President Donald Trump on Wednesday cautioned Russia probe special counsel Robert Mueller from delving into his family's finances, saying he would consider the move as crossing a red line.
"I would say yes," Trump told The New York Times in an interview in the Oval Office. "I think that’s a violation.
"Look, this is about Russia," he said.
The president did not say what he would do should that occur, and he did not say whether he would direct the Justice Department to fire Mueller.
In addition, Trump would not tell the Times under what circumstances he might order Mueller's termination – though he left open the possibility.
Trump did, however, accuse Mueller of hiring many lawyers for the Moscow investigation who have contributed to Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign.
The president also noted that he interviewed Mueller to replace James Comey, whom he fired as FBI director in May, just before he was named special counsel.
"He was up here and he wanted the job," Trump told the Times.
After he was named special counsel, by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein: "I said, 'What the hell is this all about?' Talk about conflicts," Trump said.
"But he was interviewing for the job.
"There were many other conflicts that I haven't said, but I will at some point."
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