In the latest move in the investigation into possible interference by Russian interests in the 2016 presidential election and potential ties to the campaign and administration of President Donald Trump, Special Counsel Robert Mueller provided tentative questions for the president to his lawyers.
The Russia probe wishes to interview Trump concerning what he knew, and when, about ties between his team and Russian interests. The inquiry also looks into Trump's actions after the investigation began and any attempts to intervene or influence it.
After providing Trump's personal legal team with the questions, that list was leaked to the press, appearing in The New York Times. Rumors of the existence of the questions persisted since the desire for an interview with the president came to light, but none were leaked until after they left the secrecy of the Office of the Special Counsel.
Reports state the questions were read to the president's legal team by Mueller's office, then Trump's lawyers compiled them into a list.
In an early morning Tweet, president Trump called the leak of the list of questions, compiled by and in his lawyers' possession, "So disgraceful."
So disgraceful that the questions concerning the Russian Witch Hunt were “leaked" to the media. No questions on Collusion. Oh, I see...you have a made up, phony crime, Collusion, that never existed, and an investigation begun with illegally leaked classified information. Nice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 1, 2018
Then an hour later, Trump Tweeted another message about the Russia probe, seemingly referring to the questions again.
It would seem very hard to obstruct justice for a crime that never happened! Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 1, 2018
The list of questions, nearly 4 dozen all together, cover a broad range of subjects. But all lead to insight on Trump's Russian ties (collusion) and whether the president obstructed justice by attempting to interfere or otherwise undermine the investigation.
The president has long referred to the investigation as a witch hunt in interviews and through his Twitter account. Some of his Tweets regarding the investigation or his own actions or those around him are also being examined according to analyses of the list of questions.
Despite Trump's assertions about the reason for the inquiry and his characterization of it as a witch hunt, aside from his staunchest supporters and some bot accounts the public actively corrects his assertions each time. His latest Tweets are no exception.
When questions that Robert S. Mueller III intends to ask you about your obstruction of justice are being leaked to the media AND your personal attorney (fixer) is soon to be indicted for crimes that you were aware of as they occurred, you are having an historically bad day.
— dylan тrυтн and jυѕтιce (@PervasiveTruth) May 1, 2018
It actually began with Papadopoulos blabbing drunkenly to an Australian ambassador: https://t.co/g9D4wJ7pKo
Supporting evidence was given by the @GCHQ and @AIVD https://t.co/6TQ0SG303q You asked @Comey to drop the investigation into @GenFlynn then fired him when he didn't. — AltNSA (@AltNatSecAgency) May 1, 2018
But wait there's more, remember when you told the Russians that firing “nutjob"@Comey eased pressure on you? https://t.co/h5wswPBPBb
— AltNSA (@AltNatSecAgency) May 1, 2018
.@realDonaldTrump used to call news outlets and pretend to be other people and even his own spokesperson and talk to the media 😂
— AltNSA (@AltNatSecAgency) May 1, 2018
I think he's trying to say.. he didn't understand the rules and might want a “do over".
— XO_BB_XO (@XO_BB_XO) May 1, 2018
Now I know your side is the one that leaked it.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) May 1, 2018
So go meet with him under oath and tell him your side of it. Unless you just like to tweet things without backing them up.
— Kevin Filiatraut (@KevinFiliatraut) May 1, 2018
Everybody knows the investigative questions were released by YOUR LAWYER. Things are devolving very quickly now, Donald. Are you going to jettison Jr. and Jared? They're both in huge trouble. But you're in even bigger trouble! You know that. #ResignTrump
— Patti Lou (@50inaug) May 1, 2018
Someone on your side leaked them ..they may/may not be the actual questions. In fact we can all see how you are spinning to make this benefit you ... I am sure your base will eat this up...
— SnowflakeLibQueen (@Elviraafterthot) May 1, 2018
Oh please, it's so obvious that you leaked the list. Probably just so you could tweet about it, too, and try to derail it.
— Charasan (@charasan) May 1, 2018
His elevator doesn't go all the way to the top. I suspect the elevator doesn't even exist. Probably never even build the top floors. If he wasn't president he'd just be that crazy old uncle that everyone leaves alone.
— WhiteRose (@Chetlsmith) May 1, 2018
I've read the questions and it's evident that trump never read the questions. These are open ended questions. Ie: what did you know and when did you know it. And many are related to Russia either directly or indirectly.
— WhiteRose (@Chetlsmith) May 1, 2018
