This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/jul/24/mueller-testimony-live-stream-trump-news-today-russia-obstruction-report-latest-updates-hearing

The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Mueller says Trump could still be charged with obstruction once he leaves office – live Mueller tells House committee Trump-Russia investigation was 'not a witch hunt' – live
(32 minutes later)
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Puerto Rico’s embattled governor Ricardo Rosselló is expected to resign from office today after almost two weeks of continuous protest in the US territory, according to local media.
Rosselló has been at the centre of a leaked text message scandal, which has led to mass demonstration across the island. He has gradually lost the support of key figures in his ruling New Progressive Party and announced on Sunday he would not run for re-election in 2020.
The Guardian has not independently confirmed the reporting.
Earlier in the month hundreds of pages of leaked messages, published by the Centre of Investigative Journalism, revealed a slew of homophobic and misogynist remarks shared between the governor and 11 members of his inner circle. The messages also included a joke about dead bodies during hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in September 2017.
The messages drew bipartisan outrage on the island and have led to hundreds of thousands marching on the streets. On Monday, a general strike on the island led to the shutdown of a major highway in San Juan.
The governor has attempted to cling to power throughout the demonstrations, which have often been dispersed by police with tear gas and rubber bullets, but his position has looked increasingly untenable in recent days.
The Rosselló administration has been plagued by corruption and allegations of mismanagement during the response to hurricane Maria.
Although the Trump administration has stopped short of calling for Rosselló’s resignation, the president has frequently criticised the governor and lied about the federal government’s checkered record in assisting after the hurricane.
Puerto Rico’s economic affairs are overseen by an unelected fiscal control board, appointed in Washington, that has contributed to sweeping austerity and privatization on the island.
As we await the start of the intelligence committee hearing, here are some of the biggest points that Mueller made in his appearance before the judiciary committee.
He stuck to his commitment in his opening statement to adhere to the report and not discuss internal Justice Department matters.
But he did confirm that his report did not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice.
Mueller acknowledged that Trump could be charged after he leaves office. The special counsel repeatedly cited a longstanding Justice Department policy not to indict sitting presidents.
In this exchange with Democratic representative Ted Lieu, Mueller seemed to indicate that Trump would have been indicted if not for that Justice Department policy.
It’s clear that all of Washington has its eyes on Mueller today. A New York Times photographer captured this picture from inside the judiciary committee hearing:
Former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III takes his seat at the witness table as he appears before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill. #MuellerHearings #MuellerTestimony pic.twitter.com/Ig9Z9Us9Es
The judiciary committee has ended its hearing with Mueller, a mere half hour after expected.
The intelligence committee hearing was supposed to begin at noon, but that would have allowed Mueller a 20-minute break between hearings if the judiciary committee hearing had ended on time.
Stay tuned on when the intelligence committee starts its hearing.
Multiple Democratic presidential contenders are sticking by their previous recommendations for the House to start impeachment proceedings, echoing fellow fellow candidate Cory Booker.
I'll say it again: Robert Mueller basically returned an impeachment referral in his report. Congress must hold this president accountable. The House must begin impeachment proceedings. pic.twitter.com/JYe0bNxYZA
I read the Mueller report the day it came out. Three things were clear: A hostile foreign government attacked our 2016 election, Trump welcomed their help, and Trump obstructed the investigation into that attack. I agree with @NAACP—it's time to begin impeachment proceedings. pic.twitter.com/W0iCN9Cv7k
This hearing only confirms the facts: Trump invited an attack on our democracy, obstructed the investigation into it, & made clear there won't be consequences for launching another. As I've said since I was running in TX, he's unfit for office. Begin impeachment proceedings now.
The American people have a right to see the full, unredacted Mueller report. What we've seen already is alarming. No wonder President Trump is dead set on blocking the truth. That's why we need to start impeachment hearings. Add your name if you agree: https://t.co/mhJRUyNj59
The judiciary committee hearing with Mueller is still going, even though the intelligence committee’s hearing was set to begin at noon.
Judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler had asked the remaining Democrats on the panel to keep their questioning short, but that has predictably not panned out. The hearing is now at least 20 minutes over time.
“Excuse me, it’s my time,” Representative Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, told Mueller as the special counsel tried to make a point about Johnson’s “summary” of his testimony.
The judiciary committee hearing has already run long, and the intelligence committee hearing is supposed to begin in less than 10 minutes. Republicans now seem to have no concern about railroading Mueller in order to present his report in the most favorable light for Trump.
The final data on how much Mueller spoke during Republicans’ “questioning” should be interesting.
Mueller has taken on a harsher tone as he defends the integrity of the team that he compiled for the special counsel’s investigation.
Representative Kelly Armstrong, a Republican from North Dakota, has been taking up Trump’s mantle of accusing Mueller’s team of being a bunch of biased Democrats.
But Mueller is ardently standing by his employees, saying that he hired the best people for the job and that it has never been his practice to ask staffers about their political leanings.
Rep. Armstrong presses Mueller about lawyers on his team who supported DemocratsMueller: I've been in this business almost 25 years, and in those 25 years, I have not had occasion once to ask somebody about their political affiliation. It is not done. https://t.co/pjOwNhYtbJ pic.twitter.com/x6PtIGRls4
Mueller’s confirmation that Trump could still be charged with obstruction of justice once he leaves the White House has rightfully raised eyebrows, and not least because of who prompted the remark: Republican representative Ken Buck.
Here’s what Twitter has had to say:
Did Ken Buck just get Mueller to confirm that Trump can be charged with crimes for what he's done after he leaves office?A Republican did that?
thanks Rep Ken Buck (R) for drawing out from Mueller that he thinks Trump can be indicted after leaving office
The rest of the GOP at Ken Buck #MuellerHearings pic.twitter.com/v8HL5CnVvP
Mueller said he did not believe he was applying for the FBI director job when he spoke to Trump about the position just before he was appointed as special counsel.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Mueller wanted the job of FBI director, which the special counsel held for 12 years and left in 2013.
It has been reported that Robert Mueller is saying that he did not apply and interview for the job of FBI Director (and get turned down) the day before he was wrongfully appointed Special Counsel. Hope he doesn’t say that under oath in that we have numerous witnesses to the...
The president and his Republican allies have repeatedly insinuated that Mueller was biased against Trump because he wanted to become FBI director again and was turned down.
But Mueller just told Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, that he did not believe he was applying for the job when he spoke to Trump. He thought he was simply offering the president input on who to choose for the position after firing Jim Comey.
Judiciary hearing likely to stretch long
Jerry Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the House judiciary committee, just asked the remaining members of the panel to shorten their questioning due to time constraints.
The hearing was supposed to last three hours, which would mean it would end at 11:40 a.m. given the panel’s 10-minute break. But the likelihood of lawmakers shortening their questioning of Mueller seems ... slim.