Trump questions impartiality of Russia probe chief
He said, that some of the staffers that Mueller has hired for his investigation "are all Hillary Clinton supporters"
US President Donald Trump speaks at the Congressional picnic at the White House in Washington, DC, on June 22, 2017. PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON:
President Donald Trump has questioned the impartiality of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the probe into Russia's meddling in the US election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
In an interview with Fox News aired Friday morning, Trump argued that Mueller, a former FBI director, is "good friends" with James Comey, Mueller's successor at the spy agency whom Trump fired on May 9. Trump later acknowledged he took this step with the Russia probe in mind.
Trump admits he has no tapes of Comey meetings
When George W. Bush was president, Mueller and Comey worked together -- Mueller as FBI director and Comey as deputy attorney general.
Trump also said that some of the staffers that Mueller has hired for his investigation "are all Hillary Clinton supporters." US news reports say some of these staffers have made campaign contributions to Democratic candidates.
Russians targeted 21 election systems, US official says
Asked point blank if Mueller should recuse himself from the Russia probe, Trump said: "Well, he's very, very good friends with Comey, which is very bothersome. But he's also -- we're going to have to see."
Trump added: "I mean we're going to have to see in terms -- look, there has been no obstruction. There has been no collusion. There has been leaking by Comey."
Trump did say, however, that Mueller is an "honorable man."
President Donald Trump has questioned the impartiality of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the probe into Russia's meddling in the US election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
In an interview with Fox News aired Friday morning, Trump argued that Mueller, a former FBI director, is "good friends" with James Comey, Mueller's successor at the spy agency whom Trump fired on May 9. Trump later acknowledged he took this step with the Russia probe in mind.
Trump admits he has no tapes of Comey meetings
When George W. Bush was president, Mueller and Comey worked together -- Mueller as FBI director and Comey as deputy attorney general.
Trump also said that some of the staffers that Mueller has hired for his investigation "are all Hillary Clinton supporters." US news reports say some of these staffers have made campaign contributions to Democratic candidates.
Russians targeted 21 election systems, US official says
Asked point blank if Mueller should recuse himself from the Russia probe, Trump said: "Well, he's very, very good friends with Comey, which is very bothersome. But he's also -- we're going to have to see."
Trump added: "I mean we're going to have to see in terms -- look, there has been no obstruction. There has been no collusion. There has been leaking by Comey."
Trump did say, however, that Mueller is an "honorable man."