When Will We Hear From Robert Mueller Again
Mueller sticks to the script in twenty-four hours of grueling testimony
"I'chiliad non going to discuss that." "I tin can't answer that." "I'thou non certain I would adopt that label." "That's out of my purview."
Former special counsel Robert Mueller appeared earlier two House committees on Wednesday, ostensibly to discuss his written report on Russian interference and potential obstacle of justice by the president. But he ended up doing much more than listening than talking, frustrating lawmakers on both sides of the aisle hoping to extract morsels of new data.
Mueller warned both the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees his testimony would be "limited," citing ongoing investigations and Justice Department policy. Over the grade of more than six hours, he hewed closely to the findings in his study, resisting efforts to devious into areas of conjecture or speculation.
He flatly refused to engage on a range of topics or even read directly from his report, asking members to recite relevant passages themselves. He declined to discuss whether his report represented a tacit recommendation of impeachment, and refused to say the give-and-take himself. He would non elaborate on the process underlying primal decisions fabricated over the course of his two-year investigation, and rebuffed efforts to reveal details of the internal workings of his now-disbanded office.
Mueller struggled at times to respond to the onslaught from lawmakers, each of whom were allotted but a few minutes for questioning. Again and again, he asked members to speak up or repeat themselves, and oftentimes had to be reminded to speak into his microphone. He gave 1-word answers -- "yeah," "no," "true," "right" -- a total of 176 times over the bridge of both hearings.
At the outset of the hearings, Mueller reiterated his investigation did not exonerate President Trump on obstacle of justice, and highlighted Department of Justice policies against charging a sitting president to reaffirm his office fabricated no determination equally to whether the president committed a criminal offense.
Democrats largely focused their questioning on the 2d volume of Mueller'due south 448-page report, which examined instances of possible obstruction. Republicans questioned the origins of the probe itself and insinuated Mueller's investigators were biased against the president, evoking i of the few times Mueller strayed off script to defend the integrity of his team.
Toward the finish of the twenty-four hour period, one member asked Mueller if he agreed that those convicted of crimes "demonstrated a betrayal of the democratic values of our country." His answer was emblematic of his testimony overall: "I can't agree with that. Not that it's not true, but I can't concord with it." -- Stefan Becket
Read updates beneath equally they happened Wed (all times Eastern)
Schiff adjourns Intelligence Committee hearing
3:29 p.grand.: Schiff adjourned the hearing at 3:29 p.m. today, bringing Mueller'south testimony to a close virtually seven hours after it started.
"Your works speaks of a president who committed countless acts of obstruction of justice," Schiff said in his closing remarks nearly Mueller'south report. The chairman also said it was up to Congress to determine whether it was necessary for the president to be impeached.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller explains why he didn't subpoena Trump
3:05 p.chiliad.: Democratic Rep. Sean Maloney asked Mueller why he didn't interview the president.
Mueller explained his squad "negotiated" with the president and his lawyers for an interview for a piffling more than a year. Merely, equally the investigation drew to a close, Mueller said the special counsel'southward part decided not to subpoena the president "because of the necessity of expediting the investigation."
Mueller said the president would have fought the subpoena, drawing out the investigation. Mueller conceded an in-person interview with the president would have been more useful than the written answers the president provided, and confirmed he believed he could have subpoenaed the president if he had decided to do so.
-- Kathryn Watson
Mueller says "many more than countries" are developing ability to interfere
ii:45 p.g.: Republican Rep. Volition Hurd said he would finally inquire about what he thinks is a bipartisan topic -- how the U.S. can preclude Russian interference in future elections.
Mueller insisted the "ability of our intelligence agencies to piece of work together in this arena is perhaps more than important" than developing specific techniques. Whatever legislation that tin can encourage agencies to work together to fight foreign interference should be pursued soon and aggressively, Mueller said.
