Special counsel Robert Mueller has told President Trump’s legal team that Trump is still being investigated as part of the federal Russia probe, but he is not currently being considered as a criminal target, according to a report.
Mueller advised Trump’s lawyers, however, he is drafting a report detailing the president’s conduct since his inauguration and whether he has potentially obstructed justice, per the Washington Post.
The latest report on the special counsel’s inquiry comes as Mueller’s investigators continue to negotiate with Trump’s attorneys about the possibility of a sit-down interview with the president.
While some of Trump’s legal team celebrated the news, others were concerned that Mueller might be trying to trap the president into agreeing to an interview by lulling him into a false sense of security where he could incriminate himself under oath, the newspaper reported.
Trump’s chief counsel Jay Sekulow and his former top attorney John Dowd declined to comment to the Post, as did White House lawyer Ty Cobb.
Dowd left the White House last month following reports he and Trump clashed over whether the president should speak directly with Mueller and his partners.
Trump has repeatedly said he is open to voluntarily answering questions to help Mueller’s probe in an effort to bring it to a close sooner rather than later.
Mueller’s report will be submitted to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who will then decide whether to make it public.
Sources told the Post a second report may also be compiled covering the special counsel’s findings regarding Russian interference.
