Mueller to Congress: I’ll pass on being politicized, thanks just the same
ED MORRISSEY Posted at 1:31 pm on May 21, 2019
So it’s not William Barr preventing Robert Mueller from testifying after all.
CNN reported today that Mueller has “expressed reticence” about appearing publicly in a congressional hearing due to the politics surrounding his report. The special counsel office offered some willingness to negotiate closed-door testimony, but other options may still be on the table:
https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1130867182445977605
NEWS: Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team has expressed reticence to him testifying publicly in front of the House Judiciary Committee, according to sources familiar with the matter. His team has expressed that he does not want to appear political. w/
@LauraAJarrett @jeremyherb
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https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1130867182445977605
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has expressed reticence to him testifying publicly in front of the House Judiciary Committee, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The special counsel’s team has expressed the notion that Mueller does not want to appear political after staying behind the scenes for two years and not speaking as he conducted his investigation into President Donald Trump. One option is to have him testify behind closed doors, but sources caution numerous options are being considered in the negotiations between the committee and the special counsel’s team.
Justice officials are generally supportive of how the special counsel’s team is proceeding with negotiations. As Attorney General Bill Barr told The Wall Street Journal last week: “It’s Bob’s call whether he wants to testify.”
After watching
Jerrold Nadler turn the House Judiciary Committee into a circus, it’s tough to blame Mueller for feeling less than enthusiastic about jumping into the center ring. He could opt for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing instead, but the temperature might not be much better on that side of the capitol building. Chair Lindsey Graham has declared himself uninterested in picking Mueller’s brain beyond the report anyway, and Senate Democrats would likely follow Nadler’s strategy to demand answers about Mueller’s punt on obstruction.
