Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 31 May 2019

President Trump erupts after special

counsel says he’s not exonerated

By DEB RIECHMANN Early in the day, Trump daily — that the special
Associated Press tweeted he had “nothing counsel’s investigation
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- to do with Russia helping cleared him of criminal
dent Donald Trump angrily me get elected.” activity and was a “witch
assailed special counsel That was the first time he hunt.”
Robert Mueller’s motives seemed to acknowledge Mueller emphasized that
on Thursday, a day after that Russia tried to help his he had not exonerated
Mueller bluntly rebuffed campaign. Then on the Trump on the question of
Trump’s repeated claims White House South Lawn, whether he obstructed
that the Russia investiga- Trump told reporters: “Rus- justice, but said charging
tion had cleared him of sia did not help me get Trump with any crime was
obstructing justice. elected. You know who “not an option” because of
The president also offered got me elected? You know Justice Department rules.
mixed messages on Rus- who got me elected? I got Attorney General William
President Donald Trump talks with reporters before departing on sia’s efforts to help him de- me elected. Russia didn’t Barr, however, said Muel-
Marine One for the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony, feat Democrat Hillary Clin- help me at all.” ler could have reached a
Thursday, May 30, 2019, in Washington.
Associated Press ton in the 2016 campaign. Mueller’s report said Russia decision on whether Trump
interfered in the election obstructed justice. Barr said
in hopes of getting Trump in an interview with “CBS
elected, but his findings This Morning” that though
and intelligence officials Justice Department rules
have stopped short of say- prevent the indictment of
ing the efforts contributed a sitting president, Mueller
to Trump’s victory. nonetheless could have
Trump’s 20-minute erup- decided whether Trump
tion underscored that he had committed a crime.
remains deeply distressed Trump repeated his base-
over the probe that has less claims that Mueller is
shadowed his presidency “conflicted,” contending
for nearly two years, even that Mueller, who served as
after Mueller announced FBI director under President
his resignation and the clo- George W. Bush, wanted
sure of his office. Demo- his old job back, but that
crats are mulling the possi- he had told him no. He said
bility of impeachment pro- Mueller, a Republican, was
ceedings. “a true never Trumper” and
Trump insisted that he’s “didn’t get a job that he
been tough on Russia and wanted very badly.”
that Moscow would have Mueller had been consid-
preferred Clinton as presi- ered for the FBI director po-
dent. But that’s not what sition shortly before being
Russian President Vladimir named as special counsel.
Putin has said. When asked But then-White House chief
last year in Helsinki whether strategist Steve Bannon has
he wanted Trump to be- said that while the White
come president, Putin re- House had invited Mueller
plied: “Yes, I did.” to speak to the president
On Wednesday, Mueller, about the FBI and thought
in his first public remarks about asking him to be-
on the Russia investigation, come director again, Muel-
pointedly rejected Trump’s ler did not come in looking
claims — repeated almost for a job.q