Trump accuses ‘fake news media’ of ‘doing everything possible to stir up anger’ after Mueller report

President Trump renewed his attacks on the press on Saturday, accusing the media of “doing everything possible” to stir up anger” following the release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report.

“The Fake News Media is doing everything possible to stir up and anger the pols and as many people as possible seldom mentioning the fact that the Mueller Report had as its principle conclusion the fact that there was NO COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA. The Russia Hoax is dead!” Trump tweeted Saturday morning.

The Fake News Media is doing everything possible to stir up and anger the pols and as many people as possible seldom mentioning the fact that the Mueller Report had as its principle conclusion the fact that there was NO COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA. The Russia Hoax is dead!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2019

In a string of early morning tweets, Trump stepped up his offensive against special counsel Robert Mueller, calling him “highly conflicted” and claiming that Mueller’s report “was written as nastily as possible” by “true Trump Haters.” The president also sought to reaffirm his claims that Mueller’s report cleared him of collusion and obstruction, once again declaring Mueller’s investigation “the greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. political history.”

“Despite the fact that the Mueller Report should not have been authorized in the first place & was written as nastily as possible by 13 (18) Angry Democrats who were true Trump Haters, including highly conflicted Bob Mueller himself, the end result is No Collusion, No Obstruction!” Trump tweeted.{mosads}

“The end result of the greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. political history is No Collusion with Russia (and No Obstruction). Pretty Amazing!” Trump said in a subsequent tweet.

Trump’s early morning tweetstorm came one day after he lashed out at Mueller and his report on Friday, claiming some statements about him “are total bullshit” and deriding the more than 400-page document as the “Crazy Mueller Report.” 

The redacted version of the report, released Thursday morning, did not conclude there was a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia. Mueller’s findings also did not exonerate or implicate Trump on obstruction of justice charges. The report detailed 10 “episodes” of potentially obstructive behavior, but noted that current Justice Department guidelines prevent the indictment of a sitting president. 

The special counsel, however, left the door open to possible congressional probes.

“With respect to whether the President can be found to have obstructed justice by exercising his powers under Article II of the Constitution, we concluded that Congress has the authority to prohibit a President’s corrupt use of his authority in order to protect the integrity of the administration of justice,” Mueller wrote.

House Democrats this week seized on Mueller’s non-conclusion on obstruction, with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) issuing a subpoena Friday morning for the special counsel’s unredacted report.

“The Special Counsel made clear that he did not exonerate the President,” Nadler said Thursday. “The responsibility now falls to Congress to hold the President accountable for his actions.”

Updated 8:37 a.m.