President Donald Trump appeared to confirm reports that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating him for possible obstruction of justice, tweeting Thursday that "now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story."
Mueller is interviewing senior intelligence officials in the widening probe that now directly includes Trump, the Washington Post reported. The investigation originally focused on Russian meddling in the election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, but Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey last month changed things, according to officials.
"They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice," Trump tweeted.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/875305788708974592
The focus on Trump does not necessarily mean that a case is being built against him, the New York Times noted.
Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, National Security Agency head Mike Rogers, and Rogers' former deputy, Richard Ledgett, all agreed to be interviewed by Mueller’s investigators, the Post reported.
Comey testified last week that Trump told him he hoped he would let go of the investigation into ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Trump also reportedly asked Rogers and Coats to publicly push back against the FBI collusion investigation and asked Coats to get the bureau to back off Flynn.
Comey also testified that he told Trump he was not personally under investigation during the probe into Russian interference and possible collusion, confirming Trump's earlier claims to that effect.