Trump hails House Intelligence Committee report on Russia

The release caps a year of partisan acrimony on the panel.

By KYLE CHENEY 04/27/2018 10:07 AM EDT Updated 04/27/2018 10:36 AM EDT
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
The House Intelligence Committee has released a 253-page report on its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The GOP report signals the committee found no evidence of collusion between Trump campaign associates and Russia but affirms evidence that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Though its findings were previewed in a summary a month earlier, President Donald Trump hailed the Republican report as vindication of his claim that there was "no collusion" between him or his team and the Russian government.

"Just Out: House Intelligence Committee Report released. 'No evidence' that the Trump Campaign 'colluded, coordinated or conspired with Russia,'" Trump tweetd "Clinton Campaign paid for Opposition Research obtained from Russia — Wow! A total Witch Hunt! MUST END NOW!"

While the report stated the committee found an absence of evidence of a campaign-Russia connection, it did emphasize that other ongoing investigations — such as Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe — might be privy to facts the committee could not obtain. The Senate Intelligence Committee is also continuing to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The document, endorsed only by Republican members of the panel, follows a year-long investigation that at times was marked by intense partisanship and acrimony. Democrats have described ample evidence that suggests the possibility of collusion and accused Republicans of short-circuiting the investigation and letting tight-lipped witnesses off the hook without subpoenas.