As a Congressional Fight Over Possible Obstruction Looms, See What Mueller Investigated

After months of anticipation, the Department of Justice on Thursday released special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on “sweeping and systematic” Russian interference in the 2016 election, and whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice.

The 448-page report, redacted in places, recounts some of the most controversial moments in the Trump presidency: from the firing of FBI director James Comey, to the president’s reaction to Mueller’s appointment, to the infamous Trump Tower meeting involving Donald Jr. and a Russian lawyer.

Ahead of the report’s public release, FRONTLINE’s The Mueller Investigation explored many of the issues and moments that are now confirmed to have been at the heart of the special counsel’s probe. The documentary sheds light on the events that led to Mueller’s appointment, his background, and the team behind the historic two-year investigation.

Congressional Republicans were quick Thursday to call the report a vindication, but Democrats have vowed to subpoena it in its entirety, setting up a political battle over the issue of obstruction.  On that subject, Mueller’s report noted that “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”

As the contents of the report are being hotly debated, go inside five of the moments the Mueller team focused on in these excerpts from The Mueller Investigation:

Comey, Trump, and “Loyalty”

“I Hope You Can Let This Go”

The Comey Firing – and Trump’s Shifting Reasoning

Trump’s Reaction to Mueller’s Appointment

A Meeting in Trump Tower. A Response on Air Force One.

*****

For more on how the Mueller inquiry became central to Trump’s presidency, stream The Mueller Investigation in full. From FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk and his team, the documentary offers an inside look into the investigation that the president has continually deemed a “witch hunt.”

Katherine Griwert contributed work towards this story.