The former special counsel besides said "many more than countries" are developing the capability to do what the Russians did in 2016. Asked if he has whatsoever overarching strategies for fighting whatsoever interference, withal, Mueller did non have answers.
Mueller noted he expects Russia to proceed to interfere in the adjacent election, saying, "they're doing it every bit nosotros sit here."
-- Kathryn Watson
Mueller on Trump'southward praise for WikiLeaks: "Problematic is an understatement"
2:10 p.m.: Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley read several examples of Mr. Trump praising WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign after the organization published emails stolen by Russia to damage Hillary Clinton.
When asked if he found those comments agonizing, Mueller said: "Problematic is an understatement." He added the comments could have offered "some heave to what is and should be illegal activity."
Mueller also said that potential collaboration with WikiLeaks "certainly calls for investigation."
-- Grace Segers
Turner questions Mueller'due south ability to "exonerate" Trump
1:45 p.m.: GOP Rep. Mike Turner questioned whether Mueller had the ability to "exonerate" Mr. Trump. Mueller declined to argue whether Chaser General William Barr had the power to exonerate someone of a crime, saying: "I'yard going to pass on that."
Asked why, Mueller replied: "Because it embroils united states of america in a legal word and I'm not prepared to do a legal discussion in that arena."
"You have no more power to declare Trump exonerated than y'all do to declare him Anderson Cooper," Turner said, after referencing a headline seen on CNN.
The concept of "full exoneration" in the investigation (or lack thereof) originated with Mr. Trump.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller clarifies earlier answer on why Trump wasn't indicted
1:xv p.k.: In his opening argument, Mueller antiseptic an exchange he had with Rep. Ted Lieu in the offset hearing. Lieu had asserted Mueller did non recommend charges against the president considering of Justice Section policy that says a sitting president cannot exist indicted.
"The reason once again that y'all did non indict Donald Trump is because of the OLC opinion stating that you cannot indict a sitting President, correct?" Lieu had asked.
"That is correct," Mueller responded, sparking immediate reaction online.
But Mueller antiseptic that his role "did not accomplish a determination as to whether the president committed a criminal offence."
-- Kathryn Watson
Nunes calls hearing a "Hail Mary" endeavor
ane:05 p.thousand.: House Intelligence Committee ranking member Devin Nunes called the Mueller hearing a "Hail Mary" attempt by Democrats to revive what he calls the Russian hoax. Nunes described the hearing every bit the "last gasp of the Russia collusion conspiracy theory."
"As Democrats continue to foist this spectacle on the American people as well as yous, Mr. Mueller, the American people may recollect the media start began spreading this conspiracy theory in the leap of 2016 when Fusion GPS funded by the DNC and the HIllary Clinton campaign started developing the Steele dossier, a collection of outlandish accusations that Trump and his assembly were Russian agents."
-- Kathryn Watson
Trump: "#ShiftySchiff" an "Embarrassment to our country"
i:04 p.m.: Mr. Trump thanked Democrats for holding the hearing in a tweet, seemingly expressing confidence that Mueller's testimony had benefited him more than it had Democrats. He also took aim at Schiff, the committee chairman:
-- Grace Segers
Business firm Intelligence Commission hearing begins
12:52 p.thousand.: The House Intelligence Committee kicked off its hearing later a brief break. This time around, Mueller deputy Aaron Zebley at the witness table to help him with any details.
Chairman Adam Schiff began by thanking Mueller for a "lifetime of service to the country." Schiff called Mueller's written report "methodical" and "devastating."
Schiff said Mueller'southward report is not simply nigh Russian interference, only about disloyalty to country and lies.
"Disloyalty to country. Those are strong words," Schiff said.
-- Kathryn Watson
White House calls offset hearing a "disgrace" for Democrats
12:48 p.m.: White Firm press secretary Stephanie Grisham issued a statement after the decision of the first hearing saying, "The last three hours have been an epic embarrassment for the Democrats. Expect more than of the aforementioned in the second half."
