US House judiciary committee to hold June 10 hearing on Mueller report

The committee will hear testimony from former US attorneys and legal experts

Special counsel Robert Mueller leaves the podium after speaking about the Russia investigation at the Department of Justice in Washington on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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The Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives judiciary committee will hold a hearing on June 10 on Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and its connections to Donald Trump's campaign.

The committee will hear testimony from former US attorneys and legal experts, including John Dean, a Trump critic and former White House counsel to Richard Nixon, the 37th president. Dean was imprisoned for cover-up in the Watergate scandal.

"We have learnt so much even from the redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report," Jerrold Nadler, the committee chairman said.

"These hearings will allow us to examine the findings laid out in Mueller's report so that we can work to protect the rule of law and protect future elections through consideration of legislative and other remedies."

In a 448-page, redacted report released in April, Mr Mueller documented several occasions in which he said Mr Trump sought to quash the investigation. They included the sacking of former FBI director James Comey.

Mr Mueller did not reach a decision as to whether Trump had obstructed justice. He added that he decided himself against testifying and that the report "speaks for itself".

Mr Mueller said last week that even if he had been willing to conclude that Mr Trump had committed a crime, he could not have indicted him because of a Justice Department policy that prohibits indicting a sitting president.

"Our first hearing will focus on President Trump's most overt acts of obstruction," Mr Nadler said.

"In the coming weeks, other hearings will focus on other important aspects of the Mueller report."

The committee has held many hearings and sought material and testimony for its investigation as to whether Mr Trump tried to obstruct Mr Mueller's inquiry.

Last month, Attorney General William Barr refused to appear for a scheduled committee hearing and the White House blocked former counsel Don McGahn from appearing at another hearing.