House Democrats Hold Mueller Report Hearing

House Judiciary Committee kicks off a series of hearings on the Mueller report, with testimony by Watergate whistleblower John Dean.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said the Justice Department has agreed to begin turning over some information the panel had subpoenaed related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

“The department will share the first of these documents with us later today,” Nadler, a New York Democrat, said in a statement Monday. He added that all members of the committee will be able to view the materials. “These documents will allow us to perform our constitutional duties and decide how to respond to the allegations laid out against the president by the special counsel.”

The committee and Attorney General William Barr have been locked in a fight over access to Congress of redacted portions of Mueller’s report, as well as the underlying evidence. Nadler’s announcement comes a day before the House plans to vote on a resolution authorizing Nadler and his committee to initiate civil legal action against Barr for his refusal to turn over Mueller report-related material.

The deal with the Justice Department won’t forestall the Tuesday vote, Nadler said in remarks at the opening of a committee hearing. “Our arrangement with the department does not extend to the full scope of our request for the full Mueller report and its underlying materials, including grand jury information, nor does it extend to our demand that Don McGahn, a key fact witness, testify before this committee."

The resolution drafted by House Democrats would give the Judiciary Committee authority to pursue civil legal action and judgments against Barr and former White House Counsel McGahn for defying congressional demands for documents and testimony under White House direction.

Nadler said that if the department "proceeds in good faith and we are able to obtain everything that we need, then there will be no need to take further steps." But if important information is held back, he added, "then we will have no choice but to enforce our subpoena in court and consider other remedies."