Jay Sekulow, the president's private lawyer, claimed the first hearing revealed "troubling deficiencies of the special counsel'due south investigation" and "revealed that this probe was conducted past a small-scale group of politically-biased prosecutors who, as hard as they tried, we're unable to establish either obstruction, conspiracy, or collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia."
-- Kathryn Watson
Judiciary Committee hearing concludes
12:10 p.m.: The Judiciary Committee hearing concluded shortly after apex. Afterward a brief break, Mueller will testify before the House Intelligence Committee. That testimony is scheduled for two hours.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller declines to discuss impeachment
11:55 a.m.: Mueller, asked whether or not his report recommends impeachment, declined to discuss the topic. The former special counsel told a questioning member of Congress he was "non going to talk about that issue."
Some critics of the president have interpreted Mueller'due south report every bit a telephone call to Congress to begin impeachment proceedings. Mueller'south report says that, because of current OLC policy, charging a sitting president isn't an option. "The Constitution requires a procedure other than the criminal justice organisation," Mueller's report says, a line that has fueled speculation well-nigh Mueller'south significant.
-- Kathryn Watson
Mueller defends integrity of his team of investigators
11:50 a.m.: Mueller defended the integrity of his team of investigators, maxim he did not believe their political beliefs impacted their ability to practise their jobs. When there was a disharmonize, like with Peter Strzok, those investigators were transferred.
Mueller said asking about someone'southward political affiliation before hiring them is "non done" at DOJ.
"I've been in this business almost 25 years, and in those 25 years I've not had occasion once to ask near somebody's political affiliation. It is not done," Mueller said. "What I care about is the capability of the private to do the job and do the task seriously and quickly and with integrity."
-- Grace Segers
Trump campaign fundraising off Mueller hearing
eleven:43 a.m.: The Trump campaign is sending texts and emails to fundraise off the Mueller hearing.
"Pres. Trump: There was NO COLLUSION! Let's tell the Dems to terminate this WITCH Hunt by raising $two,000,000 in 24 HOURS! Contribute NOW," a text message sent to supporters read.
An electronic mail sent to supporters included a lengthier version of that plea.
"Robert Mueller is testifying on correct now, and the Democrats and Corrupt Media are going to pull out all the stops to attempt and Play a joke on the American People into believing their LIES," the email read. "How many times practice I have to be exonerated before they stop?"
-- Kathryn Watson
Graham calls Mueller hearing "confusing"
11:36 a.yard.: Elsewhere on Capitol Colina, Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters he finds the Mueller hearing "confusing."
"I like Bob Mueller," Graham, a Trump marry, said. "The hearing is disruptive. Bob Mueller has served our nation well for a very long time. This hearing should non be the estimate of his service to our state. He's a decorated marine. He received a Regal Heart, he was the FBI director after nine/xi. I've known him for a long time and I'm not going to allow this hearing change my stance of Mr. Mueller."
-- Kathryn Watson
Mueller won't say whether investigators interviewed Steele
11:35 a.thousand.: Nether questioning past Rep. Greg Steube, Mueller repeatedly said he could non go into whether his investigators interviewed former British spy and dossier author Christopher Steele.
Mueller said at the beginning of the hearing he couldn't discuss the origins of the Russia investigation, something he repeated during the congressman'south line of questioning.
"As I said at the outset this morn, that was one of the investigations I could not speak to," Mueller told Steube.
-- Kathryn Watson
Lesko hits Mueller for citing news stories in study
eleven:09 a.m.: GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko criticized Mueller for citing news manufactures in the second department of the report, which dealt with whether Mr. Trump obstructed justice. Lesko said, by her count, the written report cited The Washington Mail service effectually 60 times, The New York Times 75 times and Fob News 25 times.
"Information technology looks similar Volume II is mostly regurgitated press stories," Lesko said.
