WEBVTT 00:00.301 --> 00:03.537 LET’S LISTEN. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 00:03.571 --> 00:06.706 >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. TWO YEARS AGO THE ACTING 00:06.741 --> 00:08.341 TWO YEARS AGO THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED ME TO 00:08.376 --> 00:10.810 ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED ME TO SERVE AS SPECIAL COUNSEL AND HE 00:10.812 --> 00:12.812 SERVE AS SPECIAL COUNSEL AND HE CREATED THE SPECIAL COUNSEL’S 00:12.813 --> 00:13.113 CREATED THE SPECIAL COUNSEL’S OFFICE. 00:13.147 --> 00:15.682 OFFICE. THE APPOINTMENT ORDERED DIRECTED 00:15.716 --> 00:17.117 THE APPOINTMENT ORDERED DIRECTED THE OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE 00:17.151 --> 00:18.718 THE OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN THE 2016 00:18.720 --> 00:21.754 RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 00:21.789 --> 00:25.725 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THIS INCLUDED INVESTIGATING ANY 00:25.760 --> 00:26.626 THIS INCLUDED INVESTIGATING ANY LINKS OR COORDINATION BETWEEN 00:26.627 --> 00:27.894 LINKS OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND 00:27.929 --> 00:29.229 THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 00:29.230 --> 00:32.032 INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. 00:32.033 --> 00:35.302 TRUMP CAMPAIGN. NOW, I HAVE NOT SPOKEN PUBLICLY 00:35.303 --> 00:36.536 NOW, I HAVE NOT SPOKEN PUBLICLY DURING OUR INVESTIGATION. 00:36.538 --> 00:38.238 DURING OUR INVESTIGATION. I AM SPEAKING OUT TODAY BECAUSE 00:38.272 --> 00:40.373 I AM SPEAKING OUT TODAY BECAUSE OUR INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE. 00:40.408 --> 00:41.908 OUR INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS MADE 00:41.910 --> 00:45.345 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS MADE THE REPORT ON OUR INVESTIGATION 00:45.379 --> 00:46.146 THE REPORT ON OUR INVESTIGATION LARGELY PUBLIC. 00:46.147 --> 00:47.781 LARGELY PUBLIC. WE ARE FORMALLY CLOSING THE 00:47.815 --> 00:50.951 WE ARE FORMALLY CLOSING THE SPECIAL COUNSEL’S OFFICE AND AS 00:50.985 --> 00:53.220 SPECIAL COUNSEL’S OFFICE AND AS WELL, I’M RESIGNING FROM THE 00:53.254 --> 00:55.021 WELL, I’M RESIGNING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO RETURN 00:55.023 --> 00:58.358 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO RETURN TO PRIVATE LIFE. 00:58.393 --> 00:59.559 TO PRIVATE LIFE. I’LL MAKE A FEW REMARKS ABOUT 00:59.561 --> 01:02.096 I’LL MAKE A FEW REMARKS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF OUR WORK. 01:02.130 --> 01:04.164 THE RESULTS OF OUR WORK. BUT BEYOND THESE FEW REMARKS, IT 01:04.199 --> 01:07.200 BUT BEYOND THESE FEW REMARKS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE OFFICE’S 01:07.235 --> 01:09.169 IS IMPORTANT THAT THE OFFICE’S WRITTEN WORK SPEAK FOR ITSELF. 01:09.204 --> 01:11.638 WRITTEN WORK SPEAK FOR ITSELF. LET ME BEGIN WHERE THE 01:11.673 --> 01:13.640 LET ME BEGIN WHERE THE APPOINTMENT ORDER BEGINS AND 01:13.642 --> 01:16.743 APPOINTMENT ORDER BEGINS AND THAT IS INTERFERENCE IN THE 2016 01:16.745 --> 01:19.046 THAT IS INTERFERENCE IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 01:19.047 --> 01:20.981 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. AS ALLEGE BY THE GRAND JURY IN 01:20.982 --> 01:23.250 AS ALLEGE BY THE GRAND JURY IN AN INDICTMENT, RUSSIAN 01:23.251 --> 01:24.551 AN INDICTMENT, RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO ARE 01:24.552 --> 01:26.653 INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO