Nadler: Mueller compelling witness
Says he expects counsel to have ‘profound impact’
WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said he expects special counsel Robert Mueller to have “a profound impact” when he testifies before Congress on July 17, even though Mueller has said he won’t provide any new information.
“I think just if he says what was in the report and says it to the American people so they hear it, that will be very, very important,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler told reporters Wednesday. “Whether he goes further than that, we’ll see.”
Nadler said he thinks Mueller will be a compelling witness given the nature of the 448-page report. He said he believes the hearing will have a “profound impact” because many people haven’t read the report and don’t know what’s in it.
It will also be the first time Mueller has responded to questions since he was appointed special counsel in May 2017.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff expressed concerns that either the White House or Justice Department would try to block some or all of Mueller’s testimony, possibly at the last minute, as they have with other administration witnesses. “I think every indication is that the president will continue interfering in any way he can,” Schiff said.
On that point, though, Nadler said he doubts any such efforts would eventually succeed.
“Mr. Mueller is an honest man and understands that congressional subpoenas are not optional,” Nadler said.
Trump himself simply tweeted, “Presidential Harassment!” He followed up on Wednesday morning in an interview with Fox Business Network, saying, “It never ends,” then reiterated his grievances against the way the probe was conducted.
House Minority Leader Kevin Mccarthy, R-calif., questioned why they would still want to hear from Mueller after the lengthy report was issued. “He said he didn’t want to talk to us anymore, didn’t he?”
But Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, has said he has no objections to Mueller’s testimony.
“May this testimony bring to House Democrats the closure that the rest of America has enjoyed for months, and may it enable them to return to the business of legislating,” Collins said.