House Democratic lawmakers announced Tuesday that former Special Counsel Robert Mueller has agreed to testify before Congress on July 17 after a subpoena was issued for his appearance. Mueller's agreement marks the first time the former special counsel will answer questions publicly since completing his 22-month long investigation into President Donald Trump and Russian interference in the 2016 President Election.
House Judiciary Chariman Jerry Nadler and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff made the announcement about Mueller's appearance before two separate panels of Congress next month in a joint statement:
"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," the statement read.
Both panels had been negotiating with Mueller over his appearance before Congress after he held a press conference in May stating he did not want to testify publicly about his investigation, adding that the 448-page report served as his testimony. In the same press conference, Mueller also said his report did not clear President Trump of obstruction of Justice.
"If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so," Mueller said. "We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime."
President Trump responded to the news of Mueller's testimony using only two words: "Presidential Harassment!"
The Judiciary panel's top Republican, Doug Collins (R-Ga), issued a statement about Mueller's appointment with Congress, "I hope the special counsel's testimony marks an end to the political gamesmanship that Judiciary Democrats have pursued at great cost to taxpayers. 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."
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