller report. This is not encouraging and casts unwanted suspicion on the DOJ like all of Trump's other agencies. This kind of action should be investigated, but I am afraid the damage has been done.
2
Actually, if you think about it, we shouldn't be at all surprised that Mueller did not find any direct involvement in Russia's conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 election. Putin took an incredible risk in taking these actions. It may have gotten his dream candidate elected but it could easily have become a casus belli for an enraged Obama Administration. Given such high stakes, is it likely that Russian's would want the help of the world's biggest imbecile and his moronic older children? If you enlisted Trump to be your getaway driver for your bank heist, he'd show up in an enormous gold stretch limo with TRUMP emblazed on the side and tweet about while he was waiting for you to run out of the bank. Does anyone doubt that, had he known, he wouldn't have bragged about it on the campaign trail? I can just imagine him telling his base, "Putin loves me so much, he's helping me beat Crocked Hillary."
1
What? This is the most misleading headline I have ever seen in the NY Times! The guy he hand picked to protect himself says "It's all good" and we're supposed to believe that? Who said it - "Trust and Verify!"
8
As the eminent philosopher Yogi Berra allegedly said "Its not over till its over". Trump and his acolytes may have something to celebrate today but in the end it might prove to be a Pyrrhic victory. The republicans should be very careful about 'spiking the ball' and the democrats should also be cautious when it comes to 'fumbling the ball' as they approach the 2020 goal line
1
The problem is Trumps base doesn’t think he’s exonerated - the admire him for getting away with it.
3
Release the FULL REPORT.
Go for trump's TAX RETURNS too.
3
Lifting a cloud off Trump is a separate issue from Russia meddling in our election(s). If Trump does achieve some type of "exoneration"; even though Barr's summary states; "does not exonerate."; that is not nearly enough to drop the investigations into Russian wrongdoings. They meddled in our election. We MUST get to the bottom of it. That is what I said to my friend, a Trump voter, last December 2016. It doesn't matter who won I said; Russia did something and we have to find out exactly what it was.
2
Maybe. It remains to be seen if that cloud is fully lifted.
Meanwhile, there are numerous other clouds that seem to be growing.
2
Crying foul after the Muller report will only help the Republicans. The Republicans will focus on the issues while the Democrats will not. The American people will vote for leadership on the issues.
3
Isn’t it interesting – Mueller is able to say with assurance in his report that there was “no evidence of collusion,” while on the issue of obstruction he decides to take a powder.
Has anyone ever heard of a prosecutor essentially balk on deciding whether or not a crime should be charged after an investigation? Has anyone ever tried this on their own job? Tried going to their boss and saying “here is X, Y and Z for that report you told me to write and make recommendations on, but I’ve decided to let you determine how it all fits together …”
Dems gave a lot of credibility over the past two years to Mueller, by calling to “wait for the Mueller report,” and drumming up faith in its integrity. Not a night went by that Stephen Colbert didn’t kneel at the altar of the Mueller investigation. But once a Republican, always a Republican. This non-report report might have been the ultimate bamboozle by Republican Mueller.
1
Like many commentators, I find the reporting of the NYT on this matter - ‘a cloud has been lifted’ type of reporting - to be weak. The investigation has uncovered deep corruption and deceit within the Trump team and led to so many arrests ‘they could fill a football stadium’ as Obama once said. How can the NYT conclude to a fortification of Trump, notwithstanding the fact that the report has not been made public and has not exonerated Trump of obstruction to justice?
4
Barr called a hypothetical Trump quid pro quo of lying to Congress in exchange for a future pardon a criminal offense, which has now been shown to have actually happened with Mr. Cohen And Barr now goes back on his sworn testimony to Congress during his appointment hearing and does not label this act criminal. This is acceptable behavior ? This is a time for you to trumpet Trump's "good day" ? Have you completely lost your bearings as a journalist ?
3
Best day ... not being charged with a crime! Please!!!
What an incredibly low bar we have for this man. He paid off a porn star to keep their liaison secret right before the election, but that's not a crime!
His campaign engaged in all kinds of interactions and shenanigans with the Russians, but none of that rose to the level of criminality. Give him a break!
He's clear ... free to resume his role as leader of, and role model for, the free world!
6
Release the report!
Seriously, some of us are tired of all the nonsense and wild stories. Let us read it!
6
Anyone who still has "reasonable doubts" about Donald Trump's conspiratorial activities is no doubt "beyond reason".
3
Russia joined Trump today claiming vindication... really.... Doesn't Russia know that 23 Russians were implicated and indicted by Mueller and his team for hacking the DNC?
It is crucial that other investigations are not interfered with by the president, that we protect due process, and the rule of law going forward.
6
it's not a cloud over the trump presidency, it's a black hole.
6
A strong willed and eloquent Republican needs to run against Trump in the primaries. He or she will be defeated, but by keeping Trump's nefarious actions in the public spot light will prevent Trump from coasting to election time while the Democratic candidates beat themselves up to gain the nomination. Help, help. Keep Trump from being reelected.
3
So basically we the people don’t know anything. We have no report, no tax returns, only an opinion written by a recently appointed Trump crony. If that’s true any conclusion made by anoyne is absurd. But tragic because it allowed Trump bragging rights, leaving the sane part of society to a mere rebuttal. Again the master of publicity is leading the story, a dubious story.
11
I do not think a cloud has lifted. If anything it is darker now especially with his ridiculous assertions about treason.
But seriously you read this quote and did not get what it meant? “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him”
Mueller is telling us the president is a guilty man the lack of evidence in the parameters he was given to look into notwithstanding.
6
The voters knew a lot of things about Trump when they voted for him ... one thing we didn't know was how amenable he was to Russian and rich ME princes influence. He wouldn't now be "President" if we did.
It's too late to cry about that ... but it's not too late for the next election. Voters NEED to know what Mueller found, not just Barr's interpretation of it.
6
A cloud has been lifted? All this does is make everything even more cloudy until the public sees the entire report.
8
`A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency Is Lifted'
Sunshine reveals racist incompetent.
7
How can the NYTimes make proclamations about the report without reading it?
14
Yesterday, Mueller’s investigation was an illegitimate partisan witch hunt. Today, it’s the undeniable truth.
9
"A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency is Lifted"? I don't think so. There is still something "rotten in Denmark". Why is the report so secretive? Mueller was paid by the American people to do a job, so they are entitled to know the contents of the report into the investigation, not just a precis from a Trump-appointed official. Here, in Australia, we call such investigations Royal Commissions and the public has access to the hearings. Many a miscreant has been brought to book through this system - the latest, George Pell, comes to mind. Mueller can't just wash his hands and say, "I've done my job!" The media, led by the Times must press for the release of Mueller's findings. Mueller must speak. Only then will the cloud be lifted.
10
The real American tragedy is that the Congress has had an excuse to continue failing to serve the electorate. The Democrats have had the Russiagate excuse to avoid dealing with Medicare for All, endless war, racial injustice, and income inequality. The mainstream/corporate Dems are fighting off the Progressives for control. Without Russiagate they have nothing to show going into 2020. All Trump, all of the time makes a party lose again. The Dems and GOP drink from the same funding wells. It is unlikely that the Dems were that serious about impeachment anyway. They vote consistently with Trump on war making without flinching. This was all much ado, and they knew it. The Federal government has become a dangerous clown show. When will the voters notice?
4
As Churchill said, "This is the end of the beginning."
1
So you - the NY Times - are just going to take the word of an AG who was appointed by Trump and already came out against the investigation? Great. Good job on the journalism. No cloud has been lifted and your headline does a great injustice to this country by making people believe that it has.
17
If that’s a cloud that’s lifted, then the sun should really show all.
The Mueller Report: “While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
Mueller, as Special Counsel, laid out evidence and then punted. Notably, he did not choose his words, otherwise, to write that the report concludes that the president did not commit a crime. That is, Mueller does not conclude exoneration. He punted on judgement.
And the man he punted to is the same AG who advised George H.W. Bush to pardon all of that president’s Iran-Contra confederates who had been convicted.
9
The Barr Blurb isn't going to satisfy millions of American taxpayers who want to see the Mueller Report in full.
And for the whiners on tv complaining about the price tag of the investigation, please get some perspective.
Two years of the Mueller investigation cost just under 8 of Trump's golf games at Maralago.
To put it another way, The Mueller Report tab is about half of Trump's teeing off in Florida since he swore an oath.
9
Saving judgements for full report.
4
Many of the replies here bring to mind the messianic religious fanatics who predicted, with great hope and longing, the end of the world on a specific date. Then, when the day came and the dawn broke just as it does on any other day - and nothing they expected to happen happened - they went berserk.
After a short tear-filled time, they shrugged it off and sought new signs and omens that verified their fanciful notions.
Simply put: The Mueller Report didn't remove Trump and Pence nor did it proclaim Mrs. Clinton the president.
That was the unrealistic - almost religious - hope harbored by so many people. The reality now is just too hard for them to face.
It is over.
Listen: We have survived horrible presidents before. We will survive Mr. Trump.
Just remember, the People always get what they deserve... So cheer up! We have more horrible presidents to look forward to.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
3
A cloud has lifted? Have the New York Times headline writers and editors gone completely insane? The cloud over the corrupt fascist we're allowing to be president is as dark as ever. Nothing in Barr's summary of Mueller's work changes that. What a shameful headline.
15
“Fortified” is right, and strengthened by his new fortifications our wannabe President-for-Life will launch a vindictive revenge scorched-earth campaign against all his enemies — real, assumed, suspected and imaginary — using every weapon in the government’s arsenal at his disposal that he can mobilize and bring to bear — precisely what the Founding Fathers feared most in any chief magistrate. Enemies Lists will be drawn up (if they haven’t been already) and those unfortunate enough to be on one will soon find themselves uttering some English language variant of “Nous sommes dans un pot de chambre, et nous y serons emmerdés”, if not out loud then quietly, softly under their breaths. Attorney Gen. Barr, of course, will assist Trump in this endeavor, or do nothing to stop it (more or less the same thing) while Sen. Graham, Cruz and McConnell (among other stalwart republican Republicans) will cheer from the cheap seats in the senate peanut gallery hoping that miscreant Trump will wreck their political opponents well ahead of 2020.
It’s a zero-sum game, and zero is precisely what we got from the Justice Department and our studied check-&-balance system of government, slowly being disassembled from within.
Franklin famously observed that his Constitutional Convention had created a republic “if you can keep it”. If his Republic is now being lost it’s because those charged to defend it are corrupt or paralyzed by corruption and have turned a blind eye to that responsibility.
2
blowhards become even more belligerent after perceived victories - and take greater risks. Sadly WE bear all the risk, mistakes, and failures.
2
One of the many things that I find interesting is that Trump has been claiming this investigation was a witch hunt and illegitimate. Why was he saying that? Because he knows he's guilty and was trying to get ahead of the story if the Mueller Report was against him.
Now, since the report was found more in Trump's favorite, he says the report is legitimate and totally exonerates him (the latter totally false).
3
First, I am not a Trump supporter. But, I truly believe the mainstream media and the Democrats are finally going to get their comeuppance after this fiasco.
It's a well-known fact that as a member of the media, you aren't supposed to drive the story, but rather tell it. You aren't supposed to create false equivalencies, you are supposed to be objective and report facts. Your don't report stories for ratings, but to share information and grow knowledge for your readership. And you are never, ever, to get personal. You can have an opinion, and it should be labeled as such in those pieces. Trump, master at nothing but protecting himself and manipulating others to do his bidding through media and social-networking sites, played this perfectly, and now watches as he quite literally bent the conversation to "Russiagate", talking about it daily, goading the press on, while his actual crimes get swept under the rug, off the radar, and out of the American mindset.
In 2020, all those centrists and righties will be thinking about is how the DNC and many news organizations slighted their president. While some of the most unfair and unbalanced networks will strengthen their resolve through increased credibility.
And let's not forget this started with a corrupt DNC with no message and a very entitled candidate that couldn't beat Trump.
Truth and Accuracy. Independence. Fairness and Impartiality. Humanity. Accountability. All ditched for profit.
10
I have now read about 600 of the comments. It is incredible
how deeply most of the writers have been indoctrinated. The
hate for Trump has totally discombobulated the reasoning portion of the brain and allowed their hate to separate reality
from the "reality" they have been indoctrinated with by MSM and peers. The report will be made public. Barr is for it, Trump
is for it , don't pretend that the "summary" is all that's going to be released. Its quite possible it will contain sufficient info. to bring indictments against those that promoted this investigation with inuendo and fake Dossiers . Be careful what you wish for.
9
Mueller's investigation may have concluded with the release f his report; BUT the SDNY has all the investigation relating to Trump, his businesses, and other crimes for which he can sell be indicted now or when his presidency ends. It ain't over yet!
2
@Bayshore Progressive
Do you realize that the SDNY reports to Barr?
2
two years of this?
wonder what my late father would think of all these media networks now peddling around in the water trying to find
an excuse for not telling the truth to begin with?
or even representing a fact before it becomes truth,
and then is shown to be so.
btw, the democratic convention should just serve
fishsticks to all of its constituents, and sour cream can
be the collusion!
1
The left are going to be crying on tv tonight! Can't wait....
8
Suggestion for Nancy Pelosi if she wants the full Monty:
"Russia, if you're listening, I hope you find Robert Mueller's Report .."
After all, it would apparently be perfectly legal to do so.
2
The cloud hasn't lifted - it's just been spread thin over the entire country.
7
Maybe 1 cloud over Trump’s presidency has been lifted. Maybe and only maybe ... because the process of any investigation is hardly absolute for thoroughly acquiring facths, let alone their interpretation. Trump’s pitch for his innocence is merely what he does ... all the time ... even framing context to favor himself. We have president who talks endlessly about fake, but who is one ... through and through. As for his collusion with Russians in order to win over Clinton in 3016: True, there seems to be no compelling evidence for this from the careful work of Mueller. But Trump is clever about these things ... ask Cohen. Finally, with the collusion cloud more or less out of the way, there are still many more clouds as regards the legitimacy of Trump’s presidency ... if not easily provable violations of law, including collaboration with foreign adversaries, then on grounds of basic morality and common decency.
1
Cloud lifted? Okay, great. Is there any chance of doing anything presidential anytime soon, or is just going to be gloating and casting aspersions on political enemies? Three people connected to Parkland have committed suicide in the last week. Some presidential leadership would be good right about now. Do your job, Mr. President. It looks like you're going to keep it for a while.
7
@N. Archer Apologies, correction: two Parkland survivors and the father of a Sandy Hook victim.
1
Why in the world would anyone be inclined to celebrate the failure of the corrupt deep state establishment's herculean two-year effort to overthrow a duly elected U.S. president?
This whole thing has been a sick joke and a clown show from its inception.
And the sweet irony of it all? Trump's re-election in 2020 is now a virtual guaranty.
4
Am I the only one tired of all this? Time to debate issues and hope that the election isn't like the last one.
2
One wonders if Adam Schiff aka the weasel recognizes the dark clouds developing over him? Now he will have to explain where the secret evidence he claims to have is.
4
It is very important that the limited scope of the Mueller investigation into Russia and collusion does not color the other investigations that are ongoing.
It is very clear from the Mueller investigation that the Russians were involved in trying to effect the results of the 2016 election. What has the Trump White House done to protect this country and prepare for stopping this from happening again in 2020?
So far we have a 4 page letter summary on the Mueller Report by the Attorney General which is not enough information. The American people deserve to have the facts that are in the Mueller Report as quickly as possible.
Mueller filed a total of 191 criminal charges against the 34 individuals who were indicted and the 3 companies that were indicted.
3
After more than two years, the Mueller report is in. The Democrats, many in the media and quite a few who comment here are dismayed by the conclusions. The sound of weeping and gnashing of teeth can be heard even in the Gateway city. So many believed, without evidence, what they were told. I personally hope the president and both parties can leave this and begin working for the people. I suspect, though, from what I'm reading and hearing, the Democrats won't. It's appropriate baseball season is about to begin. The cries of "say it ain't so" reverberate in progressive circles and the clamor for "wait til the next" investigation grows.
2
Dems (I’m one) might want to consider backing off on their support and sympathy for illegal immigrants. That was a major factor in our loss in 2016 and will resurface in 2020.
4
So, since Mueller found that the Russians tried to subvert the election is grounds for Trump to further cozy up to Putin? How does that work? And what battles is Trump free to pursue? Are we talking about substantive foreign and domestic policy initiatives, at which Trump so far has been a miserable failure, or just more political posturing with the sole goal of getting himself re-elected? He wasn’t going to be indicted or impeached in any case. There was never any danger of losing his base. We’re back to the status quo with Trump tweeting spiteful garbage every minute of every day.
2
The conclusion of the Mueller investigation drives home the point that while the legal process will come for Trump once he is no longer President (judging by the large number of other investigations which remain ongoing), achieving the outcome of Trump no longer being President will require the political process of the 2020 Democratic nominee defeating him in the Electoral College (or, failing that, of waiting out the end of his second term in January 2025). There was never even the slightest chance that the Senate would have voted to remove President Trump from office.
