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US president Donald Trump believed the appointment of a special counsel to take over the federal investigation of Russian interference into the 2016 election would spell the end of his presidency, according to the report by special counsel Robert Mueller.
When former attorney general Jeff Sessions informed the president of Mr Mueller’s appointment in May 2017, the report stated, Mr Trump slumped back in his chair and said: “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m fucked!”
Mr Trump then asked Mr Sessions, whom he had berated for months for recusing himself from the Russia investigation: “How could you let this happen, Jeff?” and told Mr Sessions he had let him down.
Details of Mr Mueller’s investigation were released on Thursday, showing Mr Trump tried to impede the inquiry, raising questions of whether he committed the crime of obstruction of justice.
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Mr Sessions, who resigned in November, recalled that Mr Trump said to him, “you were supposed to protect me”, or words to that effect, noted the report.
The Republican president had bristled at the investigation since taking office in January 2017, belittling Mr Sessions and calling the investigation a witch hunt and a hoax.
“Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency,” said Mr Trump, according to the report. “It takes years and years and I won’ t be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me.” – Reuters