The Mueller Report Is Out. What's Next?

Democrats are in a bind. After the release of the Mueller report, what's next — and will it lead to impeachment proceedings?

Alyson Hurt and Thomas Wilburn/NPR After The Release Of The Mueller Report — What's Next? Imagine, if you can, a scenario in which Attorney General William Barr declined to put out a four-page letter to Congress describing special counsel Robert Mueller’s report three weeks ago. The narrative that had set in was that President Trump and his associates did not conspire with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election and that the president was not going to be criminally charged for obstruction of justice, even though the special counsel's report didn't "exonerate" him. But then the 448-page, two-volume report was released Thursday. It told a more nuanced — and for some, damning — story about the president's role and the Trump campaign's interactions with Russians. And it's putting Democrats in a bind about what to do next — and whether to push forward with possible impeachment proceedings. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR's lead political editor Read more The Mueller Report — What You Need To Know Read the report: The 448-page document contains two volumes: one on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and one on the investigation into whether Trump obstructed justice. Read the report in full here. NPR annotates the report: Our reporters and editors highlighted notable excerpts, providing context and analysis to the full Mueller report. The redactions, visualized: Attorney General William Barr has been working with Mueller’s team to identify and redact information in four categories: grand jury materials, intelligence materials, information related to ongoing investigations and derogatory information about "peripheral" individuals. Here’s a breakdown of each section’s redactions. Trump aides who sidestepped orders: Mueller’s report revealed new details about multiple instances in which top White House officials — including former White House counsel Don McGahn and former deputy national security adviser K.T. McFarland — declined to carry out Trump’s directives as the president watched the investigation take shape. LISTEN: The NPR Politics Podcast team reports on the key findings from Mueller's report.  Win McNamee/Getty Images Muller Report: Trump Tried To Stop Investigation Fearing His Presidency Was Over When President Trump learned two years ago that a special counsel had been appointed to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, he was distraught. Trump "slumped back in his chair and said, 'Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I'm f***ed,' " according to the report by special counsel Robert Mueller that was released Thursday in redacted form. The president's prediction, written down by an aide and contained in the 448 pages of the Mueller report, has not come to pass. But Mueller's 22-month investigation did turn up numerous instances of the president trying to prevent investigators from carrying out their mandate — and it suggests that he might have been successful were it not for his own aides ignoring his directives. -NPR's Carrie Johnson, Brian Naylor and Jerome Socolovsky   Read More What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprpolitics@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to our Best of NPR emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002