Speaking to reporters at the Department of Justice Thursday morning, Attorney General Bill Barr used stronger language than he has in the past to exonerate President Trump of collusion with the Russian government during the 2016 presidential election.
"The report details efforts by the Internet Research Agency, a Russian company with close ties to the Russian government, to sow social discord among American voters through disinformation and social media operations. Following a thorough investigation of this disinformation campaign, the Special Counsel brought charges in federal court against several Russian nationals and entities for their respective roles in this scheme. Those charges remain pending, and the individual defendants remain at large," Barr said (bolding is mine). "But the Special Counsel found no evidence that any Americans – including anyone associated with the Trump campaign – conspired or coordinated with the Russian government or the IRA in carrying out this illegal scheme. Indeed, as the report states, '[t]he investigation did not identify evidence that any U.S. persons knowingly or intentionally coordinated with the IRA’s interference operation.' Put another way, the Special Counsel found no “collusion” by any Americans in the IRA’s illegal activity."
The report again states no Trump campaign officials, and no Americans generally, colluded with the Russian government.
"The investigation did not identify evidence that any U.S. persons conspired or coordinated with the IRA," the report states.
“The Special Counsel found NO evidence that ANY American—including anyone associated with the Trump campaign—conspired or coordinated with the Russian government or the IRA in this illegal scheme." pic.twitter.com/ftbLgbuJsp
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 18, 2019
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