Trump spoke to witnesses about discussions they had with special counsel: NYT

[March 08, 2018]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. special counsel in the Russian election meddling investigation has learned of two conversations in which President Donald Trump asked witnesses about matters discussed with investigators, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Federal Bureau of Investigation oversight on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., June 13, 2013. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo

The newspaper, which cited three unidentified people familiar with the matter, said Trump told an aide that White House counsel Donald McGahn should issue a statement denying a New York Times article in January that said McGahn told investigators the president had once asked him to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.

McGahn did not issue an statement and he "later had to remind the president that he had indeed asked Mr. McGahn to see that Mr. Mueller was dismissed," the Times report said.

Trump also asked his former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, how his interview with the special counsel investigators had gone and whether they had been "nice."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Times story.

Mueller's investigation arose in part from the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia had meddled in the 2016 U.S. election and that its goals eventually included aiding Trump who won a surprise victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Russia denies the allegations and Trump says there was no collusion between Moscow and his campaign.

Mueller also has been investigating whether the president has attempted to obstruct the probe, including whether he fired former FBI Director James Comey to undermine it. The Times report referenced the obstruction investigation with regard to Trump's interactions with McGahn and Priebus.

Mueller has charged several Trump associates and more than a dozen Russians.

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham and James Oliphant; editing by Grant McCool and Lisa Shumaker)

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