Friday, April 19, 2019
Thursday, April 18, 2019
NYC & COMPANY INVITES VISITORS TO DISCOVER SUMMER IN THE CITY
—Monumental openings, big events, and perennial favorites to attract nearly 19 million visitors to the five boroughs June through August—
NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization of New York City, is pleased to highlight a lineup of unprecedented openings and annual events that make summer 2019 an especially attractive time to visit. These key additions and events, coupled with perennial sports and recreational opportunities throughout the city (from baseball fever with the Mets and Yankees to outdoor activities in Coney Island, Governors Island and the Rockaways), make June, July and August a truly can’t-miss time in NYC. During these months, NYC & Company predicts 19 million visitors will travel to the City.
“Summer brings a radiant energy to the five boroughs and is a wonderful time to explore our dynamic and diverse neighborhoods,” said NYC & Company president and CEO Fred Dixon. “A remarkable roster of major openings and iconic events provide countless reasons to explore everything New York City has to offer.”
Below is a roundup of notable items that complete a monumental season this year, more can be found at nycgo.com/summer.
Major Openings
- Hudson Yards - Opened March 15 (Far West Manhattan)
2019 is the inaugural summer season for NYC’s newest neighborhood. Visitors can enjoy the extended daylight views of the Hudson River by making a reservation to climb the Vessel or cool off inside the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards where restaurants like Mercado Little Spain by Jose Andres and Kawi by David Chang are paired alongside stores like Neiman Marcus. Later this summer, the neighborhood will also have a world class wellness destination in the first ever Equinox Hotel (HudsonYardsNewYork.com).
- The Shed - Opened April 5 (Hudson Yards, Manhattan)
The dynamic new cultural hub in Hudson Yards made its much-anticipated debut just as warm weather returned this April with Steve McQueen’s Soundtrack of America (now closed). Continuing the first half of the inaugural season are exhibitions such as Tony Cokes and Oscar Murillo (June 19-August 25) Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise(June 22-July 27), and MAZE (July 23-August 17) (TheShed.org).
- Bronx Zoo Dinosaur Safari - Opening April 19 (The Bronx)
The largest and most life-like Dinosaur ride in America will open in the Bronx Zoo this spring. 40 animatronic and life-sized dinosaurs will lurk in a two-acre wooded area within the park and educate visitors about the physical and behavioral adaptations of our prehistoric ancestors (bronxzoo.com).
- TWA Hotel - Opening May 15 (John F. Kennedy Airport, Queens)
Luxury returns to JFK next month thanks to a 512-room hotel in the former TWA flight center dedicated to the jet age. Among the six restaurants and eight bars, guests can explore “Connie” a 1958 Starline airplane repurposed as a retro cocktail lounge out on the tarmac (twahotel.org).
- Empire Outlets - Opening May 15 (St. George, Staten Island)
NYC’s first outlet shopping destination will launch just steps from the Staten Island ferry, with shops like Nike and Nordstrom Rack, just in time for summer. Home to 100 retail and dining experiences, the outlets are perfect for summertime fun with the Staten Island Yankees ballpark right next door and great views of lower Manhattan available from all over the mall (empireoutlets.nyc).
- Statue of Liberty Museum - Opening May 16 (Liberty Island)
Liberty Island will offer more activity to visitors than ever when the Statue of Liberty Museum makes its highly anticipated debut in May. The interactive new home for the Statue’s original torch also includes an immersive education tour and unrivaled views of the statue, lower Manhattan, and the harbor (libertyellisfoundation.org).
- The Highline Spur - Opening May (Hudson Yards, Manhattan)
A decade after the elevated park originally opened, the last remaining section of the original rail structure will open on the western end of The Highline as the Spur this May including a series of rotating art commissions of varying size and scale titled The Plinth (thehighline.org).
Big Events
- Pride Celebrations - May 10-June 30 (NYC)
Pride celebrations will take place across the five boroughs beginning with Staten Island (May 10-18), Harlem (May 31-June 29), Queens (June 2), Brooklyn (June 8) and The Bronx (June 23), culminating with the U.S. debut ofWorldPride (June 24-30), with 50+ events over 5 days and nearly 4-5 million participants expected in total.
