Round One of the Robert Mueller hearings just concluded Wednesday afternoon. During the generally polite and decorous three-and-a-half-hour proceeding hosted by the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler, questioners of both parties appeared to recognize the larger-than-life figure seated in front of them.

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller is now a private citizen. His tenure as special prosecutor for the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election has expired. He can only be described as a reluctant and reticent witness. But lawmakers, and much of the public, demanded more. Many of us have clamored for more than the 448-page issued report. We wanted to hear directly from the man itself. Televised testimony can be gripping and compelling and allow words to leap from the page, their impact far more meaningful and useful in assessing facts.