Trump was not exonerated by my report, says Mueller

International Desk: US President Donald Trump's claim that he was "totally exonerated" by special counsel Robert Mueller was rejected by Mr Mueller in a hearing on Wednesday.

Mr Mueller said he had not exonerated Mr Trump of obstruction of justice.

However Mr Trump criticised Mr Mueller's performance and said: "This was a great day for me."

Mr Mueller spent two years probing alleged collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia, but did not establish collusion in a crime.

However, he concluded that Russia interfered in the election on Mr Trump's behalf.

In all, 35 people and three companies were charged by the special counsel on matters relating both directly and indirectly to alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. No members of the Trump family were charged.

Mr Mueller - a former FBI director - and his team concluded that they were unable to charge the president with a crime, but could not exonerate him either. _Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/July 25, 2019/AKA