Special counsel Robert Mueller says President Donald Trump's efforts to influence the Russia investigation "were mostly unsuccessful," but that was because the people surrounding the president "declined to carry out orders to accede to his requests."

AP reporter Chad Day gives an initial review of the two-volume report that exceeds 400 pages.

"The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered," he says.

"Interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than twenty eight hundred subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia."

Mueller's report details instances by several officials, including former FBI Director James Comey, former White House counsel Don McGahn and former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, ignoring or refusing Trump's requests to interfere in the investigation.

"But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors," Day says.

Washington, D.C. - 17 April 2019

+++STARTS AND ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE+++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"So the headline today is that Mueller has made two big conclusions out of his report. Number one is that he did not establish that there was a criminal conspiracy between the Russian government and the Trump campaign to interfere in the 2016 election. The other is that he did not exonerate the president on the question of whether he obstructed justice, or tried to influence the Russia probe and crossed over into criminal conduct. Now, it's a 448 page report and portions of it are redacted. We're still kind of gathering the information right now to determine how much has been withheld. We know that the attorney general said that he withheld information about ongoing investigations, grand jury material, information that could be derogatory about uncharged people, and other information that he saw fit to withhold."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"So in particular on the question of obstruction, Mueller examined 10 different episodes in which he was looking at the president's conduct to determine whether or not it crossed over into criminal conduct. Now again, he did not determine, didn't answer the question of whether it was criminal obstruction. But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"In particular, there's one episode that's related involving his personal attorney of his who is trying to gather information from former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Now, this is going back in time a little bit, but Flynn had just cut off contact with the Trump legal team, ahead of his pleading guilty and cooperating with the government. The report says that one of Trump's attorneys then reached out and tried to remind them that the president had warm feelings for Flynn and ask him to see if there was any information that he knew that could implicate the president. Whenever Flynn's attorneys rebuffed that effort, the attorney then said that he would remind the president that that Flynn's actions showed hostility towards the president. So, what they're showing is that they're painting a picture here of a president and people around him who are trying to shape and gather information about the probe but also to in some cases you know take control of it and influence the direction of where it's going."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"The report also details what happened in the months right after Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed in May of 2017. In particular, it shows that the president ordered his then White House counsel Don McGahn to try to have a special counsel Robert Mueller removed. Now McGahn rebuffed this effort but it shows how the president and the report quotes him saw the probe as possible into his presidency, and something that would threaten his power. And at that point was trying to take efforts to take control of the investigation by having Mueller removed."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"I think the level of detail in the report is one of the most important take-aways from it. The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than 2,800 subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia. The other thing is how much the special counsel grappled with whether or not the president had crossed over the legal line into criminal obstruction. As you see in the second volume of the report. He details these 10 episodes, and also then discusses you know what the law is and how it applies to a president ultimately deciding that they could not answer the question because there are difficult legal issues at play, and leaving that kind of open. As we know after the report was turned in weeks ago, the attorney general then stepped in and decided that the president had not obstructed justice. And today you saw him reflect that in his news conference announcing the report."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"Immediately after the report was announced by the attorney general this morning, Trump and his legal team claimed victory, with Trump kind of touting his usual refrain of 'no collusion.' That there was 'no obstruction' and saying it was a 'total exoneration.' Now, as we know, the report did not exonerate him on the question of obstruction of justice. But his legal team did issue a statement saying that they see this as a victory, and that what it appears is now going to be the president's strategy is to go and try to turn the tables and attack the investigators who carried out the Russia investigation.

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"Also what we will have after this report drops is that Barr will go to to the Hill to testify. Democrats are also calling for him to release the full report and say that they may go to court for that. Barr is scheduled to testify in early May. We also have seen Democrats say that they want to hear from Special Counsel Robert Mueller himself, and Barr said that he wouldn't object to that during his news conference."

+++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE+++

Special counsel Robert Mueller says President Donald Trump's efforts to influence the Russia investigation "were mostly unsuccessful," but that was because the people surrounding the president "declined to carry out orders to accede to his requests."

