Trump ex-aide Bannon to be interviewed by Mueller probe

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has reached agreement with US Special Counsel Robert Mueller to be interviewed by Mueller’s investigators rather than appearing before a grand jury, a source said on Wednesday.

Bannon, a close adviser during President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign and in his first months in office, had been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Mueller’s probe of links between Russia and Trump’s campaign.

But the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mueller offered Bannon the option of being interviewed instead and Bannon accepted. It was unclear when the interview would take place.

An interview with prosecutors would allow Bannon to have an attorney present during his appearance, as lawyers are not permitted for grand juries.

A spokesperson for Mueller declined to comment on the agreement, first reported by CNN. A lawyer who represented Bannon in an appearance before the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee on Tuesday could not be immediately reached.

Bannon was fired from his White House job in August as the president sought to bring order to his staff operations.

Earlier this month, Trump attacked Bannon for comments he made to Michael Wolff, the author of a book highly critical of the president and his family. They included scathing remarks about Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, for meeting during the campaign with a Russian lawyer who was said to have damaging information on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.