FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus120930

House Republicans say Robert Mueller's testimony Wednesday uncovered no meaningful new information and that it's time to move on.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told press on Wednesday that "this should be the end of the chapter that we put America through."

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, following Mueller's testimony, is making some of her strongest comments yet about the House possibly proceeding with impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

Pelosi says a "cone of silence" from the White House that's not providing documents and witness testimony "will not prevent us from going forward." She adds, "In fact, it's even more grounds to go forward."

Pelosi tells reporters she wants "the strongest possible hand" by continuing the House's court actions aimed at forcing White House cooperation.

Washington - 24 July 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House:

"We want to have the strongest possible case to make a decision as to what path we will go down and that does, is not endless in terms of time or endless in terms of the information that we want. But if it comes to a point where the cone of silence and the obstruction of justice and the cover-up in the White House prevents us from getting that information, that will not prevent us from going forward. In fact, it's even more grounds to go forward."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Republican Minority Leader:

"It was a historical day because today is the day that we close the book on this investigation. It is time that America turns the page. It is time for America to move forward. The Democrats have to stop wasting time in trying to have a do-over of the 2016 Presidential election."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York:

"Today was a watershed day in telling the facts to the American people. With those facts we can proceed and we face a time of great danger. Richard Nixon said he thought that the president was a dictator. He said if the president does it, that means it's not illegal. President Trump echoed that yesterday. He said under Article 2 'I' that is he can do anything I want. That is a totalitarian picture, not a democratic picture. The United States must be saved from this."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Doug Collins, (R) Georgia:

"I challenge the Democratic colleagues, get over the election of 2016. Run in 2020 if you want. This President has put forward a great economy. This President has put forward great ideas. Run on this, quit trying to dredge up a picture that today got painted, that said your investigation is over. Mr Mueller has done his job. He presented a report. Someone asked did you find out anything new? The answer is no."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Adam Schiff, (D) California:

" But there are two juries in an impeachment there is the jury which is the Senate which decides removal from office. And then there is the jury that is the American people and I'm most concerned about the jury that is the American people. And before we embark on a course as significant to the country as the impeachment of a president I want to make sure that we can make that case to the jury of the American people."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Devin Nunes, (R) California:

"I think what you see today is collusion between the Republican Party and the Trump campaign is over. There was no evidence. There was a dossier that was built and paid for by the Clinton campaign. That was the real collusion. You've had collusion through a British former MI6 agent who was working supposedly with Russian sources. We didn't get any new information on that today. But the Democrats have refused to accept reality, they live in an alternative universe."

House Republican leaders slammed Democrats over the recent Mueller report, saying now that it shows there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, "it's time to move on."

"If 19 federal prosecutors, 40 FBI agents, working 18 hours a day for the last two years couldn't find any crimes to charge Donald Trump with, a House chairman, and a few House staffers shouldn't be wasting our time looking for them," said Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas.

"They continue to want to harass the president and his family," said Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican whip. "Enough is enough."

House Democrats are pressing the Justice Department to provide the full report from special counsel Robert Mueller. House Republicans say they also want the full report, but only as allowed by law.

"The law however does not allow for the release of classified information, Ratcliffe said. "The law does not allow for the release of grand jury testimony."

Washington, DC - 26 March 2019

1. Mid of Republican House leaders walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"While it may not be a literal one, the special counsel did issue one clear indictment: It's an indictment of those folks who accused the president of conspiring or colluding with Russia; who said that they had evidence of the president's crime, when as we all now know the special counsel said that could not possibly be true."

3. Mid of Republican lawmakers at podium

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"Now, the Republican position is unified. We need to move on. Again, if 19 federal prosecutors, 40 FBI agents, working 18 hours a day for the last two years couldn't find any crimes to charge Donald Trump with, a House chairman and a few House staffers shouldn't be wasting our time looking for them."

5. Mid of GOP House leaders at podium

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"Republicans are united in our position that we do want the full release of the report as allowed by law. That's the same position that the attorney general is taking. The law however does not allow for the release of classified information. The law does not allow for the release of grand jury testimony. So, to be clear, Democrats who yesterday and today are calling for a full report to be released immediately without those considerations, are in fact asking the attorney general of the United States to violate the law."

