Arizona Republicans say ‘no collusion’ in Mueller report, Democrats disagree

Apr 18, 2019, 9:06 AM | Updated: 5:15 pm

PHOENIX — Special counsel Robert Mueller’s redacted report into Russian interference in the 2016 election was released to the public Thursday, eliciting a range of reactions from Arizona lawmakers.

Republicans said the report proved “no collusion” between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russian officials.

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs said Attorney General William Barr “stated clearly” that there was no obstruction and called for Democrats to move on from the two-year investigation.

“That has to be the end of it. Americans should get back to work. Congress should get back to work, doing its business,” Biggs said in a tweet.

No collusion. No charges for obstruction. Now that the #MuellerReport is out, let's return to doing the business of the American people. Democrats must stop trying to undermine @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/n9mx34BwoE

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) April 18, 2019

Fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko echoed Biggs’ call.

“It is time to move on,” she said in a statement. “The American people want us to focus on real issues—not partisan investigations by Democrats intended to undermine President Trump.”

#AGBarr again says #NoCollusionNoCorruption #Democrats need to move on for sake of #USA

— Debbie Lesko (@DebbieLesko) April 18, 2019

For two years Democrats and Fake News media mislead the American people with countless attacks on @realdonaldtrump. Today, we once again can confirm that there is STILL no obstruction and STILL no collusion. #MuellerReport

— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) April 18, 2019

U.S. Sen. Martha McSally said the report made clear that the Russians tried to influence the election and “sow discord” in the country.

Now it is incumbent upon us to come together to focus on issues that matter to Arizonans: creating more good-paying jobs, affordable and quality healthcare, supporting working families, providing veterans the benefits they deserve, and securing our border.

— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) April 18, 2019

But Arizona Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, said the report did not prove that Trump was exonerated.

Trump: TOTAL EXONERATION!

Mueller: pic.twitter.com/pX4C5EEWdm

— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) April 18, 2019

Bottom line, Congress and the American people have more questions, we need to hear from Special Counsel Mueller before we draw any final conclusions. #MuellerReport

— Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (@RepKirkpatrick) April 18, 2019

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva said in a statement that Barr should release the unredacted report so Congress can “determine the reality of the president’s actions and hold him accountable” and called on Mueller to testify.

“Since the attorney general has clearly become the president’s defense attorney, special counsel Robert Mueller must testify before Congress and provide a full scope of his investigation, findings, and recommendations,” he said.

“If Trump has nothing to hide, why does he remain hell-bent on deceiving the public?”

U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran said in a statement Congress needs to conduct a “thorough, bipartisan review” in order to “review the evidence presented about Russian interference and the involvement of American citizens.”

Trump, however, was pleased with the released report.