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| Mueller on Trump's praise of Wikileaks: 'Problematic is an understatement' – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Mueller confirmed, in response to a question from Democratic representative Eric Swalwell, that the special counsel’s investigation “was hampered by Trump campaign officials’ use of encryption communications.” | |
| “We believe that to be the case,” Mueller replied to Swalwell. | |
| "Your investigation was hampered by Trump campaign officials' use of encryption communications, is that right?""We believe that to be the case," Robert Mueller says. https://t.co/CXfCvYspNV #MuellerHearings pic.twitter.com/CiloWjjTJe | |
| This is from Mueller’s report on some Trump campaign officials’ use of encrypted communication apps: | |
| Further, the Office learned that some of the individuals we interviewed or whose conduct we investigated-including some associated with the Trump Campaign — deleted relevant communications or communicated during the relevant period using applications that feature encryption or that do not provide for long-term retention of data or communications records. In such cases, the Office was not able to corroborate witness statements through comparison to contemporaneous communications or fully question witnesses about statements that appeared inconsistent with other known facts. | |
| CNN is reporting that Trump’s mood has noticeably improved after Mueller’s appearance before the House judiciary committee. | |
| Reporter Kaitlan Collins said the president’s reaction to the special counsel’s testimony has been “triumphant.” Trump has also kept up his Twitter activity, resharing messages from congressional allies criticizing Mueller and his team. | |
| And the communications director of Trump’s re-election campaign said Democrats were getting “routed” in the hearings. | |
| End of the 3rd quarter in the Democrats’ Mueller Super Bowl and they’re getting routed. | |
| Mueller took serious issue with a claim from representative Chris Stewart, a Republican of Utah, that the special counsel’s office was leaking during its investigation. | |
| "I do not believe that." Mueller pushes back against accusation of leaks from his office: "From the outset, we'd undertaken to make certain that we minimized the possibility of leaks. I think we were successful over the two years we were in operation." https://t.co/CXfCvYspNV pic.twitter.com/8AtLyUEU0d | |
| The special counsel’s office was infamous in Washington for being leak-proof, but Stewart pointed to news reports about the investigation to argue that members of Mueller’s team were sharing information with reporters. | |
| “I do not believe that,” Mueller told Stewart. “From the outset, we’d undertaken to make certain that we minimized the possibility of leaks. I think we were successful over the two years we were in operation.” | |
| Mueller described Trump’s 2016 praise of WikiLeaks as, at the very least, problematic. | |
| Representative Mike Quigley, a Democrat of Illinois, documented the many instances of Trump applauding the website after it leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 campaign. | |
| Quigley then turned to Mueller, who said of Trump’s repeated praise, “Problematic is an understatement ... in terms of giving some hope or some boost to what is and should be illegal activity.” | |
| "I love Wikileaks." "This Wikileaks is like a treasure trove." "Boy, I love reading those Wikileaks."@RepMikeQuigley asks Mueller to react to Trump's statement's on Wikileaks. "Problematic is an understatement," Mueller says https://t.co/Nwn1OnEyZi pic.twitter.com/SgLJm2T05s | |
| Mueller told representative Jackie Speier, a Democrat of California, that he hopes his report serves as a “message to those who come after us”. | Mueller told representative Jackie Speier, a Democrat of California, that he hopes his report serves as a “message to those who come after us”. |
| Asked what he wanted the American people to glean from his report, Mueller called it “a signal, a flag, to those of us who have some responsibility in this area, to exercise those responsibilities swiftly and don’t let this problem continue to linger.” | Asked what he wanted the American people to glean from his report, Mueller called it “a signal, a flag, to those of us who have some responsibility in this area, to exercise those responsibilities swiftly and don’t let this problem continue to linger.” |
| Mueller is asked what he wants the American people to get out his reportHe calls it "a signal, a flag, to those of us who have some responsibility in this area, to exercise those responsibilities swiftly and don't let this problem continue to linger" https://t.co/vfH5a3U30H pic.twitter.com/xeqAsevaXE | Mueller is asked what he wants the American people to get out his reportHe calls it "a signal, a flag, to those of us who have some responsibility in this area, to exercise those responsibilities swiftly and don't let this problem continue to linger" https://t.co/vfH5a3U30H pic.twitter.com/xeqAsevaXE |
