Nadler: Mueller will not testify before Congress next week
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jerry Nadler announced Friday that special counsel Robert Mueller will not testify next week before the House Judiciary Committee.
The committee earlier this month called for the special counsel to testify on May 15.
“It won’t be next week. We’re negotiating now,” Nadler, D-N.Y., said, according to his office. He added that lawmakers are currently in talks with both Mueller and the Justice Department.
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The announcement comes the same week that the House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt after he did not comply with a subpoena seeking an unredacted version of Mueller's report on the Russia probe and the report's underlying evidence. Mueller investigated Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election and did not find a conspiracy between Russia and Donald Trump's campaign; the probe widened to include an inquiry into possible obstruction of justice by the president.
Soon after he delivered his 448-page report to the attorney general, Mueller took issue with Barr's characterization of the report's principal findings. The attorney general chose not to pursue obstruction charges against Trump.
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In addition, the president this week asserted executive privilege over the unredacted version of Mueller's report.
On Sunday, Trump said he would not let Mueller testify before Congress. However, in comments to reporters on Thursday, Trump reversed his previous statement, saying it would be up to Barr to decide.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nadler: Mueller will not testify before Congress next week
