WASHINGTON — Robert Mueller is pushing back against Republican attacks with a forceful defense of his report on the Trump-Russia investigation.

Mueller testified Wednesday in Congress that he doesn’t think the lawmakers have reviewed “a report that is a thorough, as fair, as consistent as the report that we have in front of us.”

READ MORE: I did not clear Trump of obstruction of justice, Mueller says

The former special counsel is making his first major public appearance on the findings of his office’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and President Donald Trump’s response to the investigation.

The report says investigators could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice. It also said they did not find sufficient evidence to establish charges of criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Mueller has been a reluctant witness before the House Judiciary Committee, delivering single-word answers to many questions. But in response to Republican Rep. Tom McClintock of California, he gave a full-sentence defense of his 448-page report.

READ MORE:

• WATCH: Robert Mueller’s full testimony before Congress
• Read Mueller’s opening statement before the House Judiciary Committee
• All of the Mueller report’s major findings in less than 30 minutes
• Read the full, redacted Mueller report
• The giant timeline of everything Russia, Trump and the investigations
• You may not believe the Mueller report no matter what it says