Robert Mueller To Testify Publicly Before House Committees On July 17

Former special counsel Robert Mueller has agreed to testify in public about his two-year Russia investigation at a hearing before the House Intelligence Committee and Judiciary Committee on July 17. The announcement came from the chairmen of the two panels, who issued a subpoena compelling his testimony.

In a news release issued late Tuesday, Judiciary Committee Chairmen Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said that Mueller had agreed to testify next month.

“Pursuant to subpoenas issued by the House Judiciary and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence tonight, Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III has agreed to testify before both Committees on July 17 in open session,” the chairmen said in a statement.

“Americans have demanded to hear directly from the Special Counsel,” the statement said, “so they can understand what he and his team examined, uncovered, and determined about Russia’s attack on our democracy, the Trump campaign’s acceptance and use of that help, and President Trump and his associates’ obstruction of the investigation into that attack.”

The chairmen suggested in a letter to Mueller on Tuesday accompanying the subpoena that they understand that Mueller may limit what he plans to share with lawmakers, with Schiff and Nadler writing that they know “there are certain sensitivities associated with your open testimony.”

Two dead, including infant, after boat capsizes in New York Harbor; 12 rescued

Teen accused of killing 10-year-old cousin Lily Peters may avoid November trial after new hearing scheduled

WATCH: Dems stand by Maine nominee hit with report he fathered children with his second cousin

Hawaii contractor nominated to construct GOP comeback after two-decade Democratic hold on governor’s mansion

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green cruises to Democratic primary win, sets up fall matchup with GOP nominee

Hawaii rep cruises to Dem primary win after challenger arrested for beach brawl

Trump’s 4th of July fireworks display on National Mall confirmed as largest in history

Florida man allegedly kills family’s kittens in front of teenage daughter as form of punishment: officials

Watch: WNBA Player Ejected After Nearly Taking Off Sophie Cunningham’s Head With Clothesline Maneuver

EXCLUSIVE: Teen girls recall Jersey Shore ride malfunction that left them stuck hanging upside down

Trump’s White House ballroom foes face ‘very tough argument’ at Supreme Court, legal experts say

Fauci in the congressional wringer: a test for Trump’s newly-minted Attorney General

Graham replacement hopefuls make final pitches before special election: Iran war, DSA, Flock cams and more

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what the Senate did and didn’t do overnight

One year on, US-brokered peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cements US foothold in the Caucasus

“In particular, the Special Counsel’s Office referred several criminal investigations to other offices at the Department of Justice, and certain matters are ongoing. Your office, moreover, admirably limited public comment while the Special Counsel’s Office’s work was ongoing. You have also explained that you prefer for the Special Counsel’s Office’s written work to speak for itself,” they wrote.

Mueller did not want to testify, but will respect the subpoena to testify in open session, Schiff said on “The Rachel Maddow Show” Tuesday night on MSNBC. Mueller’s staff will speak to the committees in a closed session after Mueller’s public testimony.

“Clearly this is something, I think from his perspective as prosecutor, he is reluctant to come, as a prosecutor normally would be,” Schiff said. “But as Bob Mueller was the first to point out in his own report, he did not make a traditional prosecutorial judgement.”

Congress did not feel it sufficient to rely only a written report without the ability to ask follow-up questions, Schiff said, and believed that it was appropriate for the House to flesh out questions, Schiff said.

“It seemed like such an obvious step, from my own point of view, if you’re going accept the role as special counsel in one of the most significant investigations in modern history, you’re going to have to expect that you’re going to be asked to come to testify before Congress,” Schiff said.