Page 4 - aruba-today-20190506

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 6 May 2019

Trump now says Mueller should not testify before Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- the committee said he was
dent Donald Trump said hopeful Mueller would tes-
Sunday that special coun- tify, noting that May 15 has
sel Robert Mueller should been proposed.
not testify before Congress, Rhode Island Rep. David
abandoning his previous Cicilline told "Fox News Sun-
declaration that he would day" that "we hope the spe-
leave that decision to his cial counsel will appear" at
attorney general. that time and that "we think
Escalating tensions with the American people have
House Democrats as they a right to hear directly from
seek to bring Mueller be- him."
fore the House Judiciary Cicilline later tweeted that
Committee, Trump tweet- "nothing has been agreed
ed: "Bob Mueller should to yet."
not testify. No redos for the The House Judiciary Com-
Dems!" mittee chairman, Demo-
Democrats are seeking cratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler
more information about of New York, said last week
Mueller's report on his Rus- the committee was "firm-
sia investigation. Senate ing up the date" for Muel-
Judiciary Chairman Lindsey ler's testimony and hoping
Graham, R-S.C., has said he it would be May 15.
doesn't plan to invite Muel- In this March 24, 2019, file photo, special counsel Robert Mueller departs St. John's Episcopal Cicilline said on Fox that
ler to testify on the report. Church, across from the White House in Washington. "obviously until the date
Trump told reporters in the Associated Press comes, we never have an
absolute guarantee" and in
Oval Office last week that his tweet later, said that "we
testimony from Mueller was hope the Special Counsel"
"up to our attorney gener- will agree to the proposed
al." William Barr has said he date for his testimony.
has no objection to Mueller Spokespeople for the Jus-
testifying. tice Department and Muel-
Trump again asserted on ler declined to comment
Twitter Sunday that Muel- on Cicilline's remarks and
ler's report revealed "NO on Trump's tweet.
COLLUSION" and argued Democratic lawmakers ex-
that there was "NO OB- pressed their displeasure
STRUCTION." with Trump's position. Sen-
On collusion, Mueller said ate Minority Leader Chuck
he did not assess whether Schumer tweeted, in part:
that occurred because it is "Now he's trying to silence
not a legal term. He looked Mueller.
into a potential criminal For a man who constantly
conspiracy between Russia proclaims his innocence, @
and the Trump campaign realDonaldTrump is acting
and said the investiga- awfully guilty. Mueller must
tion did not collect suffi- testify publicly before Con-
cient evidence to establish gress."
criminal charges on that Democratic Rep. Adam
front. Mueller didn't charge Schiff, the chairman of the
Trump with obstruction but House Intelligence Com-
wrote that he couldn't ex- mittee, noted in a tweet
onerate him, either. that Trump's opposition to
Trump did not indicate if Mueller testifying follows his
he would take any steps opposition to having a for-
to block Mueller, who is a mer White House counsel
Justice Department em- testify.
ployee. "Barr's testimony alone —
The president tweeted Sun- designed to protect Trump
day after a Democrat on — isn't going to cut it. q