Trump ‘told by his lawyers to decline Mueller interview on Russia’
DONALD TRUMP’S lawyers have reportedly advised him against answering questions from Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the investigation into Russian election meddling.
They fear the president could be charged with lying to investigators, according to a New York Times report, which noted his tendency to contradict himself in the past. Other high profile supporters of Mr Trump, such as Newt Gingrich and Chris Christie, the former presidential candidates, have also urged him to reject any request.
The advice appears at odds with Mr Trump’s own instinct to agree to be interviewed, something he publicly said he would do last month.
A refusal to be questioned could create months of legal wrangling and push back the end of the investigation. Mr Mueller is said to be looking at as many as five different areas of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, one of which is obstruction of justice.
Steve Bannon, Mr Trump’s former campaign chief and White House adviser, is said to be prepared to talk to Mr Mueller but has been less forthcoming with Congress.
Fox News reported that Mr Bannon will decline to appear before the House intelligence committee, which is looking into Russia’s role in the election, despite a subpoena being issued.
Mr Mueller, who was tasked with leading the Russian investigation after Mr Trump fired James Comey as FBI director, is seeking an interview with the president.
Last month, Mr Trump said he was “looking forward” to the interview and was willing to appear under oath, before adding “subject to my lawyers, and all of that”. The New York Times reported that John Dowd, a lawyer hired to represent Mr Trump in the investigation, and Jay Sekulow, his deputy, want the president to “rebuff ” any interview request.
Mr Gingrich said: “The idea of putting Trump in a room with five or six hardened, very clever lawyers, all of whom are trying to trick him and trap him, would be a very, very bad idea.”
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has come under pressure after the US stock market, which he has cited as proof of the success of his presidency, dropped sharply in recent days. The White House attempted to put the focus on the wider economy rather than the stock market.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said: “The president’s focus is on our long-term economic fundamentals, which remain exceptionally strong, with strengthening US economic growth, historically low unemployment and increasing wages for American workers.”