--- title: Read Robert Mueller's Opening Statement at Testimony to Congress description: Robert Mueller appeared before Congress to answer questions about his investigation into Russian meddling. Read his opening statement here canonical: https://time.com/5633455/mueller-opening-statement-testimony/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2019-07-24T13:42:28.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-24T00:03:43.962Z article:section: Politics og:title: Read Robert Mueller's Opening Statement as He Testifies Before the House og:description: "This deserves the attention of every American," he said of Russian election interference og:url: https://time.com/5633455/mueller-opening-statement-testimony/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8938714458cabb37/698a0056b3fce310760c5457/robert-mueller-testimony-opening-statement.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Mueller Before the House Judiciary Committee og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Read Robert Mueller's Opening Statement as He Testifies Before the House twitter:description: "This deserves the attention of every American," he said of Russian election interference twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8938714458cabb37/698a0056b3fce310760c5457/robert-mueller-testimony-opening-statement.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Read Robert Mueller's Opening Statement for His Testimony About the Russia Investigation  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jul 24, 2019 1:42 PM UTC  Former special counsel Robert Mueller arrives in Rayburn Building to testify before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election on July 24, 2019. Former special counsel Robert Mueller arrives in Rayburn Building to testify before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election on July 24, 2019.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jul 24, 2019 1:42 PM UTC Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller [appeared before Congress](https://time.com/5629528/robert-mueller-testimony-live-updates/) on Wednesday for a highly anticipated pair of hearings where he will answer questions about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. “Over the course of my career, I’ve seen a number of challenges to our democracy. The Russian government’s effort to interfere in our election is among the most serious,” Mueller said in his opening statement before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning. “This deserves the attention of every American.” Mueller’s testimony before the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees marks the first time Mueller has taken questions about his report and [only the second time](https://time.com/5597514/robert-mueller-statement/) the former special counsel has spoken publicly about the investigation. Mueller had been reluctant to say anything further, [telling reporters](https://time.com/5597514/robert-mueller-statement/) in May that “the report is my testimony.” While his testimony Wednesday is [not expected to produce major revelations](https://time.com/5633238/mueller-testimony-moments/?utm%5Fsource=time.com&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=the-brief&utm%5Fcontent=2019072411am&xid=newsletter-brief), the [stakes are high for Democrats](https://time.com/5632826/mueller-testimony-democrats-prepare/), who are expected to use the opportunity to combat President Donald Trump’s false claims of “total exoneration” and [question Mueller about evidence](https://time.com/5632509/mueller-testimony-congress-obstruction/) in the report of several instances of [possible obstruction of justice](https://time.com/5573521/donald-trump-obstruction-justice/) by Trump. **Read more:** [_Mueller’s Testimony Isn’t Expected to Deliver Bombshells. Here’s Why It Still Matters_](https://time.com/5633238/mueller-testimony-moments/) Mueller declined to charge Trump, citing constitutional limitations on his power, but he wrote that the report “does not exonerate him.” “If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state,” he wrote. “Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment.” Mueller will appear before the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday afternoon, following his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. 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