AP reporter Chad Day gives an initial review of the two-volume report that exceeds 400 pages.

"The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered," he says.

"Interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than twenty eight hundred subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia."

Mueller's report details instances by several officials, including former FBI Director James Comey, former White House counsel Don McGahn and former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, ignoring or refusing Trump's requests to interfere in the investigation.

"But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors," Day says.

Washington, D.C. - 17 April 2019

+++STARTS AND ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE+++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"So the headline today is that Mueller has made two big conclusions out of his report. Number one is that he did not establish that there was a criminal conspiracy between the Russian government and the Trump campaign to interfere in the 2016 election. The other is that he did not exonerate the president on the question of whether he obstructed justice, or tried to influence the Russia probe and crossed over into criminal conduct. Now, it's a 448 page report and portions of it are redacted. We're still kind of gathering the information right now to determine how much has been withheld. We know that the attorney general said that he withheld information about ongoing investigations, grand jury material, information that could be derogatory about uncharged people, and other information that he saw fit to withhold."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"So in particular on the question of obstruction, Mueller examined 10 different episodes in which he was looking at the president's conduct to determine whether or not it crossed over into criminal conduct. Now again, he did not determine, didn't answer the question of whether it was criminal obstruction. But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"In particular, there's one episode that's related involving his personal attorney of his who is trying to gather information from former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Now, this is going back in time a little bit, but Flynn had just cut off contact with the Trump legal team, ahead of his pleading guilty and cooperating with the government. The report says that one of Trump's attorneys then reached out and tried to remind them that the president had warm feelings for Flynn and ask him to see if there was any information that he knew that could implicate the president. Whenever Flynn's attorneys rebuffed that effort, the attorney then said that he would remind the president that that Flynn's actions showed hostility towards the president. So, what they're showing is that they're painting a picture here of a president and people around him who are trying to shape and gather information about the probe but also to in some cases you know take control of it and influence the direction of where it's going."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"The report also details what happened in the months right after Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed in May of 2017. In particular, it shows that the president ordered his then White House counsel Don McGahn to try to have a special counsel Robert Mueller removed. Now McGahn rebuffed this effort but it shows how the president and the report quotes him saw the probe as possible into his presidency, and something that would threaten his power. And at that point was trying to take efforts to take control of the investigation by having Mueller removed."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"I think the level of detail in the report is one of the most important take-aways from it. The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than 2,800 subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia. The other thing is how much the special counsel grappled with whether or not the president had crossed over the legal line into criminal obstruction. As you see in the second volume of the report. He details these 10 episodes, and also then discusses you know what the law is and how it applies to a president ultimately deciding that they could not answer the question because there are difficult legal issues at play, and leaving that kind of open. As we know after the report was turned in weeks ago, the attorney general then stepped in and decided that the president had not obstructed justice. And today you saw him reflect that in his news conference announcing the report."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"Immediately after the report was announced by the attorney general this morning, Trump and his legal team claimed victory, with Trump kind of touting his usual refrain of 'no collusion.' That there was 'no obstruction' and saying it was a 'total exoneration.' Now, as we know, the report did not exonerate him on the question of obstruction of justice. But his legal team did issue a statement saying that they see this as a victory, and that what it appears is now going to be the president's strategy is to go and try to turn the tables and attack the investigators who carried out the Russia investigation.

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"Also what we will have after this report drops is that Barr will go to to the Hill to testify. Democrats are also calling for him to release the full report and say that they may go to court for that. Barr is scheduled to testify in early May. We also have seen Democrats say that they want to hear from Special Counsel Robert Mueller himself, and Barr said that he wouldn't object to that during his news conference."

+++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE+++

Senate Republicans have mixed reactions to the surprise announcement that the Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016.

The Justice Department on Wednesday appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead the investigation. Mueller will have sweeping powers and the authority to prosecute any crimes he uncovers.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr who considered the appointment as a good decision said that ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will not honor a subpoena issued by a Senate committee looking into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Burr told reporters Thursday that Flynn's lawyer informed the panel he will not abide by a subpoena for private documents.

