Trump says he could ‘run’ Mueller probe
President doesn’t quash repeat of Brennan tactic
WASHINGTON — Speaking on Monday, President Donald Trump wouldn’t rule out revoking special counsel Robert Mueller’s security clearance and said he could “run” the Russia investigation if he so pleased.
In a wide-ranging Oval Office interview with Reuters, the president escalated his attacks on Mueller and acknowledged that while he hasn’t given it much thought, he won’t completely preclude the possibility of rescinding the special counsel’s clearance in a similar fashion to how he stripped EX-CIA Director John Brennan of his clearance last week.
“I’ve decided to stay out,” Trump said of Mueller’s probe. “Now, I don’t have to stay out, as you know. I can go in and I could … do whatever. I could run it if I want.”
Echoing concerns of his top lawyer, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Trump poured cold water on the prospect of an interview with Mueller since, he said, it could land him in a “perjury trap.”
“Even if I am telling the truth, that makes me a liar,” Trump said.
The president expressed particular concern that Mueller could catch him in a lie if his statements are compared with testimony from witnesses in the probe, such as EX-FBI Director James Comey.
“That’s no good,” Trump said.
The ranking Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee has filed an amendment to spending legislation that would prevent Trump from arbitrarily revoking security clearances.
The amendment, filed Monday by Virginia Sen. Mark Warner to a defense appropriations bill, would prohibit the use of government money to strip security clearances except as outlined by federal procedure.
Warner said Trump is using his powers to intimidate and silence his opponents and is politicizing a process that’s supposed to be nonpartisan and apolitical. More than 250 former national security officials have chided Trump for his actions.