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| Did the President Order Mueller to Be Fired? ‘Fake news,’ Trump Says | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday denied that he had ordered the firing of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel in the Russia probe, but then backed off. The president called reports of the June incident “fake news.” | WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday denied that he had ordered the firing of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel in the Russia probe, but then backed off. The president called reports of the June incident “fake news.” |
| The New York Times reported Thursday evening that Mr. Trump ordered Donald F. McGahn II, his top White House lawyer, to dismiss Mr. Mueller just weeks after Mr. Mueller took over the Russia investigation. Mr. McGahn refused to ask the Justice Department to fire Mr. Mueller, saying he would quit instead, and the president relented. | The New York Times reported Thursday evening that Mr. Trump ordered Donald F. McGahn II, his top White House lawyer, to dismiss Mr. Mueller just weeks after Mr. Mueller took over the Russia investigation. Mr. McGahn refused to ask the Justice Department to fire Mr. Mueller, saying he would quit instead, and the president relented. |
| Mr. Trump responded to The Times report during a trip to Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum, a gathering of world leaders and global business executives. | Mr. Trump responded to The Times report during a trip to Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum, a gathering of world leaders and global business executives. |
| Upon arrival at the Congress Center in Davos, Mr. Trump was greeted by a scrum of the forum’s participants snapping cellphone photos and by a large group of reporters asking why he had ordered Mr. Mueller’s firing. | Upon arrival at the Congress Center in Davos, Mr. Trump was greeted by a scrum of the forum’s participants snapping cellphone photos and by a large group of reporters asking why he had ordered Mr. Mueller’s firing. |
| “Fake news, folks,” Mr. Trump replied. “Fake news. Typical New York Times fake story.” | “Fake news, folks,” Mr. Trump replied. “Fake news. Typical New York Times fake story.” |
| The Times report was based on four people who were told of the matter. On Thursday, Ty Cobb, who manages the White House relationship with Mr. Mueller’s office, declined to comment. | The Times report was based on four people who were told of the matter. On Thursday, Ty Cobb, who manages the White House relationship with Mr. Mueller’s office, declined to comment. |
| The June incident could emerge as an important part of Mr. Mueller’s probe, part of which is looking into whether Mr. Trump or anyone in the White House or associated with his campaign obstructed justice by trying to impede investigators looking into the possibility of campaign-related collusion with Russia. | The June incident could emerge as an important part of Mr. Mueller’s probe, part of which is looking into whether Mr. Trump or anyone in the White House or associated with his campaign obstructed justice by trying to impede investigators looking into the possibility of campaign-related collusion with Russia. |
| Mr. Trump’s order to fire Mr. Mueller came in the month after the president did fire the F.B.I. director James B. Comey, later citing the Russia probe as the reason for his decision. At the time, Mr. Comey was in charge of the F.B.I.’s investigation into collusion with Russia during the election. The firing of Mr. Comey in May directly led to Mr. Mueller’s appointment. | Mr. Trump’s order to fire Mr. Mueller came in the month after the president did fire the F.B.I. director James B. Comey, later citing the Russia probe as the reason for his decision. At the time, Mr. Comey was in charge of the F.B.I.’s investigation into collusion with Russia during the election. The firing of Mr. Comey in May directly led to Mr. Mueller’s appointment. |
| Mr. Trump’s denial of the June incident echoes repeated statements by the president and other White House officials that Mr. Trump had never considered firing the special prosecutor. | Mr. Trump’s denial of the June incident echoes repeated statements by the president and other White House officials that Mr. Trump had never considered firing the special prosecutor. |
| “I haven’t given it any thought,” Mr. Trump told reporters in August. “Well, I’ve been reading about it from you people. You say, oh, I’m going to dismiss him. No, I’m not dismissing anybody.” | “I haven’t given it any thought,” Mr. Trump told reporters in August. “Well, I’ve been reading about it from you people. You say, oh, I’m going to dismiss him. No, I’m not dismissing anybody.” |
| John Dowd, the president’s personal lawyer, said that same month that firing Mr. Mueller has “never been on the table, never.” | John Dowd, the president’s personal lawyer, said that same month that firing Mr. Mueller has “never been on the table, never.” |
| But four people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a continuing investigation, said Mr. Trump ordered the firing, citing what he believed were three reasons that Mr. Mueller has a conflict of interest that should prevent him from leading the Russia investigation. | But four people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a continuing investigation, said Mr. Trump ordered the firing, citing what he believed were three reasons that Mr. Mueller has a conflict of interest that should prevent him from leading the Russia investigation. |
| Those included claims about a disputed payment of fees by Mr. Mueller at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va.; the fact that Mr. Mueller worked at the same law firm that represented the president’s son-in-law; and Mr. Mueller’s interview with the president to be F.B.I. director before he was appointed to be the special counsel. | Those included claims about a disputed payment of fees by Mr. Mueller at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va.; the fact that Mr. Mueller worked at the same law firm that represented the president’s son-in-law; and Mr. Mueller’s interview with the president to be F.B.I. director before he was appointed to be the special counsel. |