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US attorney general to release redacted version of Mueller report 'within a week'

The US attorney general has said he intends to release a redacted version of the final Mueller re...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

16.29 9 Apr 2019


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US attorney general to release...

US attorney general to release redacted version of Mueller report 'within a week'

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

16.29 9 Apr 2019


Share this article


The US attorney general has said he intends to release a redacted version of the final Mueller report publicly 'within a week'.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller finished up his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election last month.

However, Attorney General William Barr has only released his own summary of the document - leading to calls for the full document to be released as soon as possible.

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Speaking before a congressional subcommittee today, Mr Barr said work is continuing on identifying material that needs to be redacted before the report is released.

He observed: "I do think it's important that the public have an opportunity to learn the results of the special counsel's work... I said I would work diligently to make as much information public as I could."

He noted that information he believes should be redacted includes details that the intelligence community believes would reveal sources, and information related to ongoing investigations.

He also said: "We intend to redact information that implicates the privacy or reputation interests of peripheral players where there is a decision not to charge them."

The special counsel is working with his officials to identify what should be redacted.

Trump Russia Mueller Special Counsel Robert Mueller walks past the White House, 24-03-2019. Image: AP Photo/Cliff Owen

'Colour-coding the redactions'

Mr Barr added: "We will colour-code the excisions from the report, and we will provide explanatory notes describing the basis for each redaction."

He repeated that his initial goal of releasing the document by mid-April still stands, and he sees it being released "within a week".

In the initial summary letter, Mr Barr said the Mueller investigation found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

On the subject of obstruction of justice, the letter states: "While the report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."

Donald Trump and the White House have hailed the findings as a "complete and total exoneration".

A report in the New York Times earlier this month, meanwhile, claimed some of the special counsel's investigators believe Mr Barr "failed to adequately portray the findings of their inquiry".

US Attorney General Barr says he will release a redacted version of the Mueller report on the Russia investigation within a week. Picture by: J. Scott Applewhite/AP/Press Association Images

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