Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team produced summaries of core investigative findings but didn’t submit the documents to the Justice Department’s leadership in a way that could allow for their quick release to Congress and the public, according to people familiar with the matter.
The summaries were included as part of an overall confidential report that Mueller submitted to Attorney General William Barr last month, ending his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign and whether President Donald Trump or any of his associates conspired in the election meddling effort.
News reports have raised questions about whether Barr could have easily released the summaries, rather than issue his own short, four-page description of Mueller’s principal conclusions on March 24.
Two people familiar with the matter said the summaries in Mueller’s report had markings indicating that some parts had to be reviewed and withheld, potentially including information related to grand jury proceedings.
According to Barr, the Mueller report didn’t establish that Trump or his campaign conspired with Russia but was less decisive on obstruction – citing “difficult issues” of fact and law. Mueller’s report “does not exonerate” the president on that point, Barr wrote.
https://archive.fo/YnmWo
[Bloomberg]