Trump 'did not collude with Russia' during 2016 presidential campaign

Donald Trump and his campaign did not collude with Russia during the 2016 election, special council Robert Mueller has concluded.

However, Mr Mueller's report did not draw a conclusion as to whether Donald Trump obstructed justice - but did say the President should not be prosecuted.

A summary of his findings was provided to Congress by the Justice Department on Sunday.

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler, said a letter from the Justice Department describing the findings "does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."

The summary also says Mr Mueller did not find that the Trump campaign or its associates "conspired or coordinated" with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 election.

After consulting with other Justice Department officials, Attorney General William Barr said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein determined the evidence "is not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction of justice offense."

In response, President Trump tweeted: "No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!"

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted: "The Special Counsel did not find any collusion and did not find any obstruction. AG Barr and DAG Rosenstein further determined there was no obstruction. The findings of the Department of Justice are a total and complete exoneration of the President of the United States."

Barr released a four-page summary of Mueller's report Sunday afternoon. Mueller wrapped up his investigation on Friday with no new indictments, bringing to a close a probe that has shadowed Trump for nearly two years.

Barr's chief of staff called White House counsel Emmet Flood at 3 p.m. Sunday to brief him on the report to Congress. Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, about to return to Washington after spending the weekend there.

The summary also says Mr Mueller did not find that the Trump campaign or its associates "conspired or coordinated" with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 election.

Trump has denied collusion and obstruction. Russia has denied election interference. He previously called the investigation a “witch hunt” and accused Mr Mueller of conflicts of interest.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team issued more than 2,800 subpoenas and executed nearly 500 search warrants in its probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election and any potential involvement by President Donald Trump's campaign.

The investigation has already ensnared key figures including Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former personal lawyer Michael Cohen and national security adviser Michael Flynn, who have either been convicted of or pleaded guilty to charges brought by Mr Mueller.

Mueller has brought charges against 34 people, including Russian intelligence officers, and three Russian companies, including one described as a "troll farm."

That's according to Attorney General William Barr's letter to Congress on Sunday summarizing the findings. The special counsel employed 19 lawyers and was assisted by a team of 40 FBI agents, intelligence analysts, forensic accountants and other professional staff. The team interviewed approximately 500 witnesses.

Congressional Democrats, who took over control of the US House of Representatives in January, have said they plan to push for a release of the full Mueller report and said they would subpoena it if necessary.

Attorney General William Barr will now have to decide how much of the report to make public.

Barr's chief of staff called White House counsel Emmet Flood at 3 p.m. Sunday to brief him on the report to Congress. Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, about to return to Washington after spending the weekend there.

Barr released a four-page summary of Mueller's report Sunday afternoon. Mueller wrapped up his investigation on Friday with no new indictments, bringing to a close a probe that has shadowed Trump for nearly two years.