Trump: Mueller shouldn’t be allowed to testify again
Donald Trump yesterday declared that Robert Mueller should not be allowed to testify to congress about his investigation into the president’s possible obstruction of justice and links to Russia.
“Highly conflicted Robert Mueller should not be given another bite at the apple,” the president tweeted, after Mr Mueller appeared in front of the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees last week. “In the end it will be bad for him and the phony Democrats in Congress who have done nothing but waste time on this ridiculous Witch Hunt. Result of the Mueller Report, NO COLLUSION, NO OBSTRUCTION!”
The president has repeatedly hit out at Mr Mueller as “conflicted” – without evidence – as well as calling the investigation into Russia election interference a “witch hunt”. The aim for Mr Trump has always been to undermine Mr Mueller’s credibility throughout the two-year probe.
Mr Mueller’s report did not find sufficient evidence to establish charges of criminal conspiracy but did find evidence Mr Trump had potentially obstructed the investigation.
Presenting his report in May, the then-special counsel indicated he was prevented from indicting a sitting president – saying such an action was “not an option” – because of the legal opinion of the Justice Department. He did not use the word “impeachment” but said it was the job of congress to hold the president accountable for wrongdoing.
“But the questions should be asked,” the president said in a second tweet yesterday. “Why were all of Clinton’s people given immunity, and why were the text messages of Peter S and his lover, Lisa Page, deleted and destroyed right after they left Mueller, and after we requested them(this is Illegal)?”
Mr Trump was referring to Peter Strzok, who led the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email server. He also worked on Mr Mueller’s probe into the president’s possible campaign links to Russia.
Mr Mueller is expected to testify before congress in back-to-back hearings tomorrow in a move that could potentially lead the Democrat-led House of Representatives to begin formal impeachment inquiry proceedings.
In a statement preparing for the upcoming testimony, house judiciary committee chair Jerrold Nadler said the testimony would provide “very substantial evidence” against Mr Trump. “This is a president who has violated the law six ways from Sunday,” said Mr Nadler, a New York Democrat, on Sunday.
He added: “We have to present – or let Mueller present – those facts to the American people ... because the administration must be held accountable and no president can be above the law.”
Mr Mueller has said he does not intend to reveal anything more than what he laid out in his nearly 400-page report. But many Democrats in congress will hope the public testimony could push forward the case for impeachment when he is asked about the 10 examples of the president’s alleged obstruction of justice.
Republicans are likely to follow a similar line of questioning line to Mr Trump, and ask Mr Mueller about his team.