Bernie Sanders attacks Trump for saying Mueller should not testify before congress: 'You are not a dictator'

Special counsel due to appear on Capitol Hill on May 15

Andrew Buncombe
Seattle
Monday 06 May 2019 18:03 BST
Comments
'Hey president Trump, my wife and I just released 10 years!': Bernie Sanders calls on Donald Trump to reveal tax returns

Senator Bernie Sanders has launched a blunt attack on Donald Trump, after the president said Robert Mueller should not testify before Congress.

Over the weekend, as it was reported Democrats on the House judiciary committee had reached an agreement with the special counsel to appear later this month, the president reversed positions and said Mr Mueller should not testify.

“After spending more than $35,000,000 over a two year period, interviewing 500 people, using 18 Trump Hating Angry Democrats & 49 FBI Agents – all culminating in a more than 400 page Report showing NO COLLUSION – why would the Democrats in Congress now need Robert Mueller to testify,” Mr Trump tweeted.

“Are they looking for a redo because they hated seeing the strong NO COLLUSION conclusion? There was no crime, except on the other side (incredibly not covered in the Report), and NO OBSTRUCTION. Bob Mueller should not testify. No redos for the Dems!”

It was not clear whether Mr Trump would seek to use executive privilege or something else to actually stop Mr Mueller testifying. But the fact he reversed course, having previously said the decision was up to attorney general William Barr, Democrats were quick to attack the president.

On Monday, Mr Sanders, who is among the frontrunners of Democrats seeking the 2020 nomination, blasted Mr Trump for seeking to intervene on the issue.

William Barr eviscerated by Democratic senator Mazie Hirono at Mueller report hearing

“Sorry, Mr President, you are not a dictator,” wrote the Vermont senator. “In our democracy, when Congress calls on Robert Mueller to testify, he will testify.”

Meanwhile, also on Monday, the House judiciary committee said it would vote on Wednesday on whether to hold Mr Barr in contempt of Congress, after he declined to appear for a second day of testimony on Capitol Hill last week and failed to meet a Monday deadline to provide the committee with a full, unredacted copy of Mr Mueller’s report.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in