Mueller seeks to question Trump about Flynn and Comey departures

[bathroommonkey76]

Source: Washington Post

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III is seeking to question President Trump in the coming weeks about his decisions to oust national security adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James B. Comey, according to two people familiar with his plans.

Mueller’s interest in the events that led Trump to push out Flynn and Comey indicates that his investigation is intensifying its focus on possible efforts by the president or others to obstruct or blunt the special counsel’s probe.

Trump’s attorneys have crafted some negotiating terms for the president’s interview with Mueller’s team, one that could be presented to the special counsel as soon as next week, according to the two people.

The president’s legal team hopes to provide Trump’s testimony in a hybrid form — answering some questions in a face-to-face interview and others in a written statement.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-seeks-to-question-trump-about-flynn-and-comey-departures/2018/01/23/e6652db6-0068-11e8-9d31-d72cf78dbeee_story.html?tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.83ddca0063c9

[MelissaB]

1. Oh yeah!

Link to tweet

[bluestarone]

2. here we go!!!!!!!!

fingers crossed GO GET HIM Mueller

[MelissaB]

3. Roger Stone quote

Roger Stone, a longtime informal adviser to Trump, said he should try to avoid an interview at all costs, saying agreeing to such a session would be a “suicide mission.”

“I find it to be a death wish. Why would you walk into a perjury trap?” Stone said. “The president would be very poorly advised to give Mueller an interview.”

[Leghorn21]

4. Stay strong, Donald! I mean, Mikie! I mean - YEAH BABY!! nt

[Julian Englis]

5. Should we start a pool on whether there be a Fifth Amendment citing? n/t

[C_U_L8R]

6. How about this negotiating term....

answer the damn question... on tape... under oath.

[SoCalMusicLover]

7. Regarding This Interview

Does Drumpf have any right to say no, or demand conditions for the interview? Is it merely lawyers billing their hours in an effort to try and get concessions, even though it's unlikely any will be granted by Mueller?

Is Drumpf compelled to answer Mueller's questions, or can he take the 5th?

Does Roger Stone have any basis for saying Drumpf can refuse the interview, or is he full of it?

[Akoto]

10. I can offer some bits and pieces of answers...

I'm not sure that he can outright refuse (particularly with all of his assurances that they're cooperating), but they can and probably will attempt negotiation. They will want to minimize the amount of in-person time Mueller has with Trump, because as Stone is quoted saying above, it would basically be a death wish. A perjury trap.

Instead, they'll first try to negotiate for a partial or fully written set of answers to Mueller's questions from Trump. Easier for Trump to deal with, and his answers can be polished to avoid any holes in a way one can't do face to face. Alternatively, split it so some is done in person, some in writing. If he appears voluntarily at a meeting, I think he can refuse to answer questions.

Things are more serious if Mueller issues a grand jury subpoena to someone. In that case, they have to appear, and they have to answer the questions asked of them. It doesn't sound like that's what Mueller is doing here, at least until he gets the first response to his interest from the WH.

[SoCalMusicLover]

11. So If Mueller Is Not Satisfied, He Can Pursue GJ Indictment?

Is he just playing nice right now, kinda like a cop would when saying, "I just want to ask you a few questions, are you willing to talk with me?"

Did either Clinton or Nixon get indicted by a GJ, or did they do interviews?

[Akoto]

12. I can't speak to the Clinton/Nixon history, but...

The voluntary meeting is more of a diplomatic gesture, yes. Mueller doesn't have to offer it. He went directly to a grand jury subpoena with Steve Bannon, for example.

I would think that he can do a GJ subpoena if he isn't satisfied with the truthfulness of the answers, or if the person is unreasonably evasive.

In this case, Mueller wants the truth as Trump viewed it at the time. Why did you do this, what were you thinking when you decided that etc. These are things he can really only get from Trump himself.

[DeminPennswoods]

15. Trump doesn't lose his Fifth Amendment protections

He can agree to be interviewed and rightly make his claim of protection against self-incrimination under the 5th Amendment. It would look, again rightly, like he's guilty, though.

Look Mueller has methodically worked his way up the chain interviewing everyone involved in the decision to fire Comey. Whatever questions Mueller asks Trump, Mueller will already know the answer. Trump's in a box with no good options to escape.

[SoCalMusicLover]

16. 5th Amendment Rights

If he did exercise the 5th, it seems like that information would not be made public, seeing how Mueller has kept an airtight lid on this case. So public perception would be irrelevant.

And your statement that taking the 5th would make him look guilty seems to contradict everything the 5th is based upon. In other words, Mueller can't use that against Drumpf.

I know everyone here would like to think Drumpf is always a loose cannon, and his lawyers can't control him. But assuming they did, why wouldn't they have him take the 5th whenever possible, so as not to incriminate himself?

[DeminPennswoods]

20. Trump can take the 5th, but politically it's damaging

When a person invokes the 5th, it just congers up the idea that person is guilty of something or has something to hide. Fair or not, it's the way most people interpret the move.

[George II]

8. The circle is getting smaller and smaller. First Comey, then and Sessions, now this.

He's wrapping it up I hope, and it ain't gonna be good for the trump crime family.

[Le Gaucher]

9. Sorry .. The president is reallllllyyy busy

playing golf, tweeting, watching fox news etc ..

can't find any room in the calendar

[iluvtennis]

13. Why should Humpty Dumpty be allowed to answer questions on written fashion? Hope Team Mueller

says NO. Interviews by their very nature are give and take. You can one question, get answer, see body language, and then strategically plan our next question

[olddad56]

18. I don't think he can write or read.

[turbinetree]

14. And lets add Pence to the act of obstruction picture ................

[L. Coyote]

17. Treat Trump the way Republiucans treated Clinton, under oath in front of a grand jury.

[AllyCat]

19. Hybrid? Why? Why can IQ45 not answer the questions like everyone else?