Mr. Trump initially denied a 2018 New York Times article reporting he asked quondam White House Counsel Don McGahn to have Mueller fired, even though the Mueller study later confirmed the incident.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller's team told committee he wouldn't read report aloud
x:59 a.k.: Mueller'due south team specifically informed the Judiciary and Intelligence committees that he would refuse to read from the report during the hearing, according to a commission source involved in the negotiations surrounding Mueller's advent.
He has asked members several times to read portions of the report aloud themselves. A Democratic source said their questioning was structured effectually that supposition, which is why members take had citations prepare.
-- Olivia Gazis
Mueller declines to agree with ex-prosecutors' letter on obstruction
10:50 a.thousand.: Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell referenced a May letter signed by about ane,000 former federal prosecutors of both parties, who agreed that Mr. Trump would exist charged with obstruction if he weren't president.
Swalwell asked whether Mueller agreed with the prosecutors.
"They accept a different case," Mueller said.
Swalwell then asked if Mueller wanted to sign the letter.
"They have a different case," Mueller repeated.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller says attempting to obstruct justice is notwithstanding a crime
x:43 a.m.: Democratic Rep. David Cicilline asked Mueller about Mr. Trump's multiple attempts to limit the telescopic of the Russia investigation, such equally when he asked quondam Chaser General Jeff Sessions to reverse his decision to recuse himself from the probe or when he told former White Business firm Counsel Don McGahn to order Mueller'south firing.
"An unsuccessful endeavor to obstruct is yet a criminal offense, is that right?" Cicilline asked.
"True," Mueller replied, again indicating Mr. Trump could feasibly face indictment after leaving part.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller reaffirms Trump could be indicted after leaving office
x:38 a.m.: Mueller reaffirmed to GOP Rep. Ken Buck that a president can exist indicted on criminal charges after he leaves function. Electric current Justice Department guidance says a sitting president cannot be indicted.
"We cannot indict a sitting president, so ane of the tools a prosecutor could utilise isn't there," Mueller said about making a conclusion almost whether Mr. Trump obstructed justice.
Republicans on the committee accept repeatedly criticized Mueller for not making a determination while as well not exonerating the president, arguing he should have made a determination one way or the other.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller avoids questions on Steele dossier
10:25 a.chiliad.: Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a staunch Trump ally, raised his voice as he criticized Mueller for not doing enough to accost the dossier authored by former British spy Christopher Steele.
Mueller declined to address the matter in item, adding that the subject is "under investigation" internally at the Justice Department and is therefore "across my purview." Gaetz shot back, calling that notion "absurd."
-- Kathryn Watson
Trump tweets Pull a fast one on coverage of Mueller testimony
10:11 a.m.: Mr. Trump had said he probably wouldn't watch Mueller's testimony, but the president, who has nothing on his public schedule before 4 p.yard., appears to be watching Fox News, which is televising Mueller's testimony.
"'This has been a disaster for the Democrats and a disaster for the reputation of Robert Mueller,'" Mr. Trump said, patently quoting anchor Chris Wallace.
-- Kathryn Watson
Mueller tin't say why Trump wanted to burn him
nine:45 a.chiliad.: When Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch asked why the president wanted to fire him, Mueller responded, "I can't reply that question."
But Mueller did confirm his report suggests the president wanted to fire him because Mueller was investigating him for obstacle of justice.
Mueller'due south report outlines multiple times when McGahn said he was instructed to remove the special counsel.
-- Kathryn Watson
Mueller says he didn't talk over FBI job with Trump "as a candidate"
nine:40 a.m.: Rep. Louie Gohmert, a firebrand ultra-conservative, asserted that Mueller spoke with Mr. Trump nigh becoming FBI manager earlier he was appointed special counsel in 2017, but Mueller antiseptic he did not meet with Mr. Trump "as a candidate." The president has repeatedly claimed Mueller is "conflicted" considering he wanted to exist FBI director, and Mr. Trump didn't offer him the job.
