Schumer, Pelosi say Mueller needs to publicly testify before Congress 'as soon as possible'

Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) put out a statement on Thursday asking that Special Counsel Robert Mueller testify before both houses of Congress "as soon as possible."

Here's what we know

Mueller was investigating the possibility of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The full report, with redactions, is scheduled to be released on Thursday.

A four-page summary provided by Attorney General William Barr stated that "[t]he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities." It also said that "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." Pelosi and Schumer accused Barr of trying to cover for the president.

In a joint statement, the two congressional leaders said:

Attorney General Barr's regrettably partisan handling of the Mueller report, including his slanted March 24th summary letter, his irresponsible testimony before Congress last week, and his indefensible plan to spin the report in a press conference later this morning — hours before he allows the public or Congress to see it — have resulted in a crisis of confidence in his independence and impartiality. We believe the only way to begin restoring public trust in the handling of the Special Counsel's investigation is for Special Counsel Mueller himself to provide public testimony in the House and Senate as soon as possible. The American people deserve to hear the truth.

The White House is preparing its own response to the Mueller report, which will reportedly defend against accusations of obstruction that it expects to be levied against President Donald Trump. Barr held a press conference on Thursday shortly before the report became public.