Now the Democrats have to make sure that the House investigations into President Trump do not end up helping his re-election bid by appearing to be nothing more than partisan dirt-digging. Avoiding that appearance will be harder now. Most of all, they have to make sure that they effectively convey the message next year that President Trump has governed to the detriment of the many in favor of the privileged few and will continue to do so if re-elected. Driving home the point, over and over again, that the Democrats will do a lot better for the many is what will put a Democrat back in the White House in January 2021.
3
If this is all true, and we have no seen the report yet, then we will put it to this whole unholy crew of the President and his Republican Congressional enabler's in 2020. That will happen. Bet my house on it. Something smells awfully fishy.....i'm sure there will be a lot more to come. With all we know, it doesn't seem possible that he didn't know.
2
The Russia thing was the least of his worries that could have resulted in impeachment. The far more serious charges in continuing criminal investigations may land Trump in jail.
2
Neither Mueller nor Mueller’s report say there is no collusion. It is Barr who is saying there is no collusion. You need to take it with a grain of salt. If anything, the clouds are getting dark.
2
@Kodali Sighs audibly.
It now seems clear. President Trump has led "an otherwise blameless" life.
4
Absurd headline, weak analysis. The Times is aiding a false GOP narrative of Trump innocence and deep state witch hunt. The clouds that still hang over Trump include why Putin intervened to elect him, whether Trump is compromised, how Trump knew of and openly encouraged such intervention, why his campaign minions criminally lied about their extensive ties to Russia, what Putin still expects in return, and what happens if/when Trump starts to deliver.
Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and between the smoke and clouds arising from what we already know, the skies are definitely not clear for Trump.
6
Trump and his supporters are certainly relieved that Mueller did not find a Trump/Putin conspiracy. But this has undoubtedly harmed his presidency. He will never be placed among the great presidents of our nation. A good part of the nation sees him as dishonest and corrupt. While his base is jumping for joy the rest of the nation sees a long shadow of doubt cast on Trump's White House. Who can trust this man and who can proudly cast a vote for him in 2020? Not me.
2
PS. Peter Baker, I’m disappointed in your headline. It’s not true!
1
@Mari FYI. Editors write the headlines, not the reporters. Many reasons.
The cloud that's lifted only reveals denser, darker clouds of unconsciousness, ignorance and danger.
No clear sky here until America awakens from this eclipse that obscures its magnificence.
The Reality Show now launches another season. Manipulation, greed, self interest and worse are the continuing themes.
3
One cloud floats away as many just sit there and sink into a fog. Collusion is a high bar to prove against a sitting president. There were still plenty of crimes committed by his campaign and appointees. Trump still sides with Putin rather than our best law enforcements assessment that Russia did interfere with the election.
3
Everything that is happening because of and around Trump is beginning to remind me of a 1979 Hal Ashby film, "Being There". Peter Sellers' last movie. Chauncey Gardner, a completely empty person with hardly any cognitive functions, unable to read or write, able only to watch TV and flip channels becomes a driving force in the U.S. economy and politics only because of how every one else interprets him in their own way, through their expectations, just by him being there.
Donald Trump is exactly such an empty lump of meat. And we are all interpreting him through our reasoning, while he watches TV and governs by Twitter.
There is an eerie similarity between that film and what has been happening the last few years. Robert Mueller III is probably the character of the family doctor in the movie. He found nothing because there probably is nothing there, but the mirror of this world's presumed expectations. Peter Sellers helped everybody by Being There, but Donald Trump is destroying everything and everyone by being here -that's the only difference.
5
"A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency Is Lifted"
a more accurate title would be "The Cloud Over Trump's Presidency Just Got Bigger With Threats Of Severe Thunder Storms".
so now this president thinks Mueller is honorable? wow. After 2 2 months of denigrating and diminishing and lashing out at Mueller and his team this president has changed his tune...just like that. amazing.
5
How is the cloud removed? He blatantly asked Russia to investigate Clinton illegally. He lied about everything more times than I want to count! He slanders anyone and everyone who challenges his dislexia and mindless actions. He is simply unfit for the office of president!
1
HORRIBLE, INACCURATE HEADLINE! How dare you carry water for such a corrupt administration? You are journalists. That headline is only appropriate for an Op-ed.
3
We have a far right movement happening in Europe.
Brexit a mess.
And look, now it feels Trump could possibly go on for a second term to further his aims of ignoring everything that socially and globally really matters - the environment, climate change, medicare, and immigration.
Democrats need to find ONE VOICE, and despite being left wing I have to say - stop with the S-word.
3
The cloud is still there, it will exist as long as trump exist. It is only a matter of time and attention to the crimes committed by the trumps and his cronies.
3
No cloud has lifted. The people are still in the dark. Release the Mueller Report!
9
I'm not sure that the cloud over Trump's presidency has been lifted.
There seems to be a bigger cloud formation - one that covers both Trump and his conflicted Attorney General.
The only way to lift some clouds would be to release the Mueller Report A.S.A.P.
6
"A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency Is Lifted"
Pretty presumptuous headline. I guess you've read the entire report. How did you get it before everyone else?
5
Barr, a Trump appointee, exonerated Trump. Mueller didn't. We haven't even seen the report. It certainly doesn't change the fact that Trump is not fit to be President. The title of the article is "A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency is Lifted." That couldn't be more wrong.
5
If we loose our objectivity my fellow democrats , we become same as republicans.
Mueller 22 months sifted this dirt and he couldn't find a clear evidence for collusion. Lets hold high what FBI special counsel work and move on real issues.
such as
1- Let make enable the SDNY finish their work too and shield from DOJ and Trump.
2- Let's focus on Trump administration corruption and wrong doings.
3- Most Important lets work and expose Trump what he is , a con man with no moral value.
4- Please let try to wing 2020 and not waste energy on this collusion thing. Less than anything criminal doesn't stick Trump. while he did outright campaign finance violation , let him accountable on that.
6
Once again, if you’re a billionaire (or pretending to be) and have political power you can get away with subverting democracy via surrogates. But if you’re driving while black, watch out for your life. No one should be above the law, but here we are.
7
Dear New York Times,
No clouds have been lifted from the White House! Not until ...We, the People SEE and READ the Mueller Report!
Everything we have heard so Fr, has come from a TRUMP APPOINTEE, until we see and read Mueller’s words, we won’t know exactly what the report says!
RELEASE THE REPORT MR. BARR!!!
4
I can't believe this headline. If anything, the clouds only got darker.
5
If the russians didn’t help trump get elected by colluding then it’s even a worse scenario . The whole blame for the mess is right in the lap of the the people who supported him and incredibly still support him . What kind of a citizenry exists here ?
2
Cloud lifted , There is no more Russian collusion myth anymore.
Please Can we focus on drainign swamp which is called Trump presidency.
1
The NYT needs to remove this headline, "A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency is Lifted". It is misleading and makes it appear as if a 4-page summary of the investigation has answered all of our questions and absolved the president of any wrongdoing. In fact, with what we know about the investigation, the summary raises more questions than it answers.
5
Trump said that he could stand in Fifth Avenue and shoot someone and not be stopped. I think this is what has happened here; he committed travesties of law in plain sight. No-one feels able to hold him accountable, alas.
6
And you wonder why I am considering terminating with the NYTimes with a report as this by Baker. How does one make the assumptions by Baker when we over two years of investigation, subpoenas, indictments and investigation on investigation, and Barr makes a decision on four pages. NONSENSE. THIS IS A FARCE. Trump picked very his AG for a reason and this to kill the report under guise of his authority as AG. That will not fly with all Americans who want the truth, and the only way for that to happen is to present in totality the Mueller Report. An AG that is as corrupt and unprofessional as the late AG ED Meese is not fit to be in office.
9
There remains are big storm cloud over the White House. This headline was very premature.
10
Your headline is misleading. The cloud for Trump is only lifted by Barr. This is in direct contradiction of everything we've seen read about and watched. It seems we should be waiting for the Mueller report, every word of it.
10
The cloud just became a tornado
stand clear !
4
Oh, the clouds may have broken a bit but rest assured, there are plenty of storms to come, ready to engulf this dumpster fire of an administration.
7
Why is the NYT talking like it is Fox News? No one has, as yet, seen Mueller's report. AG Barr is a political flunky who has all his loyalty to Donald Trump and none to America. One does not get a Cabinet post in the Trump Administration unless one is willing, nay eager, to lie, cheat and steal. It is not only likely, that the Administration will not release the report but that it will will lie about what is in it. We will never really know that Mr,. Mueller actually found UNtil a Democrat is in the White House.
6
Now this is MARCH MADNESS
6
Exonerated!
Trump wins, Dems and the liberal media, have eggs on their collective faces.
4
Not so fast....there’s plenty of evidence of corruption and criminality.
4
@Mari Mueller disagrees.
As well as Rosenstein and Barr.
Only their opinion counts.
:)
1
Two categories of things that I hope keep him up at night: 1) The other 12 ongoing investigations (SDNY, the House, etc) and 2) the economy showing warning signs of another recession. This morning on the NPR Marketplace segment, it was mentioned that bond investors did a flip/flop which they said is s not only rare, but may be a warning flag since the same thing happened right before the 2007 recession. Growth is stagnant at 2-3% and the markets have been volatile of late. Trump can lie all he wants, but a recession will not only be one of the first big challenges to his administration, it may insure that he doesn't get a second term. We can only hope his administration knows how to manage a possible economic downturn, but I have my doubts.
3
The cloud will always be over this lying and corrupt administration. Most of the country is still convinced he's guilty and Mueller just could not find enough evidence for the crimes. Now the cloud has extended over our Justice Dept, the Senate and the Supreme Court. Only new, honest elected officials can remove that corrupt cloud in 2020 with a blue tsunami of voters. Here's hoping Americans youth come out in droves to finally be heard on the issue of climate change, gun reform and a hopeful future.
5
sad. Mueller is regarded as a fine human being. But humans
can err. Many good lawyers concluded that Trump engaged in obstruction of justice in firing Comey et al.
For Mueller to punt this to Barr, who solicited his job from trump
with a memo denouncing the special investigation, suggests that it is time to move on to investigators under less pressure from the trump crowd.
And the countless interchanges between trumpies and Puties
raise continuing questions about collusion.
5
Who in the world thought that a man as intellectually challenged as Trump might possess powers of organization and coordination, touches of cleverness and poise, however venal, to effectively hatch a plot to collude, much less implement collusion? I think it's solid to submit that, generally, blathering bunglers are not colluders.
@tobrien
They can be so stupid to not be able to notice how they are manipulated by clever foreign authoritarians.
3
@Shenonymous
Indeed. There was probably no collusion. Trump and his pals did not participate in a secret understanding with Russian co-conspirators to achieve illegal and harmful outcomes. They were simply conspicuously manipulated by the Russians. Today, as with the first day of his presidency and every day since, we are incredulous that such blundering bunglers can attain this level of political power in the US. For Trump to have pulled this President gig off, we think that there must be more craftiness to the man. There isn't.
2
@tobrien
And it is incredulous to think that Trump legitimately won the office of POTUS.
1
This is a misleading headline, and a Trump talking point. Mueller clearly stated his report does not exonerate Trump with regard to obstruction. A lot of people read articles based on the headline. This one does your readers a disservice.
5
To all you Trump haters, you are dreaming if you think that once you get the full report that there will be anything more of substance to make your wishes come true. Just like those who believe in little green men from Mars, you will never believe that Trump had nothing to do with the Russians. I guess that is what you need to keep going and deal with the shock that your totally flawed candidate lost.
4
How did the spying on the Trump campaign get started? We’re assets from the CIA and NSA used in furthering the spying efforts? When was the spying initiated? It was happening in late 2015 and early 2016. Were other Republican candidates being spied on by the Obama administration also? Were acts of perjury committed while applying for FISA applications? It is time for the rubber band to snap back.
Now, if we can just get proof of those inauguration numbers it’ll be plain sailing from now on.
2
How in the world can you run with a headline like that? The cloud is not lifted. It has been fully enforced. The obfuscation and clouding of the picture is ongoing and entirely baldfaced.
4
The Mueller investigation is NOT over and Trump has not been exonerated! There are many cases still pending and Mueller was back at his desk this morning. Why can't the NY Times report this accurately? Why so eager to rehabilitate Trump? Will the Times EVER learn?
4
Baker your article is longer than Barr's fabricated summary. Why in heaven's name are you speculating about the Mueller report ?
9
Cloud may be lifted by the fog is still quite thick on the ground.
10
Really? The headline to this story is jaw-dropping! This is not a headline to be slapped on such a story by the Paper of Record. Trump is already listed as an un-indicted coconspirator and there are numerous ongoing investigations in many legal jurisdictions. The Attorney General's letter is an insult to the intelligence of every American and a rejection of the U.S. Constitution which states no one is above the law. It's amazing that A.G. Barr chooses to have his name live in infamy. What is in it for him? This Presidency has been under a dark cloud since its inception and its actions and statements in the two years since then have only made this cloud larger and darker. There is NO golden halo to be seen anywhere.
10
Who wrote the silly, pretentious, and untrue headline to this piece ?
Clouds still surround the Dunce in the People's House.
Do not pretend it is any other way as the decline of our Nation continues unabated because of silly puffery from our sissy "news media."
6
I just want to thank all of the partisan Democrat politicians and other useful idiots who are creating such a spectacle of sputtering, feckless denial now that the results are in. This is pure comedy gold, and conservatives everywhere are grateful for the entertainment. We're expecting much more of the same, so please don't let us down!
2
So he gets another pass. He will brag, he will excoriate and he will seek revenge. Whatever happens going forward; and the speculations, analysis etc are beginning, this guy will use this to his advantage. His base will be increasingly emboldened, the fence sitters may lean his way now that he is cleared and he will do whatever he wants. He has surrounded himself with “yes men” and lackies. The enabling Republicans only want to stay in office and Teflon Don is now their ticket.
Pelosi was very wise in putting impeachment on the back burner. Going forward he will go after any and all Democrats that continue investigating .
And as far a SDNY as the ace in the hole, where were they all of these years that the Trump Cartel/Syndicate was operating in their backyard.
It certainly appears he will get away with all of these alleged crimes and leave office unscathed, richer and as the greatest president in the history of the United States of America. (As he constantly reminds us).
Personally this man, this presidency and the carnage he has engineered will be with us for years to come.
Beating him and getting rid of him and his crime family for 2020 is imperative.
14
What an anti-climax! What is the bar to conclude Russian collusion and obstruction of justice. The Man himself, the company he keeps and kept, his family and the his very actions. But there is still hope. Mueller's investigation was highly constrained in it's scope. Besides he has said this summary is not an exoneration. Hope the House start it's own investigations and ask Robert Mueller to appear before Congress. I'm hanging onto straws here.
2
"A cloud is lifted." You really think so?? The day just got a bit darker for me.
7
I'm over investigations. They're fundamentally a fig leaf for Democrats. We don't need any more information that Trump is unfit for office. We had everything we needed from basically day 1.
I suggest Democrats put forth articles of impeachment and stop dithering with investigations. Take a stand for once what is acceptable vs. not acceptable conduct for a president of the United States. When those articles fail in the Senate we'll have a clear view of what was on the right or wrong side of history. Then - they key here to minimizing the political Waterloo - is stop investigating. Move on and start building a positive case for 2020.
3
"A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency Is Lifted"
For now.
1
This headline is misleading and promotes the garbage that 45 spews out. There can be no vindication without the public seeing the full report. Do better NYT
13
why in the world are you writing this article??? When you haven't read the report???? How do you KNOW a cloud is lifted without knowing the context? and whether Barr telling the whole truth? We all know and saw and heard serious collusion and selling out our USA democracy. Just must not have been a smoking gun.
But don't start writing "cloud lifted" when we haven't seen the Mueller Report!!!!
10
Interesting that I feel we are now under a bigger, more ominous cloud than we were before the weekend. The country is more divided, the confession of trump to Lester Holt about Comey didn't mean anything, we aren't allowed to see the Mueller report, we don't know what happened at the Helsinki secret meeting with Putin, and trump was not exonerated, but he lies again to say he is. Pretty dark clouds, I'd say. We all know the lies are becoming worse - right?
9
Trump wins again. I can't believe this. I just can't believe it. I honestly think it's time for me to give up. It is what it is, and Trump just can't seem to lose.
4
@Megan M -- he's been fortunate in his enemies.
2
Trump took power because millions of Democratic voters, mostly of color, were removed from the voter rolls.
https://www.gregpalast.com/election-stolen-heres/
On December 13, 2016, investigative reporter, Greg Palast, hand delivered a petition with 50,000 signatures demanding that Department of Justice in Washington, DC investigate the primary cause of voter purges: Interstate Crosscheck, a computer database used in two thirds of the states, to manipulate the results of the 2016 election.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOc8kOU704E
That's what the investigation should have been about in the first place, but nothing was done, and no one will talk about voter purges.
Americans live in a fantasy world. Prepare for another four years of Trump.
4
Perhaps we can move on to the real issues facing our country. This entire investigation has been a waste of time- and the news coverage so biased.
3
@BEB
How so? Trump is demonstrably a criminal (he even bragged about sexual assault). The report DID NOT exonerate him. It only indicated that Mueller did not find evidence he felt was enough to recommend impeachment. Mueller may also have refrained from recommending charges so as to leave it up to the people who would make that decision, our elected representatives. There is more than enough evidence that he did, in fact, obstruct justice, a charge the report specifically DID NOT exonerate him of.