- Fleet Week - May 22-28 (NYC)
Fleet Week provides visitors with the opportunity to celebrate Memorial Day with members of the Navy and Marines visiting NYC while on leave from duty. The week kicks off with a parade of naval ships and includes special events on the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum, ship tours, and sailor meet and greets. (nycgo.com/fleetweek).
- World Science Festival – May 28- June 2 (NYC)
This weeklong celebration of science features over 60 events that take science out of the lab and into the streets, parks, museums, and premier performing arts venues of New York City. Highlights include: theatrical works dedicated to historic scientists like Albert Einstein, deep discussions with astronauts like Apollo 11's Michael Collins, outdoor experiences like Stargazing in Brooklyn Bridge Park and more (worldsciencefestival.com).
- The Belmont Stakes - June 8 (Belmont Park, Queens)
In addition to the final leg of the thoroughbred Triple Crown horse races, the Belmont Stakes features a three-day festival with dozens of races, live music, and a food-truck village for visitors to enjoy (belmontstakes.com).
- Museum Mile Festival - June 11 (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
This June, some of the most prestigious museums in the world are throwing a block party on Manhattans Upper East Side, free for all to attend. From 6-9pm on June 11, El Museo del Barrio, Museum of the City of New York, Jewish Museum, Cooper Hewitt Museum, Guggenheim Museum, Neue Galerie, and The Met Fifth Avenue will welcome visitors to see their incredible collections for free with Fifth Avenue closed to vehicles (museummilefestival.org).
- SailGP - June 21-22 (Lower Manhattan)
The global sailboat racing series makes its only stop on the eastern half of the Americas on the official first day of summer. On the Lower Hudson River, the teams will reach speeds up to 60 mph, while fans onshore can experience the Race Village located at Brookfield Place (SailGP.com).
- Coney Island Mermaid Parade - June 22 (Coney Island, Brooklyn)
“King Neptune” and “Queen Mermaid” will lead a procession of mermaids and mermen in what is the largest parade in Brooklyn all year down Surf Ave and the boardwalk to the beach to officially open the ocean for swimming season (coneyisland.com).
- Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks - July 4 (NYC)
The largest Fourth of July spectacular in the United States will light up the NYC skyline from the East River this year with the help of world-class performers and nearly 3 million spectators. While this year’s performers have yet to be announced, past celebrations have seen the likes of Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, and Katy Perry take the stage (visitmacysusa.com).
- Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest - July 4 (Coney Island, Brooklyn)
The world’s most iconic hot dog stand will make Coney Island an epicenter for Independence Day festivities again with its 103rd hot dog eating contest. For a complete Fourth of July experience, fans should head down the boardwalk to the Brooklyn Cyclones game and post-game fireworks show that follows (nathansfamous.com).
- ABB FIA New York City E-Prix - July 13 (Red Hook, Brooklyn)
At the third annual New York City E-Prix, fully electric vehicles will reach speeds up to 140mph in front of Lower Manhattan’s skyline as FIA crowns a champion at the 2019 season finale. Off the track, fans can meet the driversand experience the latest racing technology at the Allianz E-Village (fiaformulae.com).
- NYC Restaurant Week - July 22 - August 16 (NYC)
Through NYC & Company’s signature program, in partnership with Mastercard, nearly 400 restaurants across the five boroughs will again offer two-course prix-fixe lunches and brunches for $26 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $42. In total, locals and visitors can try 30+ individual cuisines in more than 40 distinct neighborhoods with participating restaurants (nycgo.com/restaurantweek).
- Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival - August 2-3 (Corona Park, Queens)
This August, 200 dragon boat teams will race on Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in celebration of the fifth month on the lunar calendar. Onshore, traditional food, martial arts demonstrations, dance performances, Chinese crafts and children's activities will complete the experience (hkdbf-ny.org).