Gohmert as well questioned Mueller's friendship with old FBI Director James Comey. The two have known each other for years, and once worked together.
At 1 point during his questioning, Gohmert began yelling at Mueller for allowing former FBI official Peter Strzok, who fabricated disquisitional comments most the president in texts, to bring together his investigative team. Mueller did non react.
-- Kathryn Watson
Mueller ducks questions on Fusion GPS
ix:30 a.m.: Responding to repeated questions about Fusion GPS, the firm that commissioned Christopher Steele's investigation and the so-called "Steele dossier," Mueller said questions most the origins of the Russia investigation were "exterior of my purview."
-- Grace Segers
Mueller declines to respond question on "impeachable conduct"
ix:twenty a.one thousand.: When asked why he did non determine if the president had undertaken whatever "impeachable conduct," Mueller noted his mandate did not include determining whether an criminal offence could be addressed by other means.
"We accept studiously kept in the center of the investigation our mandate. And our mandate does non get to other ways of addressing conduct. Our mandate goes to developing the report and turning the report in to the attorney general," Mueller said, in response to a question by Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner.
-- Grace Segers
Ratcliffe says Mueller violated his mandate every bit special counsel
nine:12 a.chiliad.: GOP Rep. John Ratcliffe slammed Mueller for non exonerating Mr. Trump in his report, arguing there should be a presumption of innocence if someone is not indicted of a criminal offence.
"Donald Trump should non exist above the law. He's non. But he damn sure shouldn't be below the law, which is where Volume II this report puts him," Ratcliffe said, referring to the section of the written report dealing with obstruction.
Ratcliffe said Mueller was meant to come to a decision on obstruction of justice under his mandate equally special counsel. Ratcliffe criticized Mueller for failing to do so in the second portion of his report.
"You wrote 180 pages about decisions that weren't reached," Ratcliffe said.
Mueller was largely unable to respond, and Ratcliffe's combative questioning served as an indication of how Republicans would use their time to undermine the conclusions of the report and Mueller's seeming independence.
-- Grace Segers
Collins questions difference between "collusion" and "conspiracy"
9:02 a.m.: Noting that "bunco" is not a legal term, ranking fellow member Rep. Doug Collins asked whether Mueller believed the terms "collusion" and "conspiracy" were synonymous. The report found that no Trump entrada official criminally conspired with Russian individuals to influence the election.
Mueller initially said "collusion" and "conspiracy" were non synonymous. Nonetheless, when Collins noted the study said the two terms were "largely synonymous," Mueller deferred to the language in his report.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller says report did not "totally exonerate" the president
viii:54 a.grand.: Questioning Mueller first, Nadler asked whether the report totally exonerated the president, as Mr. Trump and his allies have frequently claimed.
"No," Mueller responded.
Mueller also reiterated his report did not clear the president of obstruction of justice, and that the president could still be indicted after leaving office.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller says his testimony will be "limited"
8:47 a.m.: In his opening statement, Mueller defended the independence of his investigation, saying he and his investigators aimed to "to work quietly, thoroughly, and with integrity so that the public would have full confidence in the result."
Mueller added that his testimony would be "limited" due to ongoing litigation, and because he was unable to comment on the origins of the investigation and the so-called "Steele dossier" -- a key talking point for Republicans on the committee.
"These matters are the bailiwick of ongoing review by the Department. Any questions on these topics should therefore be directed to the FBI or the Justice Section," Mueller said about the origins of the investigation.
He besides indicated his testimony Wednesday would non include any new data.
"I practice non intend to summarize or describe the results of our work in a different style in the class of my testimony today. As I said on May 29: the report is my testimony. And I will stay within that text," Mueller said, adding that he would not comment on Barr'southward determination that Mr. Trump did non obstruct justice.
"Over the course of my career, I've seen a number of challenges to our democracy. The Russian government's endeavour to interfere in our election is among the well-nigh serious. As I said on May 29, this deserves the attending of every American," Mueller concluded.