How was the coverage biased? Do you mean that because you disagreed with the facts presented by the press it must be biased? Perhaps you should exam your own biases before you accuse others of bias.
1
I've taken time to read through many of these comments and I have to admit that I am truly disappointed in so many of you.
On the morning of November 8th, 2016 after voting, I sat down and wrote a long note to my friends and family expressing sadness that so many of them hadn't allowed a shred of light to shine through to their dense brains to contemplate why Trump was going to win. I didn't say he should win, but said he would win..because the Establishment of both parties had abandoned the 100 million+ working men and women in America for cheap labor, open borders and higher profits. They had accepted that most decisions in this country of significance should happen in DC and in our courts instead of a city council or PTA meeting.
Here we are again..the same people in pure denial.
Look, this whole investigation was started to cover up the fact the CIA/NSA/DOJ/FBI had colluded with the Obama Administration and Clinton team to paint Trump as a Russian Agent during the campaign.
They failed to correctly prosecute Mrs. Clinton for crimes that you or I would be in jail for, and turned their attention to keeping Trump out of office, or getting him impeached as an insurance policy.
They were all 100% in for Hillary and when she lost, they had an 'OMG' moment and realized they were going to be busted.
Well..now we're finally starting to get somewhere with this report to be released...to be followed by the IG report to be released soon, and likely another SC to make us whole.
7
"A cloud has been lifted?" Not in my book, friend.
6
really, nytimes, cloud lifted? just as you were beginning to regain my trust after colluding with bush to start world war iraq.
8
One cloud replaced by another.
And the replacement cloud is much bigger.
We sit at the back Wall of The Cave.
Plato required reading.
The Republic, Chapter Seven.
The Cave.
AG William Barr offers the shadows on The Wall of The Cave. We citizens are fixed in place. We dare not look at each other. We are given blinders. We are told to buy what the political AG that applied for his job tells us.
Robert Swan Mueller III reported from thousands of hours. His view is the sunshine we lack.
And we do not know why our lying president was not forced to testify as was President Clinton.
Our president was not questioned. The pathological liar was not questioned about his lies.
Mr. Robert Mueller needs to tell us why.
5
I want to read the entire Mueller report and make up my own mind. Release the Report!
4
What a ridiculous and damaging headline. The mainstream media is failing us AGAIN. NY Times took Trumps Briar Patch "Collusion" focus and fell for it AGAIN.
There is so much evidence against Trump for so many other things that are as bad or worse than "collusion" that he needs to be held accountable for.
And we haven't even seen the actual Mueller report yet. We know that it has evidence of obstruction at a minimum. The Barr letter is from a known partisan who has stated repeatedly that Trump can't be held accountable.
9
Democrats need to tread lightly into 2020. The voting public is not all that interested in the Mueller findings--seriously. This is rarefied stuff for political hacks and Inside-the-Beltway inhabitants.
Democrats will *win* in 2020 by not focusing on investigating Trump but focusing on policies that help everyday Americans.
10
Okay, no collusion. But does anyone have a guess as to why then, and for what purposes the Trump campaign provided polling data to Russians for? Our ideological counterparts, who we knew were trying to interfere with our election. I cannot for the life of me find a legitimate reason for that. It wouldn't be for the interferences to target specific Wisconsin or Michigan zip codes now would it? And that of course wouldn't qualify as collusion/ conspiracy, huh???? Okay, that seems odd, but I guess whatever...
5
There are numerous Trumpists where I work.
I truly do not understand why, evidently, the average Joe doesn't get the difference between no concrete evidence of collusion (or, for that matter, anything else) and concrete evidence of no collusion (or anything else).
One is inconclusive, ambiguous, and remains open to question or doubt. The other is pretty definitive. This lack of nuanced understanding *sort of* makes sense in my workplace.
Earlier I tried to render the distinction clearer by comparing it to absence of evidence vs evidence of absence: If you can't prove that I was in your garage, that doesn't mean that I wasn't in there. It means you have no proof that I was. But I might have been! If I can prove that I wasn't in there... then I wasn't in there.
What really stumps me is why I'm not hearing more along these lines on TV and radio, especially given all the other shady aspects of how this administration goes about its business.
4
No.
"A cloud over Trump's presidency", is NOT lifted.
William Barr was hired by Trump, to protect Trump.
Whatever claims that Barr makes, or does not make, do not count.
Robert Mueller must testify in an Open Hearing before the House Intelligence Committee, and his report must be made public.
If Mueller says that Trump is innocent, I will be stunned.
I will be shocked and surprised.
But I will accept Mueller's findings, and I will never call for more investigations.
Only then, will "A cloud over Trump's Presidency" be lifted.
8
"But no one outside the Justice Department has actually read the full report"?
WHY NOT?
Why is this vital piece of information not being disclosed to the public immediately
If Trump is "vindicated," then what is he (and his henchman Barr) HIDING?
8
How can you say Donald Trump is a stooge of the Kremlin when he’s right now trying to remove one of Vladimir Putin’s client regime states in Venezuela? Or when he’s trying to bully Angela Merkel out of buying Russian natural gas, probably the thing that’s most important to the Russian economy? Or when he sold lethal arms to the Ukrainians, something Obama refused to do on the grounds that it would be provocative to Russia? Or when he bombed Putin’s client state in Syria? Over and over, the Trump administration has taken actions far more adverse and aggressive and belligerent to the Russians than the Obama administration did. That’s why this whole narrative that Trump all along was being blackmailed by Putin, that he’s an asset of Russian intelligence, this is idiocy. It is completely irrational. It is contrary to all facts.
5
No, the report lifted no cloud.
Barr, who owes his job to Trump, claimed the report exonerated Trump. But since Mueller specifically said the report does not exonerate Trump, Barr is lying.
It is now up to the House to decide whether to continue the investigation and impeach.
8
The longer the full report remains unseen, the more Barr's handling of it fails to pass the smell test...
I hope to see subpoenas flowing in future if need be...
7
People always believe what they want to believe and hear what they want to hear. The four page report by Mr. Barr explains nothing and gives no details where the real truth lies.
The fog around this presidency has not cleared but perhaps has become more dense unless Barr releases the full report.
As others have said the line between actual illegality and just manipulating the system is a thin one and often a matter of opinion. Perhaps sitting back and allowing others to commit a crime even for your own benefit as Trump did can be construed as not warranting prosecution, but it is far from ethical and sets the standards for political ethics so low that not even a snake can crawl under. The crime of Russian interference in our election to Trump's benfit happened as evidenced by indictments against dozens of Russian operatives and Trump's claim of exoneration makes a mockery of our political system based on open and trustworthy elections.
6
Hardly!!! Trump is guilty of "collusion" at some level based on his own public statements and lack of action. Muller just could not prove it to a criminal level (conspiracy) Muller is sending a message --- he got shut down by Barr.
"From Art of War" - do not enter a fight you cannot win!
5
@Dixon North:
"Collusion is not a federal crime (except in the unique case of antitrust law), so we should all just stop using 'collusion' as a short-hand for criminality."
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/07/12/what-is-collusion-215366
Time to retire this threadbare played-out allegation.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
2
Lost in the silly braying of Democrats for the full Robert Mueller report, and all the underlying documents, is this important fact:
A criminal investigation of a sitting president for treason was launched without probable cause that a crime had been committed. In other words, our criminal justice system was used for political purposes.
That's a disgrace.
5
@John Smithson Wrong. Trump surrounded himself with a revolving door of associates with sketchy, criminal ties to shady Russians -- connections that trump and his associates repeatedly lied about. If there was no wrongdoing, then why the countless lies? Given what was known by intelligence agencies about Russian interference, and trump's own behavior, it would've been negligent not to investigate. And thanks to what Mueller has uncovered & handed off to other prosecutors, this isn't the end of what the public will learn regarding trump's corruption, and possible crimes.
To those who blame Democrats for an alleged "witch hunt", keep in mind that the investigation was lead by a Republican, assigned as special counsel by another Republican. The dossier was 1st commissioned by Republicans, a fact that right wing pundits conveniently leave out of the narrative. The report was vetted by a Republican, about his Republican boss, trump, who has only himself to blame for the scrutiny his blatantly questionable behavior has drawn.
But let's blame Democrats - for no reason other than it's politically expedient for you to do so - while ignoring the crimes and corruption the investigation actually uncovered, and gloating over a so-called president who beat the rap. THAT'S the disgrace.
7
For over two years when this stuff was questioned, we've been hearing the smug retort: "Just wait till the Mueller Report is released!"
Here it is and now the messianic democrats say: "Just wait till we read the whole thing!"
And Congressman Nadler has set an impossible goal for acceptance of the report: he must have ALL the "underlying data." As a lawyer he knows about sealed Grand Jury hearings.
Maybe Nadler should consult a practicing lawyer. Like, oh, say... Michael Avenatti?
Denial truly is the American National Pastime.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
5
Why are all news media repeating what is at best Barr's opinion? There plenty of evidence of collusion. Barr's opinion has not lifted the cloud over Trump's presidency - This headline is an example of exactly what is wrong with "journalism" in this country - it is provocative and misleading - shame on the NYT.
8
One word: WikiLeaks.
3
The equivocal Mueller Report neither condemning nor exonerating Trump calls to mind the fiendish equivocations of Macbeth’s “witches” :
“...oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles to betray
[us]
In deepest consequence.”
3
The saddest part about all this obsessions with Muller and Trump by media (and everyone else) is that the real problems of this country take a back seat. Look at what is happening right now in the middle of this country and what the weather has done. Does the president, the republicans or democrats care? Does any one care?
7
To say that "A cloud over Trump's Presidency is lifted" is a bit premature, don't you think? Once the Mueller Report was known in its entirety and only then it can be said that the cloud is lifted. Are you in a hurry NYT? I really don't think that the cloud could be lifted at all over Trump's Presidency, no matter what...
8
The evil US justice system got him elected and it just got him re-elected. Where’s the gratitude?
This investigation should have come to a screeching halt the minute it was discovered that Hillary and the Democrats paid for the dossier that found its way into the FISA courts. That document should have never been presented to the courts and another independent council should be appointed to discover who, when, where and how such unverified trash gained credibility.
5
Mueller was directed to find out and prove beyond reasonable doubt if Trump had coordinate his campaign with the Russians, and the answer to that question was No or not enough to prove he did.
The actual question should have been that who did Russians try to help and why in 2016 election, and why didn't Trump report to FBI and the public about knowing Russians were trying to interfere.
Russians couldn't be helping Hillary, could they? and there were only two candidates in the race, and one knew the answer, but he said nothing.
That is a treasonous offense and should be prosecuted. So let Trump glow for a day, and let's find out more.
3
There are many many questions that remain to be answered. Like the Russians under every rock and the string of Trump campaign operatives who lied about their ties. But the foremost issue still is what led Putin to actively interfere in our election to help get him elected. Russian election interference to defeat Clinton is undisputed - as are Trump's pandering to Putin at every turn, publicly inviting Russian interference, and acts of obstruction. And what does Putin still expect to get? Recognition of Crimea as Russian (a la the Golan Heights) and sanctions relief? We'll see, but I won’t be surprised if Trump starts delivering now that he feels invincible.
6
NYT seems to have drank the Kool-Aid. They nor we have read the actual Mueller report, only the AG's "PR" letter. What happened to journalists digging for facts? This not even critical analysis. Barr's letter is so full of obfuscation that it is almost worthless. First, the scope of collusion was narrowed specifically to only include Russian government officials while we know that most of the 100 meetings between Trump officials were with cutouts. 2. Conspiracy was only considered if it directly involved the original crime of hacking. They ignore the coordination with Manafort and Stone to weaponize and release the stolen emails. These narrow paths look like the work of Barr to limit the scope to ignore known illegal actions. Shame on you NYT to not mention this. I am disappointed.
7
When will this report be made public? Where's the transparency?
5
I would like to see the Mueller report rather than the Barr letter.
8
For 63 million Americans who voted for and remain his most loyal heels in the mud mules, there was never a cloud. However, now that the Democrat's and the Liberal Media's preoccupation with, and presumption of Trump's guilt has expired, what we all have to look at, with fresh eyes, is just what this president has been doing for the last 2 years and whether he has done us any good. Is the Republican Party ready for that kind of a challenge?
5
Nothing Trump or Barr (or anyone else) says means anything until we can actually read the report. Then we'll see. Release it -- all.
2
Regardless of what is in the report, DJT is still a liar and a cheat, the list of adjectives to describe him is endless. He is a very hateful, divisive person. Unfortunately, the team could not hang him with being a tyrant.
Can't wait til 2020.
4
Now the excoriations begin, starting from the top. If we thought his John McCain insanity was more than you could bare, wait for what we will be hearing and eating all the way to November 2020 and beyond. I didn't expect Mueller to come up with anything flaming, that's who he is. But a flameout of this magnitude? Was he afraid of the Comey effect? Was he so concerned about his image of thoughtfulness? Do we now turn our attention to the SDNY and hope for something rising above the din? I am surprised by my own feelings of hopelessness and disdain for our former democracy. I will know more in November 2020, but I am not holding my breath. I understand, more or less, the restraints Mueller faced, but I believed there was some wiggle room that would have allowed him to just toss it over to Barr without understanding where the ball would land. I know there is so much more to come, but I am not optimistic about it having an acceptable outcome. Do I hope the president's health, whatever he has, will decline? That would be too callous. Right?
3
You just described my thoughts. Such a nightmare.
3
Splashing this headline across your print edition seems irresponsible at best. Are we to believe that Trump's lackey of an Attorney General, who spent all of a day with a report two years in the making, adequately and accurately presented a summary of findings? A four-page summary, at that. Barr was hired because he had already made up his mind about the Mueller investigation. His "summary" is meaningless without insight into the full report.
Further, when you have nepotism, clear obstruction of justice (have we forgotten about the Trump - Comey interactions?), emoluments violations, the Trump Tower meeting and the dictated memo, etc., etc., etc., is the cloud really lifted?
I am disappointed in you.
6
NYT, who writes the headline for articles like this?
Who seriously thinks the cloud over Trump's presidency has been lifted?
Seriously disappointed in your spin, NYT.
6
There never was "A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency." From Day One, it was only ever a fog of lies by Democrats, in government and out. The cloud was, and still is, hanging over them for their Steele "dossier" perjuries, their FISA scheming, the corruption of their Obama-appointed officials, and the endless propaganda by their media talking heads.
1
False headline.
Nothing can "lift the cloud" over this man's administration.
Unelected, unapproved, unwanted.
He's mentally and emotionally unstable, criminally corrupt, bigoted, misogynistic, intractably stupid, an inveterate liar and has passed some of the worst legislation since Nixon.
He is a disgrace, a bleeding wound in the body politic, and nothing will ever, ever erase the stain.
8
@Shar He's a textbook Republican. Indeed, most other Republicans are worse.
If Robert Mueller was the partisan hack Trump accused him of being, he could have easily recommended Trump be charged with obstruction and no doubt, other things as well.
But what we have here is classic Trump; the whole thing is rigged, unless I win. Going after the people who led the investigation is nonsense and just some added nastiness for the base. Like George W. Bush but on a vastly grander scale, Trump is a divider not a uniter.
5
Russia becomes great again.
Trump's policies serves Russia the most, and Mueller's report would not change that.
4
So it's done. Mr. Trump's danger is not. But the Democrats have been given a new freedom. The Meuller investigation held their focus on two crimes he will not be tried for. Now the country is free to experience and examine his failure to deliver his pretentious promises, and the incessant insertion of his daily pernicious presence in the public mind. Democrats are now free to do their humane agenda in the House, and on the hustings to run not against the twisted man, but for the decency and justice and equality that the deprived citizens who ran to him still need. Pursue the right purpose. The infantile mistake in the Oval Office will make itself plainer every day.
3
This is the worst possible outcome for Trump's 2020 prospects. The shady, cocky way they pulled this off is like watching the election all over again. 100,000,000 anti-Trump voters were born again yesterday.
1
Excuse me if I don't hang my hat on the summary written by Trump's last minute appointee. He's just doing what he was hired to do.
4
Sorry guys, but Trump is the cloud.
6
A cloud is lifted? How can the NYT possibly say this? Because Trump loyalist AG Barr says so? The assumptions here, after all the endless lying from this administration, boggles the mind. Maybe the cloud is lifted, maybe not. We have no way of knowing until the full report is released.
4
Dear Politicians in Washington DC.
How's it going? Oh by the way we expect to have the Mueller "report" in it's entirety by the end of the day.
Also please include the past 10 years of the Trump syndicate
tax returns. If we need to get further back dated copies we'll let you know.
2
This so called will never be lifted until after the perpetrators of the Russian collusion hoax are brought to justice.
The Obama era DOJ, FBI, CIA, NSA, and State Dept have all done their worst. Now it is up to American justice to do its best.
A relatively cosmetic concern, but "A Cloud is Lifted..." by itself seems rather grandiose and misleading; it would have been better also to include--succinctly, I know, it's a title--something like "...While Other Ominous Clouds Remain...," esp. with the greater existential threat to Trump posed by ongoing SDNY investigations.
