New York - 23 March 2019

1. Medium view of Trump Tower, pan to man taking photo

2. Woman walking near Trump Tower

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Anne Curry, from Massachusetts:

"I'm hoping that the majority of Americans take an opportunity to push for transparency and really take a look and read it and see what this means for the United States and what it means for the presidency as it exists now."

4. Various of demonstrators along the street near Trump Tower

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Amelia Arcamone-Makinano, pro-Trump demonstrator from New York:

"They were using it as material to impeach President Trump. Now we can relax. President Trump can do his job without this hanging over his head, without it going to his, his family was under investigation and everyone who was around President Trump was under investigation."

6. Medium of Fred and Rachel Hendrickson (husband and wife)

7. Medium view of Trump Tower  

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rachel Hendrickson, from New Jersey:

"I may not have a very popular opinion, but I think this has been going on way too long, I think they're just digging and digging for things. I'm not saying there wasn't any type of corruption done, but I don't think it's anything any other president probably hasn't done. Our country's so divided right now that we need to come together and forget about trying to dig up dirt on the president and try to unite ourselves."

9. Medium view of demonstrators

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Fred Hendrickson, from New Jersey:

"Well, I just want to say I feel that both sides need to get along. We need to concentrate more on the economy and poor America and other important subjects, I'd like for everybody to just get along and have a good time."

11. Medium of Fred and Rachel Hendrickson (husband and wife)

12. Close view of demonstrator waving banner

Washington - 23 March 2019

13. Wide view of US Capital

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Sara Grzywacz, Washington, D.C. resident:

"What's been done is what should be happening. I don't know what happened, but I think I want to know what did and I'm excited to see what it says."

15. Wide view of White House

Attorney General William Barr was reviewing the special counsel's confidential report on the Russia investigation Saturday to determine what should be made public after a nearly two-year probe that cast a dark shadow over Donald Trump's presidency.

With the long-awaited special counsel's investigation done but its contents still shrouded in mystery, Americans waited for details, yawned with boredom or stayed fixed to their long-cemented positions on President Donald Trump, the man at the probe's center.

For all the expected splash of Robert Mueller's report, it arrived with more of a thud, thanks to the secrecy surrounding.

Mueller worked in virtual silence as a stream of charges have flowed forth against 37 people and companies. From the start, with his appointment on May 17, 2017, some have framed his work as a battle of good and evil of biblical proportions.

And on the 675th day, Mueller finished his work, and he rested. But nothing immediately changed for those who had watched with bated breath.

Outside Trump Tower in New York City, a passerby was hopeful the report would be available for public viewing. "I'm hoping that the majority of Americans take an opportunity to push for transparency and really take a look and read it and see what this means for the United States and what it means for the presidency as it exists now," said Anne Curry, from Massachusetts.

Among a group of demonstrators nearby, there was some relief that the Mueller probe was over. "They were using it as material to impeach President Trump. Now we can relax. President Trump can do his job without this hanging over his head," said Amelia Arcamone-Makinano.

Even with the details still under wraps, Friday's end to the 22-month probe without additional indictments by Mueller was welcome news to some in Trump's orbit who had feared a final round of charges could ensnare more Trump associates, including members of the president's family.

The report was accessible to only a handful of Justice officials while Barr prepared to summarize the "principal conclusions."

Trump, who has relentlessly criticized Mueller's investigation as a "witch hunt," was at his golf club in Florida on Saturday, and House Democrats were planning to gather by phone later in the day as they waited for Barr's summary.

Word of the report's delivery to Barr on Friday triggered reactions across Washington, including Democrats' demands that it be quickly released to the public and Republicans' contentions that it ended two years of wasted time and money.

The next step was up to Barr, who declared he was committed to transparency and speed.