Barr: I have no objection to Mueller testifying before Congress

Attorney General William Barr says he has no objection to special counsel Robert Mueller testifying before Congress.

“I have no objection personally to Bob Mueller testifying,” Barr told reporters during a Thursday morning press conference about the release of a redacted version of the Mueller report on Russia’s 2016 election interference.

{mosads}His remarks come hours after top Democratic leaders called on Mueller to testify about his investigation, stating that the attorney general had poorly handled the release of the report.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) released a joint statement demanding Mueller testify “as soon as possible” early Thursday morning, after a New York Times report revealed that White House lawyers and Department of Justice officials have already repeatedly discussed details of Mueller’s conclusions.

During his press conference, Barr repeated earlier comments that Mueller found no evidence that members of President Trump’s 2016 campaign conspired with Moscow on its election meddling, and that the special counsel did not make a determination on if the president obstructed justice.

“Attorney General Barr’s regrettably partisan handling of the Mueller report, including his slanted March 24th summary letter, his irresponsible testimony before Congress last week, and his indefensible plan to spin the report in a press conference later this morning — hours before he allows the public or Congress to see it — have resulted in a crisis of confidence in his independence and impartiality,” Pelosi and Schumer wrote in a statement.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) issued a letter to Mueller shortly after the press conference concluded, stating that he wants the special counsel to testify before his committee “no later than May 23.” 

“It is clear Congress and the American people must hear from Special Counsel Robert Mueller in person to better understand his findings,” Nadler wrote on Twitter. “We are now requesting Mueller to appear before @HouseJudiciary as soon as possible.”