Robert Swan Mueller

“ It was critical for us to obtain full and accurate information from every person we questioned. When a subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of the government's effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable. ”

“ We conducted that investigation, and we kept the office of the acting attorney general apprised of the progress of our work.And as set forth in the report, after that investigation if we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime we would have said so.
We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime. The introduction to the Volume II of our report explains that decision. It explains that under long-standing department policy, a president can not be charged with a federal crime while he is in office. That is unconstitutional. ”

“ Charging the president with a crime was, therefore, not an option we could consider. The department's written opinion explaining the policy makes several important points that further informed our handling of the obstruction investigation. ”