Washington, Jan 9: US Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team wants to question President Donald Trump as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, media reports said Tuesday.
Mueller is trying to determine if Trump’s campaign advisers colluded with the Russian government to influence the election. The investigation also reportedly involves a probe into whether the President obstructed justice when he allegedly asked ex-FBI director James Comey to drop an inquiry into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Flynn pleaded guilty in December to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, becoming the first senior White House official to cut a cooperation deal in Mueller’s inquiry. Now Trump’s legal team is pushing for a written question and answer, multiple media reports said.
The White House and Trump has been saying that he is ready to cooperate as he has nothing to hide. “Mr Trump’s lawyers are expected to try to set ground rules for any interview or provide answers to written questions. If Mr Trump were to refuse outright to cooperate, Mr Mueller could respond with a grand jury subpoena,” The New York Times said. “The White House does not comment on communications with the Office of the Special Counsel out of respect for the Office of the Special Counsel and its process. The White House is continuing its full cooperation with the Office of the Special Counsel in order to facilitate the earliest possible resolution,” an attorney said.
PTI