Federal Law Enforcement
What Really Happened at the Roger Stone Sentencing
Judge Amy Berman Jackson had a particularly difficult job on Thursday.
Latest in Robert Mueller
Judge Amy Berman Jackson had a particularly difficult job on Thursday.
James Comey famously does things his own way, and the Department of Justice inspector general has not approved. Having criticized the former FBI director’s handling of the Clinton email investigation, the inspector general most recently upbraided him for his use of “sensitive investigative information” in sounding an alarm about Donald Trump.
In July 2017, we began an ongoing investigation of the public’s confidence in national security matters. Since October of that year, we have been tracking public confidence in the work of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference in 2016 and his review of efforts to obstruct inquiries into that interference.
Former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III testified on Wednesday before the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees. Following the hearing, Lawfare brought together Jim Baker, Bob Bauer, Susan Hennessey and Margaret Taylor for a conversation hosted by Benjamin Wittes. They talked about the testimony, what it means for Congress and President Trump, and they talked about Mueller’s legacy as he leaves the scene.
Robert Mueller is testifying before Congress on Wednesday, and members will no doubt ask him repeatedly for his views and findings about President Trump. Mueller has made clear that he has no intention of going beyond what he said in the report itself, which he called “his testimony.” He will likely be firmest on this point with respect to the sensitive issue of presidential conduct.
Here’s a puzzle: Imagine that you are a member of Congress who, under rules seemingly designed to preclude effective questioning, had exactly five minutes to interview Robert Mueller on national television. What would you ask him?
The House Committee on the Judiciary will host a second hearing on the Mueller report entitled, “Lessons from the Mueller Report, Part II: Bipartisan Perspectives” at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. A video of the hearing is available here and below.
The House Committee on the Judiciary will host a hearing entitled "Lessons from the Mueller Report: Presidential Obstruction and Other Crimes" at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. A video of the hearing is available below, along with witnesses' prepared testimonies.
Witnesses include John Dean, former White House counsel under President Richard Nixon; Joyce White Vance, former U.S. Attorney; John Malcolm, Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation; and Barbara McQuade, former U.S. Attorney.
Robert Mueller must have known that he was having serious trouble with his public when New York Times columnist Gail Collins suggested he might be a wimp.
A new Lawfare Institute e-book, "Reflections on the Mueller Report," is now available on Kindle.