President Donald Trump lashed out at the appointment of a special counsel to investigate allegations that his campaign collaborated with Russia to sway the 2016 election, tweeting Thursday that it is "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"

Reactions from Congress to Mueller's appointment were mainly positive, even though Republicans had dismissed an independent outside investigation as unnecessary and duplicative of what congressional committees already are doing.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, says it's a "scandal" of Watergate proportions, and the only way to end it is to get out the full truth.

Republicans have largely stood behind Trump in the first months of his presidency as the FBI and congressional investigations into Russia's election meddling intensified. But GOP lawmakers have grown increasingly anxious since Trump fired Comey, who had been leading the bureau's probe - and after Comey associates said he had notes from a meeting in which Trump asked him to shut down the investigation into the Russia ties of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Washington - May 18, 2017

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"General Flynn's lawyer said that he would not honor the subpoena and that's not a surprise to the committee. But we'll figure out on General Flynn what the next step, if any, is. But we're continuing on with a lot of interviews and through those interviews it leads us to additional document requests and additional individuals we'd like to talk to."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"Director Comey is a public citizen now. He's not constrained by investigations and we think the most important thing that Director Comey can contribute now is an understanding by the American people of what transpired. We happen to think that an open hearing in front of the intelligence committee is the right way for him to do it since we've worked so closely with him and we respect him so much."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:

"Clearly foreign governments could interfere in our election, they did this time. They may be more successful next time. So the shape and the scope of the congressional investigation I think has dramatically changed. I respect the decision. Mueller is a good guy. But one of the big losers here is the public because we're not going to hear from Comey now most likely. I hope we do. I want to hear about the conversation. I want to know the context of it. But now that you have a special counsel, maybe that's off the table."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:

"I'm disappointed in many ways that the Congress may be taken out of the game now because we're a public venue. I thought Yates and Klapper were good. I thought Sally Yates was an excellent witness. I thought Klapper provided insight to the public that we all need to know, you know. It's our nation here. So hearings like that are probably now off the table, and too bad."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:

"I have reason to believe there may be emails between the Clinton campaign and Democratic officials and the Department of Justice during the Obama administration. There is a problem here with committee jurisdiction. If there were emails from the Clinton campaign of the Democratic operatives to the Department of Justice during the Clinton email investigation, I want to know about it."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz. (R) Texas:

"I don't think appointing a special counsel was necessary. But if one was going to be appointed, I think Bob Mueller is an excellent choice. I've known Bob for two decades. And he is a serious law enforcement professional. He's someone who has been appointed positions by both Republicans presidents and Democratic presidents. And he's earned the trust on both sides of the aisles, from Republicans and Democrats. He is a fair minded, serious prosecutor. He led the FBI with great distinction. And I'm confident that he'll investigate the matter and follow the facts wherever they may lead."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:

"In the respect that there is a new revelation almost everyday, like this morning there's a new revelation that there was more communications between the Trump campaign and the Russians in that respect that there is a new revelation every few days."

(Reporter question off camera): "How does the appointment of a special counsel change that?'

(McCain): "I think it's very important, but that is the investigate the criminal activity. The Senate and the House have to investigate the aspects of Russian activity from the standpoint of sanctions against Russia, what we do to counter these attacks, and all the aspects of cyber warfare."

SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Patrick Toomey, (R): Pennsylvania:

"Well my opinion of Bob Mueller is that he's terrific, completely unimpeachable in all respects and widely recognized as such by everybody. I never really was convinced that this is the best way to go. We have in the past when we've used special prosecutors and special counsels it hasn't always ended well. My view was always that the president should move quickly to get a completely unimpeachable leader of the FBI, preferably a Democrat so that there would be no doubt that that organization is being run by somebody who has no allegiance to Donald Trump."

Senate Republicans gave mixed reactions to the surprise announcement that the Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016.

The Justice Department on Wednesday appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead the investigation.

