From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
WASHINGTON — Although he already released a complete report on his investigation into Russian collusion, special counsel Robert Mueller made public comments on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, about his work.
As stated in the report, Mueller said a sitting president cannot be charged with a federal crime. He said that fact influenced how he conducted his investigation.
“That is unconstitutional,” he said. “Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view, that, too, is prohibited.
“Charging the president with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider,” Mueller said.
Mueller’s team was allowed to investigate President Trump when looking into allegations there was Russian interference with the 2016 election. Mueller said if he could say, with confidence, that Trump did not commit a crime, he would. He went onto say pursuing the matter “requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse the president of wrongdoing.”
Mueller did not release any new information but did say there would be no need for him to testify before Congress because all the information he has is in the original report. He said he will not speak further about his findings.
“We are formally closing the special counsel’s office and as well I am resigning from the Department of Justice to return to private life,” Mueller said.
He did not take questions.
