By Laura King LOS ANGELES TIMES
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared Sunday that special counsel Robert Mueller should not testify to Congress, sharply escalating his fight with House Democrats over the aftermath of Mueller’s report.
“Bob Mueller should not testify,” the president tweeted Sunday afternoon.
Brushing aside congressional Democrats’ contention that many aspects of the 448-page report need public clarifying — and are highly damning to Trump — the president added: “No redos for the Dems!”
House Democrats have said they have a tentative deal for Mueller to testify May 15, and Attorney General William Barr previously told Congress he had no objection to Mueller testifying.
It was unclear whether Trump would try to block an appearance by Mueller, who remains a Justice Department employee, or was merely making a rhetorical point.
There was quick Democratic pushback; Rep. Adam Schiff of California, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, wrote on Twitter that Mueller, together with former White House counsel Donald McGahn, “will testify.”
Whatever the outcome, Trump’s statement marked a ratcheting up of tensions.
House Democrats have been pressing demands for a fuller version of the special counsel’s released-but-redacted report and warned Friday that Barr risked a contempt citation if he fails to provide it by Monday.
There are fears on both sides of the aisle that the confrontation over Mueller’s report — which has morphed into a struggle over the scope of congressional oversight powers — could have lasting adverse consequences.
Democrats say they are worried about a president claiming virtually unchecked powers; Republicans say they are trying to preserve executive prerogative and personal privacy.
It is likely Barr will not comply with requests for the unredacted report.
He says the redactions are mandated by laws protecting grand jury secrecy; House Democrats dispute that.
If the attorney general does not comply, he could face a contempt citation, said Democratic Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who sits on the committee.
“I think if the attorney general does not, the chairman will ask the committee to move forward with a contempt citation,” Cicilline said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”
He said the panel needed to see a fuller version of the report and underlying evidence “so we can continue to do our work — conduct oversight in a responsible and sober way.”