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| Former special counsel Robert Mueller testified before Congress on July 24, 2019. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images |
VietPress USA (July 24, 2019): According to CNN Politic:
- "Robert Mueller testified: The former special counsel faced lawmakers at two separate hearings.
- About Mueller's report: The 448-page report detailed numerous cases in which President Trump asked his aides to take actions that would have obstructed Mueller's investigation, but stated they were unsuccessful because the aides refused his orders.
Former special counsel Robert Mueller testified today before the House Judiciary and House Intelligence committees.
We're wrapping up our live coverage of his testimony.
In case you missed it, here are the key takeaways from his second hearing:
- Right at the outset, Mueller clarified the most significant exchange from earlier in the day. He did not intend to say they did not indict the president because of the OLC guidance. He clarified that he meant that because of the OLC guidance there was no decision either way on whether to indict.
- In clear and concise language, Mueller reminded the panel why his investigation matters:“We spent substantial time ensuring the integrity of the report understanding that it would be our living -- a message to those who come after us. But it also is a signal, a flag to those of us who have some responsibility in this area to exercise those responsibilities swiftly and don't let this problem continue to linger as it has over so many years.”
- Mueller defended not subpoenaing the President because of the prolonged process to fight over it. But asked if anyone tried to stop it, Mueller made clear they could have subpoenaed if they wanted to.
- Mueller condemned the behavior of the President and his son. On Trump’s WikiLeaks comments, Mueller said “problematic is an understatement." An exchange between Donald Trump, Jr. and WikiLeaks was “Disturbing and also subject to investigation." At another point, to Rep. Demings, he refused to weigh in on the President’s credibility. He also said he felt the president was not truthful in his written answers.
- A tantalizing exchange: Asked to assert there was no evidence of an allegation that Paul Manafort met with Julian Assange, Mueller did not deny it, but rather said “ I'm not sure I agree with that assumption.” (Manafort attorney declined comment)
- Will this ever be put to rest? Asked about Michael Cohen going to Prague, Mueller said he can’t get into it. (The report said he did not go and Cohen testified in February that it never happened.)
- During Robert Mueller's testimony in front of the House Intelligence Committee he deferred or declined to answer questions from members of Congress at least 82 times, according to a CNN analysis. Of those instances Mueller referred lawmakers to his report at least 4 times." (CNN Poitic)
- Please read full report from Yahoo News at: https://news.yahoo.com/mueller-grilled-on-conclusions-about-exoneration-142131441.html
VIETPRESS USA NEWS
Mueller grilled on conclusions about 'exoneration'
A Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee ripped into Robert Mueller at Wednesday’s hearing, claiming that the special counsel violated Justice Department principles when he failed to decide if President Trump committed a crime without exonerating him.
“Which DOJ policy or principle sets forth a legal standard that an investigated person is not exonerated if their innocence from criminal conduct is not conclusively determined?” asked Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, a former federal prosecutor. “Where does that language come from, director? Where is the DOJ policy that says that?”
When Mueller didn’t respond, Ratcliffe asked the 74-year-old former special counsel to “give an example other than Donald Trump where the Justice Department determined that an investigated person was not exonerated because their innocence was not conclusively determined.”
“I cannot, but this is a unique situation —” Mueller said before he was interrupted by Ratcliffe.
“Let’s just leave it at you can’t find it because — I’ll tell you why — it doesn’t exist,” said Ratcliffe.
The special counsel report had two parts, one investigating Russian interference “in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion” and the other evaluating potential obstruction by Trump. The probe found there was no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, but the special counsel did not reach a “traditional prosecutorial judgment” as to whether Trump committed a crime, leaving it up to Attorney General William Barr to decide whether to move forward with charges. Barr and his then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that the evidence was “not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.”
“The evidence we obtained about the President’s actions and intent presents difficult issues that prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred,” Mueller wrote. “While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
“Respectfully, director, it was not the special counsel’s job to conclusively determine Donald Trump’s innocence or to exonerate him because the bedrock principle of our justice system is a presumption of innocence,” Ratcliffe said, raising his voice. “It exists for everyone. Everyone is entitled to it — including sitting presidents.”
Ratcliffe continued: “You didn’t follow the special counsel regulations. It clearly says write a confidential report about decisions reached. Nowhere in here does it say write a report about decisions that weren’t reached.”
Mueller maintained that he did not answer the question of whether Trump engaged in criminal activity because of Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel opinions that a sitting president cannot be indicted.
The lawmaker argued that the second part of the report, which detailed 10 instances of potential obstruction by Trump, was written “in violation of every DOJ principle about extra-prosecutorial commentary.”
“I agree with Chairman [Jerry] Nadler this morning when he said Donald Trump is not above the law,” Ratcliffe said. “But he damn sure should not be below the law, which is where Volume II of this report puts him.”
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