WH Executive Privilege Over Report Stalls Mueller Testimony Planning

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, special counsel on the Russian investigation, leaves following a meeting with members of the US Senate Judiciary Committee at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on June 21, 2017. / A... Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, special counsel on the Russian investigation, leaves following a meeting with members of the US Senate Judiciary Committee at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on June 21, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The White House’s decision to assert executive privilege over special counsel Robert Mueller’s report could prevent Mueller from answering lawmakers questions during a potential testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, The Wall Street Journal reported.

According to people familiar with the matter who spoke to the WSJ, discussions over that matter have stalled negotiations about Mueller’s possible testimony. The executive privilege assertion could prevent Mueller from speaking about anything that’s not included in the redacted version of the report. The Justice Department’s lawyers are reportedly studying the situation and are expected to offer both sides guidance soon.

The White House asserted executive privilege last week at Attorney General William Barr’s request. The assertion blocked the House Judiciary Committee’s subpoenas demanding the underlying evidence and the unredacted version of the report.

That comes in contrast with Attorney General William Barr’s latest remarks to the WSJ, when he said it was “up to Bob” whether he wants to testify.

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  1. Well, it’s “up to Bob” whether to testify or not but it’s “up to Barr” how much Mueller can say. Just ask Mueller how much the OLC memo influenced his decision!

  2. “Up to Bob”, eh?

    LowBarr knew perfectly well that Spankee’s lawyers would try to pull this and thus it would never be “up to Bob”…

    How do we know LowBarr is lying? He opens his mouth…

  3. Well it’s up to Bob as long as he says he won’t. Otherwise it’s up to Donald.

  4. Doesn’t matter…more (much more) will be coming to light. The analogy I would use is a scenario of a 100-mile wide iceberg being towed to the Dutch seashore.

    Trump cannot stop this…the information on his corruption, criminality and obstruction.

  5. How can Trump invoke executive privilege over material already made public?
    How can Trump invoke executive privilege over matters that happened prior to his inauguration?
    How can Trump invoke executive privilege over matters that he was not an participant of after he became President?

    And this idea maybe dumb but,
    If he his invoking his executive privilege over all kinds of matters that tax payers don’t get hear about then the cost of said investigation should be deducted from his salary and/or all future salary until such time that the cost has been paid in full. There should be cost associated with privilege, and that privilege shouldn’t be cheap

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