Lawyers for Donald Trump are debating a strategy for the President ahead of an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller, according to several reports out Monday.
Mueller told Trump’s attorneys during a late December meeting that his team will likely seek an interview with the President, the Washington Post reported Monday afternoon. The special counsel’s team could interview Trump with a limited number of questions within the next few weeks, a person close to the President told the Post.
The heads up from Mueller prompted an internal debate within Trump’s legal team on how to avoid a sit-down interview or place limits on an interview, according to the Washington Post.
NBC News reported earlier on Monday that lawyers for Trump are engaged in initial talks with the FBI about a possible interview with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team and the President, citing three people familiar with the matter.
Trump’s lawyers are discussing several potential formats for an interview, such as responding to written questions in place of an in-person interview, and they are debating whether Trump could completely skip an interview, according to NBC News. His attorneys are also looking at the legal standard for when Trump can be interviewed and whether Mueller himself would interview the President, per NBC.
The President’s legal team met with investigators on the special counsel probe in late December, but it was not previously clear what was discussed at that meeting.
Read NBC News’ report here.
Lordy, I hope there are tapes.
“another possibility being contemplated was an affidavit signed by the president affirming he was innocent of any wrongdoing and denying any collusion”
Seems reasonable.
Where’s the Fifth Amendment when you really need it?
Shorter Trump team response
Unless the univerview is conducted: 1) with 2 FBI agents present, 2) and fully video taped, I say Mueller should pass. Deposition under oath with a transcript would also be nice. Trump needs to fully understand there’s no do-overs or playing around. If he wants to speak his peace he can do it, but he’s going to answer the government’s questions.