Post-Mueller-report fights shift to US Congress

Significance

The report summarises the 2017-19 investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller that concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election, but that the Trump campaign did not collude in that. Mueller declined to offer judgement on subsequent allegations of presidential obstruction of justice.

Impacts

• Trump will likely stay in office and secure the Republican 2020 presidential nomination.
• Calls for legal clarity around obstruction of justice and campaign finance and management will grow.
• By not seeking to impeach Trump, Democratic leadership will alienate the party's progressives.
• Republicans will seek to change the narrative by investigating the Democrats’ 2016 election campaign.
• Inter-party fighting could hinder bipartisan law-making, such as to lower drug prices and build infrastructure.