Attorneys for President Trump are reportedly considering asking special counsel Robert Mueller to set a hard end date for his investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election as one of the preconditions for an interview with president.
While Trump’s lawyers remain split on the terms of such a deal, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, they also want Mueller to agree to parameters on the scope of such an interview.
One idea being floated is that Mueller would agree to wrap up the probe within 60 days of interviewing Trump.
Conversations between Mueller and Trump’s attorneys are reportedly only just beginning.
{mosads}Trump has said he is “looking forward” to speaking with the special counsel’s team, but his lawyers have repeatedly emphasized that he would only agree under certain conditions.
Legal experts interviewed by the Journal expressed skepticism Mueller would agree to the idea.
“You can’t put a timeline on these things,” said former federal prosecutor Peter Zeidenberg. “Someone could walk in the door on the day before their proposed deadline and say, ‘I’ve got some information that’s going to blow your minds.’ … [And] Mueller’s going to say, ‘Oh, too bad, the deadline’s tomorrow?’”
On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Trump has asked as least two former witnesses interviewed by the special counsel about their experiences and what they discussed.
The scope of Mueller’s probe has reportedly expanded to included possible obstruction of justice, as well as the business ties of Trump and members of his family.
The Journal reports that Trump lawyers expect any questions for the president to focus on the firings of former FBI Director James Comey and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who in December pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators.
Comey says he was fired after Trump asked him to back off a Justice Department investigation into Flynn.
Trump has on multiple occasions derided Mueller’s probe as a “witch hunt” that has the world “laughing” at the U.S.