Mueller seeks quiet retreat from public life

That interpretation has put him at odds with Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrProsecutors release Flynn voicemail transcript that Mueller reviewed in obstruction probe Poll: Majority oppose Trump impeachment, but most Democrats support it Schiff requests briefings from intel chiefs on Barr 'spying' probe MORE, who said in a CBS interview that aired Friday that he believed Mueller could have reached a conclusion on whether Trump committed a crime.Mueller said his investigation did not clear Trump of criminal accusations — paraphrasing a line directly from his 448-page report — which opened him up to a fresh line of attacks from the White House.But Mueller did not criticize Barr’s handling of the investigation’s findings, despite previous internal correspondence that laid bare his objections.He also expressed reluctance to testify publicly before Congress — something that has forced Democrats to confront the possibility they may need to subpoena him.“Beyond what I have said here today and what is contained in our written work, I do not believe it is appropriate for me to speak further about the investigation or to comment on the actions of the Justice Department or Congress,” Mueller said Wednesday, his last day as special counsel.Mueller maintained a decidedly low profile throughout the investigation, something legal experts say was part of a deliberate effort to maintain an air of impartiality and seriousness. “He seemed to just deflect all the politics of it.”Trump, who has celebrated Mueller’s report as vindicating him of allegations of “collusion” with Russia, lashed out at Mueller again on Thursday, calling him a “conflicted person” and a “Never Trumper.” The president has frequently criticized Mueller’s team for the number of Democrats working in the office.The relative silence from Mueller has drawn a stark contrast with Comey, who first came under significant scrutiny for his public pronouncements about the Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton'Pharma bro' Martin Shkreli sues company he founded for million Beto O'Rourke spoke with Hillary Clinton about his 2020 campaign The Hill's Morning Report — Trump turns the page back to Mueller probe MORE email investigation in 2016 shortly before the election.In the two years since being fired by Trump — an act examined by Mueller as possible obstruction — Comey has testified before Congress about his interactions with Trump and written a book that was critical of the president, ushering in an onslaught of attacks from the White House.Mueller has also been less outspoken than other former special prosecutors, including Ken Starr, who was appointed under a different statute to investigate scandals during the Clinton administration.“[Starr] actually spoke to the media some.