Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and current lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks to members of the media during a White House Sports and Fitness Day at the South Lawn of the White House May 30, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Trump Lawyers Say President Willing to Talk to Mueller...So Long as He Doesn't Ask About Obstruction of Justice
"Whatever topic he says is off-limits is the topic where he's definitely committed crimes," argued one commentator
President Donald Trump's lawyers have reportedly sent Special Counsel Robert Mueller a "counter-offer" regarding the scope of a possible sit-down interview as part of the ongoing Russia probe, and they apparently made one key demand: Absolutely no questions about whether Trump has obstructed justice.
As New York Times reported on Wednesday, the president's attorneys "rejected the special counsel's latest terms for an interview in the Russia investigation"--which included questions about possible obstruction of justice and a variety of other topics--and offered a far narrower framework.
While the president's legal team refused to discuss the contents of its response to Mueller, one anonymous source familiar with the response told the Times that Trump's lawyers made clear that they "do not want him answering questions about whether he obstructed justice."
Writer Parker Malloy suggested that there could be a good reason why Trump's lawyers want to avoid such questions:
According to the Times, Trump's attorneys are seriously concerned that if Trump agrees to an interview, he "could perjure himself."
But Trump appears to be convinced that he can persuade Mueller that he has done nothing wrong, so he has continued to pressure his lawyers to set up an interview.
"He just can't help himself," one Trump associate told Axios.
Negotiations between Mueller and Trump's lawyers over a potential interview have gone on for eight months, and the special counsel has already reportedly threatened to subpoena the president if they fail to negotiate a voluntary interview.
"Only one president, Bill Clinton, has been subpoenaed while in office," the Times notes. "The president's lawyers have said they would fight a subpoena--a battle that could eventually be decided by the Supreme Court."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
President Donald Trump's lawyers have reportedly sent Special Counsel Robert Mueller a "counter-offer" regarding the scope of a possible sit-down interview as part of the ongoing Russia probe, and they apparently made one key demand: Absolutely no questions about whether Trump has obstructed justice.
As New York Times reported on Wednesday, the president's attorneys "rejected the special counsel's latest terms for an interview in the Russia investigation"--which included questions about possible obstruction of justice and a variety of other topics--and offered a far narrower framework.
While the president's legal team refused to discuss the contents of its response to Mueller, one anonymous source familiar with the response told the Times that Trump's lawyers made clear that they "do not want him answering questions about whether he obstructed justice."
Writer Parker Malloy suggested that there could be a good reason why Trump's lawyers want to avoid such questions:
According to the Times, Trump's attorneys are seriously concerned that if Trump agrees to an interview, he "could perjure himself."
But Trump appears to be convinced that he can persuade Mueller that he has done nothing wrong, so he has continued to pressure his lawyers to set up an interview.
"He just can't help himself," one Trump associate told Axios.
Negotiations between Mueller and Trump's lawyers over a potential interview have gone on for eight months, and the special counsel has already reportedly threatened to subpoena the president if they fail to negotiate a voluntary interview.
"Only one president, Bill Clinton, has been subpoenaed while in office," the Times notes. "The president's lawyers have said they would fight a subpoena--a battle that could eventually be decided by the Supreme Court."
President Donald Trump's lawyers have reportedly sent Special Counsel Robert Mueller a "counter-offer" regarding the scope of a possible sit-down interview as part of the ongoing Russia probe, and they apparently made one key demand: Absolutely no questions about whether Trump has obstructed justice.
As New York Times reported on Wednesday, the president's attorneys "rejected the special counsel's latest terms for an interview in the Russia investigation"--which included questions about possible obstruction of justice and a variety of other topics--and offered a far narrower framework.
While the president's legal team refused to discuss the contents of its response to Mueller, one anonymous source familiar with the response told the Times that Trump's lawyers made clear that they "do not want him answering questions about whether he obstructed justice."
Writer Parker Malloy suggested that there could be a good reason why Trump's lawyers want to avoid such questions:
According to the Times, Trump's attorneys are seriously concerned that if Trump agrees to an interview, he "could perjure himself."
But Trump appears to be convinced that he can persuade Mueller that he has done nothing wrong, so he has continued to pressure his lawyers to set up an interview.
"He just can't help himself," one Trump associate told Axios.
Negotiations between Mueller and Trump's lawyers over a potential interview have gone on for eight months, and the special counsel has already reportedly threatened to subpoena the president if they fail to negotiate a voluntary interview.
"Only one president, Bill Clinton, has been subpoenaed while in office," the Times notes. "The president's lawyers have said they would fight a subpoena--a battle that could eventually be decided by the Supreme Court."