ARE PART OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY 01:26.655 --> 01:27.788 PART OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY LAUNCHED A CONCERTED ATTACK ON 01:27.789 --> 01:29.757 LAUNCHED A CONCERTED ATTACK ON OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM. 01:29.758 --> 01:32.493 OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM. THE INDICTMENT ALLEGES THAT THEY 01:32.494 --> 01:35.262 THE INDICTMENT ALLEGES THAT THEY USED SOPHISTICATED 01:35.263 --> 01:36.864 USED SOPHISTICATED CYBERTECHNIQUES TO HACK INTO 01:36.865 --> 01:38.299 CYBERTECHNIQUES TO HACK INTO COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS USED BY 01:38.333 --> 01:39.834 COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS USED BY THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN. 01:39.868 --> 01:41.502 THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN. THEY STOLE PRIVATE INFORMATION 01:41.536 --> 01:43.604 THEY STOLE PRIVATE INFORMATION AND THEN RELEASED THAT 01:43.605 --> 01:46.273 AND THEN RELEASED THAT INFORMATION THROUGH FAKE ONLINE 01:46.308 --> 01:47.908 INFORMATION THROUGH FAKE ONLINE IDENTITIES AND THROUGH THE 01:47.910 --> 01:49.610 IDENTITIES AND THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION WIKILEAKS. 01:49.611 --> 01:51.512 ORGANIZATION WIKILEAKS. THE RELEASES WERE DESIGNED AND 01:51.546 --> 01:53.714 THE RELEASES WERE DESIGNED AND TIMED TO INTERFERE WITH OUR 01:53.715 --> 01:57.551 TIMED TO INTERFERE WITH OUR ELECTION AND TO DAMAGE A 01:57.586 --> 01:58.185 ELECTION AND TO DAMAGE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. 01:58.187 --> 02:00.087 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE GRAND 02:00.088 --> 02:02.623 AT THE SAME TIME AS THE GRAND JURY ALLEGED IN A SEPARATE 02:02.657 --> 02:04.992 JURY ALLEGED IN A SEPARATE INDICTMENT, A PRIVATE RUSSIAN 02:05.027 --> 02:08.596 INDICTMENT, A PRIVATE RUSSIAN ENTITY ENGAGED IN A SOCIAL MEDIA 02:08.597 --> 02:09.730 ENTITY ENGAGED IN A SOCIAL MEDIA OPERATION WHERE RUSSIANS 02:09.731 --> 02:11.332 OPERATION WHERE RUSSIANS CITIZENS POSED AS AMERICANS IN 02:11.366 --> 02:15.469 CITIZENS POSED AS AMERICANS IN ORDER TO INFLUENCE AN ELECTION. 02:15.504 --> 02:18.706 ORDER TO INFLUENCE AN ELECTION. THESE INDICTMENTS CONTAINED 02:18.707 --> 02:19.941 THESE INDICTMENTS CONTAINED ALLEGATIONS AND WE ARE NOT 02:19.975 --> 02:21.142 ALLEGATIONS AND WE ARE NOT COMMENTING ON THE GUILT OR THE 02:21.143 --> 02:25.046 COMMENTING ON THE GUILT OR THE INNOCENCE OF ANY SPECIFIC 02:25.047 --> 02:25.413 INNOCENCE OF ANY SPECIFIC DEFENDANT. 02:25.447 --> 02:27.849 DEFENDANT. EVERY DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED 02:27.883 --> 02:29.718 EVERY DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS AND UNTIL PROVEN 02:29.752 --> 02:30.051 INNOCENT UNLESS AND UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. 02:30.086 --> 02:32.086 GUILTY. THE INDICTMENTS ALLEGE AND THE 02:32.121 --> 02:34.956 THE INDICTMENTS ALLEGE AND THE OTHER ACTIVITIES IN OUR REPORT 02:34.991 --> 02:35.690 OTHER ACTIVITIES IN OUR REPORT DESCRIBE EFFORTS TO INTERFERE IN 02:35.724 --> 02:38.159 DESCRIBE EFFORTS TO INTERFERE IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM. 02:38.160 --> 02:40.528 OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM. THEY NEEDED TO BE INVESTIGATED 02:40.529 --> 02:41.763 THEY NEEDED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND UNDERSTOOD AND THAT IS AMONG 02:41.764 --> 02:43.631 AND UNDERSTOOD AND THAT IS AMONG THE REASONS WHY THE DEPARTMENT 02:43.633 --> 02:44.265 THE REASONS WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ESTABLISHED OUR 02:44.299 --> 02:47.201 OF JUSTICE ESTABLISHED OUR OFFICE. 