DOJ plans to release ‘lightly redacted’ version of Mueller report Thursday: WaPo

The Department of Justice (DOJ) reportedly intends to release special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Thursday with limited redactions, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

People familiar with the matter reportedly told the Post that the report will show that Mueller could not reach a conclusion on whether President Trump obstructed justice because it was too difficult to determine the president’s intent. They added that some of Trump’s actions could be interpreted innocently, according to the Post.{mosads}

However, the lightly redacted report will detail evidence collected during the probe, including an analysis of tweets, “private threats” and other reported episodes at the center of Mueller’s investigation, according to the paper.

The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

The report comes ahead of Attorney General William Barr’s planned press conference at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Barr reportedly plans to address “process questions” and provide an “overview of the report,” a senior DOJ official told the Post.

Congress will receive the report after the news conference around 11:00 a.m. Thursday.

The Justice Department’s plan to deliver the report drew an avalanche of criticism from congressional Democrats who accused the administration of trying to spin the report’s findings before the public or lawmakers were able to reach their own conclusions.

“This is outrageous. The AG is supposed to be an independent beacon of truth and justice,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, tweeted in response to the report.

“Instead, Barr is debasing the rule of law, degrading our democratic institutions, and decimating any trust the American people have left in this Administration,” he added.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) accused Barr of a “single-minded effort” to protect Trump ahead of the report’s release.

“AG Barr has thrown out his credibility & the DOJ’s independence with his single-minded effort to protect @realDonaldTrump above all else,” Pelosi tweeted. “The American people deserve the truth, not a sanitized version of the Mueller Report approved by the Trump Admin.” 

Reports emerged Wednesday that White House lawyers and DOJ officials have had “numerous conversations” about the details of Mueller’s findings. The New York Times reported that the discussions have allowed Trump’s legal team to begin preparing a rebuttal to the report, which is expected to be more than 400 pages.

Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump’s attorneys, told the Post that his legal team intends to release a counter-report to Mueller’s final findings. 

Updated 9:20 p.m.