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Key Aide Will Appear Alongside Mueller During Hearings Key Aide Will Appear Alongside Mueller During Hearings
(about 4 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III’s longtime right-hand aide will appear beside him at the witness table during Wednesday’s hearing with the House Judiciary Committee to assist as needed as the former special counsel answers questions about his investigation, people familiar with the hearing said. WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III’s longtime right-hand aide will appear beside him at the witness table during a hearing on Wednesday with the House Judiciary Committee to assist as needed as the former special counsel answers questions about his investigation, people familiar with the hearing said.
The Judiciary Committee signed off on the unusual arrangement after Mr. Mueller made a last-minute request that the aide, Aaron Zebley, be sworn in as a witness alongside him. If Democrats had agreed, lawmakers could have questioned Mr. Zebley directly, potentially upending carefully laid plans by Democrats and Republicans over how to use their scant time with Mr. Mueller. The committee signed off on the unusual arrangement after Mr. Mueller made a last-minute request that the aide, Aaron Zebley, be sworn in as a witness alongside him. If Democrats had agreed, lawmakers could have questioned Mr. Zebley directly, potentially upending carefully laid plans by Democrats and Republicans over how to use their scant time with Mr. Mueller.
Instead, as a counsel to Mr. Mueller, Mr. Zebley will not be under oath or theoretically allowed to answer lawmakers’ queries. But he can confer privately with Mr. Mueller, 74, if the former special counsel needs assistance or guidance about how to respond.Instead, as a counsel to Mr. Mueller, Mr. Zebley will not be under oath or theoretically allowed to answer lawmakers’ queries. But he can confer privately with Mr. Mueller, 74, if the former special counsel needs assistance or guidance about how to respond.
[19 questions we have for Mueller ahead of his testimony before Congress.][19 questions we have for Mueller ahead of his testimony before Congress.]
It is not uncommon for government witnesses to bring aides along to congressional hearings for that purpose, though in almost all cases the aides sit behind, rather than next to, the witness. Mr. Mueller is being asked to account for two-years worth of investigative details uncovered by a large team of investigators and to do so while avoiding the disclosure of nonpublic information. It is not uncommon for government witnesses to bring aides along to congressional hearings for that purpose, though in almost all cases, the aides sit behind, rather than next to, the witness. Mr. Mueller is being asked to account for two years’ worth of investigative details uncovered by a large team of investigators and to do so while avoiding the disclosure of nonpublic information.
It was unclear if Mr. Mueller had made a similar request to the House Intelligence Committee, the panel holding the second of two highly anticipated hearings on Wednesday where Mr. Mueller is scheduled to testify. Mr. Mueller made a similar request to the House Intelligence Committee, the panel holding the second of two highly anticipated hearings on Wednesday where he is scheduled to testify. But its chairman, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, said that as of Tuesday evening, the two sides were still discussing details.
The requests injected a taste of uncertainty on Capitol Hill on the eve of the long-anticipated hearings. Lawmakers from both parties spent much of the day sequestered in hearing rooms ironing out questions and running through mock exchanges.
Jim Popkin, a spokesman for Mr. Mueller, said on Tuesday that Mr. Zebley “will accompany special counsel Mueller to the Wednesday hearings, as was discussed with the committees more than a week ago.”Jim Popkin, a spokesman for Mr. Mueller, said on Tuesday that Mr. Zebley “will accompany special counsel Mueller to the Wednesday hearings, as was discussed with the committees more than a week ago.”
The congressional officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations, did not specify whether Mr. Mueller or his team explained the request.The congressional officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations, did not specify whether Mr. Mueller or his team explained the request.
Mr. Zebley has worked closely with Mr. Mueller for years. He worked alongside Mr. Mueller during his 22-month investigation, served as his chief of staff when Mr. Mueller was F.B.I. director and followed him into private practice at the WilmerHale law firm. He filled a similar role on the special counsel’s team, coordinating the team and serving as a go-between with the Justice Department.Mr. Zebley has worked closely with Mr. Mueller for years. He worked alongside Mr. Mueller during his 22-month investigation, served as his chief of staff when Mr. Mueller was F.B.I. director and followed him into private practice at the WilmerHale law firm. He filled a similar role on the special counsel’s team, coordinating the team and serving as a go-between with the Justice Department.
Mr. Popkin identified Mr. Zebley as the investigation’s “deputy special counsel” and said he “had day-to-day oversight of the investigations conducted by the office.”Mr. Popkin identified Mr. Zebley as the investigation’s “deputy special counsel” and said he “had day-to-day oversight of the investigations conducted by the office.”
The two panels had previously expected to talk to Mr. Zebley and another former member of the special counsel’s team, James L. Quarles III, in private sessions after the public hearings. But those meetings were canceled after the Justice Department objected.The two panels had previously expected to talk to Mr. Zebley and another former member of the special counsel’s team, James L. Quarles III, in private sessions after the public hearings. But those meetings were canceled after the Justice Department objected.
Republicans had quickly decried the possibility that Mr. Zebley could appear in public as a witness. President Trump waded into the discussions around Mr. Zebley on Tuesday evening, identifying him without evidence as a “Never Trumper” and calling his presence in the hearing “a disgrace to our system.”
“Never heard of this before,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. “VERY UNFAIR, SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.”
The president frequently attacked members of Mr. Mueller’s team during his investigation for their political affiliations or prior statements. But Mr. Zebley was not one of those targets. He has no known party affiliation, and according to a Washington Post review, has not donated to candidates from either party.
Congressional Republicans had quickly denounced the possibility that Mr. Zebley could appear in public as a witness for other reasons.
Representative Doug Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said the last-minute addition of a witness could violate House rules. He called on Democrats to reject the request.Representative Doug Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said the last-minute addition of a witness could violate House rules. He called on Democrats to reject the request.
“If Democrats believe it is the special counsel’s responsibility to testify to his report, they have no ground for outsourcing that duty at the expense of our committee’s integrity,” he said. “If Democrats believe it is the special counsel’s responsibility to testify to his report,” he said, “they have no ground for outsourcing that duty at the expense of our committee’s integrity.”