Robert Mueller Spoke For The First Time In Two Years. His Ten-Minute Statement Offered No New Information.

Mike Norris, Co-Editor, The American Dossier

On Wednesday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller made his first public statement since May 2017, when he was appointed to lead the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. During what was essentially a ten-minute televised “Cliff’s Notes” version of his March report, Mueller offered little in the way of new information.

Mueller began his statement by declaring his investigation “complete.” He continued by stating that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is closing the Special Counsel’s office and that he will be resigning from the agency, to return to private life.

Mueller then directed attention away from himself and back to the 448-page report stating, "It is important that the office's written work speaks for itself."

Reiterating the main points offered in his report, Mueller stated that Russian intelligence officers, who are part of the Russian military, “launched a concerted effort on our political system.” Mueller explained, “They used sophisticated cyber techniques to hack into computers and networks used by the Clinton campaign.”

Mueller continued his statement by explaining that his office did not “make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime.” He stated that, “Charging the president with a crime was...not an option we could consider.” Mueller said he believed such an action would be unconstitutional.

Mueller explained that since he could not indict President Trump, it was inappropriate to offer a conclusion about whether or not the President obstructed justice.

Mueller then defended Attorney General William Barr’s release of his report — a subject of previous disagreement between the two. Although he and Barr had differed over how to release the report, Mueller stated, “I certainly do not question the attorney general’s good faith in that decision.” Mueller also complimented Barr’s decision to make almost the entire report public.

Mueller stressed that he would not comment further on the actions of the DOJ or Congress. He suggested that Congressional Democrats were wasting their time in seeking his testimony because he would simply repeat what he stated in his report.

“The report is my testimony,” Mueller said. He added: “I am making that decision myself. No one has told me whether I can or should testify or speak further about this matter.”

Given the lack of new information produced in his statement, it is curious as to why Mueller chose now to break his silence. All of the points laid out had already been made in Mueller’s two-part report submitted to the DOJ in March. The report has been available to the public since last month. But apparently, few in Washington have read the 448-page report.

Despite the fact that Mueller’s statement introduces no new information, some Democrats are using the event as justification for an impeachment inquiry. At least three 2020 presidential candidates (U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)) are now calling for an impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump’s presidency.

But the Democrat that matters most, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), did not call for an impeachment inquiry. The House is the only U.S. government body with the congressional authority to begin an impeachment inquiry. It’s also the only U.S. government body that Democrats currently control.

For weeks, Speaker Pelosi has fought to rein in rogue Progressives calling for President Trump’s impeachment. And Mueller's remarks did not appear to change the Speaker’s mind.

Speaking at an event at the Commonwealth Club of California, Pelosi stressed that the majority of Congress did not support impeachment. "I think it's like 35 of them out of 238, maybe its 38 out of 238, have said they wanted to be outspoken on impeachment," Pelosi stated. "Yes, there are some, and the press makes more of a fuss about the 38 than the 200, who are over half of the Congress."

Just one Republican in Congress, Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), has called for President Trump’s impeachment. The move has already drawn Amash a primary challenge, from State Rep. Jim Lower (R-Greenville).

After Mueller’s statement, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), declared the Russia investigation "case closed." The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), said Wednesday that it would be the final word on the investigation.

The nation’s No. 2 Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), sent out a string of tweets similar in tone to Pelosi’s but avoided the word “impeachment” entirely.

Shortly after Mueller concluded, the President seemed confident that the matter had concluded, tweeting: “Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you”