ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

It's been nearly 800 days since Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, more than a hundred days since he released his report. And today, after being subpoenaed, Robert Mueller turned up on Capitol Hill.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Lines and lines of people snaked through the long hallways of the Rayburn House Office Building. People were spilling outside. Shortly after 8 this morning, the square-jawed former FBI director arrived for his long-awaited turn in the spotlight.

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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Clear the hall, please. Clear the hall.

UNIDENTIFIED COMMENTATOR: Here's the man of the hour, the focal point of much of the last two years.

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SHAPIRO: A stoic, straight-faced Mueller walked into the hearing room past the dozens of journalists lining the halls flanked by security on all sides.

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UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Mr. Mueller, what's your message to the president?

KELLY: And before he even took his seat, a protester shouted and was promptly taken outside by security.

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UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: Kushner and Manafort downloaded encrypted communications apps on the date of the Trump Tower meeting.

SHAPIRO: Then, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler of New York began the session...

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JERRY NADLER: The Judiciary Committee will come to order.

SHAPIRO: ...And made his opening statement.

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NADLER: And in this nation, not even the president is above the law.

SHAPIRO: With that, the chairman turned to the witness and the hearing began.

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NADLER: Now if you would please rise, I will begin by swearing you in. Raise your right hand please. Do you swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the testimony you're about to give is true and correct to the best of your knowledge, information and belief, so help you God? Let the record show the witness answered the affirmative. Thank you, and please be seated. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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