Trump could be interviewed within weeks in Russia probe - Washington Post

[webfact]

Trump could be interviewed within weeks in Russia probe - Washington Post

 

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. January 8, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump could be interviewed within weeks as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

 

Mueller raised the issue of interviewing Trump during a meeting in late December with the president's lawyers, John Dowd and Jay Sekulow, the Post said. The interview, which would deal with a limited portion of questions, could take place within the next several weeks, the Post said, citing a person close to the president.

 

Sekulow and Dowd did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the Washington Post report. White House attorney Ty Cobb declined to comment on it, saying it was policy not to comment on communications with the special counsel's office.

 

Earlier on Monday, a source familiar with the issue said discussions about Trump's possible testimony have been going on among lawyers. NBC News reported that Trump's attorneys were in discussions about the president being interviewed in connection with Mueller's Russia probe.

 

Citing three people familiar with the situation, NBC said lawyers for Trump had met with representatives of Mueller's office in late December to discuss the logistics of any such interview.

 

They included the location and length of such an interview as well as legal standards and options for its format, including written responses instead of a formal sit-down, according to the network.

 

The spokesman for the special counsel's office, Peter Carr, declined to comment on the report.

 

Mueller has been appointed by the Justice Department to investigate allegations of Russian meddling in the November 2016 election and possible collusion with Trump's campaign.

 

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the election to try to help Trump win. Russia has denied any meddling, and Trump has said there was no collusion.

 

Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said in an interview with MSNBC television on Monday that he expected Mueller would try to talk to the president "face-to-face."

 

Mueller's probe so far has led to two Trump associates, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign aide George Papadopoulos, pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents.

 

Two others, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and his associate, Richard Gates, were indicted on money laundering charges but have pleaded not guilty.

 

Trump said on Saturday he was willing to speak with Mueller's team.

 

"There's been no collusion; there's been no crime," he told reporters at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. "And, in theory, everybody tells me I'm not under investigation."

 

(Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld and Mark Hosenball; writing by Susan Heavey and David Alexander; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-09

[Samui Bodoh]

Very interesting!

 

Interviewing a President of the US, any President of the US, is a very big deal and will likely occur only on one occasion. If Mueller is at the stage where he feels it is time to interview, that may well mean that some kind of conclusion is being reached. Hmm... to contradict myself, we need to remember that nothing about Trump and his Presidency is normal, so perhaps the usual standard of 'one interview for a President doesn't apply here.

 

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

They included the location and length of such an interview as well as legal standards and options for its format, including written responses instead of a formal sit-down, according to the network.

 

These are really key questions. I am certain that Trump's lawyers will be pushing VERY hard to be able to provide written answers as it would mean that they could write them on his behalf.

 

Does Trump himself have the ability to stand up to verbal questions that he must answer himself? Especially under oath? I doubt it. I am not a lawyer, but if I had to question anyone on the planet, I would choose Trump and play on his ego and bluster until I got what I wanted...

 

In the recent release of the book regarding the Trump White House, questions have been raised regarding Trump's mental capacity. Perhaps an interview with Mueller and his team would be a good assessment of those capacities?

 

Food for thought...

 

Edited January 8, 2018 by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

[selftaopath]

If Trump - a pathological liar - has the genius he tells the world he does, he will avoid (at all costs) speaking under oath.  

[Briggsy]

Hopefully, the 'interview' will be in the form of "Resign now or all your dirty linen will come out". A few hours later, Trump scuttles out of the White House claiming he needs a rest.

[Silurian]

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

They included the location and length of such an interview as well as legal standards and options for its format, including written responses instead of a formal sit-down, according to the network.

 

You can bet that the lawyers are pushing for the written responses as it limits the exposure of the "genius" giving any rambling, possibly problematic answers. This way the lawyers can take their time and draft safe, non-incriminating statements that can be practiced over and over again. I will be highly surprised if it will be a face-to-face interview.

 

[Boon Mee]

Let's hope this show is over soon as it is a waste of taxpayers money. 

[selftaopath]

46 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Hopefully, the 'interview' will be in the form of "Resign now or all your dirty linen will come out". A few hours later, Trump scuttles out of the White House claiming he needs a rest.

I love and look forward to the day Trump is gone. However I hope he is not allowed to "resign." He ought to experience the "full monty" of consequences for his - if found- misdeeds/behavior aspersions and nastiness. He ought to be forced to openly deny his lies and guilt to undermine U.S. institutions/democracy. I also hope Americans see his real wealth and even his college transcripts. Let's not forget how he hounded others e.g. Obama, and all U.S. institutions.