-- Grace Segers
Collins defends Trump in opening statement
8:39 a.m.: In his opening statement, ranking member Rep. Doug Collins defended Mr. Trump, noting that the Mueller study concluded that no one on the Trump campaign "colluded, collaborated or conspired" with Russian officials.
Collins referred to Mr. Trump's repeated criticism of the investigation and Mueller, saying that "the president's attitude toward the investigation was understandably negative." However, Collins said Mr. Trump did non shut downward the investigation -- even though the report suggested the president had questioned his advisers almost firing Mueller and limiting the scope of the probe.
"Nothing we hear today volition change those facts," Collins said, referring to Mueller finding no conspiracy by Trump campaign officials and Russia to influence the election.
-- Grace Segers
Nadler: "Not even the president is higher up the police force"
8:35 a.yard.: In his opening statement, chairman Jerry Nadler points directly to Mueller'south findings from the Russia written report that while Mr. Trump was not charged with obstruction of justice, citing long standing Department of Justice policy, he "made clear that he is not exonerated."
"Whatever other person who acted this mode would accept been charged with a crime. And in this nation, not even the president is above the law," Nadler says in his prepared opening argument.
"Director Mueller, we have a responsibleness to address the prove you lot take uncovered. You recognized as much when you said 'the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing.'"
-- Emily Tillett
Mueller hearing begins
eight:33 a.m.: The hearing began on schedule, with Mueller taking his seat shortly after 8:30 a.m.
-- Grace Segers
Mueller arrives for hearing
seven:50 a.1000.: the one-time special counsel pulled up in a grey SUV alee of his highly-predictable testimony. Mueller ignored shouted questions from reporters every bit he made his way into the Capitol.
Trump attorneys say legal team is confident
7:41 a.yard.: Mr. Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani told CBS News the Trump legal team is "feeling very confident that no matter what Democrats do, they can't rewrite the report's conclusion that no case be brought."
Not surprisingly, Giuliani wants to see an accent on the origins of the probe. He said, "More interesting will be how Mueller answers questions nigh how much he knew about the now obvious endeavour to frame the President. And why didn't he follow exculpatory leads."
Chaser Jay Sekulow meanwhile confirmed that the Trump legal team has non had any contact with Mueller ahead of the hearing."Nosotros expect that his report is his testimony, and his testimony is his report," he said.
-- Weijia Jiang and Paula Reid
Dems to push Mueller on Barr spar
7:29 a.chiliad.: While Democrats will push Mueller to exist on the record about potential instances where Mr. Trump could have been charged with obstacle of justice, CBS News' chief legal correspondent January Crawford predicted Democrats volition likewise button to expose a rift betwixt Mueller and Barr.
Crawford told "CBS This Morning" they would press Mueller on whether he idea the chaser full general was right in making his call to issue a decision before the report was released, pointing to his widely contested 4-page summary of the 448-folio report.
Crawford said Democrats want Mueller on the record if he felt Barr was e'er misleading to Congress and the American people in testifying on the report's findings, a moment that is sue to cause tension between Mueller and the attorney full general.
Trump issues showtime tweet on testimony day
7:05 a.m.: "So Democrats and others can illegally fabricate a criminal offence, try pinning it on a very innocent President, and when he fights dorsum confronting this illegal and treasonous assault on our Country, they call It Obstruction? Incorrect! Why didn't Robert Mueller investigate the investigators?" President Trump posed on Twitter just an hr before Mueller is to announced before lawmakers.
Just days earlier, Mr. Trump's Justice Department told Mueller to limit his congressional testimony to information contained in the public version of his written report on Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Mueller had previously been adamant that his study was the only testimony needed on the matter.
Mr. Trump added, "Information technology was NEVER agreed that Robert Mueller could use ane of his many Democrat Never Trumper lawyers to sit down side by side to him and assist him with his answers."
"This was specifically NOT agreed to, and I would NEVER have agreed to information technology. The Greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history, past far!"
