A key House panel has made a series of moves in recent weeks to get to the bottom of the Jeffrey Epstein story once and for all, but its leader was just forced to backtrack on his push to secure testimony from one notable name.

As the Daily Caller reports, an Oversight panel spokesperson revealed this week that a subpoena issued to Mueller in the Epstein probe will be withdrawn, noting that the former FBI director and special counsel is suffering from health issues “that preclude him from being able to testify.”

Mueller's status emerges

The move comes in the wake of an Aug. 6 Real Clear Investigations report exposing the fact that Mueller has long been a resident of a memory care facility catering to individuals with cognitive concerns.

Mueller, 81, who formerly led the FBI and also headed the Russia-Trump collusion probe, had been summoned to testify on Epstein-related matters on Sept. 2.

The panel had, as the Daily Mail noted, hoped that Mueller could provide details about Epstein and his 2005 case related to prostitution allegations.

However, it soon became apparent that Mueller is likely not in a condition conducive to providing testimony before Congress.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz noted on social media earlier in August that Mueller’s status had clearly been in decline for quite some time, referencing the former FBI chief’s 2019 testimony regarding the Russia probe.

2019 appearance revisited

Indeed, it was during Mueller’s 2019 appearance before the House Judiciary Committee that questions about his mental fitness first came to public light, as Politico explained at the time.

The outlet noted that Mueller “who had earned a reputation as a studious and hard-nosed witness over dozens of congressional hearings in the 2000s -- seemed unfamiliar with details from his nearly two-year-old investigation. He repeatedly asked lawmakers to pose questions again.”

Around 45 into Mueller’s testimony, longtime Barack Obama advisor David Axelrod observed, “This is delicate to say, but Mueller, whom I deeply respect, has not publicly testified before Congress in at least six years. And he does not appear as sharp as he was then.”

Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner, who worked for Mueller at one point, said, “Bob Mueller is struggling. It strikes me as a health issue. We need only look at footage of his earlier congressional appearances to see the dramatic difference in his demeanor and communicative abilities.”

Two years after the fact, then-Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) recalled Mueller’s presentation as “painful,” adding that if he had known the situation earlier, he “would not have pushed for his testimony.”

Big names summoned

Despite the withdrawal of Mueller’s subpoena, the committee still anticipates the appearance of numerous high-profile witnesses, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, former AGs Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Merrick Garland, and Bill Barr, who appeared for testimony earlier this week.

Whether any of these individuals will shed valuable light on the Epstein case or provide details sufficient to satisfy the curiosity of millions of Americans who believe there is much more to learn, only time will tell.