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2018-08-02 16:19:35
By Laura Tucker, Staff writer; Image: Robert Mueller (Image source: Screenshot)
There's been talk for several months on if and when Donald Trump would be interviewed by Robert Mueller's team regarding colluding with Russia and obstruction of justice. While his attorneys are telling him not to, the president is pushing to get it over with, with Mueller offering to limit the questions.
Three people who have been briefed on the discussions say Trump has been asking his lawyers recently to try reaching to an agreement with Mueller's team with regards to an interview.
Because the investigation is lurching ahead recently, Trump has admitted he wants to meet with the investigators to clear his name. He believes he can convince Mueller's team that their investigation is a "witch hunt."
These negotiations have been going on for eight long months. The latest offer came Tuesday night from Mueller's office. While he will still address the same topics — collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice — he's offering to accept some written answers, though with some of those, Mueller wants to be able to address his answers in a follow-up in person.
The key area that Mueller has questions about is the possible obstruction of justice after Trump fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017. Comey has testified that Trump pressured him to drop an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Trump's attorneys will not agree to in-person follow-ups, as the people briefed on the discussions say they are worried it will increase his legal exposure. They want to tell the special counsel's office that the interview will not be happening, even though it means it could lead to a fight for a subpoena which could affect the November midterms. It's believed that Mueller may be countering with a new proposal.
"We're in the process of responding to their proposal," said Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney.
It's Trump's belief throughout these negotiations that he could bring and end to the investigation. However, the investigation is far-reaching and has many implications, it wouldn't be a quick end even if that ended up happening, as the investigation results have to be turned over to the lawmakers.
If Trump continues to refuse to sit for an interview, it would continue to paint him in a negative light, as if he is innocent of what is being alleged, he has no reason to not sit for these questions.
Meanwhile, he works on convincing the public that this whole thing is a witch hunt on Twitter and in rallies. His attorneys have advised him that he doesn't have any personal legal exposure, and the only threat to not sitting for the interview would be an impeachment if the Democrats win control of the House in the midterms.
Those who have worked with Mueller in the past believe he will continue to pursue all avenues to get Trump to sit for an interview, but the president's attorneys don't believe the special counsel is willing to lose a a fight in court over the subpoena if Trump never agrees.
It is apparent that Trump has more concerns than Mueller at this point. On Wednesday he tweeted, "This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further."
But Sessions recused himself from the investigation from the outset. The deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, stepped in and was the one who appointed Mueller. This is why some of Trump's allies in the House moved to impeach Rosenstein last week, but not getting the votes to do so, agreed to delay it until after the five-week recess.
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