Before two House Committees, the Special Prosecutor’s Testimony didn’t answer many questions regarding Russian Intervention in the 2016 US. Presidential election or Donald Trump’s efforts to obstruct the investigation. It’s also sparked a new question: what does it technically mean when Mueller responds to a lawmaker with the phrase “I take your question meaning”?
According to M. Tia Johnson, a visiting law professor at Georgetown University Law Center and former assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the US Department of Homeland Security, it is a standard legal approach.
Robert Mueller Answer the Witness With These Wording:
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“When the witness doesn’t know the answer to the inquiry, ‘I take your question’ is frequently used,” she explained. It differs from a simple “no” in that it implies that the solution is likely to be known but that this witness is unaware of it.
Maintain Query for Future Refrence:
The response can save the query for future reference from a technological standpoint. Committee chairpersons set their colleagues a deadline for submitting further questions based on the witness’ testimony after the hearings, and Mueller may be requested to make a more comprehensive response.
Texas Republican Louie Gohmert:
In the context of today’s proceedings, Johnson points out that Mueller’s response, “I take your question,”. Following what she describes as a “rant” by Texas Republican Louie Gohmert, is also a way of saying, “I got you.” “I hear you,” I say. But it doesn’t imply Mueller has a response, and in this case, it appeared that the former special counsel wasn’t pleased with Gohmert’s lack of a straightforward question for Mueller to respond.
“I received the impression, based on the special counsel’s tone, that he was practically saying, ‘I’ve had enough’ or ‘I’ve got it.'”
Read More: What is the Meaning of Strike The Last Word? How to Use it?
Remarks Of Viewers:
Indeed, some viewers perceived the remark in that way.
Johnson points out that there were times throughout the afternoon session with the House Intelligence Committee when the response seemed more formal. “I take your question,” Mueller responded when asked by California Republican Devin Nunes how many times a Russian lawyer met with Glenn Simpson of Fusion GPS. In that situation, it indicated that he doesn’t know the answer. But that it is theoretically knowable, rather than that he dislikes the question.
What Does “I Take Your Question Meaning” Mean?
I get what you’re asking, and here’s what it could mean:
- I’d never heard that sentence before, never alone in the context in which Mueller used it.
- I take your question meanings:
- In this scenario, it’s Mueller’s idiolect and non-standard usage.
- The witness has no idea what the answer is; it doesn’t imply anything. It implies
- Congressional committees rarely interview special counsels.
- The term “normal legal answer” is all it is.
- It wouldn’t matter if the legal response were written rather than spoken.
Mueller Last Wording:
Witnesses who are prepared to testify often receive various possible responses to alleviate tension. The last thing Müeller wants to do in a situation like Gohmert’s is a back-and-forth dialogue. Johnson thinks he probably used “I’ll accept your question” to acknowledge there was one. But also to distract the scream.
“It’s a way of saying ‘written,'” she explains. “There are several ways to use it, so we still have to interpret it. But I think Gohmert might ask a question.”
Conclusion:
“It is best to keep on moving on and cease wasting time for the American people since you were just grandstanding. But did not ask for any information within the scope of my testimony today,” Mueller said. Rep. Gohmert had been speaking for a long time since Muller refused to answer his attempts to press a question that the special counsel had already explained after he had halted Muller’s investigation and accused the special counsel of perpetuating injustice by managing a department. I understand what you’re asking. I know what you’re asking.
