Speaking from the Department of Justice Wednesday morning, Special Counsel Robert Mueller said he is retiring and returning to private life. The Special Counsel's office on this case is officially closed and up until this point, Mueller has been a DOJ employee.
"I'm speaking out today because our investigation is complete," Mueller said. "We are formally closing the Special Counsel's office and I am resigning from the Department of Justice to return private life."
For weeks the Special Counsel's 400-page report on the investigation into the 2016 election has been questioned, with Democrats and Republicans calling on Mueller to testify about his findings. Today he said the report speaks for itself and said he has no other statements to make about the investigation.
"I hope and expect this to be the only time that I will speak to you in this manner. I am making that decision myself," Mueller said. "I do not believe it is appropriate for me to speak further about the investigation."
"The report is my testimony...Our written work speaks for itself," he continued. "Any testimony would not go beyond our report...We chose those words carefully."
The Mueller report shows no Americans colluded with the Russian government to win the 2016 election, but today Mueller emphasized Russia's attacks and stressed a need to be vigilant.
"I will close by reiterating the central allegation of our indictments, that there were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election. And that allegation deserves the attention of every American,” Mueller said.