I'm f****d: Trump after Mueller was appointed for Russian probe
US President Donald Trump's first reaction to Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel was "this is the end of my Presidency" and the President was so furious that he reacted with an expletive, according to the counsel's report. According to the report, when Trump got to know about the appointment, he slumped back in his chair and said, "I'm f****d." Here's more.
Mueller's report found "no evidence" between Trump's campaign, Russian govt
In a major relief to President Donald Trump, the nearly two-year probe by Mueller found "no evidence" of a "collusion" between the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 US elections, Attorney General William Barr announced on Thursday.
Russian operatives didn't have the cooperation of Trump, said Barr
Barr said that the redacted report released yesterday made it clear that the Russian government sought to interfere in American elections, "but thanks to the special counsel's thorough investigation, we now know that the Russian operatives who perpetrated these schemes did not have the cooperation of President Trump or the Trump campaign". Trump first got to know about Mueller's appointment in May 2017.
Trump got to know about Mueller's appointment from Jeff Sessions
Trump first learned that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller as special counsel from then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions during a meeting to interview candidates for FBI director in May 2017, the report said. Also present were Sessions' chief of staff Jody Hunt and then-White House counsel Don McGahn. After Sessions delivered the news, "the President slumped back in his chair", the CNN reported.
This is terrible, it's the end of my Presidency: Trump
Trump said, "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm f****d," stated report. Trump became "angry and lambasted" Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia investigation. He asked his attorney general, "How could you let this happen, Jeff?" Trump told Sessions, "'you were supposed to protect me,' or words to that effect," Sessions recalled, the Mueller report stated.
Trump told Sessions that he should resign: Report
"Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels, it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years and I won't be able to do anything," said Trump, adding, "This is the worst thing that ever happened to me," according to the report. He then even told Sessions that he should resign, the report further stated.
Trump tucked Sessions' resignation letter in his pocket
Sessions agreed, left the Oval Office, and the next day returned to the White House to hand Trump his resignation letter, said report. Trump tucked Sessions' resignation letter in his pocket but then proceeded to ask Sessions multiple times if he wanted to remain attorney general. Sessions said he wished to remain attorney general but said it was up to Trump, the report said.
Mueller was appointed following firing of FBI Director James Comey
Sessions continued serving as the attorney general for another year, but was ousted in November 2018 by Trump, who remained upset over his decision to step away from the Russia probe. Mueller was appointed following the firing of FBI Director James Comey to oversee the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, including potential collusion between Trump's campaign associates and Russian officials.
Mueller probe was 'greatest political hoax of all time': Trump
Mueller's team also investigated whether Trump obstructed justice. The probe could not clear Trump, saying that it was unable to determine that "that no criminal conduct occurred". Earlier yesterday, President Trump said the Mueller probe was "Greatest Political Hoax of all time!"
Cannot take Attorney General word for it: Democratic Congressman Nadler
"Crimes were committed by Crooked, Dirty Cops and DNC/The Democrats," tweeted Trump, referring to Clinton as "Crooked". Meanwhile, Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler said he had sent a letter to Mueller - requiring his testimony before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee by May-23. "We cannot take Attorney General Barr's word for it. We must read full Mueller report, and the underlying evidence," Nadler said.
