Washington – President Donald Trump said Sunday that special counsel Robert Mueller should not testify before Congress, abandoning his previous declaration that he would leave that decision to his attorney general.
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Escalating tensions with House Democrats as they seek to bring Mueller before the House Judiciary Committee, Trump tweeted: “no redos for the Dems.” He added: “Are they looking for a redo because they hated seeing the strong NO COLLUSION conclusion?”
Democrats are seeking more information about Mueller’s report on his Russia investigation.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office last week that testimony from Mueller was “up to our attorney general.” Barr has said he has no objection to Mueller testifying.
The president tweeted after a Democrat on the committee said he was hopeful Mueller would testify, noting that May 15 has been proposed.
Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline told “Fox News Sunday” that “we hope the special counsel will appear” at that time and that “we think the American people have a right to hear directly from him.”
He later tweeted that “nothing has been agreed to yet.”
The committee chairman, Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, said last week the committee was “firming up the date” for Mueller’s testimony and hoping it would be May 15.
Cicilline said on Fox “obviously until the date comes, we never have an absolute guarantee” and in his tweet later, said “we hope the Special Counsel” will agree to the proposed date for his testimony.
Spokespeople for the Justice Department and Mueller declined comment on Cicilline’s remarks, and Mueller’s spokesman declined comment on Trump tweet.
A bunch of losers. Give it up. No collusion delusion. And no obstruction on a witch hunt. Nadler continue digging your own grave. trump will crush in 2020
Even if he testifies, dems still won’t be satisfied. Those liars won’t even admit they made up a hoax and assured the American people that their president collided with Russia! This is not about finding the truth, they already got that. It’s about denying it and trying to once again pull the wool over the eyes of the American people! 30 million dollars and two yrs later, these filthy criminals are still at it. Their ruse at trying to obfuscate so the focus won’t be on the crooked dossier and the DNC being in up to their ears, wont work this time. Vote republican!
I can’t imagine why anyone asked the President who should testify to Congress.
Trump is totally ignorant of the US Constitution, America’s Toirah. Separation of Powers. Oversight role of Congress. Co-equal Branches of Gov’t. Freedom of Speech. Freedom to Testify in your own behalf without being under duress or torture. Orange disgracia has no idea or belief in that, always trying to beat the system, beat the Gov’t. Know anyone else like that?
Btw the decision is up to the attorney general and we all know what his decision was so congress can rest in piece and so can all trump haters.
If there is a legal way for Trump to keep Mueller from testifying, then his comments are OK. But if he can’t prevent him from testifying (he certainly can’t use Executive Privilege), then Trump objecting to Mueller’s testimony is counterproductive.