WASHINGTON D.C., DC — As the nation tuned into Special Counsel Robert Mueller's testimony Wednesday before two House Committees, viewers scrambled to learn more about the key characters in the hearings.
Aaron Zebley
One of most frequent Google searches early on was for Aaron Zebley, Mueller's top aide in his investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and potential executive branch obstruction. Zebley was seated next to Mueller during his testimony, and was actually sworn in before the Intelligence Committee hearing.
Zebley has a long career as an FBI agent specializing in counter terrorism investigations. He helped built the conspiracy case against Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called 20th hijacker who was arrested before the 9-11 attacks in Minnesota while taking flight training.
Other trending queries
Other trending searches included "Who's sitting behind Robert Mueller?" and "How old is Robert Mueller?"
Mueller is 74. The men seen immediately behind him were part of Mueller's team of investigators and attorneys, including Andrew Goldstein and James Quarles who was also an assistant special counsel during the Watergate probe in the 1970s.
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner
Rep. Frank James “Jim” Sensenbrenner Jr. was one of several Republicans who accused Mueller of going overboard in his investigation. He grilled Mueller, asking him why he went on with the obstruction investigation if he had already determined a sitting president couldn't be indicted.
Rep. Sensenbrenner has spent 40 years on Capitol Hill representing Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District, which extends westward from Milwaukee's suburbs. He was one of the House members who led the efforts to impeach President Bill Clinton and in 2011 had to apologize for a comment he made about First Lady Michelle Obama's posterior.
Rep. John Ratcliffe
Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas told Mueller it was unfair to write a report that was damaging to President Trump if it wasn't part of an indictment
"Donald Trump is not above the law, he's not. But he damn sure shouldn't be below the law, which is where this report puts him!"
Ratcliffe is a former US attorney -- a federal prosecutor -- for the Eastern District of Texas. A Chicago native, he as served in Congress since 2015.
Rep. Terri Sewell
Democrat Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama briefly trended in Google searches Wednesday afternoon when she questioned Mueller during his appearance before the House Intelligence Committee.
Rep. Sewell recapped the meeting at Trump Tower June 9 of 2016 between Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort and Russian nationals who'd offered damaging information about Hillary Clinton.
"Isn't it against the law for a campaign to accept anything of value from a foreign government?" Sewell asked Mueller.
He said generally that's true but the cases are unique.
Sewell is an attorney and in 2010 became the first African American woman ever elected to Congress from the state of Alabama.
Rep. Louie Gohmert
Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert tore into Mueller over the obstruction investigation, saying President Trump was merely defending himself because he felt under attack by the Justice Department.
"He knows he innocent, he's not corruptly acting in order to see justice is done, what he's doing is he is not obstructing justice. He is pursuing justice! And the fact you ran it out two years means you perpetuated injustice!"
Prior to arriving in Congress in 2005, Gohmert worked as an attorney and judge. He has been one of the leading figures in the Tea Party movement at the Capitol.
Mr. Collins
As the lead Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia vigorously questioned Mueller about the differences between the words "collusion" and "conspiracy" -- because Mueller has pointed out the president's term "collusion" wasn't the focus of his investigation.
While he questioned Mueller the trending Google search result was "Mr. William Collins" who was a character in Jane Austen's novel, "The Pride and the Prejudice."
Rep. Collins' nameplate in the committee room reads, "Mr. Collins."
Collins was a Baptist minister before going to Congress in 2007. He served as a chaplain in the US Navy, and currently hold a similar post in the US Air Force Reserves.
Other trending queries
Other trending searches included "Who's sitting behind Robert Mueller?" and "How old is Robert Mueller?"
Mueller is 74. The men seen immediately behind him were part of Mueller's team of investigators and attorneys, including Andrew Goldstein and James Quarles who was also an assistant special counsel during the Watergate probe in the 1970s.
Rep. Martha Roby
Republican Martha Roby of Alabama quizzed Mueller over how he arrived at the decision to offer confidential versions of his report without redactions for members of select Congressional committees. Mueller said he would not get into the private discussions he had with Attorney General William Barr over that.
Roby is a lawyer who served on the Montgomery City Council before going to Congress in 2011.