02:47.236 --> 02:49.671 OFFICE. THAT IS ALSO A REASON WE 02:49.705 --> 02:52.407 THAT IS ALSO A REASON WE INVESTIGATED EFFORTS TO OBSTRUCT 02:52.441 --> 02:53.675 INVESTIGATED EFFORTS TO OBSTRUCT THE INVESTIGATION. 02:53.676 --> 02:57.078 THE INVESTIGATION. THE MATTERS WE INVESTIGATED WERE 02:57.113 --> 02:59.247 THE MATTERS WE INVESTIGATED WERE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. 02:59.281 --> 03:00.148 OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. IT WAS CRITICAL FOR US TO OBTAIN 03:00.149 --> 03:01.182 IT WAS CRITICAL FOR US TO OBTAIN FULL AND ACCURATE INFORMATION 03:01.217 --> 03:03.418 FULL AND ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM EVERY PERSON WE QUESTIONED. 03:03.452 --> 03:06.054 FROM EVERY PERSON WE QUESTIONED. WHEN A SUBJECT OF AN 03:06.055 --> 03:07.255 WHEN A SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION OBSTRUCTS THAT 03:07.256 --> 03:09.691 INVESTIGATION OBSTRUCTS THAT INVESTIGATION OR LIES TO 03:09.692 --> 03:11.993 INVESTIGATION OR LIES TO INVESTIGATORS, IT STRIKES AT THE 03:12.028 --> 03:13.261 INVESTIGATORS, IT STRIKES AT THE CORE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORT 03:13.296 --> 03:15.163 CORE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORT TO FIND THE TRUTH AND HOLD 03:15.165 --> 03:18.600 TO FIND THE TRUTH AND HOLD WRONGDOERS ACCOUNTABLE. 03:18.634 --> 03:19.301 WRONGDOERS ACCOUNTABLE. LET ME SAY A WORD ABOUT THE 03:19.302 --> 03:21.803 LET ME SAY A WORD ABOUT THE REPORT. 03:21.805 --> 03:24.239 REPORT. THE REPORT HAS TWO PARTS. 03:24.273 --> 03:25.507 THE REPORT HAS TWO PARTS. ADDRESSING THE TWO MAIN ISSUES 03:25.508 --> 03:28.610 ADDRESSING THE TWO MAIN ISSUES WE WERE ASKED TO INVESTIGATE. 03:28.611 --> 03:30.612 WE WERE ASKED TO INVESTIGATE. THE FIRST VOLUME OF THE REPORT 03:30.646 --> 03:32.080 THE FIRST VOLUME OF THE REPORT DETAILS NUMEROUS EFFORTS 03:32.115 --> 03:32.814 DETAILS NUMEROUS EFFORTS EMANATING FROM RUSSIA TO 03:32.816 --> 03:35.984 EMANATING FROM RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION. 03:35.985 --> 03:37.118 INFLUENCE THE ELECTION. THIS VOLUME INCLUDES A 03:37.120 --> 03:38.186 THIS VOLUME INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE TRUMP 03:38.188 --> 03:38.820 DISCUSSION OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN’S RESPONSE TO THIS 03:38.854 --> 03:42.757 CAMPAIGN’S RESPONSE TO THIS ACTIVITY, AS WELL AS OUR 03:42.792 --> 03:45.294 ACTIVITY, AS WELL AS OUR CONCLUSION THAT THERE WAS 03:45.295 --> 03:46.028 CONCLUSION THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CHARGE 03:46.029 --> 03:48.397 INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CHARGE A BROADER CONSPIRACY. 03:48.398 --> 03:50.632 A BROADER CONSPIRACY. AND IN THE SECOND VOLUME, THE 03:50.634 --> 03:53.435 AND IN THE SECOND VOLUME, THE REPORT DESCRIBES THE RESULTS AND 03:53.436 --> 03:55.437 REPORT DESCRIBES THE RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF OUR OBSTRUCTION OF 03:55.471 --> 03:56.171 ANALYSIS OF OUR OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION INVOLVING 03:56.206 --> 03:59.308 JUSTICE INVESTIGATION INVOLVING THE PRESIDENT. 03:59.309 --> 04:01.944 THE PRESIDENT. THE ORDER APPOINTING THE SPECIAL 04:01.945 --> 04:03.445 THE ORDER APPOINTING THE SPECIAL COUNSEL AUTHORIZED US TO 04:03.447 --> 04:06.348 COUNSEL AUTHORIZED US TO INVESTIGATE ACTIONS THAT COULD 04:06.349 --> 04:08.050 INVESTIGATE ACTIONS THAT COULD OBSTRUCT THE INVESTIGATION. 