President Donald Trump’s legal team was told by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team that they can’t indict a sitting president, CNN reported Wednesday.
Rudy Giuliani, who is now leading the President’s legal team in the Russia probe, told CNN that when it comes to the President, Mueller’s team can only write a report at the conclusion of its investigation. Such a report could outline wrongdoing or include recommendations for the House.
“They can’t indict. At least they acknowledged that to us after some battling, they acknowledged that to us,” Giuliani said, adding that he believes the Constitution prevents the indictment of a sitting president.
Justice Department guidelines dating back to the Nixon administration say that a sitting president can’t be indicted.
Mueller’s team declined to comment on the matter.
The special counsel leads the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, and on Thursday it will be one year since Mueller took over the investigation after Trump decided to fire then-FBI Director James Comey. Giuliani stated that he plans to use the anniversary of the investigation as a way to push for his conclusion.
However, tensions still exist as Mueller’s team is attempting to have an interview with President Trump. Although Trump has previously said that he’d be willing to do an interview with the special counsel, Giuliani said this week that he doesn’t believe Mueller needs to conduct an interview with the president.
Trump has regularly criticized Mueller’s investigation, calling it a “witch hunt” and a “hoax.”
Since the special counsel took over the Russia probe, four former Trump associates have pleaded guilty or been indicted. Mueller also filed charges against 13 Russians for interfering in the election.
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