Former special counsel Robert Mueller was blunt but straightforward in many of his answers to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday as Republicans attempted to damage the credibility of his report, according to Yahoo News.
During his opening remarks, Mueller said the investigation he oversaw uncovered a "serious" threat of Russian election interference.
"This deserves the attention of every American," Mueller said of the ongoing interference attempts to influence American elections.
But Mueller also warned both Republicans and Democrats alike he was unlikely to offer information outside of his 448-page report.
"The report is my testimony," Mueller said. "And I will stay within that text."
“Public testimony could affect several ongoing matters,” he said. “In some of these matters, court rules or judicial orders limit the disclosure of information to protect the fairness of the proceedings. And consistent with longstanding Justice Department policy, it would be inappropriate for me to comment in any way that could affect an ongoing matter."
"I therefore will not be able to answer questions about certain areas that I know are of public interest. For example, I am unable to address questions about the opening of the FBI’s Russia investigation, which occurred months before my appointment, or matters related to the so-called 'Steele Dossier,'" Mueller said. "These matters are the subject of ongoing review by the Department. Any questions on these topics should therefore be directed to the FBI or the Justice Department."
Throughout his morning testimony, Mueller would frequently refer Representatives to his report when asking him to confirm what his office had already written, though he also said several questions were outside his purview as special counsel or came before his appointment.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, started the hearing by summarizing Mueller's decades in public service both as a Marine officer who was awarded the Purple Heart and as the director of the FBI.
"Director Mueller, we have a responsibility to address the evidence you've uncovered," Rep. Nadler said. "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.'"
He also said the hearing would emphasize how Trump tried to obstruct Mueller's investigation and that: "Any other person who acted this way would have been charged with a crime. And in this nation, not even the president is above the law."
Nadler also asked Mueller if his report completely cleared President Donald Trump of wrongdoing, Mueller replied "no."
"The president was not exculpated for the acts he allegedly committed," Mueller said while noting it was "true" Trump could face prosecution for obstruction of justice after he leaves the White House.
Republican Rep. Doug Collins, the panel's ranking member from Georgia, tried to highlight how Mueller's report did not establish that Trump or his campaign conspired with Russia and claimed it was understandable that Trump was frustrated with the investigation, "but he did not shut down" the inquiry.
Collins also asked Mueller to recount findings that there was insufficient evidence to charge Trump or his campaign with conspiracy.
“There was insufficient evidence of the president’s culpability in the underlying crime,” Mueller said.
Trump lashed out on Twitter before Mueller even began his testimony on Wednesday morning.
"This was specifically NOT agreed to, and I would NEVER have agreed to it. The Greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history, by far!" Trump wrote in one of a half dozen tweets during the early morning, repeatedly claiming he was the victim of the investigation.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / Andrew Harnik