04:08.084 --> 04:09.718 OBSTRUCT THE INVESTIGATION. WE CONDUCTED THAT INVESTIGATION 04:09.753 --> 04:13.055 WE CONDUCTED THAT INVESTIGATION AND WE KEPT THE OFFICE OF THE 04:13.090 --> 04:15.624 AND WE KEPT THE OFFICE OF THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL APRIZED 04:15.658 --> 04:17.459 ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL APRIZED OF THE PROGRESS OF OUR WORK. 04:17.493 --> 04:19.795 OF THE PROGRESS OF OUR WORK. AS SAID FORTH IN THE REPORT 04:19.829 --> 04:22.431 AS SAID FORTH IN THE REPORT AFTER THAT INVESTIGATION, IF WE 04:22.432 --> 04:23.432 AFTER THAT INVESTIGATION, IF WE HAD CONFIDENCE THAT THE 04:23.433 --> 04:25.434 HAD CONFIDENCE THAT THE PRESIDENT CLEARLY DID NOT COMMIT 04:25.435 --> 04:27.469 PRESIDENT CLEARLY DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME, WE WOULD HAVE SAID SO. 04:27.504 --> 04:29.604 A CRIME, WE WOULD HAVE SAID SO. WE DID NOT, HOWEVER, MAKE A 04:29.639 --> 04:30.572 WE DID NOT, HOWEVER, MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THE 04:30.574 --> 04:32.875 DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THE PRESIDENT DID COMMIT A CRIME. 04:32.876 --> 04:34.476 PRESIDENT DID COMMIT A CRIME. THE INTRODUCTION TO THE VOLUME 04:34.511 --> 04:36.378 THE INTRODUCTION TO THE VOLUME TWO OF OUR REPORT EXPLAINS THAT 04:36.379 --> 04:39.715 TWO OF OUR REPORT EXPLAINS THAT DECISION. 04:39.749 --> 04:42.884 DECISION. IT EXPLAINS THAT UNDER 04:42.886 --> 04:44.286 IT EXPLAINS THAT UNDER LONG-STANDING DEPARTMENT POLICY, 04:44.321 --> 04:46.121 LONG-STANDING DEPARTMENT POLICY, A PRESIDENT CANNOT BE CHARGED 04:46.156 --> 04:48.457 A PRESIDENT CANNOT BE CHARGED WITH A FEDERAL CRIME WHILE HE IS 04:48.458 --> 04:49.258 WITH A FEDERAL CRIME WHILE HE IS IN OFFICE. 04:49.259 --> 04:51.460 IN OFFICE. THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 04:51.461 --> 04:54.797 THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. EVEN IF THE CHARGE IS KEPT UNDER 04:54.831 --> 04:56.699 EVEN IF THE CHARGE IS KEPT UNDER SEAL AND HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC 04:56.700 --> 04:59.502 SEAL AND HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW, THAT, TOO, IS PROHIBITED. 04:59.503 --> 05:00.670 VIEW, THAT, TOO, IS PROHIBITED. THE SPECIAL COUNSEL’S OFFICE IS 05:00.704 --> 05:02.171 THE SPECIAL COUNSEL’S OFFICE IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 05:02.172 --> 05:04.307 PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND BY REGULATION, IT 05:04.341 --> 05:07.177 JUSTICE AND BY REGULATION, IT WAS BOUND BY THAT DEPARTMENT 05:07.210 --> 05:07.610 WAS BOUND BY THAT DEPARTMENT POLICY. 05:07.644 --> 05:09.879 POLICY. CHARGING THE PRESIDENT WITH A 05:09.913 --> 05:10.913 CHARGING THE PRESIDENT WITH A CRIME WAS, THEREFORE, NOT AN 05:10.947 --> 05:14.717 CRIME WAS, THEREFORE, NOT AN OPTION WE COULD CONSIDER. 05:14.718 --> 05:16.719 OPTION WE COULD CONSIDER. THE DEPARTMENT’S WRITTEN OPINION 05:16.720 --> 05:20.223 THE DEPARTMENT’S WRITTEN OPINION EXPLAINING THE POLICY MAKES 05:20.224 --> 05:21.091 EXPLAINING THE POLICY MAKES SEVERAL IMPORTANT POINTS THAT 05:21.125 --> 05:24.026 SEVERAL IMPORTANT POINTS THAT FURTHER INFORMED OUR HANDLING OF 05:24.028 --> 05:25.428 FURTHER INFORMED OUR HANDLING OF THE INSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION. 05:25.462 --> 05:26.996 THE INSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION. THOSE POINTS ARE SUMMARIZED IN 05:27.030 --> 05:28.231 THOSE POINTS ARE SUMMARIZED IN OUR REPORT AND I WILL DESCRIBE 05:28.265 --> 05:33.470 OUR REPORT