[ballpoint]

Worried about this, Trump's lawyers have been preparing him for it...

 

[jackh]

Simply a nothing burger. Gitmo gearing up to house all the treasonous officials of the Obama era. Swamp draining will commence full steam in 2018. MAGA

[Becker]

37 minutes ago, jackh said:

Simply a nothing burger. Gitmo gearing up to house all the treasonous officials of the Obama era. Swamp draining will commence full steam in 2018. MAGA

I can see that the man-child's tenuous grip on reality is shared by his base supporters. And when are you guys going to grow a pair and admit it's not really MAGA but MAWA (Make America White Again)? But I guess for the base that's the same thing, right?

Edited January 9, 2018 by Becker

[boomerangutang]

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Let's hope this show is over soon as it is a waste of taxpayers money. 

If I and my gang were law-breakers, we too would want the investigation over as soon as possible.  The sooner it's over, the less likely me and my buddies get convicted, because it's less time to do a thorough investigation. 

 

Speaking of wasting taxpayer money, ...how about $19 million Don has spent in the past year to go play golf.

 

1 hour ago, jackh said:

Simply a nothing burger. Gitmo gearing up to house all the treasonous officials of the Obama era. Swamp draining will commence full steam in 2018. MAGA

Swamp draining started when Mueller was appointed last summer.  We haven't yet seen much of Mueller's swamp draining, because he's putting a case together.  It's a giant case, but he's got some of the best prosecutors available.  Since there's so much dirt on Trump and his buddies, the investigation could easily go on into 2019.

 

Trump draining the swamp?  Sure, by appointing 5 Goldman Sach's execs to top positions.  And having a right hand man (Kushner) who couldn't get a security clearance for stacking pins at a bowling alley.

 

 

[Berkshire]

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Let's hope this show is over soon as it is a waste of taxpayers money. 

If Trump is interviewed under oath, it will be over.  That is, game over.  It is virtually impossible for Trump not to lie.  One thing to lie to the press and his wacko supporters, but another to lie to a special counsel under oath.  I honestly don't think Trump can tell the difference.

Edited January 9, 2018 by Berkshire

[Becker]

8 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

If Trump is interviewed under oath, it will be over.  That is, game over.  It is virtually impossible for Trump not to lie.  One thing to lie to the press and his wacko supporters, but another to lie to a special counsel under oath.  I honestly don't think Trump can tell the difference.

He can't even string together a coherent sentence. The man-child's vocabulary is that of a 4th grader.

 

 

Edited January 9, 2018 by Becker

[jackh]

6 minutes ago, Becker said:

He can't even string together a coherent sentence. The man-child's vocabulary is that of a 4th grader.

 

 

You could only hope to develop 1/100th of the intelligence of Trump. I understand your jealousy, but you should have more self respect and just try harder. 

[Slip]

2 minutes ago, jackh said:

You could only hope to develop 1/100th of the intelligence of Trump. I understand your jealousy, but you should have more self respect and just try harder. 

What a wonderfully Trumpian (and therefore entirely worthless) post.  Ad hominem and with nothing whatsoever to back it up.

[Becker]

10 minutes ago, jackh said:

You could only hope to develop 1/100th of the intelligence of Trump. I understand your jealousy, but you should have more self respect and just try harder. 

 

QED on the man-child supporters tenuous grip on reality - thanks for proving my point

[jackh]

1 hour ago, Langsuan Man said:

The only thing more stupid than a trump supporter is Trump;  no US citizen can be incarcerated at Gitmo

 

Swamp draining is another lie, the only thing this administration is draining is the US treasury to provide golf outings for the golfer-in-chief 

From your own boy........http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074576/President-Obama-signs-law-detain-terror-suspects-indefinitely.html

 

Suggest you educate yourself before doing the snowflake shuffle.

[Langsuan Man]

30 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Everyone except victims of the MSM know that Obama is really a citizen of Kenya and a Muslim and a Socialist so he is triply unamerican.

Really, and the moon landing was fake and there was another gunman on that grassy knoll in Dallas..........

 

[jackh]

1 minute ago, Langsuan Man said:

Really, and the moon landing was fake and there was another gunman on that grassy knoll in Dallas..........

 

Do your homework. Obama already proven to NOT be a US citizen AND is indeed a Muslim.

