Special counsel Robert Mueller ends investigation

After a 22-month investigation, charges against 37 defendants, seven guilty pleas and one conviction at trial, the Justice Department announced Friday that the special counsel’s office has wrapped up its probe into Russian election interference, possible Trump campaign collusion with Moscow and obstruction of justice.
A senior Justice Department official told CNN there are no more indictments coming from special counsel Robert Mueller.
Mueller submitted a confidential report to Attorney General William Barr Friday detailing the decisions his team made to prosecute or not prosecute those who were investigated, Barr said in a letter to lawmakers.
Barr wrote that he “may be in a position to advise you of the special counsel’s principal conclusions as soon as this weekend.”
The expectation is that lawmakers will receive the principal conclusions, in writing, from Barr this weekend, according to a Justice Department official. That distillation from Barr will be made public.President Donald Trump and the White House has not seen Mueller’s findings, press secretary 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,” Sanders said in a statement.
The completion of the special counsel’s investigation marks the end of one of the most dramatic chapters in Donald Trump’s presidency, one that led to numerous criminal charges against and guilty pleas by some of his closest associates. The conclusion of the investigation, however, opens a new chapter into the fallout from the report, a potentially fraught political battle over the extent to which its contents are made public and further investigations from congressional Democrats.
It’s too soon to say what Mueller’s report will ultimately mean for the President, but surviving the investigation without being subpoenaed for a sit down interview with the special counsel’s team is a significant triumph for Trump and his legal team.
It’s not clear what Mueller uncovered about Trump’s involvement or advance knowledge, if any, of WikiLeaks release of damaging information about Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. The special counsel’s findings on the question of obstruction of justice are also unknown, but Trump’s allies will likely argue anything short of a criminal indictment proves the President did nothing wrong.A looming fight over Mueller’s report
Barr wrote in his letter that Justice Department leaders never told the special counsel throughout the investigation a proposed action should not be pursued.
The fight to make Mueller’s report public could be fierce and possibly spark a court battle between Congress and the executive branch. Key House Democrats have said that the full report that Mueller submitted to Barr should be made public, and they intend to subpoena for the document — and Mueller’s underlying evidence — if it is not handed over to Congress. White House lawyers, meanwhile, expect to have an opportunity to review whatever Barr intends to submit to Congress and the public.
Congressional Democrats and Democratic presidential candidates issued a flurry of statements Friday demanding that Barr make Mueller’s full report public, along with Mueller’s evidence.
“We look forward to getting the full Mueller report and related materials,” said House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat. “Transparency and the public interest demand nothing less. The need for public faith in the rule of law must be the priority.”
Republicans also said they wanted to see Mueller’s findings made public, though most included the caveat that Barr himself has stated publicly that the attorney general had to follow Justice Department guidelines.
“I will work with ranking member (Dianne) Feinstein and our House Judiciary Committee colleagues to ensure as much transparency as possible, consistent with the law,” said Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham.
Graham, a South Carolina Republican, also noted that Trump did not interfere in Mueller’s investigation, something Democrats expressed concerns about throughout the course of the investigation. “I have always believed it was important that Mr. Mueller be allowed to do his job without interference, and that has been accomplished,” Graham said.