Trump lashes out at Mueller for alleged conflicts of interest

President Trump on Sunday renewed his accusations that special counsel Robert Mueller has “conflicts of interest” in his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, citing a previous business dispute between the two men.

In a series of tweets attacking the special counsel’s credibility, Trump noted that he and Mueller had “a very nasty & contentious business relationship.”

Is Robert Mueller ever going to release his conflicts of interest with respect to President Trump, including the fact that we had a very nasty & contentious business relationship, I turned him down to head the FBI (one day before appointment as S.C.) & Comey is his close friend..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2018

{mosads}Trump has alleged on multiple occasions via Twitter that Mueller has unspecified conflicts of interest, but Sunday’s tweet marks the first time he’s elaborated beyond such accusations.

The president seemingly confirmed a New York Times report from January that said Trump attempted to fire Mueller in June 2017 over alleged conflicts of interest.

The Times reported that Trump listed three conflicts he believed should disqualify Mueller: A dispute over fees at Trump’s National Golf Club in Virginia; his interview for FBI director before being named special counsel; and Mueller’s previous employment at a law firm that represents Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Trump reportedly backed off his demand after White House counsel Don McGahn refused Trump’s order and threatened to quit.

Multiple reports indicated Trump interviewed Mueller for the vacancy, but it’s unclear if Trump turned him down for the position before he was named special counsel in May 2017.

Trump’s accusations about Mueller’s alleged conflicts of interest came amid a string of tweets in which he claimed the special counsel’s team is filled with Democrats.

Trump also claimed Mueller’s probe was sparked by the so-called Steele dossier and questioned why the special counsel was not investigating Democrats.

The Mueller probe was launched by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Trump appointee, days after the president fired former FBI Director James Comey and said it was because of the Russia investigation, actions that drew allegations that he was seeking to obstruct the FBI’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. 

….Also, why is Mueller only appointing Angry Dems, some of whom have worked for Crooked Hillary, others, including himself, have worked for Obama….And why isn’t Mueller looking at all of the criminal activity & real Russian Collusion on the Democrats side-Podesta, Dossier?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2018

There is No Collusion! The Robert Mueller Rigged Witch Hunt, headed now by 17 (increased from 13, including an Obama White House lawyer) Angry Democrats, was started by a fraudulent Dossier, paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC. Therefore, the Witch Hunt is an illegal Scam!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2018

The president has attacked Mueller’s investigation with increasing regularity in recent months, frequently decrying it as a “witch hunt” and a “hoax” in an attempt to discredit Mueller and his probe.

The special counsel has thus far indicted more than 20 Russian nationals as part of his probe. He has also indicted three Russian companies and several former Trump advisers. 

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is set to go on trial this week as part of the investigation.