House Democrats seeking testimony from two Mueller deputies: report

House Democrats reportedly want to hear from two of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s deputies in closed-door testimony next week as Mueller himself prepares to testify before two House committees.

Democratic lawmakers on the Judiciary and Intelligence panels are hoping to secure testimony from James Quarles and Aaron Zebley, two prosecutors with the Justice Department who previously worked on Mueller’s team, a source familiar confirmed to The Hill. Their requests come as Attorney General William Barr has threatened to block any of Mueller’s aides from testifying.

{mosads}Sources close to the Democratic efforts to secure testimony from Mueller and his team told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that discussions with the Justice Department and between the two committees remain ongoing, adding that the larger House Judiciary Committee has indicated concerns that not all of its members may be able to take part in questioning the former special counsel.

Negotiations between Democrats and the Justice Department come despite Barr’s public opposition to Mueller and others testifying on Capitol Hill, which he said would result in a “public spectacle” during an interview with The Associated Press this week.

“I’m not sure what purpose is served by dragging him up there and trying to grill him,” Barr told the news service. “I don’t think Mueller should be treated that way or subject himself to that, if he doesn’t want to.”

Mueller is set to testify on July 17 in open hearings, while the White House has indicated that it will not block him from testifying.

In a tweet, the president said earlier this month that Mueller “must” stick to information in his report’s findings during his testimony, which Mueller himself agreed with during a press conference earlier this year.

“Robert Mueller is being asked to testify yet again. He said he could only stick to the Report, & that is what he would and must do,” Trump tweeted.

“After so much testimony & total transparency, this Witch Hunt must now end,” he added. “No more Do Overs. No Collusion, No Obstruction. The Great Hoax is dead!”

Robert Mueller is being asked to testify yet again. He said he could only stick to the Report, & that is what he would and must do. After so much testimony & total transparency, this Witch Hunt must now end. No more Do Overs. No Collusion, No Obstruction. The Great Hoax is dead!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019