Mueller Report Finds No Evidence Of Trump Colluding With Russia – So What’s Next?

After nearly two years of suspense, special counsel Robert Mueller has completed his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, and potential collusion with the Trump campaign. At last, the headline findings of the report have been announced, and the report has found… well, not a whole lot.

A summary of the special counsel’s investigation, delivered to lawmakers on Sunday, said unequivocally that neither Trump nor his campaign conspired with any Russian efforts to sway the 2016 election.

As you can imagine, Trump was pretty happy about this, and wasted no time in letting the world know about it!

“The Special Counsel did not find that the Trump Campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian Government in these efforts, despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump Campaign.”

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2019

No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2019

A total of thirty-four people have been indicted since Mueller opened his review in May 2017, including some of President Donald Trump’s closest advisers and, on the other side of things, Russian intelligence operatives.

For Trump’s critics, the report’s findings (or lack thereof) are no doubt a huge anti-climax after two years of waiting with bated breath. For his supporters, a vindication that they were right to back him all along. But all this begs the question – what happens next? Well, here’s our best guess…

What will be included in the report? 

Mueller’s confidential report will explain why he filed the charges he did during the investigation, and why he has now declined to bring charges against anyone else. In a brief statement on Friday, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said that the report was “comprehensive,” but refused to elaborate.

Will we get to see the report?

After the all the relentless anticipation of the last two years, we probably won’t get to see the Mueller report – at least for a while.

Justice Department rules require that Mueller submit a “confidential” report when his work is complete. Now that this has happened, his superior, Attorney General William Barr, gets to decide what happens in that respect.

Barr decides what the public can see, and when it will be made available to them. The only thing Barr is required by law to reveal is whether or not Mueller’s bosses ever overruled him, which he said on Friday did not happen.

President Trump has recently said that he doesn’t have a problem with the report becoming public.

Will we ever hear from Mueller himself?

The man himself has been almost religiously quiet since he took on this investigation, and we shouldn’t expect that to change any time soon now that it’s over.

Robert Mueller isn’t required to make public statements about his work, and when dealing with legal matters it’s always advisable to keep media relations to a minimum, for the sake of the case or investigation.  According to Justice Department rules, he does not need to deliver a public record of his findings.

The public is likely to get some gist of what Mueller uncovered in his report, but the full report may not be released for years, if ever.

Is that the end of the drama?

Of course not. This is Washington DC, after all! Lawmakers from both parties plan to press for access not just to the report, but also to the evidence gathered during the investigation. The demands would almost certainly set up a battle between Congress and the Justice Department.

In particular, the newly powerful House Democrats are exploring ways they could force the administration to turn over findings and evidence it might prefer to keep secret. Of course, Trump’s supporters would say that they’re just clutching at straws.

“We expect the full report,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. “If we don’t get it, we’ll do what we have to do to get it. If that means subpoenaing it, we’ll subpoena it.”

The House voted 420-0 in March to insist that they get a complete copy of whatever Mueller turns in. How long that will take is anyone’s guess.

What have we learned?

Well, judging by the information released so far, not a whole lot, other than the fact that there is no evidence linking the Trump campaign to Russian interference. Since the Mueller investigation began, the American taxpayer has contributed over $25 million towards it. This is no doubt something that will be brought up in congress over the coming days and weeks.

Say what you like about the state of US politics, it’s certainly not dull!

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