House Judiciary chair Jerry Nadler announced Monday that the Justice Department would begin complying with his committee's subpoena Monday afternoon, handing over "key" portions of the Mueller report that had been redacted when it was originally made public.
Nadler said in a statement that the disclosures would be among the "most important files" that special counsel Robert Mueller had used "to assess whether the President and others obstructed justice or were engaged in other misconduct." The first of the documents are supposed to be sent later in the day, and Nadler said he would delay a criminal contempt vote on William Barr by the full House "for now." The Judiciary panel voted in early May to send a contempt resolution to the entire House for consideration, but Nadler indicated further steps would not be taken if the Justice Department "proceeds in good faith." If not, Nadler said, Democrats would be left with "no choice" but to enforce the subpoena in court.
All members of the Judiciary Committee will be able to view the documents. "These documents will allow us to perform our constitutional duties and decide how to respond to the allegations laid out against the President by the Special Counsel," Nadler said, adding that it was critical ensuring that no one is above the law and the American people get "the transparency they deserve."
The deal reportedly excludes any agreement on getting the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn.