Read Mueller’s First Public Comments on the Russia Investigation

On Wednesday morning, Special Counsel Robert Mueller made his first public comments about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump. Mueller had stayed notably silent through the more than two years of his inquiry, never speaking on camera or publicly answering questions from reporters. “I hope and expect this to be the only time that I will speak to you in this manner,” he said.

The full text of his remarks are below.

Thank you for being here. Two years ago, the acting attorney general asked me to serve as special counsel, and he created the Special Counsel’s Office. The appointment order directed the office to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This included investigating any links or coordination between