2
Oh good grief. Let's wait on the journalistic cloud lifting until the full Mueller report is released.
3
Conclusions are one thing, facts another and opinions are yet another.
To borrow a phrase opinions are like belly-buttons. We all have one...
1
A low Barr. The fix is in.
3
Who is writing your headlines? Trump himself? Stop falling into the trap Barr has set for you.
3
Robert Mueller's "mandate was limited to Russia’s interference in the election and any possible obstruction of justice resulting from it"? Not true.
Robert Mueller was tasked to “investigate any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump.” Period. No mention was made of investigating obstruction of justice.
Robert Mueller chose not to decide whether Donald Trump committed obstruction of justice. That makes sense. That was not what he was appointed to investigate.
James Comey thinks his own firing was why Robert Mueller was appointed as special counsel. He's wrong. That had nothing to do with it.
1
Hmmm - President Trump and some Republicans are also calling for AG Barr to testify in front of Congress and to release the report. AG Barr is a very seasoned professional, so he is probably fully aware that he needs to testify and ready to do so. And maybe the Republicans believe there may be additional items in the report that may be favorable to their side. So, be mindful of that old adage, be careful of what you wish for. And thanks to a detailed Reader Center Q&A compiled by Charlie Savage, NYT reporter, I understand that a release of the full report may never happen since the report may be subject to certain mandatory redaction as required by law.
Mueller's findings indicate 2 things. That Russia was and is trying to weaken our democracy and that for past 2 years, the democrats may have inadvertently helped that effort by trying to delegitimize an elected president using false charges and deceit.
2
@Resident
You forgot one little thing in the middle. That Team Trump welcomed the Russian meddling, even if they didn't criminally take part.
Trump delegitimizes himself daily without any help. Such as when he hinted at sending the police and the military after his political opponents.
4
Wait.... this is not over....yet!
When Trump is out is when all we start...
Trump should feel flatter that he was investigated if there was collusion with Russia or not. Imaging just being that smart to work like an agent for the Russian government... Not Trump! All the others of course...
1
This whole thing is like Trump in October 2016, railing about a "rigged" election whose results he would only accept " if he won. " After he won, it was " the people have spoken. " Now, after two years of trying to undermine this investigation, calling it an illegal "witch hunt," he is perfectly happy to accept its apparent results as completely legitimate. You can't make this stuff up. But thanks for nothing, NYT, with headlines that essentially deaden all the continuing investigations.
4
Your headline is misleading. There is no cloud lifting. Trump remains the subject of several investigations. Peter Baker is not a commentator but rather a reporter. As long as he does not appear in the opinion section of the paper he should stick with hard reporting.
2
No cloud has lifted. Barr is the wizard behind the scenes pulling levers for his boss. But there were far too many meetings with Russians, far too many attempts to shut down investigations, far too many cloying capitulations to Russian priorities for any "cloud" over this disastrous presidency to lift. This is Barr gas-lighting the American people. We deserve to see the full text of the findings of the report, even if predictably the AG will not recommend charges.
3
This is what the New York Times calls analysis? All we got was a 4 page summary from a Trump appointee with a know bias against indicting a sitting president.
The definition for conspiracy is a narrow one. There is a host of unethical and treasonous behaviors that do not qualify as conspiracy. For example Russian cash funneled through the RNC and NRA does not qualify as conspiracy. Until Congress and the public has the full unedited report in hand how you say a cloud has been lifted.
Everyone from both sides of the aisle have been calling for the release of the report. If anything, because of Barr's summary there is a bigger cloud over his administration.
We don't have Trump's taxes, his school records hidden, all of his legal settlements are sealed, now the Mueller report. We know more about the Kardashian's than what is happening in our government.
5
No. I disagree. The only "cloud" over Donald Trump's presidency won't be lifted until the American public sees the entire results of the Mueller Investigation, and the House Investigation Committee is given full access to the findings; as well as Donald Trump's income tax information, and the results of of the New York Southern District's conclusions.
Don't forget.
Both Robert Mueller and A.G. Barr issued the statement:
"While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not EXONERATE him", on the issue of possible obstruction of justice.
And beware of Michael Cohen's words about this president:
"I fear that if he loses the election in 2020, that there will never be a peaceful transition".
AMERICANS. Take note.
Nothing less than our Democracy is at stake.
5
Democrats, entertainment and media folks, and Trump's enemies embedded in the US government have wasted much time attempting to undo an election they lost more than two years ago. In the meantime, the US economy has thrived and people are going back to work. How will that resonate with voters in 2020?
I am particularly struck by the irony of the extreme alarm concerning foreign involvement in US elections by many of the same folks who support unlawful immigration and in some instances, the "right" of people here illegally to vote. Personally, I'd prefer the foreign influence remain on Facebook and not in the ballot box. But seriously, we need policy decisions to address any unwelcome interference in our democracy. The Dems are just not getting it. I hope these findings will change that.
4
The entire country is now under that cloud that your article says has been lifted from Trump. Just
observing his behavior on TV will tell you that this president is not, has not, and never will be fit to manage the office he now holds. His chicanery has blinded about half the country as to how dangerous he really is. The Democrats must focus on the issues they ran on in 2018 despite AG Barr’s interpretation of the Mueller report. But by 2020 it may already be too late to save the country from its descent toward authoritarianism or worse.
5
To be correct, your headline must read, "A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency Is Possibly Lifted". And Mr. Baker should not provide premature analysis on a matter of such importance (or any matter at all).
Just the facts, please, from reporters. They are not "critics", as this paper increasingly terms them.
I'd value more investigative and background reporting, less instant judgment. The eventual outcomes to this long nightmare are too important.
4
Why are you using headlines that only reinforce the Trump Cult's belief that he is exonerated. This does not help explaining all the other issues for which Trump is being investigated. The Congressional hearings are still going strong, and the NY State investigations still in process, along with at least 4 more investigations. Thanks for just blurring the truth.
10
Gee, the NYT got to read the Mueller Report? I didn't think anyone got to read it yet besides the Trump cronies. Pathetic title considering Trump is still an unindicted co-conspirator felon per the court in the Cohen indictment and Mueller did NOT clear Trump for Obstruction of Justice and he is still being investigated for tax fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud and abuse of power. We still don't know if he colluded with Russia, only that Mueller did not have enough evidence to prove it. I'll wait until I can read the Mueller Report myself to make a judgement.
6
"A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency Is Lifted"..indeed. Once the report is shared with Congress in its entirety and only then will that headline ring true to me and not before. Why should we, the public, believe an iota of anything just because it has been announced (like so many lies) or stated on fancy DOJ stationery? Those days are over. If there is nothing to hide, disclose it.
5
"A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency Is Lifted." What an idiotic headline. As the article goes on to admit, no one has yet read the Mueller report. Moreover, at best, it removes a single cloud. That he obstructed justice was admitted by the man himself. That he broke election laws with his payoffs cannot be denied.
JUST IMAGINE IF IT WERE OBAMA BEING INVESTIGATED (can't imagine? then assume for the sake of argument that Mueller was investigating that Hyperion to Trump's Satyr) and Obama's AG summarized the report as Barr has. Not in 1000 years would The Times dare use such an idiotic headline.
5
I guess I missed the apology and correction to the many negative stories and editorials which were published in the NYT over the past couple of years. Where is the mia culpa that the public deserves? Frankly, I don’t even expect you to publish this.
5
There are still some 15 or 16 investigations into 46-1 and his grifter family and friends. Not looking at some clouds but a hail storm followed by tornado followed by hurricane and cyclones. The government is coming for you donnie!
7
The Russian attack on the United States is ongoing. They have kompromat on the GOP. That is obvious. Barr is part of the cover up and obstruction. Hopefully, the Dem House can bring the truth to light, because you can't count on a GOP without John McCain to do it.
5
Collusion is when the spouse of a candidate under investigation by the FBI meets secretly with the AG.
3
This report might - might - seem to exonerate T from definitive criminal participation, but that's not enough.
We all know his pattern before and during this presidency of keeping company with bad peoples, soulless, out for the gigantic bucks at the expense of those with whom they do business. New York,especially, has got some work to do.
But so do the Democrats in power - for pity sake don't let his response to the Report go unanswered. Trump is not coming out of this smelling sweet - it stinks at the White House. Time to clear the air.
Sometimes it's good to keep quiet, but - not now. Dems - including Ms. Nancy P. - tell it like it is. Tell it loud and tell it strong.
The crises in this country are real - and Trump makes all of these ills far worse.
2
This headline is so far from unbiased as to be flat irresponsible. No cloud has been lifted.
5
"Cloud over Trump lifted?". NO. This cloud gonna release a gully buster of crimes; hate and more crimes. Ray Sipe
3
I hope democrats fight to have the full report released. Then I hope they and we put it all behind us and concentrate on winning in 2020. Do not belabor this report, do not give the current president ammunition for his campaign.And his followers will continue to idolize him.
The rest of us need to find and support the right democratic candidate to defeat the current president in 2020. I cannot write that sentence enough times. We all need to come together after the primaries and support the nominee.
3
One of the many pendulous, hail-bearing clouds has lifted from Trump's presidency. There are still plenty more threatening it.
1
Ironic that Trump is asking how the Mueller investigation came about. He seems to have forgotten that he fired Comey, then told Lester Holt in a TV interview that he did it because of “this Russia thing” then told the Russian “ambassador” Kislyak that he took care of the investigation into Russian collusion by firing Comey.
Trump has selectively forgotten about all these things. It has nothing to do with Democrats and everything to do with trying to defend our country against infiltration and undue influence by foeign powers.
Contrast this with the ridiculous Benghazi investigations that were based on literally nothing.
3
This is not acceptable. It may mean there is not enough solid evidence to indict, but it does not mean that the crime did not occur. Why has Trump been teasing the nation with flagrant pleas to a foreign enemy nation ("Russia, if you are listening..."), and pursuing real estate deals in Moscow while in office? He either knows that he is impervious, or is the stupidest man on earth, or both. This nation has been betrayed, and operative in the government are making sure that it stays that way. Just what is the plan when he loses the 2020 election, but won't leave? All Lenin had to do to takeover in 1917 was lock the doors.
4
Trump is the poster boy for a healthy fear of government yet Democrats insist government is the answer, not the problem. At this point, Democrats are going to look even more like the kings of sour grapes if they continue a witch hunt. We have had enough. Move on. Concentrate on the one thing Congress can't seem to do and that is govern. Keep in mind Trump's approval rating is double Congress' rating. Our problems rest with the legislature, not the executive branch. But where is the outrage?
1
The report confirms that Russia meddled in the 2016 election to benefit trump and hurt Hillary. 3 Million more people still voted for Hillary. Trump still surrounded himself with a bunch of criminals during his campaign. Trump continues to surround himself with cabinet members whose credentials are questionable at best, possibly criminal at worst. Trump continues also to be a pathological Liar. There is still a very dark cloud over trumps presidency in my opinion.
3
To the Democrats in charge, whoever that may be:
Please Do Not Ask The Electorate, going into the 2020 Election, if they are better off than they were four years ago?
@P&L
I'm worse off. Trump's tariffs hit my 401(k) last year, and his tax deform is taking even more of my money to give to places that voted for him.
3
Meanwhile, back at the "Raunch", Donald Trump -- lest we forget -- remains a denier when it comes to the murders of two children who were assassinated by far right gun supporters of his Presidential run who continue to allege the children's father fabricated the whole thing.
It's all in today's NYT, my fellow Americans. Enjoy....
1
The cloud is still there. The rallying cry for democrats is release the entire report. If there is nothing to hide, why hide? What is the need to redact the document with principal actors are either convicted or indicted. Barr not releasing the entire report is like Trump not releasing his tax returns. If we can see the Trump tax returns and Mueller report, then we can get the entire picture of his presidency. That is what Republicans are afraid of.
6
If the overwhelming majority of Republicans still believe that Obama wasn’t born in the US or that Hillary is running a child sex ring, then I can believe that Trump is a Russian agent.
Why is it that Democrats have to live in the real world while Republicans live in a reality of their own making.
Democrats need to start playing the game the same way Republicans do. Use lies and propaganda to mobile your base.
4
@Sterling
"overwhelming majority "?
Can you provide link to that? My understanding is that after Trump forced Obama to show the BC, the number went from approx 40% to less than 20%.
About the pizzagate, I only know about that because the left never stop talking about it. That is the same way I learnt about who Rush Limbaugh is (til this day, I dont even know what his radio dial!).
Distortions of reality can only take you so far.
Moving on.
1
I'm a registered Democrat. I voted for Hillary, and I'm not a fan of Donald Trump. I have a graduate degree from a well-known/prestigious institution. I say those things to give myself credibility for the next thing I'm about to say. I never believed Trump colluded with Russia, and agreed with him that the investigation was something of a witch hunt. Democrats would do best by not forcing this collusion issue. Move forward. Fight on the real issues, the negative decisions you disagree with on policy that have come out of this administration. The tax code changes that killed many. Move forward on issues!
3
@sf
I agree with you on the moving on with issues, but I don't when it comes to the congressional oversight of what has been blatant corruption in plain sight.
I also don't believe anything based on the investigation was a witch hunt, otherwise Trump and his campaign would not have continually lied about over a 100 contacts with Russians during the campaign, ongoing business deals in conjunction with the Trump Tower in Moscow, Trump Tower meetings, Roger Stone and email dump, etc. etc. etc.. there is too much lying going on for something to be a witch hunt.
3
But the report did find that the Russians tried to influence the election. People have been indicted. Just because there's no direct evidence that Trump himself wasn't involved doesn't exonerate the Russians.
3
@PeteH Yes, I don't understand why a lot more people don't care about the Russian involvement in the 2016 election.
3
Any reasonable citizen should be concerned about Trump's obseqious behavior when in Putin's company. I'm an old man now and, in the course of my life, I've seen many U. S. presidents interact with Russian leaders, but I have never before witnessed the deferential and submissive behavior displayed by Trump in the presence of Vladimir Putin.
7
"Get away with it? Gettin' away with it is the easy part. As long as you're not at the scene of the crime with a smoking gun in your hand, you'll get away with it." -Elvis from True Romance.
The smoking gun: "Russia, if you're listening..."
3
What are you going to believe? The results of a two year, $40 million probe led by a man acclaimed from both left and right for probity and experience, who is a former head of the FBI, who had unlimited resources and a huge staff for for his inquiry, or your own feelings?
4
Barr's letter is excellent news - at last Trump is free to testify under oath and clear the air! And hey, since he claimed on Twitter that he's "exonerated" let's go whole hog and get those tax returns released while he's at it - I'm sure he won't have a problem doing that.
Yup, we're almost near the end of our long national nightmare!
5
Wow...the Gray Lady finally rolled over and sank. Supposedly a "cloud is lifted" just because a Trump appointed AG writes a 4-page summary of what was several years of investigation - sans any proof? Prior to any hearings? We hear your SOS too late. Bigly sad.
4
Lifted for who? Not for me.
But I expected this. The report funneled through GOP spin, and the Democrats too toothless to do anything.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, we all actually do get what has been going on.
7
Ok, we’ll move on...
When does Putin visit? Trump loyalists owe him a huge thank you. Hope they role out their red carpet for him.
4
The cloud is now over the Democrats, LOL.
7
When do we get serious about the conclusion that Russia meddled in our election process? The President stated he believed Putin that they did not.
When do we see action on this issue?
8
@MCass Don't hold your breath since Republicans fail to act with indignance and force policy that will address this threat to our democracy. By always siding with Putin and Trump is providing cover for Russian agents to continue to subvert our society and our electoral proocess.
2
I wish everyone would take a deep breath and let this play out but nobody, I repeat, nobody will on either side. Sen. Graham isn't even intelligent enough to pause before calling for a special counsel to investigate the investigation and, wait for it - HILLARY'S EMAILS...
6
"A" cloud is lifted, partially, by Mueller. Other clouds are still hovering and based on what has happened in the past 2 years, more clouds are likely to gather.
3
@Jean Kolodner, .....into a storm that will wash the truth out into the light at last.
1
Shouldn't the headline be "One Cloud Over Trump's Presidency Is Lifted?" With all the indictments, falsehoods, conspiring, etc. of those around him; his own tenuous relationship with the truth; his business dealings with foreign entities which conflict with a president's ethical conduct standards; his wanting to appoint 'loyal' government agency heads (and firing those who were deemed disloyal), it would seem that we still need many, many more answers. The president is not exonerated, per Mueller's report. A foreign power interfered in 2016 so that Hillary Clinton would be denied the presidency, largely because of her strong stand on human rights. This president seems untroubled by behavior which enriches him/adds to his reach. Too much corruption. Our democracy is being undermined. Robert Mueller's report must be made public.
5
HARDLY — the dark cloud hasn't lifted — it's festering and stinking away, so big that America can no longer even see it. Tried to help you out, after your obviously rigged election but apparently you are beyond any help now… I should have cashed out when you sycophants *shamefully* redacted yourselves, not airing the Stephen Miller episode of your Daily podcast, that you had advertised so heavily — but I didn't. Disgusted throughly now, I can no longer abide your sickening support for this racist gangster "president" weakling Trump™
It's taken a few tries, so far — but please let your editors know that is is entirely on them that my NYT subscription is hereby cancelled
4
Now we know.
