The DOJ released parts of the memo used in 2019 to justify not charging Donald Trump with obstruction of justice, but it is arguing against releasing the whole document.
Federal judge slams Bill Barr for getting a jump on public relations with statements about the Mueller report that were favorable for Trump
The Biden administration appealed a judge s order directing it to release in its entirety a legal memo on whether Trump had obstructed Russia investigation
However it also agreed to make a brief portion of the document public
In its motion Monday, Justice Department lawyers said the government never meant to mislead the court
However it acknowledged that some of its language could have been clearer
It appears the decision was made to avoid setting a new precedent where more sensitive documents would have to be released in the future
Biden administration appeals order to release Trump-era Russia investigation obstruction memo
The Justice Department turned over other documents to CREW as part of the group s lawsuit, but declined to give it the OLC memo.
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| A+A A- By Associated Press
WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is appealing a judge s order directing it to release in its entirety a legal memo on whether President Donald Trump had obstructed justice during the Russia investigation. But it also made public a brief portion of the document showing senior Justice Department leaders concluded that the evidence could not support an obstruction prosecution.
DOJ Clarifies That Memo on Russia Probe Was Never About Prosecuting Donald Trump
On 5/25/21 at 1:49 PM EDT
Associated Press reported.
A portion of the memo made public by the Biden administration shows senior DOJ officials concluded that the evidence could not support an obstruction prosecution against Trump. The DOJ said the memo s purpose was to address whether information gathered by Special Counsel Robert Mueller could be used in a criminal case. The Attorney General s determination on that point and on what, if anything, to say to the public about that question undoubtedly qualifies as a decision, even if it could not have resulted in an actual prosecution of the sitting President, Justice Department lawyers wrote in a motion filed Monday.