Mueller will have sweeping powers and the authority to prosecute any crimes he uncovers.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr who considered the appointment as a good decision said that ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will not honor a subpoena issued by a Senate committee looking into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Burr told reporters Thursday that Flynn's lawyer informed the panel he will not abide by a subpoena for private documents.

President Donald Trump lashed out at the appointment of a special counsel to investigate allegations that his campaign collaborated with Russia to sway the 2016 election, tweeting Thursday that it is "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"

Reactions from Congress to Mueller's appointment were mainly positive, even though Republicans had dismissed an independent outside investigation as unnecessary and duplicative of what congressional committees already are doing.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, says it's a "scandal" of Watergate proportions, and the only way to end it is to get out the full truth.

Republicans have largely stood behind Trump in the first months of his presidency as the FBI and congressional investigations into Russia's election meddling intensified.

But GOP lawmakers have grown increasingly anxious since Trump fired Comey, who had been leading the bureau's probe - and after Comey associates said he had notes from a meeting in which Trump asked him to shut down the investigation into the Russia ties of Flynn.

Washington - May 18, 2017

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"General (Michael) Flynn's lawyer said that he would not honor the subpoena and that's not a surprise to the committee. But we'll figure out on General Flynn what the next step, if any, is. But we're continuing on with a lot of interviews and through those interviews it leads us to additional document requests and additional individuals we'd like to talk to."

++BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"(Former FBI) Director (James) Comey is a public citizen now. He's not constrained by investigations and we think the most important thing that Director Comey can contribute now is an understanding by the American people of what transpired. We happen to think that an open hearing in front of the intelligence committee is the right way for him to do it since we've worked so closely with him and we respect him so much."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:

"Clearly foreign governments could interfere in our election, they did this time. They may be more successful next time. So the shape and the scope of the congressional investigation I think has dramatically changed. I respect the decision. Mueller is a good guy. But one of the big losers here is the public because we're not going to hear from Comey now most likely. I hope we do. I want to hear about the conversation. I want to know the context of it. But now that you have a special counsel, maybe that's off the table."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:

"I'm disappointed in many ways that the Congress may be taken out of the game now because we're a public venue. I thought Yates and Klapper were good. I thought Sally Yates was an excellent witness. I thought Klapper provided insight to the public that we all need to know, you know. It's our nation here. So hearings like that are probably now off the table, and too bad."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:

"I have reason to believe there may be emails between the Clinton campaign and Democratic officials and the Department of Justice during the Obama administration. There is a problem here with committee jurisdiction. If there were emails from the Clinton campaign of the Democratic operatives to the Department of Justice during the Clinton email investigation, I want to know about it."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz. (R) Texas:

"I don't think appointing a special counsel was necessary. But if one was going to be appointed, I think Bob Mueller is an excellent choice. I've known Bob for two decades. And he is a serious law enforcement professional. He's someone who has been appointed to positions by both Republicans presidents and Democratic presidents. And he's earned the trust on both sides of the aisles, from Republicans and Democrats. He is a fair minded, serious prosecutor. He led the FBI with great distinction. And I'm confident that he'll investigate the matter and follow the facts wherever they may lead."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:

"I respect that there is a new revelation almost everyday, like this morning there's a new revelation that there was more communications between the Trump campaign and the Russians in that respect that there is a new revelation every few days."

(Reporter question off camera: How does the appointment of a special counsel change that?)

"I think it's very important, but that is to investigate the criminal activity. The Senate and the House have to investigate the aspects of Russian activity from the standpoint of sanctions against Russia, what we do to counter these attacks, and all the aspects of cyber warfare."

++BLACK FRAMES++

SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Patrick Toomey, (R) Pennsylvania:

"Well my opinion of Bob Mueller is that he's terrific, completely unimpeachable in all respects and widely recognized as such by everybody. I never really was convinced that this is the best way to go. We have in the past when we've used special prosecutors and special counsels it hasn't always ended well. My view was always that the president should move quickly to get a completely unimpeachable leader of the FBI, preferably a Democrat so that there would be no doubt that that organization is being run by somebody who has no allegiance to Donald Trump."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++