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As it happenedended

Mueller report: 'No indictments' after special counsel delivers report on Trump-Russia probe

White House says the next steps are 'up to Attorney General William Barr'

 

Lucy Anna Gray
New York
,Clark Mindock
Friday 22 March 2019 19:35 EDT
Comments
Donald Trump launches furious tirade against Mueller on White House lawn as he calls Comey a 'bad cop'

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Special counsel Robert Mueller has submitted a report to the attorney general’s office, signalling the end to a two year investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.

Mr Mueller did not recommend any further indictments, a senior Justice Department official said. Although no specific information from the report has been made available yet, this announcement may suggest no more criminal charges against Donald Trump associates from the investigation.

The report has been handed to Attorney General William Barr, who President Trump selected at the end of 2018.

Donald Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida when the Justice Department announced the reports arrival.

In response to the report White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: “The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course. The White House has not received or been briefed on the Special Counsel’s report.”

After news of Mr Mueller finishing his report, Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer spoke to press, emphasising the party message that the report “must be made public.”

“The White House must not be allowed to interfere in what parts of the report are made public,” Mr Schumer said. “The demand of the public is overwhelming ... it will be made public.”

The US special counsel’s investigators have looked into a large number of contacts between people associated with Mr Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.

Mr Mueller sought to determine whether the campaign coordinated with Moscow, though it was not immediately clear whether the special counsel found evidence of a conspiracy.

Follow events as they happened below

Additional reporting by Reuters

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer is not letting the president's slurs against the late John McCain go.

He's rather brilliantly turned the tables on Donald Trump by suggesting renaming the oldest Senate offices in Washington after the late senator and war veteran.

Now that's taking the fight to the former real estate mogul in terms he can understand.

Joe Sommerlad22 March 2019 13:35
Joe Sommerlad22 March 2019 13:50

Joe Sommerlad22 March 2019 14:15

Setting out for Mar-a-Lago, the president tells reporters on the White House lawn the accusation his staff are not co-operating with House committees is "just a continuation of the same witch hunt" and urges Congress to "get infrastructure done".

The below exchange in particular was beyond shameless.

Joe Sommerlad22 March 2019 14:25
Joe Sommerlad22 March 2019 14:40

Trump ally Lindsey Graham appears to have gotten over the president's attack on his dear friend John McCain pretty quickly.

He's now back at his boss's side towing the party line.

Joe Sommerlad22 March 2019 14:55

Donald Trump is en route to his resort in south Florida, where the weather is nice and sunny.

Mr Trump made some news before boarding Marine One this morning, accusing democrats of being "anti-Jewish" at one point, a divisive statement that comes as he announced America's new position that the Golan Heights belong to Israel.

Clark Mindock22 March 2019 15:18

Here's a senior political analyst for Fox News, weighing in on Donald Trump's recent attacks on John McCain.

Clark Mindock22 March 2019 15:31

In case you've missed it, we have our Middle East correspondent Richard Hall in Lebanon, where US secretary of State Mike Pompeo is visiting for some talks on Lebanon.

Take a look at his live coverage from his Twitter account:

Clark Mindock22 March 2019 15:45

Before today's talks in Lebanon, Mr Pompeo made some news with some comments that Donald Trump may have been sent by God to save the Israeli people.

"As a Christian I certainly believe that's possible," Mr Pompeo said on Thursday during an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network.

Clark Mindock22 March 2019 16:00

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