Trump declares he could 'run' the Mueller probe if he wanted to
President Trump told Reuters on Monday that he is "totally allowed" to be involved with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, but has "decided to stay out."
He added, "As you know, I can go in, and I could do whatever — I could run it if I want." Mueller's team is also investigating whether Trump's campaign coordinated with any Russians and if Trump has obstructed justice. Trump echoed concerns made by his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who said he's worried investigators will take Trump's statements and compare them to others who have already been interviewed, like former FBI Director James Comey. "Even if I am telling the truth, that makes me a liar," Trump said. "That's no good."
Trump did not tell Reuters if he will ever agree to sit down for an interview with Mueller or his investigators, and would not say if he might revoke Mueller's security clearance, like he did last week to John Brennan, the former CIA director and one of Trump's most vocal critics.
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
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
6 optimal digital nomad destinations. Pack your laptop, your visa and a sense of adventure.The Week Recommends See the world — but do it in a conscientious manner
-
‘The issue isn’t talent but moral guidance’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Paramount, Comcast, Netflix bid for WBDSpeed Read The outcome of this bidding war ‘could alter the trajectory of the entertainment business’
-
Judge halts Trump’s DC Guard deploymentSpeed Read The Trump administration has ‘infringed upon the District’s right to govern itself,’ the judge ruled
-
Trump accuses Democrats of sedition meriting ‘death’Speed Read The president called for Democratic lawmakers to be arrested for urging the military to refuse illegal orders
-
Court strikes down Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read The Texas congressional map ordered by Trump is likely an illegal racial gerrymander, the court ruled
-
Trump defends Saudi prince, shrugs off Khashoggi murderSpeed Read The president rebuked an ABC News reporter for asking Mohammed bin Salman about the death of a Washington Post journalist at the Saudi Consulate in 2018
-
Congress passes bill to force release of Epstein filesSpeed Read The Justice Department will release all files from its Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation
-
Trump says he will sell F-35 jets to Saudi ArabiaSpeed Read The president plans to make several deals with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this week
-
Judge blasts ‘profound’ errors in Comey caseSpeed Read ‘Government misconduct’ may necessitate dismissing the charges against the former FBI director altogether
-
Ecuador rejects push to allow US military basesSpeed Read Voters rejected a repeal of a constitutional ban on US and other foreign military bases in the country
