***To read the full blog, please check out the complete post on NewsBusters***
The assembled cast of CNN reporters and analysts were staring down at their phones and printouts as they were reading Attorney General William Barr’s letter to Congress summarizing the Special Counsel report, Sunday afternoon. They seemed almost mystified by the findings when they began admitted President Trump would not be facing charges. But then once they seemed to realize what they were saying, they began walking it back.
CNN crime and justice reporter Shimon Prokupecz was one of the first to realize the truth. Reading from the third page of the letter and dubbing it “probably one of the most important lines in this”, Prokupecz said:
“In making the determination, we noted that the Special Counsel recognized that the evidence does not establish that the President was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference and that while not determinative, the absence of such evidence bears upon the President's intent with respect to obstruction.”
And on the suggestions of obstruction of justice by the President, they found nothing either. Reporter Pamela Brown reading: “I have concluded that the evidence developed during the Special Counsel's investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction of justice offense.”
“They’ve cleared him,” Prokupecz responded seemingly disappointed, with Brown right behind him saying, “They just cleared him.”
(...)