- 2019 US Open Tennis Championships - August 26-September 8 (Flushing, Queens)
The top tennis players in the world will compete in the 51st US Open at the new USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where 600 million-dollar strategic transformations were completed last year. In addition to the grand slam tournament, fans can visit US Open Fan Week, including open practices with tennis stars, Queens Day and Arthur Ashe Kids Day celebrations (usopen.org).
ONENYC: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES TRANSPORTATION MEASURES TO INCREASE NEW YORKERS’ MOBILITY
The City has identified locations to implement its Bus Action Plan to increase bus speeds 25% by 2020, help more businesses receive off-hour deliveries, and explore new pedestrian zones in Lower Manhattan
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced dramatic measures to increase mobility on our streets that will be part of the 2019 OneNYC strategic plan. The package announced today includes: a detailed plan on how DOT will implement the Bus Action Plan with the goal of increasing bus speeds 25% by 2020; a plan to triple the number of businesses switching to off-hour deliveries; and pursue the creation of new pedestrian priority zones around Lower Manhattan. These measures will help New Yorkers get around and complement the implementation of congestion pricing in early 2021. The Mayor made the announcement along Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side, among the corridors that will see major bus improvements this year.
“Making it easier to get around our city means New Yorkers have more time for what matters most – for their family and themselves,” said Mayor de Blasio. “These measures are part of our OneNYC strategy to build a fairer, better city for all. They complement congestion pricing, helping us fix our subways and reduce traffic delays to get our city moving.”
Today’s mobility announcement consists of three elements, all part of 2019 OneNYC, the strategic plan for the City: the Better Buses Action Plan, increasing off-hour deliveries and pursuing the creation of new pedestrian spaces in Lower Manhattan.
Better Buses Action Plan
In his 2019 State of the City address, Mayor de Blasio announced a citywide goal of improving bus speeds by 25% by 2020. The Better Buses Action Plan released today (see report here), identifies the specific routes and projects the City will undertake in 2019 to increase bus speeds in all five boroughs. These projects include:
Manhattan: 42nd Street, 12th Avenue to FDR Drive; 2 miles
Total daily ridership: 16,000
Potential Improvements:
· Upgrade curbside bus lane to offset lane in at least one direction
· Update curb management along the corridor to prioritize transit priority, pedestrian space, and loading needs
· Extend/install turn bays at select locations and install turn bans at select locations to benefit the flow of buses and other traffic
· Adjust signal timing to improve crosstown travel
Bronx: Webster Avenue, 176th Street to 174th Street; .25 miles
Total daily ridership: 21,000
Potential Improvements:
· Add southbound offset bus lane between E 176th St and E 174th St
· Add physical barrier to separate bus and right turning movements
· Adjust signal timing to improve safety and vehicle flow
Queens: Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Beach 116th Street to Beach 73rd Street; 3.7 miles
Total daily ridership: 36,000
Potential Improvements:
· Implement pedestrian safety improvements at intersections along the corridor
· Construct sidewalks to make bus stops at Beach 73rd St and Beach 67th St accessible
· Install offset and curbside bus lanes on portions of the corridor
Brooklyn: Livingston Street, Boerum Place to Flatbush Avenue
Total daily ridership: 63,000
Potential Improvements:
· Add dedicated westbound right turn arrow and signal phase to help buses turning right from westbound Livingston St onto Boerum Pl
· Refresh existing bus lanes and extend bus lane hours
· Upgrade bus lanes to protected bus lanes with physical barriers to prevent illegal parking and standing
Staten Island: Narrows Road at Hylan Boulevard
Total daily ridership: 33,000
Potential Improvements:
· Relocate the northbound S78 bus stop from the south side of Narrows Rd S to the north side to improve bus operations and safety
· Reverse direction of Hylan Blvd (east leg) from northbound to southbound, from Narrows Rd S to Olga Pl, to reduce congestion and make it easier for buses and other traffic on Narrows Rd S to merge onto the Staten Island Expressway on-ramp
· Investigate a leading pedestrian signal (LPI) for the east crosswalk to give pedestrians a head start on crossing the street to reach the S78 bus stop
· Coordinate with NYSDOT to move the existing bus stop on the south side of Narrows Rd S/Hylan Blvd one block to the west to improve safety, to better position buses to merge onto the Staten Island Expy and alleviate traffic congestion
Increasing Off-Hour Deliveries
The de Blasio administration will work with MTA and the Port Authority to encourage efficient deliveries and support continued growth in freight activity, specifically by encouraging more businesses to accept off-hour deliveries in the Central Business District. Under the initiative this year, the number of business locations enrolled in the Overnight/Off-hour Delivery (OHD) program will triple -- from just over 500 to 1500.
