Trump news: Mueller testimony says president could face criminal charges as Trump rails against 'disaster' hearing

Follow the latest updates from Washington, as it happened

Mueller says he 'generally' agrees with sentiment that Trump officials lies inhibited his investigation

Robert Mueller, the former US special counsel who investigated the Russian interference into the 2016 presidential campaign and Donald Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, has testified on Capital Hill, where he was asked to explain the conclusions he reached in his report released earlier this year.

The whole world was watching, and Democrats skilfully laid out the various ways in which Mr Mueller's report shows the president obstructed justice by trying to end the Mueller report.

They said they had 10 to list, in all.

Mr Trump had repeatedly attempted to downplay or dismiss Mr Mueller’s reluctant appearance on Capitol Hill — which was forced through a subpoena — to discuss his 448-page report into the 2016 election and its aftermath, but has attacked Mr Mueller's testimony anyhow, and has claimed Mr Mueller may have been conflicted because he had interviewed for a job as FBI director just before getting his job as special counsel (Mr Mueller had done that job before, had been praised for his work in that job, and denied he had interviewed for that job as the president says).

During the first half of his testimony, Mr Mueller indicated that a major reason the president was not charged was that Justice Department rules prohibit it. Mr Mueller did note that he believes a president could be charged with a crime after leaving office.

In the end, Democrats appeared to be laying the groundwork for further investigations into Mr Trump's political world, with top leaders pledging to follow the money trail to determine if the president had acted unlawfully.

And, with the future in mind, Democrats repeatedly asked Mr Mueller if the president could be charged with a crime once he leaves office. They said he could.

Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

Key Points

• Robert Mueller to testify before Congress as Trump rages
• President hits out at favourite broadcaster: 'Fox sure ain’t what it used to be'
• Trump sues to prevent release of tax returns
• President says Article II of Constitution lets him do whatever he wants
• ICE deportation raid targeting 2,100 arrests nets just 35

[24 July 2019 17:30 · Clark Mindock]

Republicans really wanted to get a rise out of Mr Mueller today. But, they failed to do so, and here is an example of that moment:

[24 July 2019 17:40 · Clark Mindock]

Here is another important moment from this morning, and it largely incapsulates how Republicans seem to view this whole affair.

[24 July 2019 17:54 · Clark Mindock]

Representative Adam Schiff has thanked Mr Mueller for his service to the country, and has called Mr Mueller's report "methodical" and "devastating".

[24 July 2019 17:54 · Clark Mindock]

"The story of the 2016 election is also a story about disloyalty to country, about greed, and about lies," Mr Schiff says, noting that Mr Trump and his team welcomed Russian help during the election.

[24 July 2019 17:55 · Clark Mindock]

Mr Schiff has now accused Mr Trump of violating his oath of citizenship.

[24 July 2019 17:55 · Clark Mindock]

"This is also the story about money, about greed and corruption, about a campaign willing to compromise" the country, Mr Schiff says.

[24 July 2019 17:56 · Clark Mindock]

Mr Schiff says that Mr Trump viewed his campaign as the "greatest infomercial in history".

[24 July 2019 17:58 · Clark Mindock]

"This rot comes from within," Mr Schiff says of the "lies" that Mr Mueller's report details.

[24 July 2019 18:01 · Clark Mindock]

Ranking member Devin Nunes is now delivering his opening remarks, and has called the Mueller report and concerns about Donald Trump's behaviour a "conspiracy theory".

[24 July 2019 18:05 · Clark Mindock]

Mr Nunes says there is "collusion between Russia and the Democratic party. The Democrats colluded with Russian sources to develop the Steele dossier."

Mr Mueller has refused to discuss the Steele dossier earlier in his testimony before a separate House committee.

Mr Nunes has called the hearing "political theatre".