Pelosi says to reject classified briefing on Mueller report

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Saturday she will reject any classified briefing on special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the just-concluded Russia investigation, according to media reports.

Pelosi made the remarks Saturday afternoon during a conference call with roughly 120 members of the Democratic Caucus, U.S. political website The Hill reported, citing a person on the call.

"The takeaway from this call is that the American (people) deserve the truth," she said, according to the person. "Transparency is the order of the day."

Pelosi said she won't accept a classified briefing for only top lawmakers and congressional intelligence committee members.

Mueller has finished the inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by submitting a confidential report to Attorney General William Barr on Friday.

Barr has told lawmakers that he may provide Congress with the "principal conclusions" this weekend but didn't deliver his summary on Saturday.

Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing for the release of Mueller's full report that could be used to guide the party's ongoing investigations and potential legislative response.

Pelosi said she'll also demand that the briefings that the Department of Justice has promised be declassified so lawmakers can speak publicly about the full scope of those discussions.

Barr said in a letter Friday that he intends to consult with his deputy and Mueller to "determine what other information from the report can be released to Congress and the public."

"I remain committed to as much transparency as possible," he said.

In a letter to colleagues published shortly before Saturday's conference call, Pelosi said Barr's offer to provide Congress with a summary of conclusions was "insufficient."

"Congress requires the full report and the underlying documents so that the Committees can proceed with their independent work, including oversight and legislating to address any issues the Mueller report may raise," she wrote.

Mueller was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in May, 2017, to lead an inquiry into possible collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and Moscow during the 2016 presidential election and whether the president obstructed justice, among other things.

The nearly two-year investigation has led to felony charges against 34 people, including six Trump associates, and three entities, triggering fierce criticism from the president and his political allies.

Many of the charges related to lying to congress or federal investigators. Russia has denied any meddling in the 2016 election.

The White House said Saturday it has not received and has not been briefed on the report.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told reporters that press secretary Sarah Sanders' statement issued Friday night still stands. Sanders said the next steps are up to Barr, and the White House looks forward to "the process taking its course."

Trump has remained silent on the conclusion of Mueller's investigation, which he has repeatedly slammed as a "hoax" and a "witch hunt." On Saturday, the president was at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)