DOT directs the OHD program, helping businesses make this transition by working with distributors. Currently, 119 businesses at 524 off-hour delivery locations are now involved in the program – the majority in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with a small number in other boroughs.
The OHD program (more info here) includes businesses that ship large amounts of goods into the Central Business District, like Just Salad, Liberty Coca Cola and ABI (Anheuser Busch-Inbev), as well as companies that receive deliveries, including Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, Pret-a-Manger, Lush, Rite Aid, and Whole Foods.
Increasing freight efficiency with an expanded OHD program promotes sustainable business practices with multiple benefits – from the reduction of daytime roadway congestion and double parking in active bus lanes to advancing the City’s Vision Zero goals with fewer truck-pedestrian conflicts. The city plans to spend $1 million on outreach to all businesses in areas of Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn to make the case for OHD or invite them to participate in the program.
New Pedestrian Spaces
In light of recent community based pedestrianization studies, the City is examining options for creating new pedestrian priority streets in Lower Manhattan, where streets are narrow and sidewalks often overcrowded. DOT will work with communities, including within the Financial District, to identify locations.
As part of pedestrianizing streets in Lower Manhattan, DOT will look at using its existing toolbox – including potential changes to street-parking regulations and daytime events. DOT is also examining shared-street options. DOT is also examining shared-street options building off a summer Lower Manhattan neighborhood-wide shared street event that took place on an August Saturday in 2017, sponsored by DOT and community groups.
DOT will look to install treatments this year following a community engagement process, including with Manhattan Community Board One and the Alliance for Downtown NY. The formal study of the area will kick off this summer.
“As New York City prepares to implement Congestion Pricing, we need to use this moment to set the right policies into motion,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Under Mayor de Blasio’s leadership, we will have a Better Buses Action Plan, off-hour delivery assistance programs, and new pedestrian zones that will help us get the most out of our streets and other public space.”
“Public transportation is the lifeblood of our city, but congested streets and crowded sidewalks negatively impact safety and accessibility in our communities. That’s why we’re thrilled that the City, through OneNYC, is taking steps to speed up buses and better manage delivery times,” said Daniel Zarrilli, NYC’s OneNYC Director and Chief Climate Policy Advisor. “These measures announced today, including a bold experiment to prioritize pedestrians in Lower Manhattan, send a message to the globe and help to make our city safer and easier to get around while ensuring efficient mobility for all.”
STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ RE: Launch of the USDA SNAP Pilot Program in NYS
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. issued the following statement regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Online Purchasing Pilot Program, which was launched today in New York State by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“This pilot program has the potential to dramatically diminish food deserts while also increasing choice and lowering costs for some of our most vulnerable, food-insecure communities. Shoppers will now be able to use their SNAP benefits to shop for food at certain online vendors, just like they would use a credit or debit card. This pilot program could lead to lower prices and greater options for all New Yorkers.
“My office has been working with Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney other partners at all levels to facilitate this program for several years, and I am happy to see it implemented. I look forward to working with the USDA, vendors, hunger advocates and other stakeholders to examine this pilot program as it moves forward and to improve access to healthy foods to all communities,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNAPOLI: STATE AGENCY OVERTIME PAY HITS $787 MILLION
Overtime pay in 2018 at state agencies was at the highest level within the past decade, rising to $787 million, according to a report by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Overtime hours also rose, with 18.1 million hours worked.
“New York state’s overtime pay has seen significant growth in the past decade,” DiNapoli said. “As the state confronts increasingly high costs for overtime, New York needs to find ways to better manage costs while providing taxpayers with critical services.”
Meanwhile, the average number of state employees (excluding the State University of New York and the City University of New York) decreased slightly in 2018 to 155,818 -- 12 percent lower than in 2009. The largest decreases occurred in the Department of Labor, Office of Children and Family Services and the Department of Health.
Overtime has accounted for 3.9 percent of all state payroll costs from 2009 to 2018, totaling more than $6.1 billion. New York state policy calls for overtime work to be held to a minimum consistent with operational needs by proper scheduling and other arrangements.
Three agencies that manage institutional settings – the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and the Office of Mental Health (OMH) – accounted for 62.5 percent of overtime hours logged by all state agencies in 2018.
OPWDD and DOCCS experienced significant increases in overtime hours per employee over the past decade. Other agencies with comparatively large increases in such hours since 2009 include the Division of State Police, up 96.3 percent; the Office of General Services, up 87.7 percent and the Department of Transportation, up 79.5 percent. Agencies with decreases in overtime hours per employee included the Department of Labor, down 96.5 percent; and Department of Taxation and Finance, down 61 percent.
Agencies that reduced total overtime pay over last five years include the Office of Children and Family Services and the Department of Taxation and Finance.
See the full report at: http://osc.state.ny.us/
NYC Council Member Andy King Introduces Universoul Circus Talent to Bronx Students
It was like magic as performers from the Universal Circus entertained scores of Bronx students today at the Academy for Scholarship and Entrepreneurship in the Bronx. This morning, NYC Council Member Andy King welcomed the ring master and select performers who include Fresh the Clown and acts Trinidad, Ethiopia and the USA.
“Universoul Circus is a collection of worldwide cultures and experiences that fascinates and entertains everyone,” said Council Member King, who facilitated the sneak preview for the students. “It’s an experience that never gets old. I was happy to help bring this fun treat to our young people who have worked so hard at their studies all year.”
Above - Councilman King wanted his photo with some of the UniverSoul performers.
Below - After the show the performers, Councilman King, and Principal Zenobia-White DaCruz took a group photo.
COURT DECISION DISMISSES CASE AGAINST HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S EMERGENCY ORDER AND VACCINATION MANDATE
STATEMENT FROM DEPUTY MAYOR FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DR. HERMINIA PALACIO ON COURT DECISION TO DISMISS CASE AGAINST HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S EMERGENCY ORDER AND VACCINATION MANDATE
“I am pleased the Court ruled to uphold the City’s public health Emergency Order to mandate vaccines. We were confident this order was based on solid public health and legal grounds, and are glad the courts agreed. These tools were deployed in an appropriate and necessary manner in order to meet the significant public health risk posed by this ongoing measles outbreak.”
Attorney General William P. Barr Delivers Remarks on the Release of the Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election
On March 22, 2019, Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded his investigation of matters related to Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and submitted his confidential report to me pursuant to Department of Justice regulations.
As I said during my Senate confirmation hearing and since, I am committed to ensuring the greatest possible degree of transparency concerning the Special Counsel’s investigation, consistent with the law.
At 11:00 this morning, I will transmit copies of a public version of the Special Counsel’s report to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. The Department of Justice will also make the report available to the American public by posting it on the Department’s website after it has been delivered to Congress.
I would like to offer a few comments today on the report.
But before I do that, I want to thank Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for joining me here today and for his assistance and counsel throughout this process. Rod has served the Department of Justice for many years with dedication and distinction, and it has been a great privilege and pleasure to work with him since my confirmation. He had well-deserved plans to step back from public service that I interrupted by asking him to help in my transition. Rod has been an invaluable partner, and I am grateful that he was willing to help me and has been able to see the Special Counsel’s investigation to its conclusion. Thank you, Rod.
