Politics

Trump spoke to special counsel witnesses about the Russia probe after their interviews: Report

Key Points
  • President Trump reportedly spoke with special counsel Robert Mueller's witnesses about the investigation after they had been interviewed.
  • Trump asked his former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus how the investigators had treated him, the New York Times reported.
  • Trump also reportedly discussed reports that he had ordered the firing of Mueller with White House lawyer Don McGahn.
President Donald Trump gestures while meeting with Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven (not pictured) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 6, 2018.
Leah Millis | Reuters

President Donald Trump spoke about special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian meddling with witnesses after they had been interviewed by investigators, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

Trump asked his former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus about his interview with the special counsel, two people familiar with the exchange told the Times. He reportedly asked if the interviewers had been "nice" to Priebus.

In another instance, Trump told one of his aides that White House lawyer Don McGahn should publicly deny a January report alleging that McGahn told investigators that Trump had asked him to fire Mueller, the Times reported. Sources familiar with the conversation told the Times that McGahn later reminded Trump of his request.

McGahn's lawyer, William Burck, did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Mueller is investigating potential collusion between Trump's winning 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, along with "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation."

Reports of Mueller's interest in the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, among other events, have fueled speculation that the investigation has expanded to include a potential obstruction of justice charge.

The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment, while the special counsel's office declined comment.

Read the full report from the New York Times.