Reuters conducted a wide-ranging interview with President Trump Monday, and the Russia investigation was part of the conversation.
Trump echoed Rudy Giuliani's assertion that any interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller could lead the president into committing perjury. The president, who has a documented history of lying, is concerned he might be accused of lying when his version of events does not match up with those relayed and documented in real time by others like former FBI Director James Comey.
The president expressed fears that investigators could compare his statements with that of others who have testified in the probe, such as former FBI Director James Comey, and that any discrepancies could be used against him.
“So if I say something and he (Comey) 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.”
Despite his concerns, Trump did not comment on whether he would ultimately agree to an interview with Mueller ...
Trump also declined to say whether he might strip Mueller of his security clearance, as he did last week to former CIA Director John Brennan, who had repeatedly criticized Trump’s handling of foreign policy and national security issues.
“I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” he said.
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As he has done almost daily on Twitter, Trump railed against the probe in the Oval Office interview with Reuters, repeatedly calling it a disgrace and arguing that Mueller and other members of his team were biased.
Trump asserted that he retained the power to intervene in the probe, but that he had chosen not to do so for the moment.
His administration, Trump said, was “a smooth-running machine, except in that world. And I’ve decided to stay out. Now I don’t have to stay out.
“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.”
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In the interview, Trump blamed the investigation for hampering his efforts to strengthen the country’s relationship with Russia and for sowing discord among the American public.
Trump says 'nothing to hide' from Mueller
He again neglected to blame Russia for interfering in the 2016 election, a conclusion reached by the U.S. intelligence community.
The probe, he said, “played right into the Russians - if it was Russia - they played right into the Russians’ hands.”
Exclusive: Trump worries that Mueller interview could be a 'perjury trap (Reuters)