Trump says he ‘easily’ answered Russia probe questions

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - President Donald Trump yesterday said he had “very easily” completed his written answers for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 U.S. election, but had not yet submitted them to Mueller’s office.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he wrote the answers to the questions himself.

“My lawyers don’t write answers. I write answers. I was asked a series of questions. I’ve answered them very easily,” Trump said.

The Republican president did not specify when his legal team would give Mueller his written responses, but a person familiar with the matter told Reuters they likely would be submitted next week. Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment.

“I’m sure they’re tricked-up because, you know, they like to catch people,” Trump said, referring to questions that he suggested could be designed to result in perjury charges. “You have to always be careful when you answer, with people that probably have bad intentions. Now, the questions were very routinely answered by me.”

Mueller is investigating whether members of Trump’s campaign conspired with Moscow in the 2016 election and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe, which has clouded his presidency.

Trump and his lawyers had been in negotiations with Mueller’s team for months over how the president would be questioned as part of the investigation.