by Daveda Gruber:
Has anyone wondered why the Department of Justice has set guidelines for former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before Congress? The answer proves to be quite simple.
According to reports, Attorney General William Barr, has said that it was Mueller’s team who had asked for Mueller’s testimony to House lawmakers to be kept “within the boundaries” of the public version of his Russia probe report.
Barr has responded that Mueller’s staff asked the department for guidance before the hearing. The DOJ complied with the request.
Barr has said in an interview, “At his press conference, Bob had said that he intended to stick with the public report and not go beyond that. And in conversations with the department, his staff was reiterating that that was their position and they asked us for guidance in writing to explain or to tell them our position was. So we responded in writing. The department sent the guidance that they requested.”
When Barr was asked if it was Mueller who asked for the letter, Barr replied, “Yes.”
The letter said:
“Should you testify, the Department understands that testimony regarding the work of the Special Counsel’s Office will be governed by the terms you outlined on May 29 — specifically, that the information you discuss during your testimony appears in, and does ‘not go beyond,’ the public version of your March 22, 2019 report to the Attorney General or your May 29 public statement.”
See the letter here:
Mueller Letter 072219 by Anonymous JAYve8 on Scribd
The letter was signed by Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer.
Mueller is set to testify on Wednesday, if all goes according to plan.
In the mean time, Mueller, who is not known to be a great public speaker, has asked for a special request. Mueller wants Aaron Zebley, his former chief of staff and his top aide on the Russia investigation, to accompany him at the witness table during the upcoming hearing.
Zebley would be able to answer for Mueller and Republicans are not happy with this. On the other hand, Democrats seem to be willing to go to any lengths to get Mueller on the stand to question him.
So, will we hear from Mueller at all? Time will tell. Stay tuned.
