Posted on 07/22/2019 6:24:06 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
The Justice Department on Monday told former special counsel Robert Mueller that he should limit his Wednesday testimony before Congress to the four corners of his public report on Russian interference.
“Any testimony must remain within the boundaries of your public report because matters within the scope of your investigation were covered by executive privilege, including information protected by law enforcement, deliberative process, attorney work product, and presidential communications privileges,” Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer wrote in a letter to Mueller that was obtained by The Hill.
“These privileges would include discussion about investigative steps or decisions made during your investigation not otherwise described in the public version of your report,” Weinsheimer wrote.
“Consistent with standard practice, Department witnesses should decline to address potentially privileged matters, thus affording the Department the full opportunity at a later date to consider particular questions and possible accommodations that may fulfill the committees’ legitimate need for information while protecting Executive Branch confidentiality interests,” he added.
It was already expected that Mueller was unlikely to speak beyond what is spelled out in the redacted version of his 448-page report on Russian interference into the 2016 election and possible obstruction of justice by President Trump. The new letter all but guarantees that.
Weinsheimer noted that he was responding to a July 10 letter from Mueller that requested guidance from the department “concerning privilege or other legal bars applicable to potential testimony in connection” with the subpoenas issued by the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees for his appearance.
Weinsheimer reiterated statements made by Attorney General William Barr that it is ultimately Mueller’s decision to testify. He emphasized that Mueller should not reveal anything related to the redacted portions of the report — which conceal grand jury material, details on ongoing investigations, classified material and information on third parties.
Mueller, who is now a private citizen after leaving his post as special counsel, is slated to testify in back-to-back hearings before the Judiciary and Intelligence panels on Wednesday, a combined appearance that is expected to last roughly five hours.
In his only public remarks on the investigation on May 29, Mueller indicated he did not want to testify before Congress. He also said any testimony would not go beyond his report, stating, “The report is my testimony.” Democrats eventually subpoenaed him to testify last month.
In a brief interview Monday evening, Mueller’s spokesman Jim Popkin told The Hill that the former special counsel would stick closely to the details of the report in his public appearance.
“As I think he made crystal clear then, you can expect him to stick as much as he can to the four walls of the Mueller report,” said Popkin, pointing to his May 29 statement.
Popkin said that Mueller would make an opening statement to Congress that would not be viewed by the Justice Department beforehand. He also said Mueller would make the public version of the report a statement for the congressional record.
Mueller has been preparing for his testimony with a small group of attorneys from the special counsel’s office using space provided by his former law offices of Wilmer Hale, Popkin said.
Democrats are hoping for Mueller to bring to life portions of his report that paint a damning picture of Trump’s efforts to thwart and gain control of the investigation.
Some have tempered expectations, saying they don’t expect the hearing to yield new information, but said nonetheless that the hearing will be successful if they’re able to shine a light on what the special counsel’s investigation found.
Mueller did not reach a conclusion one way or another on whether Trump obstructed the Russia investigation, saying that the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel opinion prevented him from even considering the question. Mueller is unlikely to answer questions Wednesday about whether he would have charged Trump if not for that opinion.
Mueller’s report also details numerous contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia, however the investigation found insufficient evidence to charge associates of the campaign with conspiring with Moscow to meddle in the election. Trump and his allies have heralded that result as vindicating him of allegations of “collusion” with Russia.
Still, Mueller’s marathon appearance on Capitol Hill could generate bad headlines for the White House, attracting wall-to-wall media coverage and elevating some of the more unsavory details of his exhaustive report.
The witch hunt can live on.
The witch hunt can live on.
This bunch is never happy.
Even if they were hung with a brand new rope, still complain.
The title implies that the AG Office is instructing him. And they are......At Mueller’s request.
I think Nadler is soooooooo started he started this crap. Just trying on his big boy pants.
So, his answer to all questions from Republicans will be, “I’d like to respond, but that subject is not covered in my report.”
I’ve seen Nadler. Those are the only pants he can get into.
The title implies that the AG Office is instructing him. And they are......At Mueller’s request.
*******************************************
BINGO!
Just trying on his big boy pants.
Yes, indeed.
Evidently, the DOJ got wind of probable shenanigans.
If someone that "counts" is stating this then Trump needs to open it all up and make ALL PUBLIC TO THE U.S. PUBLIC!!!
Basta!
Otherwise it will be conjecture, unsubstantiated claims, and outright lies.
So Mueller can now refuse to answer any question regarding his lack of investigation into Illary, and the DOJ has his back.
Good to know the deep state has won, yet again.
Will someone please just nuke ‘em all while the Trump family is out of town?
the excerpts all take a Dem perspective.
it’s completely ridiculous. Mueller needs to answer these questions:
when did you first know there was no Trump/Russia collusion?
he cannot possibly answer that it was not until after the mid-term elections.
Mueller: why didn’t you shut down the investigation well before the 2018 mid-term elections?
More like a circus tent than pants
This thread sounds very strange unless you are a Troll, Muller should NOT be able to go outside of his report in any case as it would be conjecture that is not referenced in his report which is what Nads and the Kids are looking for
That will be hard for him to do since he didn’t write it.
That's the only kind he owns.
There's a picture of Nadler, and I've seen it posted here several times. He's in a long-sleeved shirt and his big boy pants. I think he's wearing a light colored shirt, and dark pants, but the belt he's wearing is brown leather, and it doesn't go with his clothing. Plus the belt appears to be old and worn. Why someone who makes that much money can't afford to buy a new belt is ridiculous.
Found it, but I'm not sure if it will appear here:
Who dresses this fat pig?
Maybe Mueller got in touch with AG Barr and requested this kind of cover.
Nothing Mueller does would surprise me.
I am aware of a highly rated, extensive and pricey study available to employers to use when interviewing prospective employees. There are three types of people and traits that should be a red flag and never hired. All I can say is, Nadler is one of the types, and he is absolutely proving that the study is 100% accurate.
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