(29 May 2019) Special counsel Robert Mueller says charging a president with a crime was "not an option" his team could consider in the Russia investigation.
Speaking at the Justice Department Wednesday, Mueller said he was bound by longstanding Justice Department opinions that say a president can't be indicted while in office as well as "principles of fairness."
"It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of a crime" when the person couldn't stand trial to defend himself, Mueller said in his first public comments about the probe.
Mueller did not rule out testifying before Congress but he served notice that he does not intend to go beyond what has already been revealed in his report.
Saying "the work speaks for itself," Mueller said the report is his "testimony" and that he "would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress."
Mueller ended his nearly ten-minute remarks saying there were "multiple, systematic efforts" to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, and that "deserves the attention of every American."
He detailed that meddling in an indictment last year, charging 12 Russian military intelligence officers with hacking Democratic email accounts.
Mueller's probe found there was no evidence that President Donald Trump's campaign colluded or conspired with Russia. But a report released at the end of the investigation detailed many contacts between Russia and the campaign.
Trump has repeatedly called the entire investigation " a witch hunt."
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