| Representative Mark Meadows, a Republican of North Carolina and a close ally of Trump, was seen at the White House a few minutes ago, per a CNN reporter. | Representative Mark Meadows, a Republican of North Carolina and a close ally of Trump, was seen at the White House a few minutes ago, per a CNN reporter. |
| Meadows sat in on Mueller’s hearing before the House judiciary committee this morning and has been tweeting about his testimony all day, accusing the special counsel of having no control over his team. | Meadows sat in on Mueller’s hearing before the House judiciary committee this morning and has been tweeting about his testimony all day, accusing the special counsel of having no control over his team. |
| Mueller still struggling to answer even basic questions. He can’t accurately remember facts, evidence, or even his own conclusions.Folks—this guy didn’t run the investigation. His team of Resistance Democrats did.And they used it as a weapon to target a President they hated. | Mueller still struggling to answer even basic questions. He can’t accurately remember facts, evidence, or even his own conclusions.Folks—this guy didn’t run the investigation. His team of Resistance Democrats did.And they used it as a weapon to target a President they hated. |
| Our colleague Sabrina Siddiqui analyzes several of the key takeaways from Mueller’s morning testimony: | Our colleague Sabrina Siddiqui analyzes several of the key takeaways from Mueller’s morning testimony: |
| Trump was not exonerated. | Trump was not exonerated. |
| Mueller and his team were never going to indict Trump. | Mueller and his team were never going to indict Trump. |
| Trump could be charged with a crime after leaving office. | Trump could be charged with a crime after leaving office. |
| Republicans focused on discrediting Mueller. | Republicans focused on discrediting Mueller. |
| Mueller says he did not seek FBI director job. | Mueller says he did not seek FBI director job. |
| Mueller confirms several episodes of possible obstruction. | Mueller confirms several episodes of possible obstruction. |
| Representative Mike Turner, a Republican of Ohio, brought out a sign with a CNN chyron to grill Mueller on his comments about exoneration. | Representative Mike Turner, a Republican of Ohio, brought out a sign with a CNN chyron to grill Mueller on his comments about exoneration. |
| And now a sign with a @CNN chyron pic.twitter.com/50kbPj94bN | And now a sign with a @CNN chyron pic.twitter.com/50kbPj94bN |
| The special counsel said during his testimony before the House judiciary committee that his report did not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice. Republicans are now arguing that it was not Mueller’s call whether or not to exonerate the president. | The special counsel said during his testimony before the House judiciary committee that his report did not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice. Republicans are now arguing that it was not Mueller’s call whether or not to exonerate the president. |
| Mueller also confirmed that Trump’s claims of Russian interference being a hoax were false. | Mueller also confirmed that Trump’s claims of Russian interference being a hoax were false. |
| “When the president said the Russian interference was a hoax, that was false wasn’t it?” Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the intelligence committee, asked. | “When the president said the Russian interference was a hoax, that was false wasn’t it?” Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the intelligence committee, asked. |
| Mueller replied, “True.” | Mueller replied, “True.” |
| Mueller confirmed that Russians meant to aid Trump with their election interference, which included the hacking of emails from the Democratic National Committee. | Mueller confirmed that Russians meant to aid Trump with their election interference, which included the hacking of emails from the Democratic National Committee. |
| “Which presidential candidate was Russia’s hacking-and-dumping scheme intended to benefit?” asked representative Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut. | “Which presidential candidate was Russia’s hacking-and-dumping scheme intended to benefit?” asked representative Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut. |
| Mueller replied, “Mr. Trump.” | Mueller replied, “Mr. Trump.” |
| Under questioning from the chairman of the intelligence committee, Mueller contradicted Trump’s repeated claims that his investigation was a “witch hunt.” | Under questioning from the chairman of the intelligence committee, Mueller contradicted Trump’s repeated claims that his investigation was a “witch hunt.” |