He's a crook.
But he's our crook.
Vote.
8
Amazing. Scroll down through the NYT Picks and look at how many people are still parroting the lies and misinformation born of the media's speculation during the time Mueller was conducting his investigation.
These folks are still blinded by the plethora of innuendo, cut from whole cloth in the absence of the actual report, propagandized by the mainstream media. Now that the report has been issued, these poor, deluded people want to know why everything *the media* told them isn't in the report.
Are you proud of yourself, NY Times? You had no small hand in creating this false narrative, which will now continue to divide us as people who want to believe Trump is a lying, cheating traitor will continue to grasp at it until their last breath.
The media got it wrong. They made things up. They connected dots that weren't actually connected. They wanted to believe that the President of the United States was a traitor and useful idiot of our enemies. And, they spent two years trying to prove their case.
Well, Mueller's report is out and it turns out the media's bias led them to condemn a man in the absence of any actual proof.
Nobody believes Matt Taibbi is a conservative. So, how is it that the only conclusion he can draw in the face of the Mueller report is that the media's bias caused them to fail?
https://taibbi.substack.com/p/russiagate-is-wmd-times-a-million
The media colluded to try to bring down a president. When does the special counsel investigation begin?
7
@Elfego
Actually, a lot of the reporting has been based on the court filings emanating from the Special Prosecutor's investigation. There's a lot outstanding, yet to be resolved. The summary is a political statement first and foremost.
2
@PS1
That's certainly what the Democrats want us to believe. It's the only straw they have to hold on to.
But, in fact, the summary is a summary of the facts and conclusions drawn by the Special Counsel, with the further conclusion of the Attorney General and his Assistant regarding the obstruction issue.
Mueller worked for the AG. It is only fitting that he leave the final determinations regarding criminality up to the AG.
But, even though that's how it's been done in every other case since the creation of the Justice Department, that's not good enough for the Democrats now.
The Democrats are trying to feed us a blue pill. Don't swallow it. It doesn't do anybody any good to deny the truth.
The Times is saying a cloud is lifted over the Trump presidency? Am I dreaming? Do I want to continue my subscription? We have not even seen Mueller's report yet and you're saying all is well in Trumpland? I think not so fast, and it is early days, with the full Mueller report to come out eventually, Congressional hearings to come, SDNY investigations continuing, the release of transcripts from Michael Cohen's testimony to Congress, and anything else that comes up. I am very surprised and disappointed by The Times.
5
@BearBoy
My point is that it has not yet been debunked-we have a long way to go.
I think this mueller report is yet another failure of our new media: NYTIMES, CNN etc. For months all we heard on cable tv were pundits talking about the significance of the Mueller Investigation and what each indictment meant etc. At no time (to my knowledge) was a full explanation based on factual research (outside of pundits etc) presented to the American people on the reporting process. Instead cable news over played their hand with constant talking of the report and how it signified doom for the president. With all the indictments, and investigations the media went crazy. But never stopped to say the report may conclude without concrete findings. Why would so much importance be placed on a report that wasn’t intended to be public ? a report that would be presented to the attorney general who had the final say. I think if anything trumps presidency has shown the limitations of our democracy and that our checks and balances aren’t working and that precedence does not equal law.
1
My questions are not just about election conspiracy; my questions are about a hundred unexplained meetings with Russia, handing off polling data to Klimnik, Jared trying to forge a back-channel to Russia in the Russian embassy, lies dictated on Air Force One about the Russia Trump Tower meeting in June, the changing of the Republican platform to benefit Russia, Erik Prince secretly meeting with a Russian in the Seychelles, everybody lying about everything, and the perverse fealty Trump pays to Russia. Are there financial ties? What is the explanation for this weirdness? Now that Trump can claim that he's been cleared, will all this just get swept under the rug? Whether we see the full Mueller report or not, does anyone NOT think that Manafort will be pardoned and all other investigations will be stymied? I am losing faith in the entire system. All of this while Trump is now threatening to investigate 'the other side.'
Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather that this administration is not conspiring with Russia directly, but this finding cannot mean that we don't address all the other many many sketchy things that are going on in plain sight.
4
Trump may very well have been handed the 2020 election just now. He will make sure any future allegations are lumped in with this collusion "hoax" and lead people to assume the same outcome. Not sure anything will stick to him after this one.
1
No cloud has been lifted. The report was released over the weekend at a time when many in the U.S. are on spring vacation and not paying close attention to the news. It was released in advance of the Avenetti indictment which will provide dissonance in the news cycle, reducing coverage of the Mueller report. Barr would have known of the Avenetti case and it’s status. This report and supporting evidence need to be released now.
4
Donald Trump wants us to have complete faith and confidence in the findings of a "witch hunt".
3
Someone please tell me: with over 30 individuals indicted, awaiting trial, or doing time for various campaign-related criminal activities, how is that a "complete and total exoneration"? Help me out here.
8
Hillary’s unexpected loss means many Status Quo Democrats will settle only for political retribution.
2
The report doesn't say "complete... exoneration", or anything close to it.
Mueller's charge was only re interference and obstruction, and he says obstruction is not resolved. The House is only starting to investigate, and other prosecutors who Trump can't fire are working on numerous cases where he can't pardon anyone.
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence; much more may still come out as others investigate. We haven't even seen his tax returns yet, nor had his kids questioned on matters in which they were clearly involved.
With such a large number of people around Trump being convicted and pleading, it's impossible to think Trump knew nothing about it (like drafting Don Jr's email to Russians, or directing hush money, both initially denied).
Trump reinforces the rampant suspicions by his ongoing behavior; constantly lying (even today, "complete exoneration"), firings of FBI & AG, refusing to testify, and trash-talking anyone who dares be truthful (Cohen & so many others). If he were innocent of everything he would have encouraged the investigation.
If it had been a "total witch hunt" as claimed so many times, they would have come up with something, pursued the obstruction more, and gone into the many other issues. Star went after Clinton for 4 years, wandering from Whitewater real estate to finding he cheated on his wife.
Trump and comrades have a few days to yell "Nothingburger", but there is much that has yet to catch up with him.
Simply put, Trump is still a crook. It's been obvious since forever. They can't expect us to believe that he could surround himself with felons without being one.
4
The New York Times decided to take AG Barr's letter and Trump's tweet at face value and combine them into a headline. The job of a newspaper is to be more than a mouthpiece. You have an incredible responsibility to the casual reader who only reads your breaking news alerts, and just writing these things without thinking of initial optics is dangerous. I wish all of our citizens would read the story and form evidence-based conclusions, but that's not how America of 2016 works. Yes, "no collusion" belongs there, but there's no clear sky.
Anyone with half of a brain knew that Trump harried the investigation at every turn. He was unsuccessful, but he didn't know he would be when he started down this path. He had everything to gain politically from not being seen as a Russian stooge and to avoid a painful disinfectant: sunshine. Mueller made clear to mention that there's significant evidence that points to obstruction. The president spent 2 years willfully lying that the USA hadn't been influenced by Russia for political gain.
Trump compromised our national security for politics, and he needs to be dragged in front of Congress if we are ever to rid ourselves of this moral decay. The House must listen to their districts every 2 years; it is the people's main recourse for expressing their fury at a sitting president. The House of Representatives must hear all the facts and decide. Only then will voters feel capable of judging Barr's conclusions.
12
Democrats looking for vengeance, impeachment, etc. need to put away their swords and communicate to Americans why their candidate can make the next 4 years economically better than Trump's term. The "Russian" card has been played and it is a loser. If the election was held today, Trump would win again.
12
Do you think Trump can win the popular vote in 2020? Or will he just settle for yet another Electoral College win? Do you think any Republican will ever try to win the popular vote again or is the party going to go full South Africa and try to govern as a minority party?
To me it’s pretty clear, that the GOP is going to rely on its coalition of all white drug soaked and heavily subsidized rural and Confederate states to maintain their grip on power. To try win the popular vote would mean engaging with minorities and that is unacceptable to the racists that form the base of the GOP. They like their party as whites only club.
Meanwhile, the clouds over American democratic values are getting darker by the hour.
5
"A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency Is Lifted"
Perhaps the Mueller cloud has lifted, but several new, equally dark ones have arrived and others remain. Barr's "summary" generates far more questions than it answers. We need to see Mueller's report, redacted according to the letter of the law, to understand his reasoning and see what spin, if any, Barr put on it. Will the administration stonewall requests for the report and force a legal fight that will undoubtedly end up in the Supreme Court? Will the Supreme Court rule in a convincingly non-partisan way or simply reinforce the appearance of a partisan monolith determined to maintain its thumb on the scale?
What will the Congressional, SDNY, and state investigations conclude? Will that lead to any sense of accountability for wrongdoing? Or, though it seems very unlikely, show little or no wrongdoing?
Will Republicans now join in an endless, premature touchdown celebration and stop at nothing to prevent any further discovery or disclosure, thereby further deepening the bitter divide in our country? Or will they help us understand the "Why?" behind so many of the oddities, inappropriate activities, and even illegalities that to this point they're happy to wave away?
The article makes it sound as though our troubles are gone and happy days are here again. Nothing could be further from the truth. We've just reached the end of the beginning of our troubles. Until we resolve them, our democracy remains in peril.
2
Yes, the Mueller report resulted in a big win for Our President, but before people outside of Trump's base wallow away in the slough of despond, let's look at some maybes.
Maybe the Mueller result will be a wake-up call to voters, so many of whom stayed home in 2016, or voted for a third party;
Trump could be indicted and tried by state attorneys general, or SDNY for various crimes;
The House could pass Articles of Impeachment. Trump would very likely escape conviction by the senate, but it's no more unlikely than his winning five of the six tossup states in 2016, getting 90 of the 94 Electoral College votes in those states;
The National Popular Vote Compact could easily pass well before the 2020 election;
Trump could be physically unable to run in 2020. 63 is the break-even age in the USA today (if you're 63 or older, you are more likely to be dead than alive one year from now);
Finally, two words: Pentagon Papers. Maybe someone will be a Daniel Ellsberg and furnish proof of Trump criminal activity to the NYTimes, WAPO and even Fox News.
This is the beginning of the end...maybe.
2
What an absurd headline. Almost as prescient as "FBI sees no dealing between Trump and Russia", mere days before the 2016 election. Virtually no one has seen the report only the conflicted, should have recused AG that auditioned to make the report go away. NYT is so easily hoodwinked, at least I hope that is all it is but after their performance before the 2016 election,I wouldn't put any money on it.
2
I kinda felt like their vote to release the report was a set-up.
No cloud has been lifted. If anything the Justice Department seems more Newspeak than ever. When the self styled conservatives first start attacking the foundations of your country I wonder if they knew like Samson they would bring down the palace?
2
Not a Trump fan here, but it's now time to move on. If the Democrats won't let go they'll just lose more votes in 2020. In the immortal words of Bill Belichick, "On to Cincinnati."
2
In conclusion, President Trump is technically not a crook...
1
@Andre
Right. Like Hillary.
So much speculation, so little critical reasoning, and I’m talking about those who were talking about this collusion nonsense for years
4
That is the stupidest headline ever- A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency is Lifted. Really? Is it? Does this mean we are expected to forget everything else he did? Get it right NYT.
6
As a Reagan Republican, I would hardly say the Russian cloud has lifted over the Trump White House. All along I've felt that allowing Trump to make "collusion" the issue is a mistake. Of course Trump wasn't that sophisticated. But one still must ask why did Putin want Trump to win? Certainly as Reagan Republican, the question to me is why Trump has abandoned Reagan Republican values when it comes to dealing with Russia? Why did he surround himself with fringe pro-Russia characters like Page, Flynn and strange conspiracy theorists like Stone? And why was his campaign chairman someone on the wrong (Putin) side of the Ukrainian Orange Revolution for freedom? Why did Trump's team weaken the GOP Platform on Ukraine? Trump's abandonment of Reagan's doctrine of strength vis-a-vis Russia is the 10 million dollar question for the GOP. Why? And why has the GOP gone along with this abandonment of the Party's historic policy of standing up to tyrants like Putin and against our nation's enemies like Russia.
9
I think it is time to let this go. Continuing to hammer away at this issue isn't going to change things and could end up backfiring on Democrats in 2020. People had unrealistic expectations about this report. It was never going to cause Trump to be removed from office. Impeaching him is a waste of time because he won't be convicted by the Republican-controlled Senate, and hence cannot be removed from office in this manner. We need to move on.
3
Most presidents would simply be quietly relieved if the threat of impeachment went away. For our current president, it's grounds for claiming that he never did anything wrong, and that those who oppose him are evil doers on a witch hunt. And that's why impeachment must move forwards.
Before Pelosi said that she would not go forwards with impeachment I agreed with you. Why waste the time and energy. I also saw little advantage in making Pence our president.
But if clinging to the high road can be used as evidence that the White House occupant was unjustly smeared by evil Democrat's, then it's a poor strategy.
One cloud lifted, but what about the other 47 clouds?
Most corrupt president and administration and party of my lifetime.
6
Credit to a Robert Saltzman:
I don’t know – it’s hard to see any U.S. ties to Russia…
except for the Roger Stone things
and the Manafort things
and the Cohen things
and the Flynn things
and the Maria Butina/NRA thing
and the Sessions thing
and the Kushner thing
and the Carter Page thing
and the Felix Sater thing
and the Boris Ephsteyn thing
and the Sergey Gorkov banker thing
and the I love Putin thing
and the Sergey Kislyak thing
and Trump’s request to Russia to hack Hillary’s email thing
and the Trump house sale for $100 million at the bottom of the housing bust to the Russian fertilizer king thing
and the Russian fertilizer king’s plane showing up in Concord, NC during Trump rally thing
and the Nunes sudden flight to the White House in the night thing
and the Nunes personal investments in the Russian winery thing
and the Wilbur Ross with his Cyprus bank thing
and the GOP platform change to the Ukraine thing
and the Steele Dossier thing
and the Sally Yates firing thing
and Trump warning the Russians and Syrians before the Bombing thing
and Flynn's illegal Turkish lobbying was paid for the
Russians thing
and the Trump asking Comey for a "loyalty oath" thing
and the Trump stooges lying to the world about why he fired Comey with 3 different lies thing
and the lying to Americans during the campaign about having no business in Russia thing…*
So there’s probably nothing, just a bunch of separate dots with no connection whatsoever.
*list still in formation
17
Okay, sure. Cloud is lifted and all that. Can the president get on with things instead of taking a victory lap? A third person involved with Parkland has died in a week. Could he maybe say something supportive, like, I don’t know, that he cares about the health and well being of citizens? No? Too busy gloating and harassing the investigators. Do your job, Mr. President. Looks like you’ll have it a while yet.
1
Nope.
Clouds still there.. no sunshine in sight..
If anything, a storm is brewing... a really really big one
3
A cloud lifted? Seriously, this is your headline? Right back to the good ol' days of giving this guy more free and undeserved flattery. No cloud was lifted, far, far from it.
4
It sure has not lifted for me. But then, I'm not a hand picked AG...
Just VOTE baby, VOTE. 2020 cannot get here soon enough.
3
A number of people have said that, unless he committed an underlying crime, the president cannot be guilty of obstruction of justice. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Even if there were NO crime, obstructing an investigation is an obstruction of justice.
But there were many crimes here. And just as in Watergate, obstructing the investigation into crimes committed by others is an obstruction of justice.
Nixon didn't break into any offices, but he tried to cover up for those that did. Trump MAY not have colluded with Russians, but he seems to have covered up for members of his campaign that did.
2
NYT, you have to be more careful, this sounds like an almost positive story on Trump. Except for the wishful thinking bit.
3
A Cloud Is Lifted ... ? Who wrote that headline? Whoever wrote it is jumping the gun.
It's like awarding an Oscar based on a movie trailer.
I'll wait for the full report.
3
Russia could do no more damage to our country than the liberal media. The liberal media has fractured our country. MSNBC, CNN, WAPO, NYT - for two solid years, they have all accused Trump of everything from treason to running red lights. The liberal media has turned neighbors against each other, races against each other - all in an effort to sell more advertising.
5
"A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency Is Lifted," seriously NYT? Without reading the entire report, you've come to this conclusion so soon? Consider my subscription cancelled, I can't this this paper anymore.
3
Reporting about Mr Trump's "good day" is not headline worthy. NYT you are better than this. The ongoing threat to our democracy that Russia poses has never been more clear and present.
Really disappointed with this article.
1
More NY Times nonsense.
We dont know what the special counsel found. All we know is what Barr wanted to tell us. To suggest anything else is pure speculation and irresponsible reporting.
Let the report come out (not to Barr, to the public) and then we can make conclusions.
4
We are victorious! "A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency is Lifted".
I'm shocked that the NYT has run a favorable headline on Trump.
Trust shall always prevail!
4
Way to early to say the cloud is lifted, haven’t even seen any of the report yet and there are already questions as to how even Mueller arrived at some of his conclusions based on what we know just from his prosecutorial referrals alone.
Bad job outa you NY Times
Trump was happy to collude - we saw that clearly when Jr jumped at the chance to meet with Russians in Trump Tower and gleefully invited Kushner. It didn’t work out because Putin quickly realized there was was no point in continuing with the Trump team. First, he never thought America’s would be so incredibly stupid as to vote for that band of moron and decided it would be better That was long to interfere with the election on his own.
