Bill Barr says Mueller report entirely clears Trump on Russian collusion AND obstruction

Attorney General Bill Barr publicly cleared Donald Trump of obstructing justice at a rushed press conference on the Mueller report– as he explained Trump's conduct by saying the 'frustrated' president was acting out of a belief that the probe was undermining his presidency.

'There is substantial evidence to show that the president was frustrated and angered by his sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents and fueled by illegal leaks,' Barr said, just hours before he said he would make public the redacted version of Mueller's work.

He said the evidence of 'non-corrupt motives' on the part of the president 'weighs heavily' on the matter. Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein previously decided after reviewing the Mueller report not to charge Trump with obstruction of justice – even after Barr acknowledged the report does not 'exonerate' Trump on obstruction.

'President Trump faced an unprecedented situation' when he took office, explained Barr, noting there was 'relentless speculation' about his 'personal culpability' in Russian election interference – which Barr and the report say did occur.

'Yet as he said from the beginning, there was in fact no collusion,' said Barr, using language that the president tweeted just minutes before he took the podium.

William Barr outlined his reasons Thursday for not pursuing an obstruction of justice charge against President Trump ahead of Mueller's report.





MailOnline