I would also like to thank Special Counsel Mueller for his service and the thoroughness of his investigation, particularly his work exposing the nature of Russia’s attempts to interfere in our electoral process.
As you know, one of the primary purposes of the Special Counsel’s investigation was to determine whether members of the presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump, or any individuals associated with that campaign, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 election. Volume I of the Special Counsel’s report describes the results of that investigation. As you will see, the Special Counsel’s report states that his “investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”
I am sure that all Americans share my concerns about the efforts of the Russian government to interfere in our presidential election. As the Special Counsel’s report makes clear, the Russian government sought to interfere in our election. But thanks to the Special Counsel’s thorough investigation, we now know that the Russian operatives who perpetrated these schemes did not have the cooperation of President Trump or the Trump campaign – or the knowing assistance of any other Americans for that matter. That is something that all Americans can and should be grateful to have confirmed.
The Special Counsel’s report outlines two main efforts by the Russian government to influence the 2016 election:
First, the report details efforts by the Internet Research Agency, a Russian company with close ties to the Russian government, to sow social discord among American voters through disinformation and social media operations. Following a thorough investigation of this disinformation campaign, the Special Counsel brought charges in federal court against several Russian nationals and entities for their respective roles in this scheme. Those charges remain pending, and the individual defendants remain at large.
But the Special Counsel found no evidence that any Americans – including anyone associated with the Trump campaign – conspired or coordinated with the Russian government or the IRA in carrying out this illegal scheme. Indeed, as the report states, “[t]he investigation did not identify evidence that any U.S. persons knowingly or intentionally coordinated with the IRA’s interference operation.” Put another way, the Special Counsel found no “collusion” by any Americans in the IRA’s illegal activity.
Second, the report details efforts by Russian military officials associated with the GRU to hack into computers and steal documents and emails from individuals affiliated with the Democratic Party and the presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton for the purpose of eventually publicizing those emails. Obtaining such unauthorized access into computers is a federal crime. Following a thorough investigation of these hacking operations, the Special Counsel brought charges in federal court against several Russian military officers for their respective roles in these illegal hacking activities. Those charges are still pending and the defendants remain at large.
But again, the Special Counsel’s report did not find any evidence that members of the Trump campaign or anyone associated with the campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its hacking operations. In other words, there was no evidence of Trump campaign “collusion” with the Russian government’s hacking.
The Special Counsel’s investigation also examined Russian efforts to publish stolen emails and documents on the internet. The Special Counsel found that, after the GRU disseminated some of the stolen materials through its own controlled entities, DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0, the GRU transferred some of the stolen materials to Wikileaks for publication. Wikileaks then made a series of document dumps. The Special Counsel also investigated whether any member or affiliate of the Trump campaign encouraged or otherwise played a role in these dissemination efforts. Under applicable law, publication of these types of materials would not be criminal unless the publisher also participated in the underlying hacking conspiracy. Here too, the Special Counsel’s report did not find that any person associated with the Trump campaign illegally participated in the dissemination of the materials.
Finally, the Special Counsel investigated a number of “links” or “contacts” between Trump Campaign officials and individuals connected with the Russian government during the 2016 presidential campaign. After reviewing those contacts, the Special Counsel did not find any conspiracy to violate U.S. law involving Russia-linked persons and any persons associated with the Trump campaign.
So that is the bottom line. After nearly two years of investigation, thousands of subpoenas, and hundreds of warrants and witness interviews, the Special Counsel confirmed that the Russian government sponsored efforts to illegally interfere with the 2016 presidential election but did not find that the Trump campaign or other Americans colluded in those schemes.
After finding no underlying collusion with Russia, the Special Counsel’s report goes on to consider whether certain actions of the President could amount to obstruction of the Special Counsel’s investigation. As I addressed in my March 24th letter, the Special Counsel did not make a traditional prosecutorial judgment regarding this allegation. Instead, the report recounts ten episodes involving the President and discusses potential legal theories for connecting these actions to elements of an obstruction offense.
After carefully reviewing the facts and legal theories outlined in the report, and in consultation with the Office of Legal Counsel and other Department lawyers, the Deputy Attorney General and I concluded that the evidence developed by the Special Counsel is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.
Although the Deputy Attorney General and I disagreed with some of the Special Counsel’s legal theories and felt that some of the episodes examined did not amount to obstruction as a matter of law, we did not rely solely on that in making our decision. Instead, we accepted the Special Counsel’s legal framework for purposes of our analysis and evaluated the evidence as presented by the Special Counsel in reaching our conclusion.
In assessing the President’s actions discussed in the report, it is important to bear in mind the context. President Trump faced an unprecedented situation. As he entered into office, and sought to perform his responsibilities as President, federal agents and prosecutors were scrutinizing his conduct before and after taking office, and the conduct of some of his associates. At the same time, there was relentless speculation in the news media about the President’s personal culpability. Yet, as he said from the beginning, there was in fact no collusion. And as the Special Counsel’s report acknowledges, there is substantial evidence to show that the President was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents, and fueled by illegal leaks. Nonetheless, the White House fully cooperated with the Special Counsel’s investigation, providing unfettered access to campaign and White House documents, directing senior aides to testify freely, and asserting no privilege claims. And at the same time, the President took no act that in fact deprived the Special Counsel of the documents and witnesses necessary to complete his investigation. Apart from whether the acts were obstructive, this evidence of non-corrupt motives weighs heavily against any allegation that the President had a corrupt intent to obstruct the investigation.
Now, before I take questions, I want to address a few aspects of the process for producing the public report that I am releasing today. As I said several times, the report contains limited redactions relating to four categories of information. To ensure as much transparency as possible, these redactions have been clearly labelled and color-coded so that readers can tell which redactions correspond to which categories.
As you will see, most of the redactions were compelled by the need to prevent harm to ongoing matters and to comply with court orders prohibiting the public disclosure of information bearing upon ongoing investigations and criminal cases, such as the IRA case and the Roger Stone case.
These redactions were applied by Department of Justice attorneys working closely together with attorneys from the Special Counsel’s Office, as well as with the intelligence community, and prosecutors who are handling ongoing cases. The redactions are their work product.
Consistent with long-standing Executive Branch practice, the decision whether to assert Executive privilege over any portion of the report rested with the President of the United States. Because the White House voluntarily cooperated with the Special Counsel’s investigation, significant portions of the report contain material over which the President could have asserted privilege. And he would have been well within his rights to do so. Following my March 29th letter, the Office of the White House Counsel requested the opportunity to review the redacted version of the report in order to advise the President on the potential invocation of privilege, which is consistent with long-standing practice. Following that review, the President confirmed that, in the interests of transparency and full disclosure to the American people, he would not assert privilege over the Special Counsel’s report. Accordingly, the public report I am releasing today contains redactions only for the four categories that I previously outlined, and no material has been redacted based on executive privilege.
In addition, earlier this week, the President’s personal counsel requested and were given the opportunity to read a final version of the redacted report before it was publicly released. That request was consistent with the practice followed under the Ethics in Government Act, which permitted individuals named in a report prepared by an Independent Counsel the opportunity to read the report before publication. The President’s personal lawyers were not permitted to make, and did not request, any redactions.
In addition to making the redacted report public, we are also committed to working with Congress to accommodate their legitimate oversight interests with respect to the Special Counsel’s investigation. We have been consulting with Chairman Graham and Chairman Nadler throughout this process, and we will continue to do so.
Given the limited nature of the redactions, I believe that the publicly released report will allow every American to understand the results of the Special Counsel’s investigation. Nevertheless, in an effort to accommodate congressional requests, we will make available to a bipartisan group of leaders from several Congressional committees a version of the report with all redactions removed except those relating to grand-jury information. Thus, these members of Congress will be able to see all of the redacted material for themselves – with the limited exception of that which, by law, cannot be shared.
I believe that this accommodation, together with my upcoming testimony before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, will satisfy any need Congress has for information regarding the Special Counsel’s investigation.