Trump ‘looking forward’ to being questioned under oath
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump declared he’s “looking forward’’ to being questioned — under oath — in the special counsel’s probe of Russian election interference and Mr Trump’s possible obstruction in the firing of the FBI director.
Mr Trump said he would be willing to answer questions under oath in the interview, which special counsel Robert Mueller has been seeking but which White House officials had not previously confirmed the president would grant.
“I’m looking forward to it, actually,’’ Mr Trump said late on Wednesday when asked by reporters at the White House. As for timing, he said: “I guess they’re talking about two or three weeks, but I’d love to do it.’’
He said, as he has repeatedly, that “there’s no collusion whatsoever’’ with the Russians.
The full scope of Mr Mueller’s investigation, which involves hundreds of thousands of documents and dozens of witness interviews, is unknown. And there have been no signs that agents aren’t continuing to work on ties between Mr Trump’s campaign and a Russian effort to tip the 2016 election.
The timing and circumstances of a Trump interview are still being ironed out. But soon it will probably be the president himself who will have to explain to Mr Mueller how his actions don’t add up to obstruction of justice. And that conversation will be dominated by questions tied to whether he took steps to thwart an FBI investigation.
Asked if he thinks Mr Mueller will be fair, Mr Trump replied: “We’re going to find out.’’
In a potential signal of his defence, Mr Trump suggested he didn’t obstruct — he simply fought back against a false accusation.