Giuliani claims McGahn was a ‘strong witness’ for Trump

Rudy Giuliani said Sunday that he has a “good sense” of what White House counsel Don McGahn told special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, and argued that his cooperation with the Russia investigation helps President Trump.

“It puts us in a very strong position to say they don’t need to question [the president],” Giuliani said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” 

“We have a good sense obviously of what Mr. McGahn testified,” he added. “I can figure it out.”

{mosads}

Giuliani, who has been Trump’s personal attorney in the Russia investigation since April, clarified that he knows about McGahn’s testimony because Trump’s former personal lawyer, John Dowd, relayed that information. 

“I think that through John Dowd we have a pretty good sense of it, and John Dowd yesterday said … that McGahn was a strong witness for the president,” Giuliani said. “So I don’t need to know much more about that.”

The New York Times reported Saturday that White House counsel Don McGahn has cooperated extensively with special counsel Robert Mueller, providing as many as 30 hours of testimony over the last nine months. Trump was reportedly unaware the extent to which McGahn spoke with Mueller’s team.

The president claimed on Saturday afternoon that he “allowed” McGahn to testify. On Sunday morning, he turned his aim toward the Times, which he blasted over its report on the White House counsel.

“The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type ‘RAT.’ But I allowed him and all others to testify – I didn’t have to. I have nothing to hide,” Trump tweeted.

The president has repeatedly called Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election a “witch hunt” and a “hoax.” He has in recent days accused Mueller of a conflict of interest, though he has not elaborated.

On Sunday morning, he once again ratcheted up his attacks on Mueller, tweeting that the special counsel should investigate Hillary Clinton, and that he makes Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) of the 1950s “look like a baby.”

Giuliani on Sunday further cast doubt on whether Trump will sit for an interview with Mueller, warning that the president could walk into a perjury trap if he contradicts another witness.

“When you tell me that he should testify because he’s going to tell the truth and he shouldn’t worry, well that’s so silly because that’s somebody’s version of the truth, not the truth,” Giuliani said.

“Truth is truth,” anchor Chuck Todd responded.

“No it isn’t,” Giuliani replied. “Truth isn’t truth.”