The president’s call came two weeks after he publicly expressed frustration with the Justice Department for failing to give Republican lawmakers documents they are seeking about the basis and findings of the special counsel investigation into whether the Trump campaign worked with the Russians to sway the 2016 election. It came as Rudolph W. Giuliani, his private lawyer, said that the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, planned to complete by Sept. 1 his inquiry into whether the president had obstructed justice — an apparent attempt by Mr. Giuliani to publicly pressure the special counsel amid negotiations over whether Mr. Trump will be interviewed in the case. While most presidents who have faced investigations have responded with increased discretion to avoid being seen as trying to influence the outcome, Mr. Trump has dispensed with any notion that he is not trying to do so. “He can’t open an investigation based on a political demand, but if he refuses and is fired or resigns, he loses control of the Mueller investigation. Maybe just what Trump wants.”

Source: New York Times May 20, 2018 17:21 UTC