Bob Mueller Congressional Testimony
The Russian government’s effort to interfere in our election is among the most serious. As I said on May 29, this deserves the attention of every American.
-Bob Mueller
Over the course of your investigation, you obtained criminal indictments against 37 people and entities. You secured the conviction of President Trump’s campaign chairman, his deputy campaign manager, his national security advisor, and his personal lawyer, among others. In the Paul Manafort case alone, you recovered as much as $42 million so that the cost of your investigation to the taxpayers approaches zero. And in your report, you offer the country accountability as well. In volume one, you find that the Russian government attacked our 2016 elections, “In a sweeping and systematic fashion,” and that the attacks were designed to benefit the Trump campaign. Volume two walks us through 10 separate incidents of possible obstruction of justice where, in your words, President Trump attempted to exert undue influence over your investigation. The president’s behavior included, and I quote from your report, “Public attacks on the investigation, non-public efforts to control it, and efforts in both public and private to encourage witnesses not to cooperate.”
Jerry Nadler
Jerry Nadler: Director Mueller, the president has repeatedly claimed that your report found there was no obstruction and that it completely and totally exonerated him, but that is not what your report said, is it?
Robert Mueller: 00:13 Correct, that is not what the report said.
Jerry Nadler: Now reading from page two of volume two of your report that’s on the screen, you wrote, “If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgement.” Now does that say there was no obstruction?
Robert Mueller: 00:41 No.
Jerry Nadler: 01:21 And what about total exoneration? Did you actually totally exonerate the president?
Robert Mueller: 01:26 No.
Jerry Nadler: 01:27 No, in fact, your reports expressly states it does not exonerate the president.
Robert Mueller: 01:32 It does.
Jerry Nadler: 01:33 And your investigation actually found, “Multiple acts by the president that were capable of exerting undue influence over law enforcement investigations, including the Russian interference and obstruction investigations.” Is that correct?
Robert Mueller: 01:47 Correct.
Here's A Thing... 