Mueller testifies no Russia conspiracy found, but Trump not exonerated on obstruction

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday affirmed his finding of no criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russians during the 2016 election -- but said his report did not exonerate the president on obstruction either.

He also said he won't discuss the origins of the FBI's investigation into the president as he made his highly anticipated appearance before a congressional committee to discuss his investigation into President Trump, his associates and Russia.

“The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government in its election interference activities,” Mueller said in his opening statement before the House Judiciary Committee. “We did not address ‘collusion,’ which is not a legal term. Rather, we focused on whether the evidence was sufficient to charge any member of the campaign with taking part in a criminal conspiracy. It was not.”

“We found insufficient evidence of the president’s culpability,” Mueller added.

Under questioning House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., Mueller flatly replied “no” when asked if his report totally exonerates the president, as Trump has argued.

"The president was not exculpated," Mueller said, also adding that Trump refused to sit for an interview with his investigators.

On the issue of whether Trump attempted to obstruct his investigation, Mueller said, “Based on Justice Department policy and principles of fairness, we decided we would not make a determination as to whether the president committed a crime. That was our decision then and it remains our decision today.”