Trump-Russia probe: Robert Mueller agrees to testify before Congress

Special counsel Robert Mueller has agreed to testify before Congress about his investigation into Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

A month after the former FBI director said he did not intend to appear before legislators, it was announced he would be a witness to two committees of the House of Representatives – the judiciary committee, and the intelligence committee. He is scheduled to appear on July 17.

When he delivered a rare public statement last month, his first in connection with the investigation into Moscow’s alleged interference and possible contacts between Russia and members of Mr Trump’s campaign, the 74-year-old said he would rather his work speak for itself.

“The report is my testimony,” Mr Mueller said in a statement at the Justice Department. “I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress.”

His decision was a major blow to Democrats who had hoped to press Mr Mueller, both on his probe and his conclusion. In his 448-page report, special counsel said while found no evidence of collusion, he was not able to exonerate the president on the question of possible obstruction of justice.

Expanding on another point he made in the report when he spoke last month, Mr Mueller said department of justice guidelines had made it impossible for him to consider indicting a sitting president.

Rather, he suggested it was the job of politicians to pick up the probe, leading many to believe the special counsel was suggesting Democrats should pursue an impeachment inquiry.

“The constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing,” Mr Mueller said.

Attorney general William Barr took the decision not to charge the president.

It emerged on Tuesday that Democrats had never give up on their hope to have Mr Mueller appear before them. The president has told the White House not to cooperate with requests for information or testimonies.

But congressmen Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairs of the judiciary committee and intelligence committee respectively, said in a joint statement that Mr Mueller had agreed to testify after the two committees issued subpoenas.

“Americans have demanded to hear directly from the special counsel so they can understand what he and his team examined, uncovered, and determined about Russia’s attack on our democracy, the Trump campaign’s acceptance and use of that help, and President Trump and his associates’ obstruction of the investigation into that attack,” they said in a statement.

Doug Collins, the top Republican on the judiciary Committee, said in a statement: “I hope the special counsel’s testimony marks an end to the political gamesmanship that judiciary Democrats have pursued at great cost to taxpayers.”

Speaking on MSNBC, Mr Schiff said: “We never felt it was sufficient to rely simply on a written report or a 10-minute statement without the ability to follow up with questions.”

There was no immediate word whether Mr Trump or the White House would attempt to prevent Mr Mueller testifying.

Additional reporting by agencies