After White House Special Counsel Robert Mueller revealed his report on the 675-day investigation into alleged collusion between the Russia and President Donald Trump’s campaign, Attorney General William Barr sent a letter to Congress detailing that Trump’s campaign neither conspired nor coordinated with Russia to interfere in the 2016 general election. Moreover, Barr stated in his letter that the report “does not conclude that the President committed a crime.”
However, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), who is also vice-chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is not buying the attorney general’s summary and explanation of the report.
“Congress and the American people deserve to judge the facts for themselves. The Special Counsel’s report must be provided to Congress immediately, and the Attorney General should swiftly prepare a declassified version of the report for the public. Nothing short of that will suffice,” Senator Warner said in a press release.
“It is also critical that all documents related to the Special Counsel’s investigation be preserved and made available to the appropriate Congressional committees,” he added. “Any attempt by the Trump Administration to cover up the results of this investigation into Russia’s attack on our Democracy would be unacceptable.”
Attorney General Barr reiterated in his letter that he is “mindful of the public interest” in the special counsel’s report, and his “goal and intent is to release as much of the Special Counsel’s report as I can consistent with applicable law, regulations, and Departmental policies.”
Weeks ago, Senator Warner claimed there were “enormous amounts of evidence” suggesting collusion between President Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.
“Where that evidence leads, in terms of a conclusion — and we still have some of those key people to come back — I’m going to reserve judgment until I’m finished,” Warner said on NBC‘s “Meet the Press,” according to The Hill.
“There’s no one that could factually say there’s not plenty of evidence of collaboration or communications between Trump Organization and Russians,” he added.
Nevertheless, the report is a vindication of the president, coming just short of declaring him a victim in the nearly two-year process.