ROBERT MUELLER/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP POSITION CHANGES: “President Trump said on Thursday [8-10-17] that he had not considered firing Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the election, contradicting private statements the president has made to his aides and friends about his desire to dismiss Mr. Mueller…
The Justice Department investigation into possible links between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russia’s election interference has engulfed the White House in political and legal scrutiny. The revelation that Mr. Trump asked the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, to end the inquiry into his first national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, prompted the appointment of Mr. Mueller as a special counsel in May. And the president’s public scoldings of Mr. Sessions in recent weeks have prompted speculation that he is seeking a path to end the investigation.
Asked about the possibility of firing Mr. Mueller, the president said on Thursday: ‘I haven’t given it any thought. Well, I’ve been reading about it from you people. You say, *Oh, I’m going to dismiss him.* No, I’m not dismissing anybody. I mean, I want them to get on with the task.’ “
-Michael S. Schmidt, “Trump Says He Has Not Considered Firing Mueller, Contradicting Himself,” The New York Times online, Aug. 10, 2017