Robert Mueller speaks: 'There were multiple systematic efforts to interfere in our election'

Today, Robert Mueller spoke on the interference in the 2016 general elections.

As he noted in his first words, Mueller has not spoken in two years, since he took the role of Special Counsel.

Some pull quotes from his substantive remarks at the Department of Justice this morning:

“Russia launched a concerted attack on our political system”.

“I am resigning from the Department of Justice to return to private life.”

“It is important that the office’s written work speak for itself.”

“Under longstanding department policy, a president cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office,” Mueller said, adding that such a charge is unconstitutional.

“Charging the president with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider.”

“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 two of our report explains that decision.”

“It would be unfair to potentially accuse someone of a crime when there can be no court resolution.”

The United States Constitution requires the President to be accused of wrongdoing “outside the criminal justice system,” he says, a clear indication of the power of Congress to impeach the president.

“Any testimony from this office would not go beyond this report…”

“The report is my testimony.”

“There were multiple systematic efforts to interfere in our election. That allegation deserves the attention of every American today.”