MUELLER: 'If we had concluded the president of the United States had not committed a crime, we would have said so'

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Special Counsel Robert Mueller makes a statement about the Russia investigation on May 29, 2019 at the Justice Department in Washington, DC.

• Special counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday in his first public statement on the Russia investigation said if he'd determined President Donald Trump didn't commit a crime he "would have said so."
• "If we had confidence that the president did not commit a crime, we would have said so," Mueller said.

Special counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday - in his first public, televised statement regarding the investigation he led into Russia election interference - said if he'd determined President Donald Trump didn't commit a crime he "would have said so."

Mueller was referencing the portion of his investigation and report that focused on whether Trump committed obstruction of justice amid the probe.

"If we had confidence that the president did not commit a crime, we would have said so," Mueller said.

The special counsel's report outlined 11 possible instances of obstruction by Trump, but declined to make a conclusion on whether the president committed a crime.

Mueller's comments on Wednesday echoed his report, which stated, "If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment."

This article will continue to be updated.