Special counsel Robert Mueller’s surprise public remarks Wednesday, in which he said charging President Trump with a crime was “not an option” for his…
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s surprise public remarks Wednesday, in which he said charging President Trump with a crime was “not an option” for his office, put new pressure on House Democrats as they scramble to advance their investigations into the president’s conduct.
Mueller’s first public comments since the start of his landmark 22-month probe into Russian election interference leave Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders with tough questions about forging a path forward.
The special counsel suggested he won’t appear before Congress to discuss the findings of his 448-page report — potentially stealing the key witness for Democrats — but impeachment advocates found new fuel for a campaign Pelosi has been fighting for months to defuse.
“The next step is for the House Judiciary Committee to open an impeachment inquiry to formally begin consideration of whether or not articles of impeachment should be filed,” tweeted Rep. David Cicilline (R. I.), the head of the Democrats’ messaging arm, after Mueller’s Wednesday morning statement.
Pelosi and other top party leaders have sought Mueller’s testimony before several key congressional committees in hopes the former FBI director could shed more light on his report, particularly on the question of whether Trump obstructed justice.
But Mueller made clear Wednesday that he hopes to avoid such an appearance, forcing Democrats to decide whether they will drag him to Capitol Hill with a subpoena, or seek other strategies to advance their probes.
Pelosi, for her part, vowed to charge ahead with those investigations, which have faced fierce headwinds from an administration that’s been increasingly reluctant to cooperate.
“The American people must have the truth,” she said in a Wednesday statement that made no mention of subpoenas.
