President's lawyers may offer Mueller a meeting with Trump

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico

Looking to speed Mueller's Russia probe and show openness, the president's legal team might soon volunteer a chance for the special counsel to interview Trump.

By DARREN SAMUELSOHN 10/12/2017 05:02 AM EDT

Donald Trump’s lawyers are open to having the president sit down for an interview with Robert Mueller, according to a senior White House official, as part of a wider posture of cooperation with the special counsel’s Russia probe.

If Mueller doesn’t request an interview by Thanksgiving, Trump’s lawyers may even force the issue by volunteering Trump’s time, the official said. The White House believes such an interview could help Mueller wrap up the probe faster and dispel the cloud of suspicion over Trump.

A meeting with Mueller could bring serious risks for Trump—exposing him to questions about everything from potential obstruction of justice over his firing of FBI Director James Comey to what Trump might know about Kremlin support for his presidential campaign. But the official suggested that the White House has no reason to stonewall Mueller.

“Whatever happens with regard to whether or not, or how, the special counsel might want to interview the president, there’s no reason to expect that would be combative,” the senior White House official explained.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/12/trump-mueller-meeting-russia-243692

[CatMor]

1. I'm sure trump thinks he can con Mueller....

the same way he has gone through life conning everyone.

[Timmygoat]

2. This does not sound right to me.

I would interpret this to mean that they think Trump will be asked to testify before thanksgiving, then they will be able to say 'See, he has always been willing to talk to them to show he has nothing to hide.

[get the red out]

5. Fox news talking points

I agree with your interpretation and I believe it is also intended to be a war cry for Fox News and RW radio devotees.

[keithbvadu2]

3. A meeting - in a witness chair - near a judge

A meeting - in a witness chair - near a judge

[BumRushDaShow]

4. If Mueller does anything

he will do it by subpoena for a deposition. But not before he gathers all the tall tales from the mob associates around Drumpf.

[justhanginon]

6. Trump would either find something in the meeting or create a situation

with Mueller that he feels would give him cover or a reason to fire Mueller.

[forgotmylogin]

11. First he'd insist on a photo op...

of Mueller shaking his hand like he did with Katy Tur...

[LiberalFighter]

7. Bad move on their part.

It will open him up to more perjury charges. Trump must be getting furious that his legal team isn't doing anything while getting paid. And wants them to do it.

[cstanleytech]

15. Not if Trump can get Mueller to agree to doing it without Trump being sworn under oath and

off the record and if Mueller agrees to that he is either stupid as hell or corrupt.

[Yonnie3]

8. Interview. Bah!

The liar in chief needs to be under oath. No frigging photo-op of "See, I'm cooperating with the fake investigation."

[leftynyc]

9. If it's not under oath

Mueller should tell him to get bent.

[Dave Starsky]

12. Absolutely.

I'm getting really tired of this whole model of people "testifying" while not being under oath. That's just bullshit. And who wants to sit there for hours listening to someone just go on about literally nothing? Don't they have ANYTHING better to do? It would be more productive to spend that time working on your play calling in Madden 18.

[L. Coyote]

10. In other words, Mueller has already asked for a meeting with Trump under oath, and

Trump is negotiating for a meeting in private, off the record, no transcript. And, they are starting to spin this because Trump's testimony under oath is inevitable and he has every reason to resist it happening.

Link to tweet

[forgotmylogin]

13. How magnanimous of him!

They want the meeting on their own terms (private, not under oath). Mueller likely doesn't need Trump's help to convict him.

[cstanleytech]

14. Unless it's under oath Mueller should decline. NT

[Bayard]

16. tRump under oath?

That means nothing to him. He's a congenital liar. So you're going to get the same results either way. It would be interesting if he plead the 5th, but he wouldn't see a need to if can lie his way out of the situation. And he could still claim he didn't have to answer as a matter of national security, executive privilege, whatever.