# 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:** 5
**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, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/81 "2019-07-24T16:53:35Z")
**Trump’s attorney says Mueller’s testimony shows “troubling deficiencies” in his investigation** _From CNN’s Evan Perez_ [From CNN’s live blog](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/robert-mueller-congress-testimony/index.html) > [@](#): > > President Trump’s attorney Jay Sekulow criticized Robert Mueller’s testimony this morning… “This morning’s testimony exposed the troubling deficiencies of the special counsel’s investigation," Sekulow said…“It is also clear that the special counsel conducted his two-year investigation unimpeded…” He conducted the investigation **unimpeded**. And that was a bad thing?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/82 "2019-07-24T16:59:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > \*\*He conducted the investigation **unimpeded**. And that was a bad thing?? 😕 **ThelmaLou** , the Republicans (the Justice Committee members in the hearing, and now Trump’s legal team) have been trying to push the fact that Mueller wasn’t actually fired and his team was “allowed” to operate to the conclusion of the investigation as evidence against obstruction of justice. That’s why Sekulow emphasizes “unimpeded”; he’s trying to imply “unobstructed”. (Hey I didn’t say it was a _clever_ ploy, just that this is one of the GOP strategies…) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/83 "2019-07-24T16:59:35Z")
Ted Lieu: “You did not indict Donald Trump is because of the OLC opinion stating that you cannot indict a sitting president, correct?” MUELLER: “That is correct.” Well, despite all the Republicans trying to claim this is all a hoax and the Democrats are humiliating themselves here, this is the bottom line. If Trump was not president, or if the Justice Department guidelines were not in place… _ **TRUMP WOULD HAVE BEEN INDICTED.** _ ---
**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, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/84 "2019-07-24T17:00:43Z")
Intel hearings just starting. Adam Schiff going right into the treason (without that word) of even considering working with Russia to undermine an election. ---
**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, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/85 "2019-07-24T17:02:03Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > **ThelmaLou** , the Republicans (the Justice Committee members in the hearing, and now Trump’s legal team) have been trying to push the fact that Mueller wasn’t actually fired and his team was “allowed” to operate to the conclusion of the investigation as evidence against obstruction of justice. That’s why Sekulow emphasizes “unimpeded”; he’s trying to imply “unobstructed”. > > (Hey I didn’t say it was a _clever_ ploy, just that this is one of the GOP strategies…) My bad for trying to make sense of anything coming from the WH. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/86 "2019-07-24T17:07:02Z")
Nunes. Impressive. I couldn’t even see Trump’s lips moving. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/87 "2019-07-24T17:08:31Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > **Trump’s attorney says Mueller’s testimony shows “troubling deficiencies” in his investigation** > _From CNN’s Evan Perez_ [From CNN’s live blog](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/robert-mueller-congress-testimony/index.html) > > He conducted the investigation **unimpeded**. And that was a bad thing?? 😕 Also, it was only unimpeded because certain White House staffers declined to act on Trump’s numerous efforts to impede it. That was quite clear from the testimony. Unfortunately, I doubt this moves the needle much. FOX, the official administration propaganda arm, will pull the old smoke ‘n’ mirrors act, ignoring the actual content while showing endless clips of Mueller’s halting delivery and refusal to answer questions that a) had nothing to do with his remit or b) might affect ongoing investigations of prosecutions. And the marching MAGA morons will buy it. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/88 "2019-07-24T17:11:37Z")
The real problem, for anyone hoping that today’s hearing will lead to impeachment, is that the House goes on vacation Friday, and won’t be back in session until after Labor Day. Then, even if the Dems really wanted to do impeachment, they’d have to decide between (a) a rushed impeachment inquiry, or (b) an impeachment proceeding that would run well into next year’s primary season. They won’t like either choice, and that will give fence-sitters plenty of reason to fold. (And that’s why they needed to begin this inquiry in April.) ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/89 "2019-07-24T17:15:36Z")
Mueller just slapped down the Dems biggest win from this morning. It was obvious he had misspoken, though. ---
**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, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/90 "2019-07-24T17:18:35Z")
I like Nunes’ line here – “Manafort lied?” “Yes” “Flynn lied?” “Yes, he was convicted of lying” And so on. Shows that Trump chose to surround himself with criminal liars. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/91 "2019-07-24T17:21:29Z")
> [@Monocracy](#): > > Mueller just slapped down the Dems biggest win from this morning. It was obvious he had misspoken, though. Are you trying to claim that he walked back this? Because he didn’t; Ted Lieu: “You did not indict Donald Trump is because of the OLC opinion stating that you cannot indict a sitting president, correct?” MUELLER: “That is correct.” ---
**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, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/92 "2019-07-24T17:25:45Z")
The full quote from Mueller: “Now before we go to questions, I want to go back to one thing that was said this morning by Mr. Lieu, who said, and I quote, ‘You didn’t charge the president because of the OLC opinion.’ That is not the correct way to say it. As we say in the report, and as I said at the opening, we did not reach a determination as to whether the president committed a crime. With that, Mr. Chairman, I’m ready to answer questions.” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/93 "2019-07-24T17:37:45Z")
I thought Schiff made a powerful opening statement and he relied on his prosecutor’s background to pepper Mueller with questions. Schiff came prepared. ---
**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, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/94 "2019-07-24T17:57:55Z")
One thing I’m not sure was made explicitly clear until just now, according to Mueller: Manafort shared campaign and polling data with Kilimnik because he hoped to get paid by Russian/Ukrainian oligarchs. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/95 "2019-07-24T18:01:53Z")
And… Mueller confirms that Trump tried to suborn McGahn into Perjury. That is also a crime. ---
**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, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/96 "2019-07-24T18:06:47Z")
As a side thing that I wonder- Has Trump expressed any deep thoughts or philosophical musings via Twitter today? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/97 "2019-07-24T18:08:01Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > As a side thing that I wonder- Has Trump expressed any deep thoughts or philosophical musings via Twitter today? He’s off golfing today, but yes, he has claimed that Democrats are embarrassing themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/98 "2019-07-24T18:09:38Z")
Mueller hates Wikileaks! All Wikileaks for the rest of the hearing! ---
**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, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/99 "2019-07-24T18:16:03Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > He’s off golfing today, … I’ll bet he’s had to replace a lot of divots today. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m sure he just walks away from those as if someone else caused them. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542/100 "2019-07-24T18:16:06Z")
Glenn Simpson worked for the Wall Street Journal, and then was hired by the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative newspaper, to collect information on several Republican candidates. When the Free Beacon stopped funding his investigations, the Democratic Party and the Hillary Clinton campaign picked up the funding. Fusion GPS is his company. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-counsel-robert-mueller-testifies-before-congress/837542.md?page=6)