| “It is not a witch hunt,” the special counsel told Adam Schiff. | “It is not a witch hunt,” the special counsel told Adam Schiff. |
| Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA): "When Donald Trump called your investigation a witch hunt, that was false?" Mueller: "Like to think so, yes." Schiff: "Your investigation is not a witch hunt?" Mueller: "It is not a witch hunt." https://t.co/EbzpQ0lnrr pic.twitter.com/UdnB6L8Xh0 | Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA): "When Donald Trump called your investigation a witch hunt, that was false?" Mueller: "Like to think so, yes." Schiff: "Your investigation is not a witch hunt?" Mueller: "It is not a witch hunt." https://t.co/EbzpQ0lnrr pic.twitter.com/UdnB6L8Xh0 |
| Mueller opened his appearance before the House intelligence committee by correcting his earlier comments to Democratic representative Ted Lieu. | Mueller opened his appearance before the House intelligence committee by correcting his earlier comments to Democratic representative Ted Lieu. |
| While testfiying before the House judiciary committee this morning, Mueller seemed to imply that he would have charged Trump if he were not a sitting president. A longstanding policy from the Office of Legal Counsel warns against indicting sitting presidents. | While testfiying before the House judiciary committee this morning, Mueller seemed to imply that he would have charged Trump if he were not a sitting president. A longstanding policy from the Office of Legal Counsel warns against indicting sitting presidents. |
| Lieu asked Mueller this morning, “The reason you did not indict Donald Trump... is because of the OLC decision. Is that correct?” Mueller replied, “That is correct.” | Lieu asked Mueller this morning, “The reason you did not indict Donald Trump... is because of the OLC decision. Is that correct?” Mueller replied, “That is correct.” |
| But Mueller corrected himself before the intelligence committee. He said that the OLC policy in fact prevented him from making a determination on whether Trump should be charged. | But Mueller corrected himself before the intelligence committee. He said that the OLC policy in fact prevented him from making a determination on whether Trump should be charged. |
| That correction is sure to disappoint pro-impeachment Democrats, given that the moment was widely shared on social media and considered by many to be a boost to their cause. | That correction is sure to disappoint pro-impeachment Democrats, given that the moment was widely shared on social media and considered by many to be a boost to their cause. |
| Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, used his opening statement to accuse Trump’s campaign of “disloyalty to country.” | Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, used his opening statement to accuse Trump’s campaign of “disloyalty to country.” |
| “Those are strong words, but how else are we to describe a presidential campaign which did not inform the authorities of a foreign offer of dirt on their opponent, which did not publicly shun it, or turn it away, but which instead invited it, encouraged it, and made full use of it?” Schiff said. | “Those are strong words, but how else are we to describe a presidential campaign which did not inform the authorities of a foreign offer of dirt on their opponent, which did not publicly shun it, or turn it away, but which instead invited it, encouraged it, and made full use of it?” Schiff said. |
| Schiff concluded by saying, “This is what is at stake. Our next election, and the one after that, for generations to come. Our democracy. This is why your work matters, Mr. Mueller. This is why our investigation matters. To bring these dangers to light.” | Schiff concluded by saying, “This is what is at stake. Our next election, and the one after that, for generations to come. Our democracy. This is why your work matters, Mr. Mueller. This is why our investigation matters. To bring these dangers to light.” |
| Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the panel, expressed hope in his opening statement that the hearing would bring about a permanent end to probes into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia. He dismissed Mueller’s appearance as the “last gasp of the Russian collusion conspiracy theory.” | Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the panel, expressed hope in his opening statement that the hearing would bring about a permanent end to probes into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia. He dismissed Mueller’s appearance as the “last gasp of the Russian collusion conspiracy theory.” |
