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>> director, please speak into the microphone. >> sure. my appaologies. i'm not sure of the person who originally copied that quote. >> well, sessions apparently said that and one of his aides. he apparently wasn't pleased with the special counsel and particularly you with your outstanding reputation. prior to your appointment the attorney general recused himself from the investigation because of his role in the 2016 campaign. is that not correct? >> correct. >> recusal means the attorney general cannot be involved in the investigation. >> that's the effect of recusal, yes. >> in fact another ...

Words, silly and not real conflicts, isn't that true sph. >> i refer to the report on that episode. >> well, page 85 of volume 2 speaks to that. and also director mueller, doj ethics officials confirmed that you had no conflicts that would prevent you from serving as special counsel. isn't that correct? >> that's correct. >> but despite don mcgahn and department of justice guidance around may 23, 2017, the president, quote, prodded mcgahn to complain to deputy attorney general rosenstein about these supposed conflicts of interest, correct? >> correct. >> and mcgahn declined to call rosenstein ...

>> i direct you to what we've written in the report in terms of characterizing his feelings. >> and in the report it says, quote, mcgahn understood the president to be saying that the special counsel had to be removed. you also said on page 86 that, quote, mcgahn considered the president's request to be an inflection point and he wanted to hit the brakes and he felt trapped. and mcgahn decided he had to resign. mcgahn took action to prepare to resign, isn't that correct? >> i direct you again to the report. >> and in fact that very day he went to the white house and in the report you said, quo...

Limit your work. and he attempted to prevent witnesses from cooperating with your investigation. although department policy barred you from indicting the president for this conduct you made clear that he is not exonerated. any other person who acted in this way would have been charged with crimes. and in this nation not even the president is above the law. which brings me to this committee's work, responsibility, integrity and accountability. these are the marks by which we who serve on this committee will be measured as well. director mueller, we have a responsibility to address the evidence ...

Report that on page 85, volume 2 on saturday june 17, 2017, the president called mcgahn at home to have the special counsel removed. now, did the president call don mcgahn more than once that day? >> well -- >> i think it was two calls. on page 85 of your report you wrote, quote, on the first call mcgahn recalled that the president said something about, quote, you've got to do this, you've got to call rod, correct? >> yes. >> and your investigation found that don mcgan was perturbed to use your words by the president's request to call rod ros ros rosenstein to fire him, isn't that correct? >> ...