As president Donald Trump called an impromptu press conference at the Rose Garden in the White House Monday, former press secretary Sean Spicer meet with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team for an interview that lasted much of the day, according to Politico.
Citing multiple people familiar with the meeting, the publication reported that Spicer was grilled about the firing of former FBI director James Comey and his statements regarding the firing, as well as about Trump’s meetings with Russians officials including one with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Oval Office.
Spicer’s interview has long been expected as part of Mueller’s ongoing and widening investigation into Russia’s potential interference in the 2016 presidential election. Before joining the Trump administration, Spicer worked out of Trump Tower during the end of the general election campaign and during the transition, as part of the Republican nominee’s team.
Spicer’s Monday meeting shows that Mueller is starting to ramp up interviews with current and former Trump administration officials. Former chief of staff Reince Priebus met with Mueller last Friday.
Mueller’s team is also looking into national security adviser Michael Flynn and his misleading statement written on Air Force One about a meeting Donald Trump Jr. had with Russians.
According to Politico, Mueller’s team interviewed Keith Kellogg, who served as interim National Security Adviser after Michael Flynn was fired.
Other Trump administration officials, including communications director Hope Hicks and White House lawyer Don McGah, are expected to meet with Mueller in the coming days.
The White House declined to comment on this report. Spicer and his attorney, Christopher Mead, did not respond to multiple calls and emails requesting comment.
