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Rep. Jordan grills Mueller on origins of Russia probe

Rep. Jim Jordan grilled Robert Mueller about the beginning of the counterintelligence investigation into then-candidate Donald Trump’s connection to the Russians and why the former special counsel didn’t pursue the person whose accusations started it.

“Here we are three years later. … The country has been put through this and the central figure who launches it all lies to us and you guys don’t hunt him down and interview him again and you don’t charge him with a crime,” the Ohio Republican told Mueller during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday.

Jordan was referring to Joseph Mifsud, who told George Papadopolous, then an aide to Trump’s campaign, that the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Papadopolous provided this information to an Australian diplomat, who alerted the FBI.





“He’s the guy who starts it all, and when the FBI interviews him, he lies three times and yet you don’t charge him with a crime,” Jordan told Mueller.

He went on to mention how Mueller’s prosecutors charged former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former national security adviser Michael Flynn with making false statements.

“But the guy who puts the country through this whole saga. For three years we’ve lived this lie now. He lies and you guys don’t charge him. I’m curious as to why,” Jordan said.

“I can’t get into it and it’s obvious that we can’t get into charging decisions,” Mueller responded.

Mifsud disappeared shortly after leaving the US in February 2017.

A court filing in September 2018 said Mifsud “is missing and may be deceased.”





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