AND I WILL DESCRIBE TWO OF THEM FOR YOU. 05:33.504 --> 05:36.739 TWO OF THEM FOR YOU. FIRST THE EXPLICITLY PERMITS THE 05:36.741 --> 05:37.940 FIRST THE EXPLICITLY PERMITS THE EXPLANATION OF A SITTING 05:37.941 --> 05:38.942 EXPLANATION OF A SITTING PRESIDENT BECAUSE IT IS 05:38.975 --> 05:41.344 PRESIDENT BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE EVIDENCE 05:41.345 --> 05:42.045 IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE EVIDENCE WHILE MEMORIES ARE FRESH AND 05:42.046 --> 05:44.080 WHILE MEMORIES ARE FRESH AND DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE. 05:44.114 --> 05:45.548 DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT 05:45.582 --> 05:47.050 AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT EVIDENCE COULD BE USED IF THERE 05:47.051 --> 05:48.318 EVIDENCE COULD BE USED IF THERE WERE CO-CONSPIRATORS WHO COULD 05:48.352 --> 05:51.754 WERE CO-CONSPIRATORS WHO COULD BE CHARGED NOW. 05:51.789 --> 05:53.222 BE CHARGED NOW. AND, SECOND, THE OPINION SAYS 05:53.257 --> 05:55.658 AND, SECOND, THE OPINION SAYS THAT THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES A 05:55.693 --> 05:56.425 THAT THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES A PROCESS OTHER THAN THE CRIMINAL 05:56.460 --> 06:01.865 PROCESS OTHER THAN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO FORMALLY 06:01.899 --> 06:02.766 JUSTICE SYSTEM TO FORMALLY ACCUSED A SITTING PRESIDENT OF 06:02.767 --> 06:04.935 ACCUSED A SITTING PRESIDENT OF WRONGDOING. 06:04.969 --> 06:07.737 WRONGDOING. AND BEYOND DEPARTMENT POLICY, WE 06:07.738 --> 06:09.272 AND BEYOND DEPARTMENT POLICY, WE REGARDED BY PRINCIPLES OF 06:09.306 --> 06:09.639 REGARDED BY PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS. 06:09.674 --> 06:10.240 FAIRNESS. IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO 06:10.241 --> 06:14.377 IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO POTENTIALLY, IT WOULD BE UNFAIR 06:14.412 --> 06:16.679 POTENTIALLY, IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO POTENTIALLY ACCUSE SOMEBODY 06:16.681 --> 06:18.715 TO POTENTIALLY ACCUSE SOMEBODY OF A CRIME WHEN THERE CAN’T BE 06:18.749 --> 06:21.584 OF A CRIME WHEN THERE CAN’T BE NO COURT RESOLUTION OF THE 06:21.586 --> 06:22.986 NO COURT RESOLUTION OF THE ACTUAL CHARGE. 06:22.987 --> 06:24.888 ACTUAL CHARGE. SO, THAT WAS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 06:24.922 --> 06:25.222 SO, THAT WAS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT POLICY. 06:25.256 --> 06:26.990 POLICY. THOSE WERE THE PRINCIPLES UNDER 06:27.024 --> 06:28.892 THOSE WERE THE PRINCIPLES UNDER WHICH WE OPERATED AND FROM THEM 06:28.893 --> 06:31.128 WHICH WE OPERATED AND FROM THEM WE CONCLUDED THAT WE WOULD, 06:31.162 --> 06:33.296 WE CONCLUDED THAT WE WOULD, WOULD NOT REACH A DETERMINATION 06:33.297 --> 06:34.697 WOULD NOT REACH A DETERMINATION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT 06:34.699 --> 06:35.398 ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT WHETHER THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED 06:35.433 --> 06:37.967 WHETHER THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED A CRIME. 06:38.002 --> 06:41.705 A CRIME. THAT IS THE OFFICE’S FINAL 06:41.706 --> 06:42.072 THAT IS THE OFFICE’S FINAL POSITION. 