Mueller: Donald Trump investigated for 10 possible episodes of obstruction of justice

Attorney General Bill Barr held a press conference hours before release of the Mueller report.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated 10 episodes of potential obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump, Attorney General Bill Barr said.

In advance of the release of Mueller’s full redacted report, Barr held a press conference Thursday morning.

“The report recounts 10 episodes involving the president and discusses potential legal theories for connecting those activities to the element of an obstruction offense,” Barr said.

Barr said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein carefully reviewed all of Mueller’s findings and legal theories. Both Justice Department leaders ultimately determined there was not sufficient evidence the president committed an obstruction of justice offense.

“Although the Deputy Attorney General and I disagreed with some of the special counsel’s legal theories, and felt that some of the episodes examined did not amount to obstruction as a matter of law, we did not rely solely on that in making our decision,” Barr said.

Nadler also said it was important to bear in mind the president’s mindset in those episodes. Trump feared an “unprecedented” scrutiny of his pre-election activities and speculation by the media was undermining his presidency, Barr said.

Barr said the Justice department accepted Mueller’s legal framework in its own analysis to reach a conclusion.

The Attorney General also said Mueller made clear he did not make a finding on whether a charge should be brought based on the law. He did not base that on Justice Department policy that a sitting president could not be indicted.

That Barr held a press conference in advance of the report’s release already drew criticism from Democrats.

Rep. Jerold Nadler, House Judiciary Chair, said at a press conference Wednesday evening that Barr “appears to be waging a media campaign on behalf of President Trump.”

Florida Democratic Reps. Val Demings and Ted Deutch stood alongside Nadler at that press conference.

Barr said a full version of the report will be released today at 11 a.m. The report will go over evidence of a Russian disinformation campaign.

Barr said a number of Russian government officials and associates have cases pending and defendants remain a large.

He reiterated Mueller found no evidence any American colluded with Russia’s attempts to interfere with the election.