| Trump has weighed in over Twitter once again on Mueller’s congressional testimony, thanking Democrats for inviting the special counsel to Capitol Hill. | Trump has weighed in over Twitter once again on Mueller’s congressional testimony, thanking Democrats for inviting the special counsel to Capitol Hill. |
| I would like to thank the Democrats for holding this morning’s hearing. Now, after 3 hours, Robert Mueller has to subject himself to #ShiftySchiff - an Embarrassment to our Country! | I would like to thank the Democrats for holding this morning’s hearing. Now, after 3 hours, Robert Mueller has to subject himself to #ShiftySchiff - an Embarrassment to our Country! |
| Echoing the statement from his press secretary, Trump dismissed the hearings as “an embarrassment.” | Echoing the statement from his press secretary, Trump dismissed the hearings as “an embarrassment.” |
| The White House dismissed Mueller’s morning testimony before the House judiciary committee as an “epic embarrassment.” | The White House dismissed Mueller’s morning testimony before the House judiciary committee as an “epic embarrassment.” |
| “The last three hours have been an epic embarrassment for the Democrats,” press secretary Stephanie Grisham said. “Expect more of the same in the second half.” | “The last three hours have been an epic embarrassment for the Democrats,” press secretary Stephanie Grisham said. “Expect more of the same in the second half.” |
| Trump appears to be glued to the hearings, retweeting conservative commentary reiterating the president’s dubious claims of “no obstruction” and “no collusion.” | Trump appears to be glued to the hearings, retweeting conservative commentary reiterating the president’s dubious claims of “no obstruction” and “no collusion.” |
| Bernard Madoff, who fleeced investors of billions of dollars in the largest Ponzi scheme in history, has filed a petition with the US justice department asking Donald Trump to reduce Madoff’s sentence. | Bernard Madoff, who fleeced investors of billions of dollars in the largest Ponzi scheme in history, has filed a petition with the US justice department asking Donald Trump to reduce Madoff’s sentence. |
| Madoff, who pleaded guilty to running a $64.8bn Ponzi scheme in 2009, is not asking for a pardon from the president, but for a commutation of his 150-year prison sentence. | Madoff, who pleaded guilty to running a $64.8bn Ponzi scheme in 2009, is not asking for a pardon from the president, but for a commutation of his 150-year prison sentence. |
| The Department of Justice website shows Madoff requested his sentence be commuted and lists the status of the request as “pending.” | The Department of Justice website shows Madoff requested his sentence be commuted and lists the status of the request as “pending.” |
| It is not known whether Trump will consider the request. | It is not known whether Trump will consider the request. |
| Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, has gaveled in the second hearing of Mueller’s appearance. | Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, has gaveled in the second hearing of Mueller’s appearance. |
| The intelligence committee’s hearing with Mueller should soon get underway, and the panel’s questioning will ostensibly take a different focus than the judiciary committee’s. | The intelligence committee’s hearing with Mueller should soon get underway, and the panel’s questioning will ostensibly take a different focus than the judiciary committee’s. |
| Members of the intelligence committee are expected to question the special counsel about the first volume of his report, which described Russian interference in the 2016 election. | Members of the intelligence committee are expected to question the special counsel about the first volume of his report, which described Russian interference in the 2016 election. |
| Mueller’s team found that Trump’s team was repeatedly in contact with Russian entities, but the special counsel crucially concluded that there was not enough evidence to bring conspiracy charges. The Republicans on the panel will almost certainly try to find as many ways as possible to have Mueller reiterate that his office chose not to bring charges. | Mueller’s team found that Trump’s team was repeatedly in contact with Russian entities, but the special counsel crucially concluded that there was not enough evidence to bring conspiracy charges. The Republicans on the panel will almost certainly try to find as many ways as possible to have Mueller reiterate that his office chose not to bring charges. |
| Democrats will likely focus on the contacts Mueller’s team uncovered between Russian intermediaries and Trump’s campaign. Stay tuned. | Democrats will likely focus on the contacts Mueller’s team uncovered between Russian intermediaries and Trump’s campaign. Stay tuned. |