Mike Allen reports in Axios AM that Donald Trump has been advised by counsel not to consent to an unfettered interview with investigator Robert Mueller:
“Lawyers for President Trump have advised him against sitting down for a wide-ranging interview with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller, … raising the specter of a monthslong court battle,” per the N.Y. Times’ Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman:
- “His lawyers are concerned that the president, who has a history of making false statements and contradicting himself, could be charged with lying to investigators.”
- Why it matters: “Refusing to sit for an interview opens the possibility that Mr. Mueller will subpoena the president to testify before a grand jury, setting up a court fight that would drastically escalate the investigation and could be decided by the Supreme Court.”
- “Rejecting an interview with Mr. Mueller also carries political consequences … casting a shadow over Republicans as November’s midterm elections approach or beyond into the president’s re-election campaign.”