There is no evidence that Zebley is a "Never Trumper."
Pelosi pushes for Dems to safeguard election ahead of testimony
half-dozen:46 a.m.: Ahead of Mueller's testimony, Speaker Nancy Pelosi distributed a 6-page memo to House Democrats telling them to "fight for our national security" by safeguarding the U.S. ballot process.
The memo, which was obtained by CBS News, cites "cardinal findings" from Mueller's study on Russian interference in the 2016 election. But while Pelosi's memo offers a damning assessment of the president's behavior, it makes no mention of impeachment, an issue that has roiled the Democratic conclave since the spring.
"Democrats will shut gaps in existing police force, eternalize our defenses and uphold the balance of powers enshrined in our sacred Constitution, honoring our oath: investigate, litigate, legislate. Cipher less than the integrity of our democracy, the rule of constabulary and national security are at pale," the memo, titled "Exposing the Truth," reads.
Lines form before hearing starts
6:37 a.m.: Hours before Mueller is to appear before lawmakers, a long line, comprised of mostly young professionals, formed forth the winding halls of the Rayburn House office edifice. Many of those camped out told CBS News that they suffered through the long lines "for the historic moment."
Two interns told CBS News they had saturday in the hallways since eight p.m. the nighttime earlier and ordered have out food to go far through the night.
What Democrats await from Mueller
In a public statement at the end of May, Mueller indicated he wouldn't provide whatever new data if called to bear witness before Congress. "The report is my testimony," he said at the fourth dimension. "I would non provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress."
Autonomous staffers on the House Judiciary Committee aren't expecting a "big, dramatic new revelation" from Mueller. They retrieve he'll "lean into" the factual findings and legal conclusions.
Lawmakers will "respect" the fact that Mueller has been very clear about not wanting to give his personal opinion on whether Mr. Trump bankrupt the police force, the staffers said, and understand Mueller feels he has to stay inside the confines of the written report.
-- Rebecca Kaplan
What Democrats hope to achieve
A Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee told CBS News that lawmakers are "just hoping" to become the basic findings and conclusions related to obstruction of justice out in the open up for people to hear them, away from the "thick fog of propaganda" put forth past the attorney general and president.
"The hope is that we tin accomplish some kind of national consensus about what took place, based on the written report, and then we can move on to oversight and to all of the other allegations," the representative said.
Lawmakers, according to the staff, plan to focus on five instances they think would incur criminal charges for obstruction of justice if whatever other individual besides the president had carried out these deportment. They're laid out hither:
- Mr. Trump's repeated directions to former White House counsel Don McGahn to burn Mueller;
- His direction to McGahn to deny he'd been ordered to burn Mueller;
- His direction to adviser Corey Lewandowski to deliver a message to and so-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to limit the investigation to exclude the president and merely focus on future elections;
- Mr. Trump'south message to Lewandowski to tell Sessions he would be fired if he didn't meet with Lewandowski
- His tampering with witnesses Paul Manafort, the one-time campaign chairman, and former Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen
-- Kathryn Watson and Rebecca Kaplan
Trump doesn't think Mueller should testify
Mr. Trump says he thinks Mueller'south testimony is some other ploy by Democrats to undermine his presidency.
"Highly conflicted Robert Mueller should non be given another bite at the apple tree. In the stop it volition exist bad for him and the phony Democrats in Congress who have done zero only waste time on this ridiculous Witch Hunt. Result of the Mueller Report, NO Collusion, NO OBSTRUCTION!" Mr. Trump tweeted Monday.
However, Mueller'due south report fabricated no determination about whether Mr. Trump had obstructed justice.
"Every bit ready forth in the report, later on the investigation, if we had confidence that the president did not clearly commit a crime, nosotros would have said so," Mueller told reporters in May.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/mueller-testimony-hearing-watch-live-stream-special-counsel-report-hearing-congress-2019-07-24/
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