Trump Worried Mueller Interview Will Be a Perjury Trap

He says it could be his word against Comey's
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 21, 2018 2:30 AM CDT
Trump: Mueller Interview Could Be a 'Perjury Trap'
President Trump walks with Vice President Mike Pence to the Oval Office after delivering remarks about the economy at the White House.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Trump still hasn't confirmed whether he plans to speak to special counsel Robert Mueller—but he did speak to Reuters to outline his concerns about a potential interview, describing it as a possible "perjury trap." Trump said he worries that it could work against him if his statements to Mueller conflict with statements made by others—like James Comey. If the former FBI chief "says something, and it’s my word against his, and he's best friends with Mueller, so Mueller might say: 'Well, I believe Comey,' and even if I’m telling the truth, that makes me a liar. That's no good," he said.

Trump criticized Mueller's investigation of potential Russian election interference as biased, but declined to say whether he would strip the special counsel of his security clearance. He described the investigation as the one flaw in an administration that is otherwise like a "smooth-running" machine, and said he could take charge of the probe if he wanted to. "I can go in, and I could do whatever—I could run it if I want. But I decided to stay out,” he said. "I’m totally allowed to be involved if I wanted to be. So far, I haven’t chosen to be involved. I’ll stay out." He added that the probe played right into the hands of the Russians—"if it was Russia." (White House counsel Don McGahn has spoken to Mueller for 30 hours.)

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