GOP Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsOvernight Energy: Collins receives more donations from Texas oil, gas industry than from Maine residents | Interior chief left meetings off schedule | Omar controversy jeopardizes Ocasio-Cortez trip to coal mine Embattled senators fill coffers ahead of 2020 Collins receives more donations from Texas fossil fuel industry than from Maine residents MORE (Maine) said Thursday that she believes it would be beneficial for special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE to testify in the wake of his report’s release, even as other Republicans have brushed off the idea as unnecessary.
Collins, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said she was “pleased” that Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrHouse Dems demand Barr cancel ‘inappropriate’ press conference on Mueller report DOJ plans to release ‘lightly redacted’ version of Mueller report Thursday: WaPo Nadler accuses Barr of ‘unprecedented steps’ to ‘spin’ Mueller report MORE told reporters Thursday that he had “no objections” to Mueller appearing before Congress.
“I am also pleased that the Attorney General indicated that he did not have any objection to Mr. Mueller testifying before Congress. If Mr. Mueller were to testify, it could give the Congress and the American people another opportunity to better understand the facts and conclusions that he reached during his investigation,” she said in a statement.
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Democrats are clamoring for Mueller to testify about his two-year probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and the Trump campaign. Two House panels have already issued invitations to the special counsel to appear.
House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiDOJ plans to release ‘lightly redacted’ version of Mueller report Thursday: WaPo Pelosi accuses Barr of ‘single-minded effort’ to protect Trump against Mueller report Dems attack Barr’s credibility after report of White House briefings on Mueller findings MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerSchumer slams Justice Dept over ‘pre-damage control’ on Mueller report Overnight Health Care — Presented by PCMA — Sanders welcomes fight with Trump over ‘Medicare for all’ | DOJ attorney in ObamaCare case leaving | NYC mayor defends vaccination mandate | Ohio gov signs ‘heartbeat’ abortion bill Dems see room for Abrams in crowded presidential field MORE (D-N.Y.) also issued a joint statement earlier Thursday arguing that it’s crucial that he testify because of Barr’s “partisan handling” of the report and the need to “begin restoring public trust” in the handling of Mueller probe.
But Senate Republicans have been mum on calling for Mueller to testify publicly on his findings.
Barr is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee next month, but Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamWhy Ken Cuccinelli should be Trump’s choice for DHS Ten post-Mueller questions that could turn the tables on Russia collusion investigators GOP senators double down on demand for Clinton email probe documents MORE (R-S.C.), its chairman, told McCatchy on Thursday that he is “not interested” in calling him to testify.
“He’s done his job,” Graham said about Mueller. “I’m not going to retry the case.”
A spokesperson for Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrThe Hill’s Morning Report — Assange indictment adds new legal, political drama at DOJ Senate Intel chair: Assange put ‘millions of lives at risk’ Kudlow says Trump administration opposes government intervention in 5G MORE (R-N.C.) didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about if he wanted Mueller to testify.