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Mueller report sent to attorney general, signaling his Russia investigation has ended. Our story, and I'll thread some notes... wapo.st/2HPDdES?tid=ss…
A special counsel security officer delivered the report to the Deputy Attorney General's office this afternoon. Within minutes, it was given to the AG. At about 4:35, Brian Rabbitt, AG Bill Barr's chief of staff, called Emmet Flood, a White House lawyer, to notify him.
At 5 p.m., Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd gave a letter from Barr addressed to the heads of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, telling them that Mueller had "concluded his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and related matters."
The letter said there were "no such instances" in which the AG vetoed a proposed special counsel action. If there were, he would have had to tell Congress about them. Three AGs (some in an acting capacity) could have done that: Rosenstein, Whitaker and Barr.
Barr told lawmakers he was reviewing Mueller's report and "may be in a position to advise you of the Special Counsel's principal conclusions as soon as this weekend." Those principal conclusions also are expected to be made public, a DoJ spokeswoman said.
It is unclear what exactly the principal conclusions are. "Very few" people have seen Mueller's report, per a DoJ spox.
Barr also wrote that he would consult w/ DAG & Mueller "to determine what other information from the report can be released to Congress and the public consistent with the law, including the Special Counsel regulations, and the Department's long-standing practices and policies"
"I remain committed to as much transparency as possible, and I will keep you informed as to the status of my review," Barr wrote.
This letter that Barr sent was read by his chief of staff to Emmet Flood, a White House lawyer, over the phone before it was given to the Hill.
Mueller is still considered the special counsel, though his probe is complete. He'll be involved in talks with Barr about info releases. Those detailed to special counsel office will return to their normal DoJ homes. A small number of staff will stay on to help close shop.
And to put a fine point on the investigation being complete. A senior Justice Department official says the special counsel is not recommending -- and did not recommend -- any further indictments.
The cases Mueller referred out to other U.S. Attorney's Offices -- and any Trump-adjacent cases that have nothing to do with Mueller -- are an entirely separate matter, obviously. But make no mistake: Mueller's work is done.
So many questions remain. What exactly does this report say? What did Mueller find that didn't produce indictments, but which the public would love to know? Why did Mueller abandon the effort to land a Trump interview? And then, Corsi's failed plea...
