House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said that he would like Mueller to voluntarily testify, but he will subpoena the former special counsel if he refuses.
Adam Schiff will subpoena Mueller
Transcript via ABC’s This Week:
SCHIFF: Well I was disappointed to see during his statement the other day such a profound reluctance to testify. Now, I understand that but I think he has one last service to perform. It’s not enough merely to speak for 10 minutes and say I’m not going to answer questions for the Congress and the American people. There are a great many things that are not in the report.
We want to find out what happened to those counterintelligence findings that were sent back to headquarters. What other things did you learn during the investigation that ought to concern us in terms of whether the president is vulnerable to influence from Russia. Does the president still — did you find evidence whether the president still intends to build a Trump Tower in Moscow? Is that why that financial inducement why the president can’t criticize Putin or take adequate steps to protect our elections?
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There are any number of questions that we have every right, the American people have every need to have answered here.
So, I hope that Bob Mueller will understand, as painful as it may be, and as much as it may subject him to further abuse by the White House, he has a final duty here to perform, like any other witness, and it’s my hope that he will do so, and it’s my hope that he will do so voluntary.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And if he doesn’t, subpoena?
SCHIFF: Well, it will be my recommendation, yes, but I hope that is not the case. That will be a decision, really, that we’ll have to make collectively and with our leadership whenever there’s use of compulsion, because it may lead to litigation. But I would hope none of that is necessary. That’s not how this process for Bob Mueller should end. He’s a dedicated public servant and I hope that he’ll come and testify voluntarily.
Video:
Mueller should testify before the House
Chairman Schiff raised a good point. There are counterintelligence aspects to Mueller’s investigation that aren’t in the report that the Intelligence Committee would like to ask about. It is understandable that at 74 years old, Bob Mueller wants to retire, and if he wants to avoid the grandstanding of a public hearing, he can testify in private, but Mueller does have the power to educate the country on the Russian attack on our election and the threat that will do so again in 2020.
Mueller has served his country with dignity and honor, but his last great act of service should be to help to protect democracy.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
