Giuliani says Trump won't answer Mueller's questions about obstruction of justice

Rudy Giuliani told The Washington Post on Monday that he and President Trump's other lawyers are drafting a letter to send to Special Counsel Robert Mueller "sometime on Tuesday or Wednesday" asserting that Trump will not answer Mueller's questions about possible obstruction of justice. "We have a real reluctance about allowing any questions about obstruction," Giuliani said. That doesn't mean Trump won't sit down with Mueller, he added. "The president still hasn't made a decision, and we're not going to make a final decision just yet." Trump reportedly wants to do a Mueller interview while his legal team thinks that's a terrible idea.
Mueller "doesn't need us, he's got our explanation" for why Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing the investigation of Trump's campaign and Russian election interference until Trump dismissed him, and, according to Comey, tried to get the FBI to drop its case against his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Trump would "say the same thing in the interview that he's said publicly," Giuliani told the Post. "But they are trying to get something on perjury and that's not going to happen." Mueller has threatened to subpoena Trump to compel him to testify, which would set up a high-stakes legal battle. Mueller and Trump's lawyers have been negotiating the parameters for an interview for months.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
How will the new tax deductions on auto loans work?
the explainer Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited
-
Is Trump actually going to prosecute Obama for 'treason'?
Today's Big Question Or is this just a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?
-
5 best movie sequels of all time
The Week Recommends The second time is only sometimes as good as the first
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein