had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so. we did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime. >> so me made it clear he could not say the president didn't commit a crime, but he then went on to speak at length about why he couldn't do anything about it. couldn't do anything because of the rules barring the indictment of a sitting president that hemmed in the obstruction probe. >> the special counsel's office is part of the department of justice. and by regulation, it was bound by that department policy. charging the president with a crime was, therefore, not an option we could consider. >> listen to that. he and his team could not even consider charging the president with a crime. those are the olc, the office of legal counsel of the department of justice rules that mueller was operating under, that he accepted. now, before we go any further, just contrast what you just heard robert mueller say with