WASHINGTON — The report by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, explored about a dozen episodes in which President Trump’s actions raised concerns about obstruction of justice.

Mr. Mueller stopped short of concluding whether Mr. Trump committed that crime, but the report made clear that others can use the evidence to make that call. Mr. Mueller’s investigators made an oblique reference to possible impeachment proceedings and noted that after Mr. Trump leaves office, he will lose the temporary immunity the Justice Department says sitting presidents enjoy. Mr. Mueller cited that factor as barring him from making accusations now.

The report evaluated the evidence based on three criteria: The act must be obstructive, linked to an investigation and undertaken with a corrupt motive. Investigators also explored countervailing evidence that Mr. Trump’s lawyers could use to argue that the acts fell short of a crime.

Mr. Mueller also devoted over a dozen pages to rebutting a sweeping argument offered by Mr. Trump’s lawyers — and Attorney General William P. Barr, who has said he believes Mr. Trump did not violate obstruction laws: that Congress cannot make it a crime for a president to abuse his official powers to impede an investigation.