Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have officially requested Mueller testify before Congress

Reuters

FILE PHOTO - Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) speaks during a mark up hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington

• House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler sent a letter to former FBI Director and special counsel Robert Mueller requesting he testify before Congress by May 23.
• Nadler made the request moments after Attorney General William Barr held a press conference on the status and conclusion of the special counsel investigation.
• Members of Congress and the public are slated to see a copy of Mueller's final report later on Thursday.
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WASHINGTON - House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler sent a letter Thursday to former FBI Director and special counsel chief Robert Mueller requesting he testify before Congress.

Nadler made the request within minutes of the conclusion of Attorney General William Barr's press conference on Mueller's final report, signaling Democrats on Capitol Hill are not at all eager to put the special counsel investigation behind them.

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"As I have already communicated to the Department of Justice, I request your testimony before the Judiciary Committee as soon as possible-but, in any event, no later than May 23, 2019," Nadler wrote. "I look forward to working with you on a mutually agreeable date."

Nadler's request did not specify whether a potential Mueller testimony would be public or in a closed session, though it would be common for the committee to hold both.

The letter to Mueller comes just hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a joint statement calling for a public testimony from the special counsel chief.

"Attorney General Barr's regrettably partisan handling of the Mueller report, including his slanted March 24^th summary letter, his irresponsible testimony before Congress last week, and his indefensible plan to spin the report in a press conference later this morning - hours before he allows the public or Congress to see it - have resulted in a crisis of confidence in his independence and impartiality," the two Democratic leaders said. "We believe the only way to begin restoring public trust in the handling of the Special Counsel's investigation is for Special Counsel Mueller himself to provide public testimony in the House and Senate as soon as possible."

"The American people deserve to hear the truth," they added.

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At the press conference on Thursday, Barr said he would not object to a public testimony from Mueller. And Barr himself is slated to testify before Congress in May.