1
That headline is a genuine fake news abomination.
1
Your headline! (Sorry, I won't waste my time on the article if it extends the premise)
Why are you helping this cretin take a victory lap?
Why are you helping to cement a false narrative of Trump's innocence?
He was NOT exonerated! Nobody has seen the FBI report! I really, really hate the mainstream media right now.
3
His “exoneration” announced by his toady, he really accepted it with such grace, humility and decorum—-what a guy!!!
2
Remember that Mueller’s important investigation resulted in 37 indictments of people in the vicinity of Trump, and many more indictments are likely to come out of NY.
5
There is plenty to criticize Trump about, and the shame of the media is that they fail to land blows where they ought to be doing hard-hitting reporting, but then they'd have to apply that same logic to Obama and HRC, and the CIA and FBI and establishment elitists just cannot have that...
Yet another great example of why the news media’s reputation continues to tank and why you are utterly powerless to affect Trump. No one believes you. And they shouldn’t.
House Intel Readies Criminal Referrals For Clinton Operatives Who "Perpetuated This Hoax"
3
I just listened to Sarah Sanders diatribe. I feel sick and despair for this country. The reason Donald Trump was investigated by Robert Mueller was the result of his own irresponsible, manipulative and dishonest behavior. No matter which political party one belongs to... I believe very few American Citizens wanted to discover that Mr. Trump was a foreign agent working for or conspiring with Vladimir Putin. No one! Again, it was Mr. Trump's dishonest and irresponsible behavior that elicited and caused the investigation. My advice to Ms. Sanders. Shut up and move on.
Unbelievably irresponsible framing of this by the Times. Truly ashamed. This will be one of those headlines that does not age well as the real story starts to emerge.
1
Maybe... But the cloud over American democracy darkens..
The hysterical comments here explain volumes on how you handed Trump a re-election. Now endless NY state investigations chaired by a local Democratic Party that is anything but. NYS is a cesspool if backroom deals and corruption and favoritism at every level. How they think they can investigate anyone is hypocrisy at its finest.
10
No. No. No. No cloud has been lifted. Trump is a crook and a traitor. The evidence that his campaign worked with the Russians is all public. Same with obstruction. This report does not say otherwise. NYTs we need you to think more critically.
1
It's probably comforting to know our president in just a snake oil seller and a crook and not a traitor. Our country is so much better for that.
3
This won't stop democrats who have lived in a bubble of fantasy since November 2016.
First there was "The electors will vote for Hillary!"
Then came, "Trump will be removed within two weeks of swearing in because of the Emoluments Clause!"
Then it was, "Trump and Pence and all the members of his cabinet will be removed and Hillary be next in line!"
By 2018, it was, "Trump will be removed when we take back Congress!"
And of course, behind all this was, "Mueller has 456 sealed indictments! Wait till the Mueller Report comes! Then its over for Trump!"
At that point, democrats became positively messianic about the report.
Since 2016, they have so completely lost touch with reality that they have nothing to offer but variations on this theme.
Even this report won't stop them.
They now pin their hopes on State investigations saying that a president cannot pardon for state crimes.
Although that has never been adjudicated, they base this new fantasy on the Pardon Clause stating that a president has the power “to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”
They read that to mean the federal government only.
But look at the Treason Clause which begins: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them...". Now look up the people who were convicted of treason for waging war against the states of Rhode Island or Virginia.
Yet the fantasy will continue...
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
10
Yet again, Trump and his 0.1% posse buy themselves the justice they think they deserve. Hear the clapping and cheering? That's Joe Blow, whose job in the coal mines is really coming back this time in all its white, male, and Christian greatness. Seriously, this time is for real. Just ignore the man behind the curtain....
The people still in denial about this remind me of antivaxxers, flat earthers, and climate change deniers. There is no proof for the positions you hold based on stories and false hopes, in fact there is the exact opposite. Beat Trump at the polls and give this up. There are so many things to fight him on more worthwhile than a goose chase. His policy is horrible, his demeanor is not fitting for his office, and he alienates and divides at every turn. Turn off the burner and let him cook himself instead of putting bullets in his gun for him.
4
This story got chosen for RealClearPolitics today.
If you count all the progressive zealots working away all over the media world, you run into the 6 figures just counting the hate-Trump zealotry.
The tough thing this week for the on-air personalities on CNN and MSLSD having to face the cameras knowing full well that they have been exposed as partisan liars.
This amazing presidency continues! But we'll NEVER know how much more could have been done for American workers and the international situation if the media had supported the President as he dealt with our enemies in China, Russia, North Korea, and the defense-freeloaders in Europe.
Mr. Trump has every reason to be rude and crude now. The patiotic half of the country demands the Obama cabal AKA the Deep State be investigated, indicted, and judged accordingly. Those 10-15 people attacked our country like it has never been before - from inside the Dept. of Justice.
They need to be made examples of, starting with James Comey.
4
I’d like to see the whole of this sentence
“[T]he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”
2
And yet Trump is already accusing those behind the report of being "treasonous." Doesn't sound "exonerated" to me.
1
The overarching question, of course, is why Republicans throughout government and the citizenry preferred a corrupt, venal and unqualified demagogue buffoon traitor to a highly educated, centrist, overqualified and time-tested at all levels, policy wonk female.
I don’t know whether to cry or laugh. This means it wasn’t the Russians who put Donald Trump in the White House. It was the Americans. We did it ourselves. All on our lonesomes and with nobody’s help. Well. There’s a revelation. It had something to do with candidate choice. Who would have guessed? And why didn’t I read about that in the NYTimes circa 2016? Geez, Louize. But better late than never. Though it is late. Very late. Take it as the last alarm call. Either, Democrats drop their dalliances with madcap lefties and row-in behind Joe Biden, or you-know-who is heading for a two-term presidency. Yeah. That will be disagreeable. And I'm kinda hoping not to see it. Because there won't even be the comforting excuse of 'the devil and the Russians made us do it.' No. Next time it'll be the pill, the whole pill, and nothing but the whole bitter pill.
1
One cloud has. The clouds of his temperamental, moral and intellectual unfitness remain, and will as long as this person and his depraved family and followers afflict this country like the malignant plague they are.
Like many big events in the US in the last few years, we need to determine whether it was criminal or whether it was stupidity- take the mortgage crisis- since no one went to jail it must have been just bad luck and bad judgment on the part of our financial industry.
We do know that Trump has a hard time colluding with anyone to run the US government so it seems a stretch that he could actually manage to coordinate with the Russians. When 99% of your thinking is consumed by thoughts about yourself, the fact that he was found not to be colluding with the Russians is no surprise.
1
Please report the facts, "News analysis." We do not know what conclusions Mueller came to. We never will unless the full repost is released.
1
Fair enough, Mr. Baker, but this whole “cloud lifted” spin is not just inaccurate but cloying, too.
No cloud is lifted from anything until I get to see the full report.
It takes more than slick journalism to put such a headline over the article that seems to say anything but that.
When are you going to learn not to try to sell papers and do the nation a favor!
1
Jobs not mobs.
Trump 2020.
Democrats have sealed their fate.
6
I have this believe this is all posturing. For the good of the country and to save face with the world even if he committed atrocities he will do fine while president. Usually the truth of anything comes out 60 years later.
Not that he did or didn't, the stability of this country till the next election must remain. That is the reality of things. Watergate knowledge happened because there was two people outside the system involved and there was no where to hide anything. Even then with everything was presented Ford pardon Nixon. It is the reality of life. I have accepted that and go on with my life. The powerful always find the way to worm themselves out of almost any situation. The ones that fall were not powerful enough, or had to take a hit for the team to keep things flowing. It is humanity. You can see it in small towns. The locals cover for each other. The best jobs are held for the people you know. The interconnection of people on the top is the same kind of interconnection that people at the bottom have. The rich tribes, the middle tribes and the bottom poor tribes. We are so tribal. : ) I have mingle with and at one time belong to the tribes and I have always been in awe, even to this day about their connectivity. We will see what happens. That man was born with a lucky star, starting with his father. If it wasn't like that he would be washing dishes in a restaurant somewhere or selling used cars. I would not hire him or buy a car from him! LOL!!!
Anyone know how many pages the actual Mueller report is?
We don't know any more today than we did two years ago. Mueller did a Comey by not exonerating Trump. He left the door open for anti-Trumpers. This is day one. More fights ahead.
The Democrats and the media have laid a big egg. No indictments involving any U.S. citizen colluding with the Russians. Only indictments are for unrelated crimes or lying to the FBI. A total farce because the Democrats lost and wanted to come up with why they lost. The reason is simple--the voters decided the Democrats were a fraud. And please do not give me the nonsense about the popular vote--remove CA and that is not true. The Electoral College will never be changed for the same reasons that the smaller states do not want to give up their two U.S. Senator—so CA it is your lot in life to not matter. Keep America Great—Vote Republican.
3
So no exoneration? So? It only makes trump people more brazen and hateful. Thank you mueller (republican) and Barr (trump appointee) for nothing. But you did your jobs of protecting the most corrupt, hateful, ignorant - so many more descriptions, so little time - president our country has ever had
“A Cloud Over Trump’s Presidency Is Lifted” but the “stuff” in that cloud that hit the fan has yet to settle. Duck.
This is obstruction of justice.
Blatant and worthy of Duterte, Kim Jong-un, Bolsonaro or any of Trump's circle of pals.
1
I urge the NYT to change this banner heading -- that the cloud has been lifted -- until we have the full report. There's simply too much we still don't know, and frankly too much evidence to the contrary...not least T's admitted obstruction of justice in the form of firing Comey... And allowing the T-appointed AG to frame it is irresponsible journalism.
2
Not true! The headline instead should have read, "A Cloud Over Trump's Presidency is Lifted by Barr's 4 page memo
1
OK, but remember. After years of trying they finally got Al Capone on a tax charge, of all things.
And he went to jail and died there of syphilis, of all things.
But not to worry, we have penicillin now.
According to Callista Gingrich, U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, the release of the Mueller Report should remove the final obstacle to the beatification of St. Donald. Construction of the Trump National Cathedral in Washington D.C. can now begin.
2
Has the Times read the report? No? Then on what are your headlines, conclusions, and analysis based? Aren't you just amplifying spin and reporting it as fact?
1
"So [FBI Director James] Comey and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin installed a crazy, vindictive, can't-handle-the-truth person in the White House. Scary,"
Paul Krugman @paulkrugman
For Mr. Krugman that is as bad a day as they come.
2
Breaking News: It’s Good To Be King!
Meh... not finding enough evidence to prove Trump personally colluded only says one of two things to me. Either he is crafty enough to so distance himself from the actual bad actors that a personal connection could not be proved- don't forget the multiple indictments and convictions that *have* come out of the Meuller investigation or he is so incredibly stupid and naive that he was just a dupe and a pawn in the whole scheme. Neither of which give me any comfort.
Re-read the first paragraph, Trumpophobes. All the angst, rationalizations, spin and “just waits” won’t change that. You built Mueller into an icon and, 647 days later, he smote you. There’s always the couch. Perhaps you can sign up en masse and get the group drama club discount.
2
Oh look they borrowed the same headline they used for Hillary Clinton after Comey's announcement that she had done nothing illegal with her email management in October 2016! Thanks NYTimes as always for treating both sides exactly the same.
The Times, as usual, writes a headline from "Annie" instead of something accurate and useful. You haven't read the report any more than anyone else has, but this was all "a cloud"? And now it's "lifted"?
There have been numerous unlawful acts that were prosecuted, but only concerning the collaborators of Mr. Trump. That an immaculate, unbribable president is surrounded only by criminal collaborators ( chosen by him ) and that he has absolutely no responsibility in these criminal acts, this is simply not plausible for any person with a touch of common sense - it is an absurdity. This clemency of the prosecutor is not believable. At least a part of the crimes of his collaborators has been perpetrated with the knowledge or at the order of Mr. Trump himself. This investigation looks biased, but who will investigate the investigation ? Some crooks were sacrificed to save the main crook. What Mr. Trump gained in virginity through this ruling, the prosecutor lost it on the other side. Political and partisan considerations had an influence on this ruling. Future will tell. The moral credibility of the US justice is at stake.
1
Trump's not going to investigate anyone associated with this investigation. He's just going to continue to whine and mewl and call names and claim that his so-called exoneration qualifies him for another term. What he's not going to do is become an even mediocre President.
1
I’m thinking the money laundering will take a little while longer to find. It may be best if Trump thinks he is in the clear so maybe he will shut up. Something worse will eventually turn up, usually does for this type of character.
2
Right now, the logic from the Trump camp amounts to: “The Mueller Report totally and completely exonerates the president, but I can’t allow you to see it because you might find something that incriminates the president in there.”
Trump loves to show off and he loves to gloat. In fact, he is gloating all over Twitter right now. If this report definitively proves his innocence, then order DOJ to make it public or at least release it to Congress. Go ahead, show it off! Rub it in everyone’s face!
What are you waiting for, Mr. President? We’re all waiting to read about how innocent you are.
3
Let's ignore the fact that there is a difference between establishing conspiracy as a legal matter, and there being no evidence of collusion, which is not a chargeable offense. Why is it that the paper of record cannot refrain from punditry in the guise of analysis? It was so blatant in 2016, and, by God, here you go again. More facts and fewer opinions.
1
Mueller just handed Trump a free pass to the White House in 2020. His platform: "No Collusion, Fake news, just like I said." He will win in a walk.
3
Here's hoping he wins 2020 and afterwords sues the various media outlets for running with misleading and false occasions. Perhaps indeed a repeat of the Rolling Stones rape case, but to a much grander scale. The media needs to be held responsible. This is not to say freedom of the press should be suppressed but there needs to be some sort of push back over what has been occurring on liberal outlets. Credibility needs to be restored however it will not happen if a reckoning does not come. For the sake of saving journalism said people must be accountable for false narratives.
I suggest everyone read Matt Tailbbis piece on this https://taibbi.substack.com/p/russiagate-is-wmd-times-a-million
Beyond that, Trump 2020.
3
I hope Trump is at his strongest political position over eight years when I vote against him in 2020. I desire that. Trump mines the gray areas for gain. He concocts and enjoys conflict and chaos so long as he's the center of attention and has equal say. A mixed bag of 'facts', characters, good attorneys and now the power of the Office have afforded him that in life. Trump likes both the negative and positive, because it's the dispute that consumes him like strong drink for life's boredom. Trump likes to fred and ginger skip. Watch him skip now. But your best day in Office is not being indicted, that's not the mark of a strong leader. Monday morning starts the weekly news cycle and Conway is attacking Schiff, Sekulow is attacking everyone, SHS on the offensive. These are of course Trump hires- see the pattern? Attack dogs. It's supposed to be like JR and Bobby Ewing (Trump and Don Jr) against Cliff and Digger Barnes (Comey and Schiff?) in Trump's world. But the Fat Lady hasn't sang yet. Obstruction was always going to be a Congressional decision, iffy. The real problem for Trump and family is not a grave open wound from Mueller's Report, but the slow, painful cuts that will make life uncomfortable for a long time from the NY AG and Southern District of NY, after he loses in 2020.
1
Really? No one wants to criticize Mr. Mueller for failing to do his job. After all, he was (and likely remains) our White Knight...the one who both parties counted on to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So how the heck do we reconcile that we put all of our faith in him (and paid him) and in the end, it appears he was unwilling to make the hard conclusion on obstruction. The whole world saw and heard the obstruction. Even if he said it didn't happen...that would have been something I could ultimately accept. But to not come to a conclusion after two years...I've never been more disillusioned in my government.
2
The SDNY will continue investigating and likely prosecute Trump and his family for racketeering activities. The irony is that Giuliani will be on the receiving end, rather than at the tip of the spear, for this RICO prosecution.
Trump's vindictiveness will be in full force if the Democrats continue to hold hearings. It would be wise to put this thing to bed and show the nation they are eager to work on legislation over investigation. Public opinion can go against them if they act like Trump and try to uncover more dirt. Let the SDNY do its work. The Democrats' most important objective is not to prove that Trump is corrupt but to demonstrate their presidential candidate is superior to Trump.
1
"The report did not establish...." does not necessarily mean NO evidence of conspiracy, it could also mean insufficient evidence to bring an indictment. R'n hype and press extrapolation is leading to conclusions without basis.
1
If the tables were turned, republicans would scream that, in spite of the report, there was indeed illegality.
Let's shout it out: "We know there was collusion! We don't need a report like this to tell us so!"
Has any reporter tried to contact/interview Mr. Mueller about all this? For 2 years, reading tea leaves has been the only way to figure out what he was up to, since he (properly) never spoke. But now that the report has been tendered to the AG, I want to hear directly from him.
I love how Trump, after calling Mueller tainted and responsible for leading a pack of angry Democrats on a “witch hunt”, now, after seeing a favorable conclusion to the investigation, declares Mueller acted “honorably”! Could anything be more predictable?
Did Trump outsmart everyone by publicly calling Russia to release Hilary Clinton emails - so it cannot be called collusion because it was out in the open?
