Former special counsel Robert Mueller is scheduled to testify before two congressional committees next week in open hearings.
Muller will appear July 17 before the House Judiciary Committee as well as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
“Americans have demanded to hear directly from the Special Counsel so they can understand what he and his team examined, uncovered, and determined about Russia’s attack on our democracy, the Trump campaign’s acceptance and use of that help, and President Trump and his associates' obstruction of the investigation into that attack,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-California, said in a joint press release last month announcing Muller’s upcoming testimony.
It will be the first time that the public will hear Muller talk about the investigation in any length. He remained silent through the nearly two-year investigation, only speaking publicly about it on May 29 when he announced his plan to retire and explained the reasons why he did not accuse President Donald Trump of criminal conduct.
Mueller also warned lawmakers during that announcement that if he were to be called to testify before any congressional committee, he would say no more about the investigation than what was contained in the 448-page report.
“We chose those words carefully, and the work speaks for itself,” Mueller said on May 29. “I would not provide information beyond what is already public in any appearance before Congress.”
Here is how Muller's testimony will work next week:
Mueller will testify in the two open sessions on Wednesday. There will also be two closed congressional hearings for committee members to question his staff.
The 22 members of the Intelligence Committee will each be allowed five minutes to ask Mueller questions; however, during the Judiciary Committee hearing, only certain members will be able to question Mueller.
Since the Judiciary Committee has 41 members, time constraints will allow for only 22 of those members to ask questions of Mueller.
Those who do not get to question Mueller during the open hearing will participate in the hearing with Mueller's staff, which will be held behind closed doors following Mueller's testimony, according to NBC News.
The members of the Intelligence Committee will be able to ask questions about the unredacted version of volume one of the report. Volume one deals with the investigation into collusion with the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential election.
The Judiciary Committee will have the same deal with the unredacted version of volume two of the report, NBC reported. Volume two deals with the question of whether Trump committed obstruction of justice during the investigation.
The information redacted to protect grand jury testimony taken during the investigation will not be available to either committee.
Mueller’s report, issued in April, concluded there was not enough evidence to establish collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Russian government.
As far as potential episodes of obstruction of justice, Mueller did not try to bring any charges but said he could not exonerate Trump on 10 issues of potential obstruction.
Attorney General William Barr said Monday the Justice Department would support Mueller should he decide he “doesn’t want to subject himself” to congressional testimony.
Barr also said the Justice Department would try to block any congressional subpoenas aimed at members of the special counsel’s team.
“I’m not sure what purpose is served by dragging him up there and trying to grill him,” Barr said. “I don’t think Mueller should be treated that way or subject himself to that if he doesn’t want to.”
Mueller, who no longer works at the Justice Department, has not indicated he has an issue with appearing before Congress to testify.
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