Trump to speak with Mueller on guarantee he’ll ‘be treated fairly’

President Trump on Friday said he would “love to” speak with special counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia investigation, but will only do so if he can be “treated fairly.” 

Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn, Trump said he has bucked his lawyers’ advice in seeking to talk to Mueller but indicated an interview may not occur. 

“I would love to speak, but I have to find that we’re going to be treated fairly because everybody sees it right now and it is a pure witch hunt,” he said. 

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Whether to agree to an interview with Mueller is the No. 1 question facing Trump’s legal team, which is now led by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. 

Giuliani and others close to Trump are advising him against speaking to Mueller, worried that he could put himself in legal jeopardy. 

Trump reiterated his stance “there was no collusion” with the Russians and “there was no obstruction” of the investigation, beliefs he thinks he could convince Mueller to accept. 

But the president also indicated he might be willing to listen to the advice of his lawyers with regard to an interview.

Trump repeatedly accused Mueller’s team of political bias, falsely stating the special counsel “worked for Obama for eight years.” 

Mueller, a Republican, was appointed by former President George W. Bush to lead the FBI for a 10-year term. Former President Obama extended his term by two years, a decision that was unanimously approved at the time by the Senate.