1
I think there was a hard pressure on Barr from Individual 1, plus his auditioning for AJ opening
manifested in 19 pages memo, that was published, stating that president CANNOT obstruct justice...this is extremely dangerous view, that's what got him a job.
We don't know about all the machinations around this shady affairs behind the scenes, hope to find out, but considering that Mueller report left everything hanging, no one knows what to expect.
1
how was this an "illegal takedown"? When will this president do an interview with someone who will ask him about all his false claims? He says what he wants people to believe and no one challenges him on it.
AG's behaviour is nothing but another example of "Catch & Kill" for which he was appointed by Trump.
Cloud lifted and we find ourselves in the middle of Trump presidency swamp.
For years Donald "Conspiracy Propagator" Trump told his supporters that Barrack Obama was a Muslim who wasn't born in this country, and that they should all be extremely worried about it. Turns out he wasn't, so Trump just moved on.
For months Donald "Conspiracy Propagator" Trump told his supporters that the upcoming 2016 election was rigged in Clinton's favor, and that they should all be extremely worried about it, and expecting it. Turns out it wasn't, so Trump just moved on.
For years Donald "Conspiracy Propagator" Trump told his supporters that illegal immigrants were all rapists and murderers who were "out to get you", and that they should all be extremely worried about it. Turns out they weren't, so Trump just moved on.
For years Donald "Conspiracy Propagator" Trump told his supporters that the special investigation into his election was a "witch hunt" controlled by Democratic shill prosecutors who were "out to get him", and that they should all be extremely worried about it. Turns out it wasn't, so Trump just moved on.
For years Donald "Conspiracy Propagator" Trump will tell his supporters that the United States can never really be "great again", as long as we are constrained by this outdated thing called the Constitution, and that they should all be extremely worried about it. Turns out we weren't, but that didn't stop Trump from suspending it after stealing another election and then threatening extreme violence against anyone who opposed his new Imperial rule.
1
Once again the media — including this newspaper — are perpetuating the Trump narrative over what is good for our country. The Mueller investigation was first and foremost about understanding how a foreign power interfered with our election. Our president chose to misdirect by instead making the story about him. The media have gone along with it, preferring clicks and entertainment value over a serious discussion of a clear threat to our democratic process. When will we learn to take back the narrative from a man who remains wholly unqualified and beneath the dignity of the office he holds?
1
Once again Democrats have proven their incompetence. They bet the farm on a fairy tale witch hunt and now have to live with the consequences, along with the fake media.
They won't have any candidate that can beat Trump in 2020 and will go into a complete meltdown when this happens.
3
The media's strong bias towards power over all else is very apparent here and part of why we have trump is the media b/c they bashed Hillary, based on falsities and innuendo ...ironically, the ivanka/jared duo really do openly break laws with minimal negative coverage - never in-depth, hard-hiting.
It seems trump's won a lot here so they go w/ him. However, this is not done and trump is a liar. Why is he unwaveringly supportive of Russia against our allies, look at what he has done/said...and he condoned a murder in Saudi Arabia.
Don't quite remember the big headlines for Hillary Clinton when she was smeared by Comey despite being cleared and, YES, fully exonerated. She had all clouds removed, yet no one ever reported that for some reason. You know Hillary is a good person for the fact that she somehow sits back and accepts this all. She has been very abused and exploited by the media. Now that is quite sad. But, of course, woman are always expendable.
The media is bolstering trump, despite the facts. I am disappointed with Mueller - not afraid to go back on my prior support for him. They used enormous resources, took a good amount of time so why did he punt to Barr, a stale relic of old, backward times. His morals/norms are trumps and he secured the all clear. I sadly wonder if all repubs would sell their soul for a win against dems including Rosenstein /Mueller. Many statements barr made during his hearings showed racism, egoism...and the memo he wrote??
1
A cloud over Trump's presidency gets more toxic.
November 3, 2020 cannot come too soon. Relieve us of this nightmare!
1
We need to acknowledge the new elephant in the room, which is that Mueller and/or Barr are secretly working on behalf of Russia.
You are part of the problem. Such a misleading headline unless you have actually read the Mueller report, NOT the Barr memo
And if you have read it, please share the full report with the public.
1
My nightmare is, "FOUR MORE YEARS!!!"
@Papercut61
Actually, six.
3
Cloud still there. Not lifted.
3
Why do I feel we have been taken for a ride?
So, Donnie's lawyer says there's no problem? Wow, I guess that is that. RELEASE THE REPORT!!! The people need to see it and we don't need to trust anyone's interpretation for us.
1
Congress! Bring in the translators to testify under oath what Trump and Putin have discussed at every meeting!
We don't know that a cloud's been lifted. All we know is that Barr, trump's flunky, says that one cloud's been lifted. But even he says that another one remains.
Shame on The Times for being so eager to appease trump supporters that they'd fall for this.
Democrats might not realize it, but this is a blessing in disguise in a couple of ways.
First, the timing of the release. Imagine if this report got released a couple of months before Nov 2020. Trump would have seen a popularity bump that would have almost certainly gotten him re-elected. Now there is a year and a half for this to fade away from public memory.
Second, the way to defeat Trump and Trumpism was never going to be through proofs of collusion. His base has already been convinced that the investigation was a conspiracy against him. Instead, Democrats should now focus on policy, issues, and governance. On income inequality. On climate change. On healthcare. On education. On infrastructure. On positioning the US for the 21st century rather than resting on its 20th century laurels. Talk relentlessly about these things and show how the Trump administration is actually harming the interests of the nation and its people.
3
It takes some digesting what happened. I had suspected that Mueller would show that Trump colluded (i.e. conspired) with the Russians. But that appears not to have been the case.
Instead, Trump appreciated, encouraged, and made use of what Putin and the Russians did for him. He did much of that out in the open, for all the nation to see, so there is no question about it.
And in truth, what Trump did is enough. For a candidate to accept and appreciate, and even thank Putin in person, for the Russians interference in the U.S. presidential election is enough to merit condemnation - and impeachment in my view.
But perhaps it is best, for the unity of the country, not to move forward to remove Trump from office, but rather to defeat him solidly at the polls, next year, making the important case that no American president should countenance such interference in our system of government by a foreign nation, no less an adversary.
Conspiracy is notoriously difficult to prove. Ask any prosecutor. Even if Trump is cleared on conspiracy with Russia to tilt the 2016 election, the Russians acted on their own to hack the election in favor of Trump. Why? The Republicans are painting the report as a broad brush exoneration of Trump and his Russian connection, when in fact Mueller was addressing a narrow question. We need to see the full report.
One of the open-ended questions that remain is why was Russia so determined to sway the US Election in Trump's favor. Of this, there is objective evidence. If it was done without any knowledge of any Trump associate (a big "if") was the end game to elect a fragile president like Trump so Russia could pursue its own ambitions unhindered by US interference? Like him or not, Putin is an intellectual heavyweight who seems to be playing a masterful hand at keeping the US angry, divided, and unable to evolve into the types of enlightened democracies that are setting the standard for a "free world" society. America used to be the leader, now we're not even on the podium.
Curious, if Mueller had said Trump conspired, would any of trump's supporters believed it? Would Trump have admitted it? Would Republicans in Congress care? Would the Dems have had the guts to go for impeachment? IMO, the same answer to all these questions explains the report. Nothing would come from any of this, we all know it. Mueller wants to pretend the rule of law exists and everything was looked into. A "we looked into it, everything is fine, our system is great!"
1
I wonder if anyone will leak the Mueller report or parts of it to the public or the press? Or will we have to wait until after the next election before we get to know the truth and why Mueller was NOT able to exonerate this president from obstruction? I think it will be best if at minimum the Judiciary Committee, the Intelligence Committee and the Oversight Committee members of congress to see the full Mueller report and all it's supportive evidence so they can make a decision and let us know what's been going on behind closed doors that we need to know.
1
One cloud lifted in a thunderstorm is not significant. Personally, I'd like to see the sun shining over the White House for change instead of gloom and doom caused by the lies and missteps of Trump.
The sun is shinning
Job Growth
USA GDP is strong while rest of world is struggling
ISIS is defeated
NK peace is in play
When one focus on the donut not the hole the sun shines most days
1
I believe the majority of Americans, patriotic, hard-working, honest, decent, are just exhausted with Donald Trump and we live for the day our lives are not continually disrupted, our patience not tried and our values not mocked on a daily basis by Donald J. Trump.
2
I think the one major flaw in Robert Mueller's investigation and one I have a hard time getting over, is that Robert Mueller did not do a face to face interview with Donald Trump under oath, and even if it meant issuing a subpoena to force him to appear before him.
"Cloud lifted" ? No way. Same cloud, different day. The cloud will remain until Trump has left DC. For good.
1
Barr had three weeks to compose his summary, so complaining about this outcome is not going to change it.
In other words, how can you obstruct if you are not guilty of a crime?
We need to face the reality.
This was all about Trump trying to hide the Trump Tower project in Moscow and it is clear that he would even bow before Putin in order to achieve those ends.
This was the primary lie above of all lies.
This was what he was trying to deflect and obstruct from.
This is what he was trying to hide.
The problem is that it is not illegal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. We may not like how Trump dealt with it, but it does not change the reality.
As for collusion or conspiracy, most certainly we can question why Trump and his campaign team did not contact the FBI when Russia was making their overtures. It is also quite clear that he took advantage of it, but that is as much a reflection of our broken political machine and culture, than it is of Trump himself.
What candidate would not go along for that kind of ride?
This does not change the fact that Trump may have committed other illegal acts, but this particular boat has already sailed and I still cannot believe that Democratic leadership has been caught so flat footed yet again.
How could they not think about this kind of an outcome? Is it not the responsibility of leadership to plan what could happen?
Welcome to Trump, the martyr candidate in 2020.
And how I fear for the country and the world!
1
Dems don’t focus on facts
On specious narratives
Media as well
NYT and WaPo wasted two years for a 1% likelihood event
Print his executive orders , print his policies but don’t print Fantasies
It brings us all down
The cloud has not now been "all but lifted" off the Trump presidency. Because there never was a cloud to lift.
The rest of us have been in the daylight the whole time. The economy looking up, unemployment at record lows, sensible judges placed on the judiciary, concern (and some action--there should be more) over the threats of mass immigration and neo-liberal globalism ...
No, the only real cloud has been in your minds, created by the radical fanaticism that is clouding the minds of millions of Americans through the media and our neo-liberal educational system. Through papers like this one.
It's the dark cloud that demonizes Americans who love our country, their ancient rights and mores, their beliefs in their Creator. The dark cloud that finds racism and sexism systemically present everywhere. The same dark cloud that fills you with irrational rage at everything this president is trying to accomplish.
Hopefully this will help to lift that cloud. But as far as I can see, there isn't much hope of that.
It's daytime in America. Come into the light. Trump 2020.
4
When the full report gets released it will likely have things that democrats don't want in the public eye. Like how a presidential candidate was surveilled based on accusations put forward by the ruling party to secret court/grand jury. Furthermore the continued conspiracy theories put forward by Adam Schiff and the like are looking a lot like Joe McCarthy tactics designed to just smear reputations. Democrats run the risk of that by holding public hearings and harassing the "accused" like they did with Brett Kavanaugh. Public lynchings where the accused are treated as guilty just displays the raw hatred that is barely concealed by house members for anyone they oppose. I hope these are televised so that is on full display for the nations voters to see. Hate is ugly in any form, for anyone.
1
The cloud is lifted. Great news for the country, that we have a president bathed in golden light, who has no financial conflicts of interest that would distract him from his ceaseless efforts to improve the lives of hardworking regular people. It's great that we have a newspaper that is not at all susceptible to bullying by the GOP noise machine, and terrific that we can now enjoy the full romance novel version of this presidency (h/t Jelani Cobb iirc).
Cloud (over presidency) lifted?
More like the fog has rolled in and the White House is deep in the mire.
This is not over! Not by a long shot.
Trump still faces all sorts of investigations in different states and by multiple FBI offices. And all the House committees investigating.
Let him take a victory lap if he wants to indulge his delusions of grandeur. But history awaits. An election awaits. And possibly multiple indictments await.
If the truth does have a voice, then that voice should be raised now to acknowledge shame in the way the whole Russia matter has been reported. It is now time for people to hear why it is that the activities of the Clintons in relation to Russia have not received any of the attention they so richly deserve.
Trump is the direct result of the corruption of news that has dogged the paid media for so long. Every time I see the man I remember the arrogance of those who thought the little people would go on voting more of the same.
3
This report makes the Democrats look really bad. For the last two years the Democrats have been screaming about Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election. Director Mueller carefully looked into the issue and found there was no collusion between President Trump and the Russians. This is yet another unresolved issue that will bedevil any Democratic candidate for the Presidency in 2020. A candidate who would like to appeal to republicans might consider issuing an apology, but I doubt this will happen.
8
@John Murray Not a Democratic candidate, but hereby apologize for ever thinking impure thoughts about the president and ever suspecting that all of the lying denials from Trump Sr, Trump Jr, Manafort, Flynn, Sessions, Pence et al regarding their meetings and associations with Russian assets had anything to do with anything; and for ever feeling that the president was anything less than a perfect gentleman and a shining example for American youth to emulate. Mea maxima culpa.
1
By all means, let us get that "Mission Accomplished" banner out. It makes as much sense now as it did then. Let us see the report, and the results of the state investigations.
3
@Joe Barnett
Joe, if the right three or four people emailed or Skyped each other about you or someone close to you thinking that they were agents of a foreign country, Mueller might well and ended up checking that out.
It could have made its way into the report. Do you really want that whole thing out in the Internet?
I think this whole thing tells us NEVER to play a bad guy in TV. Mr. Trump fired people on TV for years, so when well-crafted lies were offered people about him in 2016, they bought it all - hook, line, and sinker.
Had Trump played a hero doctor instead, would this tripe have convinced anyone?
Let it go, let it go ...
The Southern District of New York is laughing in Mueller's and Barr's faces.
They are sharpening their filleting knives to carve up the trump crime family.
7
I hate trump. That being said I think he'll get away with everything
1
@Victorious Yankee
Yes, the SDNY and Mueller, both of whom report to Barr, are sharpening their knives for Trump. Trump Derangement Syndrome at work.
Depending on your point of view the Mueller report is good news and bad news. Trump did not knowingly collude with the Russians (that's the good news for Trump and all Americans)
The bad news is that Russia used Trump and his camp and, Trump didn't even know it. He was the perfect "useful idiot" for the Russians.
17
@Tom tom, that's not what happened. You're grasping at straws
1
I wish Mueller would have found something and sent Trump's pasty white, acne covered fat butt to jail but he didn't so I'm moving on. Yes, Trump could have been classier and taken the high road and try and heal the country but he is a sick, unhinged, mentally unstable man.He cheated on his wife while she was pregnant, criticized a war hero, continues to insult women so expecting him to do what is best for the country is naive. I respect Mr. Mueller. I think he did his job very, very well. It's time for Congress especially the Democrats to get back to work. We have a global warming creating havoc everywhere just take a look at those poor Nebraska farmers, a recession looming, high health care costs, out of control deficit and student loans that may send the entire country spiraling down a very bad economy slide. If Trump wants to be re-elected this is his future.
5
You haven't seen the full report.
You are taking as fact the "summary" given to you by a Trump flunkie.
You stand by this?
This is inexcusable for a news organization!
None of this is established fact.
None of it.
17
I agree with you. The NYT is the paper of record and this is the conclusion they are blaring without having even seen the report? It is astonishing given how the media was manipulated in 2016. The Russian media is having a field day with this. It’s irresponsible at best. Nothing like objective journalism.
The Democrat Party membership needs to learn how to be gracious losers. Respect Our President. Unite behind Him. Do it for the good of Our Country.
17
@Yulia Berkovitz: I don't respect someone who is not deserving of respect. I don't think it's good for the country to have a maniac in the White House. P.S. It's the Democratic Party, not Democrat.
1
@Yulia Berkovitz It's the Democratic Party. And as for unity, how does one stand behind a compulsive liar and self-enriching con man? Not many Democrats I know will do that, and they shouldn't.
1
@Yulia Berkovitz
Unite behind him? Behind what? His love of Putin? His gutting of environmental laws? His dysfunctional foreign policy? His "team" of pro-business cabinet members? His open hostility toward women, immigrants, and minorities?
The "good of our country" calls for fighting this corrupt ego-maniac with every tool in the box.
1
Good for Trump. Now investigate Democrats
12
@NYC Dweller
Please do. Using the apparatus of the government to go after one’s political opponents will fly well in 2020. Of course, the rank hypocrisy of the GOOPs doing this would be....well, pretty much what they’re all about anyway.
It does anything but that..........
1
Have to wonder if the NYT and other "progressive" news outlets realize just how bad this news is for them? Their credibility has just been flushed.
13
"Cloud Remains" would be a more accurate headline.
Who at the Times writes these things?
9
Are we all just stupid ignoramuses Mr. Baker? Are we all blind? Are we deaf and dumb? No one, apparently, except barr has "seen" the report. Certainly, the American people have not.
8
Well it turns out Trump is just an incompetent moron, a deplorable human, a racist, an idiot, a philanderer and a fool, and not also a traitor. Way to go, Republicans! You're really making America Great.
