Trump news: Mueller testimony says president could face criminal charges as Trump rails against 'disaster' hearing
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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.
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Mr Mueller is now sworn in to the House Intelligence Committee.
Mr Schiff says there is an "angry man down the street who is not happy" about Aaron Zebley delivering testimony today, in addition to Mr Mueller.
He is, of course, referring to the president.
Mr Mueller notes that this particular hearing is focused on US counterintelligence.
Mr Mueller notes again, just like this morning, that his testimony will be limited and that it is "unusual" for him to testimony since he is essentially a US prosecutor in his role as special counsel.
Mr Mueller notes, again, that the Department of Justice has placed limits on what he can speak to. He is unable to discuss the opening of the original investigation into Russian interference, for instance, as well as the Steele dossier.
Mr Mueller has repeatedly refused to discuss the Steele dossier today, and has been attacked for it.
Once again, Mr Mueller says he will not comment on attorney general William Barr's conduct or decisions.
Mr Mueller is clarifying earlier remarks he made with representative Ted Lieu, when he said that he did not charge the president because of OLC rules:
"That is not the correct way to say it. As we say in the report, and as I said in my opening, we did not reach a determination as to whether the president committed a crime."
Mr Mueller has agreed that Mr Trump, Michael Flynn, and others were trying to make money off off foreign interests.
Mr Mueller is also noting that his investigators were lied to repeatedly.
"It is not a witch hunt," Mr Mueller said, when asked.
Devin Nunes is now asking Mr Mueller if Boris Johnson had been compromised.
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