Mueller said he didn't indict Trump because of DOJ policy — and then took it back
Democrats' biggest win from Wednesday morning was gone by Wednesday afternoon.
During his testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller answered a question from Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) that appeared to be exactly what Democrats were looking for. Yet in a later hearing for the House Intelligence Committee, Mueller brought up his earlier comments — and completely took them back.
Earlier on Wednesday, Lieu referenced how during his probe of Russian election interference and possible obstruction of justice by President Trump, Mueller was beholden to an Office of Legal Counsel policy that states a sitting president cannot be charged with a federal crime. "You did not indict Donald Trump is because of OLC opinion that you cannot indict a sitting president, correct?" Lieu asked. Mueller responded with a "yes."
Yet after a lunch break, Mueller said that he'd like to make a "correction to my testimony this morning." He quoted Lieu's question, and then said Lieu's phrasing was "not the correct way to say it." Watch his whole reversal below.
Mueller: “I want to go back to one thing that was said this morning by Mr. Lieu, who said, ‘you didn’t charge the president because of the OLC opinion.’ That is not the correct way to say it." https://t.co/Bk6IKkx97y #MuellerHearings pic.twitter.com/DQ0M5QAR4v
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) July 24, 2019