Special counsel reportedly offers to limit in-person questions in Trump interview
Special counsel Robert Mueller.
Special counsel Robert Mueller has reportedly informed lawyers for President Donald Trump that he is willing to limit in-person questions in an interview and settle for some written answers.
Mueller’s team laid out their proposal in a letter this week, report the New York Times and the Washington Post. The letter “firmed up a previously expressed willingness to allow certain answers in writing,” according to the New York Times. The Times report is based on three anonymous sources, while the Post story is based on two anonymous sources.
According to the Post, the special counsel is willing to allow written answers to questions about possible obstruction of justice. The Times identified obstruction and Russian interference in the election as the two interview topics. Investigators still want to have the ability to ask some follow-up questions in person, but Trump’s team doesn’t want to allow it.
Trump has pushed his lawyers to reach an agreement on the interview, according to the Times. His lawyers have previously sought to bar any questions about actions Trump has taken as president, the Post reports.
Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told reporters on Wednesday that “we’re in the process of responding to their proposal,” and Trump is willing to agree to an interview if ground rules can be set. On CNN, he said negotiations for an interview were continuing, though “I’m not going to give you a lot of hope it’s going to happen.”