Mueller report on Russia and Trump delivered to AG Barr

It isn't clear whether the report will be made public.

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March 22, 2019 6:05 p.m. PT

3 min read

Mueller Testifies At Senate FBI Oversight Hearing — Alex Wong / Getty Images

Special counsel Robert Mueller submitted his report on the Russia investigation to Attorney General William Barr on Friday, sparking calls from prominent politicians to release it publicly.

The report, nearly two years in the making, is expected to include findings on whether Trump's campaign worked with the Russian government to help him win the presidential election in 2016. Mueller was appointed special counsel on May 17, 2017.

Barr informed chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees about the conclusion of Mueller's investigation. He added that he's committed to being as transparent as possible.

"The special counsel has submitted to me today a 'confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions' he has reached," Barr wrote. "I am reviewing the report and anticipate that I may be in a position to advise you of the special counsel's principal conclusions as soon as this weekend."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted: "The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course. The White House has not received or been briefed on the Special Counsel's report."

The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course. The White House has not received or been briefed on the Special Counsel’s report.
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) March 22, 2019

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that Americans have a right to know what's in it.

"Now that Special Counsel Mueller has submitted his report to the Attorney General, it is imperative for Mr. Barr to make the full report public and provide its underlying documentation and findings to Congress," Pelosi said.

Pelosi also tweeted the report should be made public using the hashtag #ReleaseTheReport.

Now that Special Counsel Mueller has submitted his report to the Attorney General, it is imperative for Mr. Barr to make the full report public and provide its underlying documentation and findings to Congress. #ReleaseTheReport pic.twitter.com/v1ROpZBqZJ
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 22, 2019

Politico shared a video on Twitter in which Sen. Schumer said public pressure will force the report to be made public. "The demand of the public is overwhelming to see the report when it's on such a serious matter, and it will be made public," he said.

Reporter: How confident are you that we're going to get the full depth of that [Mueller] report with a Trump appointed attorney general?
Schumer: I think the demand of the public is overwhelming to see the report... Public pressure will force it to be pic.twitter.com/L2rYShXeBk
— POLITICO (@politico) March 22, 2019

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the upper chamber's majority leader, tweeted a link to a statement expressing hope Barr will provide as much information as he can "with as much openness and transparency as possible."

My statement on Special Counsel Mueller’s announcementhttps://t.co/YBZEacosbx pic.twitter.com/FM76rVrqtJ
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 22, 2019

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said in a statement that he expects to be "briefed more thoroughly about the report in the coming days."

Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, called in a tweet for the report to be released, adding "No one, including the president, is above the law."

As Donald Trump said, “Let it come out." I call on the Trump administration to make Special Counsel Mueller's full report public as soon as possible. No one, including the president, is above the law.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 22, 2019

Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, also called for the report to be released. Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, tweeted, "By law, that evidence he uncovered must be shared with our Committee."

Mueller’s investigation began as a counterintelligence inquiry into whether individuals associated with the Trump campaign were compromised by a foreign power.
By law, that evidence he uncovered must be shared with our Committee.
And his report must also be made public. Now. pic.twitter.com/AAMsFjhZM7
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) March 22, 2019

Throughout the investigation, Mueller's office announced multiple indictments, including charges against 12 Russian hackers tied to cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee and 13 Russian nationals for spreading disinformation on social media.

First published March 22 at 2:33 p.m. PT.
Update, 2:53 p.m: Adds additional information. Update: 3:22 p.m.: Adds comments from Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Update: 3:41 p.m.: Adds comments from Mitch McConnell and Bernie Sanders. Update, 4:06 p.m.: Adds comment from Lindsey Graham. Update, 4:58 p.m.: Adds additional comment from Schumer. Update, 6:05 p.m.: Adds comment from Adam Schiff.