US Special Counsel Robert Mueller Announces Resignation From Justice Dept

Mueller has stated that he is resigning from the US Justice Department after the conclusion of the Russia investigation.

"We are formally closing the Special Counsel's Office and as well I'm resigning from the Department of Justice to return to private life", Mueller said during the press conference.

He continued by saying that charging US President Donald Trump was not an option that he could consider under Justice Department guidelines.

According to Mueller, it is "inappropriate" for him to testify further on the Russia probe.

LIVE UPDATES: Robert Mueller Makes First Public Statement on Russia Probe

29 May 2019, 14:14 GMT

In April, the Justice Department released the Mueller report, concluding that President Donald Trump's campaign team did not collude with Russia. However, the report also described 10 episodes regarding Trump's actions that may constitute possible obstruction of justice. US Attorney General William Barr, in turn, stated that the evidence against Trump in the Mueller report does not rise to the level of a crime.

Russia has repeatedly denied any claims of interference in the US political system, stressing that the allegations were made up to excuse the election loss of Trump's 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton, as well as to deflect public attention from actual instances of election fraud and corruption.