WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and his legal team are planning to ratchet up pressure on special counsel Robert Mueller to end the Russia probe at its one-year mark on Thursday, according to Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer.
"We are going to try as best we can to put the message out there that it has been a year, there has been no evidence presented of collusion or obstruction, and it is about time for them to end the investigation," Giuliani said in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday.
"We don't want to signal our action if this doesn't work - we are going to hope they listen to us - but obviously we have a Plan B and C," he added.
Mueller was appointed as special counsel to lead the Russia probe on May 17, 2017, days after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.
The year-long investigation is looking into alleged coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow, Russian interference with the 2016 U.S. president election, and whether Trump asked Comey to end the probe into former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, among other things that would arise from the investigation.
Trump's lawyers and Mueller's team have been reportedly negotiating over a possible Trump-Mueller sit-down as Trump has said that he's willing to talk to the special counsel if it helps bring an end to the investigation.
Giuliani warned that the encounter could put the president in unnecessary legal jeopardy.
"It is hard to recommend an interview when the questions presented indicate they have no evidence, and it is hard not to get at least the appearance they are attempting to trap him into perjury," Giuliani explained.
Trump, who has recently stepped up attacks against Mueller's probe and his team, has repeatedly denied allegations of collusion between his campaign and the Russians, describing the Russia probe as a "hoax" or a "witch hunt."
Mueller has so far charged over a dozen people, among whom were several Trump campaign associates that have pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from Mueller's investigation. They are all cooperating with prosecutors but none of the charges are directly related to the collusion allegation.
