The DOJ and House Democrats have a deal to view key Mueller report evidence

Mueller report.
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said Monday that he'd reached an agreement with the Department of Justice to see previously withheld "key evidence" from the Mueller report.

After the probe into Russian election interference was released with redactions, Nadler's committee subpoenaed the DOJ to obtain more of it. The DOJ held out on that request until Monday, when it "agreed to begin complying" with that subpoena, Nadler announced in a press release.

Beyond the election investigation, Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report outlined several instances of potential obstruction of justice by President Trump. Mueller declined to recommend charges for Trump, and Attorney General William Barr declined to charge him altogether. Still, Nadler and fellow House Democrats wanted to see the underlying evidence that led both officials to their conclusions, and subpoenaed redacted versions of the report. Those House members had mentioned taking court action as the weeks went on and the subpoenas were not complied with, but Nadler said Monday if "the department proceeds in good faith and we are able to obtain everything that we need," he won't have to "enforce our subpoena in court."

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Nadler also called on Barr to testify for the judiciary committee last month, but Barr did not show up, prompting the House to suggest they'd hold him in contempt. Nadler said Monday he'd "hold the criminal contempt process in abeyance for now," but Politico's Andrew Desiderio reported via an aide that a civil contempt vote is still on for Tuesday. House Democrats had already opted not to pursue a criminal contempt vote last week, The New York Times reported.

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Kathryn Krawczyk

Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.