Democrats insist on release of Mueller report, threatening subpoena
- Democrats took to Sunday shows to call for the full release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Trump administration and Russian election interference.
- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said Democrats would use subpoena power and Congressional hearings to get all the information if the report wasn't released.
- Attorney General William P. Barr has indicated that he is taking the investigation seriously but also told lawmakers that he was reluctant to release accusations that didn't accompany charges.
- Mueller's report is reportedly almost finished, and will reportedly include specifics on why certain will be prosecuted over others.
Democrats appeared on Sunday TV shows to insist that special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Trump administration and Russian election interference see the light of day. House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) even threatened to subpoena the report and compel Mueller's testimony if the Trump administration attempted to suppress it.
Schiff told ABC's George Stephanopoulos, "We will obviously subpoena the report. We will bring Bob Mueller in to testify before Congress. We will take it to court if necessary."
On Friday, Schiff and five other Democratic House chairs sent a letter to Attorney General William P. Barr suggesting that not releasing the report, which is under his purview, would amount to a "coverup."
It's been reported that the report is nearing completion, and could be released in the coming weeks. Barr, has said he will let Mueller finish the report and has stated that he doesn't believe Mueller is running a witch-hunt, but ruffled feathers when he said in his confirmation hearing that there was little benefit to releasing allegations that didn't accompany any charges. The Mueller report will reportedly go into detail about why some individuals will be prosecuted over others.
Schiff wasn't the only Democrat to go on Sunday TV to call for the release of the report.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) went on meet the press to call for the release of the report. "Everyone in this country needs to know what happens, and then we decide where to take it from there," said Himes of the report.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) indicated on CBS that the House would take action if the Mueller report wasn't released in full, saying, "If the attorney general takes the Mueller report and then sanitizes it and releases that as the answer to a comprehensive investigation, then I think the Democrats in the House and Senate, along with Republicans, have a responsibility to ensure that the American people know what happened in 2016."