7. Wide of GOP lawmakers at podium

8. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Steve Scalise, (R) Louisiana

"Those people who made those reckless claims, who not only made those claims against the president but continue. They can't give it up. They continue to want to harass the president and his family. Enough is enough. The American people are disgusted with this abuse of power. And with this continued pursuit of attacking the president and his family regardless of where the facts lead. It's the opposite of what any kind of investigation should be about."

9. Mid of lawmakers at podium

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Kevin McCarthy, (R) House Minority Leader

"I think he's owed an apology from every individual that stood there and said they had proof. If they said they knew of collusion, if they said and went on the American public and misled that took us down this path. That we spent 22 months, 25 million dollars, 40 FBI agents, 19 attorneys, went to 13 foreign countries, 2800 subpoenas, 500 witnesses and no collusion, I do believe he's owed an apology."

11. Mid of GOP lawmakers at podium

House Republican leaders slammed Democrats over the recent Mueller report, saying now that it shows there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, "it's time to move on."  

"If 19 federal prosecutors, 40 FBI agents, working 18 hours a day for the last two years couldn't find any crimes to charge Donald Trump with, a House chairman, and a few House staffers shouldn't be wasting our time looking for them," said Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas.

"They continue to want to harass the president and his family," said Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican whip. "Enough is enough."

House Democrats are pressing the Justice Department to provide the full report from special counsel Robert Mueller. House Republicans say they also want the full report, but only as allowed by law.

"The law however does not allow for the release of classified information, Ratcliffe said. "The law does not allow for the release of grand jury testimony."

Washington, DC - 26 March 2019

1. Mid of Republican House leaders walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"While it may not be a literal one, the special counsel did issue one clear indictment: It's an indictment of those folks who accused the president of conspiring or colluding with Russia; who said that they had evidence of the president's crime, when as we all now know the special counsel said that could not possibly be true."

3. Mid of Republican lawmakers at podium

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"Now, the Republican position is unified. We need to move on. Again, if 19 federal prosecutors, 40 FBI agents, working 18 hours a day for the last two years couldn't find any crimes to charge Donald Trump with, a House chairman and a few House staffers shouldn't be wasting our time looking for them."

5. Mid of GOP House leaders at podium

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"Republicans are united in our position that we do want the full release of the report as allowed by law. That's the same position that the attorney general is taking. The law however does not allow for the release of classified information. The law does not allow for the release of grand jury testimony. So, to be clear, Democrats who yesterday and today are calling for a full report to be released immediately without those considerations, are in fact asking the attorney general of the United States to violate the law."

7. Wide of GOP lawmakers at podium

8. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Steve Scalise, (R) Louisiana

"Those people who made those reckless claims, who not only made those claims against the president but continue. They can't give it up. They continue to want to harass the president and his family. Enough is enough. The American people are disgusted with this abuse of power. And with this continued pursuit of attacking the president and his family regardless of where the facts lead. It's the opposite of what any kind of investigation should be about."

9. Mid of lawmakers at podium

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Kevin McCarthy, (R) House Minority Leader

"I think he's owed an apology from every individual that stood there and said they had proof. If they said they knew of collusion, if they said and went on the American public and misled that took us down this path. That we spent 22 months, 25 million dollars, 40 FBI agents, 19 attorneys, went to 13 foreign countries, 2800 subpoenas, 500 witnesses and no collusion, I do believe he's owed an apology."

11. Mid of GOP lawmakers at podium

House Republican leaders slammed Democrats over the recent Mueller report, saying now that it shows there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, "it's time to move on."

"If 19 federal prosecutors, 40 FBI agents, working 18 hours a day for the last two years couldn't find any crimes to charge Donald Trump with, a House chairman, and a few House staffers shouldn't be wasting our time looking for them," said Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas.

"They continue to want to harass the president and his family," said Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican whip. "Enough is enough."

House Democrats are pressing the Justice Department to provide the full report from special counsel Robert Mueller. House Republicans say they also want the full report, but only as allowed by law.

"The law however does not allow for the release of classified information, Ratcliffe said. "The law does not allow for the release of grand jury testimony."

Washington, DC - 26 March 2019

1. Mid of Republican House leaders walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"While it may not be a literal one, the special counsel did issue one clear indictment: It's an indictment of those folks who accused the president of conspiring or colluding with Russia; who said that they had evidence of the president's crime, when as we all now know the special counsel said that could not possibly be true."