06:42.073 --> 06:43.507 POSITION. AND WE WILL NOT COMMENT ON ANY 06:43.508 --> 06:44.808 AND WE WILL NOT COMMENT ON ANY OTHER CONCLUSIONS OR 06:44.843 --> 06:45.409 OTHER CONCLUSIONS OR HYPOTHETICALS ABOUT THE 06:45.410 --> 06:48.412 HYPOTHETICALS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT. 06:48.413 --> 06:51.548 PRESIDENT. WE CONDUCTED AN INDEPENDENT 06:51.582 --> 06:52.416 WE CONDUCTED AN INDEPENDENT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND 06:52.450 --> 06:54.084 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND REPORTED THE RESULTS TO THE 06:54.118 --> 06:55.619 REPORTED THE RESULTS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS REQUIRED BY 06:55.620 --> 06:58.522 ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS REQUIRED BY DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS. 06:58.556 --> 06:59.690 DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THEN 06:59.724 --> 07:02.526 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THEN CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS 07:02.560 --> 07:03.193 CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE OUR 07:03.228 --> 07:03.927 APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE OUR REPORT TO CONGRESS AND TO THE 07:03.962 --> 07:06.930 REPORT TO CONGRESS AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 07:06.931 --> 07:08.899 AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND WHAT POINT IN TIME I 07:08.933 --> 07:09.833 AND WHAT POINT IN TIME I REQUESTED THAT CERTAIN PORTIONS 07:09.834 --> 07:11.535 REQUESTED THAT CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE REPORT BE RELEASED. 07:11.536 --> 07:14.138 OF THE REPORT BE RELEASED. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PREFERRED 07:14.139 --> 07:17.040 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PREFERRED TO MAKE THE ENTIRE REPORT PUBLIC 07:17.075 --> 07:18.341 TO MAKE THE ENTIRE REPORT PUBLIC ALL AT ONCE. 07:18.343 --> 07:20.110 ALL AT ONCE. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT THE 07:20.145 --> 07:23.714 AND WE APPRECIATE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MADE THE REPORT 07:23.715 --> 07:27.051 ATTORNEY GENERAL MADE THE REPORT LARGELY PUBLIC AND I DO NOT 07:27.052 --> 07:28.218 LARGELY PUBLIC AND I DO NOT QUESTION THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S 07:28.220 --> 07:29.753 QUESTION THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S GOOD FAITH IN THAT DECISION. 07:29.787 --> 07:32.489 GOOD FAITH IN THAT DECISION. I HOPE AND EXPECT THIS WILL BE 07:32.524 --> 07:33.924 I HOPE AND EXPECT THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TIME I WILL SPEAK TO 07:33.925 --> 07:34.925 THE ONLY TIME I WILL SPEAK TO YOU IN THIS MATTER. 07:34.926 --> 07:37.161 YOU IN THIS MATTER. I AM MAKING THAT DECISION 07:37.195 --> 07:37.528 I AM MAKING THAT DECISION MYSELF. 07:37.562 --> 07:40.264 MYSELF. NO ONE HAS TOLD ME WHETHER I CAN 07:40.298 --> 07:41.365 NO ONE HAS TOLD ME WHETHER I CAN OR SHOULD TESTIFY OR SPEAK 07:41.366 --> 07:44.068 OR SHOULD TESTIFY OR SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT THIS MATTER. 07:44.069 --> 07:45.436 FURTHER ABOUT THIS MATTER. THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT 07:45.470 --> 07:48.439 THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT AN APPEARANCE BEFORE CONGRESS. 07:48.440 --> 07:49.573 AN APPEARANCE BEFORE CONGRESS. ANY TESTIMONY FROM THIS OFFICE 07:49.574 --> 07:52.976 ANY TESTIMONY FROM THIS OFFICE WOULD NOT GO BEYOND OUR REPORT. 07:52.978 --> 07:55.379 WOULD NOT GO BEYOND OUR REPORT. IT CONTAINS OUR FINDINGS AND 07:55.414 --> 07:56.280 IT CONTAINS OUR FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS AND THE REASONS FOR THE 07:56.281 --> 07:59.383 ANALYSIS AND THE REASONS FOR THE DECISIONS WE MADE. 07:59.384 --> 08:01.418 DECISIONS WE MADE. WE CHOSE THOSE WORDS CAREFULLY 08:01.453 --> 08:04.288 WE CHOSE THOSE WORDS CAREFULLY AND THE WORK SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. 