Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election is finally complete, and now the country waits with bated breath to learn of Mueller’s findings.
But it could be some time before Americans eager to learn the fruits of the special counsel’s labors are satisfied, as the report is now in the hands of the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr.
While it’s unclear when the details of the report will be made public, Congress is expected to learn of Mueller’s “principal conclusions” as soon as this weekend.
So what are some of the key players surrounding Mueller’s investigation doing as they await word of the special counsel’s conclusions?
President Trump
Trump left Washington, D.C., on Friday morning for Florida, where he is spending the weekend at his Palm Beach property, Mar-a-Lago. The president hasn’t said anything publicly about the end of Mueller’s investigation, which he has called a “witch hunt” run by “angry Democrats.”
Before leaving the White House, Trump repeated his assertion to reporters that there was “no collusion” between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.
Since news that Mueller’s investigation concluded broke Friday evening, the president has been quiet on Twitter, his primary forum for attacking the special counsel’s investigation.
Trump did, however, arrive at his West Palm Beach golf club just after 9 a.m. He has no public events on his schedule and is expected to return to the White House on Sunday evening.
Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein
Barr was spotted by reporters leaving his McLean, Va., home Saturday morning, and he arrived at the Justice Department shortly after. Rosenstein is also at the Department of Justice.
The attorney general is reading Mueller’s report, which has been described as “comprehensive.”
In a letter send to congressional leaders on Friday, Barr said he could release the special counsel’s “principal conclusions” as early as this weekend. It’s unknown, however, when that information will be sent to Capitol Hill.
Barr told lawmakers he plans to consult with Rosenstein and Mueller to “determine what other information from the report can be released to Congress and the public consistent with the law.”
Special counsel Robert Mueller
Mueller’s investigation was surrounded in secrecy, and rumors of its impending conclusion reached a fever pitch late this week.
Those rumors were put to rest Friday, when the special counsel submitted a report on his investigation into Russian meddling to Barr, marking the end of the investigation. A senior Justice Department official said Mueller will not recommend any new indictments.
After the report was delivered, Mueller was spotted dining at Salt & Pepper Restaurant in Washington, D.C., on Friday night.
Peter Carr, spokesman for the special counsel’s office, said Mueller “will be concluding his service in the coming days.”
“A small number of staff will remain to assist in closing the operations of the office for a period of time,” Carr said.
Congressional Democrats
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are in a holding pattern as they await the release from Barr of Mueller’s principal conclusions.
But Democrats are not taking it easy Saturday. According to reports, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Democrats will have a conference call Saturday afternoon to discuss their strategy surrounding the report and next steps, according to reports.
A number of Democrats, including Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are urging Barr to make Mueller’s full report available to the public and turn over to Congress its underlying documentation.
Barr, Pelosi and Schumer said, “must not give President Trump, his lawyers or his staff any ‘sneak preview’” of Mueller’s findings or evidence.
