With Respect To Trump Answering Mueller Questions By Himself - If I Were Trump's Lawyers.....

[global1]

I would sit him down and give him the questions and say to him - I want you to read these questions and answer each question in your own words. Donald I want you to put down on paper your interpretation of your answers to each question.

We know that Trump lies. We can count on him to lie in answering each question. Getting Trump to answer in his own words allows his lawyers to review each answer and to recognize his lies. This gives them a chance to see that which would get him in trouble and to perhaps point those obvious lies out to him. It gives them a chance to wordsmith his answers (massage them) to smooth over the lies.

It would also give him the opportunity to say that he answered each question by himself. So when Trump today said he answered each question by himself - I believe him.

I got to believe that Trump has even lied to his lawyers and if they were given the task of answering these questions - they really couldn't do it. Either they would be dragged into lying for him and I don't think they want to be in that position or they could possibly make the situation worse.

At least this way - they can do an honest review of his answers and pick out those sensitive parts that would get him in trouble based on what they know about the events that took place.

They are in a no-win situation with a known liar as their client - that compounds the lies every time he speaks or tweets. I think that they are smart enough to know that Trump has even lied to them - his lawyers.

I don't think we'll ever get an opportunity to see the questions or the answers. What we will probably hear about are those answers that contradict other testimony that Mueller got from all his other interviews. We'll learn of the inconsistencies between Trump and the others.

And when the hammer comes down on Trump from Mueller - Trump will just blame his lawyers for their coaching and wordsmithing of his answers. We all know that Trump always needs someone to blame as he does no wrong.

[PJMcK]

1. Trump is in a box of his own making

Because Trump can't keep his mouth shut, he's already made many public statements, including tweets, that provide a clear road map to his lies. No matter what Trump and his lawyers come up with, it will be difficult to avoid future problems because Trump doesn't know what Robert Mueller knows.

Consider one big issue: the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between, Junior, Manafort and the Russian representatives. It is inconceivable that Junior didn't tell his father about it and there's a blocked phone call Junior made immediately after the meeting. They've all told different stories but now that Manafort and Gates are cooperating with Mr. Mueller, they have to square a circle.

This excerpt is from Talking Points Memo:

Now, Trump has to decide whether to admit the obvious, or continue his obstruction and denial. If he admits it, he risks (a) implicating his son in perjury for lying to Congress; (b) incriminating himself in a scheme to obstruct justice by concocting a bogus cover story about the meeting; and (c) providing direct evidence of his intent to conspire with potential Russian agents. If he denies it, it will likely provide an open and shut false statement case to Mueller on top of whatever else they have on him.

How does Trump resolve this? In fact, he can't. He's trapped.

Here's Josh Marshall's EdBlog:

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/seems-plausible

One last point: In your final paragraph, you identify Trump's typical behavior of blaming others. That really won't work since he'll have to sign the document with his answers on it. He'll have to own what is on that piece of paper.

[duforsure]

2. When he repeats something over and over again

Its another tell he's lying. He's done this his whole career , when he wants people to believe a lie , he repeats it many times when he speaks. So , it means he absolutely didn't answer those questions, or he could have done a face to face interview, but he couldn't because he would have to lie, or tell the truth admitting his crimes. He never intended on talking to Mueller like he often claimed. He understood he'd be caught lying, so he projected he wanted to talk to Mueller instead knowing he wouldn't all along. They like to call it a trap , which it is , for lying criminals. For honest law abiding people its not a problem.

[dewsgirl]

3. And I'd bet everything that, Mueller understands this more than anyone.