Trump’s Lawyers Reject New Mueller Interview Proposal, Want Narrower Scope

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: Latest appointee to President Donald Trump's legal team and former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani takes questions from the media after speaking at the Conference on Iran on May 5, 20... WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: Latest appointee to President Donald Trump's legal team and former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani takes questions from the media after speaking at the Conference on Iran on May 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. Over one thousand delegates from representing Iranian communities from forty states attends the Iran Freedom Convention for Human Rights and Democracy. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

After eight months of ongoing negotiations over if, when and how federal investigators could possibly interview President Donald Trump, the President’s lawyers have again rejected special counsel Robert Mueller’s latest offer and asked for a narrower line of questioning, The New York Times reported Wednesday. 

According to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to the Times, Trump’s lawyers in a letter to Mueller did not completely reject a potential presidential interview, but asked for a narrower scope. His lawyers also reportedly said they wouldn’t allow Trump to be asked questions about obstruction of justice.

Earlier this week, Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani told the media that Trump’s legal team planned to respond to Mueller’s offer of allowing Trump to answer questions about obstruction of justice in writing rather than in-person. Giuliani indicated on Tuesday that Trump’s lawyers were “reluctant” to let Trump answer questions about obstruction.

According to the Times, Mueller’s team could eventually subpoena Trump to testify before a grand jury, but that move would presumably be met with legal retaliation from his lawyers — a battle that would likely land the case in the Supreme Court.

Read the Times’ full report here.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. At this rate the only things Mueller will be able to ask Spankee about are his name, rank and serial number.

    Oh, wait…

  2. Uh, anything in this general area right in here. Anything
    below the stereo and on this side of the bicentennial glasses.
    Anything between the ashtrays and the thimble. Anything in this
    three inches right in here in this area. That includes the
    Chiclets, but not the erasers.

  3. Well I guess we are now getting near that line where we can see IF rule of law will mean anything from this point forward. Because between the bad faith, trying to dictate terms and acting like a “king” who is above the law all that is left is for the people in charge of enforcing the law to hold the line. Or not. Congress has already shown it is not a player anymore.

  4. (pssh - Rudy - the glasses? They don’t make you look smarter.)

  5. Just send the subpoena already. This is just ridiculous.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

110 more replies

Participants

Avatar for playitagainrowlf Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for pluckyinky Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for jackster Avatar for epicurus Avatar for cervantes Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for irasdad Avatar for Lacuna-Synecdoche Avatar for inversion Avatar for sniffit Avatar for alansnipes734 Avatar for danny Avatar for mcstubbins Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for darrtown Avatar for tsp Avatar for bodie1 Avatar for j.dave Avatar for greysea Avatar for timbo Avatar for tompaine73

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: