Donald Trump has ramped up his attacks on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report into Russian interference in the 2016 election, disputing his own former White House counsel’s testimony in a new interview.
Don McGahn, who previously served under Mr Trump before departing from the White House last year, “may have been confused” during his interview with the special counsel, the president told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.
"The story on that very simply, No. 1, I was never going to fire Mueller,” Mr Trump said in a portion of the interview released on Friday.
“I never suggested firing Mueller," he added.
The president was directly contradicting key elements of Mr McGahn’s testimony, wherein he said Mr Trump had ordered him to instruct the acting attorney general to oust the special counsel.
Mr Trump has long alleged Mr Mueller and his investigators had conflicts of interest that should have barred them from probing his suspected collusion with Russian operatives and possible obstruction of justice.
The special counsel’s report listed at least 10 instances where the president possibly obstructed justice throughout the years-long investigation, but did not directly state he was guilty of committing a federal crime.
Democratic lawmakers have said the facts are clearly laid out to indicate Mr Trump obstructed justice by ordering the firing of Mr Mueller, saying the special counsel was effectively leaving it up to Congress on whether to pursue action against the president.
In the interview released on Friday, Mr Trump clearly becomes tense when discussing Mr McGahn’s testimony, at one point berating Mr Stephanopoulos over the line of questioning.
“I don't care what [Mr McGahn] says, it doesn't matter," Mr Trump said.
Mr Stephanopoulos pressed on, asking the president “Why would [Mr McGahn] lie under oath?"
"George, you're being a little wise guy, OK -- which is, you know, typical for you," Mr Trump eventually said as the journalist continued asking him about his possible obstruction of justice. “Just so you understand. Very simple. It's very simple. There was no crime. There was no collusion. The big thing's collusion. Now, there's no collusion. That means they set — it was a setup, in my opinion, and I think it's going to come out."
