Rudy Giuliani in 2006
Rudy Giuliani, one of President Donald Trump‘s lawyers, revealed on Sunday that Trump’s legal team has nearly decided whether or not the president will agree to meet with special counsel Robert Mueller for an interview on the Russia probe.
“We have not,” Giuliani told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos when asked whether a decision on this issue had been made yet. “We are close to determining that.”
The former New York City mayor and prosecutor added that Trump won’t sit down with Mueller unless the special counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election finds anything that proves the president was directly involved.
“We’ve been through everything on collusion and obstruction,” said Giuliani. “We can’t find an incriminating anything, and we need a basis for this investigation.”
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Giuliani had said earlier this year that he believed Mueller’s inquiry could end by September 1, although the special counsel’s recent statements and documents related to the probe suggest it could go on for several more months.
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Trump had expressed various feelings about speaking with Mueller one-on-one, but in May the former Apprentice star said he was willing to do this. Giuliani reiterated this statement over the weekend, although Stephanopoulos said he wasn’t sure if he could believe this.
“It’s hard to believe that anymore,” said the ABC anchor.
“Well, it is hard to believe given all the things that have been shown about how tainted this investigation is,” Giuliani responded. “This is the most corrupt investigation I have ever seen that the Justice Department is allowing to go forward.”
Trump has repeatedly called the Russia investigation a “witch hunt” and accused Mueller and his team of being biased toward Democrats and against him. The president has also routinely made false claims that the FBI illegally planted a “spy” in his campaign, while slamming former FBI Director James Comey and his handling of Hillary Clinton‘s email inquiry. The Russia probe is one of several issues Trump has been forced to deal with since he took office. More recently, his administration has faced sharp criticism for its handling of immigration — which has resulted in thousands of migrant families being separated at the border — and for its negotiations with North Korea involving potential denuclearization.
Mueller is also now investigating whether Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates conspired with Russia to help Trump get elected.
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