16
Agreed! The best the GOP can say about Trump is that he is not a traitor! We haven’t just lowered the bar. We’ve dropped it to the floor.
Brilliant comment! Seriously.
DJT did nothing wrong, kinda like OJ.
Message received!
5
Russher, if you're listening, would you please hack the Mueller report so that we can all see what was actually said?
Thank you.
8
DJT is the new OJ: he got away with it.
6
None of this explains why Trump tweets like a mentally deranged crackpot. Anyone who thinks Trump is presidential is also a crackpot. Trump is the worst president ever. Anyone who supports him is way too dumb. Sorry. Collusion or no collusion, Trump is a crackpot who should be immediately impeached.
5
In reply to Angel NYC
Impeachment is not going to happen, Angel. Speaker Pelosi says “No”.
The commenters to this article would be hysterical if they were not so pathetic. No exoneration! Here's a hint: The smart people on TV and in this newspaper were lying to you for two years and you've been brainwashed. Report yourselves to the nearest deprogramming center. Save yourself man!
7
This headline is so misleading, infuriating and inaccurate. It is beneath the standards of the NY Times.
17
@Ray McKenzie
Absolutely! I just cancelled my subscription.
This victory dance will end in ears. This supposed triumph will end badly. The pendulum will swing again. Whenever the Great Sprit decreases you, It increases you first. Speaking of the Great Sprit, when Jesus returns as the evangelicals say he will, do the evangelicals still vote for DJT if Christ takes issue wth Trump?
Yes. Why? Because some (not all) are Christianists- not Christians. He could shoot someone on 5th Avenue AND be opposed by the returned Saviour and they would STILL vote for Donald.
1
This headline belongs on an op/ed piece, not the top front-page story. What were you thinking, NYT?
13
@Miki
I think they got their headline on the Op-ed piece right.
@Mickey It’s fact - not opinion. Let it be written.
1
This is a particularly dumb headline.
Barr's letter is an * attempt * to lift the cloud over the White House.
What's the matter, NYT? Isn't the news itself outrageous enough without you guys hyping it?
8
Is anyone really surprised by this turn of events? Trump's entire adult life has involved engaging in shady deals and dancing around the law while leaving other people holding the bag. People disparage his intelligence, but he clearly is an idiot savant—and breaking the law with compunction is his special genius. You don't have to like it, but you must at least acknowledge it.
2
Democrats better start appealing to stupid people like the Republicans or we have no future. Get a bunch of social media 'influencers' to take selfies with blue hats or something. Tell people that aliens are taking away their jobs. Do what you have to do to appeal to the morons that make up the American electorate asap!
6
Mike: Thank you for the compliment. Feel free to throw in a few ‘despicables’ and a reference or two about how we smell and shop at Walmart. Mention are farmer roots, our lack of east coast elite education and maybe call us stupid. Then, remember (again) that we represent the electoral majority of this country and we will be reflecting Donald Trump for another 4 year term. Sweet Dreams.
1
Big headline about the cloud lifting? Unbelievable. Well, the NYT has been in favor of Trump all along.
7
Exoneration, Trump style:
Trump-Russia Investigation
37 Indictments
5 GUILTY pleas
4 CONVICTIONS
Indicted: Roger Stone
Indicted: Paul Manafort
Indicted: Rick Gates
Indicted: George Papadopoulos
Indicted: Michael Flynn
Indicted: Michael Cohen
Indicted: Richard Pinedo
Indicted: Alex van der Zwaan
Indicted: Konstantin Kilimnik
Indicted: 12 GRU officers
Indicted: Yevgeny Prigozhin
Indicted: Mikhail Burchik
Indicted: Aleksandra Krylova
Indicted: Anna Bogacheva
Indicted: Sergey Polozov
Indicted: Maria Bovda
Indicted: Dzheykhun Aslanov
Indicted: Vadim Podkopaev
Indicted: Irina Kaverzina
Indicted: Gleb Vasilchenko
Indicted: Internet Research Agency
Indicted: Concord Management
Guilty Plea: Michael Flynn
Guilty Plea: Michael Cohen
Guilty Plea: George Papadopolous
Guilty Plea: Richard Pinedo
Guilty Plea: Alex van der Zwaan
Guilty Plea: Rick Gates
Over 191 Criminal Charges:
Conspiracy against the USA (2 counts)
Conspiracy to launder money (2 counts)
Bank fraud (8 counts)
Bank fraud conspiracy (10 counts)
Subscribing to false tax returns (10 counts)
Making false statements (6 counts)
Failure to file reports of foreign bank accounts (14 counts)
Unregistered agent of a foreign principal (2 counts)
False FARA statements (2 counts)
Subscribing to false tax returns (10 counts)
Assisting in preparation of false tax documents (5 counts)
Conspiracy to defraud the United States (13 counts)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud (2 counts)
Aggravated identity theft (24 counts)
17
@wehadallblahblahblah. I hope that long list, which must have taken hours, brought you some solace. But, the fact remains- Trump was complete exonerated on charges of collusion. Completely. As in, it didn’t happen. Nada evidence. None. Nunca. Nyet.
2
The 'cloud' over one of these two investigative subjects is resolved. We, on the other hand, continue to mired in the bovine excrement coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
1
Does it? Does it really, NYT?
6
It should trouble us that Trump has lied about and/or misrepresented and continues to misrepresent material facts. Trump lied about the reason for meeting with the Russians in Trump tower in 2016. If innocent, then why? Trump lied when he said Comey had to be fired because FBI personnel lost confidence in him. So why did he fire him?
Trump lied about "total exoneration" by a report that explicitly said the exact opposite and by calling it an illegal investigation. Trump lied about pay-offs to Daniels and McDougal and about illegal votes cast in 2016 (and set up a farcical panel to investigate this fantasy). Trump conceals his taxes despite a majority of Americans wanting to see them (he lied that only the media wanted to see them). The Times has reported that Trump schemed to illegally cheat on his taxes by setting up a phony shell company to inflate costs at his rental properties. Trump lied to get junk bonds issued for his casino, then defaulted on the bond payments, causing big losses for the lenders and making him a bank-recognized toxic loan risk. He tried to avoid casino bankruptcy by illegally buying $2 million in chips and not cashing them in. This president has a history of illegal acts that spans his career. Despite (a minority of) voters voting for him, Trump committed those illegal acts and should be held accountable for them.
Did we expect that Trump colluded with the Russians? He probably would have screwed it up if he had, and the Russians did not need him.
4
Somewhere in the depths of hell, Roy Cohn is smiling. His "A student" has dodged another set of potential charges, and a very large portion of the country has bought into the Roy Cohn world view: unless you’re convicted, it means nothing.
But I’ve still got hope, and I have to believe that, when all is said and done, the country still seeks leaders of personal honor.
3
This is a great day for democrats. Had the president been indicted and/or impeached, half of the country would have thought he was a victim of politics. Now that he has been cleared in any collusion with Russia people can get back to focusing on the substance of the matter-that he is a shmuck with low morals, little competence, and is doing an all-around poor job as President. More than 60% of the U.S. feels this way, which is bye-bye in 2020, so long as Democrats don't screw this up.
3
@DispatchesVA
I wish more Democrats saw this thing as you do.
It's a little annoying that no one on TV or the print press is doing an analyzes that asks whether or not it is possible that Trump's collusion was exonerated because of lack of evidence because, here's the point, defendants kept their traps shut. It seems like Manafort didn't talk and so Trump can walk.
Also what would be a clear, possible case of provable collusion. This latter seems especially troubling: if a Trump tower was going up as I type this and all Russian sanctions had been lifted and an email found stating the quid pro quo is that sufficient. I guess not. Or all but the email? Is that good. It seems like it should rest with suspicious, but, like mob-city, no rat and not enough evidence: the bum walks. Trump and clan could be guilty as hell, but the press seems to be only able to see "exonerated." Worse.
It seems possible that no collusion could have been a foregone conclusion -- it is never possible. When you consider the litany of examples of interaction between various people related to the campaign and the nefarious activities of Russia -- why wasn't that deemed collusion. Collusion, not provable and not chargeable. What is Mueller's litmus test, if any? More.
What would genuinely exonerate Trump is if unbeknownst to him Russia meddled in the election to help him. Once he's asked for help during a campaign rally or anywhere else he seems to have colluded. Is the precedent: every struggling candidate can ask for help from Russia? No crime.
2
Trump, show us your tax returns!
If Clinton had been elected without showing us her tax returns, Fox and Republicans would be shouting lock her up.
Oh, wait a minute, they already are shouting that.
5
If we have any chance of reducing the current polarization in our political and social systems so that Congress and other arms of the federal government can govern effectively, we should take a longer view, summon up at least a small dose of humor, and step away from the brink. I agree with Pelosi--impeachment is not a good idea absent compelling evidence of an impeachable offense committed while in office.
Better to move away as we are able from the politics of personal assassination and move toward pure policy debates. That may be beyond Trump but it should not be beyond us. If enough people--legislators and the public both--engage in reasoned and civil political discourse, Trump's irrational base, Tea Party-like, will move closer and closer to marginalization and irrelevance. Then 2020 should take care of itself. High aspirations, I know, but I have to believe that over time and in the receding shadow of this moment, cooler heads will prevail. That which we have built over the last 2 1/2 centuries cannot be undone in a single term.
2
Republicans say the Mueller investigation was costly, estimating $25 million. WHy don't they complain about the cost of Trump going golfing? Conservatively estimating 35 trips to Mar-a-lago since he became president (NBC news says he spent 91 days there as of Feb. 5, 2019) at $3.4 million per trip (NPR says government accountability office calculated an average cost of $3.4 million), the cost of his going to Florida to golf and watch Fox news there instead of the white house exceeds $100 million so far. I don't hear republicans complaining about that waste of taxpayer dollars or the double-dealing by which our taxes pay Mar-a-lago to house and feed Trump, his family, his staff, and his security detail. This cost estimate excludes his trips to his other properties, like his golf course in New Jersey. I can think of many better ways to spend $100 million in taxpayer money (feeding the working poor?) than flying a "billionaire" to and from his royal estate and golf outings.
6
@M Hoberman
The Muller indictments and convictions and deals with those who admitted guilt have yielded far, far in excess of what’s been spent.
3
this is a loss for dems in my opinion. they put way too much stock into this report. when you spend the better part of two years constantly touting this as the thing that would bring trump down, anything less than egeregious, undisputable, impeachable offenses is going to make this look like an overeager, partisan hit job.
doubling down on this narrative after this would be a mistake. there simply isnt enough concrete proof here for there to be any shot at impeachment. dems need to focus on putting together a solid platform for 2020 and win back the white house on the basis of their policies.
4
Loyal and passionate Trump supporters are celebrating. All Republicans running for re-election are jubilant. Enjoy. But what does the "man on the street" take away from these findings? I suggest it is this. The top dogs always get away with it. The system works for them but not for the little guys. They rig the system -- the justice system, the economic system, the political system, all of it. When Trump and his Republican allies hit the campaign trail bragging about this vindication and blaming Democrats for the "witch hunt," a little voice in the heads of ordinary working people will say, "Yeah, you got away with it. Again." And some them will say, "The only power I have is my one vote and this time, I will use it to strike a blow against the big guys and the rigged system."
2
In reply to abigail49 georgia
Your last sentence describes the motivation of all Trump voters in November 2016. We never thought we would win.
The fact that Barr is widely described as having “auditioned” and being “hand-picked” puts anything he says or does into question.
7
Thanks to what Mueller has uncovered and handed off to other prosecutors, this isn't the end of what the public will learn with respect to trump's corruption, and possible crimanality. Trump surrounded himself with a revolving door of associates with sketchy, criminal ties to shady Russians -- connections that trump and his associates have repeatedly lied about. If there was no wrongdoing, then why the countless lies? Given what was known by intelligence agencies about Russian interference, and trump's own behavior, it would've been negligent not to investigate.
To those who blame Democrats for an alleged "witch hunt", remember that the investigation was lead by a Republican, assigned as special counsel by another Republican. The dossier was first commissioned by Republicans, a fact that right wing pundits conveniently leave out of the narrative. The report was vetted by a Republican, about his Republican boss, trump, who has only himself to blame for the scrutiny his questionable behavior has drawn.
But let's blame Democrats - for no reason other than it's politically expedient to do so - while selectively ignoring the crimes and corruption that the investigation actually uncovered, and gloating because a so-called president was able to beat the rap. What a disgrace.
3
Please stop making final conclusions until we see the Mueller report. Barr likely has put lipstick on a pig. The Barr summary is oblique and uses fragmented sentences that may be out of context. Barr should immediate release the Mueller report summary and conclusion sections.
9
It's over, and you know it. The attention of the American people will now move on. The media is now (even further) discredited in the eyes of most of the public, and Trump has established in most of their minds that the investigations are baseless persecution.
Trump is a corrosive poison to everything that supports a Republic. But that won't matter now.
2
I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through...
1
The outcome of the investigation doesn't surprise me. The bar for criminal charges is high, as it should be, but it's become ridiculously obvious that Trump surrounds himself with low-lives. So much for draining the swamp.
4
"China if you're listening“, I hope you’re able to find the tens of thousands of digital communications between Trumps' gang, Russia, Deutsche Bank and the gas and oil industry, “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”
6
So you want more government interference from a hostile foreign nation?
I simply do not believe Mr. Barr's summary. Attorneys write in hedges and conditionals and I am sure, given the enormity and sensitivity of Mueller's task, he engaged in much of that. I would be truly shocked to my core if the report actually draws a conclusion that Trump was not involved in collusion with Russia.
I'm sure we will find out in the coming days.
7
I imagine the actual report will be full of oddities, skullduggery, and other sordid stuff. But it's conclusions are not all that unexpected. Reality is usually pretty mundane and anti-climactic.
This should be the end of the Democratic party. This dismal state of affairs is their fault, from the content of the leaked emails to their handling of it. They have had choices on the way to clean up their act but, they have blankly refused at every juncture. Not one thing has changed since the emails revealed that the DNC rigs its primaries, and yet here we are in the middle of another fake primary with everyone going along with it like it’s a real thing. It’s weird. In a healthy democratic republic the party would be dead already, and a new one would’ve taken its place fueled by fresh energy and enthusiasm but the donor-class corruption is so deeply entrenched that that possibility has seemed like a fantasy.
5
It seems the Republicans have nearly complete control of our Judicial system and are using it to allow Trump to run our nation as his kingdom. The Democrats must stand up and confront them more forcefully--now--before they totally consolidate power and turn US into a dictatorship, which is where Trump is taking us. I suppose we'll need to put millions of protestors in our streets very soon to express our outrage.
5
So we have some good and bad here. One it's good that the campaign did not collude with the Russian Government. BUT I find that wording peculiar. As in did not collude with the "RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT". But if you colluded with a "friend" of the Russian government, is that included under the same umbrella? So I really need to see the full report - or at a minimum need a bi-partisan congressional group to see it to acknowledge "we've seen it, its ok". It's a bit odd that 2 years of work, numerous indictments and convictions and the new guy (political appointee) on the job is able to distil it down in 1 day. What we still DO know however is that direct criminal or not, his "best people" that he surrounds himself with are certainly criminals. That alone makes me think he is unfit to hold office.
4
That what the Democrats did via the DNC before and during the 2016 presidential primary was demonstrably more harmful to US democracy than anything Trump or his minions were alleged to have done, much less been indicted for?
Just hours after reports that Rep. Devin Nunes will refer criminal charges against Clinton operatives & high-level FBI & DOJ officials for perpetuating the Russiagate hoax for over three years, The Wall Street Journal's outspoken voice of reason, Kimberley Strassel, stresses that Americans deserve a full accounting of the missteps of Comey and the FBI.
4
I think Mr. Mueller did a great job. He followed the facts and helped the country move forward against corruption in this administration. Now it's up to all of us. Go out and vote in every election. It's how our American Democracy works.
2
Are these the REAL conclusions, or did Barr filter/censor them?
4
Boy am I naive. I thought Mueller was going to slay the dragon dictator, but he's managed to give him an even bigger platform of hatred. Two years for this? We've lost our democracy.
3
I just listened to Sarah Sanders diatribe. I feel sick and despair for this country. The reason Donald Trump was investigated by Robert Mueller was the result of his own irresponsible, manipulative and dishonest behavior. No matter which political party one belongs to... I believe very few American Citizens wanted to discover that Mr. Trump was a foreign agent working for or conspiring with Vladimir Putin. No one! Again, it was Mr. Trump's dishonest and irresponsible behavior that elicited and caused the investigation. My advice to Ms. Sanders. Stop trying to generate more paranoia and move on.
3
I'm deeply troubled by the Times' headline here -- "Special Counsel's Conclusions Lift a Cloud over Trump's Presidency." How can this possibly "lift a cloud" when we don't know what was in the report w/r/t obstruction? When we don't know who will see the full report, and when?
We don't know whether Barr had reason to act on obstruction, but chose instead to simply protect the President. So why oh why is the NYTimes giving the illusion that this is clear-cut, and thus giving credence to Trump's assertions that he's done nothing wrong? If anything, this debacle of a "release" just muddies the waters further. I'm tremendously disappointed in the Times.
6
Nope. Just checked. The cloud is still there.
3