[Becker]

7 minutes ago, jackh said:

Do your homework. Obama already proven to NOT be a US citizen AND is indeed a Muslim.

One could go on arguing with this level of stupidity but really, what's the point?

[mikebike]

4 minutes ago, Becker said:

One could go on arguing with this level of stupidity but really, what's the point?

Don't feed the troll!!

 

[Sir Swagman]

1 hour ago, ilostmypassword said:

Everyone except victims of the MSM know that Obama is really a citizen of Kenya and a Muslim and a Socialist so he is triply unamerican.

I believe it was correctly reported that Obama is also a one-legged woman, but that is just a disguise, as he is really a unicorn.

[Samui Bodoh]

31 minutes ago, Langsuan Man said:

Really, and the moon landing was fake and there was another gunman on that grassy knoll in Dallas..........

 

Hi Langsuan Man

 

I'm on your side regarding Trump and his...er... ahem...advocates.

 

However, there was another shooter on that grassy knoll in Dallas!

 

 

[boomerangutang]

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

If Trump is interviewed under oath, it will be over.  That is, game over.  It is virtually impossible for Trump not to lie.  One thing to lie to the press and his wacko supporters, but another to lie to a special counsel under oath.  I honestly don't think Trump can tell the difference.

Not necessarily.  Trump can do what Sessions has been doing.  Simply repeat, ad nauseum, that he didn't know anything at any time.  Of course he would be lying, but that's what he does every time he utters a sound.

 

1 hour ago, Becker said:

He can't even string together a coherent sentence. The man-child's vocabulary is that of a 4th grader.

Walter Cronkite interviewed every president between Truman and Clinton, and claimed Carter was the most well-spoken and articulate of the bunch.  That fits with the chart above.  I didn't know Hoover was so well-spoken, but I certainly know Trump is an immature idiot.

 

1 hour ago, jackh said:

You could only hope to develop 1/100th of the intelligence of Trump. I understand your jealousy, but you should have more self respect and just try harder. 

If I was 1% as intelligent as Trump, I'd be smarter than a 7 year old.

 

8 minutes ago, Sir Swagman said:

I believe it was correctly reported that Obama is also a one-legged woman, but that is just a disguise, as he is really a unicorn.

I rec'd that silly photo of Barack and Michelle which was photoshopped to indicate Barack was female and Michelle was male.  It was sent by my right-wing gun-hugging elder brother.  Yes, the one who faked mental illness to get out of the army (and gets life-long benefits), ...who married 9 women who were all breadwinners, he sired 5 kids, and never paid a penny child-support.  Yup, that Trump-loving brother actually believes the photo is real, and that Obama and Michelle are sexually opposite of what every sane person knows they are.  My brother is in the basket of deplorables, who have cheated their way to political power (with Putin's help) and are destroying the USA, bit by bit.

[smotherb]

4 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Let's hope this show is over soon as it is a waste of taxpayers money. 

Would you have them end it because you are tired of hearing about it or because they had run out of legitimate reason for further investigation--I believe our taxes are well-spent finding out if un-American activities are being perpetrated against us

[anono222]

What a gross waste of time, funds and effort.  It has been a year; how much longer can this be deemed relevant to anything that should be going on to move the US forward.  Even more to the point, how can anyone take any of these jokers seriously; and I make no exclusions, pick your color.  How embarrassing for them!    Cheers.... Doc

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Let's hope this show is over soon as it is a waste of taxpayers money. 

I agree.

Paying for Trump's security, his extended family and cabinet has been a waste.

Edited January 9, 2018 by Srikcir
sentence

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, jackh said:

Suggest you educate yourself

Daily Mail link is blocked in Thailand.

[Srikcir]

Imagined Trump preconditions to give testimony.

1) He can use a double.

2) He will give video testimony from the five-star Ritz-Carlton Moscow Hotel

3) He will be given questions in advance written in Cyrillic script

4) He will be addressed as Lord, Great Leader or Highness

5) Mueller must first answer 20 questions from Trump

6) He will be accompanied with the "nuclear football"

 

[Slip]

2 hours ago, jackh said:

From your own boy........http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074576/President-Obama-signs-law-detain-terror-suspects-indefinitely.html

 

Suggest you educate yourself before doing the snowflake shuffle.

If you are seriously quoting the Daily Mail, I suggest you are the one who should educate yourself.  The Mail is a gutter rag that demonstrably tells flat-out lies.  It is the UK's shameful Breitbart equivalent.