Robert Mueller wants to testify before the Congress – but in private

May 24, 2019, 02:51 UTC

By Doha Madani

Special advocate Robert Mueller has expressed his interest in making a private testimony before Congress about his two-year investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Mueller told Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, that he would prefer to make a public statement, but that he is leaving his testimony behind closed doors, Nadler said in the broadcast. "The Rachel Maddow Show" Thursday night.

Nadler, D-N.Y., Made repeated efforts to have Mueller speak in Congress. If Mueller proceeded with private testimony on his report, the public would get a transcript, said Nadler.

"We think it's important that the American people hear about him and hear his answers to questions about the report," Nadler said.

"He sees himself properly as a man of great uprightness and apolitical and he does not want to participate in anything that he might consider a political spectacle," Nadler said of Mueller refusing to testify in public. But he added, "I really speculate."

Nadler's comments come at a time when Democrats are increasingly calling for an impeachment proceeding against President Donald Trump after Trump ordered former White House lawyer Don McGahn to challenge a summons. to appear before Congress and not to testify.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, of D-Calif., Said Thursday that Mr. Trump "wants to be indicted" so that it can be justified by the Senate, dominated by Republicans.

"Let me be very clear: the behavior of the president, regarding his obstruction of justice, what he does, it is obvious, we can not deny – in Ignoring the subpoenas, the obstruction of justice, "Pelosi told reporters during a weekly press conference interview Thursday after the meeting in camera.

Pelosi's comments came just a day after she accused Trump of being involved in a concealment operation.