Watergate figure John Dean criticizes Mueller for not subpoenaing Trump

Former President Nixon’s White House counsel during the Watergate scandal criticized former special counsel Robert Mueller for not “vigorously” pursuing subpoenaing President Donald Trump.

John Dean told CNN not pursuing a subpoena was akin to not pursuing the tape recordings made by Nixon containing his conversations about the Watergate scandal.

{mosads}”This is a man who if it had been Richard Nixon, wouldn’t go after the tapes because it would take too long,” Dean said on CNN’s “The Lead,” adding: “And I think that’s something that’s going to hang over this investigation, hang over Mueller, because he really didn’t vigorously pursue it as he might’ve.”

Mueller has said he tried to interview President Trump ahead of the release of his special report on Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

On Wednesday, during testimony before the House Intelligence and Judiciary panels, Mueller said he had decided not to pursue a subpoena in order to speed up the probe.

During the testimony, Mueller often refused to diverge from the basic findings previously laid out in his report.