PHOENIX — Arizona Congresswoman Debbie Lesko took aim at Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller Wednesday, when she got her chance to question him on his investigation into whether President Trump obstructed justice and conspired with Russia to win the 2016 Presidential election.
Lesko accused Mueller and his team of primarily using reporting from the Washington Post, New York Times and Fox News in its examination of potential obstruction of justice charges.
"It looks like volume 2 is regurgitated press stories," Lesko said. Adding, "honestly there is almost nothing involved in this report that I already had heard or know simply by having a $50 cable subscription."
The Mueller investigation cost taxpayers at least $25-million.
At the start of the Judiciary Committee hearing, Mueller said his report did not exonerate President Trump and he said there is evidence of obstruction of justice. But many say Mueller appeared confused or unable to answer some of the questions during his testimony.
That was evident during an exchange between him and Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs. Biggs asked, when Mueller personally concluded the president did not conspire with the Russians. Mueller at first didn't seem to understand the question and never clearly answered it.
The lone Arizona Democrat on the committee, Congressman Greg Stanton, used his time to show his support for Mueller calling him a patriot.
Responding to criticism throughout the hearing that the investigation was partisan, Stanton asked Mueller if he ever asked a person's political affiliation or ever make a hiring decision based on a political affiliation. Both times Mueller said no.
Political Consultant Stan Barnes watched most of the hearing. Barnes felt Biggs and Lesko, "comported themselves well, in a pressure situation neither has faced."
He did not see Stanton's exchange with Mueller.
As for the hearing itself, Barnes does not think the world changed much.
"Mueller show today will not have any impact on the electorate," he said. "By now people have made up their minds on this issue, and the hearing today is mere noise in the background of regular life for average Americans."
