Shouldn't the House have Mueller testify AFTER he leaves the DOJ?

[Honeycombe8]

Mueller is supposed to be leaving the DOJ "in the coming days." If he testifies before he leaves, then doesn't the DOJ (Barr) have control over what they let him testify to? Shouldn't Congress wait until Mueller leaves before questioning him, so that he's not under the control of Barr?

I wonder if Barr offers Mueller a bonus to stay on longer, or asks him to do an extra task or two.

[Chin music]

1. Why not a Mueller GoFund Me if he's all worried about losing his pension or whatever.

Whats it going to take Bobby? Crack wide with the goods man. What's the dang hold up?
This is how many repubs I trust.....___________. (None)

[pnwmom]

5. At his age I'm sure he was fully vested in his retirement benefits

long ago. He left a multi-million dollar job at a private law firm to take the position, so money isn't the most important thing to him.

My guess is he's been staying to finish up some work. We know that there are some cases still outstanding -- for example, the mystery Supreme court case.

[at140]

2. Mueller wants to keep paychecks coming

and building up his pension by staying on DOJ payroll.
I have a feeling he makes a fat paycheck.

[Honeycombe8]

7. I would think the pay he's getting for his Special Counsel job isn't as much as he was getting...

as a big partner with a big reputation at a high profile law firm. I'm sure he's a multi-millionaire.

I was just throwing out ideas of things that might be used to keep him on a little longer.

[BigmanPigman]

3. Nadler just told Rachel that Mueller wouldn't have a choice.

If they call on him to testify it doesn't matter if he is employed by the DOJ or not. The fucking moron and Barr can't do a damn thing. And it isn't up to Mueller but I am sure a willing person is better than a forced testimony.

[PRETZEL]

9. True,

and it would then have to force the administration to again publicly announce that they would not allow Mueller to testify.

That, at least in my opinion, is a good thing for the Democrats. That makes the optics of Trump and company screaming at the top of their lungs yelling "No Collusion, No Obstruction" as being totally and unequivocally bogus. That changes the conversation to "Innocent people don't hide".

What we do know is that Mueller's testimony as it relates to the report could only be limited to what is unredacted so I don't think there would be many great revelations.

What Mueller could be able to clear up is whether or not Barr shut him down to avoid Mueller finishing his investigation. That's the question I wan answered right now.

[BigmanPigman]

14. That is the $$$$ million question.

[tableturner]

4. Mueller was making a fortune as partner of a top law firm, which he could go back to instantly.

He's not at the DOJ, nor does have have to stay at the DOJ, for financial reasons.

Also, whether or not Barr asks him to do new tasks, he can quit anytime he wants. It's not like he was drafted into the army. He can work where he wants.....when he wants.

Last, when he is a private citizen again, he can show up at any hearing he wants to show up to and will be free to speak his mind. How are they going to stop him? Are they going to physically stop him if he testifies after being told not to do so by the Trump administration? He is more than knowledgeable enough to know that any instruction from the DOJ or the Trump administration not to testify would be an illegal request unsupported by law. I think he will testify even if they tell him not to. If so, I don't see what power they would have over him, nor an actual mechanism they could use to stop him.

[pnwmom]

6. Yes, to everything you said.

I think he's been staying on to finish something -- maybe some counterintelligence report that the public will never see. But he has a purpose for staying on now, and it's not to make money.

[Honeycombe8]

8. That was my point. When he's not working for Barr, he's free to do what he wants.

As a private citizen. (Of course, his free agent status has nothing to do with privileges that are attached to some of the evidence or information, like Grand Jury testimony.)

[LiberalFighter]

10. He would have more of an official capacity while still Special Counsel.

[MineralMan]

11. One he resigns or retires, he will no longer have any access to

DOJ information directly. Further, since he will no longer be a DOJ employee, he won't be able to disclose any classified information without risking prosecution by the DOJ.

All in all, it would be better for him to testify while still employed by the department. However, once he leaves, he will also not be constrained by any DOJ rules, so it's a toss-up, really.

I'm sure he's weighing all of that as he makes his decision.

[at140]

12. Your post makes the most sense in this thread...nt

[MineralMan]

13. Thanks. I think that is the main issue, really

in his resigning or staying in place.