Comey says Mueller should get
'open-ended' interview with Trump
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[May 01, 2018]
By Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former FBI Director
James Comey offered some advice on Monday for Special Counsel Robert
Mueller: Press President Donald Trump to sit down for a completely
"open-ended" interview in the probe of alleged Russian meddling in the
2016 election.
"In any interview with a subject, I would want to make sure I had
unlimited time," Comey said, when asked his opinion during a packed
event at George Washington University sponsored by a local bookstore.
Comey said the ideal parameters would include an interview that is
"open-ended as to time, open-ended as to subject" and ensure the person
had a "clear understanding that you are obligated to tell the truth and
failure to do so would be at your peril."
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Comey's firing by Trump last May paved the way for Deputy Attorney
General Rod Rosenstein to hire Mueller to investigate the meddling
allegations and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia.
Mueller is also probing whether Trump obstructed the investigation.
Comey, who took detailed notes of his interactions with Trump, said
later he believed Trump fired him to undermine the FBI's Russia probe.
Russia has denied interfering in the election. Trump has denied any
collusion or improper activity and called the Mueller investigation a
witch hunt.
Previously, Trump said he would be willing to sit down for an interview
under oath with Mueller.
But a recent FBI raid on the offices and home of his personal lawyer
Michael Cohen could make that less likely.
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![](../images/050118pics/news_q37.jpg)
Former FBI director James Comey speaks about his book during an
onstage interview with Axios Executive Editor Mike Allen at George
Washington University in Washington, U.S. April 30, 2018.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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Trump has since added former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to his
legal team to help deal with Mueller's investigation.
Speaking before a friendly audience, which often broke into
applause, Comey spoke about his observations of Trump, Mueller's
investigation and the impact Trump's presidency is having on the
American political landscape.
He said that in a normal environment, a sitting president would not
be able to avoid an interview about his conduct.
"As an American citizen, I would expect my president to respect the
rule of law ... and to cooperate with a lawful, appropriate
investigation," he said.
Monday's event was the latest in a series of media interviews that
Comey has given in connection with his bestselling book, "A Higher
Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/directory_buttons.png)
Trump and other Republicans have blasted Comey and challenged
assertions he made in the book.
(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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