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pnwmom

(108,995 posts)
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 01:56 PM Jul 2019

Mueller asks for aide to appear as witness during hearings

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON -- Robert S. Mueller III has asked that his longtime right-hand aide be sworn in as a witness during Wednesday's hearing with the House Judiciary Committee about the special counsel's investigation, according to congressional officials familiar with the request.

Democrats have yet to agree to the request, and Mr. Mueller is the only witness listed for the hearing, according to a committee spokesman. It was unclear if Mr. Mueller had made a similar request to the House Intelligence Committee, the panel holding the second of two highly anticipated hearings on Wednesday where Mr. Mueller is scheduled to testify.

If the aide, Aaron Zebley, were to take an oath to testify, he could be questioned by lawmakers on the panel, taking pressure off Mr. Mueller to respond to questions he may not be able or want to answer. But his presence would upend carefully laid plans by Democrats and Republicans over how to use their scant time with Mr. Mueller, a reluctant witness known for his concision while under oath.

There could be other consequences, too. Under House rules, the arrangement could disqualify Mr. Zebley from privately conferring with Mr. Mueller during the hearing — a role he could play if he were not sworn in.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/23/us/politics/mueller-zebley-witness-testimony.html

28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Mueller asks for aide to appear as witness during hearings (Original Post) pnwmom Jul 2019 OP
Anyone waiting for customerserviceguy Jul 2019 #1
I'm not giving up hope yet. William769 Jul 2019 #2
Me, neither. n/t pnwmom Jul 2019 #3
me treither n/t Lulu KC Jul 2019 #22
He gave you a 450 page report. n/t PoliticAverse Jul 2019 #5
And we're not going to get anything that's not already in there. n/t customerserviceguy Jul 2019 #6
He gave US the report? Where is my copy then? You got your copy? BamaRefugee Jul 2019 #17
download your copy here neohippie Jul 2019 #18
ahh yes, "what's available"...that's the rub BamaRefugee Jul 2019 #19
it's already the report. JI7 Jul 2019 #9
Yes, there's a report customerserviceguy Jul 2019 #11
the problem has always been the Republicans protecting Trump JI7 Jul 2019 #12
Absolutely customerserviceguy Jul 2019 #14
Very few are conflating 'dramatic' and 'modus tollens' LanternWaste Jul 2019 #13
Not sure what all that meant, but customerserviceguy Jul 2019 #15
I'm so hoping for something....but feel we're going to get nothing. a kennedy Jul 2019 #4
Actually might be smart so aide can defy DOJ gag order beachbum bob Jul 2019 #7
That's what I'm thinking Bayard Jul 2019 #10
I am concern the house democrats can't see it....they been beachbum bob Jul 2019 #21
Never forget that we don't have the whole report. Mr.Bill Jul 2019 #8
Exactly. The unredacted version needs to be read by them. Owl Jul 2019 #24
All we need to know is that Republicans are unhappy about it FBaggins Jul 2019 #16
I'm tired of being told the report is all we need to know. Read it! usaf-vet Jul 2019 #20
Wondering here IF Mueller could talk about the parts that are hidden? bluestarone Jul 2019 #23
The other night on PBS Judy Woodruff said that attached to Mueller's opening statement in2herbs Jul 2019 #25
No. It will be the public version of the report FBaggins Jul 2019 #26
I was aligned with your thinking, too. Thanks for clarification. Things are really getting bad in2herbs Jul 2019 #27
Is this a DOJ (read Barr) ploy? Captain Zero Jul 2019 #28

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
1. Anyone waiting for
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 01:59 PM
Jul 2019

a "Great Revelation" tomorrow should take this as a sign that they're not going to get it.

Mueller's not going to give us squat.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
11. Yes, there's a report
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 02:31 PM
Jul 2019

and what has it done about getting Speaker Pelosi and new freshman Democratic representatives any closer to impeachment?

My comment is directed towards those who feel that a Congressional hearing is somehow a more sincere pumpkin patch this time around. Go home, Linus, the Great Pumpkin's not coming here either.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
13. Very few are conflating 'dramatic' and 'modus tollens'
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 02:32 PM
Jul 2019

Ironically however, the only melodramatic prophecies and sensationalized chicken entail fortunes we read with any real consistency on DU seem to mirror yours.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
15. Not sure what all that meant, but
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 02:38 PM
Jul 2019

I expect nothing, thus leaving me the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised if I'm wrong, rather than almost certainly disappointed.

We all have our coping mechanisms to deal with this troubled time.

a kennedy

(29,710 posts)
4. I'm so hoping for something....but feel we're going to get nothing.
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 02:07 PM
Jul 2019

I see now that faux noise will be covering the hearing as well.....hahaha, just noticed it’s on their schedule as of today.....wasn’t on there yesterday.

Mr.Bill

(24,330 posts)
8. Never forget that we don't have the whole report.
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 02:14 PM
Jul 2019

It's redacted and members of Congress with the proper security clearances should see the entire thing. They should be talking about this every day.

usaf-vet

(6,212 posts)
20. I'm tired of being told the report is all we need to know. Read it!
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 03:02 PM
Jul 2019

Years ago, I was a co-author for a how-to book. I submitted my first draft and was told by the editor that it was written for a reader who was reading at an 11-12 grade reading level.

UNFORTUNATELY, at the time, most adults were reading at a 7th-grade reading level. The short version was to dumb the manuscript down.

Now twenty to twenty-five years later I don't know if the national reading skills have improved.... but I'll bet the pResident could not independently read and comprehend what he was reading or should I say skimming if reports from aides are accurate.

The GOP wants a dumb ill-informed voter/citizen.

In my opinion, Mueller should spell it out. Each point one by one. And the Democrats should do all they can to facilitate that with well thought out lines of questioning. Including sequential follow-up questions.


bluestarone

(17,052 posts)
23. Wondering here IF Mueller could talk about the parts that are hidden?
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 03:20 PM
Jul 2019

Would this be possible, IF he wanted too?

in2herbs

(2,947 posts)
25. The other night on PBS Judy Woodruff said that attached to Mueller's opening statement
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 04:00 PM
Jul 2019

was going to be an unredacted copy of his report. Haven't heard this anywhere else, but it would be a milestone if true.

FBaggins

(26,760 posts)
26. No. It will be the public version of the report
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 04:06 PM
Jul 2019

Pretty standard for a congressional committee. If he's going to constantly refer to something, it needs to be an official part of the record.

Also - he isn't part of the DOJ any longer. He probably technically can't have an unredacted copy of the report.

in2herbs

(2,947 posts)
27. I was aligned with your thinking, too. Thanks for clarification. Things are really getting bad
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 04:15 PM
Jul 2019

when PBS can't get the news right, cuz this isn't the first I've noticed errors in their reporting.

Captain Zero

(6,824 posts)
28. Is this a DOJ (read Barr) ploy?
Tue Jul 23, 2019, 05:10 PM
Jul 2019

Have this guy sworn in and he takes up extra time answering with non-answers, and then, darn, don't ya know it? Time is all gone for the hearing. I worry I'm thinking too much like them.

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