President Trump's lawyers never seriously worried their client would be accused of a Russia conspiracy, three sources familiar with the matter told NBCNews.
Barr quoted the Mueller report as stating that"while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him" on obstruction. But Barr said he and deputy Rod Rosenstein"have concluded that the evidence developed during the Special Counsel's investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.
The obstruction investigation was different, the sources said. It was based on the firing of Comey and other public acts by Trump, as well as behind-the-scenes moves recounted to Mueller's team by White House officials who were interviewed, including Don McGahn, the former White House counsel. He reportedly told Mueller of resisting Trump's orders to fire Mueller and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
The Raskins met Mueller only once, and dealt mainly with two members of his team, James Quarles and Andrew Goldstein, the sources said. Jane Raskin, 63, had served with Mueller in the Boston U.S. Attorney's Office, decades ago. She was once Quarles's law partner. Martin, 72, knew Goldstein's father.
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