WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABC) — Special Counsel Robert Mueller's much-anticipated report, the product of nearly two years of investigation, has now been handed to the Justice Department for Attorney General Bill Barr’s review, and Congress has been notified of the transfer, a Justice Department spokeswoman just announced.
“We’re pleased that the Office of Special Counsel has delivered its report to the Attorney General pursuant to the regulations. Attorney General Barr will determine the appropriate next steps," said Rudy Giuliani & Jay Sekulow, who serve as legal counsel to the President.
According to federal regulations, the special counsel's final report should be "a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel."
After reviewing Mueller's report, Barr will then send what he has described as his own "report" on the Mueller investigation to the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate judiciary committees.
Barr has promised to be as transparent as possible, but it's unclear how extensive or detailed Barr's own "report" to Congress will be. According to a senior DOJ official, Mueller is not recommending any further indictments in the Russia investigation.
You can read the letter AG Bill Barr sent to chairmen on the House and Senate judiciary committees here.
Now, both the White House and U.S. legislators are commenting on the report's release:
The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course. The White House has not received or been briefed on the Special Counsel’s report.
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) March 22, 2019
Special counsel Mueller’s report should be made public without any delay. The American people have a right to know its findings.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) March 22, 2019
Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:
“Now that Special Counsel Mueller has submitted his report to the Attorney General, it is imperative for Mr. Barr to make the full report public and provide its underlying documentation and findings to Congress. Attorney General Barr must not give President Trump, his lawyers or his staff any ‘sneak preview’ of Special Counsel Mueller's findings or evidence, and the White House must not be allowed to interfere in decisions about what parts of those findings or evidence are made public. “The Special Counsel’s investigation focused on questions that go to the integrity of our democracy itself: whether foreign powers corruptly interfered in our elections, and whether unlawful means were used to hinder that investigation. The American people have a right to the truth. The watchword is transparency.”
Statement from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell:
“I welcome the announcement that the Special Counsel has finally completed his investigation into Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 elections. Many Republicans have long believed that Russia poses a significant threat to American interests. I hope the Special Counsel’s report will help inform and improve our efforts to protect our democracy. “I am grateful we have an experienced and capable Attorney General in place to review the Special Counsel’s report. Attorney General Barr now needs the time to do that. “The Attorney General has said he intends to provide as much information as possible. As I have said previously, I sincerely hope he will do so as soon as he can, and with as much openness and transparency as possible.”
Statement from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina):
“The Department of Justice has notified me and Ranking Member Feinstein that the Mueller Report has been turned over to Attorney General Barr. This notification indicates that Attorney General Barr will pursue as much transparency as possible. “Importantly, the notification also indicates that there were no areas of disagreement between the Attorney General or the Acting Attorney General and Special Counsel Mueller regarding courses of action. This information is specifically required to be disclosed by the regulations governing Special Counsel reports. “I expect both Ranking Member Feinstein and I will be briefed more thoroughly about the report in the coming days. “I will work with Ranking Member Feinstein and our House Judiciary Committee colleagues to ensure as much transparency as possible, consistent with the law. “I have always believed it was important that Mr. Mueller be allowed to do his job without interference, and that has been accomplished.”
