WASHINGTON - Special counsel Robert Mueller on Friday turned over his long-awaited final report on the contentious Russia investigation that has cast a dark shadow over Donald Trumpīs presidency, entangled Trumpīs family and resulted in criminal charges against some of the presidentīs closest associates.The comprehensive report, still confidential, marks the end of Muellerīs probe but sets the stage for big public fights to come. The next steps are up to Trumpīs attorney general, to Congress and, in all likelihood, federal courts.The Justice Department said the report was delivered by a security officer Friday afternoon to the office of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Word of the delivery triggered reactions across Washington. Shortly afterward, Attorney General William Barr released a letter noting his plans to write his own account of Muellerīs findings. The White House released a statement saying it had not seen or been briefed on the document.Next steps are `up to Attorney General (William) Barr,` said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.Barr said he could send his account to Congress quickly.`I am reviewing the report and anticipate that I may be in a position to advise you of the special counselīs principal conclusions as soon as this weekend,` Barr said in his letter the top Republicans and Democrats on the House and Senate Judiciary committees. He pledged a commitment to transparency.He said the Justice Department had not denied any requested action by his office. Barr was required to disclose to Congress any instance in which Mueller asked to take an action during his investigation but was told no by the department.With no details released at this point, itīs not known whether Muellerīs report answers the core questions of his investigation: Did Trumpīs campaign collude with the Kremlin to sway the 2016 presidential election in favour of the celebrity businessman? Also, did Trump take steps later, including by firing his FBI director, to obstr ...
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