Special counsel Robert Mueller will not be present at a press conference hosted by Attorney General William Barr before the rollout of the Russia report.
The Justice Department announced Wednesday that Barr would address reporters at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, but Mueller and his team of prosecutors will be absent, his spokesman Peter Carr confirmed to the Washington Examiner.
After the press conference, Congress is set to receive hard copies of the roughly 400-page report at 11 a.m., a fact that prompted outcry from Democratic lawmakers and some in the media.
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman questioned the efficacy of the 9:30 a.m. huddle, tweeting: “Sorry but this is not a press conference – it’s an opportunity for Barr to put a spin on the ball or defend himself. No one can ask real questions here.”
Sorry but this is not a press conference – it’s an opportunity for Barr to put a spin on the ball or defend himself. No one can ask real questions here. https://t.co/dNTLk95iPX
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 17, 2019
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., also addressed concerns about a report that Justice Department officials have had discussions with White House lawyers about the Mueller report prior to its release.
“I’m deeply troubled by reports that the WH is being briefed on the Mueller report AHEAD of its release. Now, DOJ is informing us we will not receive the report until around 11/12 tomorrow afternoon — AFTER Barr’s press conference. This is wrong. #ReleaseTheReport,” Nadler tweeted.
I’m deeply troubled by reports that the WH is being briefed on the Mueller report AHEAD of its release. Now, DOJ is informing us we will not receive the report until around 11/12 tomorrow afternoon — AFTER Barr’s press conference. This is wrong. #ReleaseTheReport https://t.co/bR50HhGJ0i
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) April 17, 2019
Nadler also announced that he will hold a press conference at 8 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the pending release of the document.
It was also reported in a Wednesday court filing that the Justice Department would allow “a limited number of members of Congress” to view the report without certain redactions.
“Once the redacted version of the report has been released to the public, the Justice Department plans to make available for review by a limited number of Members of Congress and their staff a copy of the Special Counsel’s report without certain redactions, including removing the redaction of information related to the charges set forth in the indictment in this case,” the filing reads.
Last month, Barr announced in a four-page letter to Congress that Trump did not collude with Russia but said the report didn’t make a determination on whether the president obstructed justice during the course of Mueller’s 22-month investigation.
The White House is preparing a counter-report, which according to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani will likely focus on potential issues with obstruction of justice that Mueller’s report might raise.