3. Mid of Republican lawmakers at podium

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"Now, the Republican position is unified. We need to move on. Again, if 19 federal prosecutors, 40 FBI agents, working 18 hours a day for the last two years couldn't find any crimes to charge Donald Trump with, a House chairman and a few House staffers shouldn't be wasting our time looking for them."

5. Mid of GOP House leaders at podium

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R) Texas

"Republicans are united in our position that we do want the full release of the report as allowed by law. That's the same position that the attorney general is taking. The law however does not allow for the release of classified information. The law does not allow for the release of grand jury testimony. So, to be clear, Democrats who yesterday and today are calling for a full report to be released immediately without those considerations, are in fact asking the attorney general of the United States to violate the law."

7. Wide of GOP lawmakers at podium

8. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Steve Scalise, (R) Louisiana

"Those people who made those reckless claims, who not only made those claims against the president but continue. They can't give it up. They continue to want to harass the president and his family. Enough is enough. The American people are disgusted with this abuse of power. And with this continued pursuit of attacking the president and his family regardless of where the facts lead. It's the opposite of what any kind of investigation should be about."

9. Mid of lawmakers at podium

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Kevin McCarthy, (R) House Minority Leader

"I think he's owed an apology from every individual that stood there and said they had proof. If they said they knew of collusion, if they said and went on the American public and misled that took us down this path. That we spent 22 months, 25 million dollars, 40 FBI agents, 19 attorneys, went to 13 foreign countries, 2800 subpoenas, 500 witnesses and no collusion, I do believe he's owed an apology."

11. Mid of GOP lawmakers at podium

The head of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Maxine Waters, says Congressional Democrats are prepared to fight President Donald Trump "tooth and nail" to gain access to information her and other House committees have requested.

Trump, his family and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to block congressional subpoenas seeking their banking and financial records.

The lawsuit by Trump, sons Donald Jr. and Eric and daughter Ivanka was filed Monday in federal court in New York. The Trump Organization and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust are among the other plaintiffs.

Two House committees subpoenaed Deutsche Bank and several other financial institutions earlier this month as part of investigations into the Republican president's finances.

The lawsuit comes as Trump is engaged in a struggle with House Democrats as they seek to investigate him and his administration on multiple fronts.

In many ways, House Democrats are trying to have it both ways - pursuing the investigations that could serve as a prelude to impeachment proceedings without taking the politically fraught step of calling it impeachment.

On Tuesday, some Democrats stopped short of calling for impeachment.

"I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

"I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

Washington - 30 April 2019

++EDIT STARTS AND ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The president of the United States continues in his resistance to any and all investigations. Yes, he's filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One and trying to prevent them from cooperating with us and giving us the documents that we have requested. You know whether it is refusing to sit down in an interview with Mueller or whether it is, you know, constantly obstructing justice by trying to stop testimonies and stop people from cooperating or whether it's filing a lawsuit, he obviously has something to hide. He is obviously afraid that we are going to learn more about his relationships with Deutsche Bank, more about his bankruptcies, perhaps, more about whether or not there is money laundering that's been involved in some ways. We have enough information. And we have enough to help us to guide us to moving forward with these subpoenas. ... We are prepared to fight tooth and nail. The president has cast a gauntlet. He's prepared to fight us tooth and nail. And we're prepared to fight him back."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

" I think that all of the information that we were able to unveil about the president will help Americans to come to a decision about whether or not you should be impeached."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The relationship with Deutsche Bank is unusual. Why would they lend him billions of dollars? He filed a lawsuit against them. No other bank would lend him money but they have done so. And why? Why is this happening? I think we need to find out."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D) Maryland:

"The president has escalated the conflict with Congress. The obstructionism that we read about in the Mueller report has come galloping off the pages and right on to our front door step. The president's refusing to cooperate with the Ways and Means Committee, with the Judiciary Committee, with Oversight Committee, with the Finance Committee and members are unhappy."

5. Raskin walks away

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D) Illinois: (responding to reporter question on whether Democrats are closer to deciding to move forward on impeachment)

"I don't think so. I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas? I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld the Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

The head of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Maxine Waters, says Congressional Democrats are prepared to fight President Donald Trump "tooth and nail" to gain access to information her and other House committees have requested.

Trump, his family and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to block congressional subpoenas seeking their banking and financial records.

