Rudy Giuliani said Monday that he’s indicated to special counsel Robert Mueller that President Trump would agree to an interview if questions were focused only on whether his campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 election.
Giuliani told Bloomberg News that the interview would only go forward if questions about obstruction of justice were completely ruled out. The former New York City mayor expressed concerns that Trump might be susceptible to perjuring himself if Mueller believes the versions of events presented by other witnesses.
{mosads}Bloomberg reported that Mueller has not yet responded to Giuliani’s proposal.
The president has previously said on the record that he would be willing to talk with Mueller for his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. In an interview with CBS News last week, Trump reiterated that he’s “always wanted to do an interview, because, look, there’s been no collusion.”
However, he said his lawyers were responsible for working out such an interview.
Giuliani, meanwhile, has repeatedly cast doubt on the chances Trump will sit for an interview. He said earlier this month that an interview is “probably further away” than before following congressional testimony from FBI agent Peter Strzok, who was removed from Mueller’s probe after he was found to have sent texts critical of Trump during the 2016 election.
Trump has repeatedly railed against the Mueller probe as a “witch hunt” and a “hoax.”
Mueller has thus far filed charges against more than 20 Russian nationals, including 12 Russian intelligence officials, for allegedly interfering in the 2016 election.
He has also obtained guilty pleas or indictments against four former Trump associates thus far.