Former special counsel Robert Mueller did not immediately recognize former President Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski by name during his testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday morning.
Mueller was on Capitol Hill to testify about his findings of his two-year investigation into whether or not the president or any member of his campaign knowingly conspired with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election. The ex-special counsel found no evidence of such, but he did not rule on whether or not the president obstructed justice.
One of the 10 examples Mueller suggested could be considered obstruction of justice was Trump’s meeting with Lewandowski, during which the president told him to instruct then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to write a speech in his defense despite Sessions recusing himself from the probe.
Mueller also cited another later meeting, during which Trump asked Lewandowski about telling Sessions to limit the special counsel’s investigation to “investigating election meddling for future elections.”
[Read: Mueller unfamiliar with key parts of own report]
Democratic Rep. David Cicilline brought up the interaction with Lewandowski, as well as other conversations the president had about potentially getting rid of or narrowing the scope of Mueller’s investigation.
“Director, as you know, we are specifically focusing on five separate obstruction of justice episodes here today. I would like to ask you about the third episode. It’s the section entitled, ‘The president’s efforts to curtail the special counsel investigation’ beginning at page 90. And by curtail, you mean limit, correct?” he asked.
Mueller affirmed his question.
Cicilline followed up, “My colleagues have walked through how the president tried to have you fired through the White House counsel, and because Mr. McGahn refused the order, the president asked others to help limit your investigation. Is that correct?”
Once again, Mueller answered in the affirmative.
“And was Corey Lewandowski one such individual?” the congressman followed up.
“Again, can you remind me what —,” Mueller answered.
Cicilline stated, “Corey Lewandowski is the president’s former campaign manager, correct?”
Mueller quickly affirmed the connection.
