Democrats debate the merits of pushing Robert Mueller to testify: NPR

Members of the Democratic House returning from this week's break need to tackle another new dilemma regarding the results of the investigation of Russia: what to do about Robert Mueller.

The outgoing special advocate of the Department of Justice said, in so many words, that he had said everything he had to say and that he did not want to appear in a hearing that might unfold as a stalemate, before a congressional committee.

The key presidents of these committees want him to testify anyway, but they do not seem to agree on the need to lobby for this. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, was questioned about his intention to issue a subpoena.

"It's a decision that will exceed my salary," Schiff told Audie Cornish of NPR. "I think we'll meet on our return."

Translation: Mueller's treatment is too delicate, even for the handpicked president of a select committee. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. And her other lieutenants must have their say.

Democrats must try to stay on the same page with respect to their desire to get to the bottom of things and their willingness to lobby, especially if a dispute results in a lawsuit.

"It's a decision that will involve the entire House of Representatives," Schiff said. "This is not a decision for a single committee chair, as this will involve the actions of the House, especially if we start a dispute about it."

Representative Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., Who heads the House's Judiciary Committee, also continues to want a hearing with Mueller, he told NPR member station WNYC.

The outgoing special adviser did not completely close the door and members of Congress said that they were pursuing their negotiations with the Justice Department on what might be achievable.

But Mueller said last week that he was reluctant to talk more in public and that he would do his best to be a boring witness.

"I will not provide any information beyond what is already public at any appearance before the Congress," he said.

Democratic debates

The decision about Mueller is a dispute within a dispute – which is unfolding while the Democrats are also arguing over the opportunity to continue the impeachment proceedings against Trump on the basis of what the 39, special lawyer discovered.

More leaders within the party, including Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, announced they support the dismissal.

Pelosi is much more hesitant, aware of the need to try to garner support from voters outside of his own liberal base.

She also told San Francisco last week that only a minority of her majority – less than about 20 percent of her membership – favored removal. The speaker said that the dismissal must be bipartite and enjoy the support of the public.

And before he can try to find a solution to the problem with the presidents, Pelosi and his colleagues must decide their strategy vis-à-vis Mueller. Mueller discusses the conclusions that he presented in dry characters.

The special council has always seemed aware of its value as a pony of political spectacle. Nadler had earlier told MSNBC that the negotiations he was conducting with Mueller could have resulted in a public opening statement but a period of close questions with the members.

This could still happen, and Nadler told WNYC not to neglect the political value of just letting Mueller tell his story in front of a venue – on television – in order to reach more Americans than the best written report.

"Part of the function of the Congress, just like the Watergate hearings of 40 years ago … is a dialogue with the American people, so that people can make informed decisions and know what is going on. pass, "Nadler said. "It is very important that he addresses the TV audience and the American people – and that he answers questions about it, even if he does not." there is no new information. "

This, however, creates its own complexities for Pelosi, given his position. If Mueller's public remarks last week increased calls for impeachment, including among Democratic presidential candidates, could a long hearing still mean more?

If that were the case, it would create an even more difficult challenge for a speaker who would try to rally the most liberal Democrats while trying to retain the ability to reach more moderate voters.

The minority counts

To make Mueller appear before the members of Congress, it is also to make them appear before the Republicans. However, Nadler and the rest of the majority of the House must also decide whether or not to give this openness to members of the minority.

Some of Trump's congressional allies have said the closure of Mueller's office should mean that Washington closes this chapter and moves on.

The senior member of Nadler's committee, for example, Republican Republican of Georgia, Doug Collins, listed a number of priorities he said that Congress can now deal with closed books about Russia.

But many Republicans have also criticized Mueller, the FBI and the Justice Department for months. They could take the opportunity to question and focus in their own way.

Placing the former special council under the presidency of the witness would allow questions to be asked about the investigators' use of their supervisory powers – which are the focus of two DOJ internal investigations – political allegiances Mueller prosecutors and the conduct of FBI officials.

The office was embarrassed by the conduct of a few people related to his recent major investigations, including an FBI special agent and a lawyer who exchanged text messages criticizing Trump during the election.

The choice facing the Democrats is whether presenting Mueller to a national audience would help them politically because of his testimony – or complicate their task because of Republican questions that would risk blurring the story that Nadler wants tell.