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'
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
A senior Justice official has said the special counsel is not recommending any further indictments, according to CNN.
An interesting point from New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman...
Mr Schumer says attorney general Will Bar "must not give President Trump or his lawyers any sneak preview" of Robert Mueller's report.
While answering reporters' questions, Mr Schumer is emphasising his desire for the report to be made public. On the subject he says: "The demand of the public is overwhelming ... it will be made public."
He also said: 'The White House must not be allowed to interfere in what parts of the report are made public."
Although a short address, the message from the Democratic Leadership there was clear: the report should be public.
That's all for today's coverage on Donald Trump, the White House and Robert Mueller's report. Thanks for reading along.
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