The lawsuit by Trump, sons Donald Jr. and Eric and daughter Ivanka was filed Monday in federal court in New York. The Trump Organization and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust are among the other plaintiffs.

Two House committees subpoenaed Deutsche Bank and several other financial institutions earlier this month as part of investigations into the Republican president's finances.

The lawsuit comes as Trump is engaged in a struggle with House Democrats as they seek to investigate him and his adminstration on multiple fronts.

In many ways, House Democrats are trying to have it both ways - pursuing the investigations that could serve as a prelude to impeachment proceedings without taking the politically fraught step of calling it impeachment.

On Tuesday, some Democrats stopped short of calling for impeachment.

"I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. "I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

Washington - 30 April 2019

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The president of the United States continues in his resistance to any and all investigations. Yes, he's filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One and trying to prevent them from cooperating with us and giving us the documents that we have requested. You know whether it is refusing to sit down in an interview with Mueller or whether it is, you know, constantly obstructing justice by trying to stop testimonies and stop people from cooperating or whether it's filing a lawsuit, he obviously has something to hide. He is obviously afraid that we are going to learn more about his relationships with Deutsche Bank, more about his bankruptcies, perhaps, more about whether or not there is money laundering that's been involved in some ways. We have enough information. And we have enough to help us to guide us to moving forward with these subpoenas. ... We are prepared to fight tooth and nail. The president has cast the gauntlet. He's prepared to fight us tooth and nail. And we're prepared to fight him back."

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D) Maryland:

"I think the president has escalated the conflict with Congress. The obstructionism that we read about in the Mueller report has come galloping off the pages and right on to our front door step. The president's refusing to cooperate with the Ways and Means Committee, with the Judiciary Committee, with Oversight Committee, with the Finance Committee and members are unhappy."

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D) Illinois: (responding to reporter question on whether Democrats are closer to deciding to move forward on impeachment)

"I don't think so. I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas. I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

The head of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Maxine Waters, says Congressional Democrats are prepared to fight President Donald Trump "tooth and nail" to gain access to information her and other House committees have requested.

Trump, his family and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to block congressional subpoenas seeking their banking and financial records.

The lawsuit by Trump, sons Donald Jr. and Eric and daughter Ivanka was filed Monday in federal court in New York. The Trump Organization and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust are among the other plaintiffs.

Two House committees subpoenaed Deutsche Bank and several other financial institutions earlier this month as part of investigations into the Republican president's finances.

The lawsuit comes as Trump is engaged in a struggle with House Democrats as they seek to investigate him and his administration on multiple fronts.

In many ways, House Democrats are trying to have it both ways - pursuing the investigations that could serve as a prelude to impeachment proceedings without taking the politically fraught step of calling it impeachment.

On Tuesday, some Democrats stopped short of calling for impeachment.

"I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

"I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

Washington - 30 April 2019

++EDIT STARTS AND ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The president of the United States continues in his resistance to any and all investigations. Yes, he's filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One and trying to prevent them from cooperating with us and giving us the documents that we have requested. You know whether it is refusing to sit down in an interview with Mueller or whether it is, you know, constantly obstructing justice by trying to stop testimonies and stop people from cooperating or whether it's filing a lawsuit, he obviously has something to hide. He is obviously afraid that we are going to learn more about his relationships with Deutsche Bank, more about his bankruptcies, perhaps, more about whether or not there is money laundering that's been involved in some ways. We have enough information. And we have enough to help us to guide us to moving forward with these subpoenas. ... We are prepared to fight tooth and nail. The president has cast a gauntlet. He's prepared to fight us tooth and nail. And we're prepared to fight him back."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

" I think that all of the information that we were able to unveil about the president will help Americans to come to a decision about whether or not you should be impeached."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The relationship with Deutsche Bank is unusual. Why would they lend him billions of dollars? He filed a lawsuit against them. No other bank would lend him money but they have done so. And why? Why is this happening? I think we need to find out."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D) Maryland:

"The president has escalated the conflict with Congress. The obstructionism that we read about in the Mueller report has come galloping off the pages and right on to our front door step. The president's refusing to cooperate with the Ways and Means Committee, with the Judiciary Committee, with Oversight Committee, with the Finance Committee and members are unhappy."

5. Raskin walks away

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D) Illinois: (responding to reporter question on whether Democrats are closer to deciding to move forward on impeachment)

"I don't think so. I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas? I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld the Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."