08:04.289 --> 08:06.791 AND THE WORK SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. AND THE REPORT IS MY TESTIMONY. 08:06.825 --> 08:07.525 AND THE REPORT IS MY TESTIMONY. I WOULD NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION 08:07.559 --> 08:10.961 I WOULD NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION BEYOND THAT WHICH IS ALREADY 08:10.963 --> 08:11.696 BEYOND THAT WHICH IS ALREADY PUBLIC IN ANY APPEARANCE BEFORE 08:11.697 --> 08:14.398 PUBLIC IN ANY APPEARANCE BEFORE CONGRESS. 08:14.433 --> 08:18.636 CONGRESS. IN ADDITION, ACCESS TO OUR 08:18.670 --> 08:19.403 IN ADDITION, ACCESS TO OUR UNDERLYING WORK PRODUCT IS BEING 08:19.404 --> 08:20.604 UNDERLYING WORK PRODUCT IS BEING DECIDED IN A PROCESS THAT DOES 08:20.606 --> 08:24.509 DECIDED IN A PROCESS THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE OUR OFFICE. 08:24.543 --> 08:26.811 NOT INVOLVE OUR OFFICE. SO, BEYOND WHAT I HAVE SAID HERE 08:26.812 --> 08:29.881 SO, BEYOND WHAT I HAVE SAID HERE TODAY AND WHAT IS CONTAINED IN 08:29.915 --> 08:30.615 TODAY AND WHAT IS CONTAINED IN OUR WRITTEN WORK, I DO NOT 08:30.616 --> 08:31.716 OUR WRITTEN WORK, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR ME 08:31.750 --> 08:33.217 BELIEVE IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT THE 08:33.219 --> 08:34.985 TO SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION OR TO COMMENT ON 08:35.020 --> 08:36.020 INVESTIGATION OR TO COMMENT ON THE ACTIONS OF THE JUSTICE 08:36.021 --> 08:38.289 THE ACTIONS OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OR CONGRESS. 08:38.290 --> 08:39.991 DEPARTMENT OR CONGRESS. AND IT IS FOR THAT REASON, I 08:39.992 --> 08:40.692 AND IT IS FOR THAT REASON, I WILL NOT BE TAKING QUESTIONS 08:40.693 --> 08:42.927 WILL NOT BE TAKING QUESTIONS TODAY, AS WELL. 08:42.929 --> 08:45.029 TODAY, AS WELL. NOW, BEFORE I STEP AWAY, I WANT 08:45.030 --> 08:50.601 NOW, BEFORE I STEP AWAY, I WANT TO THANK THE ATTORNEYS, THE FBI 08:50.603 --> 08:52.003 TO THANK THE ATTORNEYS, THE FBI AGENTS, THE ANALYSTS, THE 08:52.004 --> 08:53.838 AGENTS, THE ANALYSTS, THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHO HELPED US 08:53.839 --> 08:55.540 PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHO HELPED US CONDUCT THIS INVESTIGATION IN A 08:55.541 --> 08:59.110 CONDUCT THIS INVESTIGATION IN A FAIR AND INDEPENDENT MANNER. 08:59.111 --> 09:00.545 FAIR AND INDEPENDENT MANNER. THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO SPENT 09:00.579 --> 09:01.813 THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO SPENT NEARLY TWO YEARS WITH THE 09:01.847 --> 09:03.815 NEARLY TWO YEARS WITH THE SPECIAL COUNSEL’S OFFICE ARE OF 09:03.816 --> 09:06.251 SPECIAL COUNSEL’S OFFICE ARE OF THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY. 09:06.285 --> 09:08.787 THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY. AND I WILL CLOSE BY REITERATING 09:08.821 --> 09:11.122 AND I WILL CLOSE BY REITERATING THE CENTRAL ALLEGATION OF OUR 09:11.123 --> 09:13.024 THE CENTRAL ALLEGATION OF OUR INDICTMENTS THAT THERE WERE 09:13.025 --> 09:15.460 INDICTMENTS THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS TO 09:15.461 --> 09:18.029 MULTIPLE SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS TO INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTION. 09:18.030 --> 09:20.665 INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTION. AND THAT ALLEGATION DESERVES THE