# Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies before Congress **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 24, 2019, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542 "2019-07-24T12:33:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/61 "2019-07-24T15:02:54Z")
I just checked out the Fox News website. They are calling Mueller ‘Flustered’ and saying he ‘blanked’ on Fusion GPS. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/62 "2019-07-24T15:06:26Z")
Your average American, isn’t going to pay any more attention to this hearing than they did to the actual reporting of the report when it came out months ago. \*Congressman: Mr. Mueller, in your report you said, ‘ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ’, What did you mean by that? Mueller: I refer to my report.\* Both sides will declare winning points when this is over. But I highly doubt there will be any substantive change in the general populaces perception of things. Pelosi is biding her time to initiate impeachment hearings. I suspect that they will occur prior to the party conventions in 2020. There will be no expectation of a conviction by the Senate, but it will be a big splash during the election news cycle, leading up to the general election. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/63 "2019-07-24T15:08:22Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Solid soundbite from a Republican questioner, no less: > > [https://twitter.com/joshscampbell/status/1154038990003036161](https://twitter.com/joshscampbell/status/1154038990003036161) > > Congressman: “Could you charge the President with a crime after he left office?” > > Mueller: “Yes.” > > Congressman (Buck, I think): “You could charge the President with obstruction of justice after he left office?” > > Mueller: “Yes.” Beautiful! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/64 "2019-07-24T15:21:51Z")
Did the GOP send a memo this morning instructing its Congressional members to step all over their own dicks? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/65 "2019-07-24T15:34:14Z")
A huge thank you to everyone watching and relaying information tooth’s thread! I’m at work and so can’t watch; y’all are very much appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/66 "2019-07-24T15:39:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > This. > > There will NOT be anything new. But having Mueller say it out loud, or at least monosyllabically answer questions, IS new. And important. In what way is it important? It won’t change public opinion. It won’t change the mind of anyone in Congress. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/67 "2019-07-24T15:43:08Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > In what way is it important? It won’t change public opinion. It won’t change the mind of anyone in Congress. As noted above, it might convince some of the fence-sitters to (pardon my mixed metaphor) excrete or get off the john. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/68 "2019-07-24T15:47:46Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Ted Lieu: “The reason you did not indict the sitting President was because of the OLC memo?” > > Mueller: “That is correct”. > > (from memory, just a few moments ago…) LIEU: “To recap what we’ve heard, we have heard today that the president ordered former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire you. The president ordered Don McGahn to then cover that up and create a false paper trail, and now we’ve heard the president ordered Corey Lewandowski to tell Jeff Sessions to limit your investigation so that he – you stop investigating the president. I believe a reasonable person looking at these facts could conclude that all three elements of the crime of obstruction of justice have been met, and I would like to ask you the reason again that you did not indict Donald Trump is because of OLC opinion stating that you cannot indict a sitting president, correct?” MUELLER: “That is correct.” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/69 "2019-07-24T15:53:41Z")
“Fake news! Liberal socialists! MAGA!” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/70 "2019-07-24T15:57:33Z")
I wish that one of these last people would say, “You’ve been interrupted and cut off several times by my Republican colleagues, when you were attempting to clarify issues of conflict of interest. What were you attempting to say?” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/71 "2019-07-24T16:02:21Z")
Google news feed relaying a Faux headline: Mueller admits he was ‘friends’ with Comey during heated House hearing ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/72 "2019-07-24T16:25:04Z")
Biggest moments of the morning, IMO: Ted Lieu getting Mueller to agree that the reason he didn’t indict Trump for obstruction of justice was the OLC opinion that says a sitting president can’t be indicted. Republican Ken Buck asking Mueller if the President could be indicted for obstruction of justice after he leaves office, and Mueller answering with a clear “yes”. Early on, Nadler asking if the report exonerates the President, and Mueller answering with a clear “no”. I think the first one is biggest. All in all, close to as good for the Democrats as could be reasonably hoped for, IMO. EDIT: Also, Rep. Richmond getting Mueller to confirm that the President asked staff to falsify records relevant to the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/73 "2019-07-24T16:26:55Z")
A four sided die and this list could have stood in for Mueller who came across a bit deaf and senile. 1: it’s in the report 2: can you repeat the question ? 3: correct 4: it’s in the report This is just a bit of political theater that will most likely have no effect. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/74 "2019-07-24T16:30:54Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > A four sided die and this list could have stood in for Mueller who came across a bit deaf and senile. > > 1: it’s in the report > 2: can you repeat the question ? > 3: correct > 4: it’s in the report > > This is just a bit of political theater that will most likely have no effect. Perhaps. Do you agree with iiandyiiii’s summary just above yours? ---
**Author:** ![Kelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a587f6/32.png) [@Kelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelby)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/75 "2019-07-24T16:31:49Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Sara Huckabee tweets: What I’ve learned over the last few years is that when Huckabee starts a statement with “It’s clear…” it’s time to put on the waders. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/76 "2019-07-24T16:33:46Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Google news feed relaying a Faux headline: Mueller admits he was ‘friends’ with Comey during heated House hearing This kind of thing is why Mueller confined his answers to as few words as possible, repeated over and over again. Hard to make those answers into meaty sound bites. But now impossible, clearly. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/77 "2019-07-24T16:38:18Z")
Do Fauxnuts accept Reuters as a legitimate news organization? Or is Reuters a bunch of lefty socialists? Anyway, according to Reuters: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday told a dramatic U.S. congressional hearing he had not exonerated President Donald Trump of obstruction of justice and indicated he would have sought his indictment were it not for a Justice Department policy against bringing charges against a sitting president. > **[Mueller says Trump was not exonerated; Trump declares victory](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-mueller/mueller-says-he-did-not-exonerate-trump-u-s-policy-precluded-charges-idUSKCN1UJ0DF)** > > Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller emphasized on Wednesday he had not exonerated Donald Trump of obstruction of justice, as the president has claimed, but his long-awaited congressional testimony did little to add momentum to any Democratic... ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/78 "2019-07-24T16:40:58Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Do Fauxnuts accept Reuters as a legitimate news organization? Or is Reuters a bunch of lefty socialists? > Anyway, according to Reuters: > WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday told a dramatic U.S. congressional hearing he had not exonerated President Donald Trump of obstruction of justice and indicated he would have sought his indictment were it not for a Justice Department policy against bringing charges against a sitting president. > > [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-mueller/mueller-says-he-did-not-exonerate-trump-u-s-policy-precluded-charges-idUSKCN1UJ0DF](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-mueller/mueller-says-he-did-not-exonerate-trump-u-s-policy-precluded-charges-idUSKCN1UJ0DF) Exactly – that’s the kind of news story and headline I was hoping for, from a political perspective. I don’t anticipate a big sea change, but this could help on the margins and with uninformed voters. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/79 "2019-07-24T16:46:03Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Perhaps. Do you agree with iiandyiiii’s summary just above yours? I could only stand 45 minutes of the monotony, so I didn’t catch that part. That said, the implication of you can impeach seems clear. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/80 "2019-07-24T16:51:52Z")
Bannon famously, and correctly apparently, was quoted as saying about Mueller, "Never send a marine to do a hit man’s job.” Mueller is too honorable to do the job fully here. When one side is playing by the most strict interpretation of the rules, and the other side is just openly cheating, it’s not great. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542.md?page=5)