Mueller: I Did Not Clear Trump of Obstruction of Justice

Nadler asks if there was no obstruction.

“No,” Mueller says.

With a reluctant Robert Mueller taking his seat at the congressional witness table, Democrats are looking for incriminating, hidden-till-now details about Donald Trump and Russia. Republicans want the former special counsel to concede his investigation was all a waste of time and money, if not an outright hoax.

Neither side is likely to get just what it wants, but Mueller’s first open testimony on his investigation had Washington and the rest of the political world in a high state of anticipation just the same.

Some things to look for in Mueller’s appearance Wednesday before the House judiciary and intelligence committees to answer questions about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible cooperation with the Trump campaign.

Much of Mueller’s report focuses on the question of whether Trump obstructed justice, and Democrats on the Judiciary Committee say that’s where their attention will be, too. And for good reason: Mueller’s report examines in blow-by-blow detail nearly a dozen episodes in which the new president sought to control the Russia probe, narrow its scope or even have investigators fired.

Democrats say they expect to draw Mueller out in several of these areas. They include his demands that then-White House counsel Don McGahn press for Mueller’s firing and his push to have then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions limit the investigation to future election interference rather than past conduct.

The afternoon session before the intelligence committee is likely to dwell more on Mueller’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to sway the outcome. Mueller found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy there but left open the question of whether Trump illegally stymied the investigation.

Democrats say they expect to draw Mueller out in several of these areas. They include his demands that then-White House counsel Don McGahn press for Mueller’s firing and his push to have then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions limit the investigation to future election interference rather than past conduct.

The afternoon session before the intelligence committee is likely to dwell more on Mueller’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to sway the outcome. Mueller found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy there but left open the question of whether Trump illegally stymied the investigation.