Trump: I Have Nothing to Hide in Russia Election Interference Case

Donald Trump says he has nothing to 'hide' from Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating potential Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The U.S. president criticized a New York Times report on Sunday, August 19, which stated that Don McGahn, the White House counsel, has notably cooperated with Mueller. The New York Times reported that the White House counsel provided detailed information about instances indicating Trump's obstruction of the investigation to Mr. Mueller. According to the report, McGahn has provided information during 30 hours of voluntary testimony over the past nine months regarding Trump's intense frustration with the case and his recommendations on how to respond to the investigators. Mr. Trump referred to Don McGahn, stating, 'I allowed him and other officials to testify - I didn't have to.' Trump added that the New York Times pretends as if McGahn has turned against the president - like John Dean, the White House counsel during the Watergate investigations of President Richard Nixon - 'when the reality is completely the opposite.' The U.S. president stated that he has nothing to 'hide' and is calling for 'transparency.' Meanwhile, William Burck, McGahn's lawyer, announced that his client has cooperated with the truth-seeking team and has answered their questions 'honestly' and 'fully.' Rudy Giuliani, another Trump advisor, also stated that McGahn's cooperation with the truth-seeking team will help show that Trump has made no 'mistake' in this matter. He told NBC that Trump himself asked McGahn to testify in this regard and is pleased that he has done so, with no evidence in this testimony that could harm the president. According to this report, McGahn also told investigators that Trump never exceeded his legal authority, but Trump's efforts to dismiss the special counsel indicate his concerns in this regard. Trump has consistently denied the issue of Russian interference in the election in his favor and has aggressively attacked those who raise this issue.