Former special counsel Robert Mueller confirmed on Wednesday that his report on Russian interference in the 2016 election does not exonerate President Donald Trump, as the president has claimed. He also confirmed the president refused to be interviewed by him or his team.
Mueller’s testimony came as he was being grilled by Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee. Mueller spent Wednesday morning before the committee, discussing his report on Russian interference in the election and potential objection of justice.
Nadler asked, “Director Mueller, the president has repeatedly claimed that your report found there was no obstruction and that it completely and totally exonerated him, but that is not what your report said, is it?”
“Correct,” Mueller responded. “It is not what the report said.”
Nadler continued to ask for confirmations.
“In fact, you were actually unable to conclude the president did not commit obstruction of justice. Is that correct?” he asked.
“We, at the outset, determined that when it came to the president’s culpability, we needed to go forward only after taking into account the [Office of Legal Counsel] opinion that indicated that a president — a sitting president — cannot be indicted,” he said.
The report did not include a statement that Trump did not commit obstruction, Mueller said Wednesday before also confirming his report states expressly states it does not exonerate the president.
“The finding indicates that the president was not exculpated for the acts that he allegedly committed,” Mueller told the congressman when asked to explain in plain terms.
Did any senior White House official refuse an offer to be interviewed by Mueller or his team?
“I don’t believe so,” said Mueller.
Did the president refuse?
“Yes.”
Watch above via MSNBC.