Trump’s Lawyers Want Him to Refuse an Interview in Russia Inquiry

The following article by Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman was posted on the New York Times website February 5, 2018:

John Dowd, the longtime Washington lawyer hired last summer to represent President Trump in the Russia investigation, wants Mr. Trump to rebuff an interview request from the special counsel. Credit: Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters

WASHINGTON — Lawyers for President Trump have advised him against sitting down for a wide-ranging interview with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, according to four people briefed on the matter, raising the specter of a monthslong court battle over whether the president must answer questions under oath.

His lawyers are concerned that the president, who has a history of making false statements and contradicting himself, could be charged with lying to investigators. Their stance puts them at odds with Mr. Trump, who has said publicly and privately that he is eager to speak with Mr. Mueller as part of the investigation into possible ties between his associates and Russia’s election interference, and whether he obstructed justice. Continue reading “Trump’s Lawyers Want Him to Refuse an Interview in Russia Inquiry”